56-60

*Chapter 56: Christmas (Part 2)*

“So, you saw your parents?” Standing in front of the Mirror of Erised, Luke asked Harry.

It was an unusual full-length mirror, its frame made of some indiscernible material, likely bronze, with cryptic inscriptions etched into it:

"Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi."

Reversed and rephrased, it reads: "I show not your face but your heart's desire."

Harry’s emerald-green eyes were filled with sorrow.

He slowly ran his right hand along the edge of the mirror, his gaze brimming with yearning. Luke couldn’t see what Harry saw, but he could deeply empathize with his longing.

Luke reached out and gently patted Harry’s shoulder to comfort him.

“What do you see?” Harry turned and asked.

“Me?” Luke looked into the mirror.

After a while, Harry asked worriedly, “What’s wrong, Luke? Did you see your parents too?”

“No,” Luke replied, wiping away his tears, avoiding the mirror.

“What did you see?” Catherine asked curiously from the side. “You’re crying like a girl. Shame on you.”

Luke sighed inwardly, burying the image reflected in the mirror deep within his memory.

Let this dream vanish like the wind.

“Nothing,” Luke shook his head. “Just a bit emotional… Catherine, don’t you want to take a look?”

Catherine nodded and approached the mirror.

She saw a grown-up Luke standing before her, dressed in an immaculate white military uniform with a flower pinned to his chest, smiling warmly as he linked arms with her.

“The words on this mirror must be read backward,” Luke’s voice chimed in. “I show not your face but your heart’s desire.”

A suspicious blush spread across Catherine’s pale cheeks.

Who in their right mind would desire this silly little deer… But grown-up Luke is so handsome…

Too handsome. Just one more glance, just one!

Her eyes sparkled with pink little stars.

“My dear little deer…” she muttered to herself, accidentally out loud.

Wait, could I be the reflection in Catherine’s Mirror of Erised? Luke nearly choked on his own audacious thought.

No way, a woman like her should desire to stand at the pinnacle, not be some love-struck fool!

Well, that’s how she was before meeting you.

Now she’s turning from an icy beauty into a goofy one, much like Kaguya Shinomiya.

Of course, Luke didn’t plan to expose Catherine’s Mirror of Erised to anyone—not to Harry or Ron either. Neither of them had the guts to stir up trouble.

This episode was a small detour. Back in the Slytherin common room, Luke started preparing Christmas gifts for everyone he knew.

First on the list was his grandfather. Luke bought every kind of snack available in the wizarding world and sent it to him. Poor Emory was exhausted from the delivery. When the owl returned, it brought a letter from his grandfather scolding him for overworking his precious owl.

Now that’s what you call a real grandparent.

The letter also included a record, which his grandfather said was left behind by his mother.

For Diana, Luke sent some beauty potions crafted by Professor Snape. Diana replied with a letter of gratitude and affection.

As for his uncle and aunt, Luke kept it simple. He sent his uncle a magical shock absorber (since he loved speeding), while his aunt received the same beauty potions, which are always useful for women.

Next year, he’d try asking Ron’s dad to get his uncle a flying car.

For his cousin Charlie, Luke sent a pair of telekinetic gloves that even Muggles could use—so he wouldn’t need to stretch to pick up the phone every time he called a servant to open his curtains.

Charlie was lazy, a complete mama’s boy, and a scumbag, but at least he treated Luke well.

For his cousin Annie and two aunts, he sent the same beauty potions. Women were indeed easier to shop for.

The trio’s gifts were simple too. For Harry, Luke bought a pair of black-rimmed glasses and racing goggles. Ron got a brand-new outfit tailored by Madam Malkin for 30 Galleons. For Hermione, he purchased a chubby-faced cat named Crookshanks.

Draco received a platinum ring with a coiled serpent, very fitting for a Slytherin.

