Chapter 125, 123. Let me tell you a secret
Lynn seems to have had a stroke of good luck.
The day after the Sue witch incident, he, Cedric, and Ian finally succeeded in casting the modified Imperius Curse for the first time.
Because it was their first success, even after casting it, the effect seemed rather ordinary.
But with the first success, they would gradually become more skilled until they fully mastered it.
Although, Lynn didn't have much time left.
There was also his research on the spread of dark magic; Lynn had finally made a substantial breakthrough in this area.
He could now make his spells explode like fireworks after being cast.
The effect wasn't as exaggerated as Professor Fawkes's, but it was a significant start. No matter how small the expansion range, Lynn had managed to spread his spells, achieving the effect of area damage.
These two consecutive breakthroughs in magical research made Lynn exceptionally happy.
On the weekend noon, he specially went to the Hogwarts kitchen again to cook a big meal, not only to reward himself but also to treat Cedric and the others.
Lynn had truly worn them out. Putting everything else aside, just those two phrases, "Steamed buns, four for a dollar, hehe," and "Who the hell buys millet?!" were spoken with such perfect accents.
If they were hawking their wares on the streets of China, no one would guess they were foreigners just by their voices.
He wanted to call Hermione over, but the little girl mysteriously told him they were investigating a big secret and were busy at noon, to come find him in the afternoon.
Lynn estimated the time; he figured their so-called big secret was probably the secret meeting Snape and Quirrell had in the Forbidden Forest that afternoon, the day of the Quidditch match.
In other words, the opportunity he was waiting for wasn't far off.
Lynn has now basically completed all the preparations, the only thing that hasn't progressed is the Animagus transformation potion buried in the Forbidden Forest.
This truly depends on fate; no one knows when the storm Lynn has been eagerly anticipating will arrive.
He's been studying historical weather patterns in England and has concluded that the most likely time for a thunderstorm is in March or April.
If it doesn't rain by then, the Animagus transformation probably won't be completed before his plan is actually implemented. Even worse, if it doesn't rain by the end of the term, all the potion preparations will have to be redone. However, the Animagus
isn't essential for him right now; having it would only be a bonus, not a big deal, so Lynn isn't particularly insistent on it.
At noon, the three of them had a hearty meal by the Black Lake. Cedric, unusually playful, even tried to feed a grilled fish to the giant squid in the lake.
The young wizards of Hogwarts aren't afraid of the giant squid in the Black Lake.
Although it was large and frightening, every time new students enrolled, the upperclassmen would tell the young wizards that it was a kind squid.
It not only wouldn't harm students, but it would often help those who had fallen into the water.
It would even come out to play with the Weasley brothers when they swam in the Black Lake in the summer.
Cedric had been dangling a grilled fish by the lake for a long time when the squid actually swam up from the bottom and extended a tentacle to catch the fish.
Ian watched this scene with wide eyes.
He had only heard that squid living in the Black Lake were very docile, but today he had truly witnessed it.
They stayed by the Black Lake until the afternoon before parting ways.
Lynn didn't leave; he was still sitting by the Black Lake, sipping his pumpkin juice. Hermione was supposed to arrive
at the agreed time. Hermione arrived ten minutes early, a trait Lynn appreciated, as punctuality inspires trust.
"Lynn, you must keep your distance from Professor Snape!"
These were the first words the little girl said to Lynn upon seeing him. Her expression was serious, not joking.
But the more serious she seemed, the more Lynn wanted to laugh, because he knew what Hermione wanted to tell him.
Hermione carefully chose her words, afraid that Lynn would mistake her for the kind of person who would try to sow discord between him and the professor.
"Really, you must believe me. You told me to discern right from wrong myself, and everything I'm telling you is what Harry saw with his own eyes!"
Lynn nodded solemnly, pouring her a glass of pumpkin juice.
"Okay, of course I'll believe you."
Hermione took the pumpkin juice Lynn poured for her, took a sip, then hugged the glass to her chest and began to tell Lynn about their discoveries.
All their discoveries.
Including the three-headed dog in the fourth-floor corridor, the trapdoor guarded by the dog, and the Philosopher's Stone hidden inside the trapdoor.
"...Just a few days ago, right after the Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff match, Harry noticed Professor Snape's unusual behavior again. He secretly followed him to the Forbidden Forest on his broomstick and overheard Professor Snape and Professor Quirrell's conversation. He was threatening Professor Quirrell to take sides, trying to get the method to obtain the Philosopher's Stone from him!"
Lynn exclaimed in amazement.
"Wow! You guys are really amazing, secretly discovering so many secrets."
Hermione felt Lynn's praise was perfunctory, and she didn't believe her at all.
The little girl was a little angry.
"I'm not joking with you. Professor Snape is really highly suspicious. You have to be careful when you're with him, don't let him deceive you."
Lynn didn't respond to her question, but instead asked her another one.
"So, since you secretly knew so many secrets, didn't Harry and Ron tell you not to tell anyone?"
Hermione tilted her head.
"Of course they warned me, especially emphasizing that I shouldn't tell you these things, saying they were afraid you'd be influenced by Professor Snape and tell him everything we know."
"Then why did you tell me all this?"
Hermione seemed quite dissatisfied with Lynn's words.
"Of course I told you. Don't think I can't see through it. Harry and the others say they're afraid you'll tell on them to Professor Snape, but that's just an excuse. They're just keeping an eye on you. I stopped using these little tricks when I was six."
Lynn smiled, finding the little girl's angry expression amusing. He called out,
"Hermione."
"Hmm?"
"Have you thought about changing your hairstyle? Like… pigtails?"
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(End of Chapter)