It had been a few weeks since he had snuck into the Slytherin common room.
During that time, he had met with Draco a few more times, chatting in the Great Hall or working on assignments together. It brought them closer.
He had also met with Daphne, though much less often—only twice, to be precise. She always seemed busy, either actually doing something or with her mind drifting elsewhere.
Finding useful information about the curse wasn't going to be easy. There was a lot to go through, and very little of it seemed useful. Extimum had done some research on his own as well. He didn't bother checking the common books in the library—he left those to Daphne, who was already working through them.
Instead, he went straight for the big prize by sneaking into the restricted section. He found a fascinating collection of books, but he focused only on curses, especially those that affected bloodlines.
Despite the wide variety, he didn't have much success. There was more about how to cast curses than how to break them.
Today, as had become routine in recent weeks, Extimum was meeting up with Hermione to keep spying on Snape.
It was both an exciting and boring task. Both Extimum and Hermione were more inclined toward studying magic or class content, so they didn't spend too much time on this activity each day.
Unlike Ron and Harry, who spent nearly all their free time tailing their target—Quirrell—Hermione and Extimum's espionage sessions were more like study picnics: a chance to do homework or chat casually about magic while keeping an eye on Snape and the places he visited.
At the moment, they were sitting on a bench in the garden, partially hidden by plants, with a clear view of the door to the staff room where Snape was currently located.
Due to Snape's strict schedule, they had practically run out of their previous class just to get there before he left. By now, they had memorized his routine well enough to know the best places to hide or appear casual while watching him.
After confirming he was still inside and seeing no signs of movement, they started a casual conversation.
Hermione: "Aren't you spending more time than usual with the Slytherins lately?"
Extimum: "Oh? If you wanted me to spend more time with you, you only had to say so. I wouldn't mind making more time to keep you company."
Hermione: "Hmph. Who said I wanted to spend more time with you? I'm just saying that you're starting to seem rather friendly with them. It's not like you don't know about the rivalry between our houses—especially with Draco. He seems particularly keen on causing us trouble."
"You've seen his behavior yourself. And even if we put Draco aside, there are his friends… and Pansy. That girl is especially annoying, always putting on that condescending act."
Extimum: "Well, it's true their attitudes aren't exactly the best, especially toward Gryffindors. The rivalry's been around for generations, so trying to break that stalemate and make them friends seems difficult. But I think, with time, that relationship could improve—maybe at least reach neutrality. That's something for the future though, once I have more influence to mediate it." He said it thoughtfully. However, when he spoke again, his tone had shifted ever so slightly.
"But for now… you shouldn't be worrying about them so much… when you should be worrying about yourself…" As he spoke slowly, he leaned in, closing the distance between them.
Hermione: "Why…? Wait… Ah! Look! Snape just came out!" At first, she was confused by his words, but as she understood his intentions and his approach, her confusion turned to slight panic.
Fortunately, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Snape exiting the staffroom and quickly seized the moment to change the subject.
Taking a step back to reestablish distance, she pointed toward the departing figure.
Extimum: "Oh, you're right. Let's go."
Hearing his sudden shift in tone, Hermione let out a soft sigh and turned to follow Snape. Extimum's advances had continued ever since they'd returned from Christmas break, and they made her a bit nervous.
Just as she released a small breath of relief, hurrying to catch up, Extimum matched her pace and leaned in close to her ear.
Extimum: "Still… Snape won't always come out at just the right time." With those words, he stepped past her and took the lead in following Snape.
"*Hii!*" Hermione let out a small yelp and jumped slightly, startled by his sudden closeness. The warm breath in her ear and the implications of his words didn't help her composure at all.
Extimum: "Don't get too distracted, or we'll lose him."
Hermione still felt a little wary being so close to him now, but she followed along anyway—they had spying to do.
