Chapter 187: "Teacher" Ethan Prepares to Go Live, The Flown-Away Horcrux
After leaving Dumbledore's office, Ethan devoted most of his energy to studying for the upcoming exams.
Over the weekend, apart from visiting the empty Room of Requirement on Saturday night to check the storage room, confirm it remained unchanged, and verify the diary Horcrux wasn't hidden there, he spent no more time looking for it.
Since Ethan was only searching for the diary in passing, the girl also spent most of her time studying in the library.
"If only I were the one who got petrified. Then I wouldn't have to memorize boring details like the stance Lockhart used to defeat werewolves."
On Sunday afternoon, Harry slammed Wanderings with Werewolves onto the table, propped his cheek on his hand, and gazed out the window with a melancholy sigh.
Thinking about what Ron had said last night, Harry couldn't help feeling envious. "Because of all this, Ron doesn't have to take exams, and he can even cast spells at home over the holiday without getting in trouble. Just thinking about it is amazing."
"If I had that kind of privilege, not only could I really mess with Dudley, but Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon would definitely treat me like they did in the first half of last summer, too afraid of my magic to treat me harshly."
Earlier that summer, Dobby had cast spells in front of Muggles, and Harry had received a warning letter from the Ministry of Magic. As a result, his lie had been exposed, and he'd suffered even harsher treatment because of it.
Now Ron actually had legal permission to use some magic, which made Harry even more envious. He couldn't help fantasizing about how great life would be with that kind of privilege.
Hearing this, Hermione countered quietly, "Then do you want to experience the pain of losing six months of memories?"
"Besides, you know perfectly well why Ron got that privilege. If it were you, Professor McGonagall definitely wouldn't be able to get authorization from the Ministry of Magic."
"I was just saying. Forget it." Harry waved his hands dismissively.
Harry understood what Hermione meant. The reason Ron could cast spells at home was that he had always been able to practice magic there without getting caught. This was a major difference between children from wizarding families and those from Muggle families.
"Ethan, next year when you tutor Ron in Potions, can I sit in?" Harry still didn't feel like reading Lockhart's books, so he turned to ask Ethan, who was sitting beside him.
"Sure. No problem," Ethan agreed readily. It was all the same to him. One more person wouldn't make any difference.
That brought him back to last night.
Last night, Harry and Hermione had suggested leaving the library to check on Ron, worried about their friend.
Although Ethan didn't think there was much to see, since it was on the way and wouldn't take long, he went along with them to the hospital wing.
After a day's rest, Ron had finally recovered some energy, so the three of them were allowed to visit.
After asking about Ron's condition, they finally got around to discussing how to handle his missed classes.
"Professor McGonagall said I wouldn't have to take this year's exams. Besides, I missed half a year of classes, so I wouldn't pass anyway. And Madam Pomfrey won't let me out of the hospital wing just yet. She says I still need a day or two to recover, which means I'd miss Monday's exams regardless.
"That's terrible," Ron said, but he couldn't quite hide his smile.
"So lucky!" Harry said, clearly envious.
"But what about the classes you missed? You're not going to be held back a year, are you?" Hermione wasn't jealous of skipping the exams.
"No. Mum and Dad discussed it with Professor McGonagall, and they've decided to let me continue with my third year after the summer holidays. But there's a catch.
"I have to get tutoring over the summer to make up for the Transfiguration and Charms work I missed.
"Plus, Dad and Professor McGonagall applied for special permission, so I'm temporarily exempt from the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery during the holidays. I can practice spells at home, within limits, as long as no Muggles see me."
At this, Ron winked proudly at the others.
"So good!" Harry said enviously once again.
This time, even Hermione looked a little jealous.
Only Ethan, who had never particularly cared about this law and knew ways around it, showed no reaction.
After a moment of silence, Hermione finally spoke, her voice dry. "Then what about the remaining subjects?"
"Astronomy will follow the new second-year tutoring schedule next school year. For Herbology, I'll spend half a day on weekends with Professor Sprout in the greenhouse. History of Magic and Defense Against the Dark Arts don't need tutoring, just memorizing the notes."
