"Hoot..." The Hogwarts Express slowly came to a stop at Platform 9¾.
Ethan didn't have much luggage. Most of his belongings, like his easel, were packed into his Extension Charm leather bag. His roommate Michael had once complained that he "could survive purely by absorbing painting essence."
Ethan thought that wasn't impossible to work toward.
He casually helped a young wizard levitate down his luggage.
"Thank you!"
The young wizard had just gratefully thanked him, but when he looked up and saw it was Ethan, he immediately froze in place, his face turning deathly pale.
Being overly worshipped by others was also a kind of trouble, Ethan thought rather embarrassedly, carrying his suitcase as he leisurely walked through the corridor.
Along the way, students moved aside to make way for him. Some had even opened their compartment doors to leave but, upon seeing him, quickly slammed the doors shut and retreated.
Stepping onto the platform, Ethan adjusted his collar and searched for Luna's figure among the crowded masses.
At this moment, a cool voice spoke from beside him: "You're welcome to visit our home anytime during summer vacation, Ethan. The Farley family welcomes you... as long as you write us a letter in advance."
Ethan turned his head and saw the ice-faced Gemma Farley standing straight beside him. At this moment, she wore a well-fitted, elegant little vest and pencil skirt, with small black leather shoes and knee-high socks. Her smooth, long hair cascaded behind her head, making her look exactly like a wealthy family's young lady who had just come out of a private academy.
As she spoke, Gemma's eyes weren't looking at Ethan but staring straight ahead, as if she hadn't been deliberately trying to talk to him.
Ethan nodded and was about to respond when he heard a light, cheerful voice calling: "Ethan!"
Luna squeezed out of the crowd, running to Ethan's side like a bouncing little deer, waving her arms. Her blue eyes curved as she said with a smile: "I finally waited for you! Let's go; Dad is waiting for us outside the platform!"
As she spoke, Luna grabbed Ethan's wrist, wanting to pull him toward the brick wall. Only then did she notice Gemma Farley, who was watching them expressionlessly.
"Oh, sorry." Luna released Ethan's wrist, meeting Gemma's gaze as she said softly, "I interrupted your conversation, didn't I?"
Gemma lowered her eyelids, scanning Luna from top to bottom, pausing momentarily on the string of butterbeer cork stoppers hanging around her neck. Then, she slightly curved her lips and said slowly to Ethan: "What a lovely little sister. Well then, don't forget to write to our family, Ethan."
After saying this, she proudly raised her chin and walked away without looking back.
Luna watched Gemma's departing figure, blinked, and said: "I think she definitely doesn't like to eat roasted plimpy stew."
"Haha," Ethan was amused, "She definitely doesn't."
They stood in line to exit the platform, chatting warmly. Almost in the blink of an eye, they arrived before the brick wall checkpoint. A weathered old guard stood there, letting students pass through in groups of two or three to avoid attracting Muggle attention.
Entering King's Cross Station, Ethan encountered Ron and Hermione. Hermione saw Luna and raised her eyebrows in surprise, then blazed with fighting spirit, saying seriously: She would memorise all next term's textbooks during summer vacation!
It seemed she was treating Luna, who could play with Ethan, as a formidable competitor.
Ethan also saw Harry being driven away by the Dursley family.
"I've never seen such rude people," Hermione said. "I really hope Harry will be okay..."
"It's fine," Ethan said thoughtfully, "As a member of the club, I'll help Harry escape from his sea of suffering."
Ron recoiled in horror beside them. "Escape from the sea of suffering" shouldn't mean getting rid of the "sea of suffering", right...
Not long after arriving at Luna's house, while Ethan was helping Luna tidy up the small living room, he received a letter delivered by owl.
"Ugh, what's that smell?" Ethan wrinkled his nose, holding the letter at arm's length with disgust. It seemed like someone had poured an entire bottle of perfume on it... you could smell it from miles away.
"From Gilderoy Lockhart... hmm? I remember he's supposed to be next term's Defence Against the Dark Arts professor."
