Ivan stepped out of Dumbledore's office, his mind racing with excitement and a bit of disbelief. Professor McGonagall was waiting just outside, and the moment she saw him, she walked over, her face full of curiosity.
"What were you doing with Professor Dumbledore?" she asked, looking both surprised and concerned.
Ivan decided to tell her everything. He explained that Dumbledore had granted him the special privilege to ask questions about magic anytime he wanted. McGonagall listened, her expression changing from surprise to a warm, approving smile. She knew the significance of such an offer; it meant Dumbledore saw potential in Ivan and was willing to personally guide him.
"If Dumbledore says you're promising, then I don't doubt it for a second," McGonagall said, nodding. "With his help, you'll learn more and grow faster than most students here." She seemed genuinely happy for him, and Ivan felt encouraged by her support.
They walked together to Gryffindor Tower, where McGonagall spoke the password to the Fat Lady, who swung the portrait open for them to enter. It was well past dinner, and the common room was quieting down. Most students, exhausted from the day's excitement and their journey to Hogwarts, were already drifting off. Only Hermione was still awake, sitting near the fire and watching the portrait hole with a look of anticipation.
When she spotted Ivan, her face brightened, and she stood up quickly. "Ivan! You're finally back! What kept you so long?"
Her eyes widened as she noticed Professor McGonagall, and she greeted her immediately with a polite, "Good evening, Professor."
"Good evening, Miss Granger," McGonagall replied. "The headmaster wanted to speak with Ivan, so I took him to the office. Now, it's late, so don't stay up talking for too long. You'll need your rest for classes tomorrow." She gave them a kindly, almost motherly look before heading off to her own quarters within Gryffindor Tower. Only the Heads of Houses stayed within their respective House dormitories, ready to handle any emergencies that might come up.
After she left, Hermione turned eagerly to Ivan. "What did Professor Dumbledore want to talk to you about?"
Ivan, feeling her genuine interest, decided to be honest. "It's nothing to worry about. Dumbledore just noticed that I might have a talent for magic and thought I could use some extra guidance." He trusted Hermione fully—she was his best friend, and keeping secrets from her felt unnecessary. He knew she wouldn't judge him for being an Obscurial. In fact, he had a feeling her empathy would make her even more willing to help him understand his unusual magical abilities.
"Well, that's amazing," Hermione said, her eyes wide with admiration. "You're so lucky to have that chance, Ivan."
Ivan smiled. "Yeah, I think so too. But it's late now, and we should get some sleep. Big day tomorrow." He patted her gently on the head, adding, "Goodnight, Hermione."
"Goodnight, Ivan," she replied, smiling.
Hermione then pointed him in the direction of the boys' dormitory. As Ivan walked, he couldn't help but think about Hogwarts and its students. Back in his old world, he had often wondered just how many students attended Hogwarts at any given time. Based on what he saw in the Great Hall, he guessed there were fewer than 300 students altogether, with each House having around 70 or 80 students. In his Gryffindor first-year class alone, there were 11 students: 5 girls and 6 boys.
Entering his dorm room, he saw five four-poster beds with crimson velvet curtains hanging around each one, lending the room a warm, inviting glow in the dim light. The students' trunks had already been delivered, and his cat, Yumi, meowed softly from her cage at the sight of him.
"Looks like it's just the two of us, Neville," Ivan said as he took Yumi out of her cage and placed her on his bed.
"Y-yes, just us," Neville replied, looking pleased and a bit shy. Ivan could tell Neville was happy to have him as a roommate.
"That's good. I like a little peace and quiet." Ivan gave him a reassuring smile, then checked the time. After a few more words, he switched off the lights, signaling it was time for bed.
A few hours later, Ivan waited until he was certain Neville was asleep. Quietly, he climbed out of bed and opened his system screen. He scrolled down to the "props" section, eager to claim his reward from earlier.
Ivan Ambrosius
Age: 11Talents: Transfiguration Magus, Prophecy Magus, SilentSoul: 4 (Rare)Magic: 5 (Legendary)Constitution: 1 (Ordinary)Thinking: 3 (Excellent)Mind: 2 (Excellent)Will: 2 (Excellent)Potential points: 1Props: Mysterious Wardrobe x1
The mysterious wardrobe was described as a magical object connected to a hidden, unknown realm. Ivan selected "Summon Wardrobe," and with a soft hum, an ornate mahogany wardrobe materialized in front of him. It stood tall, with mirrors on its doors reflecting the moonlight-drenched room.
"So, an adventure in a magical kingdom," he murmured, placing a hand on the polished wood. This wardrobe wasn't truly present here; it was just a projection. The actual wardrobe was linked to his system and could be summoned or dismissed at will, with a 24-hour cooldown before he could call it forth again.
Ivan then remembered he still had a potential point to spend from the sorting ceremony. Considering his strengths and what would benefit him most, he decided to enhance his Soul attribute rather than spread his talents thin. "System, increase Soul attribute."
With the change, his Soul rose from 4 to 5. At first, he didn't feel any noticeable difference, but when he closed his eyes and reopened them, the world seemed subtly different. Everything around him, including the wardrobe, seemed to glow faintly with magical energy—a vision that felt like "magic perspective."
A soft "meow" broke his concentration, and Ivan looked down to see Yumi watching him curiously, clearly intrigued by the wardrobe.
"Feel like an adventure, Yumi?" he whispered, glancing over at Neville to make sure he was still asleep. Using a levitation charm, he moved the wardrobe into a more accessible spot in the room.
He was relieved to have Neville as a roommate; the boy's quiet, shy nature made him unlikely to pry into Ivan's things. Unlike some other boys who might have been nosier, Neville seemed trustworthy and respectful.
Yumi purred softly, her eyes shining with anticipation, as Ivan mentally prepared for whatever mysteries lay within the wardrobe. This was just the start of what he hoped would be a grand adventure, opening doors to magical realms beyond his wildest imagination.
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