Chapter 19
The alchemical object crafted by Lucien caused a tremendous stir among the students. Even the most academically apathetic students found their usual resentment toward Lucien temporarily reduced to its lowest point.
In the corridors and the Great Hall, excited discussions about those two alchemical objects could be heard everywhere. Hermione pushed through the crowd, listening to them praise and admire Professor Lucien. Knowing she was a member of his study group, her mood unconsciously brightened.
Knock, knock, knock.
Hermione gently knocked on the door and waited; the door opened soon, revealing Lucien dressed in black standing behind it.
"Miss Granger? What brings you here?"
"Um, Professor, it's like this. I feel the current workload isn't quite enough for me, and I find this knowledge extremely meaningful. I was wondering if you could give me some additional assignments? For example, the information you've compiled on dark creatures—I've noticed that even the library's records aren't as detailed as what you've provided us. Of course, if you'd rather not, that's fine."
"Voluntarily asking for more homework?" Lucien gave Hermione an odd look and chuckled lightly. "Of course. It's only a small matter."
As Hermione's smiled, Lucien waved his hand, and a thick book bound in parchment flew into his grasp.
"This is a compilation of information on dark creatures I've recorded and organized over the years. You can use a spell to make a duplicate copy—I've written the key points of the spell on the back. I assume you'll be able to master it before Sunday?"
"Thank you, Professor. I'll return it to you this weekend."
"Good. Then bring it to me on Sunday afternoon. I have other plans for the rest of the weekend."
"…"
Lucien's words were rather blunt—he might as well have written "Don't disturb me on the weekend" across his face; hearing which Hermione was momentarily at a loss for words and even hesitated about whether she should mention the real reason for her visit.
No—precisely because Professor Lucien was so indifferent to everything else, it was safer to ask him!
With that thought, Hermione casually remarked, "Professor, is it possible for a wizard to hear sounds that others cannot?"
"Have you encountered something strange?"
"Ah, no, no—it's not me. It's a friend of mine." Hermione hadn't expected Lucien to be so direct. In her panic, she accidentally admitted part of the truth, which made her even more flustered.
A wizard hearing things they shouldn't was often regarded in the magical world as an ominous sign. If possible, Hermione had wanted to probe indirectly.
"Hmm… strange sounds? There are actually quite a few ways that could happen."
"Quite a few?" Hermione repeated blankly.
Something that seemed utterly baffling to her apparently had many possible explanations in the professor's eyes?
"For instance, dark creatures: a basilisk, a malevolent spirit, or a thestral. All three could produce the effect you described."
"Alternatively, it could be contact with an object tied to dark magic, being under a curse, or possessing a certain magical gift—something like extrasensory perception, or even foresight. You'll learn about all of this in the future. The three dark creatures I mentioned are also covered in those notes."
Just hearing about this knowledge was enough to make Hermione's eyes sparkle as she nodded repeatedly.
Seeing that Lucien remained calm and unfazed—as if this were nothing significant—Hermione's last trace of hesitation vanished. She pressed on "My friend says he's recently been hearing terrifying sounds inside the Hogwarts castle."
"Is that so? What exactly did the voice say?"
"I didn't ask for details, but it seemed to involve words like 'rip' and 'kill'—dangerous terms like that."
"I see. In that case, we can first rule out thestrals. You could ask your friend whether he heard any canine howling or growling during the experience. If not, then it's very likely a basilisk."
At this point, Lucien added as an afterthought "It's said that one of Hogwarts' four founders, Salazar Slytherin, left behind a secret chamber before departing the school and made a proclamation:
'The true heir of Slytherin will open the chamber and use its power to cleanse the school of all students whom Salazar Slytherin deemed unworthy of learning magic.'"
A basilisk… Yes, in the background story of 'Harry Potter', Salazar Slytherin had placed a basilisk inside the chamber, and the whole affair was connected to Voldemort, who was secretly orchestrating everything again?
Lucien unconsciously frowned.
After searching his memories in vain, he decided to let it go. With Dumbledore around, it wasn't his place to worry.
"Students unworthy of learning magic?" Hermione, still basking in the joy of acquiring new knowledge, asked curiously.
"That would refer to half-bloods and Muggle-born witches and wizards. Slytherin believed pure blood was inherently noble and that only those of noble lineage were entitled to learn the wonders of magic. Allowing those of 'impure' blood to become wizards would only diminish the nobility and rarity of magic." Lucien shook his head as he spoke.
"That someone with such narrow-minded views could become one of the four founders—perhaps that's one of the unreasonable aspects of magic."
"Slytherin's ideas were that extreme? The official school history of the four founders never mentioned any of this…"
Hermione was skeptical. She tended to revere authority, and it was hard to accept that a legendary figure from the many books she'd read could be so deplorable—someone who wanted to drive out people like her, the so-called "Mudbloods."
"After all, he was one of the four founders. Even if he did outrageous things, there would always be later generations to defend him. Books, being the most widespread means of spreading information, naturally have to consider the negative impact certain truths might cause." At this point, Lucien lost interest in continuing the conversation with Hermione.
No matter how flawed Slytherin was, he had still been one of the four founders—an absolute pioneer who emerged from a barbaric and chaotic era. His understanding and achievements in magic far surpassed anything Lucien currently possessed. If Slytherin were to return, Lucien knew he wouldn't even qualify to stand in the man's presence.
And that qualification was what the current Lucien should be focusing on. Even though the four founders were long gone, he still measured himself against them.
"That's all for now. You can go back and ask your friend for more specific details to see if it really is a basilisk. Of course, I'm more inclined to think it's something else. If he experiences any physical discomfort, remember to send him to Madam Pomfrey."
"Y-yes, sir." Hermione, still absorbed in the wealth of information she'd gained, responded automatically.
By the time she snapped out of it and wanted to say more, the door in front of her had already been closed again by Lucien.
"…"
Hermione stared at the closed door, puffed out her cheeks in mild frustration, thought for a moment, then decided not to knock again. She hurried away while thinking 'i can find the answer myself, using the professor's notes on dark creatures!'
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