Harry Potter: Prince of Shadows

The girl was stunning.

Even in Ian's eyes, which were akin to cameras without filters, her beauty was undeniable—far beyond any girl he had ever encountered. Her skin, as pale as freshly fallen snow, was smooth and fine like porcelain, radiating a soft, natural glow. Her delicate features exuded an icy elegance, and her platinum-blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders, enhancing her ethereal charm.

Golden rays of sunlight danced across her shimmering hair.

"I've seen you before," the girl remarked in a crisp, youthful voice.

"Uh, I think it must have been at Diagon Alley. I bought my wand just before you did," Ian quickly recognized her.

Ollivander's Wand Shop—he remembered almost bumping into the girl's aloof guardian that day.

"Is that so?" she replied, her tone inscrutable, neither confirming nor denying his words. Her gaze remained steadfast on Ian's face, her mismatched eyes sparkling like gemstones.

"Yes, that's what happened," Ian said, raising an eyebrow. He felt a bit awkward under her prolonged stare. Though it wasn't the first time girls had looked at him this way, something about her gaze felt different—her unique eye colors bore an unusual intensity that was almost blinding.

Despite her striking beauty, which easily surpassed even the youthful prime of Hollywood heartthrobs, Ian felt a flicker of self-doubt creeping in.

"Can I help you with something? Kraft has stepped out temporarily, so I'm looking after the shop for now," the girl finally looked away, breaking the tension.

Kraft, the shopkeeper Ian had met during his last visit, was likely the person she referenced.

"I'd like to sell these three books back to him, and then pick out some secondhand textbooks on potions," Ian said, making an effort to keep his smile bright and inviting.

It wasn't a crush—he had the mentality of an adult, so developing feelings for a young girl was far from his intentions. Right? Making a favorable impression was purely about negotiating a better deal.

"Selling and buying books? That's fine," the girl replied, her gaze shifting to the three hefty wizarding tomes Ian held tightly against his chest.

"So, you're the overly ambitious little wizard Kraft mentioned?" she said, examining the titles of the books with a curious glint in her eye.

Her somewhat teasing tone indicated that Ian had already become a topic of amusement for the owner of the bookshop.

Ian's smile faltered slightly.

"Sorry," she said quickly, realizing her words might have sounded dismissive. She abruptly stood up, as though regretting her earlier comment, and earnestly apologized to Ian.

Thud!

The book that had been resting on her lap fell to the floor. Flustered, she bent down to pick it up. Even in this moment of clumsiness, she didn't forget to explain herself to Ian with sincere clarity. It felt oddly at odds with her otherwise cool demeanor.

"I didn't mean to mock you. What I said was exactly what Kraft expressed. I was just repeating his words... Though I suppose he was probably teasing you, to be honest," she continued.

Well, that certainly didn't help! Ian thought to himself.

"Runes are a bit challenging for me, I'll admit," Ian forced a smile, taken aback by how unexpected this girl's demeanor had turned out to be. He hadn't anticipated someone who initially seemed so poised would be so peculiar in conversation.

"Yes, it's difficult for me as well," the girl replied as she placed the book she had retrieved back on the counter. She then accepted the three books Ian offered. This was when he noticed the book she had been reading was also related to runes.

"Runic Analysis and Studies."

It was a title that Ian had never encountered before. Or perhaps it wasn't even an official book.

Most wizarding texts featured gilded titles, but the title on the book the girl was reading was handwritten with a quill.

Could it be someone's personal notes?

In any case, it certainly seemed to be more advanced than the basic materials that Ian had purchased.

"It's part of a third-year elective. I'm just curious about it," Ian said, feigning a sigh. He chose not to mention that he had already begun to grasp the fundamentals of runes. While Hogwarts typically didn't punish outstanding students, Hogsmeade was a mixed bag, and Ian knew better than to attract unnecessary attention.

Playing the fool wasn't his style, but he wasn't one to show off in the wrong setting either.

"Are you a first-year Hogwarts student?" Aurora's eyes brightened slightly.

"Yes, Ian Prince. Assuming nothing goes wrong, we'll probably be classmates," Ian recalled seeing her purchase her wand not long ago.

"Perhaps. The Headmaster hasn't yet approved my admission... I'm Aurora Grindelwald," the girl introduced herself, her tone tightening with a hint of apprehension. Her mismatched eyes were fixed on Ian, giving him a peculiar sensation.

Was she expecting a handshake?

Ian extended his hand toward her.

Aurora hesitated briefly before quickly raising her hand to shake his.

"That's a beautiful name," Ian complimented habitually, trying to be courteous. The surname felt oddly familiar, dancing just beyond the edge of his memory.

"Thank you. You seem quite bold," Aurora remarked, a slight relief visible in her demeanor.

Ian was momentarily caught off guard by her statement.

