Evan has been at home for the past two weeks, accompanying his parents and conveniently organizing his magical research.
Upon entering school, Evan realized that he lacked a systematic understanding of magic despite reading numerous books and conducting numerous experiments. This rare opportunity at home motivated him to change that.
In fact, Evan had reached a bottleneck in many areas of his magical research, achieving results beyond his imagination. Evan dedicated the next two weeks to thorough study, starting with dark magic, his most potent combat method. He planned to begin his systematic research on the characteristics of dark magic by using the Tom Riddle diary, which contained valuable knowledge provided by Voldemort himself during his school days. Voldemort had shared numerous taboo insights with Evan, making these insights extremely precious and equivalent to Voldemort's extensive dark magic research experience. Many Death Eaters had joined Voldemort in pursuit of these dark powers but had failed to obtain them. Evan's risky communication with Tom Riddle's diary had yielded these long-awaited dark magic secrets, paving the way for his rapid advancement in power.
Subsequently, Evan explored the dark magic books he had found in the Black family home, supplementing his knowledge with Tom Riddle's guidance. These books provided a comprehensive explanation of dark magic theory, deepening Evan's understanding of dark magic's profound and unexpected aspects. However, Evan had only scratched the surface of this knowledge and lacked practical experience. He couldn't use living creatures, such as corpses, blood, or souls, in his experiments, which went against his conscience. This limitation restricted his progress in dark magic, even though he possessed extensive theoretical knowledge.
Although Evan had surpassed most wizards and even many Death Eaters in his understanding of dark magic theory, he still fell short of true dark wizards. This limitation left him at a research bottleneck with no immediate breakthrough.
Evan also faced limitations in the fields of protective and white magic. Realizing the importance of developing his white magic skills, as advised by Sirius, Evan embarked on independent study. However, without the systematic guidance of the Tom Riddle diary, his knowledge remained fragmented and unsystematic. The spells and incantations he had mastered lacked practical significance and were not on par with those used by dark magic practitioners. Evan contemplated searching the Black family library for any records of systematic research experiences from predecessors, and if unsuccessful, he would seek Dumbledore's guidance, learning from the contemporary white wizard.
Moreover, Evan excelled in transfiguration, a versatile branch of magic independent of dark magic and protection. He had a natural talent for distortion, and Professor McGonagall secretly imparted some advanced knowledge to him. With the Philosopher's Stone's assistance, Evan's deformability exceeded common expectations. His goal was to increase the speed and efficiency of transfiguration for combat and explore its application in potion-making, a study that greatly enhanced his strength. Snape, a renowned potions master, grudgingly shared his expertise with Evan, and despite his acerbic demeanor, he would teach earnestly when consulted.
In the realm of spells, Professor Flitwick offered special skills to Evan and was readily available for guidance during difficult moments. However, Evan lacked interest in herbology, so Professor Sprout's expertise in magical plants and dangerous flora remained untapped.
With his knowledge organized, Evan decided to prioritize the study of alchemy. This complex branch of magic required a deep understanding of spells, potions, dark magic, ancient magic languages, and other foundational knowledge, often taught in seventh-year magic classes. Evan had Nicolas Flamel's guidance, making these challenges manageable. He believed that this trip to Egypt would help him make progress and breakthroughs in alchemy, allowing him to better utilize the Philosopher's Stone and delve deeper into the secrets of ancient gods.
Simultaneously, Evan planned to devote time to demonic magic, considering the presence of a house elf Demon Altar in the Hogwarts kitchen as a clue related to Hufflepuff's buried treasure key. However, his previous experiences taught him to approach matters involving demons cautiously.
Additionally, after obtaining the Time-Turner at the Ministry of Magic Department of Mysteries, Evan needed to acquire knowledge of time magic to harness its potential fully.
As Evan contemplated the vast array of magical disciplines he needed to master, he realized that despite his increased strength, the path to becoming a formidable wizard who truly understood the essence of magic remained long and challenging.
Evan's extraordinary talent had been evident for a moment, and it promised to provide an enthralling reading experience. Following that, he dedicated half a month to rapidly expanding his magical knowledge.
During this period, his mother prepared his favorite meals and stocked him with plenty of clothes and daily necessities. Evan truly appreciated these magical items, even though he knew he wouldn't need most of them. Nonetheless, he packed them into his bag before removing his robe, leaving him looking like any ordinary Muggle youth, devoid of any wizardly appearance.
Evan and his parents had discussed their plan to travel to Egypt with Hermione. To his surprise, not only did they approve, but his father also generously offered financial support for their journey. All the preparations were in place, and Evan was ready to meet Hermione to embark on their adventure.
"You don't need to; I can use magic to get us to Hermione's home," Evan said as he sat in his father's car.
