Hogwarts: Bloodline Legend

Chapter 864 244: Baiting Potter_3

"Thank you, Fox."

Dumbledore, whose expression had relaxed quite a bit, thanked his companion. Fox gently nuzzled the old man's cheek, letting out a series of worried chirps.

"Yes, yes, I know." Dumbledore forced out a smile. "But some prices simply have to be paid. As long as the reward is rich enough, then it's a sacrifice worth making."

His tone was calm.

Yet it carried a faith that was almost too unshakable.

...

The stone gargoyle by the covered bridge was dozing off when it was suddenly jolted forward by two precise kicks. It opened its brass-colored eyes in fury, only to meet Ian's lowered, thoughtful gaze.

The next moment.

The stone gargoyle practically jumped aside as if startled, making way for Ian and opening up the passage to the corridor. The Little Wizard walked out, but still didn't forget to turn back and give the gargoyle a few more kicks.

The gargoyle shrank its neck in grievance, not daring to protest at all, and could only freeze up, turning into a "Alchemy Creation" version of a turtle hiding in its shell.

"If you're on duty, then do your job properly. You slack off once, and I'll dock you another thousand years of free work." Before leaving, Ian gave the gargoyle a stern warning.

And truth be told.

Dumbledore's assessment of him was spot on; the Little Wizard really did have the makings of a black-hearted slave driver.

"Old Dumbledore is bizarre as ever." After leaving the Headmaster's Office, Ian was still mulling things over. He was certain that the trace Dumbledore had hidden was no simple secret.

Perhaps even Grindelwald didn't know?

Turning these guesses over in his mind, Ian walked through the castle corridors toward the Great Hall, and managed to catch the tail end of that day's dinner.

The candles floating on the ceiling lit up every table. Students from every House sat gathered around their friends, laughter and chatter weaving together into a joyful symphony.

The air was thick with the scent of food: roast turkey, pudding, pumpkin pie and all kinds of delicacies filled the tables, the rising steam making Ian's appetite flare.

Ian had just been about to find a table and start eating…

When suddenly.

A burst of exclamations erupted from the Gryffindor table. Ian looked over and saw Hermione and Longbottom, faces full of panic, struggling to support Ron as they hurried out of the Hall.

"Cough, cough, cough~ cough, cough~" Ron's face was flushed scarlet, his eyes bulging, his hands flailing around his throat. He looked utterly miserable.

"Weasley again?" Ian raised a brow and sat down in an empty seat at the Slytherin table. Beside him, Aurora Grindelwald was elegantly cutting into a lamb chop, the silver fork flashing coldly between her fingers.

"Sixth time," Aurora said without even looking up, a strand of platinum hair falling against her pale cheek. "This time he tried to swallow a whole fried chicken leg in one bite."

She flicked the tip of her knife lightly against the plate, sending a juicy piece of meat into her mouth, chewing unhurriedly. "Madam Pomfrey really ought to reserve a personal bed just for him."

The German Girl's tone made it sound like she was genuinely offering serious advice.

"That's downright tragic." Ian watched the three of them being half-carried out of the Hall. Hermione's curls had been fluffed into a frizzy hedgehog by all the rushing, and Neville's round face was full of panic.

His mouth twitched, and his tone carried a shade of sentiment that only he himself could understand. "The new generation Iron Triangle of Gryffindor doesn't seem all that reliable."

Just as Ian started gnawing on a chicken leg—

Not far down the table.

Savior Harry Potter had also spotted him. The bespectacled boy quickly put down his cutlery and jogged over to Ian with a somewhat nervous air.

"Ian, I really want to thank you. If it hadn't been for you, I honestly don't know what I would've done… I might already be dead, or worse than dead."

Since there were too many people around and mouths everywhere, Harry Potter didn't go into detail, but from his words Ian could clearly feel the gratitude coming straight from his heart.

Obviously, once Mr. Savior's consciousness returned, he knew perfectly well who had saved him.

"Think nothing of it, we're classmates. It was just lending a hand." Ian set down his knife and fork and smiled at Harry, showing rare magnanimity.

Of course.

Looking at the boy in front of him, Ian couldn't help recalling what he had learned about the Soul Hall in the past timeline. He wondered if he could use Harry Potter as bait to hook out the Soul Hall's Lily Evans?

"Achoo!"

For some reason.

Even though Ian was plotting against Harry Potter, the one who suddenly sneezed and looked around in confusion was Snape up at the staff table.