Hogwarts Raven

Not only did Ian not have a big, fluffy Dumbledore waiting for him, but there was also no owl swooping in to deliver letters as a surprise.

Ian felt that his journey into the world of magic had been quite a winding one. For others, their introductions to this enchanting realm came from kind professors like McGonagall or the lovable, bumbling Hagrid, who made it easy to feel affection. 

So why, then, did Ian find himself in the company of the least favored Half-Blood Prince of Hogwarts?

Yes.

The man sitting before him wore a large, black, disheveled robe, and his greasy hair looked like it hadn't seen shampoo in years. He was in the Director's office at the Orphanage, and he was none other than Severus Snape, the current Head of Slytherin House.

This professor had many titles: a genius in potions, a man grappling with a long-standing midlife crisis, and even an ultimate invincible pure love warrior (a rather odd label, to say the least).

Of course.

The most notorious title associated with Snape was his past as a Death Eater under the Dark Lord. Ian knew that Snape was now a double agent working for Dumbledore, but the shadow of his Death Eater past loomed large.

The ominous aura surrounding him was hard to ignore.

Because of this, having Snape as his guide was hardly good news for Ian.

"Ian, come in quickly!"

The Head of the Orphanage noticed Ian's arrival immediately, as the door was right in front of her desk. She smiled warmly and waved him in.

Ian stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

Outside, the voices of the children could be heard, wailing.

"Poor little Ian finally gets a better life, thank God," Mrs. Helena said happily as she introduced Ian to the brooding Snape. "This is Ian, the most sensible and beloved child here."

"I believe that despite his poor background, he will become one of the best students at your school. Even the noble children won't be as clever as Ian," she continued, generously praising him.

Ian felt a bit embarrassed. After all, he was an adult soul from another world. Comparing himself to the other children didn't seem quite fair.

"I hope so," Snape said, his gaze fixed on Ian as he sat across from Mrs. Helena.

From the moment Ian entered, Snape's eyes had not left his face. His expression was unreadable, making Ian uneasy.

Was this… guilt?

With his extraordinary ability of Cognitive Perception, Ian could sense intense emotions and deep desires from others.

At that moment, Snape's emotional turmoil was palpable. This unusual feeling reminded Ian of something Dumbledore had once said.

Was this the professor who felt indebted to him, as Dumbledore mentioned? This man before him, Snape… Ian felt confused. He wasn't Harry Potter, nor was he Lily Potter's illegitimate child.

So, what was the source of Snape's emotions?

"What are you doing?! This is impossible!?"

Suddenly, as Ian pondered in confusion, Snape's eyes flashed with disbelief, his face filled with uncertainty. His gaze toward Ian became sharp and uncomfortable.

"Huh?"

Ian, startled, stepped back a few paces.

Mrs. Helena was also puzzled by Snape's reaction.

"Legilimency! Mr. Prince, Dumbledore never told me that you possessed such a talent!" Snape's eyes flickered with agitation.

Surprise? Unease? Concern?

His expression was cold and stern as he stared at Ian, and the emotional fluctuations he was giving off became more and more evident. The intensity of these emotions only deepened Ian's confusion.

What exactly was going on with this potions professor? Could it be that he was Snape's and a Muggle's illegitimate child? That Snape couldn't have Lily Potter, so he found a Muggle who resembled her, had a child, and threw him into an orphanage?

That seemed impossible! This... was just too bizarre, too illogical!

The more curious Ian became, the more pronounced his ability to sense emotions grew.

As a result...

"I said, enough!"

Snape's tone suddenly rose several degrees.

His voice was harsh.

"I... I can't control it..."

Ian, now nervous, hadn't expected Snape to detect his Cognitive Perception ability. Nor had he anticipated that this ability would be mistaken for the magic of Legilimency.

"Professor, perhaps controlling your emotions might help calm the situation a little?" Ian quietly suggested, given that Snape seemed to be getting more and more agitated.

"Hmph!"

Snape took a long, displeased breath. After closing his eyes for a moment to collect himself, Ian felt his heightened perception gradually fade.

"What did you see?"

When Snape opened his eyes again, disbelief still lingered on his face.

"I didn't see your memories. I can just sense your emotions. It seems like your mind is a little unsettled?" Ian answered honestly.

Since Snape had already noticed his anomaly, trying to conceal his ability was clearly pointless. For wizards, certain special gifts weren't a major concern.

"A natural Legilimens... This is quite impressive... Mr. Prince, do you think that with such a gift, you can feel entitled to do whatever you want, as if fate has given you special treatment?"

Snape's gaze now held unmistakable anger.

His tone was as cold as ice.

It was as though he was forcing the words out, his voice loud enough for Ian to subconsciously glance at Mrs. Helena. However, Mrs. Helena was still smiling at the two of them.

Every now and then, she nodded.

Clearly,

The conversation between Ian and Snape, whether it was what Mrs. Helena heard or saw, was likely very different from what was actually happening.

"Confundus charm..."

Ian looked at Mrs. Helena, who seemed to be cut off from the reality around them.

For some reason, he felt a strange heaviness in his chest.

