A blinding white light suddenly engulfed the Potion classroom.
When the light faded, Neville's scabs and burns were gone, and even his skin had become much whiter.
The classroom was dead silent. All the young Wizards were stunned.
Even Professor Snape, standing at the podium, showed a rare trace of shock on his face.
Whether it was Potion or magic, recovery took time, and this instant healing… meant that as long as there were enough materials, one could be almost invincible in battle.
"Longbottom!" Professor Snape's icy voice broke the silence, "Get up if you're done!"
Neville scrambled up from the floor, head bowed, not daring to look at him.
"For your foolish recklessness," Professor Snape's voice was flat, "Gryffindor, ten points deducted."
Neville's eyes immediately reddened.
All the House points Hermione had painstakingly accumulated for an entire week… were all gone!
He looked guiltily at Hermione; her face showed sadness, but there was no blame in her eyes. This made Neville feel even worse.
"Professor," Nios's calm voice rang out, "I healed a classmate and quelled a disturbance; shouldn't I be given some points?"
Professor Snape's gaze, like a nail, pierced Nios's eye patch, lingering for a few seconds.
"…Gryffindor, five points added."
This sentence was like a huge rock smashing into water! The young Wizards of Slytherin and Gryffindor instantly began to whisper, after all, this was Professor Snape's first time adding points to Gryffindor.
"Thank you." Nios's tone was flat.
"Potter!" Professor Snape's voice followed immediately, "You didn't remind Longbottom to stay away from the fire! Gryffindor, one point deducted!"
The rest of the class became Professor Snape's nitpicking time.
Harry was slow? One point deducted! Ron splashed when stirring? One point deducted! Hermione's Potion was too light in color? One point deducted!
By the time the bell rang for class to end, those five points had been deducted completely.
The young lions looked speechlessly at Professor Snape, then at the pale-faced Hermione and the nonchalant Nios.
After class, the young Wizards left first, and then Professor Snape left the classroom.
As he closed the door, his gaze swept over Azazel in the corner, he frowned, but ultimately did nothing.
Only after confirming Professor Snape had left did Azazel sit up and brush the dust off himself.
"Tsk tsk, such an obvious trap," he sneered, walking to the door, "Only a fool would fall for it, right?"
He grabbed the doorknob and pulled—the door didn't budge.
Azazel froze.
"Heh… so people really do laugh when they're speechless."
Apparently, Professor Snape had locked the door when he left. Now, only he was left in the empty classroom.
"Help! Nios! I know you can hear me!" Azazel threw himself at the door, frantically banging on it, "I won't badmouth you anymore! Let me out! It stinks in here! Help—!"
Unfortunately, it was lunchtime, and the corridor was empty.
Gryffindor long table.
"Whew… This week is finally over," Nios asked, eating mashed potatoes, "Where are we going this weekend?"
Harry swallowed his food: "Ron and I plan to explore around the Castle. What about you?" He didn't mention Hagrid's invitation.
Nios shrugged and looked at Hermione: "I plan to accompany Miss Granger to the library. Oh, right Harry," he changed the subject, "Say hello to Hagrid for me."
The actions of the four instantly froze! Their plan was exposed?!
"Don't guess wildly," Nios looked at them, "An owl delivered a letter to you this morning, and besides Hagrid, I really can't think of anyone else who would send you a letter."
Nios turned to Hermione, "Can you be more discreet when you're peeking at me?"
"Neville, you can't keep a secret. If you have something to say, tell me directly, don't make me guess. And you, Ron… the sound of you and Harry conspiring, the whole Great Hall can hear it."
All four faces instantly turned red.
Harry asked guiltily: "Is it really that obvious?"
Nios took a bite of mashed potatoes: "Otherwise, why wouldn't I expose it?"
Ron blurted out: "Pity us?"
Nios: "Bingo! You got it right, are you happy?"
Hermione sighed: "…Not happy at all."
Nios wiped his mouth.
"I'm done. Hermione, library now or later?"
Hermione sped up her eating: "Let's go directly!"
Nios looked at Neville: "What about you?"
Neville scratched his head sheepishly: "I'm going to apologize to Seamus; I broke his cauldron just now."
"Alright," Nios stood up, his gaze sweeping over the four, "But you should give me an answer to my proposal, shouldn't you?"
The relaxed atmosphere instantly vanished.
Harry looked at his plate, Ron frowned, Hermione's eyes flickered, and Neville shrank his neck.
Nios sighed lightly: "Okay, I was a bit impatient. Tell me when you've thought it over."
