On the Hogwarts "extra-slow" train—of course, it was an ultra-slow train, with a speed of only sixty to eighty kilometers per hour; who would call it an express?—Draco and his three followers went car by car, searching for Solim. Hermione was doing the same with Neville. They hadn't been able to contact Solim during the holidays, so they boarded the train to find out what had happened to him.
But their search was doomed. The person they were looking for never boarded the train. Solim couldn't stand wasting seven or eight hours doing nothing, and sitting on a train for that long was unbearable. There was simply no way he would do it while in school.
This time, Solim had arrived in Hogsmeade via the Floo Network from Diagon Alley. It was convenient, saving both time and effort. He wouldn't be foolish enough to squeeze into a train again. Though using the Floo Network could be a terrible experience, it was still preferable to wasting hours on the train.
Solim was very satisfied with this Christmas holiday. His sister's affairs had been settled, and Selna would be able to attend Hogwarts next semester without incident. Although the next semester might bring some danger, Solim wasn't too worried. As long as she stayed with a large group and didn't wander off, nothing would happen, and he would be able to explain everything to Selna when the time came.
The gifts that Gilvez had given Solim were far too generous. In the end, under Elrond's strong insistence, Solim had taken the magic potion at the end of the Christmas holiday. According to Elrond, the most precious things should be given to those who needed them most.
Selna was out of danger, and no one would attack her. But Solim's situation was different. The Ritchie family and other wizards who relied on their influence were Solim's enemies. Therefore, his urgency to increase his strength was far higher than Selna's. In this situation, taking potions was clearly more appropriate for Solim.
After all, in Elrond's view, Selna was still a girl, and girls would eventually marry. Moreover, witches rarely participated in battles in the wizarding world. Fighting and dying were essentially the responsibility of wizards. Even if Selna became a great witch, her strength would be mostly for show, and she would rarely be of practical use in combat.
Solim, however, was different. He was a boy—bastard or not—and still a member of the Selwyn family. Once Selna married, she would no longer be part of the Selwyn family. It was annoying, patriarchal, and profit-driven, but the environment of the wizarding world was like this. It was understandable that Elrond considered these factors when advising Solim.
At the start-of-term dinner, Draco boasted to Solim about the reward Lucius Malfoy had promised him: next term, Malfoy would sponsor the Slytherin Quidditch team with seven Nimbus brooms. Draco had impressed his father by demonstrating a silent Disarming Charm, which thrilled Lucius. Shouting that the Malfoy family had not shamed their ancestors, Lucius exclaimed that Draco was a prodigy and agreed to sponsor Slytherin's Quidditch team.
Seven high-end brooms were no small expense. If the ordinary "Sweeper" series was like an old Jetta, and the Comet series was like a Poussin, then the Nimbus series was the BMW of brooms. Only a wealthy pure-blood like Malfoy could afford seven top-of-the-line Nimbus brooms. It was easy to understand why students were so impressed when Slytherin had seven elite brooms in second year.
"Nimbus 2000?" Solim asked, uninterested in Quidditch or brooms but aware of the basics.
"No, no, no," Draco replied, shaking his fingers proudly. "Nimbus 2001. It hasn't been released yet, but our academy will definitely have it next year."
Then Draco's tone shifted strangely. "By the way," he said to Solim, "my dad said it's very difficult to get in touch with someone like you, isn't it?"
Solim knew immediately. Draco must have tried contacting him during the holidays. But outsiders' owls could never approach Selwyn Castle. Solim had instructed that any letter to Elrond at school be delivered in a way that would prevent the owl from being expelled. The house-elves of the Selwyn family had a daily task: expel any owl flying toward the castle unless it carried a special emblem. It wasn't aggression—it was defensive.
Roaring letters were nothing new in the wizarding world. But what if the letter included more than a human voice? A recording of a ripe mandrake, for instance? Anyone who heard it would die. Killing with howl letters was a known method, and the Selwyn family took precautions seriously.
After dinner, Solim was stopped by Filch. Listening to the caretaker's request, Solim remained silent for a long moment. Snape's potion did work on Filch, of course, but with time, new problems had emerged. Filch was old; unlike young squibs, whose magic power could be easily released after a potion, Filch had much more magic sealed within himself. To activate it fully, he would need more courses of Snape's potion.
After confirming that the potion was working, Solim left Filch alone. Filch could now access some of his magic, but far less than his total capacity. Snape, not being warmhearted, didn't bother with such details, so Filch came to Solim seeking help.
Now the question was whether Solim would help Filch. Potions required rare materials, and each bottle cost nearly fifty Galleons. To fully release Filch's magic, at least a dozen courses would be needed.
"Argus," Solim said after a moment of deliberation, "I understand your situation. You want medicine, but you must provide the materials yourself. You know my situation—I don't have much money. If you can supply the materials or the cost, then I'm willing to help. Snape certainly won't pay for it himself."
Was Filch rich? Perhaps modestly, but Hogwarts staff salaries weren't high. Even considering years of savings and a frugal lifestyle, Filch would likely have enough for a few courses, but not enough to fully unlock his magic.
After dismissing Filch, Solim returned to the Slytherin common room. He knew the highlight of this year would be the upcoming battle with the treasure-guard team. At the end of the Christmas holiday, he had even bought a few buckets of popcorn, enchanted to stay warm until the battle began.
Solim was about to rest when Snape appeared unexpectedly.
"Get dressed. The Headmaster wants to see you," Snape said, noticing Solim staring blankly.
Solim took a deep breath. He had been prepared for this moment. He didn't doubt that Dumbledore would notice Filch's situation and would want to ensure Solim couldn't interfere with his plans. Solim knew he was fundamentally different from most Hogwarts students and that Dumbledore would investigate his actions thoroughly.
"Professor, wait a minute, I'll get something," Solim said. He knew this meeting was inevitable.
"Don't talk here!" Snape interrupted sharply. "Follow me and don't speak nonsense."
"There's no need to be so nervous, Professor," Solim replied, stepping quickly alongside Snape. "The Headmaster must know about this item—it's very special, and there are stories he would want to hear."
For the rest of the walk, Solim remained silent, imagining Snape's agitated mood. He could picture the young professor thinking of the woman he loved, planning what to say and predicting her reaction.
Though Solim had visited the eighth floor before, it had only been to see the legendary Room of Requirement. Now, for the first time, he approached the corridor outside the Headmaster's office. He sensed that he might visit this place more often in the future, and silently prepared himself for whatever awaited.
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