"I picked the same two subjects as you, so Care of Magical Creatures doesn't need tutoring either." Ron looked at Harry, having clearly made his decision after consulting Professor McGonagall.
"What about Potions?"
"As for Potions..." Ron turned to Ethan.
"Earlier, in front of my parents and Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape said, 'Let Ethan tutor him. The material is simple enough, he doesn't even need me to step in.'"
"Wait, he just assigned this to me out of nowhere?" Ethan looked shocked.
After all, Snape hadn't mentioned it to him all day, so he'd had no idea he'd been given such a task.
Still, after finding Snape, he had accepted the task, which wasn't particularly difficult anyway.
"He offered way too much." That night, Ethan left the Potions dungeon carrying various bottles and jars, including the Basilisk venom he needed most at the moment.
"Thank you, Ethan," Harry said gratefully. He felt his mediocre Potions grade was entirely due to Snape's constant bias against him. With Ethan as his tutor, things would definitely be different.
"You're welcome. Keep reviewing." Ethan shook his head but thought to himself: *Should I ask Draco to join us? I feel like if a few of us study together, it might help keep us motivated. Besides, Draco hasn't been asking questions about Potions lately. He's too hooked on Wizarding Cards. It's time to snap him out of it.*
Thinking about his somewhat slacking roommate, Ethan decided it was a good idea.
But that's a problem for next semester. Better focus on studying first.
Of all his courses, the one Ethan needed to focus on most was Defense Against the Dark Arts, which also happened to be Harry's biggest worry.
After all, having Lockhart as the professor this year was just ridiculous. He had managed to turn a course meant to teach defense against Dark Magic into his own personal spectacle.
Although Dumbledore said he had already let Lockhart modify the exam questions, Ethan wasn't sure how much that would help.
So, to avoid bombing a Dark Arts course he was actually good at, Ethan had to force himself to read through Lockhart's "adventure novels," which lacked any real substance.
*Someone hurry up and take Lockhart away!* Ethan sighed inwardly and continued reviewing.
It wasn't until eight o'clock, on his way back from the library to the dormitory, that Ethan unexpectedly ran into the caretaker casting a cleaning spell on stains in the entrance hall.
Filch seemed to be in high spirits. Surveying his handiwork, he hummed softly to himself, something that sounded almost like a wizarding tune.
*Why is he back?* Ethan sensed something was off.
So he asked, "Mr. Filch, didn't Dumbledore have you watching the Owlery to stop the diary from being mailed off? What brings you back to the castle?"
Filch turned toward Ethan. Seeing who it was, he said, "Ah, Ethan. This afternoon the Headmaster had Fawkes deliver a letter saying I didn't need to keep guarding the Owlery, so I came back."
"Is that so? Thanks. I'll be heading back now." Ethan said goodbye to Filch and turned to continue downstairs.
But as he descended the stairs, he found himself wondering about the significance of Dumbledore's actions. *Had the old man already found Nancy and learned about the Horcrux?* *Otherwise, why call Filch back?*
Ethan hurried into the common room. He saw Nancy, who had left just ahead of him, already at the entrance to the girls' dormitory.
Watching her disappear through the door, Ethan felt he needed to go find Dumbledore again.
*Is it about what happened this afternoon? Nancy did come to the library later than yesterday. So that was when it happened? No, I have to go ask.*
He returned to the dormitory, dropped off his things, greeted his roommates who were still studying, and then hurried out, heading for the Headmaster's office.
After stepping inside, Ethan asked directly, "Headmaster, did you find out where the diary is? I saw Filch in the entrance hall, and he should have been guarding the Owlery. So, have you found anything?"
"We found it. But it's not good news. It's no longer in the school." Dumbledore looked tired, his expression complicated.
Ethan pressed on. "Did she take it home or send it somewhere? You mean Nancy, the second-generation heir?"
The old man nodded. "I've learned more about the diary through certain channels."
