Hogwarts: This wizard wants to make progress too much

Believe you? That'll be the day! That old codger is wicked to the core.

Ethan was certain that Dumbledore knew the instant he'd spoken the password and the stone statue opened the door.

Although Dumbledore was getting on in years, wizards were remarkably good at prolonging their lives. If he didn't want to die, he could easily outlive this generation of young wizards. (The Nicolas Flamel couple aside, the Daily Prophet had reported on someone even longer-lived: Armando Dippet, who at 300 years old was still serving as Headmaster of Hogwarts, even during Voldemort's time as a student.)

"Please, have a seat. Would you like something to eat?"

As he spoke, Dumbledore conjured up several kinds of sweets, the most eye-catching of which were the cockroach clusters still wriggling.

Ethan had seen cockroach clusters many times, but never eaten one.

Dumbledore, on the other hand, seemed to have a real fondness for them, proving himself to be a true devotee of all things sugary.

"No, thank you!"

Ethan accepted the grape juice but declined the sweets.

"Ethan, what do you think of Harry's performance lately?"

After putting all the sweets away, Dumbledore finally asked, unhurriedly.

"He's just like any other Gryffindor student, nothing special, except for being singled out by Professor Snape."

Ethan carefully recalled Harry's recent behavior, noting that since Christmas, he had settled down somewhat, aside from the occasional late-night wanderings.

The rest of the time, he mostly hung out with Ron, playing wizard chess, chatting about Quidditch—typical Gryffindor interests.

And then there were the occasional visits to Hagrid. Other than that, nothing out of the ordinary.

"Don't you think his life is too peaceful?"

"How so? Isn't that how all of us students are?"

Ethan looked at Dumbledore quizzically, wondering what he was up to now.

Why ask him about Harry?

He and Harry were certainly acquainted, but Ron was definitely his best friend.

The fool was me all along! I thought he was going to ask about my dealings with Quirrell, but it turns out he's concerned about Harry.

"Is it, really? Are you sure?"

Dumbledore looked at Ethan with a smile.

"Alright, alright, I admit I'm a bit restless!"

Whether it was sneaking into the Forbidden Forest or going to the Room of Requirement almost every night, these weren't things a normal young wizard would do.

"I want you to give Harry something to do, otherwise this peaceful life will erode his will."

Dumbledore finally revealed his purpose.

When Harry first started school, everything was under his control: the late-night encounter with the three-headed dog, Hagrid's unintentional revelation about the Gringotts break-in and Nicolas Flamel, and even Snape's targeting of Harry, all led to misunderstandings.

According to this plan, Harry would eventually discover that the secret hidden on the fourth-floor corridor was the Philosopher's Stone. And because of the misunderstanding regarding Snape, he would ultimately believe that Snape was trying to steal the Stone, since people always tend to view those they dislike with the greatest malice.

Until the final showdown with Voldemort—this was the script Dumbledore had prepared for Harry in his first year.

Because Harry had the magical protection of his mother, Voldemort himself couldn't harm him. It could be said that this was the best opportunity to hone Harry, the Boy Who Lived.

Only by defeating Voldemort could Harry later have the courage to confront him.

However, things had now taken a turn, with the trip home for Christmas catching Dumbledore completely off guard.

Now Snape was still targeting him, but Harry seemed indifferent. He had also lost interest in the fourth-floor corridor, which wouldn't do.

To get things back on track, he had sought out Ethan.

After all, it wasn't easy for him and the other professors to intervene directly. Otherwise, would the headmaster or professors encourage him to break school rules and suspect other professors?

"Headmaster, I'm just a first-year wizard. I don't think I can be of much help!"

Ethan said reluctantly, not wanting to play any savior games with Dumbledore, let alone be a babysitter.

Strength was the foundation of everything. Improving his own strength so that he could protect the people he cared about in the future—that was enough.

Although Ethan was partly responsible for Harry's ease, he wouldn't admit it. What proof did you have?

Otherwise, it would be slander.