After preparing so many gifts, Luke felt exhausted. Back in the Slytherin common room, he decided to listen to the record his mother had left behind while preparing gifts for the professors.

Electronics didn’t work at Hogwarts, but gramophones did.

Sitting on the sofa, Luke made himself a cup of tea, crossed his legs, and found a comfortable position before starting the gramophone.

A burst of music played—oddly out of place.

He should’ve had a glass of wine instead of tea. That would’ve matched the vibe better.

Wait, isn’t this batch? Did Mom really have this kind of talent?

The sanxian intro faded, and a soft, melodious voice like a southern songbird emerged, singing :

“The wand is sharp, the broomsticks fly across the skies,

Dear wizards in their places, listen closely to my tale.

This tale, ah, comes from Godric’s Hollow in Britain,

Albus Dumbledore, a dashing young man…”

Luke suddenly understood why Dumbledore always had a complicated expression when his mother was mentioned.

Turns out tormenting professors ran in the family.

Like mother, like son.  

Tormenting Snape occasionally was one thing, but her poking at Dumbledore’s heartstrings? That might’ve been too much…

“At the first watch, the goblins were noisy and lively.

The one and only Gellert came to his door.

They arranged to meet at midnight; Albus, bashful and speechless…”

Is this even appropriate for me to listen to without paying? Bashful? Seriously?  

Mom’s creativity truly knew no bounds…

To avoid hearing anything even more scandalous, Luke quickly stopped the gramophone.

He decided to gift this record to Dumbledore for Christmas since the headmaster could understand Celtic.

Just to be safe, he also prepared a pair of thick woolen socks stuffed with Honeydukes’ newest candies as backup.

(End of Chapter)  

*Chapter 57: Christmas (Part 2)*

The gifts Luke prepared for Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall were the ones he put the most effort into. For Professor Snape, he chose a music box—not the typical kind that plays "hi-hi-hi," but one modified by Tom to loop a remixed version of the song Answer.

It was the iconic track known as "Setsuna's Execution Song," and it couldn’t be more fitting for Snape. After all, he was a perpetual "loser in love."

In that famous love triangle game, this background music appeared four times—always when the male protagonist confessed to someone else or told Setsuna he had fallen for another girl.

If Snape had read this story, he’d surely relate to it, wouldn’t he?

As Luke played the music box, a mischievous smile spread across his face. Tormenting Professor Snape had become his favorite pastime.

If his late mother could see this, she would undoubtedly praise him, saying, "That's my boy."

For Professor McGonagall, Luke prepared a meticulously curated and magically modified version of the legendary Hengzhong school's management system. She would surely love it.

Starting with the kids, perhaps?

Hoping to bring joy to the little lions of Gryffindor, Luke chuckled as he stuffed presents for them.

---

On Christmas morning, Luke opened his eyes to find his room piled high with gifts. He had to call Catherine to help him tidy up.

Catherine, who had been in a good mood, instantly soured upon seeing Luke.

The reason? The gift Luke had prepared for her was just... too...

Who gives dozens of pairs of stockings as a Christmas gift?

The note attached read, "Wear them more often. I love seeing you in them."

So when Catherine saw Luke, she gritted her teeth and scrutinized him from head to toe, calculating which part of him would hurt most if bitten.

“Hi, Cathy,” Luke greeted.

Catherine had no roommate, enjoying a dorm all to herself.

She sat on a chair, her beautiful face icy as she stared at Luke without saying a word.

“This place is pretty spacious. Don’t you feel lonely living alone?” Luke walked to her bed, sat down, then flopped onto it and rolled around a few times.

He had to admit, the senior’s bed smelled nice and felt incredibly comfortable.

“Mind your own business,” Catherine said, her irritation rising.

“Why don’t I move in, and we can live together? Draco snores, and it’s driving me crazy,” Luke lied without batting an eye, completely disregarding Draco’s feelings.

Draco: So love really does fade, doesn’t it?

