That emblem, though dim, still carried the pride of the House of Black.
And Ethan's demonic whisper.
It was as if an invisible giant hand had gripped his body.
He was, after all, only a teenager of about ten years old.
Yet, standing before Sirius, he made this untamed, battle-hardened man feel a monarch's authority!
After a long silence,
Sirius lowered his head.
Clenching his fists, he said hoarsely:
"I severed ties with the mad and incompetent House of Black long ago... Don't try to pressure me with that thing."
"But,"
Sirius raised his head and looked directly into Ethan's eyes:
"If you swear not to harm Harry and not to join Lord Voldemort, I will take you to the ancestral home."
Now,
the person Sirius cared about most in this world was his godson, Harry.
It was all because he had changed the Secret-Keeper that Harry had indirectly lost his parents.
A flicker of pain crossed Sirius's eyes.
As for Dumbledore... Sirius thought,
if this kid really had the ability to attack Dumbledore,
then the throne of the third Dark Lord was his to take.
Ethan immediately replied, "Of course. I can swear."
He wasn't the Dark Lord from the prophecy, after all.
As a kind and righteous person, how could he do something to harm the Savior?
Let alone ally with Lord Voldemort.
It would be a complete degradation of his status!
He was the esteemed Mr. Lamp.
Ethan raised his hand: "I swear: I will never ally with Lord Voldemort."
"As 'Ethan Vincent,' I will never harm Harry Potter."
As "Ethan Vincent"?
Sirius frowned, instinctively finding it a bit strange.
But then, he scoffed at himself.
Could Ethan possibly have a second identity?
Spending so many years in Azkaban had made him paranoid.
He watched a faint glow wrap around Ethan's arm.
And disappear.
Then he completely relaxed.
He said:
"Alright. As long as you find an opportunity to leave Hogwarts, I can take you to the ancestral home."
"No problem."
Ethan brought his index finger and thumb together, making an "OK" gesture.
Dementors guarded the entrances and exits.
And Apparition was forbidden at Hogwarts.
But he still had his Portal!
The Apparition ban had nothing to do with his Portal!
Ethan sighed leisurely:
"How kind I am. I didn't even think of carving out a bloody path for myself."
Sirius: "..."
This guy, he really has no self-awareness.
Having perfectly solved the problem of getting to the House of Black's ancestral home,
Ethan's lips curved into a joyful smile.
He planned to find a free holiday.
To thoroughly investigate the House of Black's ancestral home.
Ancient Magic, here I come!
Once I master this powerful magic,
what Goblins, what promotion to Gatekeeper...
they will all only be able to obediently be beaten to their knees by me, dragged home—cough, cough.
Stop, stop.
Ethan's heart was filled with anticipation.
He couldn't wait to share this joy with Headmaster Dumbledore.
However,
let's wait a bit!
Wait for the right moment to give his aged Headmaster a big surprise!
Ethan nodded confidently.
Looking at the filthy, sallow-faced Sirius,
he said cheerfully:
"My subordinate, your tramp-like style is avant-garde, but it would be better to tidy up."
Sirius: "..."
What a human thing to say.
Sirius chuckled: "Heh, what 'subordinate'!"
"At most, we're just partners, alright—" His words suddenly stopped.
His mouth hung open.
His eyes stared blankly at the table full of food that had suddenly appeared before him.
There were large platters of roasted chicken legs, fresh fruit, bread exuding the aroma of wheat... and even a full barrel of juice!
"Gulp!"
Sirius loudly swallowed, hearing his stomach, which had eaten nothing better than rat meat for years, rumble indignantly.
He looked up again.
And saw Ethan wave his wand.
The ground shook.
A bathtub large enough for ten people appeared under the snake sculpture.
Then,
steaming hot water gushed from the snake's mouth.
In a moment, it filled the tub.
Emitting clouds of hot steam.
Ethan smiled: "Conditions are limited, just make do."
Sirius: (mouth open)
Is this, could this be heaven?
No, no!
He wouldn't be so easily bought by mere external things—Ethan: "Oh, right. I'll give you a small makeover later. Tomorrow, I'll let you see Harry."
Just right.
He could let Sirius help Hagrid teach.
As soon as he heard the name "Harry,"
Sirius's eyes widened sharply.
His figure quickly transformed.
A large black dog appeared in his place.
Lying on his back, belly up.
He panted, sticking out his tongue at Ethan, his eyes sparkling.
He could go see Harry?!
Who said this master was bad? This master was too good!!!
"Woof! Woof!"
The next day.
The first day of school.
At breakfast, Ethan checked his timetable.
He had chosen Ancient Runes and Care of Magical Creatures.
Ravenclaw had no classes first thing in the morning.
Potions class, the first of the term, started at 10:15.
For most young wizards,
having Professor Snape's Potions class as the first class of the term made them want to die.
Michael slumped on the table, saying dejectedly:
"It's over."
"Professor Snape has been in a foul mood since the start of term, I don't know what potion he drank wrong."
"Last night, he even scolded a Slytherin first-year for stepping into the common room with his left foot first!
"That first-year almost transferred houses on the spot."
Ethan: "Hmm~ I wonder who annoyed him again."
As he spoke,
he calmly spread jam on his slice of bread.
Michael narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
He knew that
Ethan and Harry had been called to the headmaster's office together last night.
Just then,
"Ethan!"
Hermione ran over excitedly, her voice cheerful.
With a "bang," she slammed a thick stack of books onto the dining table.
Making the tableware clatter twice.
Michael: !!!
As expected of the top student in their year. Driven away by this academic aura,
the academic slacker Michael smoothly rolled away.
Hermione sat down, excitedly saying to Ethan:
"Can I see your timetable? Our Ancient Runes class should be together!"
Ethan chuckled: "Haha, then I'm looking forward to it."
He looked amusedly at the messy-haired girl.
Who was carefully holding his timetable as if it were a priceless treasure.
A thought flashed in his mind.
He asked:
"When is your Divination class?"
Hermione: "Today, first period at nine o'clock—Oh! You have no class at that time! Do you want to come with me?"
Hermione's eyes sparkled.
Her eager look reminded Ethan of a little squirrel begging for food.
He curved his eyes and nodded:
"Alright."
Hermione immediately cheered, raising her arms: "Yay!"
She sprang up and grabbed Ethan's sleeve:
"Then let's go quickly! Otherwise, we won't get the front row!"
After two months, she could finally attend class with Ethan again!
Hermione was very excited.
Ethan was also very curious.
Would the prophecy be different with his intervention?
However,
it was just going to crash a class, after all.
Nothing would happen.
"Ah, ah, ah! You, you are 'ominous'! Thoroughly 'ominous'!!!"
"Smash!"
The sound of a teacup shattering echoed in the silent classroom.
Amidst the swirling mist,
Ethan's eyebrows shot up.
He looked at Professor Trelawney, the Divination professor, who had fallen to the ground.
She looked as if she had seen the Dark Lord rise from this classroom.
Terrified to the extreme, her eyes were wide like a house-elf's.
She trembled, pointing her long, thin finger at him.
Ethan lowered his head shyly:
"It's not that ordinary."
Ominous?
It seems
your Inner Eye isn't open wide enough yet.
Under the dazed gazes of Harry, Ron, and the other students,
and Hermione's admiring eyes,
Ethan stood up.
With a flick of his wand, it transformed into a paintbrush.
Smiling, he slowly walked towards his dear Professor Trelawney.
Inner Eye not clear enough?
No problem, kind and helpful me is here to help!