The Second day of the School,

  Perhaps it was because of the change in environment, but Adrian woke up unusually early.

  When he awoke, the sky outside was pitch bck, with stars still faintly twinkling. The room was completely silent, with only the occasional hooting of an owl coming from outside the window.

  Adrian sat up in bed and rubbed his temple. He was still not quite used to this new environment.

  However, this didn't affect his next actions.

  He bent down and reached under the bed, fumbling around before pulling out a suitcase—one he had left there during his previous interview visit.

  Adrian gripped the handle of the suitcase, lifted it gently, and then casually tossed it onto an open space on the floor.

  The suitcase flipped once in the air, making a soft sound as it nded, and the previously ft case rapidly expanded.

  In just a few seconds, a door stood in the center of Adrian's room.

  This was the backup entrance to Adrian's pntation.

  He had already tested it and although Apparition didn't work at Hogwarts, his own portal still functioned.

  After all, it was made from a mutated wood with the property of "spatial positioning," which had nothing to do with Apparition.

  Of course, this was not something he could let others know about casually. Having this portal meant Adrian could bring outsiders in and out of Hogwarts at will.

  This was undoubtedly a threat. And this threat would directly affect Hogwarts' security.

  If Dumbledore found out about it, Adrian believed he would certainly not allow this door to exist at Hogwarts.

  The door opened silently, and Adrian stepped through. The scenery before his eyes changed.

  For safety reasons, the entrance of this backup door was set beneath his Whomping Willow.

  If anyone else were to enter...

  Adrian could only hope the Whomping Willow would leave enough of them intact for identification.

  Inside the pntation, like the outside world, it was still dark.

  At this hour, Lupin wasn't at work either, so currently Adrian was the only person in the pntation.

  In the distance, the Devil's Snare sensed Adrian's arrival and immediately extended its vines toward him, excitedly swaying up and down around him, just like an excited pet.

  "Don't do that," Adrian said with a smile, pushing away the Devil's Snare's tendrils. "you want to go out with me? Not now, but you'll have a chance ter."

  The Devil's Snare seemed unsatisfied and continued pulling at Adrian's hand with its vines.

  "Alright, I'll take you out when it at day," Adrian said resignedly, patting the head part of the Devil's Snare's vine.

  Ever since the Devil's Snare had gained the property of parasitism, it seemed to have developed a fondness for this sensation. It would cling to Adrian every so often, hoping he would take it out for a walk.

  But it didn't matter. For Adrian, this wasn't a bad thing.

  It even provided an extra yer of protection, if he were ever attacked, the Devil's Snare could help him defend himself.

  Although the likelihood of being attacked at Hogwarts was extremely low.

  After pacifying the Devil's Snare, Adrian walked over to the Wisdom Tree.

  "Eldra."

  [Name: Eldra (Wisdom Tree)]

  [Type: Oak tree]

  [Level: 3]

  [Properties: Object Analysis, Soul Link]

  [Status: Growing (99%)}

  Finally, the Wisdom Tree's growth had reached a critical point.

  But from Adrian's experience, whenever the Wisdom Tree's growth progress bar reached ninety-nine percent, it needed some kind of catalyst to continue growing.

  The first time, when Adrian was in fifth year, shortly after his sister was injured, the Wisdom Tree gained the ability of "Soul Link."

  The second time, after Adrian had traveled around the world and returned to Engnd, the Wisdom Tree gained the ability of "Object Analysis."

  And for the upcoming third time, Adrian guessed it might have something to do with Harry.

  Because the Wisdom Tree's growth progress only changed when Harry was nearby.

  Of course, these were just Adrian's own conjectures. What exactly needed to be done to allow the Wisdom Tree to continue growing, he wasn't entirely sure.

  The only thing he could do now was wait and see.

  After confirming the Wisdom Tree's status, Adrian walked once more around the entire pntation.

  This was to allow all the pnts to absorb his magical energy.

  Only this way would these pnts be affected by his "Mutation" ability.

  When Adrian returned to his office through the portal, dawn was breaking.

  The Devil's Snare had gotten its wish and was now parasitically attached to Adrian, with web-like patterns of the Devil's Snare covering his arm.

  Of course, all of this was hidden beneath his wizard's robe, invisible to anyone else.

  Adrian gnced once more at the schedule hanging on his wall and couldn't help but sigh, feeling that he might be somewhat too idle.

  He only needed to teach three csses a week.

  One css for third years, one for fourth years, and one for fifth years.

  Moreover, each css included all four Houses together.

  He could finally understand why Professor Kettleburn, during his teaching days, could spare so much time to research dragons.

  Adrian had seen Professor McGonagall's schedule, which was packed full without a moment's spare time.

  In comparison, his schedule was so empty it made him feel almost embarrassed.

  ... Well, idle is idle.

  Seeing that it was about time, Adrian left his office, pnning to have breakfast in the Great Hall.

  Looking at the familiar paintings, suits of armor, and staircases nearby, Adrian felt a bit nostalgic.

  However, the Devil's Snare was probably more excited than Adrian.

  Whenever they passed something, the Devil's Snare's vines would secretly extend from beneath Adrian's robe, touching this and prodding that, just like an excited child.

  But the Devil's Snare soon stopped doing this.

  Because when passing a suit of armor, the armor's great sword suddenly swung, its sharp bde slicing off one of the Devil's Snare's vines.

  This taught the Devil's Snare a lesson, and it no longer dared approach the suits of armor.

  Finally, Adrian stopped in front of a staircase because the stairs ahead had split into two halves.

  'Left, or right?'

  Adrian frowned, finding himself in a dilemma—he remembered that the stairs hadn't been like this before.

  Just then, an ethereal figure suddenly appeared floating in the air.

  It was the Fat Friar.

  The Fat Friar was the ghost of Hufflepuff, dressed as a monk, looking short and plump.

  "Go to the left, Professor Westeros," he said kindly.

  As a Hufflepuff, Adrian was naturally very familiar with the Fat Friar, who possessed the typical Hufflepuff traits of friendliness and kindness.

  Adrian knew his guidance could be trusted, unlike Peeves, who never spoke a word of truth.

  "Thank you for your help, Fat Friar," Adrian said casually as he stepped onto the left staircase, turning his head. "Do you remember me? I mean from before, about six or seven years ago, when I studied here..."

  "Of course! My brain may be ghostly now, but my memory—it's definitely much better than when I was alive! Haha..." The Fat Friar ughed at his own joke, seemingly pleased with himself.

  Adrian could only ugh awkwardly along with him.

  ----

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