"Once she had confirmed it, shortly after Easter, she mailed the diary away. To the orphanage where she grew up."
"And then? It's not there anymore?"
"No. As soon as I heard, I went to that orphanage with Minerva, who had visited before." Dumbledore's expression grew graver. "But when we arrived and searched, the diary was long gone. And along with it, a little boy about Nancy's age had vanished."
"Taken by the Tom in the diary?"
"Almost certainly." Dumbledore paused. "According to Mrs. Iverson, who runs the orphanage, after Nancy sent it back, she kept it locked away in a cabinet reserved for her alone." He sighed. "But the missing boy was also named Tom, and somehow he managed to pick the lock and steal the diary."
Tom had been missing for over two weeks. Along with the diary.
Dumbledore let out a sigh.
Reflecting on what Mrs. Iverson had said that afternoon, he thought:
*If Voldemort had calculated correctly, this Tom, with his habit of stealing, would have stolen the diary Nancy sent back. That's fine. But if all of this was orchestrated by Nancy herself, then...*
*Let's hope it doesn't come to that.*
"Even if he took control of a child again, he'd be a Muggle without a wand. Voldemort wouldn't have much magical ability in that case. So even though it's been half a month, there should still be hope of finding him, right?
"Besides, when a child goes missing, wouldn't someone at the orphanage call the police for help?"
Ethan had been worried that Dumbledore wasn't familiar with how Muggle society worked, especially when it came to involving the police.
"Mrs. Iverson already called the police, but they have no idea where he went. We also spoke with some of the Muggle officers who handled the call.
"Since he's a child from an orphanage, they didn't put much effort into it. With only those few Muggle police officers on the case, the chances of finding him are rather slim.
"But I've already written to the Ministry of Magic, asking them to coordinate with the Muggle government, mobilize more Muggle resources, and look into the whereabouts of this child."
Dumbledore's familiarity with Muggle society was actually greater than Ethan had imagined, and the methods he could employ were considerably more sophisticated.
"However, whether this will actually yield results is hard to say. Tom, when he was young... ah, well." The old man sighed, clearly pessimistic about the outcome.
Ethan had originally wanted to bring up the Gaunt shack, but remembering Dumbledore's reaction to the Resurrection Stone, he held his tongue.
What if he was still affected by the curse and had less than a year to live? That would be trouble, he thought.
"All right, I'll take my leave then." Ethan stood up to leave.
"Wait. You've come at just the right time. There's actually something I'd like your help with. I was planning to wait until after your exams to find you, but since you're here, I'll ask you directly."
"What is it?" Ethan sat back down.
"It's about Nancy. I want you to pay closer attention to Miss Riddle's activities. See if she does anything unusual."
*Hmm? I probably can't do this. I'm not in her year, and I'm not a girl. At most I'd run into her in the common room or the library occasionally. I'm probably not the right person for this.*
Ethan quickly waved off the idea.
"Besides, for something like this, you'd be better off asking the girls in her dormitory. They're her closest friends. They spend the most time with her."
"Even if I were to find a Slytherin girl from another year, it would still be easier for me to go through you, you know."
"I considered all those options you mentioned. But in the end, I still rejected them. After all, besides you, no other Slytherin students know anything about Horcruxes."
"If I found another girl to help monitor Riddle's movements, it would seem very strange."
"Besides, I don't actually need you to watch her constantly. Just observe when you do run into her. See if she seems off. That's enough."
"As the sales agent for your Wizarding Cards, you should have plenty of opportunities to interact with her, right?" The old man had clearly been preparing for this conversation for a while.
"If that's the case, then no problem."
Ethan felt this wouldn't really interfere with his own affairs. Still, he couldn't help but point out, "This kind of casual contact isn't likely to turn up much information. You'd be better off finding other methods."
"Of course. I'll have Severus keep a closer eye on her performance elsewhere. And in the days to come, I'll also have some occasional contact with her."
It wasn't hard to tell from this answer that Dumbledore hadn't really expected Ethan's observations to accomplish much, just to serve as a supplement. This put Ethan more at ease.
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