Hogwarts: Starting as a Card Maker from a Failed Art Student

Chapter 462 The Trial of the Crown's Illusion! At Hogwarts, you can even learn white magic (

Perhaps he noticed the suspicion in Ethan's eyes.

Professor Slughorn grabbed Ethan's arms and cried out urgently, "Don't worry! Just one more time! Just one more moment of inspiration, and I'll definitely be able to invent the Blood Curse Potion!"

'

""

Ethan glanced sideways at the hand gripping his arm.

Professor Slughorn flinched and quickly released his grip.

Ethan then slowly began to speak: "You should know that the Ravenclaw crown is not a question-and-answer machine; it only brings out the wisdom of the wearer."

"Or rather, to make your thinking clearer. Wearing it repeatedly is useless."

"But this is the only way now!"

Slughorn roared, interrupting Ethan.

Then, she glanced timidly at Ethan and whispered, "Please let me try, Mr. Vincent... I... I don't want to die like this, nameless and without status."

Slughorn shuddered.

The tremors outside the castle clearly dealt him a significant blow.

Ethan stared intently at the old professor.

Then he suddenly turned his head, his eyes shooting like an eagle at the jars of materials arranged on the shelf, muttering to himself: "Mandragora can activate inert agents, dried African spotted snake skin can induce deformation effects, bright red rose fruit... Oh, what a bold idea."

A series of brilliant ideas sparked in Ethan's mind, and his azure eyes trembled slightly.

In just a few breaths, a clear voice emanated from those beautifully curved lips: "Two kinds."

"what?"

Ethan turned his head and stared directly at the old professor.

Pointing to two of the seven ingredients, he said confidently, "Roseberry and the blood of the Golden Rooster of the Morning Sun, one of these two is the final correct answer."

'

""

Slughorn stared at Ethan in surprise, opened his mouth, then wiped his sweat and said hoarsely, "Merlin's beard, you really did look like Lily just now..."

""

'

"Unfortunately, I can't be sure either." Ethan raised an eyebrow and said, "We only have one chance right now, it seems we have no choice but to take the risk."

talking.

Then Ethan flicked his wrist, and as if performing magic, produced a glittering silver crown.

Seeing the old professor's suddenly fixed gaze, Ethan said, enunciating each word clearly, "That is to wear this Ravenclaw crown... and obtain the answer."

"I think it might be better if I wore it."

"Let me wear it!"

The old professor shouted suddenly, then shrank back, peering at Ethan's expression.

"Please, please let me complete this final step, Mr. Vincent..."

"Since you weren't involved in the entire potion-making process, you probably don't understand the details."

"This is my lifelong dream, I must complete this potion perfectly... Please, Headmaster!"

Ethan stared at the old professor for a few seconds.

Then, he slowly extended his hand and presented the crown.

Suddenly, a bright light burst forth in Slughorn's eyes!

"Oh! Thank you, Mr. Vincent! Thank you!"

He kept saying words of thanks as he carefully took the crown, his gaze never leaving it for a moment.

It was as if he was holding in his hands the glory and status of his later life.

then.

He took a deep breath and slowly, yet eagerly, put on the crown.

"Whoosh!"

The silver crown suddenly emitted a dazzling light!

Professor Slughorn fell backward onto the chair Ethan had conjured, as if he had been punched in the face, and fell into a coma.

[...yet another fool blinded by a crown, just like me.]

A graceful figure in deep blue appeared quietly.

The pearly white face of Helena, Ravenclaw's daughter, appeared beside Ethan.

He leaned close to his ear and whispered, with a hint of reproach:

You shouldn't have done that, Ravenclaw's Eagle. You shouldn't have allowed this man to be seduced, to be consumed by the desire for the crown...

He'll only drive you mad, not bring you the results you want... and it won't do you any good either.

In the midst of conversation.

Helena's expression turned sorrowful, as if she saw a reflection of her past self in the old professor.

however.

Ethan, however, curled the corners of his mouth into a smile.

"You don't know me yet, Miss Helena."

Under Helena's confused gaze, Ethan waved his hand and conjured a silver scalpel!

He pressed the scalpel against the old professor's head.

He smiled slightly, a smirk playing on his lips, and said, "I'm a down-to-earth painter, not a gambler. I never expect fate to smile upon me!"

"I will rely on myself to create the results I want!"

Before he could finish speaking...

Like a hot knife cutting through cheese, the scalpel plunged deep into the old professor's forehead!

"Whoosh!"

Instead of blood splattering, there was a blinding flash of light!

It instantly engulfed Ethan, sucking his consciousness into Slughorn's brain!

【! ! 】

Helena stared wide-eyed at the scene in astonishment.

She looked at Ethan's body lying on the ground, and after a long while, she pursed her lips, a complex expression flashing across her face.

Alas, you have no idea just how terrifying this crown truly is.

Helena sighed and reached out to help Ethan up, but her arm passed right through him.

She paused, withdrew her hand, and murmured to herself:

It will evoke the memories and emotions you most want to avoid deep within your heart, drawing you into them...

Perhaps, this crown created by Mother was never meant to exist, but was destined to be destroyed... a cursed object!

But this time, whatever the outcome, I will not run away again... I will perish with you, with Ravenclaw, and with this castle my mother built together.

Helena floated silently in mid-air, her shimmering eyes staring blankly into the distance.

It seems as if they are indulging in memories.

Inside the Ravenclaw crown.

"—Ha!"

Professor Slughorn was jolted awake.

He looked around eagerly, hoping to gain some wisdom as he had last time.

"Hurry, hurry, I really want to know the answer... Which is it, the blood of the rosehip or the blood of the golden chicken?"

however.

Just as the old professor saw clearly the space he was in, the expression on his face froze!

His eyes widened, revealing an extreme fear!

【Ding--】

The crisp sound, like the striking of a tuning fork, echoed in the dimly lit room.

A few nights ago, in the restricted section of the library... I discovered a very rare kind of magic.

I remember it was called something like...

【"Horoscope"】

A tall, slender figure slowly turned around in front of the uniquely shaped green snake hourglass.

She faced him with the face that had appeared countless times in Professor Slughorn's nightmares.

She parted her lips slightly and said, word by word:

Have you heard this term before, Professor Slughorn?

"Heh, heh..."

'

Slughorn breathed heavily and silently, his body feeling as if it were wrapped by a venomous snake, cold and stiff.

How come he never noticed before?

The coldness and cruelty hidden in the eyes of this outstanding student, along with a well-concealed greed.

[...]

...An ordinary object into which a part of your soul is placed becomes a Horcrux.

Slughorn heard his own voice and couldn't help but let it flow from his mouth.

Merlin, no, no!!

Stop! Don't say anymore!!!

The old professor screamed in fear and anguish.

He trembled like a leaf, as if he were using a knife to pry out his bloody, festering sores for him to see!

I was almost consumed by fear and guilt.

My mind is in complete chaos, and my body is unable to move!

It was clearly a hallucination in his mind, but everything was out of his control!

Just then.

Slughorn's darting eyes suddenly caught sight of something and he abruptly stopped.

He saw a painting he had never seen before on the wall not far away—a portrait of a man with a swirling face.