Luke: Weren’t you in love with Potter anyway?

Catherine stood up, grabbed Luke, and plopped him back onto the edge of the bed. “Sit properly! Don’t move around!”

Now her bedding was a mess.

“Seriously, you should think about my suggestion,” Luke shrugged.

“What do you want? Get to the point—I’ve got things to do,” Catherine said, her face inexplicably flushing red.

“What are you up to? Don’t tell me you’re going to look for the Mirror of Erised?”

Luke swore he was just joking, but the moment he said it, Catherine’s neck and ears turned bright pink. She glared at him, both embarrassed and angry.

“No way! Did I guess right?” Luke exclaimed, genuinely surprised.

Catherine grabbed a pillow and smacked him, knocking him back onto the bed. “Shut up! Shut up! You annoying jerk!”

“Okay, okay… I’m annoying. I’ll leave…” Luke shrugged and got up to leave.

Catherine threw the pillow, narrowly missing him.

“If you leave, don’t come back!” she fumed.

“Wait, you think I’m annoying, but you won’t let me leave? You’re putting me in a tough spot, Cathy,” Luke said, his tone and expression infuriatingly smug.

Why did you have to say “no”?

This guy was doing it on purpose, Catherine thought as she cursed him inwardly. She gritted her teeth and tackled him back onto the bed, raining harmless punches on him to vent her frustration.

Luke wasn’t about to back down. He countered by tickling her waist. The two wrestled for a while until the ticklish Catherine finally gave in.

“Hahaha… Luke… stop… it tickles… hahaha… I can’t take it anymore…”

She was laughing so hard she couldn’t breathe.

“Say it—do you give up?” Luke continued his assault, determined to make her admit defeat.

“No… no…”

Luke doubled his efforts.

“Ah… hahaha… okay, okay, I give up! Please stop… hahaha…”

Finally, Luke released her slender waist.

Looks like I’ve found her weakness, he thought smugly.

Catherine propped herself up on one arm, her phoenix-like eyes glistening with unshed tears, captivating and dreamlike.

“So… what do you want me to do?” Catherine asked, still catching her breath. One of her elegant hands reached out, playing with the collar of Luke’s sweater, occasionally scratching his neck with her delicate fingers.

“I got a ton of gifts, and I’m having trouble sorting them. I thought you could help me,” Luke said honestly.

Her small gestures were making his heart race, but he resisted, knowing his current self wasn’t up to the task.

Hurry up and grow up! Merlin, help me!

“You came here just to irritate me, didn’t you?” Catherine narrowed her eyes, her tone dangerous.

Luke was the only one who had given her a gift for Christmas—and it was far from decent.

“If you want, I can give you half of them,” Luke said nonchalantly. “Do we really need to be so formal with each other?”

“Those gifts were meant for you. How can you just give them away? You’re such a scumbag, Luke.” Catherine stood up with a huff. “Fine, let’s go sort your scumbag gifts.”

“I should remind you, it snowed yesterday, and it’s pretty cold today…” Luke said, pulling out a pair of 80D velvet tights and handing them to her. “Wear these, so you don’t catch a cold.”

Thanks to the house-elves tirelessly warming the castle, Hogwarts was kept at a comfortable 68°F (20°C), making the thickness of 80D tights just right.

“You just want to see me in them, don’t you?” Catherine’s face turned crimson as she took the tights. “I swear, you’re not a little deer—you’re a lustful dragon disguised as one.”

“You’re absolutely right. I do want to see,” Luke admitted shamelessly. What’s wrong with a man being honest about his desires?

“Get out,” Catherine said, tugging him toward the door.

“I’m an outsider?” Luke countered righteously. “You even guard against gentlemen?”

“Fine, have it your way…” Catherine sighed, letting go of him. She sat on the bed, picked up the tights, and began to roll them up. She stretched the opening, slipping one pearly white foot in and slowly pulling the fabric up her leg.

