Chapter 19 First Year Tasks
After dinner, the Slytherin Prefect led the new students to the basement. He pointed to a stone door in a damp stone wall and said, "This is the common room entrance. The password changes every two weeks.
This week's password is: Glory."
The stone door opened, and everyone entered the common room in turn.
It was a translucent common room located at the bottom of the lake, with a fireplace inside. Sofas and coffee tables were arranged in the center and along the walls, in addition to several bookshelves.
The surrounding walls were built of black marble, and the ceiling was a transparent crystal-carved dome. Looking up, one could see shimmering waves, and through the windows, some giant octopuses or strange creatures, making it truly an underwater museum.
"The boys' dormitory is on the left, and the girls' is on the right. Your suitcases have already been sent to your respective dormitories.
If you have any problems, you can come to me or find DeanSnape. We won't refuse to help if we can.
That's all. Get some rest early! You have classes tomorrow morning!"
The beds in the dormitory were already made, which eased everyone's burden considerably. After a day of travel, they were indeed somewhat physically and mentally exhausted.
In this situation, nothing was more appealing than falling straight to sleep.
Aaron opened his suitcase, took out a soft and plush small bed, carefully placed Abey inside, and then covered him with a towel.
He then changed into his pajamas and lay down on the bed.
As soon as he closed his eyes, an overwhelming sleepiness washed over him, but then he suddenly remembered that he hadn't signed in today, so he hastily opened his eyes.
"System, sign in," Aaron silently chanted in his mind.
"Congratulations to the host for signing in at Hogwarts. You have received 10 magic points."
"How much?" Aaron was instantly wide awake. To be honest, he had expected the sign-in reward at Hogwarts to be quite generous, but his psychological expectation was five magicpoints. Who would have thought it would double, with efficiency increasing to five times the usual? This was truly a pleasant surprise.
"The host heard correctly, it is ten magic points, a two-digit number.
Additionally, Hogwarts has special significance in this world. The first sign-in can activate the system's task function.
Completing tasks can earn magic points and various magicitems. Does the host wish to activate it?"
"Activate, absolutely activate!" Aaron shouted in his mind, his heart surging with excitement. Three years! He finally saw a path that would save him years of struggle. There was no way he could give this up!
"Alright, now releasing the host's three system tasks for the first academic year."
[Help Slytherin win the House Cup;
Completing the task rewards 500 magic points. There is no penalty for task failure. Does the host accept?]
"Accept!" Aaron didn't hesitate. This task was nothing to him. Slytherin was synonymous with excellence at Hogwarts, having won the House Cup for six consecutive years. Perhaps he wouldn't even need to exert effort for this seventh year, and he could just lie back and collect the task reward.
[Gain the approval of at least three Professors;
Completing the task rewards 500 magic points. There is no penalty for task failure. Does the host accept?]
"Accept!"
Aaron still didn't hesitate. There weren't too many Professors at Hogwarts, but certainly not too few. With his talent, gaining the approval of three Professors was not a difficult task.
[Eliminate Lord Voldemort's remnant soul;
Completing the task rewards 1000 magic points. Task failure deducts 500 magic points. Does the host accept?]
"Ah, this..." Aaron hesitated this time. It was true that Lord Voldemort was very weak now, but he was definitely not someone a mere Intermediate Wizard like him could handle. Even reaching the level of an Advanced Magicianmight not make him an opponent, so the possibility of failure was very high.
"System, can I ask for help with this task?"
"Yes, but the host must participate and contribute more than fifty percent, otherwise it will be judged as a task failure."
"Alright! Accept," Aaron said firmly. As the saying goes, 'wealth comes from danger.' At worst, he would bring along two Professors. He didn't believe they couldn't deal with a remnant soul.
Speaking of which, whose body was Lord Voldemort's remnant soul attached to now? He remembered it was a certain Professor.
This was tricky. He would have to be careful about internal spies when choosing teammates.
The next morning.
Aaron opened his eyes. He had slept exceptionally soundly last night.
Perhaps it was because the new sign-in location had given him such a big surprise, or perhaps because there was no alarm clock, no knocking from Gines, he had woken up naturally.
