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Seven o'clock in the morning.
Slytherin common room.
It was too early for most. Except for a few try-hards preparing for their O.W.L.s or N.E.W.T.s, diligently studying in the common room, no other wizards were awake.
Whew!
Devlin walked out of the bathroom feeling refreshed. He flicked his neat blond hair, satisfied. Although he had practiced Zen meditation until midnight the previous night, it hadn't affected his spirit at all. In fact, he felt even better today!
Glancing at the try-hards in the common room, Devlin's mouth twitched slightly.
He had thought getting up at six-thirty was early, but he couldn't imagine what time these people had woken up. Sure enough, no matter where you go, there are always people who study harder than you.
"Alright, it's a new day! Time to go to class!"
Passing through the common room, Devlin noticed a notification on his panel: a new golden entry had refreshed. An idiotic grin appeared on his face involuntarily.
At the entrance to the common room stood a wall.
It looked completely flat.
Devlin figured he was the first to leave today. After all, if someone else had exited, the wall would show a bump or some deformation—at least, that was what Devlin had concluded after living here for a week.
He gently tapped a brick on the wall, just like at Diagon Alley.
The wall began to twist and deform, revealing a passage large enough for one person to pass through.
Devlin stepped out.
But as he did, he suddenly tripped over something.
Looking down, he saw someone lying at the entrance!
Taking a closer look, he realized—it was Marcus!
Marcus had dark circles under his eyes, his face looked paler than usual, and there was a strange smell about him—a mixture of garlic and some kind of herb.
Devlin immediately tried to wake him up, shaking him.
No matter how hard he shook, Marcus wouldn't wake.
Fearing the worst, Devlin put his hand under Marcus's nose.
He breathed a sigh of relief when he felt warm air.
"He's not dead. So this is... sleeping?"
Frowning, Devlin drew his wand from his waist and pointed it at Marcus's brow.
"Enervate!"
Huff!
A faint light flashed from the tip of the wand.
Marcus's eyes snapped open. He sat up suddenly, startling Devlin.
Marcus looked terrible.
His chest was soaked with cold sweat, his breathing rapid and shallow. Devlin could faintly hear his pounding heartbeat.
Marcus looked around uneasily.
"Devlin? Is that you? Where am I?"
Devlin stepped forward, patting Marcus on the back to calm him.
"We're at the entrance to the common room. Why are you sleeping here?"
At Devlin's words, Marcus supported half of his face with one hand and murmured:
"Common room... entrance... Oh, right, I remember. Haha, I'm too tired."
He laughed weakly, turning his head playfully.
"Oh, Merlin's beard, I was helping Professor Quirrell prepare lesson plans for the new semester yesterday. We worked until three in the morning. Haha, Professor Quirrell is such a good professor. He stayed up working with me."
Marcus tried to stand but found his limbs weak. He couldn't even lift himself off the ground.
With Devlin's help, Marcus finally stood up, throwing his arm around Devlin's shoulder—though Devlin barely reached his ribs.
"Haha, thank you, Devlin. I'm glad you found me. Otherwise, I'd be laughed at by the entire school. Alright, Professor Quirrell gave me a day off. I need to catch up on some sleep."
He smiled and patted Devlin's shoulder.
Devlin nodded, helping Marcus into the common room.
"Everyone was in the Great Hall yesterday, but I didn't see you. I was worried something had happened."
"Haha, what could happen? Professor Quirrell and I were just organizing lesson plans in the office all day. Didn't even go out!"
Marcus turned, pushing away Devlin's supporting hand.
"I can manage on my own. I'm not drunk. Don't worry."
Devlin nodded.
"Be careful."
He turned and left the common room.
As the stone wall reassembled, Devlin's brow furrowed.
"I saw Quirrell in the owlery yesterday. What does he mean he didn't leave the office all day? And..."
Devlin twitched his nose.
Thanks to his [Potion Spirit Body], he could identify almost any herb by scent.
"Snakeweed?"
— —
Breakfast at Hogwarts was best enjoyed before eight o'clock.
Devlin now sat in the Great Hall, holding a large bowl of milk and oatmeal porridge, sipping contentedly.
This porridge reminded him of the soy milk porridge from his childhood: smooth in texture, with a rich milky aroma.
Why before eight o'clock?
Because at eight, the owls delivered packages—and the scene became absolute chaos.
It was a sign of civilization if the owls didn't relieve themselves mid-flight into your porridge bowl.
Devlin had once found an owl feather floating in his breakfast. Since then, he refused to enter the hall after eight.
However, after yesterday's incident, all owls entering Hogwarts had to pass through a special device.
Dumbledore had invited a goblin to set it up.
Apparently, it could detect any owl harboring malicious intent and block them from entering.
Whether it worked or not remained to be seen.
After finishing his breakfast, Devlin raised his hand and stretched lazily.
It was not yet half-past seven.
He made his way toward his first class of the day—Transfiguration, a subject he had long been looking forward to!
Arriving at the classroom, he found it empty.
Devlin picked a seat and sat down casually, adjusting his breathing.
He began cultivating the Zen meditation method while waiting for class to begin.
More than twenty minutes passed.
Footsteps sounded at the door.
Devlin slowly opened his eyes—and was very surprised.
"Good morning, Devlin. You were really brave yesterday," said a boy with a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead, smiling brightly.
Harry Potter!
"Harry! Why are you here? Are you alright now?"
Devlin rushed forward, asking with concern.
"It's okay, it's okay. I'm fine. I slept in the hospital wing for almost an entire day. When I woke up, I came over. I don't know why I fainted in the owlery. It's so embarrassing. Thankfully, no one really cares about me now."
Harry scratched his head awkwardly, flashing an embarrassed smile.
From his reaction, Devlin realized Harry had completely forgotten what had happened in the owlery.
Devlin recalled what Dumbledore had told him yesterday:
"I hope you can understand my decision. Some past events—forgetting them may be a deeper level of wisdom."
"As for what you have forgotten, I'm sorry, I cannot tell you now."
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