When she reached her knee, she lifted her other foot and repeated the process.

Luke sat backward on a chair, leaning on the backrest, watching her every move intently.

“Shouldn’t you turn around, you shameless dragon?” Catherine asked, her face flushed with both anger and embarrassment as she glanced at him.

*(End of Chapter)*

Chapter 58: A Gentleman

Luke made an "OK" gesture, turning away with lingering thoughts.

Right now, his mind was filled with the image of his senior’s slender, graceful legs and her delicate, jade-like feet.

"Enough, don’t get carried away," he reminded himself. He had to take things step by step—never to push her too far. If she got upset, it would complicate things.

The old "salami slicing tactic" it was.

How does the saying go? "Deep affection rarely retains, only a clever plan captures hearts."

Luke assured himself he was just trying to liven up the atmosphere.

“All set.”

Luke turned back to look at her. Stunning. Unable to help himself, he asked, “Can I touch it?”

“No way! You little rascal!” The senior’s voice carried a hint of flustered annoyance.

“Fine, no need to get so fierce about it,” Luke muttered, feeling somewhat aggrieved.

“Move along now, and stop having those ridiculous thoughts,” Katherine said sharply. “Aren’t you waiting to sort through your gifts?”

“Oh, right, let’s go.” Luke still felt a twinge of regret.

Never mind, there’s always tomorrow.

When they arrived at Luke’ dorm, Katherine was stunned by the sheer number of gifts packed into the room.

“So many…” Her tone carried a trace of jealousy, though she wasn’t the type to care about such things.

“Can’t help it—everyone likes me,” Luke shrugged. Sometimes being too popular was its own kind of burden.

“You’re so full of yourself…” Katherine said, looking at him with disdain.

“Come on, you don’t like me?” Luke teased.

“Oh, I just adore you,” Katherine replied sarcastically, scrunching up her nose.

Luke glanced at his task log. Still incomplete.

“Seriously, System? Are you going to glitch out and ruin this for me?”

System: Leave me alone, or I’ll crash.  

From morning until noon, they sorted through everything. By the time they finished, Luke felt a surprising sense of accomplishment.

*Everyone Loves Luke (Season Two) – Feats of Glory*

Received over 100 Christmas gifts in one go.  

*Reward:* Advanced Divine Spell – Mass Dispel.

*Mass Dispel:* A high-level sacred technique from the Holy Light Association of Azeroth, rumored to be granted only to the most devout followers of the Light. Revered for its effectiveness against the Scourge, the Burning Legion, and the Old Gods' minions.

Dispels all curses, dark magic, poisons, and diseases within a 30-yard radius.

Out of the 100+ gifts, most came from Slytherins. It couldn’t be helped—Luke was currently the most agreeable person in Slytherin.

As they say, a local leader holds more sway than a distant authority. Being someone they could directly approach, Luke naturally earned their full support.

The gift from his senior was a necklace—exquisite and luxurious. A dazzling array of vibrant, multicolored gems was embedded in the golden pendant at its center. It exuded opulence but stopped short of being ostentatious.

It was a bit tacky, to be honest. Luke held the necklace in his hand and, on a whim, cast an Eye of Identification spell on it.

*Katherine’s Kaleidoscope*

- Required Age: 18

- +2 to All Skills

- Provides 30% Damage Immunity to all types when worn as armor

- +5 to All Talents

The extravagant attributes left Luke utterly stunned. He never expected Katherine, his senior, to be so generous. This gift… felt like more than he could handle.

It even bore her name...

However, the required age left him dumbfounded. Luke did a quick calculation—he still had six years before he could wear this artifact.

Six years! Six years! Do you know how many six years there are in a lifetime? Do you know how I’m supposed to get through these years?

One thing’s for sure—it’s not going to be by playing some random online game.

And +5 to all talents? What’s the point of that if I have to wait until I’m 18, you idiot...