To be honest, this method of following a professor—especially someone like Snape—wouldn't have worked under normal circumstances. They would've been discovered easily. However, Extimum used his illusion magic to mask their presence, and they kept a good distance.
Thanks to that, they had been able to follow him relatively safely. Otherwise, considering Snape's sharp instincts and formidable magical skill—not to mention his years working inside the castle—it would've been nearly impossible to go unnoticed.
Most of the time, they made sure to use concealed or remote observation spots. They also scouted areas in advance, studying his routine to pick good vantage points depending on the places he frequented.
From their observations, they had learned that Snape typically visited his private office, the Slytherin common room (very occasionally), the Great Hall, Dumbledore's office, or his potion room in the dungeons.
They had also caught him observing Quirrell from a distance a few times, though there was no direct interaction, so they couldn't gather anything meaningful from it.
Naturally, some of the places Snape went were difficult to access or observe, so in such cases, they used enchanted tools to monitor from afar—some of which they'd acquired from the Weasley twins.
Extimum had once tried using his "truci cursu" spell, but the result was poor. Snape had immediately sensed something was wrong and dispelled the magic. Luckily, Extimum had cast it from a distance, and Snape hadn't been able to identify the spell's nature in time. He had dismissed it as a prank by some mischievous student—otherwise, things could've gone badly.
Even so, Snape had clearly been angry that day and made a bit of a scene. But he hadn't realized the disturbance had been caused by an intrusion into his shadow.
Extimum and Hermione followed Snape the entire afternoon.
…
They only stopped their surveillance when it was nearly time for dinner.
Extimum: "*Sigh*... Another boring afternoon watching Snape do absolutely nothing. You know what? Let's do something different today, just so all this spying wasn't a total waste."
"Tutu?" Extimum called out tentatively into the air in front of him.
After a few seconds—and while Hermione was questioning his odd behavior—a small *Pop* echoed, and a house-elf appeared. It was Tutu.
Tutu was a house-elf working at Hogwarts. Extimum had met her when he went to the kitchens to get food for himself and Hermione before the troll attack.
Normally, Tutu wouldn't be able to hear or respond to Extimum, since they didn't share a master-servant bond. However, because they knew each other and Extimum was a Hogwarts student, the castle's magic allowed Tutu to hear his call. That said, since they weren't bound, Extimum couldn't properly order her—Tutu had come of her own free will.
Tutu: "Tutu greets the young wizard. Tutu is happy the young wizard still remembers me."
Hermione was startled by the sudden appearance of a house-elf. She knew of their existence but had never interacted with one before, nor did she know there were house-elves working at Hogwarts.
Extimum: "It's a pleasure to see you again. I called to ask if you could help me with something. Could you bring our dinner to a different location?"
Tutu: "Tutu can do that! Tutu is happy to help the young wizard."
Extimum: "Thank you."
Tutu disappeared with another soft *Pop*.
Hermione: "How can you just call a house-elf—woah?" She didn't have time to finish her question. Extimum grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the spot.
He didn't give her much chance to protest, dragging her into a nearby classroom he knew about.
It was an unused classroom, probably from a subject no longer taught or simply one of the many vacant rooms scattered throughout the castle.
Upon entering, the room appeared spacious, like most classrooms, with enough space for students from two houses of a given year. It was a little dusty, but not overly so—it was clear the elves had cleaned it a few months ago at least. It still had the standard desks and chairs, a teacher's area, and some cabinets.
After making sure the room was truly empty, Extimum drew his wand and began casting spells from one end to the other. By the time he was done, the former classroom had been completely transformed.
The room was now clean and warm. Carpets covered the floor, and a large table stood in the center, with two chairs placed across from each other.
The decor had become cozier. The once-wide space now felt more enclosed and intimate thanks to the additions, and as evening approached, the candlelight on the table added the perfect touch to the atmosphere.
It looked like the perfect setup for a romantic dinner. And if asked, Extimum wouldn't deny it—he had designed it with that very idea in mind, drawing from memories and the kind of decor often used in his own home.
