Hogwarts Raven

Chapter 24: 24: Victims of the Past

really.

No matter where you are, some things have commonalities.

Since it's homework.

How could it be accomplished easily?
Ian felt that he would become the most unpopular student in Hogwarts, and Hermione in the iron triangle was just a roll of students of the same age and grade.

But he.

They haven't started school yet.

You have to start studying in the third year of Hogwarts to be eligible to take it. It is an elective course, basically only available to those top students who can cope with their studies with ease on weekdays.

Volume King.

That's probably it.

"Hey, a capable person should learn more. I have a smart brain." Ian carefully put away the pieces of the dress, turned off the fluorescent light and climbed back into bed.

A night of dreams.

As soon as the sun rose the next morning, Ian got up, packed up, and rushed to the bookstore in Hogsmeade village - many people may not know that there is a bookstore here.

even.

Most of the young wizards who study at Hogwarts may not realize this until they graduate. There is an inconspicuous second-hand bookstore behind the Scholar's Quill Shop in Hogsmeade Village.

Although this bookstore is so shabby that it doesn't even have a sign, it receives a large number of unsold textbooks and various old books from Flourish and Blotts in Diagon Alley every year, and then resells them to students who come to the village to hang out on weekends. Of course, few young wizards who come to Hogsmeade would think of visiting a bookstore.

After all, most people come here just to relax, but even so, it does not hinder the existence of bookstores. God knows how the bookstore owner makes a living!
"Hello, are there any study materials on runes here?"

Ian has lived in Hogsmeade village for about a week. Today is his first time in this bookstore. When he walked into the store, he saw an old man lying in an old rocking chair.

The old man has a ruddy complexion and gray hair, which is like pine branches covered with the first snow in winter, sparse and silvery. On his nose rests a pair of slightly old-fashioned round-frame glasses.

Full of bookish air.

"Are you the little wizard who's been living in the village lately?"

The bookstore owner seemed to have heard about Ian. It was indeed quite rare for a young wizard who had not yet enrolled in school to temporarily live in Hogsmeade village before school started.

"Yes, sir."

Ian remained polite as always.

"For a little wizard of your age, it's a little too early to learn runes." The bookstore owner was still lying in the rocking chair and did not take any action.

"I am just very interested in this area and want to learn some in advance... Well, I think I will become a great scholar of ancient magic writing in the future."

Ian took advantage of his young age and acted with a gesture full of aspirations and dreams.

"Yes, great ideals."

The bookstore owner looked at Ian again.

Finally he sat up.

“It’s just that there is a difference between ideal and reality. Most young wizards have difficulty coping with basic courses.” Although he was muttering, the bookstore owner still went into the room and started looking for books for Ian.

His movements were somewhat slow and his body was somewhat shaky. However, although his movements seemed a little weak, his expression did not show any signs of old age.

A very awkward situation.

"You said it all, that's just the majority, isn't there a small portion?"

When Ian smiles, his teeth are straight and white.

"Ok?"

The bookstore owner turned and looked at Ian again.

"Young, handsome, and conceited... perhaps with some talent. It seems you will become a Slytherin." The bookstore owner made a judgment.

immediately.

I started looking for it in the bookstore.

"Let me look for it carefully. I've only taken over this shop for three months. The previous owner wasn't a very good person. Well, I'm probably the same."

The bookstore owner made a self-deprecating comment.

"I'm in no hurry, sir." Ian waited quietly.

He has become accustomed to disguising himself as a "good boy".

"Found it, here."

The bookstore owner only did some light exercises, but he already felt himself gasping for breath. I don't know if he had suffered some injury when he was young that affected his body functions.

While talking.

He picked out three books from the large number of books that were not placed on the bookshelf but piled on the floor of the store, and handed them to Ian with slightly trembling hands.

Ian noticed that on the inside of the bookstore owner's arm there was a lifelike tattoo of the Golden Snitch - as a Chinese soul, Ian was easily attracted by tattoos.

"It's really beautiful."

Ian noticed the bookstore owner staring at him, and he quickly tried to make amends for his gaffe.

"Yeah, it used to be beautiful."

The bookstore owner's answer was a bit puzzling, but Ian noticed that the owner's eyes were a little dim, so he didn't continue to ask about the story behind the tattoo.

Think about it.

It's not some melodramatic love story.

Is it just an unforgettable gay love?

Things in England.

I can’t explain it. I really can’t explain it.

"how much is the total?"

Ian had no habit of gossiping about strangers' past, so he changed the subject very naturally.

"Six gold Galleons."

The bookstore owner lay back in his rocking chair.

"Hiss, it's so expensive!"

Ian took a deep breath.

"This is the price of a used book. If you go to Diagon Alley to buy a new book, the price will be double that. It will become an elective course not just because it is difficult to learn."

The bookstore owner seemed to be hinting at something.

"..."

Ian finally understood why in every era there would always be a group of academic cliques who monopolized knowledge. Sure enough, the profits from selling knowledge were beyond imagination.

"OK, thanks."

Ian did not suspect that the other party was trying to rip him off. It was useless to suspect anyway. He himself could not go to Diagon Alley, so why bother to make malicious assumptions about others and cause trouble for himself?

Taking out the now deflated purse from his trouser pocket, Ian carefully counted out six gold Galleons and placed them on the counter where the bookstore owner was pointing.

"If you decide to give up studying, the buy-back price I'll give you is three gold Galleons." The bookstore owner said with a smile, as if he was certain that Ian would choose to give up.

"I think that won't happen."

Ian smiled politely.

He picked up the three books and chose to leave.

In a quiet bookstore.

Only the old bookstore owner was left, and he fell into silence again.

After a long time.

Maybe it was because Ian’s words touched him, but the bookstore owner sighed softly while lying in the rocking chair, raised his slightly dry arm and stroked it a few times with his other hand.

Golden snitch tattoo.

Under the sunshine.

It seemed to bring him back to a memory of a time when he had pledged allegiance to death.

(End of this chapter)