“Do you like it?” Katherine’s eyes sparkled with a mix of anticipation and worry that Luke might not appreciate it. “This… um… is a family heirloom of the Vaurie household. I thought it would look good on you…”

Wait, so you just casually stole your family’s heirloom to give it to someone?

“I like it a lot,” Luke said, patting the necklace. “But… since it’s your family’s heirloom, isn’t it a bit much to give it to me?”

Katherine frowned, picking up a gift box as if to smack Luke, but at the last second, she softened her movement. “The Vaurie family’s most precious treasures…”

She trailed off, abruptly closing her mouth and turning her face away.

“Huh? I’ve taken other treasures from your family?” Luke asked, clueless as ever.

Katherine just stared out the door in frustration, looking as if she were Xu Shu in the enemy’s camp, refusing to say another word.

“Don’t be mad,” Luke said awkwardly, scratching his head. He realized he had misspoken and tried to make up for it with a sheepish smile. “Such a valuable gift, you…”

“When you gave me that leaf, I didn’t complain nearly this much!”

“So, is this a return gift?”

“No, it’s not.”

Luke chuckled slyly, leaning in close to Katherine’s ear and whispering, “Then… is it a token of love?”

Blushing furiously, Katherine pushed Luke onto the bed.

“Help! Someone save me!” Luke shouted at the top of his lungs.

Katherine pinned him down, holding his wrists with one hand and pressing his chest with the other. She sneered coldly, “Scream all you want, little deer. Even if you scream until your voice is hoarse, no one’s coming to save you…”

Just as she was about to teach him a lesson, the door suddenly swung open.

“This is extremely inappropriate!”

It was Professor McGonagall, and her lips were trembling with rage. She looked furious—a boy and a girl fooling around in broad daylight in the dormitory, with the girl even bullying a boy so much younger than her…

Poor young Mr. Montbatten looked so scared he was screaming for help.

Strict as always, Professor McGonagall seemed ready to set the entire Hogwarts castle ablaze with her fury.

“P-Professor…” Katherine, for some reason, felt a pang of guilt and quickly lowered her head.

“Miss Vaurie, Mr. Montbatten, what exactly are you two doing?” Professor McGonagall’s glasses were nearly slipping off her nose, but she didn’t bother fixing them. Her mind was preoccupied with what these two students might have been up to.

“If I say we were just horsing around, would you believe me, Professor?” Luke asked stiffly. Katherine nodded furiously beside him, trying to sell the story.

“Professor Dumbledore has asked you to come to his office, Mr. Montbatten,” Professor McGonagall said after a pause. Then she turned to Katherine. “But it seems, Miss Vaurie, that you should join him as well.”

“Good heavens, I can’t believe this… bullying a child like this…”

“Professor, you’ve misunderstood!” Luke said, massaging his temples as he tried to explain. “Here’s the thing—I received too many Christmas gifts, and most of my friends have gone home for the holidays. I had no choice but to ask Katherine to help me sort through them. I accidentally said something that upset her, and that’s how this whole thing happened. Please don’t misunderstand.”

“Is that true?” Professor McGonagall asked sternly.

“It is, Professor,” Katherine said, regaining her usual composure. “I believe you’d agree that if I intended to do anything inappropriate to him, we wouldn’t still be fully dressed, would we?”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 59: Secrets (Part 1)*

"Alright." Professor McGonagall was willing to believe the two students standing before her. After all, they didn’t have a track record of troublemaking.

If it had been the Weasley twins, no matter what they said, Professor McGonagall wouldn’t have believed a word of it.

It’s similar to how teachers treat mistakes made by good students—they often brush them off lightly. But when it’s the troublesome students, well... let’s just say the outcome might not be so pleasant.

For instance, back in high school in his previous life, Luke and his deskmate both made the same mistake. When the teacher called them out, they merely patted Luke on the shoulder gently. But when it was his deskmate’s turn, the teacher went full berserker mode—scolding, shouting, and even miming exaggerated punches.

