Roger, though he disliked lies, understood the basic principle of concealing one's strengths.
This wasn't deception, merely stating only half the truth.
When one was still weak, it was best to avoid showing off one's wealth.
The fewer people who knew the specifics of his path, the better.
Roger merely told Professor McGonagall that he planned to use the Seer's ability to predict crises, combined with Transfiguration for self-modification, to extend his lifespan.
He omitted the detail that his precognitive sense of danger was a constant ability he could use at will, rather than a prophecy that was sometimes accurate and sometimes not, or required specific conditions to activate.
Even so, that was enough to leave Professor McGonagall utterly astonished! How long had it been since she lent him books? He had only been at Hogwarts for a few days, and he had already progressed so far on his magical path?!
Although, based on what Roger had revealed, his command of spells was still greatly lacking, just the goal of longevity alone suggested his thinking wasn't fundamentally flawed.
However…
"If you merely want to extend your lifespan, with your abilities, this path is potentially viable. But I recall you mentioned wanting immortality?" Professor McGonagall hadn't forgotten a single word Roger had told her.
"Yes," Roger nodded.
"Longevity and immortality, they sound similar, but they are concepts on entirely different levels. It's like comparing a paramecium to a wizard – both are carbon-based life forms according to Muggle science." As a master of Transfiguration and a former Ministry of Magic official, Professor McGonagall's understanding of Muggle science wasn't profound, but it was certainly not unfamiliar.
"Transfiguration is magic that alters matter, but life is not solely composed of matter."
Roger understood Professor McGonagall's unspoken implication. In the magical world, the soul was also a part of life, not to mention the 'mind,' which was as mysterious as magic, perhaps even more so.
Even if Roger could achieve physical immortality, what if his soul deteriorated over time? "I understand what you're saying, Professor. But one cannot become a fat person overnight. Although my ultimate goal is immortality, I must take it one step at a time."
"Among the many components of life, our bodies are the most fragile. Let's first solve the issue of our physical lifespan, and then address other problems gradually," Roger replied very rationally.
As Roger finished speaking, Professor McGonagall, who had been quite serious moments before, broke into a smile. Her previous words had contained a small test, and Roger had passed it perfectly.
When pursuing matters of life extension, the greatest taboo was impatience and seeking quick success.
The desire not to die was a thought that had crossed many wizards' minds.
Throughout her teaching career and her years working in the Ministry of Magic's Department of Magical Law Enforcement, she had seen too many people become impatient and take the wrong path, ultimately dying before reaching the lifespan of an ordinary person, all in the name of extending their own lives.
It was like many Muggles who earned money for the sake of a happy life, yet some would gradually forget their original purpose and stray from the right path.
Now, Professor McGonagall believed Roger was someone who could control his desires and was worthy of her greater trust.
Professor McGonagall knew Roger was a good person, but being good didn't equate to resisting temptation.
It was like the saying "money corrupts" – many people who seemed fine might simply not have had the opportunity to go bad.
Being able to be good and choosing to be good were two different things.
It was only now that she decided to entrust that item to Roger Virgilius.
"I hope you will always remember your original intention," Professor McGonagall said as she handed a piece of paper to Roger.
Upon seeing the paper, Roger's eyes lit up.
He had originally come to Professor McGonagall simply to verify if his ideas had any flaws or omissions.
He hadn't expected such a bonus! This slip of paper was a godsend to Roger at this moment!
[Hogwarts Library, Professor's Restricted Section Borrowing Slip]
What's more, it was a 'blank' slip, allowing him to borrow any book without specifying its title! Within the Hogwarts Library, besides regular books and updated academic journals from the outside world, there was also the Restricted Section, whose books were not permitted for students to view.
The books there weren't necessarily of higher academic value than those in other sections of the library, but they contained dangerous spells and advanced magic that were unsuitable for students and carried risks.
Many of the materials and documents Roger needed for his physical modifications were located in the Restricted Section.
…Let alone the danger, the various physical modification experiments from the early days of wizarding civilization were inherently bloody, absurd, and against human ethics, with immeasurable psychological impact on young wizards!
Professor McGonagall made this decision considering Roger's unique experiences, strong will, and his ability to remain true to his original intentions.
However, Professor McGonagall still included a safeguard: "You are not allowed to borrow Dark Arts books. The titles of the books you borrow will be recorded with Madam Pince, and I will check them from time to time."
"Don't worry," Roger said with a smile, knowing what Professor McGonagall was concerned about.
He understood the dangers of Dark Arts and had no interest in emotional magic; that was not the true path to enlightenment he sought.
.
.
"Harry, don't you think those two are a bit strange?" After class, on their way back to the dormitory, Ron looked at his friend.
"Who?" Harry Potter knew his friend had a hard time staying quiet. When bored, he would always find ways to entertain himself, usually by complaining about everything that happened during the day.
"It's the two 'Ravenclaws' from our first-year Gryffindor class!"
"One is arrogant, snobbish, and wants to show off how much she knows in every class… tsk." Ron pouted.
"The other always looks like he's deep in thought, and he can cast spells successfully on the first try for almost all magic-related courses."
"But he never gets too close to anyone, and no one has ever been able to invite him out to play."
Ron paused here. "And both of them spend all their free time in the library."
"I heard from his roommates that even when he returns to the dormitory, he never takes his eyes off his book until the lights go out… oh, Merlin's beard." Ron simply couldn't comprehend how such a person existed, or why they would come to Gryffindor instead of Ravenclaw.
"Ron!" Harry frowned. "Don't talk about people behind their backs… they're actually both quite good people."
Although no names were mentioned, he knew who the two people Ron was referring to.
Hermione Granger, and Roger Vergil.
Harry raised his hand, pushed his glasses up his frame, and asked, "Did you see it?"
"See what?" Ron asked, confused.
"My glasses lens."
"It's always been cracked. Hermione noticed it the day before yesterday and proactively fixed it for me with a mending charm."
"Also," Harry turned to look at Ron, his tone serious.
"In Potions class, Roger helped Neville and prevented a potion accident, protecting those around him. They are both good people. You shouldn't talk about them like that just because they are different from everyone else in some ways!" Harry Potter was a child who had lived with his relatives since he was young, had no friends, and was always bullied.
He finally had a friend, and he cherished him dearly.
Therefore, he especially didn't want his only close friend at the moment to become like his cousin Dudley Dursley!
In a group, calling others strange was often the start of isolation and bullying, and Harry Potter was very sensitive to this.
"I..." Seeing Harry's serious expression, Ron was a bit flustered.
However, someone helped him out of the awkward situation.
"T-two students, students should be friendly to each other..." A slightly stammering voice sounded from beside them, interrupting the atmosphere between them.
There was no need to look at the turban; the pungent smell of garlic already revealed the identity of the person approaching.
Quirrell, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor rumored to be avoiding vampires! "Professor Quirrell." Harry and Ron bowed.
Quirrell, however, had not come to Harry to discuss harmony among students; he had another purpose for his visit.
"I heard, you, were, discussing, Roger."
"I'm a little curious about him. Can you tell me about him from your perspective as students?" Professor Quirrell's eyes held a deep meaning.
Ten years ago, he had temporarily exited the stage of history according to prophecy. During his time at Hogwarts, he had been very interested in Arithmancy, even going so far as to make his Horcruxes into seven, a number with great mystical significance.
How could this Dark Lord not be interested in a legendary powerful Seer?!
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