Adrian spent a peaceful Christmas with his family in New York.
During this ti, he continued to monitor his sister Ariana's condition, but disappointingly, her state seed no different from before.
anwhile, the Christmas holiday at Hogwarts was the sa as usual.
For Harry, this was perhaps the most enjoyable holiday he had ever experienced—each day was filled with delicious food and playing.
However, holidays are fleeting, and soon it was ti to return to school.
As students gradually returned, Hogwarts beca lively again.
On the first day of school, Adrian arrived on ti, even making it to breakfast.
In the Great Hall.
"Professor Adrian," Professor Flitwick who was wearing a brand-new robe probably his Christmas gift, sat down next to Adrian, "How was your holiday?"
"Sa as previous years," Adrian replied casually while eating a pumpkin pastry, "I went back to New York and spent Christmas there..."
Before he could finish, Adrian's gaze suddenly turned toward the entrance of the hall.
Quirrell was leisurely walking into the Great Hall. His purple turban was wrapped tighter than last term, almost covering half his face. With an expressionless face, he walked through the student dining area and reached the professors' table, sitting down in the corner.
As Quirrell passed by Adrian, Adrian was surprised to find that the persistent garlic sll that had clung to him had disappeared.
Professor Flitwick also noticed Quirrell and whispered to Adrian, "I heard Quirrell went to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries for a while... hmm, he looks in good condition now."
"Indeed... he's like a completely different person," Adrian replied softly.
One's ntal state can be discerned from their behavior and deanor.
Though the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor appeared to be in better spirits, there was a strange, conflicting quality to his movents.
His motions were too fluid, completely unlike the nervous, stuttering Quirrell from last sester.
'Eldra.'
[Na: Quirinus Quirrell]
[Occupation: Wizard]
'Hmm, still only information about Quirrell himself.'
Perhaps because Voldemort had separated from Quirrell, Quirrell's complexion had improved considerably.
Professor Flitwick watched Quirrell unhurriedly eating his steak and asked Adrian, "I recall you substituted for Quirrell's Defense Against the Dark Arts class for a while, isn't that right, Professor Westeros?"
"Ah, yes," Adrian nodded, his gaze still fixed on Quirrell, "But Professor Quirrell has returned today, so my task is complete."
"What a pity," Professor Flitwick shook his head, "The students all said you taught wonderfully."
Adrian shrugged, indicating there was nothing he could do; it was all Dumbledore's arrangent.
Just then, perhaps noticing the gaze from this direction, Quirrell turned his eyes toward them. Adrian even saw Quirrell smile at him.
That smile made Adrian feel inexplicably uncomfortable. But then again, where had Voldemort gone?
anwhile, at the Gryffindor table, Hermione had returned a day early and was eating breakfast with Harry and Ron.
Harry was fidgeting with the chard token Adrian had given him.
From any angle, it appeared to be just an ordinary small piece of wood.
"Is that a gift from Professor Westeros?" Hermione expressed so envy, saying, "Can I see it?"
"Sure." Harry handed the lightning-struck wood token to Hermione.
Hermione glanced at it and suddenly had a look of realization.
Seeing this, Harry quickly asked, "Have you figured out what it does?"
"No," Hermione shook her head, then said, "But it definitely has magic cast on it. Look at what's carved on it—those are so runic symbols. We'll learn about them in Ancient Runes class in our third year."
"Ancient Runes?" Harry was taken aback, then continued asking, "So, what do the symbols represent?"
Hermione returned the amulet to Harry, tossing her bushy hair, and said, "You can look it up in the library yourself. I can't rember so many things."
"I thought she knew everything, the way she usually acts so high and mighty..." Ron muttered quietly beside Harry.
"What did you say?" Hermione's sharp gaze imdiately swept over Ron.
"N-nothing," Ron quickly shook his head, "I just..."
"Just what?" Hermione continued pressing.
"Um..." Ron seed to rember sothing and directed the conversation elsewhere, "Oh right! Do you know about a person nad Nicolas Flal?"
"Nicolas Flal?" Hermione frowned; the na sounded familiar.
Hearing Nicolas Flal's na, Harry realized they hadn't shared this information with Hermione yet.
"We learned so news from Hagrid," Harry lowered his voice and added to Hermione, "Shortly after you left school, Hagrid told us that Fluffy, on the fourth floor of the castle, is guarding sothing related to a person called Nicolas Flal—oh, Fluffy is the na of that three-headed dog."
Hermione folded her arms in thought, then said, "It seems you obtained a lot of information while I was away."
Harry then shared his theory with Hermione—about the fourth floor being a special obstacle course designed by Hogwarts for students.
However, after hearing this, Hermione slowly sighed and said to Harry, "Even if that room on the fourth floor is prepared for students, it's probably ant for upper-year students, not us."
"Trying won't hurt," Ron pouted, "We're Gryffindors! Hermione, we have courage and bravery!"
"What you need is a brain," Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron, "Courage and bravery an the sa thing, Ron. And I don't think this matter is so simple."
"So," Harry stopped Hermione and Ron's argunt, bringing the topic back: "Hermione, do you know who Nicolas Flal is?"
Hermione furrowed her brow, silently pondering for a mont, then suddenly looked up.
"Ahem..."
Ron was startled by her movent, and the sausage he was chewing got stuck in his throat.
Harry patted his back while asking Hermione, "What is it? Do you know who Nicolas Flal is?"
Hermione said with sudden realization, "I know where I've seen that na before!"
Harry and Ron imdiately turned their attention to Hermione.
"In Professor Westeros's office," Hermione said confidently, "When I went to ask him questions before, I saw a book on his shelf with that na in the title."
Harry quickly jumped off his bench, eagerly saying to the two, "Let's go check it out."
"Don't rush," Hermione continued calmly drinking her pumpkin juice, "Our first class this morning is Potions. You wouldn't want to be late for Snape's class, would you?"
Hearing this, Harry muttered sothing unclear like "Bad-Luck" and silently returned to his seat.
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