As the wizards surrounded Ivan and tried to flatter him, the defeated Grace found herself tied up by a thick snake and unable to move.
The snake's head was as thick as a man's thigh, and its cold eyes were fixed on him. Its forked tongue hissed from time to time, as if it would bite him at any moment.
"Ah, ah, ah, snake! I surrender… I admit defeat!" For a moment, Grace was so frightened that she screamed wildly.
Grace's scream shattered the harmonious atmosphere, and many people turned to look.
Ivan casually waved his wand, and the python binding Grace vanished in a puff of smoke.
Freed from her bindings, Grace was still a little frightened, so she quickly threw the leg of the table away from her.
It was only then that Grace realised that everyone was looking at her. Some of the wizards were even laughing at her misfortune. Grace's expression turned to one of dismay. She felt that she had performed terribly today.
Ivan didn't think so. He slowly walked over and pulled Grace up from where she was sitting.
"You did well just now. If you could get rid of your impatience, calm down, and think more during a battle, I think you would have no problem becoming a law enforcer."
"Really, Sir Harls?" Grace asked, frozen in place.
"It is! Provided you work hard at getting rid of them and win enough matches in the Duelling House this month!" Yvonne laughed.
Although he considered the Shield Charm to be a basic charm, he understood that it would be difficult for most wizards.
It was not easy for Grace to master and use it at her age.
In the previous matches, Grace had also grown up very quickly. If she had experienced more battles like this, Ivan estimated that she would not have been able to defeat her opponent so easily.
"Yes, Sir Harls!" Grace bowed respectfully to Ivan, looking very excited.
Ivan's gentle words made Grace feel flattered.
She had heard many rumours about Ivan and thought that he must be temperamental and difficult to get along with, but it seemed that he was not as scary as they claimed…
Yvonne sensed the change in Grace's mood and nodded to herself. It seemed that her efforts had paid off. At this rate, the wizards would start to see her in a different light.
Unfortunately, he did not have much time left in Knockturn Alley!
…
Later that night, after the day's practice, Ivan went to Alicia and told her about his plans to leave Knockturn Alley.
"Leave? Where are you going?" Alicia asked, frowning.
"To see Mr. Nick Flamel! He sent me a letter saying he wanted to see me during the summer holidays!" Yvonne took out a letter and handed it to Alicia.
"No! You can see—"
"Nick… Flamel?" Alicia took the envelope in surprise. She thought she had heard the name somewhere before she remembered. "The one who made the stone?!"
As an alchemist herself, Acia was no stranger to Nick Flamel, who was a master of the field.
However, this Master Alchemist of the wizarding world lived too long ago and did not have any dealings with them, so meeting him was easier said than done.
"That's Nick Flamel!" said Ivan, confirming Alicia's suspicions.
"But… why would he send you a letter?" Alicia was both excited and confused. She opened the envelope and found that there was not much inside, just a simple invitation that did not mention why.
"Maybe it's because I'm talented… or maybe Nick Flamel is looking for an apprentice to take over. After all, there aren't many geniuses like me!" Ivan shrugged, not wanting to reveal that he had broken the Time-Turner.
Hearing Ivan's narcissism, Alicia reached out and flicked him on the forehead with a smile.
"So when are you going to meet your new teacher…?"
"Do you want me to go with you?" Alicia teased.
"No, I'll go myself! The day after tomorrow!" Ivan shook his head quickly. He was not really a child, and it would be too embarrassing to have his parents accompany him.
More crucially, he did not tell Alicia that this meeting with Nicolas Flamel was arranged by Dumbledore, and that it would most likely take the old professor to get into Nick's safe house.
Ivan was worried that a fight would break out if Alicia came along.
Alicia didn't insist. She had only said that to tease Ivan.
However, when she found out that Ivan was leaving the day after tomorrow, she was surprised and a little sad to see him go.
It had only been a week since Ivan's return to Knockturn Alley, and so much had happened during that time that the two of them had spent very little time together.
However, Acacia was well aware of the priorities of the matter, and her own limited skill in alchemy. Last summer, Acacia found that she had nothing more to teach Ivan, and would only delay his talent if she continued.
At this stage, only the Master Alchemist could show Ivan the way…
Therefore, no matter how reluctant she was to part with Nick Flamel, she agreed and even began to think about what gift she should prepare for him.
Ivan, on the other hand, suddenly thought of something and said, "Mom, while I'm gone, remember to keep an eye on the wizards, keep everyone in Knockturn Alley, and train them every day the way I told you to, and don't give them any time off!"
With this as a precedent, Ivan was worried about what the imaginative freaks would do when he wasn't around.
He didn't want to come back next summer and find out that Doggett and the others had taken the Ministry of Magic to ground…
It was highly unlikely that the fifty or so wizards would be able to defeat the Auror Army, but Ivan felt the need to nip it in the bud!
(PS: One update today.)