Milawa Maige didn't know Tangmu Lideer was plotting to snatch the House Cup from her house. She praised him again, urged diligence, and continued observing pupils.
Inside, she felt conflicted.
Rationally, this Tangmu was just a namesake, but his excellence echoed that other Tangmu from long ago.
Strange… is this name favored by Merlin?
"How'd you do that?" Hemin Gelanjie approached when Maige was far enough, frustrated.
Her toothpick hadn't changed, leaving her discouraged.
She'd always lost to Tangmu in competitions, but the gap was narrow. Now, in the wizarding world, he'd surged ahead.
It felt like she was at the starting line while Tangmu reached the next station.
"More pressure, lower success," Tangmu said calmly. "Don't treat spellcasting like an assembly line. Each spell manifests your gift. Keep your mind calm."
He smiled lightly. "Imagine you're the toothpick's master. It obeys your will. Its actions reflect your command."
Dafuni Gelingelasi, overhearing, took a deep breath, waved her wand naturally, following Maige's instructions without stiffness.
A silver flash streaked her toothpick—it became a silver toothpick, arguably a needle if threading wasn't required.
Dafuni cheered. "I did it, Tangmu! You're amazing!"
Her success earned Slymerin one point.
No system points for Tangmu, though.
Hemin felt uncomfortable, lowered her head, and practiced determinedly.
Before class ended, Hemin's toothpick turned into a silver-colored wooden needle.
Milawa Maige, thrilled, awarded Gryffindor one point.
BOOM!
A loud bang startled Maige and the class.
This was Transfiguration, not Defense Against the Dark Arts—why an explosion?
Culprits: Ximo Feinigan and Nawi Longbadun, sporting blown-up hairstyles, their toothpick now charcoal.
Maige's face darkened. She deducted one Gryffindor point and dismissed class.
Hogwarts was talented—Tangmu, a jinchūriki; these two, with explosion-style ninjutsu. Terrifying.
After class, Dafuni wanted to join Tangmu, but Milisen Bodesi and Panxi Pajinsheng called her away. She watched helplessly as Hemin dragged Tangmu to the library.
"Gelingelasi, why hang with a Muggle-born?" Panxi said unhappily.
"Exactly," Bodesi chimed. "He's good-looking, but his filthy bloodline's a fact. Nuote and the others will teach him a lesson."
"My friends are my choice," Dafuni replied coldly, barely glancing at them. "Pajinsheng, clean the spinach from your teeth before speaking. Disgusting."
"Bodesi, you failed Transfiguration. You're shaming pure-bloods."
Dafuni ignored their embarrassed, furious faces and left.
Her Gelingelasi name outranked Bodesi and Pajinsheng, both Sacred Twenty-Eight, but she didn't care.
She wanted to catch Tangmu but avoided Hemin, returning to the dormitory to write home.
Tangmu reached Hogwarts' "Dragon Grounds"—the library.
The original Tangmu built power here post-graduation. Many gained from it. Class material ensured graduation; special spells required self-study. That separated talented pupils.
Madam Pingsi, the librarian, had hawk-like eyes. Noise or book mistreatment earned her glare.
Hemin grabbed Introduction to Transfiguration Decomposition. Tangmu took three books, drawing Pingsi's attention.
He needed to enrich his Learning Space's magical library, uncaring of her ire. He flipped through books, scanned pages, confirmed contents, and returned them.
At the 13th book, Pingsi lost patience, approaching with a feather duster. "Child, what are you looking for?"
Tangmu blinked innocently. "If I don't know what I need, I check them all. Problem?"
Pingsi took a deep breath. "…No. Don't disturb others."
"Thank you." Tangmu nodded politely, continuing his spree.
He wasn't loud or damaging books. If others were "disturbed," they could study in a detention cell.
Pingsi's displeasure didn't faze him.
He suspected she, like Fei'erqi, was a Squib—no record of her using magic in seven years, no wand visible.
A Squib guarding Hogwarts' library? Dengbuliduo was bold.
At noon, Tangmu and Hemin left on time.
"What were you looking for?" Hemin asked, curious about Tangmu's behavior.
"Nothing specific," Tangmu replied. "I wanted a general idea of each book's content for easier searches later."
Hemin's eyes lit up. She'd try it that afternoon.
In the Great Hall, Hemin went to Gryffindor's table. Tangmu sat at Slymerin's.
A sixth-year Slymerin prefect approached. "Lideer, Professor Sifu wants you after classes. His office is in the dungeons, by Potions."
"I understand." Tangmu nodded calmly.
His gaze shifted to Laisi Zhasini, Saiodo Luosiai, and Kasal Nuote.
Luosiai grinned sinisterly, making a throat-slitting gesture.
Tangmu smiled back.
Perfect. Tonight, I'll stretch my legs again.
[^1]: In the Wizarding World, the library holds vast magical knowledge, guarded by Madam Pingsi. The Sacred Twenty-Eight lists prominent pure-blood families.