"I'm asking you a question, Mr. Prince. You dare disregard a professor before even starting at Hogwarts? If this were at Hogwarts, I'd make sure you'd receive a—"

Snape's voice dripped with sarcasm, but suddenly, he stopped mid-sentence. His expression grew as dark as if he had swallowed something that had caught in his throat.

"Sorry, Professor, I truly can't control it."

Ian felt quite helpless.

"Can't control it? Then learn to control it!"

Snape scolded sternly.

"Uh…"

Perhaps Ian's acting had an effect. Seeing him adopt a helpless and pitiful look, Snape chewed on his cheek, and his tone softened slightly.

"As the House professor, I'm only giving you this warning out of kindness. Before you gain enough strength, any behavior that might provoke other wizards is a foolish act of provocation."

"Hogwarts is generally tolerant of students, but the condition is that you behave like a well-behaved child and don't act like those irritating Gryffindors who are always causing trouble."

Snape's voice was extremely serious.

However, when mentioning Gryffindor,

His tone carried an unmistakable disdain.

"What's Gryffindor?"

Ian attempted to change the subject, his expression one of feigned ignorance and confusion.

"Heh, just a bunch of simple-minded, muscle-bound fools. At Hogwarts, smart people keep their distance from them, or they'll quickly find themselves in trouble."

Snape mocked with enthusiasm.

However, this kind of response clearly fell into the "a word is worth a thousand" category.

He didn't bother explaining that Gryffindor was a House.

"Alright, professor."

Ian didn't ask further or argue.

Instead, he acted obediently, which made Snape's furrowed brows loosen a little.

"Madam, I need to take this child now to complete some necessary formalities." Snape turned to Mrs. Helena, no longer looking at Ian.

In the next moment,

It was as if Mrs. Helena, who had been disconnected for a while, finally regained focus, her expression and eyes returning to normal. She responded to Snape with a bright smile.

"Of course, of course. The headmaster has already taken care of everything, and Ian can leave with you right now." She then urged Ian to pack his belongings.

Since Ian had been preparing for a while,

Most of his things were already packed into a large suitcase.

So,

Soon, he was dragging a massive suitcase out of the room. Given that Ian was only eleven, the suitcase was slightly taller than him.

As soon as he stepped out of the bedroom,

Ian saw Mrs. Helena, several orphanage staff members, and almost all the children, waiting for him in the orphanage courtyard.

Snape stood in a more distant open space, exuding an air of "don't come near"—even familiar people likely wouldn't want to approach him.

"Ian, Ian, will you bring us chocolate when you come back?"

"Don't worry, Ian, I'll take care of your room and the little cart for you."

"Wuwuwu, Ian, please don't die, okay? They said we won't see you again."

...

The children all expressed their reluctance at Ian's impending departure.

As the leader of the Orphanage children,

Everyone had deep feelings for Ian... Even the five-year-old girl who misunderstood "not seeing him again" as "he's going to die" held Ian in high regard.

Perhaps,

One day, such feelings and bonds might change with the passage of time, fading as people grow older and go their separate ways.

But at this moment, the reluctance everyone showed would never diminish in the slightest.

"Ian, don't look back. Your future will be bright." Mrs. Helena gently touched Ian's cheek, her eyes filled with tears, and she gave him a meaningful and heartfelt piece of advice.

The other children couldn't understand the implication, but that didn't mean Ian didn't.

"Professor, I can come back during the holidays, right?"

He called out loudly to Snape, who stood in the distance.

"That's your business, don't bother me with such stupid things."

Snape's tone was full of impatience, but he stood quietly in the shadow by the wall, not urging Ian in any way.

"I'll definitely come back, this is home, isn't it?"

Ian walked up to Mrs. Helena and embraced her. "If it weren't for your dedication and change to this place, this orphanage wouldn't be filled with so much joy and laughter."

"We will all have a future, I promise." Ian's voice was full of sincerity.

"Ian… you don't have to…" Mrs. Helena's voice cracked as she tightly embraced him. The other children around them started chattering excitedly.

"Now it's my turn to hug Ian!"

"Anna! You're hugging him too long!"

"Allen! You've smeared snot on Ian's clothes!"

...

Ian said his goodbyes to nearly everyone.

He refused anyone's help and dragged his suitcase over to Snape.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Ian had a few words with Snape, and then Snape led him out through the large iron gate, gradually disappearing into the misty streets of London.

"Ian will definitely make something of himself. He's such a thoughtful, heart-wrenching child." The cook in the kitchen was crying uncontrollably, his voice filled with unwavering belief.

"Indeed, I never doubted that."

Mrs. Helena also confirmed it, wiping her eyes. She turned to comfort the children, only to feel a heavy sensation in her pocket.

As if sensing something, Mrs. Helena quickly reached into her pocket.

A thick envelope was pulled out.

"When did this…?"

Mrs. Helena was stunned.

She opened the envelope.

Her hands trembled uncontrollably.

"This child…"

Her voice was shaking.

Inside the new envelope was a stack of British pounds. While the individual notes weren't large, scattered, and few, they added up to a considerable amount, enough to provide for the orphanage children during a warm and full winter.

(End of This Chapter)