Hermione, on the other hand, was still slightly annoyed that Extimum had ignored her earlier question. But as she watched him cast spells back and forth and witnessed the classroom gradually turn into what now stood before her, she was genuinely amazed.
Transfiguration class had progressed enough that first-year students could perform several transformations, but not at this level—not with this kind of freedom or complexity.
She already knew Extimum had a strong foundation and was ahead in his magical knowledge. After all, she'd seen him cast Alohomora nonverbally. But this was on a completely different level.
Hermione: "Wow… I didn't know you were this good at transfiguration. Everything looks so detailed and beautiful."
Extimum was also admiring his own work as he made sure nothing was missing. However, when he heard Hermione's compliment, a sudden idea sparked in his mind.
It was a business idea. He had been thinking for a while about ways to start his own venture, but nothing had seemed quite right—nothing he could realistically carry out on his own with his current knowledge and abilities that would also bring in solid profits. But now, hearing Hermione's casual praise, something finally clicked.
In the current magical world, style and design were rather outdated and lacked refinement. While there were some exceptions here and there, the overall aesthetic was poor and neglected.
Magical homes and establishments often had rundown exteriors or completely lacked any sense of design. And while older styles had their own charm, most modern wizards simply took their homes for granted and didn't care enough to renovate them.
Thinking about this, Extimum realized he could start a business focused on interior and exterior magical renovation. He could implement all kinds of styles and designs, paired with various decorations, and embed it all into enchantments or magical artifacts that could apply the transformation directly to wizarding homes.
He would have to be careful with design choices so they didn't clash with wizarding tastes, but that wouldn't be too difficult for Extimum. He had memories from his past life and had seen the Muggle world too.
Whether using modern designs or leaning into the classical style, he could fuse both to create stunning, magical environments worthy of wizards.
Most wizarding homes were little more than outdated cottages poorly built and then enchanted afterward. Only the newer ones—or those built by eccentric owners—had noteworthy designs. Even then, they could be vastly improved, like the Enoch manor.
All he needed now was to figure out how to make it happen… and get some startup capital. The logistics of starting the business could come later.
Extimum: "You just gave me a great idea, Hermione. But that'll be for later. Come, take a seat."He had already pulled out a chair and waited for her to sit.
Hermione: "Alright." Her annoyance from earlier had faded after seeing the setup—and besides, she was hungry.
Shortly after they sat down, Pop!—Tutu reappeared, floating in with several dishes.
Tutu: "Tutu has brought the dinner. Tutu hopes the young wizards enjoy the meal."She began placing plates and utensils on the table and then served the food.
Tutu: "Tutu will leave now."
Extimum: "Thank you, Tutu. I'll come visit you properly to thank you one day."
Tutu: "Oh, the young wizard mustn't trouble himself. Tutu did it because she wanted to. Tutu is happy to help the young wizard."With that, she disappeared once more with a soft Pop.
Extimum: "Alright, let's enjoy our dinner."
Hermione: "Okay." She chose not to press him about the house-elf—she'd ask after dinner.
The meal included roast turkey with potatoes, some tarts, and pumpkin juice or fruit juice. There were also other side dishes. It was no less elaborate than what they would've had in the Great Hall.
While they ate, Extimum observed Hermione and reflected on their relationship.
He wouldn't deny that it had started… dramatically. His approach to her had originally been driven by necessity—or maybe by his appreciation for her beauty and potential.
Even without knowing the future, he had already seen how diligent and brilliant she was. With a sharp mind and a driven heart, she was—bloodline aside—an excellent match.
As time went on, what began as a casual desire had grown into something more. Their closeness had increased, and he had come to truly appreciate her as a friend.
That's why what had started as a calculated connection, albeit a willing one, had turned into light flirting. Even if he was taking it slowly, his intentions were becoming more and more clear.