"Is she referring to my confidence or my lack of reserve?" he wondered silently.

Noticing his confusion, Aurora averted her gaze and shifted her focus back to the books Ian had placed on the counter.

"Kraft said he'd give you three Galleons for these if you came to sell them," she informed him.

It was evident that she was attempting to redirect the conversation.

Ian couldn't help but feel a flicker of disappointment.

"So, the old man even left specific instructions," he muttered. He had planned to exaggerate to negotiate a better price, but it appeared that the bookshop owner had anticipated his approach.

"I've kept them in excellent condition and only read them for a few days. Surely they're worth four Galleons," Ian suggested, hoping to win an extra Galleon.

To his surprise, she responded, "You make a good point. Four Galleons it is."

Ian was momentarily taken aback by her agreement.

"Uh... Could I also get some secondhand textbooks on potions?" he asked, swallowing the long list of justifications he had prepared for their earlier discussion.

"Sure. I think potions books are over..." Aurora glanced around the cluttered shop, her expression faltering as uncertainty clouded her features.

"I'll find them myself," Ian offered, recognizing her discomfort. Fortunately, he was somewhat familiar with the store's layout. In no time, he had gathered textbooks on potions from first year all the way through to seventh.

"How much?" Ian asked, eyeing the towering stack of books that nearly matched his height. A twinge of anxiety gripped him—would he have sufficient funds left after selling his runic texts?

Damn this knowledge monopoly! Curse this corrupt wizarding world!

Would it kill them to have a discount bookshop?

"Let me see..." Aurora began checking the backs of the books for price tags, but many labels were either worn or missing entirely.

The girl, who had initially radiated an icy air, now resembled a bewildered cartoon character as she searched for the prices.

"What do you think they're worth?" she asked after a lengthy pause, trying to maintain her composure.

"I think... one Galleon?" Ian suggested with the brazen confidence that often accompanies desperation.

"Hah! At that price, Kraft would jump up and smack himself in the face!" Aurora gasped, her expression a blend of amusement and surprise.

Her odd phrasing left Ian puzzled; however, now was neither the time to ponder why Kraft would choose to smack himself instead of Aurora.

"I'm not buying; I'm renting. I'll return them all when I'm done." Ian explained, fully aware of his constraints. He couldn't afford to spend an entire Galleon on books he'd only use temporarily; he could always transcribe their contents using an enchanted quill later.

Wizarding quills excelled at automatic transcription.

"Won't he notice?" Aurora's tone was uncertain.

Renting books? It didn't seem like a service the shop offered.

"There are so many books in here; he's only been running this shop for a few months. He hasn't even bothered organizing the inventory. How could he possibly know if a few books went missing for a bit?" Ian reasoned, lowering his voice.

He began to construct one of his signature "logical" arguments. It wasn't that he couldn't afford to buy them outright—renting was simply the more economical option. After all, the information in a single book could only offer so much value.

And Ian needed many books.

"Think about it. He hasn't even cast a basic organizing charm, which proves he doesn't care for these books. But I do. I treasure knowledge, and I'm willing to learn from every book in here."

"Miss Grindelwald! Surely you can understand this principle! Knowledge is meant to be shared, not left to rot in forgotten corners until it becomes dust!"

Ian's flair for theatrics, honed during his days as a street fortune teller, was on full display. His passionate plea left Aurora wide-eyed with astonishment.

Her expression oscillated between awe and disbelief as she regarded Ian, as though he had opened a door she hadn't even realized existed.

"I… admire your speech. But Kraft would never agree. He treasures Galleons above all else," Aurora said, her tone carrying a hint of reluctance.

"I won't deny that. But clearly, neither of us knows the exact price of these books, do we?" Ian replied, glancing toward the shop door, as if expecting Kraft to walk in at any moment.

Then, putting on his most earnest expression, he added, "As a customer, I don't want to feel cheated."

This argument seemed to resonate with Aurora, who nodded in agreement. However—

"But I don't want to feel cheated either," she countered, her delicate features set with surprising seriousness.

"Of course," Ian said with a smile that didn't waver. "I don't want to deceive you. I merely seek a fair exchange. Let's discuss the idea of renting the books—a minor concession from your guardian, Mr. Kraft."

Just as an afterthought, Ian asked, "By the way, is he your grandfather or your great-uncle?"

"Of course not," Aurora replied, shaking her head. "He's one of my guardians."

A hint of resistance laced her voice, suggesting she preferred to avoid delving into personal matters.

But Ian didn't press for details. "A guardian, is it? Well, guardian or not, I'm confident he'd never notice a few books missing for a while. Besides, I'm willing to offer three Galleons in rental fees. You could keep them as pocket money," he suggested, lowering his voice conspiratorially.

Aurora's expression fluctuated dramatically, cycling through shock, suspicion, and an almost imperceptible hint of excitement.

