Though Ron said this confidently, everyone had witnessed that extraordinary prophetic scene. It was impossible to simply dismiss it as "unreliable fortune-telling."
Hermione pursed her lips and suddenly declared with fierce determination, "We absolutely cannot sit around waiting for fate to strike us down!"
She whipped her head around, looking at Ethan with grateful, worshipful eyes that practically glowed. "We should be thankful to Ethan! He forewarned us of the crisis before it could blindside us! We can't let his efforts go to waste—we should strike proactively and change the future ourselves!"
Ethan smiled with modest grace. "Haha, really, no need to thank me."
Harry and Ron exchanged meaningful glances: "..."
Looking at the classroom that appeared ravaged by a small tornado and the professor still unconscious on the floor, they fell into uncomfortable silence. This disturbingly familiar scene... Ethan's managed to disrupt the first class of the semester yet again!
Ron's face went slack as he muttered with genuine despair, "It's over. This semester is absolutely doomed to be chaotic too."
The chaos in the Divination classroom quickly attracted numerous concerned professors. Just as Ethan was casually preparing to make his exit, his shoulder was gripped like an iron vice. Turning, he met Professor Snape's absolutely furious eyes burning with barely restrained rage.
"Attacking Ministry Dementors on the train, causing utter havoc in a class—and this isn't even your enrolled elective!" Snape's voice was cold and sharp as a blade, staring directly at Ethan with unmistakable hostility. "I warn you, don't let me catch a single shred of evidence linking you to wrongdoing... like connections with the fugitive Sirius Black. Otherwise, you're finished at this school. I swear it on my reputation."
With that ominous threat hanging in the air, Snape roughly pushed Ethan aside and strode away, his black robes billowing dramatically behind him like bat wings. His entire demeanor radiated petty vindictiveness.
Ethan blinked innocently, watching Snape's retreating back with mild confusion. I'm so righteously upright in all my dealings—how did he possibly discover I'm hiding Sirius?
Harry approached with obvious indignation on his best friend's behalf. "He's just taking out his frustrations on you unfairly! What possible connection could you have with fugitive Sirius Black?!"
Hearing this earnest defense, Ethan turned to Harry with a mysterious, knowing smile playing at his lips. Holding up one finger conspiratorially, he whispered with theatrical secrecy, "That's a surprise to be revealed later!"
Harry stared in confusion: "???" Ha-haha. Ethan's just joking around... right?
With Divination class thoroughly derailed and cancelled, Harry and his friends had no second period scheduled, so they decided to visit the library to research potential clues about the cryptic prophecy. Ethan planned to head early to the Potions classroom to claim a good seat.
Hermione's eyes filled with genuine worry. "Professor Snape will definitely give you an absolutely terrible time!" Tears actually glistened in her concerned eyes, as if she desperately wished she could bear the blame and punishment for Ethan herself.
Ethan smiled with perfect calm. "It's fine, really. Even if I get scolded harshly, I can fill knowledge gaps and learn things I don't currently know. Every experience is educational."
Hermione covered her mouth with both hands, staring at him with pure reverence. "Oh, Ethan! You're so admirably dedicated!"
Harry and Ron watched this exchange from the sidelines, their faces twisted in sympathetic pain, goosebumps raising on their arms. Girls!
After saying goodbye to the trio, Ethan turned and casually stuffed his Divination textbook into a passing bewildered student's hands. "It's yours now. Enjoy."
Won't be attending that particular class again anyway.
The student stared dumbly at Ethan's departing figure, opened the book curiously, then was scared completely out of his wits by the blood-red prophetic eye still visible on the pages. "AHHHH—!"
Ethan heard the terrified screams echoing behind him and smiled with satisfaction. You're welcome. Now you can open your Inner Eye too.
"Speaking of which, what does that prophecy actually mean?" Ethan walked while pondering the cryptic verses aloud. "Sirius couldn't possibly hurt Harry intentionally, so who exactly is this 'evil soul' it mentioned? Haha, it couldn't possibly be referring to me, right?"
