https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-35-Professor-Moriarity-and-Alchemy/12572155/
Chapter 34: Professor Moriaty
Chapter 34: Professor Moriaty
"Thump—Thump—Thump—"
His heart pounded violently, his damp clothes clung to his body, and the cold wind chilled him to the bone.
This was the closest Vid had come to death since his rebirth.
In the plot, first-year Harry Potter easily faced off against the horcrux version of Voldemort as if it were a game, but that was because he was protected by his mother's magic. If it were the current Vid, even with ten times the number of spells Harry knew, discovery by Voldemort would likely mean certain death.
Reborn, Vid did not fear death overly much. But he could accept dying for a great purpose or to protect those he loved. What he couldn't accept was dying for such a ridiculous reason—being silenced because he had inadvertently overheard the villain's secret, perishing as if he were dispensable and insignificant.
Fearing he would encounter Quirrell again if he left, Vid hid on this concealed platform for a long time. Unknowingly, he dozed off, leaning against the wall. When he suddenly jolted awake, he realized it was nearly dawn, and the sky was still dim.
The Quidditch pitch was long deserted, and in the vast campus, there was only one adult wizard with silver-white hair walking by the Black Lake—probably a professor, but not Dumbledore, as he lacked the long white beard.
Vid couldn't make out the person's face, but he didn't mind as long as it wasn't Quirrell. He pushed himself off the wall, his head feeling heavy and his body swaying unsteadily.
Bad.
Vid thought to himself, reaching up to touch his forehead—it didn't feel overly hot, but his palm was scalding. With each breath, hot air scorched his nostrils, giving Vid the illusion that if he placed an egg beside him, he could cook it with his own body heat.
Vid climbed through the window into an empty classroom and dragged his weary body towards the infirmary. Most of the portraits in the corridor were asleep, but there was also a young, red-haired wizard idly leaning on his frame, staring into space. Upon spotting Vid, his eyes lit up, and he asked curiously, "What's wrong? Are you ill?"
"Why aren't you in your common room at night?"
"Madame Pomfrey is probably still asleep! Do you need me to wake her up for you?"
"Haha, just kidding! There's no portrait of me in her bedroom."
"Why aren't you talking? Acknowledge me, please! It's boring being the only one awake."
Vid had no energy to spare for this chatterbox, but the red-haired wizard persistently followed him through several frames, continuing his incessant prattle without finding it awkward that he received no response. It was clear that the original owner of this portrait was an incorrigible chatterbox.
Only when they reached a long stretch of corridor without any portraits did the red-haired wizard reluctantly give up. He still shouted from a distance, "You must not have many friends with that personality! Come find me when you're feeling better! I can keep you company!"
Vid's head throbbed from the fever, and he felt like prying his skull open to relieve the pressure. The wizard's incessant babbling only added to his annoyance, distracting him. It was only when Vid noticed that there was another set of footsteps in the corridor, apart from his own, that he realized how close the sound was!
—Just around the corner!!!
Vid's entire body stiffened.
His instinct was to dodge, but his sluggish body didn't react in time.
"Thump!"
The footsteps drew closer...
"Thump!"
The world seemed to shrink before his eyes, his vision blurring. Only his hearing remained sharp.
"Thump!"
A figure appeared from around the corner.
"What's wrong, child?" someone asked.
But Vid's mind felt like rusty gears, and he didn't respond for a long moment.
"Oh, you're burning up a bit." The person gently pushed him. "Come with me, child—over here—fortunately, my office is nearby.
The silvery-white hair swayed before his eyes, resembling Dumbledore, causing Vid to lower his guard.
...
Minutes later, Vid held an empty cup, steam still rising from his ears, and stared blankly at the wizard before him, giving him a foolish appearance.
The figure who suddenly appeared in the corridor was neither Quirrell nor Dumbledore, as he had feared, but a strange male wizard. He looked to be at least eighty years old, wearing a deep blue robe, his silver-white hair neatly combed, and no beard. Notably, he wore a Muggle shirt and trousers under his robe, and his tie was perfectly knotted—a feat rarely achieved by wizards—and a peculiarly styled, gold-rimmed pair of glasses hung from his chest pocket.
When this wizard had appeared in the corridor, noticing Vid's poor condition, he had brought him to his office and offered a stimulant. It had to be said that it was much more effective than the potions from the school infirmary. After drinking it, Vid's muddled head immediately felt much clearer, aside from the steam still rising from his ears; everything else felt fine. He could also see his surroundings more clearly.
This was a round room, brightly lit by a dozen or so magic lamps of various sizes. Many peculiar and interesting trinkets adorned the shelves and tables. A golden hourglass slowly turned, its sand trickling down; a series of small crystal balls were strung together by silver metal wires, their colorful radiance brightening and dimming as if they were breathing; and on a nearby cabinet sat a highly detailed miniature mansion, inhabited by thumb-sized people and an even smaller dog. They went about their daily lives, performing tasks like drawing water and cooking.
There were also some Muggle technological creations in the room—a refrigerator, an oven, a television, a computer, a washing machine, and even a disassembled car engine.
This was truly one of the strangest rooms Vid had ever seen.
The wizard who had brought him here was now fiddling with a radio, and soon, a woman's enthusiastic voice emanated from it—
"Good morning, dear listeners, busy wizards! It's time for 'Magic Time' with your favorite host, Grenda Chitwick. First, let's enjoy a new song released by Settina Wabeck—'You Stole My Pot but You Won't Get My Heart'..."
"Oh, just in time," the male wizard muttered. Turning with a benevolent smile, he asked, "Are you feeling better, child?"
"Yes, I'm much better now. Thank you for your help, sir." Vid asked cautiously, "May I ask who you are?"
"I am Professor Terence Moriarty, the Alchemy professor. If you can achieve 'Outstanding' in Charms, Transfiguration, and Ancient Runes, and 'Exceeds Expectations' in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, and Potions in your O.W.L.s, you will be able to take my class in your sixth year. You like alchemy, don't you, child?"
Glancing down, the professor noticed the book, On the Diversity of Species, half-protruding from Vid's bag. Vid quickly pushed it back in and said, "Yes, Professor, I'm self-studying alchemy."
"This content may be a bit advanced for you. You should start with the basics, such as the Phonetic Guide to Magic."
"I've already memorized the Phonetic Guide to Magic, sir. I've also studied the Magic Symbol Collection, the Runic Dictionary, and the Ancient Runes Beginner's Guide. Additionally, I've read Mr. Nick Leme's Introduction to Alchemy and Analytical Alchemy."
Professor Moriarty was stunned.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
