[Note: Read up to Chapter - 42 on P patron at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]
.
.
.
.
Aris truly hadn't expected to bump into one of the future main characters of this world today—none other than the legendary Miss Know-It-All herself from the Golden trio.
At that very moment, Hermione Granger was in the middle of tackling one of Flourish and Blotts' event challenges: reciting a passage of over a thousand words in under ten minutes.
If successful, the prize was a full set of school textbooks, completely free—courtesy of Flourish and Blotts.
It was no easy feat. Reciting a lengthy passage with no mistakes, under pressure and within a time limit, wasn't something just any student could manage. Clearly, the shop had designed the challenge more as a publicity stunt than a realistic giveaway.
They probably hadn't expected anyone to actually pull it off.
But then, they hadn't accounted for Hermione Granger.
A model student through and through, and eventually sorted into Gryffindor House, Hermione had always been fiercely competitive and never shied away from a challenge—especially academic ones.
Aris watched her for a moment, intrigued.
Just then, Luna's gentle voice sounded beside him.
"This event looks quite fun. Why don't you give it a go, Aris?"
He turned his head, gave her a lopsided smile, and cast another glance towards the determined girl at the centre of attention.
"It does look interesting," he admitted. "And a full set of textbooks for free? Can't really argue with that deal, can you?"
"You really think you want to give it a go?" Xeno had already made his way over, a smile playing on his lips.
To him, this challenge clearly seemed a bit much for an eleven-year-old. But if Aris truly wanted to give it a shot, he wasn't going to stop him.
"It's alright if you fail. I won't take the mick!" Luna winked cheekily at Aris.
"Who said anything about failing?" Aris replied with a confident grin. "If anything, I think the challenge is a bit too easy!"
He turned to Luna with a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Fancy having a bit of fun with them?"
"Hmm?" Luna's eyes lit up. "You thinking of upping the ante?"
Smart as ever, Luna had clocked Aris's plan straight away.
"Exactly," Aris winked back.
Then, without hesitation, he strode towards the activity area.
Just then, a roar of applause erupted from the front.
"Blimey, that memory's incredible—I can't believe a little girl managed that!"
"No magic, just raw brainpower! In ten minutes flat… proper genius, that is!"
"Let's hear it for Miss Hermione Granger! She's smashed Flourish and Blotts' challenge and bagged herself a cracking reward!"
"Unreal! It's like her brain's enchanted or summat!"
"Over 1,300 words memorised in ten minutes—bloody brilliant!"
Aris looked ahead and saw Hermione stepping out from the crowd, wearing a bright yet slightly bashful smile.
Clearly, she'd just completed the challenge at Flourish and Blotts.
For most people, it was an impressive feat—and she definitely lived up to her nickname, Miss Know-It-All. Her reputation as a proper top student was well-earned.
Not long after, a shop assistant from Flourish and Blotts approached her with a grin.
"Congratulations, Miss Hermione Granger!"
"You've earned yourself a full set of Hogwarts textbooks, courtesy of Flourish and Blotts. If you've already bought them, no worries—we'll happily swap them for books of equal value!"
"Thank you!" Hermione replied, her cheeks flushing with a rosy blush. She looked genuinely chuffed.
Aris, meanwhile, stood nearby, enjoying the show with mild amusement—until a voice piped up behind him.
"Excuse me, young sir. Fancy having a go at the challenge yourself?"
Turning around, Aris saw another shop assistant smiling at him.
"Absolutely, if that's alright," Aris nodded politely.
To be honest, he hadn't planned on stealing the spotlight today. But Luna wanted him to join in, and truth be told, he didn't mind having a bit of fun.
With the system's photographic memory and super-speed reading talents under his belt, memorising a thousand-word passage in ten minutes was child's play—he could probably do a whole book if he fancied it.
"Of course, I assume you already know the rules?"
"Crystal clear!"
"Brilliant. I'll get it sorted for you right—"
"Hold up," Aris interrupted with a smile. "I actually think your challenge is a bit too easy."
"Sorry?" The clerk looked confused, either not catching what was said or unsure he'd heard right.
"I mean, if I were to voluntarily up the difficulty, could the prize be bumped up too?" Aris asked, still grinning.
The clerk blinked, now clearly paying attention.
"And how much harder are we talking?"
"Ten minutes to memorise an entire book."
Aris casually picked up a nearby book—not too thick, not too thin—and gave it a wave in the air.
"You're having a laugh—memorise a whole book in ten minutes?"
The clerk looked absolutely flummoxed, clearly not expecting someone to rock up and say that with a straight face.
The crowd around them had already started tuning in to what was going on, the buzz building.
Even Hermione Granger, who had just been handed her prize, paused and turned her head, curious.
"You're pulling my leg, surely," the clerk said, half-laughing. "If you're that confident, maybe just stick to the rules. You'll have a better shot at actually winning something!"
The people around chuckled, thinking Aris was either being cheeky or was just some daft kid showing off.
No one was taking him seriously.
"Memorisin' a whole book in ten minutes? Judgin' by the thickness, that's gotta be at least ten thousand words. That's absolutely bonkers!"
"Maybe the lad's hopin' for a miracle, bless 'im."
"You've got guts, kiddo, but sadly, guts alone won't cut it here!"
"Do yourself a favour—head on home!"
"Hahaha!"
The murmurs of doubt and friendly banter rippled through the crowd. No one genuinely believed Aris had a chance of pulling it off.
Aris glanced at the grinning faces surrounding him, then caught Luna's gaze in the crowd. Her calm, unwavering look gave him a little boost. His own smile deepened.
Turning back to the clerk, his tone hardened with quiet determination:
"I want to give it a go. Who knows, maybe I'll surprise you."
"Well, if you're sure… but the reward—"
Before the clerk could finish, a new voice cut through the noise.
"If the lad manages this so-called impossible challenge, he can take any book he wants from Flourish and Blotts. No limit."
Everyone turned to look.
A middle-aged man with a sharp little goatee and a bowler hat stood with his hands clasped behind his back, grinning at Aris with clear amusement.
"Of course," he added lightly, "you'll have to carry the books out yourself."
The two clerks straightened at once and nodded respectfully.
"Manager!"
"That's the manager of Flourish and Blotts?"
Aris quietly studied the man. He didn't recall this character from the Harry Potter books or films—not even a passing mention. But here he was, in the flesh.
So this is the bloke who runs the most famous bookshop in Diagon Alley… he thought, curious.
.
.
.
.
[Note: Read up to Chapter - 42 on P patron at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]