"Hehe."
Ethan's eyes curved into crescents.
He flashed a sunny smile that made even the extraordinary Gatekeepers tremble with fear.
Bathed in the brilliant radiance, he resembled a six-winged angel covered in eyes from head to toe.
Ethan's gaze darted around as he pondered to himself:
"Since I've gotten my hands on such a fine prize, how could I not test it out on my dear brother?"
"I'm sure Pettigrew would be more than happy to devote himself to the cause of great art~"
There was no need to fret about wasting it.
The Gatekeeper had been massive, after all.
The materials it dropped could be reused multiple times.
Just then.
Click.
A soft snap echoed through the air.
The "Withered Branch" in his hand, its mission complete, disintegrated with a whoosh.
All that remained was a palm-sized fragment.
"Instant Sunrise" had reverted to "Solar Remnant."
"When three fragments of the divided sun are gathered, you will gain omnipotent power."
"Even capable of God-slaying!"
At the sight of those two words, Ethan's pupils narrowed slightly.
In his mind, the illusory image of bubbling eyeballs from the silver key resurfaced.
"...I'm sure even God would appreciate a bit of fine art."
Ethan mused to himself.
"By then, the entire world will be shrouded in a grand artistic ambiance... Just imagining that beautiful future."
Ethan couldn't help but chuckle.
He tucked away the Solar Remnant.
Ethan had reached his limit as well.
Fatigue crashed over him like a tidal wave.
It was as soothing as a baby nestled in a warm cradle.
Ethan slowly closed his eyes.
He drifted into a sweet, deep slumber.
Dreaming of the delights of a bountiful harvest.
As Ethan's figure gradually faded from the hidden space.
On the ground.
A rising sun reflected in the Gatekeeper's eyes.
It was faint, vanishing in a blink.
Yet it lingered on its retina for a long while.
"Ah..."
"Is the next era... the era of the sun... the era of the 'light' that has slumbered for so long...?"
"Ah ah..."
It groaned over and over.
Rolling brass tears spilled from its eyes once more.
For that 'legend' who had ascended by treading upon its head—a figure it could no longer dream of reaching!
At the same time.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hospital Wing.
Delice examined his broken nose in the mirror, his heart overflowing with profound grief and frustration.
On the floor.
Fragments of a torn Howler lay scattered.
One had come from the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge.
"Do you even have a brain?! Why did you tip off Ethan and provoke him?! Didn't I just tell you to monitor him?!"
The Minister's roar still rang in his ears.
"What's more, you didn't even catch Sirius Black! Instead, you let him escape!"
"Useless!!"
"You're suspended! Don't do anything else! Go reflect on your actions!"
Delice let his hand fall limply, his face pale as ash.
He muttered under his breath:
"Why compromise with that wicked brat Ethan...?"
"I was clearly lured into a trap by that kid!!"
Delice clenched his fists, rage scorching through his veins.
Who could have guessed that the exit from the Shrieking Shack led straight to the Whomping Willow!
Twice!
He'd been sent to the Hospital Wing by Ethan twice!
And his career was nearly destroyed—it was a complete humiliation!
"Damn it... As champions of justice, should we just stand idly by and let evil flourish...?"
"Just because there's no ironclad evidence..."
Just then.
An owl fluttered in.
It dropped a letter right onto Delice's face.
"Waaah!"
Delice yelped in alarm, his heart racing... his nerves were completely frayed.
"Rita Skeeter, reporter for the Daily Prophet...?"
Delice glanced at the signature on the envelope and murmured in bewilderment:
"That reporter Rita who'll write just about anything? What does she want with me?"
He ripped open the letter.
To his surprise, the very first line seized his attention!
"I heard about your recent ordeals and was so outraged that I wrote to you at once! For a righteous soul like you in the Ministry of Magic to be reduced to this—it's truly heartbreaking!"
Delice's breath caught, his eyes widening.
A wave of vindication surged within him!
He eagerly read on:
"I can offer you assistance and amplify your voice... Minister Fudge must surely want to unmask the true face of evil, right?"