"You… you're trying to bribe me?" she asked, her incredulity mingled with curiosity.

"This isn't a bribe, Miss Grindelwald. It's a mutually beneficial transaction between two rational individuals," Ian clarified, lowering his voice further. "I'll return the books when I'm finished. It'll be as if nothing ever happened. I gain the knowledge I need, and you pocket enough Galleons for a few Chocolate Frogs—or perhaps you prefer Lemon Sherbets? Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans?"

Ian's calculated gamble paid off; Aurora's icy demeanor softened, and she seemed to waver. The enticement of additional Galleons had clearly struck a chord.

"I… I don't know if this is the right thing to do. But I've never done anything rebellious before. Maybe this is what my guardian meant when he said I need to learn certain things at Hogwarts?" Aurora mused aloud, as if pondering her own predicament.

"Learn what?" Ian asked, genuinely curious.

Her striking mismatched eyes focused intently on his face. After a moment, she replied, "Cunning."

Ian was temporarily at a standstill, not anticipating such a pronounced reaction.

Did I ask the wrong question? he thought.

Nevertheless, things were moving along according to his wishes.

"Fine. I'll agree to this… arrangement," Aurora finally said. Whether it was the galleons, Ian's persuasive skills, or her own sense of curiosity that swayed her, he couldn't quite tell. What mattered was that the outcome aligned with his objectives.

Aurora reached for a piece of parchment and jotted down the titles of the books Ian intended to "rent." She then pulled a single Galleon from the counter—the money from his earlier transaction—and handed it back to him, after deducting three Galleons for the rental.

"Thank you! This will help me greatly," Ian expressed, his gratitude sincere. His financial situation might be tight, but Aurora's unexpected generosity had provided a significant opportunity.

"See you in two days," he said, ready to take his leave.

"You're the most reckless peer I've ever met. You shouldn't be living here—you belong in Azkaban. Or maybe you'll end up there for fraud one day," Aurora quipped while waving goodbye, her words tinged with more amusement than malice.

"I'll take that as a compliment. Azkaban might not be so bad. But if I had a choice, I'd see it as a traineeship. Nurmengard—now that's where I'd graduate," Ian joked, easing out of the shop while balancing his stack of books.

"You know Nurmengard?" Aurora asked, her curiosity piqued.

"It's the place where the first Dark Lord was imprisoned. I remember reading something about it… in a textbook, maybe," Ian replied nonchalantly.

In truth, the details resurfaced from his fragmented pre-reincarnation memories—bits and pieces from various films, fanfiction, and forums.

"Gellert," Aurora murmured.

"Huh?" Ian paused mid-step.

"I won't be mistaken. His name is Gellert… Grindelwald," she said, her voice calm yet laden with significance.

Ian froze, realization dawning.

A long-forgotten memory stirred to life. The surname—the one that had felt familiar—

Oh, no!

No wonder it rang a bell. No wonder it felt significant.

Wasn't Grindelwald the subject of that spin-off movie they were developing before he... ended up here? And to think he quipped about "Dark Lords" right in front of... her?

"Miss Grindelwald…" Ian turned his head slowly, almost painfully, feeling the weight of his recognition.

Aurora's mismatched eyes regarded him steadily, carrying an emotion that danced on the line between apprehension and curiosity.

"If I said 'Dark Lord' was a term of affection, would you believe me?" Ian attempted a sheepish grin, trying to defuse the tension. "Honestly, I wouldn't mind being a Dark Lord myself if it meant having that power."

"You should be grateful Kraft isn't here," Aurora said, a hint of laughter in her voice despite her serious demeanor.

Raising a hand in a dismissive wave, she added, "But he'll be back soon."

Taking this as a cue to leave, Ian bolted from the shop, balancing his precarious load of books. He barely made it back to the cottage Snape had arranged for him, where he promptly dropped the weighty pile onto a sturdy desk.

Clatter!

Books spilled across the surface, creating colorful chaos.

Amid the mess, one book stood out—the striking volume that Aurora had gifted him, with its blackened, purple-tinged cover that seemed to pulse with a peculiar energy.

"Secrets of Advanced Dark Magic."

The title shimmered almost hypnotically, the lettering appearing to twist faintly as though imbued with a dark enchantment.

This just keeps getting better, Ian thought as he picked up the mysterious book. What secrets could it possibly hold? What knowledge remained hidden within its pages?

As he considered the turning point of his day, Ian felt exhilarated by the possibility that lay ahead. Despite the earlier complexities and surprises, he had navigated through, securing not only valuable textbooks but also an intriguing connection—and a new ally in a place where he had initially felt so isolated.

With the vibrant world of Hogsmeade and the promise of learning at Hogwarts ahead of him, Ian couldn't shake the feeling that this journey was only just beginning.