In just one class, Karl transformed from a points-losing laggard into a points-gaining advanced individual.
And with a base of five points, he wouldn't fear losing points next time.
Huh? Why would I think like that?
It must have been the Hufflepuffs influencing him!
After class, Karl headed straight for the eighth floor, ready to play with something fiery in the Room of Requirementagain.
He didn't expect that just as he exited the stairs and entered the corridor, he saw a figure in the distance.
Professor Heller was standing in front of the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy being clubbed by Trolls, seemingly admiring something.
Hearing footsteps, he turned his head, his expression calm, his gaze profound.
"I seem to have seen you in class."
"That's right, Professor, Karl Olin, a first-year Hufflepuffstudent."
Karl smiled and greeted him, with a hint of deference and restraint, pretending to be a harmless Xiao Huan.
"I remember now, Mr. Olin, but why are you on the eighth floor? Divination Class is only for third-years."
"Actually, it's nothing, I just wanted to find PrincipalDumbledore to offer some suggestions regarding the school uniform."
Saying this, Karl began to show Professor Heller the Wizard robes he was wearing.
"Professor, don't you think our school uniform is too plain and old-fashioned? It's impossible to distinguish students from each house."
"And how can just robes be enough? We should add shirts, knit vests, ties, scarves, and so on."
"Ties and scarves, for example, could be in different colors. Oh, and the school crest on the Wizard robes could also be!"
"This way, students from each house would be easily identifiable and look very spirited, don't you think?"
Professor Heller was silent for a few seconds, then let out a soft sigh.
"Mr. Olin, I just asked why you came to the eighth floor; you only needed to answer the first part. There's no need to be so detailed, I'm not the Principal."
"Ahahaha, I'm sorry, Professor, I accidentally said too much."
Karl scratched his head with a smile, "By the way, did you just come out of the Principal's office? Is PrincipalDumbledore inside?"
"No, I came here to look for a magical room."
"What magical room?"
"A friend who graduated from Hogwarts told me there's a room here where things are hidden, containing many valuable items hidden by students, such as Galleons, jewels, and even flying brooms."
Professor Heller seemed to say this casually, then gave Karl a stiff smile.
"It might just be a joke; I didn't find it anyway. You can try if you're interested. I won't take up any more of your time, Mr. Olin, goodbye."
"Goodbye, Professor."
Karl and Heller smiled as they passed each other; the two, back to back, simultaneously dropped their smiles, their expressions indifferent.
Damn it! This bastard wants to harm him!
He wants to lure me into the room where things are hidden and then find Lord Voldemort's Horcrux?
This guy isn't really a Death Eater, is he?
But that shouldn't be; given Tom's personality, how could he let others know such important information?
Could it be that after Heller escaped capture, he risked everything and painstakingly searched for nine years, finally finding Lord Voldemort's lingering soul, and then came to Hogwarts under his instruction to cause trouble?
But besides exposing the existence of the Horcrux and alerting Dumbledore, what good would that do?
Karl stopped in front of the gargoyle and thought of Professor Quirrell.
In the event of Quirrell becoming the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, could Heller have had an influence?
Considering Heller's suspected identity as a Death Eaterand the relationship between the two, it's hard not to be suspicious.
Karl wondered if Heller had lured Quirrell to the Albanian forest.
Tricking a Professor into becoming a vessel?
But that's also illogical.
Lord Voldemort, who had waited nine years, if he encountered a subordinate, would definitely leave the Albanian forest immediately.
In a forest without human presence, he was merely a wandering spirit.
But in Wizard society, Lord Voldemort had many ways to bewitch others.
There was no need to trick Quirrell into going to Albania; as long as he wasn't at Hogwarts, Lord Voldemort could act.
And if Heller failed, wouldn't he have to wait for the next fated person in the forest again?
Could it be that... Lord Voldemort had already left Albania, and was even at Hogwarts right now?
Argh! This is so annoying!
Where did this Elvis Heller come from anyway?
At this moment, Karl's anger flared and malice surged within him; he decided that once he figured out how to learn the Fiendfyre Curse, he would first burn this guy to ashes.
Anyway, he's a Dark Wizard, who cares if he dies?
And Tom's Horcruxes shouldn't expect to fare well either, all arranged with the Fiendfyre Curse package.
As for Harry, let Dumbledore worry about him.
Just as Karl was gritting his teeth, the gargoyle, which had been waiting for a long time, couldn't help but lean its big head closer.
"Hmm?"
Gargoyle: ( ._. )
Karl felt as if he understood its meaning: "What's going on, little buddy? If you want to go in, say the password; if you don't, hurry up and leave; no urinating here."
"Illusion! It must be an illusion!"
Pushing the strange thoughts out of his mind, Karl began to try guessing the password.
Since Heller had disrupted his original fire-playing plan, he might as well go find old Dumble... old Dumbledorefor a chat.
The school uniform suggestions he mentioned earlier weren't random talk; he had already discussed a plan with the Hufflepuffs.
"Cockroach Clusters? Lemon Sherbets? Fizzing Whizbees..."
Ten minutes passed, and Karl gave up.
"You're not just a hard fish to catch, but also a stubborn donkey."
"Big guy, just let me in! How are you even more stubborn than Ravenclaw's bronze door knocker?"
Gargoyle: ( ._. )
"How about you pass a message for me?"
Facing Karl's request, the gargoyle remained silent, only staring at him.
"Alright! You win, I give up; I'll just go back and find Nina... Hmm?"
Karl, who was about to leave, noticed that the stubborn gargoyle suddenly moved.
"What does that mean? The password isn't Nina Goldstein, is it?"
After he uttered Nina's name, the stubborn gargoyle jumped aside, and the wall behind it split open, revealing a spiral staircase.
Karl: ...
He silently stepped onto the slowly ascending spiral staircase, the stone steps rising higher and higher, until they reached the top.
There, he saw a glowing oak door with a griffin-shaped brass door knocker.
Karl stepped off the staircase, walked forward and gently knocked on the door, and the oak door quietly opened, letting him in.
This was a spacious and beautiful circular room, its walls covered with portraits.
Behind a massive desk, Karl saw Principal Dumbledore; he was sitting on a high-backed chair, smiling as he looked at him.
"The strongest White Robe Maiar of Middle-earth, the First Guardian Mage of Azeroth, the Chief Summoner of Runeterra."
"Mr. Karl Olin, your arrival is most welcome."
Karl: ( ￣ ﹏ ￣ ; )
Great! He was already curling his toes in embarrassment!