Just then, an owl swooped by and dropped a letter in front of Nios.
Nios was surprised. Who would write to him?
Looking at the Hogwarts crest on the envelope… it was clear the old fox intended to have a talk with the little fox.
He picked up the letter with the school crest.
He stood up and walked behind Hermione, using his mischievous little hand to mess up Hermione's already fluffy hair even more.
"Sorry Hermione!" he said quickly, "Someone's looking for me, you go to the library by yourself! You guys eat slowly! I'm leaving now!" With that, he rushed towards the Great Hall door.
"You scoundrel!" Hermione shouted while tidying her hair.
"You all be careful! If anything happens, remember to find a Professor!" After turning to caution Harry and the others a few words, she chased in the direction Nios had run.
Nios stood in front of the gargoyle on the eighth floor.
"Cockroach Clusters."
The stone beast rotated in response, revealing a winding spiral staircase leading upwards.
Nios looked at the dauntingly long steps, pouted, and then began to climb.
"Come in." Headmaster Dumbledore's gentle voice came from inside the door even before the knock sounded, and the heavy wooden door silently opened inwards.
Nios stepped into the Principal's office.
Portraits of past Principals, set in ornate gold frames, hung between the bookshelves. Most of the Wizards and Witches in the paintings were either resting with their eyes closed or pretending to doze, but Nios keenly caught several curious, peeking glances as they secretly lifted their eyelids.
In the center of the room was an ornately carved desk, piled with various shimmering magic instruments, parchment scrolls, and several glass jars filled with colorful candies.
Beside Headmaster Dumbledore's desk, a Phoenix was preening its flame-like, brilliant feathers on a perch.
Occasionally, it would raise its elegant head, emitting a clear, bell-like chirping sound.
When it gently flapped its wings, a few tiny golden sparks would drift down, flicker a few times in mid-air, then quietly extinguish, leaving no trace.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Chaos."
Headmaster Dumbledore sat behind a large high-backed chair, his blue eyes behind his half-moon spectacles twinkling with a smile.
"You too, Headmaster Dumbledore." Nios nodded slightly.
Headmaster Dumbledore waved his hand gently, and a comfortable armchair automatically moved to his desk.
"Please sit." Headmaster Dumbledore gestured.
Nios sat down without ceremony.
"How have you found your first week at Hogwarts?" Headmaster Dumbledore interlaced his fingers, his tone like he was making small talk.
"Not bad," Nios shrugged, "I've made some… very interesting friends."
Headmaster Dumbledore's gaze behind his lenses flickered: "It seems you've already found a direction for your future?"
"Something like that." Nios's answer was ambiguous.
Just then, a steaming cup of hot tea floated steadily in front of Nios.
He didn't hesitate, picking it up and drinking it, completely unreserved.
"Recently," Headmaster Dumbledore's tone took on a hint of playfulness, "your name is quite 'loud' in Slytherin circles."
Nios put down his teacup, the bottom of the cup clinking crisply against the saucer.
"Tell them to relax." His tone was flat, the cartoon eyes on his eye patch looking directly at Headmaster Dumbledore, "I just purely want to 'make friends' with Mr. Malfoy. As long as they don't provoke me, I'm too lazy to do anything 'excessive'." He emphasized the words "make friends" and "excessive" slightly.
Headmaster Dumbledore's gaze behind his half-moon spectacles suddenly became sharp: "Mr. Chaos, I'm very curious, why are you… so interested in Mr. Malfoy?"
Nios met that sharp gaze, and a very brilliant smile slowly bloomed on his face.
"Because he has talent… I have a 'little guy' here who really needs him."
Headmaster Dumbledore was silent for a few seconds. Finally, he also showed a gentle smile:
"Then, I sincerely wish you a… 'pleasant time' with Mr. Malfoy."
"Thank you for your blessing."
Nios stood up, making to leave, "If there's nothing else… I should be going now…"
"Miss Granger is still waiting for me at the library; if I make her wait too long, she might overthink things."
Just then, a House-elf walked out from the corner of the room.
He was wearing a tea towel printed with the Hogwarts crest, shaped like a short robe, tied at his chest with a string.
A few sparse white hairs on his face and head indicated he was very old.
His eyes were a mix of awe and anxiety, and he had very dark circles under them…
"This is Pip, the head of the Hogwarts kitchens."
Headmaster Dumbledore's voice remained steady, as if he had known Pip would come.
"He has something he wants to ask you…"