Luke had been utterly stunned by the display.

It was as if the teacher had mastered the martial arts of a Pandaren monk, using skills like "Thunder Clap" with unparalleled expertise.

Of course, at worst, Professor McGonagall might resort to her "Unbeatable Cat Punch," but she wouldn’t go as far as his old teacher’s storm-like tirade.

"This kind of thing better not happen again," Professor McGonagall sternly warned. "Hogwarts does not forbid dating, but certain inappropriate behaviors are strictly prohibited."

"Yes, Professor. Understood, Professor." Luke hung his head low, adopting a sincere and remorseful attitude. He even nudged Catherine’s sleeve, signaling her to follow his lead in apologizing.

The task of sorting the gifts could have easily been left to Tom and Jerry, but Luke wasn’t willing to pass up the chance to spend some time alone with his senior. So, he sent the duo off to the Great Hall to grab some snacks.

As for Scabbers, Luke didn’t mind if Tom and Jerry decided to mess with the rat.

He did, however, issue Tom a strict order: teasing was fine, but under no circumstances should Scabbers be allowed to escape.

Tom’s capabilities were reliable. After all, countless instances had proven that whenever he wanted to catch Jerry, the mouse couldn’t escape.

The only reason Jerry wasn’t caught permanently was that Tom feared losing his own purpose and being thrown out by his owner.

A clever cat knows how to maintain its job security.

With Jerry assisting, there was no way Scabbers could get away.

"Alright," Professor McGonagall said once the misunderstanding was resolved, her anger dissipating. She smiled at Luke. "Mr. Mountbatten, I received your Christmas gift. I must say, I loved it."

Their interests seemed to align—a creative mind full of ideas and a professor known for her strictness. No wonder McGonagall found Luke so likable.

What a shame, she thought, that such a brilliant student had ended up in Slytherin. The more she thought about it, the more it frustrated her.

Sigh... Hogwarts’ international ranking was slipping further and further. Professor McGonagall often worried about this, especially about the students’ laid-back, unmotivated attitudes. It drove her crazy with disappointment.

How could the school expect good results with such a lackadaisical bunch?

Thank goodness, she thought. The arrival of Mr. Mountbatten was like an owl bringing hope to Hogwarts.

"I'm glad you liked it, Professor. It was just a small gesture, nothing worth mentioning," Luke said modestly. "If you’re interested, I have plenty more ideas."

"Really?" Professor McGonagall’s eyes lit up.

"Of course. However, given the current state of the student body, I think it’s best to take things step by step. We wouldn’t want to overwhelm them and cause resistance," Luke suggested.

"Hmm, you make a good point." Professor McGonagall nodded thoughtfully. "Alright, Mr. Mountbatten, we’ll discuss this further another time. For now, you should head to the Headmaster’s office. I believe Professor Dumbledore is waiting for you."

"Understood, Professor."

"The password is ‘Cockroach Cluster.’ Honestly, I’ll never understand why Professor Dumbledore has such odd tastes..." McGonagall muttered, her face full of distaste.

---

As soon as Luke entered the Headmaster’s office, he heard Phineas Black’s enthusiastic voice.

"Ah! The genius of Slytherin has arrived!"

"Good day, Headmaster Black," Luke greeted with a polite nod and a bright smile.

"Good day, young man. But please, call me Phineas—" Before Phineas could finish, the other portraits banded together to tie him to his chair, stuffing a rag into his mouth.

Luke took a deep breath.

—Did they think they were Onyxxia? Women can’t be underestimated... He stood there, bowing his head for a brief moment of silence for Phineas.

"Luke," Professor Dumbledore’s voice came from the desk. He raised his head, his face still bearing faint marks from resting on his robes. "Haha... Old age brings a tendency to nap. I hope you don’t mind."

"Not at all, Headmaster."

