Professor Lupin, ever the dedicated teacher, didn't linger long under that 'disco ball moon.' He was on pins and needles, feeling completely out of place.
Lupin smiled wearily. "Just send me a letter whenever you're ready to head to Diagon Alley."
Ethan nodded. "Alright. I'm sure it'll be a very pleasant trip~"
A sly curve formed on Ethan's lips.
Lupin: ...Why do I feel a chill down my spine?
It wasn't until he left the house and walked some distance away that Lupin suddenly remembered:
Oh dear.
He'd forgotten to meet Luna's parent, Mr. Lovegood.
His excuse for coming had been a home visit.
Yet he'd only chatted with Ethan for a few moments and left without even seeing the parent.
It was as if Ethan was his dad.
Lupin let out a self-deprecating laugh.
He shook his head, and his figure vanished with a pop.
At the same time.
Upstairs in the study.
The true parent of the house, Mr. Lovegood, was buried in historical texts, sweat beading on his brow as he researched.
"The 1612 Goblin Rebellion—a mysterious person stole the goblins' secret treasure, rumored to be an ancient vault key. The goblin leader, Ragnok, was enraged and searched frantically, but it remained missing, becoming an unsolved mystery—"
Lovegood leaned back, letting out a sigh of relief.
"It seems Ethan isn't involved."
Good, Ethan still had some sense.
He hadn't 'made history' in the past.
He had misjudged him.
Lovegood thought to himself.
He got up and went downstairs, intending to check on Ethan.
He saw Ethan, holding his daughter's hand, swaying and dancing together, lost in a graceful dance under a giant moon-shaped lamp.
There was no music.
The silence made the scene particularly eerie.
Lovegood:
....
His steps faltered.
He retreated step by step, going back upstairs.
"Pretend Nothing Happened"
Two days later.
The day scheduled with Professor Lupin to go to Diagon Alley.
At the Leaky Cauldron.
Luna sat on a tall barstool, swinging her feet, sipping orange juice.
Ethan leaned casually against the bar, eyeing Tom, who was hunched over, sweeping the floor with a broom.
Ethan: Stare O_
Tom: ".—"
Tom felt as if a giant squid was crawling on his back.
Finally, he couldn't help but turn around and ask fiercely, "What do you want, kid?"
Ethan immediately spoke cheerfully:
"Oh, I just think your bar is missing some decorations."
Ethan pointed to the greasy, bare wall and suggested seriously:
"While this ten-year-uncleaned, battle-damaged kitchen style isn't bad, from a catering perspective, it's better to enrich it a bit to stimulate guests' appetites."
Tom: "."
Tom looked at the so-called "guests."
An old woman soaking her dentures, a strange person wrapped in a cloak eating raw liver, and gamblers using teeth as dice.
"Clang!"
With a heavy thud, Tom flinched.
He saw Ethan setting a framed painting on the floor.
His eyes shining, he declared loudly:
"Don't pretend to be strong anymore, Tom! Your strength has arrived!"
"With my careful arrangement, I guarantee your bar will be the most dazzling on this street!"
He had wanted to do this for a long time!
Hang his paintings in the Leaky Cauldron, the only way to Diagon Alley.
So that everyone who entered could appreciate his art!
Ethan: "Limited-time free offer!"
Tom:
Are you listening to me?
Tom looked at the painting, which only depicted colorful fruits.
He waved his hand dismissively, letting Ethan do as he pleased.
Anyway, it was just hanging a few paintings.
It didn't cost anything.
With permission, Ethan curled his lips and bowed elegantly. "I guarantee you won't regret it."
Then.
Ethan excitedly ran to the wall.
He carefully hung "Vibrant Fruits," "Sliced Cheese," "Feast of Raw Food," and so on, on the wall.
To prevent them from accidentally falling.
Ethan even thoughtfully cast a Permanent Sticking Charm.
Ensuring that no matter how much they were pulled or tugged, unless the wall collapsed, these paintings would remain with the pub forever.
Ethan looked up.
Looking at his masterpiece, he couldn't help but smile, his eyes crinkling.
Even this darkness had come alive.
"Saving a dying pub, I've done another good deed."
Ethan rubbed his nose, proudly straightening his back.
Just then.
"Ding-a-ling—"
The wind chimes at the door jingled.
Professor Lupin rushed in, looking even more haggard and tired than before.
"Sorry, I'm late—"
Lupin suddenly paused.
For some reason, as soon as he stepped into this pub, he felt an uncomfortable sensation.
As if he had gotten something dirty on him.
Following this feeling, Lupin's gaze shifted to Ethan, who was standing by the wall.