Delice clutched the letter tightly.
After a brief hesitation, determination hardened in his eyes.
The day classes resumed at Hogwarts.
Ethan sported two massive dark circles under his eyes.
Yawning widely, he stumbled aboard the Hogwarts Express.
Throughout the entire Christmas break.
Ethan had been hard at work preparing a "surprise" for Pettigrew.
Drawing inspiration from "Lily – A Piece of History," while incorporating intriguing elements of judgment... "If Dumbledore knew what I was cooking up, he'd probably be so shocked he'd keel over right on the spot."
"Let Hogwarts become history once more!"
Ethan's eyes sparkled with mischief.
Just then.
A clumsy younger student barreled over and collided with him.
When the boy looked up, eager to apologize.
He caught sight of Ethan.
Instantly, like a pixie with a stomped toe, he let out a squeal like a slaughtered pig:
"Don't, don't kill me!!!"
Ethan arched an eyebrow, then broke into a sudden grin. "Thanks for the reminder."
!!!
The student's eyes bulged like saucers; terror etched across his face.
Ethan turned and scanned the surroundings.
Every student his gaze landed on hastily looked away, bowing their heads.
None dared to stir... "Who was thoughtful enough to give me some free publicity over Christmas?"
Ethan pondered; he hadn't paid for any press coverage.
It wasn't until his roommate, Michael Corner, burst into the compartment he shared with Luna.
That Ethan pieced together the full story—it turned out the Daily Prophet had run a front-page bombshell.
It insinuated that he had harbored Sirius Black and was complicit in dark deeds.
Ethan blinked in surprise: "The Daily Prophet has talent this sharp? That's news to me."
Luna, in her soft, dreamy tone, added: "The Daily Prophet? Not even dogs bother with it."
Michael Corner:
"Oh, come on, you two, cut the jokes! This is serious business!"
Michael had initially aimed to squeeze in beside Ethan.
But under the steady gaze of Luna's wide blue eyes, he quietly opted for the seat across from them.
With dramatic flair, he unfurled the Daily Prophet and read aloud with impassioned fervor:
"'Is it a twist of human nature or a fall from grace? The Ministry of Magic's prolonged failure to capture Sirius Black—could it be due to 'his' meddling?!'"
"'Explosive Scoop! Eyewitness testimony from Ministry Auror Delice! Witness how a third-year Hogwarts student masterminded Sirius Black's breakout from Azkaban and schemed to revive You-Know-Who!'"
At first.
Ethan listened attentively.
Nodding now and then in appreciation of the vivid prose and inventive flair.
But upon hearing that final line.
Ethan's expression darkened instantly.
"Scheming to resurrect Lord Voldemort using Sirius Black? That sniveling worm! As if he needs anyone to bring him back?"
As he spoke.
A chilling aura radiated from Ethan!
His black hair stirred faintly, and a glint of radiant gold flickered in his cobalt-blue eyes!
Michael Corner froze in place.
His body went rigid on pure instinct.
In a haze, it felt like the person before him wasn't a fellow human.
But some superior being.
It seemed as though even Lord Voldemort—the name the world dreaded to utter—could be squashed like an insect with a casual flick... How had Ethan spent his Christmas break and come back as if he'd evolved into another species??
Michael Corner shivered subtly.
Goosebumps prickled across his skin.
His knees gave way.
He dropped to the floor with a thud, clutching Ethan's calves, and bellowed:
"Master, please accept your servant's homage—!!"
Master—
The cry reverberated through half the carriage.
Leaving Penelope Clearwater, the prefect who had been lingering outside the compartment hoping to chat with Ethan, rooted to the spot in shock.
After a long pause.
She quietly retracted her hand.
Hmm, it seemed Ethan was utterly unfazed by the newspaper.
"This time, is it the 'Hogwarts Brainwashing Plan'?"
Penelope mused, releasing a deep sigh.
Her eyes held the serene clarity of profound realization. "What will Ravenclaw turn into?"
"I have a feeling it will become a house that even Slytherin will yield to."