Ethan chuckled at the absurd thought and shook his head dismissively. Before opening her Inner Eye, Professor Trelawney called me evil. After opening it with my help, she still proclaimed me evil. Wouldn't that make the entire exercise completely pointless?
Maybe it refers to Voldemort? Or perhaps Wormtail... Hmm, but they shouldn't be capable of causing any real damage, right? If Wormtail managed to escape under my watch and team up with Voldemort's remnant soul, I might as well go sit with Snape at the losers' table.
Can't figure it out. Whatever—I'm not wasting energy on this right now. Ethan shook his head, though he committed the prophecy's exact wording to memory—it might come in handy when events unfolded.
"Right now, the most important priority is finding time to thoroughly explore Black Manor. That ancient magic knowledge will be mine."
A cold resolve settled over Ethan's cobalt-blue eyes. Humming a cheerful tune, cheerfully accepting sealed envelopes from blushing girls in the corridors, he headed toward the Potions classroom in high spirits.
In Potions class, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students sat so terrified they barely dared breathe normally. One by one they huddled like frightened quails, trembling visibly and watching the increasingly intense "academic duel" unfold in stunned, horrified silence.
Snape fired off rapid questions like a machine gun: "What are the precise main ingredients of Shrinking Solution, Mr. Vincent?"
Shrinking Solution wouldn't be taught for several more lessons. But of course, this advanced material couldn't possibly stump Ethan.
"Chopped daisy roots, skinned shrivelfig, sliced caterpillar, one rat spleen, leech juice or alternatively eel juice, wormwood, and belladonna essence," Ethan recited perfectly.
Snape's jaw tightened. "Lucky guess... Which specific material must be picked during a full moon for use in Polyjuice Potion?"
Hufflepuff's Justin whispered in complete bewilderment, "What's Polyjuice Potion? I've never even heard of it."
"Fluxweed," Ethan answered immediately without hesitation.
Snape's temple visibly twitched twice with mounting frustration. "Which key plant is absolutely needed for making Draught of Peace?"
Mandy pushed up her glasses with academic interest. "That's an O.W.L.s exam question... I've only heard fifth-year upperclassmen mention it in passing."
"Hellebore," Ethan stated calmly.
Bang! Snape slammed both hands violently on Ethan's desk, his eyes blazing with barely controlled fury. Suddenly, his expression shifted into a malicious, triumphant smile. "Since you're apparently so omniscient and all-knowing... perhaps I should ask you this: How can a werewolf on a full moon night be restored to complete human form?"
Hearing this particular question, Ethan raised his eyebrows with genuine surprise flashing briefly in his eyes. Seeing no immediate answer forthcoming, Snape's smile grew even more smugly victorious.
This question has no answer—because in today's modern magical world, there's absolutely no known way to restore a transformed werewolf to human form. My personally improved Wolfsbane Potion at most maintains rational thought during transformation.
"Well, well..." Snape straightened up with obvious satisfaction, mockingly drawling, "I think this impossible question will help our insufferable know-it-all, Mr. Vincent, understand... just how profoundly ignorant he remains in this world despite his arrogance."
Michael clenched his fists in righteous anger, cursing internally with passionate loyalty, Shameless old bat! You're clearly just making things deliberately difficult for Ethan!
Just as Snape turned toward the podium, clearly relishing the moment, a clear, confident voice rang through the silent classroom:
"The Advanced Patronus Charm enhanced with Kenaz Ancient Runes can restore werewolves to complete human form during full moon transformations."
Every single person froze: "?!!"
Snape whipped around with shocking speed, staring absolutely stunned at the black-haired youth standing up with perfect composure.
Ethan tilted his head with genuine admiration. "You actually knew I possessed the ability to restore werewolves to human form... Your intuition is remarkably sharp, Professor Snape."