As for what he truly felt… it was messy. His thoughts tangled themselves whenever he tried to analyze it. Empathy didn't exactly work well on oneself. But one thing he was sure of—whether influenced by his own words or because it was what he truly wanted—he desired her. He liked her.
Dinner was nearly finished.
Hermione: "Why are you staring at me like that?" she asked, a bit unnerved by his gaze.
Extimum: "Mmm… admiring the view, perhaps?"
Hermione: "Hmph. Even now, you're in the mood to tease me."She didn't take him seriously—she lacked the confidence to believe any compliment about her appearance.
Though Hermione couldn't be called unattractive, a few things kept her from standing out.
Her teeth, still unfixed, stuck out slightly, giving her a mildly awkward look. Magic could have fixed them in an instant, but her dentist parents had insisted otherwise.
Her long brown hair, naturally wild, remained that way—uncombed, untamed, and uncared for due to her obsession with studying and little interest in personal grooming.
And finally, her confidence. It had been slowly chipped away by those who judged her only by the former two traits, never looking deeper.
This was the final reason she didn't believe she held any beauty—certainly not the kind Extimum claimed to admire.
Extimum noticed she never took his compliments seriously. But he wasn't in any rush. He could show her slowly, over time, as she grew and her potential blossomed.
Besides… her reactions were quite entertaining.
He rose from his seat and walked toward her.
Once close enough, he gently lifted her chin, guiding her eyes to meet his.
Extimum: "Why not believe it? Is it that… you're not used to people praising your beauty? Or do you simply not believe it's there? Because what you—and others—can't see… I can. And personally, I like what I see."
Leaning close to her ear, his voice softened to a whisper.
Extimum: "I find it quite attractive… And how could I forget—your delicious taste…"As he said the last part, he lightly dragged one of his fangs along the exposed skin of her neck to emphasize his point.
Hermione gasped and shivered slightly at the sensation. She had forgotten about what happened earlier in the day—and had once again let him get too close.
Hermione: "D-Do you really think so…?" she asked, almost in a daze as she stared into his eyes. They always had a strange way of drawing her in—hypnotizing her.
Extimum: "Of course."
As he said it, he was nearly pressing his fangs against her neck. He wasn't a vampire, but the feeling was deeply stimulating—both physically and mentally.
Hermione felt a sudden jolt run through her body. The sensation was warm… and oddly familiar.
Hermione: "W-Wait, ahem, thank you for the dinner! We'll talk tomorrow!"That feeling stirred something within her, triggering a memory in her body that shook her out of the trance. She quickly stood, took a few steps back, and then ran out of the room, flustered.
Extimum: "What a shame…"He realized that, like Hermione, he had let himself get far too caught up in the moment, acting differently than his usual self.
"Well then… let's fix this place up."
Extimum drew his wand from his sleeve and began reversing all the transfigurations, returning everything to its original state. As he worked, Tutu reappeared to collect the dinner plates. By the time he finished, the classroom looked nearly the same as when they'd entered—though much cleaner.
Satisfied with the result, he left the room and headed toward the Ravenclaw common room.
'That was a pleasant evening. Now I need to find some starting capital for my business and figure out how to bring it to life. If I can manage that, I could have everything ready by the end of the school year.'
As he pondered this and neared the tower entrance, he abruptly changed direction.
Eventually, he reached a familiar tapestry. He had visited it before but hadn't returned since. It showed a group of trolls trying to dance ballet.
'No harm in trying. Maybe it'll even work.'
He paced back and forth in front of the wall opposite the tapestry, three times, focusing on what he wanted.
'I need money. I need money. I need money.'
'Though… now that I think about it, it's kind of strange I need money, considering my family is one of the wealthiest in the British magical community.'
After his third pass, a door materialized on the previously blank wall.
'Alright, let's see if this really works.'
He opened the door and stepped inside a small, dark room. On the floor were a few bags and a chest in the corner.