Like a demon standing in the shadows, peeking out at humans.
Ethan stood there quietly, smiling.
Lupin:
It's here! It's here again!
That feeling that Ethan was actually an evil villain!
But soon.
Ethan stepped out of the shadows, illuminated by the light, his face gentle and harmless.
Ethan scrutinized Professor Lupin, nodding in approval. "Zombie chic? How avant-garde, Professor Lupin."
Lupin:
No, he had just gone through the full moon.
And he was poor.
"Sorry, there were some sudden incidents at the Ministry of Magic...."
Lupin spoke, his expression a bit gloomy.
But he quickly adjusted.
He hurriedly took Ethan and Luna to Diagon Alley behind the brick wall.
Their first stop was Gringotts.
Diagon Alley was still magnificent, with golden chandeliers hanging from above, and the marble floor tiles were bright and clean.
On the high counters on both sides, goblins were clattering away, busy weighing gems and counting gold coins.
From the chandeliers to the floor tiles, every corner seemed out of place for Lupin.
Making him feel a bit constrained.
Ethan was completely oblivious to this.
He looked at Gringotts' decor with a critical eye, like a demanding designer walking into someone else's home.
He occasionally let out a "tsk-tsk" sound.
In his opinion, it should be designed like a coffin, with the floor and walls replaced by gray-black bricks.
Thoroughly implementing the adage, "You can't take your money with you after death."
To promote wizard consumption.
Ethan thought, then generously added:
However, one must also respect the peculiar aesthetics of other races.
"Tap, tap."
Ethan bent his finger and tapped on the counter.
He looked up at the goblin sitting on the high stool and politely said:
"Are you sitting so high because of an inferiority complex?"
The tabletop was almost level with his forehead.
Goblin: ???
The goblin looked up, startled and angry.
Seeing two wizard children and Lupin's tramp-like attire.
His expression immediately became even more disdainful.
Paupers.
"Please go to another counter, sir, I'm busy."
The goblin waved his hand impatiently, not bothering to hide the fact that he was gathering the gold coins in front of him.
As if he was afraid Ethan would suddenly reach out and snatch them.
Lupin frowned but was helpless.
He was wearing his best clothes today.
"Never mind, let's go to another counter—" Lupin raised his hand, about to pat Ethan's shoulder.
The next second.
Ethan suddenly plummeted downwards!
On the flat floor!
"Bang!"
A clatter erupted from the counter!
Golden coins rolled out with a clatter.
Lupin looked up in astonishment, only to see that Ethan had somehow appeared on the counter!
He had kicked over the scales, his shoes stepping on the coins.
Smiling, he looked down at the dumbfounded goblin!
Apparition?!
No, Ethan wasn't even in his third year yet!!
Suddenly.
Inside Gringotts, there was dead silence.
All the wizards and goblins stared in shock at Ethan on the counter!
The goblin was stunned for two seconds, then immediately reacted!
He shrieked, "What do you want to do—" Before he could finish.
The goblin's voice abruptly stopped.
As if he had suddenly been hit by Petrificus Totalus, he froze in his seat.
His eyes were fixed on the brass key hanging from Ethan's hand.
His mouth was open.
He stared intently at the swaying key, becoming cross-eyed.
The number carved on this key was "12."
It was a sacred and inviolable high-level number.
In an instant.
A legend that had been passed down in the tribe for hundreds of years suddenly swept into his mind!
It was in 1612, during the righteous goblin rebellion.
A mysterious person who left no name or appearance.
With just a wave of his hand, he took the lives of an entire goblin camp.
Like winter at the end of the world, white frost covered the land.
Turning dozens of vibrant lives into silent sculptures.
And absconded with their goblin secret treasure.
Among them was Vault Key number 12.
But after that, there was no news, and Vault 12 was sealed forever.
Becoming an unknown secret.
According to unofficial history.
The description of that mysterious person only contained one inexplicable word—[Light].
But now.
This long-lost Vault Key number 12 was clearly displayed before his eyes.
"This, this is impossible...."
The goblin—Griphook, murmured in a daze.
He looked into Ethan's cobalt-blue eyes.
They seemed to slowly spin like black holes, and he felt his sanity being sucked in.
Making Griphook feel a chill rise from the bottom of his heart.
Who, who is this wizard child...?
Why does he have a key that has been lost for hundreds of years?!
Ethan looked down at the trembling goblin and smiled:
"Now, are you free?"
Look at this Vault Key number 12.
Then, kneel down and call me 'Dad.'
My apologies.
Being able to time travel means being able to do whatever I want.