[Loan: Qilin (One-Year Term)]
[Repayment Deadline: 365 Days]
[Loan Content: Receive a Qilin]
[Loan Task: Brew a Potion Using the Philosopher's Stone]
[Evaluation: The Qilin, a mythical beast of Eastern legend, brings good fortune, wards off evil, breathes fire, treads on clouds, and breaks magical barriers.]
[Note: In this world, those chosen by a Qilin are seen as natural-born leaders.]
A Qilin—a mythical, divine beast! Having one as a pet would blow any round-faced fat chicken or scabby toad out of the water.
The task was to brew a potion using the Philosopher's Stone, but it didn't specify which potion. Perfect. In his first year at Hogwarts, Lucien would have a shot at getting close to the Stone. All he had to do was keep an eye on Harry Potter—that kid was practically destined to stumble into it, thanks to Dumbledore's love for prophecies and elaborate plans.
Could he snag the Stone early? Brewing a potion with it would take some research, after all.
[Would you like to accept the loan?]
"Accept," Lucien said without hesitation.
This task felt way easier than perfectly mastering Transfiguration. For one, he already knew how to track down the Philosopher's Stone, which was half the battle. Plus, the task didn't care what kind of potion he brewed. A simple cold remedy would technically count.
That said, using the Stone for something so basic felt like a waste. Maybe he'd start with a simple potion to secure the loan repayment, then experiment with something more ambitious if he had the chance. The Philosopher's Stone could turn metal into gold and grant immortality—surely it could whip up some incredible potions too, right?
Seeing Lucien hadn't picked a pet yet, Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow. "Not finding anything you like?"
Lucien nodded. Nothing here caught his eye, especially now that he had a Qilin—a mythical beast!—in his corner.
"No problem," McGonagall said. "Not every first-year needs a pet right away. Let's head to our final stop. I know you've been looking forward to it: Flourish and Blotts."
Lucien's eyes lit up at the mention of the famous wizarding bookstore, packed with magical tomes. "Yes, Professor!"
---
Inside Flourish and Blotts, Lucien darted between the towering bookshelves, pulling out titles and tucking them under his arm.
"Basic Principles of Transfiguration"? Gotta have it!
"A Beginner's Guide to Recognizing Potions"? Useful—buy it!
"The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1"? No-brainer, it's mine!
"…Just buy them all!"
McGonagall watched as Lucien's stack of books grew precariously tall. She opened her mouth to caution him—first-years didn't need that many books. The basics were plenty to keep a young witch or wizard busy for a year or two. Plus, most kids his age were more interested in pranks than studying; half the books they bought just gathered dust.
But then she remembered Lucien's extraordinary talent. Maybe he could devour all these books. "Lucien's a studious one," she thought, glancing at the bulging coin pouch at his waist. "And he's clearly not short on Galleons."
Struggling to see over his towering stack, Lucien tilted his head to scan the shelves. "Care of Magical Creatures: A Guide"? Perfect! He had a Qilin to look after now, so he'd need to brush up. Only one copy left—snag it!
He reached for the book, but just as his fingers closed around it, a small hand grabbed the other side.
"Ahem, excuse me, I got this book first. Could you let go?" a young but slightly haughty voice piped up.
Polite, but only barely, Lucien thought, amused. Let's see who's trying to swipe my book.
He turned to face a pale girl with thick brown hair and matching brown eyes. Her most striking feature? A pair of large front teeth that gave her a bit of a rabbit-like charm. She was clutching a stack of books too, though not quite as tall as his.
"Hello, miss," Lucien said, flashing a polite smile—a habit from his upbringing. "And you are?"
His grip on the book didn't budge.
The girl's cheeks flushed slightly under his gaze, his deep emerald eyes glinting like a still pond, almost hypnotic. She lifted her chin, her tone softening just a touch. "Hermione. Hermione Granger."
Wait, what?
Lucien blinked. He knew that name—Hermione, the brains of the Golden Trio. Meeting a member of the main crew already? That was quick. But… wasn't Hermione supposed to be a delicate, doll-like girl? Who was this bunny-toothed version?
Was this world based on the books, not the movies? Or some mix of both?
Noticing Lucien staring, Hermione's lips tightened, and she ducked her head, suddenly self-conscious.
"Oh, sorry," Lucien said quickly. "You just reminded me of a friend. You've both got gorgeous brown hair."
Hermione exhaled softly, relieved. He wasn't staring at my teeth—he was complimenting my hair?
Her grip on Care of Magical Creatures loosened for a split second, and Lucien started to tug it free. But she instinctively tightened her hold again, and they were locked in a silent tug-of-war.
"Miss Granger, found any books you like?" a short woman with a patched hat approached, breaking the moment.
"Oh, Professor Sprout, I—I'm still looking," Hermione stammered.
Sprout? Lucien glanced at the woman, her gray hair flowing as she smiled warmly at the two young students. Pomona Sprout, Head of Hufflepuff and Herbology professor.
"What a coincidence, Minerva," Sprout said, spotting McGonagall nearby. "Is this the young wizard you're guiding?"
"Yes," McGonagall replied. "This is Lucien Grafton. A very gifted young wizard."
Sprout raised an eyebrow, surprised. She knew McGonagall wasn't one to toss around praise lightly, especially for a student who hadn't even started at Hogwarts. She studied Lucien with a kind smile. "I can tell he's a bookworm already."
Noticing his towering stack, she added, "You don't need to buy quite so many books as a first-year, you know. Save some Galleons for sweets!"
Lucien just grinned—he wasn't worried about money. Hermione, though, stiffened. She'd already spent most of her exchanged Galleons, and her family wasn't exactly swimming in gold to trade for more.
Seizing the moment, Lucien smoothly pulled Care of Magical Creatures from her grasp and added it to his pile. Knowledge was power—why be polite about it?
Sorry, Hermione, but books trump manners.