"Don't scare me, I'm a coward." Neville sighed helplessly, his shoulders slumped slightly, and the muscles on his face twitched slightly due to nervousness.
"Don't worry, I'm a coward too."
Ron had no idea where he got the face to say that.
You know.
Ian is genuinely willing to call Ron the king of bravery at Hogwarts now. If there's still a remnant of Voldemort haunting Harry, Ron truly knows how to run towards certain death environmentally.
Of course.
Albus Dumbledore probably wouldn't let such a thing happen. After all, Ron's family is full of loyalty and righteousness, and he would somehow stop these three from courting death before something like that happens.
Ian thought as much.
The new trio continued.
"But where should we start investigating?"
Neville spoke up again.
Ron smiled slightly.
"I've been observing before, Harry, that fake Harry, probably leaves the school every night. He keeps heading towards the Forbidden Forest."
"I bet he's going to the Forbidden Forest, there's definitely some huge secret hidden there!" Ron's voice was full of certainty, and he clearly suggested that everyone should try to investigate.
Even though Ron's voice was lowered, it still stood out in the silent corridor.
Have to say.
After hearing this sentence.
Ian not far away couldn't help but squint slightly.
A hint of confusion flashed in his eyes.
"This..."
He didn't know if Ron was talking nonsense, or if there was really such a thing. Riddle's memory doesn't include any mention of Harry frequently going to the Forbidden Forest... this is a bit strange.
You know.
As Riddle's master.
Ian could know whatever he wanted about Riddle. Even so, he had no knowledge of Riddle frequently visiting the Forbidden Forest.
It couldn't be that Riddle deletes his own memory every visit, right? That's impossible too. How could the overly confident Riddle at the time anticipate and prepare for possible future encounters?
"This has gotten interesting."
Ian began to ponder.
And not far away.
"The Forbidden Forest!?"
Neville's face turned even whiter, looking like a ghost freshly emerging from a cellar. He looked down at his shoes, his voice timid, "My grandma said the Forbidden Forest eats people at night."
His words carried a slightly trembling tone.
"Those are just stories to scare kids. My two brothers often go to the Forbidden Forest, and they never came back missing any limbs." Ron brought up his impostor brothers, patting Neville on the shoulder, which almost made Neville stagger. Clearly, the boy barely sufficing in courage was now quivering a little at his knees.
"Plus, we have Hermione, and she can recite 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' backward." Ron tried to comfort Neville, albeit in a rather abstract manner.
"..."
Even Hermione felt quite speechless.
"While I do know how to handle those dangerous fantastic beasts, I've never actually practiced it, alright." Hermione clearly understood her situation well.
However.
"Isn't this the perfect opportunity for practice? Hermione! Time to showcase your talent!" Ron immediately threw some motivational talk at Hermione despite having unknown confidence in her. Perhaps it's because he'd never seen such a studious person all his life; even his prefect brother at home didn't love studying as much as Hermione in his opinion.
"Investigating the Forbidden Forest, really, we're bound to make big discoveries."
Ron made a final rallying call. Neville didn't retort, he just sighed, nodded timidly, full of worry and fear, yet exceptionally loyal.
Yes, Neville is loyal, but his round face was turning whiter and whiter.
"Going to the Forbidden Forest now?"
Previously, Hermione might have been heavily against the idea, but she surprisingly didn't object this time. Clearly, the DNA of a Gryffindor College student was triggered, and seeing Ron already moving forward, she followed suit.
Hermione's legs weren't long, her robe fluttering behind as she ran. Though afraid, Neville steeled himself and followed, his footsteps slightly heavy.
Each step seemed like overcoming a massive inner fear.
The chubby boy was surprisingly agile when he ran.
"I think we should do some preparation and investigation first!" Hermione, still slightly cautious, didn't think going to the Forbidden Forest was particularly wrong.
The trio.
No matter what form of trio.
Looked reckless enough—as kids often lack a sharp sense of danger.
They were indeed, still kids.
But.
The three of them decided just like that to go to the Forbidden Forest, charging towards the stairs like a gust of wind, mindlessly ignoring the senior standing there with the best eyesight they should have at their age.
Yes.
They ran right past him, not noticing the upperclassman right in front of them. Not even Hermione, who always admired Ian, noticed.
They were wholly focused on reaching the Forbidden Forest.
"Really my fake admirers!"
Ian couldn't help but comment. Truly, at Hogwarts, he met someone blind. Standing right under the torch should have made him remarkably conspicuous, right?
"Isn't it!"
Ian walked to the stairs, watching the three run out the gate with the Unlocking Spell. He turned to the ancient portraits hanging on the surrounding walls.
"Is my presence really that weak?"
He asked the portraits.
However.
Before the smiling lady could respond.
The old Gryffindor portrait Ian thought would never speak unexpectedly touched his silver beard, eyes gleaming with mischief, and spoke.
"These are indeed the students of Gryffindor College." Just great, three near-blind students, yet in the portrait's view, they turned into legacy of which he could proudly boast. What kind of mindset says this? Feeling that such behavior proves their pure love for adventure?
"You can talk!?"
Ian was first surprised.
"Seems like you stayed silent before to hide your somewhat insane acumen!"
Subsequently.
He couldn't help but quip. The aged Gryffindor portrait didn't mind the Little Wizard's jab and only looked towards the castle gate.
"These descendants of mine," he said, "once they determine a goal, they charge forward, eyes only on the path ahead, and hardly anything else catches their attention."
Indeed.
He truly believes this as proof of their love for adventure!
"..." Ian's face was full of question marks after hearing that, completely uncertain of how to respond, thinking that the usually mute portrait might actually be quite mad for real.
Just then.
The elderly Gryffindor portrait spoke again.
"Perhaps you should follow after them; isn't that your duty?" the portrait suggested with meaningful eyes, projecting 'wisdom' towards Ian.
Clearly.
As one of the four founders of Hogwarts.
He should be aware that Ian carries Hogwarts' endorsement.
But Ian rolled his eyes, dismissing the portrait's remarks. Like, how could it be? Yet he'd still go for Hermione's sake since he charged her protection fee before.
As for Neville.
The chubby kid who kind of admired him needed saving too.
As for Ron.
Rescuing him along wasn't a problem.
"After all, counting from King Arthur, rounding up a bit, I'm kind of an ancestor to the Weasley family too." Ian thought to himself, while externally feigning nonchalance.
"I could follow them, sure, but you've got to find that hidden young portrait for me. The one who always avoids people's sight."
Indeed.
Ian's display of acting was precisely for this, as he commenced bartering for rewards. After all, he had always fancied that mysteriously appearing and disappearing young Gryffindor portrait.
Well.
Such is the nature of a vengeful person.