Qin Yu had visited Gringotts more than once, and the goblin clerks were as surly as ever.
Then again, perhaps that was just how their faces were made.
Hagrid handed over the key left to Harry by his parents, and then produced a letter in Dumbledore's own hand. The goblin clerk examined the letter, looked up, and said gravely,
"Sir, I must remind you, Gringotts boasts the most secure vaults in the world. I trust you're familiar with our security measures?"
"Oh, I know all about that," Hagrid replied with a nod.
"Then are you certain you wish to retrieve that item?" the goblin pressed, his tone solemn.
"Yes, we have our reasons," Hagrid answered, resolute.
"Very well… Griphook, escort these gentlemen to the vaults." The clerk summoned a goblin guide.
And so, Griphook led Hagrid, Qin Yu, and Harry down into the depths of the bank.
…
When Griphook opened Harry's vault, the boy was left speechless. Mounds of gold Galleons, silver Sickles, and bronze Knuts gleamed before him—a silent testament to his family's wealth. The sight only deepened his curiosity about his origins.
But Hagrid didn't know much either. He simply remarked that the Potter family was well-off, and mentioned something about the Blacks—a name Harry had never heard before.
"All right, just take what you need. Leave the rest; you won't use it all," Qin Yu said, a touch envious of this wealthy orphan.
Still, given Harry's loss, any words of envy felt a bit out of place.
Qin Yu scooped two handfuls of Galleons, a handful of Sickles, and a handful of Knuts into Harry's pouch. He didn't bother counting—Gringotts would keep track. When it came to money, goblin banks were nothing if not reliable.
With coin in his pocket, Harry seemed to stand a little taller. As they boarded the rickety Gringotts cart, he turned to Qin Yu and Hagrid, nerves and excitement warring in his voice.
"Qin, Hagrid, I—I'll treat you both to something to eat later…"
"No, no, Harry, don't even mention food—I'll be sick for sure…" Hagrid groaned, green around the gills from the cart's wild twists and turns.
Qin Yu handled the ride much better. He leaned over and began telling Harry about various shops:
"There are a few places I've tried with my… er, sister. Each has its own unique flavor. But the dishes with rare ingredients are pricey—like anything with dragon liver. Those start at one or two Galleons a plate. Dragon liver alone runs over ten Sickles an ounce, so you can imagine the cost."
Harry didn't really grasp wizarding prices yet, but he could tell dragon liver must be something extravagant.
"Wait, Qin, you have a sister?" Harry perked up, his eyes shining with curiosity.
Qin was the first wizard his age that Harry had met—and someone he already admired. Naturally, he hoped to meet Qin's family, too.
If Harry knew a bit about Eastern culture, he'd realize this feeling was called "loving even the crows on the roof of the one you like."
"Oh, Qin, you mean Hermione, right?" Hagrid chimed in, grinning.
"Hermione? Is her last name Qin, too?" Harry asked, puzzled.
"No, her surname's Granger…" Qin Yu replied, a little helpless.
"Why? Don't you have the same last name?" Harry pressed, genuinely confused.
"Because… like you, I'm also staying with another family." Qin Yu shrugged.
"…"
Harry was stunned. He'd never expected to share such a bond with Qin Yu.
Still, from Qin Yu's tone, it was clear he got along well with this "sister" Hermione. A pang of envy stirred in Harry's heart—his own cousin Dudley was more enemy than family.
The conversation carried them all the way to the vault where Hagrid had business: Vault 713.
…
This vault was protected by powerful spells—impossible for ordinary folk to open. Griphook gave them a little speech about just how unbreakable it was.
Qin Yu had to stifle a laugh. He almost wished he had a magical camera to record Griphook's words—perfect for a bit of poetic justice later. Alas, no such luck.
When the vault swung open, there was no gold, no silver, no coins at all—just a small brown paper package, its contents a mystery.
