Everyday Life of a Top Student at Hogwarts

Chapter 328 A New Topic

The light from the two-way mirror dimmed, Nicolas Flamel's image vanished, and the Eagle's Nest returned to its previous silence, with only the barely perceptible magical fluctuations emanating from the newly cast protective spells around the workbench. The snakeskin journal had been removed and now lay quietly in the center of the table, like a sleeping heart, temporarily concealing its danger, yet still exuding an undeniable presence.

"So—we don't need to go look for Harry for now?" Wesley broke the silence first, his tone a mix of relief and disappointment. He scratched his reddish-brown hair, his eyes glancing at the journal every now and then.

“At least not for the time being,” Cullen affirmed, her gaze falling on the journal. “Professor Nico is right; we have plenty of work to do. It would be too risky to let Harry get involved in this before we are fully prepared.” He paused, looking at Fabian. “Besides, we’ve brought back quite a few new clues this time, especially the fact that your hypothesis about the dark algae has been confirmed, which in itself is worth further investigation.”

When Fabian heard Karen mention his contributions again, he pushed up his glasses a little shyly, but his eyes behind the lenses gleamed with excitement: "That sensing array in the dark—and that potion—if we can figure out the principles behind it, perhaps we can reproduce some of Slytherin's technology, or even develop new applications." He was always fascinated by the direction in which magic and potential applications could be combined.

Karen crossed his arms, maintaining his usual calm and analytical demeanor: "There are indeed many research directions. But we need to systematize them, and the research priorities of the logs themselves need to be adjusted. I will personally take charge of this part."

"Secondly," Karen continued, "is the newly discovered dark sensing array and the analysis of the potion residue that enhances perception. Fabian, you'll work with Ernesto on this part. You'll be responsible for the basic property analysis of the potion residue, trying to compare it with other Slytherin notes to see if you can determine its main components and effects. Ernesto will be responsible for using runes and tools from my workshop to analyze the residual patterns of that array and try to understand how it works."

"No problem," Fabian immediately agreed, already planning in his mind the books he needed to consult and the experiments he might conduct. Ernesto nodded in response.

"And what about me?" Wesley asked impatiently. "What can I do? I'm not as good at fiddling with these ancient runes and potion powders as you guys."

Karen thought for a moment: "You continue analyzing all the data we brought back about magical creature research, just like before. Especially the specimen labels and experimental device sketches. We didn't get much from this expedition, but you can combine Fabian and Enne's research on this expedition, try to categorize and organize it, and figure out exactly which creatures Slytherin studied, and what he wanted to achieve with them."

This part of the work is extensive and requires patience. And you might discover something interesting, like the unique characteristics of a rare creature or a dangerous taboo. But don't rush, take your time." He knew that while Wesley wasn't theoretically top-tier, he had good patience and practical skills, and a natural curiosity about "interesting" and "dangerous" things.

"I can do this!" Wesley perked up. "Maybe I can even find some training methods related to Quidditch or football—oh no, I mean, to powerful creatures?" He quickly changed his tune, but the expectation in his eyes remained unchanged.

Karen smiled as he watched his roommates quickly get into the swing of things. "Alright, since everyone agrees, let's get started with this division of labor. Also, don't forget we still have our regular coursework and the pressure of finals coming up," he reminded them.

Although they explore knowledge far beyond the textbooks, the Hogwarts exams remain a looming reality.

"Oh, Merlin—don't mention that—" Wesley immediately wilted a little.

Fabian was quite optimistic: "As long as you plan your time reasonably, it will be fine. Besides, studying this ancient knowledge is helpful for many subjects, such as the history of magic, ancient runes, and even the principles of spellcasting and transfiguration."

"That's right," Karen agreed. "Then, let's call it a day for tonight. Everyone's tired, so go back and rest. Starting tomorrow, we'll proceed as planned."

He carefully picked up the snakeskin diary from the workbench and locked it in a special locker in the workshop that had been enchanted with additional protective spells.

The four left the Eagle's Nest and returned to the quiet Ravenclaw common room. It was late at night, with only the crackling of the fireplace. They said goodnight to each other and went back to their rooms.

Lying in bed, Karen didn't fall asleep immediately. He recalled everything that had happened in the underwater laboratory that night, especially the powerful repulsive force and cold scrutiny emanating from the access lock. That feeling—it wasn't just a rigid magical mechanism, but more like a remnant fragment of Salazar Slytherin's own will. Before, it was just a simple mechanical will, but after Karen initially activated it with Parsley, the feeling of that will changed instantly the moment he touched the log. But it was too brief, and Karen couldn't be sure if it was just his imagination.

He turned over and looked out the window towards the Black Lake. How many secrets were hidden beneath those deep waters? What exactly was recorded in that journal? What discoveries would Nico and Professor Castor make as they studied those scrolls?

A series of questions swirled in his mind, but he didn't feel anxious. Instead, he felt an unprecedented sense of fulfillment and anticipation. The door to knowledge lay ahead, and although opening it was fraught with difficulties, he was not alone. He had the guidance of a mentor, reliable partners, and time.

He closed his eyes and began to silently plan tomorrow's research, starting with a detailed observation of the external magical flow in the logbook using the "Eye of Truth," followed by processing the residual potion samples with Fabian.

Just as his thoughts were calming down and he was about to drift off to sleep, Wesley in the next bed suddenly whispered, "Hey, Cullen, do you think—maybe Slytherin wrote down some special, ancient Quidditch techniques in his journal? Like methods for training Seeker's dynamic vision?"

Karen:

A faint, muffled laugh came from the direction of Fabian's bed.

Ernesto's calm voice rang out in the darkness: "Wesley, I suggest you pray that Slytherin hasn't documented how to use the Blink Ball against Muggle-born classmates. Now, go to sleep!"

Wesley muttered something and finally quieted down.

Karen smiled wryly and pulled the covers up. Well, at least their research life wouldn't be boring. With a touch of weariness and a heart full of anticipation, he too drifted off to sleep. The Eagle's Nest's new research project had already begun.