HP: I beat the otome game at Hogwarts

Chapter 177 Theodore Nott's Opportunities and Challenges

From the chaotic night of the World Cup, Theodore Nott knew that his peaceful days wouldn't last much longer.

Sure enough, when he returned to Nott Manor, he found that old Nott, who should have been at the manor, did not return until the next morning, looking pale and disheveled.

The father and son met in the garden.

Of course, there would be no warm greetings or concern between father and son; all that would be given was old Nott's fierce and brutal reprimands and Theodore's indifferent departure.

In the days that followed, old Nott either locked himself in his study, indulging in a life of wild drinking and debauchery, or went out to associate closely with his old buddies—the same pure-blood families who had been arrogant and powerful during the Dark Lord's era.

Beneath the seemingly calm lake surface lies a raging torrent, as hibernating venomous snakes yearn to emerge from their slumber.

Theodore Nott could only glean a rough idea of ​​the future based on fragmented information. Unfortunately, he was still just an underage wizard, the next heir to the family with an adult patriarch above him.

But as old Nott's unusual activities increased, Theodore was forced to take over more of the family business.

Although old Nott merely wanted to free himself from the burdens of family duties so he could have more time to accomplish his mysterious grand undertaking, he wasn't kindly relinquishing power to his heir—

But in some ways, this wasn't a bad thing for Theodore Nott; he gained deeper control over the family business and more influence.

However, in return, personal rest time is being sacrificed more and more drastically.

In addition to their daily studies, they also have to shoulder heavy family affairs and fulfill the responsibilities of an heir. For a fourth-grade student, even a pure-blooded noble heir who has been raised and educated since childhood, it is very hard work.

The last predecessor who worked this hard was Lucius Malfoy.

But everyone knew that it was only because old Malfoy had contracted a severe case of dragonpox and was too weak to get out of bed. Lucius, as the only son of the Malfoy family, had no choice but to take on the responsibility in this critical situation.

Just look at how Lucius treats his only son, Draco Malfoy, and you'll know that a patriarch who truly loves his children will not let the next generation shoulder the responsibility of succession too early; he will wait until at least the sixth or seventh grade.

Theodore Nott gritted his teeth and persevered, because just as his father, the elder Nott, was eager to end his period of hibernation, he also longed to break free from his father's control and become independent.

This is a difficult challenge, but also a rare opportunity.

During his free time this semester, Theodore either dealt with private family matters in his dorm room or caught up on his studies in the library.

Although the swallowtail dog often came to Slytherin to see him, this clever little dog would very cleverly find a comfortable position in Theodore's arms and then fall fast asleep, keeping the busy Theodore Nott company with sweet, soft purrs.

Theodore naturally went for walks at Black Lake and in the woods less often in the evenings, but surprisingly, he saw his dog friends at the library more often.

Do you need a signature?

The black-haired dog friend confidently held a copy of the Complete Book of Alchemy and told Theodore, whom he had met by chance in the library, that he would become a friend of the next alchemy master and that the master's autograph could be collected in advance and converted into Galleons if needed in the future.

"..."

Theodore recalled the Weasley brothers, who liked to roam around the dining tables of the four houses in the Great Hall, selling Warriors autographs. It was hard not to suspect that the idea originated from his dog-loving friends.

"So you've given up on your dream of becoming a master alchemist?"

Theodore, recalling the dark-haired girl's brilliant strategy from a while back, couldn't help but tease his dog friend in front of him.

“No, not really—” Lyra sighed softly, “I just want to produce some results before Christmas. It’s hard to go from 0 to 1, but it’s much easier to go from 1 to 2!”

"You want to create alchemical products as Christmas gifts."

Although it was a guess, Theodore's tone was very certain.

“Well, you guessed it,” Leila said. “You know, a lot of people have asked me to be their dance partner, but I’ve had to turn them down, and some of those rejections make me want to make up for it—”

“For example, Cedric Diggory?” Theodore casually uttered the most popular name among those who had invited Leila.

“I knew it, you did,” Lyra scoffed. “Cedric’s a really nice guy, but I promised to go to the prom with Fred and George. Can you believe it? Those two redheads were too lazy to find their own partners and just wanted to use a friend as a substitute—”

Theodore Nott remained silent on the matter.

Lyra's complaints about the Weasley brothers are like her complaints about Swallowdog's failed diet—just listen and don't try to argue or agree with them, or she'll change her tune on the spot.

Last time, he casually chimed in, saying that the swallowtail dog had indeed become a bit heavy and leg-pressing to hold lately.

So, one second Lyra was complaining that the puppy was too fat, and the next second she was attacking him for being so young and weak that he couldn't even carry a puppy; she also said that the puppy wasn't fat at all, just had fluffy fur, and looked much cuter than skinny...

The swallowtail dog barked in agreement with its owner, grumbling and swearing at Theodore in dissatisfaction.

Theodore Nott was attacked by a man and a dog for at least five minutes.

"..." He swore to Merlin in his heart that if he ever repeated the same mistake, he would be a dog.

"I plan to buy a small alchemical product, take it apart and study it myself, and then make some simple and practical little gadgets to give as gifts for Christmas," Lyra thought to herself.

“But there are really not many shops selling alchemical products on the market, and there are very few wizards who study alchemy—” Lyra sighed.

“Learning alchemy requires a great deal of talent, as well as a long period of time and effort, and a lot of financial support—” Theodore explained. “It’s not something that can be accomplished in a short time, and wizards from ordinary families can’t afford the cost of materials. This is one of the reasons why Hogwarts doesn’t offer alchemy courses.”

“Hogwarts doesn’t charge tuition anymore, so it’s really unrealistic to cover the cost of expensive alchemy materials for students,” Theodore said casually. “Besides, even if you start learning from the first year, you might only have a basic understanding of alchemy by graduation, which is quite different from other fundamental subjects.”

“In the magical world, there aren’t many wizards who study alchemy, so naturally there are very few shops specializing in it, and the prices are exorbitant, and the products are sometimes questionable,” Theodore continued, “and occasionally they might not be entirely aboveboard, some even leaning towards dark magic, so the shops only accept regular customers. I can be your referrer, or I can buy it for you directly—”