Luna came over and said: "That very famous author? Well, his novels are on the same level as the Daily Prophet. I read them to the gnomes in the garden. I hope they don't vomit after listening."
Ethan said with a smile. He opened the letter and scanned through it. Excluding most of the self-aggrandising language, Ethan raised an eyebrow: "He wants to invite me to help handle a dark wizard fraud case... interesting."
Ethan curved his lips. He hadn't expected the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor's curse to take effect so quickly. Someone rushing to their doom was rather rare.
Ethan had read about this commission in the Daily Prophet. It claimed that someone had accidentally wandered into Knockturn Alley and been cheated out of a lot of Galleons by a group of dark wizards, receiving only worthless junk in return. They hoped someone could deal with these criminals.
So you're saying your legs walked themselves to Knockturn Alley and your Galleons automatically flew out of your pocket?
However, the commission's reward was at least sixty Galleons, so the client did seem to have some money. If there was evidence of dark wizards being defeated, the fee could even double. In terms of amount, it could compete with going to deep mountains and old forests to collect herbs and catch animals.
"And the confiscated contraband can be secretly kept for yourself..." "Knockturn Alley... I haven't been there yet. How curious."
Ethan showed a brilliant smile. He immediately wrote back to Gilderoy Lockhart, with only two simple words on the letter: Time, place.
He didn't want to write a single word more.
Watching the owl fly away, Luna propped her cheek on her hand at the table, gazing into the air as she said softly: "He's a thief who steals other people's experiences and memories... and now, he wants to steal yours too."
Ethan was no longer surprised by Luna's keen perception. The most popular wizard, Gilderoy Lockhart... all his extraordinary experiences were stolen from others. The only thing he was good at was the Memory Charm.
Sigh, why was it another Ravenclaw! Why did Ravenclaw keep producing villains? Was the house cursed or something?
Ethan couldn't help but lament, feeling he needed to restore Ravenclaw's excellent academic reputation.
"Don't worry, Luna." Ethan ruffled Luna's fluffy head, his eyes curving as he said softly: "Of course I have to give our new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor a proper welcome. To the degree where this master of Memory Charms would want to cast Obliviate on himself."
On the appointed day, following a signpost of a finger stained with reddish-brown liquid, Ethan walked through the passage and arrived at Knockturn Alley.
He wore a clean black hooded cloak, a white shirt, and straight black trousers. At his collar was a dark blue thin ribbon tie with an oval moonstone the size of a fingernail in the centre, changing colours under the light... very beautiful.
His well-groomed black curly hair, pure blue eyes full of curiosity, and clean face made him look exactly like a wealthy young master. In Knockturn Alley, this was also known as a "fat sheep".
"Need help, my dear?"
A withered, large hand suddenly grabbed Ethan's shoulder. Ethan turned his head, looking at the wrinkled witch whose smile was unnaturally stretched, and politely replied: "Thank you for your kindness, but I'm waiting for someone."
Without waiting for the witch to respond, he enthusiastically continued: "This is my first time in Knockturn Alley, and I fell in love with it immediately! Look at those dilapidated, dirty grey-black brick walls, those withered branches reaching toward the sky like skeletal fingers, and you lovely witches and wizards here. I really regret never coming here before!"
The wrinkled witch stared at him: "?" That's not right. Why did this child act like he'd come home?
She looked around, seeing nothing but ugly, dirty, ill-intentioned faces. Not even slightly related to "lovely".
Looking at Ethan's pure and innocent smile, somehow the witch suddenly shivered. The hand that had been firmly gripping his shoulder also unconsciously loosened. As if she'd provoked some terrible existence...
The witch's throat rolled as she felt her mouth go dry, involuntarily taking half a step back...
Just then: "Ethan Vincent! Hey! You horrible old hag! Get away from that poor child! Otherwise, I, Gilderoy Lockhart, will show you what for!"
Ethan and the witch turned to look. They saw a flashily dressed, golden-haired man waving his wand at them from several feet away.