He walked over, picked up one of the bags, and emptied it into his hand.
'Around… 101 Galleons. Not bad for a single bag.'
The other two held 30 and 28 Galleons, respectively.
Once done, his eyes settled on the chest.
'That brings me up to 159 Galleons. It's a solid amount, but I still don't know how much setting up the business or producing my product will cost.'
With his last hope resting on the chest, he opened it.
'Whoa… There's nearly 400 Galleons in here. Who could've lost that much money?'
'Then again, maybe the room didn't take it from someone. Maybe it just… gave it to me. Either way, this is more than I expected.'
'This should be enough to get started—unless production ends up being too expensive.'
He stored all the money in his starry-designed expandable pouch, closed the door, and finally headed back toward the Ravenclaw common room.
...
When Extimum entered the Ravenclaw common room, he found it full of students. It wasn't that late yet, so most were still up.
He had planned to head straight to his room and rest early, but then he saw Steve waving at him from across the room, surrounded by a group of first- and second-year students.
Most of them were girls, which explained the particularly pleased look on Steve's face.
Since it was still early, Extimum didn't refuse and walked over.
Steve: "You're getting harder and harder to find. You didn't show up for dinner—where were you?"
Extimum: "I was busy with other things. Besides, I see you most mornings and in class. I'm not that elusive."He smiled slightly more than usual—but still not enough to make it a real smile.
Steve: "Merlin's beard, it's the end of the world! Something terrible must've happened—I just saw Extimum smile!"
Mitchell: "Calm down, Steve. It was only a slightly bigger smile—not a full one. The world won't end just yet."Mitchell seemed to have appeared out of nowhere and chimed in.
Steve: "Sigh, you're right. I probably overreacted. After all, Extimum's got a furry heart."
Extimum just gave them a flat look, emotionless, as they rambled on.
Steve: "Alright, moving on—Extimum, I called you over to meet some of the others here. You've probably seen them around, but maybe you don't actually know them."
"See this cute girl here? Her name's Padma Patil."The girl he gestured to had distinct South Asian features—dark hair and eyes, and warm brown skin. Her appearance stood out among the rest, giving her an exotic charm.
Padma: "Hello."She seemed a little shy after the sudden introduction, especially after Steve's dramatic outburst.
Extimum: "A pleasure to meet you. I'm Extimum Enoch.""And you're right, Steve—it's hard not to notice someone so enchanting and exotic."
It really was difficult not to know her. Twins weren't common, and with Hogwarts having a relatively small student body, it was hard to miss them. Even if he hadn't seen her in Ravenclaw, he'd have noticed her twin in Gryffindor.
Steve: "Of course! Your friend here knows all the pretty girls and never forgets to introduce them to you. And look at that, he's already making her shy just by looking at her. Honestly, I think it'd be dangerous if he smiled more often."
Mitchell: "Steve, you should tone it down a bit. You'll scare Padma off if you keep talking like that."
Indeed, Padma had blushed slightly at Steve's comments.
Padma: "Well, I'll be heading off now. Good night."She quickly walked away with another girl, heading toward the girls' dormitory.
Mitchell: "See? Steve, you only ever intimidate the girls. Maybe that's why you got chased around before Christmas."
Steve: "Cough—don't talk about things you don't understand. Besides, clearly it was Extimum and his predator gaze."
"Speaking of which, I get your hair, but what's with your eyes?"
Extimum: "They're a family trait."
Steve: "Does your mother have eyes like that?"
Extimum: "No."
Steve: "Your father then?"
Extimum: "No."
Steve: "Then…?"Steve's eyes narrowed with suspicion, but before he could ask, Extimum answered flatly:
Extimum: "Maybe my grandfather—but I never met him."
"Alright, that's enough digging. My eyes are natural. That's all you need to know. Now that you're done, I'm heading off too."
Extimum walked away after that and headed to his room.