The next morning.
Rock walked out of the bathroom, droplets still clinging to his face, exhaustion showing clear in his eyes.
He hadn't gone to the Room of Requirement last night. Instead, he stayed in the dorm and finished the homework Professor McGonagall assigned.
After that, every time his mental state hit the "fatigue" threshold, he used deep meditation.
The result?
He slept with a smile on his face the whole night.
[Transfiguration Spell Lv.4 (1100/1799)]
[Mental Metric Lv.5 (1850/2699) – Golden Will]
His transfiguration spell had reached intermediate proficiency, meaning it consumed less magic. And his mental level was now high enough for him to start practicing Occlumency.
But even if he wanted to learn it right now, he couldn't. The only two people in Hogwarts who truly mastered Occlumency were Snape and Dumbledore.
And asking them to teach him?
Yeah… not happening.
Better to wait until Christmas break and ask Newt or Theseus back at the estate.
"Rock? You're already up?"
Rock had just reached the dorm entrance when Adam stumbled out, hair sticking up like a bird's nest. Behind him, Theo shuffled forward with his eyes half-closed—if not for the toothbrush and wash kit in his hands, he could've passed for a sleepwalker.
"It's not early. It's almost ten."
Rock stepped aside to let them pass and walked back into the dorm.
Sitting at his desk, he started organizing last night's transfiguration notes—just in case.
They'd be proof for Professor McGonagall that he really did practice thoroughly.
"Hoo—hoo!"
A familiar hooting sound made him turn.
A powerful-looking horned owl stood on the windowsill of his bed, the ear tufts rising sharply on both sides of its head.
"Little guy, you finally made it."
Rock scratched the owl's head—Theseus's personal owl.
He untied the package from its leg. The owl affectionately nudged his arm a few times before spreading its wings and taking off.
"Still the same as always," Rock muttered.
This owl never ate food from anyone except Theseus.
Even after all these years of knowing it, Rock only ranked as "allowed to exist nearby."
He set the package on the desk and peeled off the waxed paper. Inside was a letter.
It was short—Theseus had commissioned someone to craft a camera infused with developing potion.
No wonder the reply took so long.
Rock set the letter aside and unwrapped the thick velvet covering.
The camera underneath was… beautiful.
Sleek design.
Outer casing made of pale ash wood.
Edges trimmed with mithril.
It felt lighter than a regular wizarding camera.
But… where was the compartment for the developing potion?
Right as he searched, a faint pulse of magic rippled from the camera.
Huh?
Rock froze.
Was this an alchemical item?
Judging from the magic layers, not high-level alchemy…
But then he remembered Theseus had mentioned combining the developing potion inside the device.
Rock instantly brightened, turning the camera over in his hands like a treasured toy.
"Don't squint like that. You almost dunked your whole head in the washbasin earlier."
The dorm door opened, Adam's exasperated voice drifting in.
Click!
The shutter sound made both boys stop in their tracks. Theo sprinted to Rock's side.
"A camera?"
Theo sounded way too excited.
"Mm. Theseus Grandpa just sent it."
Rock nodded, pulling out the freshly taken photo and giving it a shake.
The figures of Adam and Theo started moving in the image—showing their actions from just a moment before.
"That's awesome! It doesn't even need developing potion!"
Theo practically vibrated with excitement and grabbed the photo.
"I wanna see too!" Adam leaned over, stunned at the sight of himself moving.
"What kind of magic is this?"
Adam had never learned about developing potions, so Rock explained.
The more he said, the wider Adam's eyes got.
"That's insane! Muggle cameras can only record video, and those don't even work in Hogwarts."
"Take a few pictures for me! I'm mailing them to my grandma."
Rock handed the camera to Theo—who clearly couldn't hold back anymore.
"Leave it to me!"
Theo puffed out his chest, checking the camera carefully. Once he confirmed it functioned like a normal one, he held it up.
"Yep! Hands up! Bigger smile! Keep it bright!"
Rock followed the instructions for a few photos… then smacked Theo lightly on the forehead.
"You treating me like a circus monkey? You guys play. I'm going to send my letter."
He grabbed the letter he wrote last night from his drawer and dashed out of the Ravenclaw common room.
Yesterday was the Quidditch match, so everyone was buzzing about Harry catching the Snitch with ease, winning the game for Gryffindor.
Rock even overheard a young wizard saying Harry pulled off some high-level broom acrobatics.
Harry Potter: Your whole family does acrobatics! That was a curse!!
Rock weaved through chattering groups, fed a cat-food snack to a waiting owl, and handed over the letter and photos.
Just as he turned to leave the Owlery, two figures blocked his path.
"Fred. George. Good afternoon."
Rock greeted them from the right this time.
Fred and George, who had been ready to greet him with some eyebrow-wiggling performance, froze and looked at each other.
What the—?
Fred squatted down, defeated.
"Alright, genius Rock… how'd you figure us out this time?"
Rock only smiled and said nothing.
Truth was… he guessed.
Knowing the Weasley twins, they had definitely placed a bet on whether he'd recognize them.
Seeing Rock silent and smirking, Fred accepted his fate and slapped five Knuts into George's hand.
"Thank you for your patronage~"
George sang happily, then pulled out a small pouch and shook it in front of Rock.
Rock raised an eyebrow.
Inside were twenty Galleons.
Their meaning was obvious.
"Hey, clever Rock," Fred grinned, "we Weasleys always honor our bets."