The Necronomicon, having absorbed its fill of life force, gradually became more lustrous as its originally dry, stuck-together pages grew supple.
Since the book was extremely thick—larger than an Oxford dictionary—Ethan simply sat cross-legged, placed the hammer that echoed with soul wails on the ground with a clang, and began reading with great interest.
The following pages contained mostly the book owner's daily research and travel journals—exploring villages where evil beings had truly been summoned, investigating why ancient castle walls always creaked ominously, or climbing those towering, bizarre mountains that drove men mad.
Definitely a fitness enthusiast. Could probably punch ten Voldemorts with one fist.
"How wonderful..." Ethan was filled with envy. Though they were memoirs, the text and illustrations gave Ethan much food for thought. Inspiration +1!
Finally, Ethan saw Mr Black's handwriting:
[I can finally keep my daughter in human form during full moon nights—but it's not enough.]
[Her blood still contains filthy werewolf blood! How can the pure Black family bloodline tolerate such impurity?!]
Reading this, Ethan frowned. Truly an old-school pure-blood family. Quite obsessed with bloodlines. Stereotypes confirmed once again.
[My ultimate goal is to completely purge the dirty, polluted blood from my daughter's veins—]
[I've studied this Necronomicon all night and made an astounding discovery!]
[However, this research is extremely precious and cannot be casually shown to outsiders. I've stored it all in the Black family mansion, where only recognised individuals can obtain it.]
Ethan stared at the page: "???" That's it?
He couldn't believe it as he flipped through the remaining pages, only to find the guy had actually left it hanging there!
Damn it, what exactly did you discover?! Did you learn cliffhangers from serial novelists?!
Ethan took a deep breath to calm himself, muttering, "The Black family mansion... looks like I'll have to make a trip there."
Perfect. I'm also curious about this Mr Black, who'd produced so much research, and his daughter.
The Black family ancestral home had now become the Order of the Phoenix headquarters opposing Voldemort, existing in secret.
"If I directly tell Professor Lupin or old Dumbledore that I want to visit the Black mansion, they'd probably investigate my background thoroughly..." Ethan mused.
"But fortunately, besides them, I have another option—a better one: Sirius Black!"
Ethan's eyes sparkled as his face showed a kind smile. "Perfect timing that you've escaped; it saves me from having to fish you out of prison. Surely Sirius would love to go home—his mother's portrait is waiting for him!"
Ethan sprang to his feet, pumping his fist: "Then the next operation shall be named 'Sirius Capture'—ahem, no. It's the 'Sirius Welcome Plan'!"
A young wizard's business couldn't be called capture, could it?
Just then, a piece of paper suddenly fell from the book pages, sliding down smooth as silk. It floated down, caught by Ethan's magic.
[You obtained extraordinary material "A Corner of Territory".]
[Though not large, it's a piece of land you can carry in your pocket.]
[Said to originate from a lord who always wanted to control the land beneath his feet—he succeeded.]
[Painting on it allows immediate deployment, drawing nearby creatures into the artwork.]
[Soul fusion increased by 1%]
Whoosh! Ethan's previously depleted magic instantly refilled. He was revitalised, making even his hair strands gleam!
"Ahh—comfortable!" Ethan half-closed his eyes, sighing contentedly.
Then he looked down at the paper in his hand—[A Corner of Territory]. It was equivalent to an ancient mobile battlefield!
"Good stuff!" Ethan exclaimed delightedly, stroking this palm-sized soft canvas. "Though the canvas isn't as large as a mural, being portable and deployable anytime makes it perfect for surprise attacks!"
"Maybe I can use it as material for capturing Sirius..." Ethan pondered, satisfaction evident as he pocketed the [Corner of Territory].
Finally glancing at the faint golden light in the deepest mist at the end of that rushing river, he turned back, picked up his hammer, and walked toward the door he'd entered through.
Tonight's trip was incredibly rewarding!
Meanwhile, in the forest not far from Luna's house, a group of village residents huddled trembling in the bushes, staring in terror at the pure white door formed by the giant serpent.
Earlier, piercing screams had emerged from within. Combined with the deathly cold seeping out, they were even more convinced: This was the legendary gate to the underworld!
"Has it finally come to summoning demons—" the lead wizard swallowed hard, showing determination in his eyes!
"Fellows, don't be afraid! We can't let this continue! We must rise up! Must stop this evil plan from manifesting!"
"Stop the evil plan!" the surrounding wizards rallied themselves.
Just then, the door rumbled open. Everyone held their breath, but what emerged wasn't some terrifying demon—rather a masked figure carrying a silver-white hammer.
Gurgle gurgle. Several blood-red eyeballs on the hammer rotated simultaneously. Sizzle sizzle—their vision stuttered, beginning to distort and flash various colours.
