Two weeks after the Quidditch match, time had slipped into December.
Rove had spent the last few days devouring books in the library.
To most students, the Hogwarts library was an ocean of knowledge, a sanctuary for last-minute homework, or occasionally a secret rendezvous for couples. But in Rove's eyes, this was the Royal Archives of Minas Tirith, a tomb burying countless dark secrets of Middle-earth.
Rove sat in a corner against the wall, a position that allowed him to observe the entire reading room without fear of ambush from behind. Piled in front of him were several books as thick as bricks, with titles terrifying enough to make any normal Hufflepuff flee: A History of Medieval Torture, Treatise on Castle Fortifications: From Moats to Boiling Oil, and a tattered copy of Guide to Dark Creature Anatomy.
> [System Notification: Current Area [Library of Orthanc] Exploration Progress: 15%.]
> [WARNING: High-Energy Reaction Zone Ahead — [Restricted Section]. Danger Level: Lv.50. Group exploration recommended.]
Rove's gaze swept over the iron railing separating the Restricted Section in the distance.
"Don't be stupid," he muttered. "Even if you gave me a full set of Mithril armor, I wouldn't go in there. Every book in there could be possessed by a fragment of Sauron's soul."
Suddenly, a flurry of hushed whispers interrupted his thoughts.
"Where have you looked?" It was Harry's voice.
"Nothing... I told you, he can't be recent." That was Ron.
"Shh! Madam Pince is looking over here!" And Hermione.
Rove looked up slightly. Behind a bookshelf not far away, the trio was huddled around a table spread with piles of books about famous modern wizards.
Ever since Hagrid let slip the name "Nicolas Flamel" a few weeks ago, these three had been obsessed, spending all their free time in the library.
Rove sighed and closed his copy of A History of Torture. Of course he knew who Nicolas Flamel was. But under the System filter, the significance of this name went far beyond just "Alchemist."
> [Keyword Capture: Nicolas Flamel.]
> [System Analysis...]
> [Database Match Successful: Celebrimbor.]
> [Identity: Elven Smith, Forger of the Rings of Power.]
> [Associated Item: The Philosopher's Stone -> A budget version of the One Ring / Silmaril.]
"I knew it." Rove rubbed his temples. "An old man over six hundred years old who created a stone that grants immortality... This plot sounds exactly like a prequel to Lord of the Rings. If Voldemort wants that stone, he definitely doesn't just want to resurrect; he wants to forge a new One Ring to rule them all."
He stood up, clutching his pile of "hardcore" reading material, and pretended to casually pass by the trio's table.
"Still looking for that name?" Rove asked in a low voice.
Harry jumped, nearly knocking over an inkwell. "Rove! How do you walk without making any sound?"
"Hobbit racial trait," Rove shrugged. "Listen, I don't recommend looking in Modern Magical History. If a man lives long enough—long enough to be forgotten by history—then he is more than just a wizard."
"What do you mean?" Hermione looked up sharply. "Do you know who he is?"
"I don't know who he is," Rove lied without batting an eye. "But I know one thing: if someone can create something that defies the laws of nature—like immortality, or creating gold from nothing—he must have paid a price. Such people usually don't appear in glossy celebrity directories, but hide in yellowed, perhaps even bloodstained, ancient scrolls."
He pointed to a corner of The History of Alchemy near Hermione's hand.
"Try looking back a few hundred years. Or a few thousand," Rove said meaningfully. "Maybe you'll find he isn't just an alchemist, but a... smith. A smith who forged some kind of artifact capable of destroying the world."
Hermione frowned, staring thoughtfully at Rove. "You always exaggerate, Rove. But I'll try."
Harry was clearly uninterested in this academic discussion. His gaze drifted over Rove's shoulder toward the Restricted Section.
"Maybe the answer is in there," Harry muttered. "Hagrid said only Dumbledore knows how to get that thing. If a book about Nicolas Flamel is restricted..."
"Don't even think about it, Harry." Rove suddenly adopted an extremely serious expression, blocking Harry's line of sight.
"Why?"
"The books in there are alive." Rove lowered his voice, spinning a ghost story. "They aren't written in ink; they're written in blood. Some, once opened, will scream like banshees and suck the sanity out of your brain like jelly. And others... they bite."
"Bite?" Ron's eyes went wide.
"That's right." Rove nodded, the image of The Monster Book of Monsters floating in his mind. "Unless you're wearing a cloak that can deceive light, or even deceive the laws of causality, do not approach that iron gate. The guards there, even if they are just books, can tear your soul to shreds."
Harry swallowed subconsciously.
"Right, I have to go." Rove glanced at Madam Pince patrolling with her feather duster and decided to quit while he was ahead.
Clutching his books, he returned to the Hufflepuff Common Room. As soon as he entered, a warm aroma of baking hit him, instantly dispelling the library's chill.
"Rove!"
A figure jumped up from the sofa. It was Susan Bones.
"Hi, Susan." Rove smiled genuinely. In this dangerous world full of Dark Lords and Death Eaters, his Hufflepuff classmates were as dear and lovely as fellow Hobbits in the Shire.
"Library again?" Susan ran over, looking curiously at the books in Rove's arms. "What is it this time? Fantastic Beasts? Or Encyclopedia of Herbology?"
She tilted her head and read the title of the top book.
"A History of Medieval Torture?" Susan's smile froze. "And Treatise on Castle Fortifications?"
"Er..." Rove awkwardly hid the books behind his back. "Academic research. Purely academic. You know, I wanted to understand how Muggles handle conflict."
Actually, he was researching how to build a defense line at Hogwarts and how to efficiently interrogate Death Eaters if he caught one. But to Susan, this was clearly a bit too "hardcore."
"Okay," Susan sighed, seemingly used to Rove's strange hobbies. "By the way, I just wanted to tell you I'm going home for Christmas. But I left you a present."
"A present?" Rove paused.
"I put it by your bed. It's not Christmas yet, but you can keep it for now." Susan scratched her head shyly. "It's a pair of gloves. I see you always wandering outside, holding those weird tools, and your hands get red from the cold."
A warm current surged in Rove's heart.
On the System interface, Susan Bones had no epic title above her head, nor any mysterious high level. She was just an ordinary, kind little witch. But in this moment, Rove felt she shone brighter than Celebrimbor ever could.
"Thank you, Susan," Rove said softly. "Really."
"You're welcome! I gave Cedric a pair too." Susan waved happily. "I'm off to pack then! Happy holidays, Rove!"
Watching Susan skip away, Rove looked down at the History of Torture (specifically the chapter on flaying) in his arms and suddenly felt he might be a little too high-strung.
> [System Settlement:]
> [Quest Complete: Clue Guidance.]
> [You successfully guided the "Ring-Bearer" (Harry) to turn his attention to the correct historical direction.]
> [Reward: Skill - [Ancient History Knowledge Lv1].]
> [Evaluation: Your interpretation of the Alchemist was full of Middle-earth bias, but it accidentally hit the mark. After all, both the Philosopher's Stone and the One Ring are essentially demonic artifacts that tempt the heart.]
Rove closed the System pop-up and walked back to his dormitory.
"Demonic artifacts, huh?" he muttered to himself. "I just hope that silly kid Harry doesn't actually get bewitched by that stone or that mirror."