Deathly silence—complete, suffocating silence engulfed the entire classroom! Everyone stared blankly at Ethan—seeing not an unfortunate victim being cruelly bullied, but a fearless warrior, possibly even a complete madman!
As everyone in the magical community knows, absolutely no one can change werewolves back to human form during transformation. Ethan must be so dissatisfied with Snape's relentless harassment that he made up a completely fictional answer to snap back at Snape! Viciously mocking him in return!
Michael muttered in genuine shock, "Merlin's striped socks, am I actually witnessing history being made?" The first hero in Hogwarts history daring to challenge Professor Snape like this!
Clearly, Snape reached the exact same conclusion. "You—you—!" Gone was his earlier smug satisfaction. Trembling violently with rage, his sallow face turned red then purple then nearly black—quite a spectacular color progression.
"Never in my entire teaching career has a student... dared speak to me with such blatant disrespect!" Professor Snape suddenly raised his arm dramatically, pointing directly at Ethan like pronouncing judgment, roaring, "Twenty points from Ravenclaw! For severely and deliberately disrespecting your professor!"
The thunderous shout made students' eardrums ring painfully.
Everyone in the classroom froze absolutely solid, afraid to even breathe audibly. The more timid students were nearly in tears from fear.
Ethan blinked calmly, watching the absolutely furious Professor Snape and asking in his usual pleasant tone with genuine confusion, "Hm? Didn't you specifically ask me this question? I simply told you the correct answer?"
Snape laughed with cold, cruel mockery. "Ha! Even three-year-old children know that once werewolves transform, they cannot possibly return to human form. Another ten points from Ravenclaw for blatant dishonesty and spreading misinformation. Now sit down! Don't waste other students' valuable class time."
Ethan understood perfectly—Professor Snape doesn't believe my answer at all. He just wanted to embarrass and humiliate me with an impossible question.
"I thought you genuinely wanted to discuss advanced academics with me," Ethan said slowly, disappointment evident in his tone.
Standing firm, he ignored Snape's direct command. Beside him, Michael pleaded tearfully with desperate gestures for him to sit down immediately. Ethan gently withdrew his hand, ignoring the plea.
If questioned about knowledge without defending its truth, one doesn't deserve to be a Ravenclaw student.
Meeting Professor Snape's furious eyes without flinching or showing fear, Ethan spoke each word with deliberate precision: "Next full moon night, I'll prove it to you conclusively. If I'm lying or wrong, deduct a hundred points from Ravenclaw as punishment."
"But if I prove I'm not lying, that you fundamentally misunderstood my capabilities..." A cold, determined flame ignited in Ethan's usually calm cobalt eyes. "I hope you'll sincerely apologize to me in front of the entire school and restore every single point you deducted."
In the dead, heavy silence, Snape frowned with growing uncertainty. Why is this insufferable brat so absolutely certain? Could he possibly actually restore werewolves to humans during full moons? Ha, impossible. Just youthful bragging.
"Fine," Snape laughed in extreme anger, his lips curling slowly into a dangerous smile. "If you can truly accomplish what no wizard in the entire magical world has ever achieved in recorded history... Forget a mere apology—I'll give you my entire personal fortune, even stake my life on it!"
Hearing this rash promise, Ethan's eyes lit up with obvious delight! He immediately nodded with eager agreement. "Deal. Witnessed by everyone present."
You said it yourself, Professor.
Snape stared at him: "..." Why this sudden ominous feeling? Like I've inadvertently made a binding deal with the devil himself?
Ethan obediently sat down, his imposing, confrontational aura vanishing instantly. Internally thinking with happy anticipation: September's full moon should occur at month's end. By then, I'll have thoroughly explored Black Manor and learned powerful new ancient magic. Maybe I'll have achieved even greater magical breakthroughs—ready to give my enthusiastically generous Professor Snape a profound academic shock he'll never forget.