Harry Potter: The Wizard of Apocalypse

Ian spent most of Saturday in the library, except for going to the Great Hall to have a quick bite.

It was not until the evening that Ian returned to the dormitory with a feeling of unfulfilled desire. He cherished the current peaceful study time, as he was afraid that it would not be so peaceful in two years.

Although Ian believed that Dumbledore would arrange everything and Hogwarts might still be safe, he feared that it would no longer be peaceful.

After returning to the dormitory, he found that his two roommates were not there at the moment. Ian was too lazy to care about them. After washing up early, he lay down on the bed. Not only did he lower his bed curtains, but he also cast a Silencing Charm to ensure that he could rest peacefully without being disturbed.

At this point, Ian couldn't help but feel lucky that he was sorted into Ravenclaw by the Sorting Hat. Unlike the energetic and noisy Gryffindors, the best thing about Ravenclaws was that they could judge the situation—or in layman's terms, they had good instincts.

The simplest example was that when Ian let down the bed curtains that signified rest, no one was foolish enough to disturb him. Even the unusually jumpy Andre behaved properly in this regard.

…

Thanks to his early rest, Ian got up early, dressed neatly, and went straight to the Gryffindor common room. He had not forgotten that today was the day he and Hermione had agreed to study Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration notes together.

Ian took his notebook and the gift he had prepared for her, then pushed the door open and left the dormitory.

Although it was already past eight in the morning, the castle was still a little cold since it was Sunday.

The benefit was obvious—he didn't have to squeeze through the staircases with other students, saving him a lot of time.

Although the Gryffindor common room was on the eighth floor, Ravenclaw's was in the castle's northernmost tower, so even without climbing extra stairs, there was still a long distance between them.

When Ian saw the famous portrait of the Fat Lady, he knew he had reached his destination.

Because it was early, he had planned to wait for Hermione outside the Gryffindor common room from the beginning and have a chat with the Fat Lady. After all, what kind of true Harry Potter fan would he be if he didn't chat with the Fat Lady?

"A Ravenclaw boy, hi there! Want to come in?"

Just as Ian stopped, the Fat Lady asked impatiently.

"Thank you, but no need. I'm just waiting for someone here," Ian replied politely.

"Waiting for someone? Then you'll be waiting for a while. The earliest the Gryffindor common room opens on Sundays is after nine. Don't expect them to get up early when they're on holiday."

However, after hearing Ian's answer, the Fat Lady excitedly continued, "It's still a long time before nine o'clock. I just happen to be rehearsing a new opera. Do you want me to sing it for you?"

Rather than asking Ian, the Fat Lady seemed to be talking to herself. Before Ian could say anything, she cleared her throat, preparing to start singing. Ian just let it go. It would be too ungentlemanly to argue with a portrait.

"Creak!"

The door to the Gryffindor common room opened from the inside, and a slender figure walked out. Seeing Ian waiting outside, the person was clearly a little stunned—perhaps not understanding why a Ravenclaw was blocking the entrance so early in the morning.

"Good morning, Prefect Weasley." Compared to the other's stunned expression, Ian recognized him immediately.

The iconic red hair, the slightly worn but immaculately pressed second-hand robes, and the Prefect badge polished to a shine—there was only one person at Hogwarts who fit this description: Percy Weasley, the newly appointed fifth-year Prefect.

The words "Prefect Weasley" seemed to strike a chord in Percy's heart. He quickly composed himself and said in a formal tone, "I remember you. You're a third-year transfer student from Ravenclaw this year, Mr. Titus."

Then, in his usual rhythmic way of speaking, he continued, "Might I ask what brings you to the entrance of the Gryffindor common room? As a Prefect, I am more than willing to assist younger students."

Ian wasn't surprised by Percy's politeness. It wasn't just because the Weasley family was generally kind-hearted but also because of the title "Prefect Weasley."

From Ian's observations, it seemed that Percy was also being more accommodating because Ian was a Ravenclaw—and Ravenclaw had a new female Prefect this year: the ever-popular Penelope Clearwater.

Summarizing his thoughts, Ian directly stated his purpose:

"Thank you, Prefect Weasley. I have an appointment with Miss Granger, but I arrived a little early, so I decided to wait for her at the door."

"First-year student, Miss Hermione Granger?" Percy suddenly looked at Ian with an amused expression.

Before Ian could explain, Percy smirked knowingly and said:

"In fact, Gryffindor and Ravenclaw make a rather good match. Oh, of course, I mean in terms of personality. We have courage and daring, while you have intelligence and wisdom. Together, we complement each other perfectly."

Now it was Ian's turn to look at Percy strangely.

Although Ian knew that this was around the time Percy was pursuing Penelope Clearwater, it was still amusing to be on the receiving end of such a knowing look. Without hesitation, Ian chose revenge.

He stared at Percy in silence for several seconds.

Perhaps Percy wasn't quite thick-skinned enough at this age. After being stared at for a few moments, he quickly became uncomfortable.

"Ahem…" Percy coughed lightly to cover his awkwardness before continuing:

"You may as well wait inside the common room. Gryffindor is just as hospitable as Ravenclaw, and we wouldn't turn away visitors from other Houses."

"Thank you, Prefect Weasley." Ian did not refuse the offer. He was genuinely curious about seeing the Gryffindor common room up close—until now, he had only seen it on-screen.

Percy nodded. "You're welcome. Follow me."

With that, he turned and led the way through the passage in the mural. The Fat Lady, perhaps choosing to be tactful, pretended not to notice Ian's entry.

As Ian stepped inside, he finally saw the legendary Gryffindor common room.

The four Hogwarts Houses represent the four classical elements, and Gryffindor corresponds to fire. But this fire was not destructive—it was the warm fire of the sun.

Just like Godric Gryffindor himself, who had once walked the British Isles with a wand in one hand and a sword in the other, bringing light and hope to struggling wizards. He was like a rising sun, radiating warmth and brilliance.

Thus, the Gryffindor common room was a perfectly circular room, with decor in warm colors: plush scarlet carpets, orange sofas, and an inviting atmosphere.

If it were winter, one could light the fireplace, brew a cup of warm black tea, and feel completely at ease in such a cozy setting.

Ian also noticed a portrait of Professor McGonagall inside the common room.

Even though it depicted her as a young woman, it was still a pleasant surprise.

In the painting, Professor McGonagall wore golden-red robes and held a witch's hat in her hands. A black cat sat at her feet.

Upon noticing Ian's gaze, the younger McGonagall blinked at him.

"You can wait here. I've asked someone to notify Hermione—I'm sure she'll be down soon," Percy said before turning to leave.

Ian, of course, expressed his sincere thanks before finding a seat in the corner.

He placed the gift box on the coffee table in front of him and waited.

...

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