"Only students who survive ten minutes can join the glorious evolution. To become the founding members of the Morning Star Club, destined to create wonders in the magical world."
"Oh God, what a genius idea! I can't help but want to reward my clever little brain with a paintbrush!"
Ethan muttered excitedly. Staring at the viscous dark brown mud in the puddle, his eyes sparkled as if seeing treasure. Salazar Slytherin indeed hid good things. Even after a thousand years, visitors wouldn't leave empty-handed.
Ethan cheerfully waved his wand, packing away the last bit of "mud" from the vast Chamber. After finishing this, Ethan took one last look at the empty Slytherin Chamber.
He closed his left eye. Raised his hand and snapped his fingers with a crack. A pitch-black doorway appeared before him.
Though this trip didn't immediately connect him with the basilisk or get clues to open Slytherin's true Chamber, he still gained extraordinary pigment.
"I really want to enter the true Chamber soon and obtain the treasures of one of the four founders. Then give Tom some artistic shock and broaden his horizons..."
But Ethan knew this couldn't be rushed. After all, little Voldemort spent several years just opening the Chamber. What he needed to do now was expand his club and spread the [Lamp's Creed], letting everyone joyfully pursue radiance together.
"Come on, System. You don't want to be looked down upon by other transmigrators for being too useless, do you?"
Ethan smirked and stepped into the portal.
Ethan wouldn't venture twenty thousand leagues underground unprepared. Return the same way? Impossible. He wasn't some chosen Gryffindor who could have a phoenix carry him through three hundred and sixty leagues of endless pipes.
Another portal, through an eyeball Ethan had positioned earlier, already opened in Ravenclaw's dormitory. From the deepest depths to the highest point... one step home.
Meanwhile, in Ravenclaw Tower...
In Ethan's dormitory, Michael, who was sleeping soundly without Ethan there, was awakened by sounds. He opened his eyes in confusion to see a pale face smiling at him from a pitch-black doorway.
Ethan said cheerfully: "Good evening."
"AHHHHHHH!"
Tonight's young ravens were still quite lively.
The next morning...
Ethan, lying straight with hands folded, opened his eyes with a snap. With agility and vigour that didn't match his sleeping position, he leaped from the soft bed.
He swept open the bed curtains, squinting comfortably to welcome the morning sunlight... well, there wasn't any. Today was predictably overcast again.
"Lovely British weather as always," Ethan muttered sarcastically.
While getting out of bed, he thought that once his painting skills improved, he'd definitely create "Weather Forecast" or "Blazing Sun" to pierce through these clouds.
Though he slept late, Ethan wasn't tired at all. This was the age of boundless energy. Moreover, driven by internal goals and surging passion, Ethan felt sleeping was wasting time.
After washing up in his private bathroom, Ethan brushed back his hair, which seemed to have grown even curlier overnight, while examining his reflection in the mirror. Staring back was a pale-skinned boy with striking features: a high, narrow nose, thin lips that hinted at an aloof confidence, and cobalt-blue eyes that shimmered with energy and life.
Compared to the first year, he'd grown somewhat, mainly in height.
"Oh, you're as noble and dangerous as the vampires in Byron's writing, my child." The mirror sighed.
If dormmates Michael or Armando stood before it, they'd only get harsh critiques like "Unkempt!" and "Slouching!"
(TL Note: Mandy's name will be changed to Armando from here on.)
Ethan smiled, making the pale face come alive: "Thanks. I've always been a bit self-conscious about not looking like an octopus-person."
Mirror: "..."
After a moment of silence, Ethan cheerfully finished grooming. He put on a gleaming white shirt, dark blue tie, Ravenclaw eagle-crested knit vest, calf-high socks (non-rolling, non-sagging, from Madam Malkin's), pressed black trousers, and black leather shoes with gold buckles. Finally, he donned the black school cloak.
Ethan's daily outfit was complete. One advantage of school was wearing uniforms daily without racking your brain about what to wear. However, Ethan knew some girls, especially upperclassmen, wore their own skirts under robes.
Luna's skirt was embroidered with cute orange dirigible plums, completed with Ethan during summer vacation.
When Ethan prepared to leave, it was only six o'clock. Inside Hogwarts, except for students facing exams, few were awake. Quiet and peaceful, like a sleeping giant.
Today's first class was Defence Against the Dark Arts. Apparently Professor Lockhart couldn't teach Gryffindor and Slytherin yesterday due to health issues.
Wonder what antics he'd pull now... Ethan thought casually as he entered the Great Hall.
Then he frowned. He saw a student crouched before his club poster, scratching at something with their hands!
Trying to steal radiance? Ethan raised an eyebrow.
The person faced away, too focused to notice Ethan's arrival. Currently, the Great Hall was empty except for them. Ethan silently drew his wand.
After thinking, he cast a spell on himself and opened a portal directly behind the person.
Gobstone Club president Wallace Raditz was concentrating on nudging the Morning Star Club poster. He wasn't trying to vandalise anything, just hoping to shift it aside so it wouldn't cover his own poster.
Why not move the Gobstone poster instead? Because other spots were taken, and Wallace didn't fancy a row with the other club presidents.
"Sorry, but I haven't got much choice. Your club's dead popular and you're still young, so you won't mind if I nick a bit of space..."
"Blimey! What sort of charm is this? Won't budge at all, not even after three Finite Incantations..."
Just then, a small hand tapped his shoulder. A sweet voice asked, "Excuse me, what are you doing?"
A younger student? A girl? Wallace perked up immediately.
He whirled around and came face to face with a blood-red eyeball. Black hair hung over most of the face, but through the strands, one perfectly round eye stared back at him, looking freshly plucked from its socket.
Wallace's mouth fell open. The eyeball blinked twice in what might have been a greeting.
Ethan, disguised as the innocent younger girl, tilted his head. "Why so quiet? You seemed quite cheerful a moment ago."