"Of course, my young wizard!" Mr. Mason replied. "But we're visiting Mr. and Mrs. Granger. Your mother baked a cake and wants to see Hermione along the way. Leaving a good impression on that girl during her summer vacation would be nice."
"I like that child!" Mrs. Mason added, looking at Evan. "Dear, do you need anything else for Egypt?"
"I don't need anything else; someone will meet us there. If we encounter any trouble, we can use magic to solve it," Evan assured them. He wasn't concerned about any other aspect of the journey as long as no Voldemort or other evil entities were waiting for them in Egypt.
Soon, the three of them arrived at Hermione's home. As they approached the house, Evan felt somewhat awkward when he saw Hermione, Mr. Granger, and Mrs. Granger with surprised expressions.
Like Evan, Hermione looked like an ordinary Muggle. She wore a loose pink T-shirt on her upper body and jeans on the lower half, with the cuffs of her jeans artfully frayed to reveal her ankles. She wore leather shoes on her feet, and her unruly hair had been neatly arranged into a gentle wave, giving her an adorable and wholesome appearance, fitting the image of a studious schoolgirl. Her brown eyes sparkled with enthusiasm when she looked at Evan as if she could melt everything in her gaze.
Before Evan could react, Hermione threw herself at him, nearly knocking him over. "Hermione..."
"Evan, how are you? Are you okay? What kind of trouble might you encounter on this journey? I've been so worried, afraid that something might happen to you, those dangers..." Hermione spoke rapidly, her breath catching up to her words.
"I'm fine, and I'll tell you everything," Evan said, feeling a warm camaraderie. He held Hermione tightly, aware that their parents and Mr. and Mrs. Granger were smiling and watching them. It was clear that they hoped Evan and Hermione's relationship would develop further, even though they were still young. Under British law, as long as both parents agreed, they could marry at 16, so they had several years ahead of them.
After a while, Mrs. Granger gently reminded them, "Alright, Hermione, we should invite our guests inside."
Hermione released Evan and, with a blush, greeted Mr. and Mrs. Mason before they all entered the Granger's charming home.
Evan and Hermione had booked an afternoon flight, so they had lunch at Hermione's home before leaving. Evan stayed in the living room with his parents while Hermione led him to her bedroom.
It was Evan's first-time entering Hermione's room, and it felt like stepping into a girl's sanctuary. The room was neat and organized, everything in its place. There were no overly extravagant decorations, just a few stuffed animals on the neatly made bed, giving the room a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Against one wall, there was a long bookshelf filled with various magical books, over a hundred in total. Evan felt he was back at Flourish and Blotts as he randomly pulled out a book. It was about the modern history of magic, and Hermione had meticulously annotated it.
"It's a bit messy, isn't it?" Hermione said anxiously. "Please have a seat; I'll bring some fruit juice."
Evan agreed and sat on the bed, glancing out the window as his attention shifted from the bookshelf. The cabinet door was closed, but Hermione's suitcase lay on the floor, revealing her preparations for their trip to Egypt.
Apart from half a box of magical books, the suitcase contained neatly folded girls' clothing. Evan couldn't help but remark, "This is so typical of Hermione, bringing so many books for a trip."
He blinked and noticed a bunch of pink panties next to the books. His gaze lingered for a moment before he heard footsteps in the corridor and quickly shifted his attention back to the magical book.
"Time is running short, and I haven't finished organizing my things or decided what books to bring to Egypt," Hermione admitted. "I know there will be some mysterious magic there, so I should bring a few reference books, but..."
Hermione paused, handing Evan a glass of fruit juice and looking at him earnestly. "But forget about me. Tell me quickly, what happened with the giants, the Ravenclaw's hidden test? Did you pass it and find the key to her hidden treasure?"
"No, the reality was much more challenging than I had imagined. We encountered Ravenclaw's Dark Wizards during our journey..." Evan began recounting his experiences in Sicily, from the encounter with the owl creature to the giant tribe's conditions, the volcano's inner Cyclops, the plots of the Ravenclaw Dark Wizards, the Titans, and the Time Magic.
Hermione sat beside him, listening attentively, and at times, she couldn't help but grip his arm in anxiety.
"Finally, Titan Kronos and the Time Magic sealed the monster city beneath the sea again, trapping it in time. I used alchemy and the energy stones from the Cyclops to perform powerful magic, which left a lasting impression on the giants when we returned," Evan concluded. "We used the Floo Network to return to Hogwarts, and Hagrid is still on his journey with his younger brother. We'll have to wait until the school year starts to see them..."
"A giant, he shouldn't have done that, shouldn't have taken that giant along!" Hermione furrowed her brow, continuing, "I never expected you would encounter so much on your journey – Titans, Time Magic – these are legendary tales. I must have read about them in some books."