Influencing Hermione meant the trio wouldn't be complete, reducing their ability to cause trouble and losing their brains.

Influencing Draco meant that although he still had an unusual interest in Harry, there were no more late-night duels or anything like that. Conflicts were fewer, and he hadn't been able to join the Gryffindor Quidditch team, also reducing his opportunities to train.

Finally, there was Snape. Because of Ethan's words, Harry now felt like he was paying off his father's debt.

Snape could target him all he wanted, but it wouldn't hurt him. After all, his father's success in winning over his mother had left Snape, who deeply loved his mother, single to this day, a super-aged bachelor in his thirties.

With this in mind, although Harry still didn't like Snape, he didn't think he wanted to kill him. At most, it was revenge for his father, nothing too bad, just a bit petty. Naturally, he wouldn't suspect anything anymore.

"I think you have a way, and I won't let you help for nothing."

If only Ron were a little smarter and had fewer flaws, he wouldn't have come to Ethan.

Unfortunately, Ron couldn't handle big things.

If he dared to reveal anything to him, the matter would be ruined.

"Tell me more about 'not for nothing'."

Hearing that there was a reward, Ethan perked up. Surely this White Wizard wouldn't be stingy!

As long as the reward was sufficient, cooperating with Dumbledore to manipulate Harry wasn't out of the question.

"I see you're quite interested in alchemy. Do you know who has achieved the highest accomplishment in alchemy today?"

Dumbledore had bargaining chips that could tempt Ethan, and quite a few, but not many he could actually use.

"Nicolas Flamel!"

Ethan said confidently.

The highest achievement in alchemy was transmuting base metals into gold, which was the function of the Philosopher's Stone. Only Nicolas Flamel could do that now.

"Indeed. Help me with a small favor, and I don't mind helping you once by introducing you to Nicolas!"

Dumbledore nodded with a smile.

For a wizard interested in alchemy, it was absolutely impossible to refuse Nicolas Flamel's guidance.

"In that case, Harry's problem is in my hands. I'll definitely make him energetic again."

Ethan immediately made a guarantee. Giving Harry something to do wasn't difficult.

This was Nicolas Flamel's guidance, a standard perk for transmigrators.

Which time-traveler wouldn't learn a few tricks from Nicolas Flamel? You'd be embarrassed to call yourself a time-traveler if you didn't.

“I believe you can do it, especially the spirit of adventure. That's what Harry needs most right now.”

Dumbledore believed that even if he didn't explain it clearly, Ethan would understand what he meant.

Ethan had already been to the fourth floor. Although he hadn't entered below the moving trapdoor, he must have guessed something.

And Hagrid is such a blabbermouth. Ethan has been in contact with him for so long, he must have revealed a lot of information. With Ethan's intelligence, he definitely knows what he should know.

Plus, there's the issue with Quirrell. The two sides have been in contact.

In this game, the professors know that Quirrell has a problem, but they don't know exactly what it is. Voldemort also knows that Dumbledore is aware of him, but he seeks wealth and danger, and he's immortal, so what's there to fear!

The only ones being led by the nose from beginning to end are Harry and his friends.

“I understand, the corridors around.”

Ethan gave Dumbledore an understanding look.

If you want adventure at Hogwarts, the Forbidden Forest is the best choice, but this year a new map has opened up: the fourth-floor corridor. Anyone who isn't too stupid knows that this was opened up on purpose.

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries, and Ethan was about to leave, but then he remembered something and turned to Dumbledore and said:

“Headmaster, after the last Defense Against the Dark Arts class, Professor Quirrell showed me the Killing Curse and said he could teach me his experience in using it. I don't know if I should go?”

“Child, don't learn these things, and don't contact Quirrell anymore. I should have reminded you sooner.”

“If you have any magical knowledge you don't understand, you can come and ask me.”

Dumbledore's face became serious.

He had been letting Quirrell do as he pleased, even contacting Ethan, but he didn't expect him to be so bold, openly talking about the three Unforgivable Curses, and even trying to drag the young wizard into it.

