Chapter 24 24: The Victims of the Past
As expected.
No matter where you are, some things have something in common.
Since it is homework.
How can it be done easily?
Ian felt that he would definitely become the most unpopular student at Hogwarts, and Hermione in the Iron Triangle was just a student of the same age and grade.
But him.
Not yet enrolled in school.
You have to start studying in the third year of Hogwarts to be eligible to get in touch with it. It is an elective course and is basically only offered to top students who feel comfortable coping with their studies on weekdays.
Volume King.
That's probably it.
"Hey, those who are capable learn more, who gave me a smart head." Ian carefully put away the fragments of the dress, extinguished the fluorescent light and climbed back into bed.
One night of many dreams.
The sun had just risen the next morning, and Ian quickly got up, packed up, and rushed to the bookstore in Hogsmeade Village—many people may not know that there is a bookstore here.
Even.
Most young wizards studying at Hogwarts may not realize this until they graduate. There is an inconspicuous second-hand bookstore behind the Literary Quill Shop in Hogsmeade Village.
Although this bookstore is so shabby that it doesn’t even have a sign, it receives a large number of unsold textbooks and various backlogged old books from Flourishes and Blotts Bookstore in Diagon Alley every year, and then sells them to weekends. Secondary sales are made by students who come to hang out in the village. Of course, not many young wizards who come to Hogsmeade would think about visiting a bookstore.
After all, most people come here just to relax, but even so, it does not hinder the existence of the bookstore. God knows what the bookstore owner does for a living!
“Hello, are there any learning materials about runes here?”
Ian has lived in Hogsmeade for about a week, and today is the first time he has come here. When he walked into this bookstore, he saw an old man lying on an old rocking chair.
The old man has a ruddy complexion and gray hair, sparse and shiny like pine branches covered with first snow in winter. He wears a pair of slightly old round-framed glasses on the bridge of his nose.
Very bookish.
"Are you the little wizard who lives in the village recently?"
The bookstore owner seems to have heard about Ian and will temporarily live in Hogsmeade before the start of school. It is indeed quite rare for young wizards who have not yet entered school.
“Yes, sir.”
Ian remained polite.
“For a little wizard of your age, it is a little too early to learn runes.” The bookstore owner was still lying on the rocking chair and did not take any action.
"I'm just very interested in this aspect and want to do some study in advance... Well, I think I will definitely become a powerful scholar in the study of ancient magic texts in the future."
Ian Taking advantage of his young age, he made a gesture full of longing and dreams.
“Yes, the ideal is lofty.”
The bookstore owner looked at Ian again.
Finally sat up.
"It's just that there is a difference between ideals and reality. Most young wizards have difficulty coping with basic courses." Although he was talking, the bookstore owner still went into the room to look for books for Ian.
His movements were a little slow and his body was a little shaky. However, although his actions seemed a little weak, there was no hint of twilight on his face.
A very awkward situation.
"You said, that's just the majority, isn't there a small part?"
When Ian smiled, his teeth were neat and white.
“Huh?”
The bookstore owner turned his head and looked at Ian again.
"Young and handsome, pretentious...maybe you also have some talents. It seems that you will become a Slytherin." The bookstore owner made some judgments.
immediately.
I started rummaging around in the bookstore.
"When I search carefully, I have only taken over this store for three months. The previous owner was not a person who liked taking care of things. Well, I am probably the same."
Bookstore owner I joked to myself.
"I'm not in a hurry, sir." Ian waited quietly.
He has become accustomed to disguising himself under the cloak of a "good boy".
“Found it, here.”
The bookstore owner only exercised a few times, but he already felt like he was out of breath. He didn’t know if he had suffered something when he was young that would have affected his body. Functional damage.
While talking.
While he was there, he selected three books from a large number of books that were not placed on the bookshelf but were just piled on the floor of the store, and handed them to Ian with a slightly trembling hand.
Ian noticed that there was a lifelike tattoo on the inside of the bookstore owner’s arm, which was the Golden Snitch. As a Chinese soul, Ian was easily attracted to tattoos.
“It’s so beautiful.”
Ian noticed the bookstore owner staring at him, and he quickly made up for his rudeness.
“Yeah, it used to be beautiful.”
The bookstore owner's answer was a bit baffling, but Ian noticed that the owner's eyes were dim, so he didn't continue to ask about the story behind the tattoo.
I want to come.
This is not a bloody love.
Is it an unforgettable gay relationship?
Things in England.
I can’t tell, I really can’t.
“How much is the total?”
Ian didn’t have the habit of gossiping about strangers’ past events, so he changed the subject very naturally.
“Six gold galleons.”
The bookstore owner lay back on the rocking chair.
"Hiss, so expensive!"
Ian took a deep breath.
"This is already the price of a used book. If you go to Diagon Alley and buy a new book, the price can be doubled. It becomes an elective course not just because it is difficult to learn."
The bookstore owner seems to have something on his mind.
“……”
Ian finally understood why in every era, there would be a group of academics who monopolized knowledge. Sure enough, the profits from selling knowledge were really beyond imagination.
"Okay, thank you."
Ian didn't suspect that the other party was ripping off customers and defrauding him. It was useless to suspect him anyway. He couldn't go to Diagon Alley, so why be malicious? Speculating on others creates obstacles for oneself.
Taking out a much shriveled money bag from his trouser pocket, Ian carefully counted out six gold galleons and placed them on the counter where the bookstore owner raised his hand.
"If you decide to give up studying, the recycling price I give here is three gold galleons." The bookstore owner said with a smile, as if he was sure that Ian would choose to give up.
"I think that won't happen."
Ian smiled politely.
I picked up three books and chose to leave.
In a quiet bookstore.
Only the old bookstore owner was left, falling into a kind of silence again.
After a long time.
I don’t know if it was because Ian’s words had touched him. The bookstore owner lay on the rocking chair and sighed softly. He raised his slightly dry arm and flicked it a few times with his other hand.
The Golden Snitch tattoo.
Under the sunshine.
It seemed to bring him back to a certain memory where he swore allegiance to the death.
(End of this chapter)