[Loan: Qilin (Annual Loan)]
[Repayment Period: 365 days]
[Loan Content: Obtain a Qilin.]
[Loan Task: Refine any potion using the Philosopher's Stone.]
[Evaluation: The Qilin is an auspicious beast from Eastern legends, a creature of profound righteousness. It wards off evil, breathes cleansing fire, and walks upon the clouds, capable of traversing spatial boundaries. In this world, those chosen by a Qilin are regarded as natural leaders.]
A Qilin. A divine beast. Having a pet of that caliber would certainly be more impressive than some toad or barn owl. The repayment task seemed straightforward enough: refine a potion using the Philosopher's Stone. The system didn't even specify what kind of potion.
Hmm, Lucien thought, in my first year at Hogwarts, there will be an opportunity to encounter the Philosopher's Stone. As long as he kept a close eye on Harry Potter, finding the stone shouldn't be a problem. He remembered that Dumbledore, with his penchant for prophecies and tests, had practically arranged for Harry to acquire it.
Perhaps he could find a way to get to it first. After all, he would need time to research how to use the stone to refine a potion.
[Would you like to take out the loan?]
"Yes," Lucien confirmed without hesitation.
It was another annual loan, but he felt this task was significantly simpler than achieving perfect mastery of Transfiguration. Firstly, he already knew the path to obtaining the Philosopher's Stone, which neutralized the task's greatest difficulty. Secondly, the lack of a specific potion requirement provided immense flexibility. This meant that even brewing a simple cold remedy with the stone would technically fulfill the contract.
Doing so would be a colossal waste of the stone's potential, of course. His plan formed quickly: he would brew a simple potion as a backup to ensure the loan was repaid, and then, if conditions allowed, he would attempt to refine something far more advanced. The Philosopher's Stone could transmute lead into gold and grant immortality. He wondered what other legendary potions could be created with its power.
Seeing that Lucien hadn't chosen a pet after a long while, Professor McGonagall asked, "Have none of them caught your eye?"
Lucien nodded. There really wasn't a single creature here that interested him, especially now that he had the promise of a divine beast like the Qilin.
"Then you don't have to purchase one now," she said understandingly. "Not all first-year students begin with a pet. Now, let's proceed to our final stop, the one I believe you've been most looking forward to: Flourish and Blotts."
Hearing her words, Lucien's eyes lit up. Flourish and Blotts was the most famous bookstore in the wizarding world, a treasure trove of magical knowledge. "Yes, Professor."
Inside the bookstore, Lucien moved like a man possessed. He weaved through the towering rows of shelves, constantly pulling out thick tomes and tucking them into the crook of his arm. A Basic Introduction to Transfiguration, a must-have. First-Time Potion Identification, useful, I'll take it. Beginner's Spell Encyclopedia, that's a no-brainer. His internal monologue was a rapid-fire assessment of his needs. He wanted them all.
Professor McGonagall watched as the pile of books in Lucien's arms quickly grew into a teetering stack. She opened her mouth to remind him that new students rarely needed so many books. The introductory curriculum was substantial enough to keep a young wizard busy for one or even two years. Furthermore, students of this age were often more interested in play; most who bought this many books were lucky if they managed to read ten pages before the volumes began gathering dust.
But then she thought of Lucien's extraordinary talent, the raw power she had witnessed in his room. She had a feeling he could, and would, devour these books with ease. He seems like a good boy who genuinely loves to study, she thought with a flicker of pride. She glanced at the bulging money pouch at his waist. In any case, he's certainly not short on funds.
The stack of books grew so high that Lucien had to tilt his head to peer around it at the shelves. A Guide to the Care of Magical Creatures? Well, he did have a Qilin to raise, so learning the relevant knowledge was essential. There was only one copy left. He reached for it.
Just as his fingers closed around the spine, he felt resistance. A small hand had grabbed the book from the other side.
"Ahem, I believe I had this book first. Could you please let go?"
A childish but surprisingly imperious voice sounded from beside him. Polite, but only just, Lucien thought. He was intrigued. Who would dare to snatch a book from him? He turned his head.
The owner of the voice was a little girl with pale skin and a formidable cloud of thick, brown, bushy hair. She had intelligent brown eyes, but her most noticeable feature was a pair of prominent front teeth that gave her a slight resemblance to a rabbit. She, too, was clutching a stack of books, though hers was not nearly as tall as Lucien's.
"Hello, Miss. May I ask your name?" Lucien offered a polite, charming smile, a reflex ingrained by his upbringing. His hand, however, did not loosen its grip on the book in the slightest.
The little girl's cheeks flushed slightly as was called a 'miss'. she took in his handsome face and his deep, dark green eyes, which seemed as profound and mysterious as a forest pool. Still, she looked up, meeting his gaze as her tone softened a fraction. "Hermione. Hermione Granger."
Lucien froze for a second. Of course, he knew the name Hermione. A key member of the famous trio. He hadn't expected to meet one of the main characters so quickly. But he recalled the film version of Hermione, and this girl didn't quite match. Could it be that this world was based on the original novels rather than the movies? Or perhaps a mixture of both?
Seeing him just staring blankly, Hermione pursed her lips and uncomfortably lowered her head.
"Ah, my apologies," Lucien said smoothly, recovering. "Seeing you reminded me of a friend. You both have beautiful brown hair. My name is Lucien Grafton."
Hearing his words, Hermione visibly relaxed. So he wasn't staring at her teeth. He was just complimenting her hair? Her fingers, which had been gripping the book tightly, suddenly loosened. Seizing the opportunity, Lucien began to pull the Guide to the Care of Magical Creatures away. Noticing the book slipping from her grasp, Hermione reflexively tightened her grip again, and the two fell into a silent stalemate.
"Miss Granger, have you found a book you like?" a new voice chimed in. A short, plump witch wearing a heavily patched hat had walked up behind Hermione.
"Ah, Professor Sprout! I... I'm looking," Hermione stammered.
Sprout? Lucien looked at the woman. She had flyaway gray hair and was looking kindly at the two young wizards.
"Pomona?" Professor McGonagall had also walked over at the sound of her colleague's voice. Pomona Sprout was the Head of Hufflepuff House and the Professor of Herbology.
"What a coincidence, Minerva," Sprout said warmly. "Is this the young wizard you're guiding?" She nodded toward Lucien.
"Yes, this is Lucien Grafton," McGonagall replied. "A very talented young wizard."
Hearing McGonagall's direct praise, Sprout was a little surprised. She knew her colleague of many years was notoriously strict and rarely praised a student so openly, especially one who hadn't even started school yet. She looked at Lucien again, a warm smile on her face. "I can see he must be a good boy who loves to read." Seeing the mountain of books in his arms, Sprout offered some kind advice. "First-year students don't actually need to buy so many, you know. You should save some pocket money as well."
Lucien showed no reaction to this; his money pouch was, after all, quite heavy. It was Hermione whose body stiffened. Her hand, which had been locked in a death grip on the book, recoiled as if stung. She had already spent much of the Galleons she'd exchanged, and her family's finances were not so luxurious that they could easily acquire more.
In that moment of hesitation, Lucien pulled the book free and decisively added it to his own stack. In the pursuit of knowledge, why bother with excessive politeness? What girl could possibly be as appealing as a new book?