The weather was somewhat cold.
Ian turned back to glance at the gradually closing door, then looked up at the worn-out sign of [Ollivander's Wand Shop], feeling he had discovered the biggest scam in the Magic World.
"What cunning villains."
Ian muttered while judging Ollivander, he even thought that with so many followers, Voldemort was likely threatening others with Avada Kedavra, not just because of Voldemort himself.
Ollivander probably has to shoulder some of the blame!
Think about it!
If you were in your early teens, and a fortune teller told you that you would surely become a great general in the future, and then you happen to grow up and meet Chen Sheng and Wu Guang.
Who could withstand that?
Most people would probably mistakenly take tragedy as fate!
"I've found the root of the Magic World's chaos!"
Ian felt that with this discovery, he could definitely write an outstanding paper, sadly, Hogwarts didn't have a journal to showcase his cleverness.
"Perhaps I should consider the Prophet Daily, such a famous publication surely pays well." Ian, while letting his mind wander, looked around searching for Snape.
The unreliable professor hadn't left Ian behind. He saw Snape standing outside a shop, so he hurriedly ran toward Snape.
"Professor, could you teach me how to write a Wizard paper?"
Ian thought that if his article could bear the name of a Hogwarts professor, the chances of being picked by the Prophet Daily would surely increase.
Maybe the payment would even be a bit higher.
"Mr. Prince, I have no interest in knowing the childish and foolish thoughts of you kids, now, you should choose a pet that can help your studies."
Snape coldly glanced at Ian's wand tucked into his pants pocket.
Then.
He tapped the shop's glass window before him. It was then that Ian realized it was a pet shop, with numerous pets in cages inside.
Cats, toads, owls, lizards, and mice, all sorts of species, even some little creatures with magic bloodlines, but none caught Ian's fancy.
Indeed.
Ian had a certain fondness for owls.
However, there were many owls raised at Hogwarts that Ian, in his opinion, could pet for free, surely more cost-effective than ones you'd have to purchase and care for yourself.
In comparison.
Ian wanted to raise some special pets.
"Professor, can I buy the pet I want?"
Ian asked tentatively.
"Hmm."
Snape responded with a hum from his nostrils.
"Then, how about a Phoenix?"
Ian blinked.
Lions... well, lions are animals with a sense of reality, probably wouldn't ask for one. Faced with Ian's whimsical request, Snape's eyes twitched a bit.
"Are you sure you didn't drink too many calming potions and haven't woken up yet?" Snape was truly shocked, he had never seen someone with such nerve!
A Phoenix for you?
I'd want one too!
Who would give me one!
"Is a bird with Phoenix blood okay? I see that shop using Phoenix feathers for making wands." Ian's implication was clear, he thought Phoenixes should be quite common.
As a child living in a Muggle Orphanage, having such a view was naturally reasonable. However, Ian truly did want a Phoenix.
So cool.
"Aside from members of the Dumbledore family, no Wizard has gained the favor of a Phoenix this century. I advise you to forget such unrealistic fantasies."
Snape rolled his eyes.
He spoke to Ian with a slow tone, "Of course, maybe Mr. Prince has enough influence to get Dumbledore to give you his Phoenix."
Clearly.
This was merely a mockery towards Ian.
"Why don't you mention it to him, Professor? Dumbledore would surely give you this face!" Ian wasn't shameless, he'd just found a way to deal with Snape.
Sure enough.
Just one sentence.
Snape was completely stumped on how to respond.
"Sharp-tongued fellow!"
Snape finally only glared at Ian fiercely.
"If your brain could differ from a Giant, you wouldn't fantasize about impossible things but choose an honest choice like a toad or a mouse."
"They're the best partners for your Magic Potion experiments." Snape clearly was suppressing his anger, but still gave his suggestion slowly.
However.
Such a suggestion clearly didn't align with most people's idea of a pet.
"You call that an experiment subject, not a pet, right?"
Ian sighed helplessly.
"Is there a difference?"
Snape sneered coldly, "Perhaps you'll go to that foolish Gryffindor, only those mediocre fools would have sympathy and love for these animals."
Once again, he dissed the academy he hated the most.
Ian chose to ignore it.
"Forget it, I spent enough money today, I don't even have a pet I want, I can't even support myself." Ian leaned against the glass wall and watched for a long time.
In the end.
He still couldn't find an animal he liked.
He had the soul of an adult.
His preferences for pets were naturally different from those of ordinary children.
"That's your choice."
Snape didn't persuade him further.
He flicked his robe and turned to leave.
"Since I can't raise a Phoenix, can I raise a snake?" Ian hurriedly picked up his suitcase and followed, this suitcase had always been under Snape's care.
"First-year students are not allowed to bring such dangerous pets." Snape slowed his pace waiting for Ian to catch up, he looked at Ian with a standard side-eye full of disdain.
"Didn't you say forget it? Changed your mind again? Too bad, you've lost your chance to buy." Snape's lips curled slightly, his deadpan face finally showed a hint of fluctuation.
"No, I want to wait until second or third year to get one." Ian wasn't sure if he and Harry Potter were in the same year, to have a satisfactory pet, he might need to rely on the Savior.
Yes.
Ian wanted to own a Snake Monster.
That's the pet the soul of an adult desires!
Big is truth!
"Ha, it seems Mr. Prince doesn't want a pet because he thinks none in the pet store are worthy of him, I hope you don't regret this stupid decision today."
"Don't say I didn't warn you, even a pet with just a trace of Fantastic Beasts bloodline, its selling price is definitely not something a little wizard like you can afford."
Snape gave Ian a look that seemed to see right through him.
"Alright, thank you, professor, for the reminder."
Ian nodded.
He didn't show the troubled expression Snape was expecting to see.
This made Snape frown slightly.
While Ian casually looked around at various fantastic shops without a worry.
"Be prepared."
Snape suddenly stopped walking.
Before Ian could turn his head to ask.
His hand had already grabbed the back of Ian's neck.
In the next moment.
Ian felt the world spinning.
He knew this was the feeling when Apparition was activated. However, compared to the previous experience with no feeling at all, now he felt slightly dizzy and nauseous.
It wasn't severe.
Perhaps it was because Snape's potion had lost some of its efficacy?
Just as Ian's thoughts were drifting.
"Whoosh~"
Accompanied by a sudden clarity of vision, the journey of Apparition ended, the bustling streets of Diagon Alley disappeared from sight, replaced by a peaceful and harmonious village.
The distant sound of flowing streams and the occasional call of owls intertwined, the air filled with the sweet aroma of various magical foods and candies.
This is Hogwarts Village.
A magical settlement nestled within the Scottish mountains.
"Before school starts, you'll be staying here."
Snape brought Ian, who was looking around like a curious baby, to a secluded little wooden cabin. Before Ian could feign puzzlement and ask what this place was, Snape had already pulled out a key along with the remaining half bag of Golden Galleons from earlier and tossed them all to Ian.
"If I catch you running around again, you won't like the consequences." Snape sternly warned him, then turned and left without hesitation.
His departing figure seemed somewhat hurried as if he was in a rush to deal with something — surely it wasn't that he forgot to turn off the fire under a pot of precious magic potion before leaving?
"He said something like telling me not to... run around again?"
Ian noticed the unusual tone in Snape's words.
However.
Looking at the stacks of textbooks in his suitcase, what Ian most wanted now was to become a real wizard, everything else could be set aside for the moment.
"Magic! Here I come!"