"Take a seat," Dumbledore said with a wave of his hand, summoning a chair.

"Thank you." Luke sat down without hesitation.

"Would you like some lemonade?"

"Low sugar, please."

"You’re always so disciplined, just like your mother," Dumbledore said with a chuckle, pouring Luke a glass of low-sugar lemonade.

"I must say, I really liked your gift," he continued, his eyes briefly clouded with regret and nostalgia. "When your mother studied at Hogwarts, I admired her greatly. She was the most outstanding student Slytherin ever produced..."

"Wasn’t that title reserved for Voldemort?" Luke thought to himself, feeling like the meme of the subway, an old man, and a smartphone.

Over-the-top praise detected.

"No, no, no," Dumbledore said, shaking his head. "Voldemort could never compare to your mother..."

"Sure, keep talking," Luke said, unconvinced. "If my mom were as amazing as you say, she wouldn’t have died young... The murderer was Voldemort too, right?"

Why did he say "too"?

"No," Dumbledore replied. "At that time, the world faced an even greater threat." He noticed Luke had finished his lemonade and refilled his glass. "Did your grandfather never tell you?"

"My grandfather..." Luke hesitated for a moment. "He never mentioned anything about the wizarding world."

"It seems he wanted to protect you," Dumbledore said. "Did you know I had to wait for him to be away before asking Professor McGonagall to fetch you in secret? If he had been home, he would never have let you come to Hogwarts."

"Why not?" Luke asked, puzzled.

Dumbledore unwrapped a candy and popped it into his mouth. After a long pause, he answered, "Your grandfather already lost his son. Do you think he’d want to risk losing his only grandson as well?"

"But since he sent you that record," Dumbledore continued, "it means he’s ready to let you step out from under his protection. A fledgling that stays in the shadow of its elders will never become an eagle."

"But I’m not a Ravenclaw," Luke quipped, catching Dumbledore off guard. "I’m a Slytherin. Shouldn’t I be a snake?"

Dumbledore stared at him, momentarily speechless.

This kid... just like his mother—insufferable.

Looking at Luke, he couldn’t help but recall the past. Back then, Emma had often sat in that very spot, throwing jabs at him and teasing him about Grindelwald.

To be honest, when he received that record, he hadn’t been as angry as Luke imagined. Instead, he had felt a deep sense of melancholy.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 60: Secrets (Part 2) *

"Wait a second, didn't Ollivander say my mother was a Qi Refiner? How did she end up being a Slytherin student?" Luke, like a keen observer, immediately caught the inconsistency.

"Uh..." Dumbledore suddenly looked a bit embarrassed. He hesitated for a moment before explaining to Luke, "Your mother... well, she had a rather quirky personality. She enjoyed telling people she was a Qi Refiner. According to her, it sounded more prestigious and elegant."

"Honestly, I still don't understand what makes something 'prestigious and elegant.'"

Quirky, huh? So my mom was like Huang Rong?

"By the way, your mother was always a good judge of character," Dumbledore said after a long pause. "But there was one time she left me puzzled. She once told Lily to never trust Peter Pettigrew. However, as you know, James and your mother didn’t get along well. He was furious when she said that..."

"They argued?" Luke raised an eyebrow.

"Uh, not exactly." A hint of awkwardness appeared on Dumbledore's face. "James ended up being suspended in midair by the Levicorpus spell, and his mouth was silenced by another curse."

"..." Luke was momentarily speechless.

"But as it turns out, that was the only time your mother misjudged someone. She always believed Sirius Black was the most trustworthy..." Dumbledore shrugged.

"Then why didn't she stop Sirius?" Luke thought to himself, My mom didn't misjudge anyone—you people did.  

"Unfortunately," Dumbledore sighed, "one month before the Potters' tragedy, your mother underwent the trials of the Hell Tablet. She sacrificed her life to seal the gates of Hell."