Magic is the power of the mind, and the three Unforgivable Curses are the best of the Dark Arts. It's not that learning them will make you bad, but that as you learn and use them, your personality tends to become more extreme, and your emotions will shift towards the dark side. It's easy to do the wrong thing without realizing it, and then it's too late to regret it.

Ethan was quite ruthless last time, but he also had a sense of proportion. Those Slytherin snakes only suffered some physical pain.

If Ethan had learned the Unforgivable Curses, and the situation from that day were to happen again, he might lose control and cast Avada Kedavra at his classmates!

If that were the case, the scene would be out of control, which would be a terrible result for both sides.

“I understand, I'll be careful.”

Ethan nodded and then walked out of the Headmaster's office.

Ethan didn't want to contact Voldemort in the first place. He only has a remnant soul left, and he can't bring any benefits to himself.

As for his Dark Arts knowledge, most of it is useless to Ethan.

【Thank you to the big boss Prosperous Stars for the monthly ticket, thank you big boss!】

Chapter 71: The Potion Sells Well

In the blink of an eye, it was May.

There's only one month left until the end of the school year. By this time, even the most lazy and playful Gryffindors are starting to bury themselves in the library.

Putting aside the O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s, the two exams that determine a wizard's fate, even the final exam results will directly affect whether you eat a feast or a beating with a stick when you go home for the summer.

This has led to the fact that the Brain-Boosting Draught has been selling like crazy since last week. Of course, the main force is the upperclassmen, and only those who are cramming at the last minute are buying it among the lowerclassmen.

“Ethan, is the Brain-Boosting Draught ready?”

The debt collectors are here again. George and Fred directly blocked Ethan at the entrance of his Potions class after it was over. The Weasley twins haven't stopped smiling during this time.

Just in their Gryffindor house, they can sell more than twenty bottles a day, which is a minimum income of twenty Galleons. More than ten each a day, directly leaving their father Arthur's salary in the dust.

Now in their third year, and with four years until graduation, according to the current trend, they can completely save up the money needed for their joke shop before graduation.

And they can also have enough Galleons to develop new products. Having both products and Galleons upon graduation is the best possible scenario, which makes them extremely enthusiastic about it.

It's just that Ethan's production has run into problems, and the supply can't keep up.

The four houses together need roughly over a hundred bottles a day, but Ethan only has three people brewing, and they also have to attend classes on weekdays. Only the output on weekends is higher. The stock they were selling a few days ago ran out the day before yesterday.

“I can give you twelve bottles.”

On school days, the three roommates can brew about three cauldrons each during the evening. One cauldron can be divided into five bottles, which is already the limit of production.

Unfortunately, none of the three of them can operate multiple cauldrons at once, otherwise the speed would double.

During this time, the roommates have also been experiencing both joy and pain. For the sake of the Galleons, the few of them have only complained a few times.

If you want to buy flying brooms, magical tools, and extracurricular books, you have to earn Galleons. Except for Gene, who comes from a wizarding family and doesn't lack money, the remaining two wouldn't easily give up this kind of opportunity.

Fortunately, as Ravenclaws, their academic performance is good, and they don't have to cram like students from other houses during this time.

“Ethan, give us more!”

Fred put his arm around Ethan's shoulder and showed a flattering smile.

This isn't just a potion, it's pure Galleons. It's not embarrassing to bow your head to Galleons.

“You already have one more bottle than the other three houses. What more do you want?”

Ethan said helplessly, still needing to be fair.

He initially chose people from the four houses to do sales because they all have a certain influence within their own houses.

If the distribution is uneven, it will cause dissatisfaction among the students of each house at this critical moment before the exam, which will affect all of them.

At least there will be no shortage of rumors. Don't underestimate the complexity of people's hearts.

“Honestly, Ethan, you should find more people to brew the Brain-Boosting Draught, or at least prepare enough in advance!”

After taking the twelve bottles of Brain-Boosting Draught and putting them away, Fred sighed.

These twelve bottles will be sold out in one morning. All the losses are money!