After changing into his Wizard robes, Aaron looked at the sleeping young dragon in the basket, thought for a moment, and then picked him up.
Although bringing pets to class was not encouraged, this guy was a dragon after all!
No matter how harmless Abey looked, he couldn't leave him alone in the dormitory. What if he got lost?
"Aaron, you're awake?" Draco walked over with his two groggy cronies.
"Just woke up," Aaron nodded, then looked a bit surprised. "Do you usually wake up this early?"
"More or less!" Draco said proudly, then looked at the two fat boys behind him with a hint of exasperation. "These two are lazier; it took half an hour to wake them up.
But Aaron, didn't your parents arrange followers for you?"
Aaron paused, remembering the chattering butler and the several groups of Wizards secretly following him, a wry smile playing on his lips. "Perhaps, but I don't want them to disturb my school life."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm afraid I can't explain that. In short, our family's followers might be a bit different from what you understand."
Draco nodded, half-understanding. Although he was curious, he was also sensible enough not to ask further.
The four of them left the dormitory together, first went to the dining hall for breakfast, and then headed to the Transfiguration classroom with their textbooks.
It wasn't class time yet, or perhaps they had arrived early, as there were not many students in the classroom besides a cat on the podium.
Apart from two Gryffindors, the only Slytherins present were the four of them.
Aaron and Draco sat at one table, while Crabbe and Goylenaturally took the seats behind them.
"Aaron," Hermione pointed at Abey, who was on Aaron's desk, feeling both joy and a bit of worry. "Why did you bring him to class?"
"I couldn't help it. This guy is quite mischievous, and I wouldn't feel at ease leaving him in the dormitory!" Aaronsaid. "I don't recall the school having a rule against students bringing pets to class, do I?"
"Well... alright! But it still feels a bit impolite."
"Thank you for your concern. If necessary, I'll explain to Professor McGonagall later.
Abey is different. He is my family and holds very significant meaning to me, and even to our family."
Seeing Aaron so serious, Hermione didn't press the matter further and busied herself with her textbook.
After a moment of hesitation, Draco whispered to Aaron, "I specifically had someone check yesterday. Granger's parents are both Muggles."
"Hmm, so what?"
Draco's eyes widened instantly, his expression very surprised. "You know that, so why are you still friends with this Mudblood?"
"Shh! Keep your voice down." Aaron quickly covered Draco's mouth, but it seemed he was a step too late, as several people in the classroom had heard, including Hermione Granger.
The little girl looked as if she had suffered a great grievance, her breathing hitched, and her eyes reddened, but she bravely held back her tears.
Crabbe and Goyle merely watched with cold eyes, and even the only two Gryffindors in the classroom didn't know how to comfort her.
"Uh... Hermione, don't be angry.
I..." Aaron was at a loss. It was his first time facing a girl's tears, and he didn't know how to explain. Finally, he sighed, "Let me handle it! I'll leave Abey with you for now."
Aaron directly placed Abey on Hermione's desk. Sure enough, with a super cute "cat," Hermione's mood improved slightly.
Aaron breathed a sigh of relief, turned to look at the indifferent Draco, and said calmly, "Apologize."
"Why should I? Was I wrong? She really doesn't deserve to be your friend," Draco said indignantly, seemingly displeased that Aaron was defending this Mudblood.
"Draco, noble blood isn't a reason for you to disdain others.
And how I make friends, or what kind of friends I make, doesn't seem to concern you," Aaron said patiently.
"But she..." Draco also realized he was in the wrong. He indeed had no right to meddle in Aaron's affairs, but asking him to apologize to a Mudblood? Not only would his pride not allow it, but his father would absolutely forbid it.
"I can't possibly apologize to a Mudblood."
"I knew you'd say that." Aaron shook his head helplessly and said, "How about this? Let's make a small bet.
If your grades this semester are better than Hermione's, you don't have to apologize, and I, on behalf of the Gaius Family, will owe the House of Malfoy a favor.
But if your grades are not as good as Hermione's, then you apologize to her and never mention the words 'Mudblood' again.
What do you say?"