Luke suddenly felt like things had taken a bizarre turn. Why is Hell involved now? Why not Heaven?  

"The tablet contained records of three trials: slaying a hellhound and bathing in its blood, rescuing an innocent soul from Hell, and the final trial—purifying a demon."

"In front of wizards from magical communities worldwide, your mother completed the final and most difficult trial: purifying a demon known for its heinous crimes. The purification wasn't physical but restoring the demon’s humanity."

"The cost of the trials was the life of the trial taker. Your mother knew the price but faced it without hesitation. The world owes her a great debt." Dumbledore's tone was heavy as he spoke.

"And... my father?" Luke asked.

"During the final trial, demons from Hell ambushed the ceremony site. Your father sacrificed himself in the ensuing battle to protect your mother and allow the other wizards to escape."

Wow, the Montbatten family is full of heroes, Luke thought.

Then he remembered—his grandfather had been a distinguished anti-fascist warrior in his youth, fighting fiercely against the Japanese in Southeast Asia.

Though to be fair, Grandpa mostly strategized from the rear.  

The real hard-core fighters against the Japanese were people like General Curtis LeMay, who had plenty of 'acquaintances' in Tokyo.

"The leading demon from back then is still at large, waiting for the right time to rise again," Dumbledore said, his half-moon glasses reflecting a flash of light. "And you, Luke, as the son of the one who sealed the gates of Hell, are undoubtedly their first target for revenge."

Luke shuddered involuntarily.

"I don't know the demon's true name, but it’s not a simple entity," Dumbledore said, noticing the boy's fear and kindly handing him a chocolate bar. "Generally, lower-tier demons have pitch-black eyes, mid-tier ones have blood-red or dark-gold eyes, but... I've never seen a demon with bright blue eyes before."

"Demons usually give off an impression of evil and deceit," Dumbledore continued, chewing on a licorice wand. "But that demon was different—its initial impression was righteous. Yet upon closer inspection, something felt off, like a wolf in sheep's clothing."

"So why are you telling me all this now?" Luke finally asked the question that had been nagging at him.

"This world is vast and complex, Luke," Dumbledore replied after quickly finishing his licorice wand and licking his fingers. "Perhaps you think your precognitive knowledge will guarantee your safety, but many things won’t go as you expect."

Luke felt a chill run down his spine, and he looked at Dumbledore warily. "You're using Legilimency on me, Professor? I'm just a kid..."

You sly old fox! How could you target an innocent child like me?  

"Relax, Luke," Dumbledore reassured him with a smile. "I haven't gone that far. But think about it—how suspicious is it for a first-year student to head straight to the Room of Requirement on their first day?"

"I quite like what your mother once told James: 'If you succeed too easily in youth, you're bound to stumble later.' Unfortunately, her son seems to have inherited none of her caution."

"What I can't understand is why, knowing Quirrell was possessed by Voldemort, you still sought him out to learn magic. Let me be clear: Patrick was someone I reinstated to help you build a reputation in Slytherin. But Voldemort acted faster and used the Imperius Curse on him. Have you ever thought about what would happen if Voldemort tried the Imperius Curse on you? How would you resist?"

Luke was at a loss for words. He wanted to defend himself, but he couldn't refute Dumbledore's points.

Looking back, he felt a wave of fear—if Voldemort had truly used the Imperius Curse, he would have been defenseless.

"Patrick is dead," Dumbledore said, his sharp eyes glinting behind his glasses.

"Uh, Headmaster, that wasn't me—"

"It was Voldemort," Dumbledore said with a soft laugh. "After using Patrick to test your terrifying talent in the Dark Arts, Voldemort silenced him to tie up loose ends."

"And you just watched?" Luke shot back.

His question carried two implications:

1. As the Headmaster, how could you stand by and do nothing?  

2. Luke wanted to test whether Dumbledore was as manipulative as conspiracy theories suggested.

(End of Chapter)