Of course, Qin Yu knew exactly what it was. Inside lay the legendary Philosopher's Stone—the ultimate prize of alchemy, said to turn stone to gold and grant immortality!
"What's that?" Harry finally blurted, unable to contain his curiosity any longer.
He knew he shouldn't ask, and that Hagrid probably wouldn't answer anyway, but he just couldn't help himself.
Sure enough, Hagrid replied mysteriously,
"Sorry, Harry, I can't tell you what it is. Now, it's getting late—we'd best be off."
But Qin Yu didn't budge. Instead, he looked Harry dead in the eye and said, enunciating every word:
"Harry, that's the Philosopher's Stone!"
He didn't even know why he said it—maybe it was just an impulse, a desire to see what would happen if he broke the rules.
He caught the frown creasing Hagrid's brow, and the blank confusion on Harry's face—clearly, Harry hadn't a clue what the Philosopher's Stone was.
Before those expressions faded from his mind, everything spun.
Suddenly, Qin Yu was back in the speeding cart.
"Why? Don't you have the same last name?" Harry's voice rang out, just as before.
The scene was exactly the same.
"Because… like you, I'm also staying with another family." Qin Yu answered automatically.
He shook his head, trying to clear the strange sensation.
Harry looked just as surprised and silent as before.
The cart screeched to a halt at Vault 713 again. Griphook launched into his speech about their unbeatable security.
When Hagrid picked up the paper package, Harry asked, "What's that?"
Before Hagrid could reply, Qin Yu blurted again,
"Harry, that's the Philosopher's Stone!"
Hagrid's scowl. Harry's confusion.
Spin.
Back in the cart.
"Why? Don't you have the same last name?"
"Because… like you, I'm also staying with another family."
"…"
"We're about to get the Philosopher's Stone!"
Spin. Return.
"Why…"
"Because she's my wife!"
"Huh?"
"Hagrid's getting the Philosopher's Stone!"
Return.
"Why…"
"We're going to get the Philosopher's Stone!"
Return.
And so it went. Qin Yu found himself stuck in a time loop, testing again and again what would happen if he said the words "Philosopher's Stone." Every time, without fail, time rewound, and he was back in the cart, facing Harry's question.
A few times, he was so bored he gave nonsense answers—didn't matter. The moment he said "Philosopher's Stone," time reset.
There was no doubt—Qin Yu was caught in a time loop.
The reason? He'd tried to reveal a secret he wasn't meant to share.
Ding!
Host, you have attempted this 38 times. Further attempts are pointless. Special reminder: The Philosopher's Stone is a Level One Associated Item. Until the relevant event reaches the necessary stage, you cannot reveal information about it to others.
The system's voice would pop up now and then as Qin Yu was forced through the loop, reminding him of the rules.
"I get it. After so many loops, my brain feels scrambled," Qin Yu muttered.
It was like acting out the same movie scene dozens of times, or having the same dream over and over. If this kept up, he worried he might actually lose his mind.
"By the way, did I say anything weird just now?" Qin Yu asked in his mind.
"Weird? Does 'child husband' count?" the system replied.
"…How could I say something so ridiculous?!" Qin Yu was mortified.
"Perhaps your mind was a bit overstimulated, leading to a temporary loss of control over your language center," the system offered.
"Yeah, I really wasn't in control of my mouth just now," Qin Yu admitted.
All right, one last time—erase the nonsense, keep it clean.
Though it seemed long, the exchange with the system happened in a heartbeat.
On his thirty-ninth loop, Qin Yu grabbed the Philosopher's Stone before Hagrid could, and told Harry,
"Don't ask. It's just something important."
After the final spin, Qin Yu kept his mouth shut and, when Hagrid retrieved the Stone, didn't say a word about what it was.
"All right, time to go. Still loads to buy," Hagrid urged them on.
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
Explore More Amazing Fanfiction on My Patreon!
Unlock 30+ Advance Chapters and Enjoy Exclusive Stories Early!
��patreon.com/GoldenLong