Then the masked figure seemed to sense them looking over. Wind shifted the veil, revealing half a jaw—they saw those lips slowly curve upward, like a predator spotting prey.
"Ah, ahhhhhh!" Screams immediately echoed through the forest.
Outside the door, watching several people flee in panic, Ethan lifted his "Goddess's Skirt", blinked, and sighed: "So shy..."
I originally wanted to greet these villagers, but oh well. Next time.
Several days later, Ethan arranged to meet Harry, who was staying at the Leaky Cauldron, to browse Diagon Alley together and buy school supplies.
"Oh, Ethan! Long time no see—" Harry greeted him hesitantly.
Looking at Ethan, he finally couldn't help asking, "Did you take a dragon-hunting job?"
Ethan was dressed in full gear—wearing a wide-brimmed hat, leather armour, and high boots, with a gleaming silver spear on his back and chains at his waist.
He looked less like someone shopping in Diagon Alley and more like someone hunting dangerous creatures there. Standing on Diagon Alley's cobblestones, he was practically a landmark.
Harry had already noticed all the young ladies around them kept glancing back at Ethan—even more attention than Gilderoy Lockhart had attracted last year.
Good brother Ron, you're my eternal companion! Harry thought, uncomfortably shrinking his neck under all the stares.
Ethan was completely oblivious—if anything, he'd find it strange if he wasn't getting attention.
"Half right, Harry," Ethan said, rattling the chains at his waist. His handsome face broke into a dazzling smile that made surrounding girls gasp: "I'm going to catch a 'big black dog.' It might be as troublesome as a dragon."
'Oh, so Ethan even catches his pets fresh,' Harry thought, nodding agreeably: "Then let's browse the bookshop first.'
Entering the third year meant electives and more books to buy.
"So did you end up choosing Divination, Ethan?" Harry asked.
Near the end of the second term, Harry remembered Ethan agonising over whether to take Divination. His exact words were: "What if I study for a whole term and don't grow a third eye?"
Harry suspected that wasn't a metaphor.
"No, I didn't choose it," Ethan said lightly. "I finally realised I don't need to enrol to attend classes—if I'm interested, I can still audit them. Just without the final exam."
Harry was immediately filled with respect. Even wanting to audit! Is this what academic excellence looks like?!
They'd all chosen courses by the skin of their teeth.
Chatting, they reached Flourish and Blotts. Ethan politely told the thick-gloved, dishevelled clerk, "I'd like to buy The Monster Book of Monsters."
The clerk immediately looked like he was attending a funeral.
Ethan watched the brown furry books squawking in their cage, murmuring, "If I become a professor, I'll choose such interesting textbooks—I could even write them myself!"
"Haha, whatever makes you happy," Harry replied.
Regardless of whether such a future happens, by the time I graduate Hogwarts as an adult, I'll definitely be spared such blessings.
"Here." The clerk grabbed a constantly snapping Monster Book, looking dead inside as he handed it to Ethan: "Be careful! It bites—"
The clerk's eyes suddenly widened. The Monster Book that had been desperately biting in his hands immediately became docile in Ethan's!
Like a little cat, purring contentedly.
The clerk stared in shock: "?!!"
How does this book even change behaviour like that?!
Under the clerk's amazed gaze, Ethan stroked the Monster Book's thick cover, smiling gently: "Hehe, so well-behaved."
The Monster Book trembled, not daring to move.
Besides the Monster Book, Ethan also bought Beginner's Guide to Ancient Runes, Ancient Rune Translation Guide for Ancient Runes class, Unfogging the Future for Divination, Intermediate Transfiguration, and others.
"Hey!" Harry suddenly called out, pointing to a book titled Death Omens. "This says seeing black dogs is the most ominous sign possible! Bar none."
Ethan glanced at the book's cover—a black dog the size of a bear that indeed looked quite "ominous".
"In that case, if we released dozens of black dogs onto enemies during battle, wouldn't they all die?" Ethan asked.
Harry stared at him speechlessly: "..."
He still felt vaguely uneasy. The wanted poster for Sirius was coincidentally posted on the opposite wall—that wild, screaming appearance fully displayed him as a vicious madman.
Minister Fudge had warned him that Sirius was Voldemort's loyal follower who escaped specifically to kill him!
Ethan watched the tense Harry and snapped his fingers. Meeting Harry's terrified gaze, he smiled: "Don't worry, Harry." Ethan turned, his silver spear nearly skewering Harry.
"I'll capture the 'omen'—prove that I'm the strongest harbinger of doom!"
Ethan's eyes sparkled with heroic vigour.
Harry immediately felt reassured. Even Sirius in the newspaper clipping seemed less threatening now.
With Ethan around, even the most formidable "omen" could only surrender with four paws in the air.