The next morning, Felix got the research materials in the Room of Requirement.

He easily found the "big cabinet with bubbling surface, like it was splashed with strong acid" mentioned by Tom. After using the Levitation Charm to move the cabinet away, he found a dusty wooden box hidden behind it.

He waved his wand carefully, with layer after layer of protective magic flashing on his body, and used the Unlocking Charm to open the long-sealed box. Inside was a thick stack of neatly cut parchment. There was

no curse, no dark magic, and no trap.

This disappointed Felix, who was fully armed and treated it carefully.

Except for the strong stench emanating from the half-closed cabinet, which forced him to cast a Bubblehead Charm on himself, the whole process was easier than he imagined.

Back in the office, Felix couldn't wait to look through the materials.

Frankly speaking, the process was a bit frustrating. The materials contained a large number of anatomical diagrams of magical creatures and Slytherin's own annotations. When Felix brushed his hand across the paper, he seemed to hear the wailing of these creatures before they died.

This reminded him of his experience studying the dark arts. His heart seemed to be soaked in the foul-smelling black water, and the invisible arms desperately dragged him down.

Felix quickly used the brain block to seal his heart. He read the information on the parchment again, resisting the discomfort.

Almost an hour later -

"Huh~"

Felix let out a long breath. His mood at the moment was very complicated.

If you just look at the words of later generations, it is difficult to understand the weight of the name Salazar Slytherin. To some extent, Felix even understood why Tom Riddle was so fanatical and reverent about Slytherin when he was sixteen or seventeen years old.

It was definitely not because of the title of a descendant of Slytherin.

He looked at the parchments in front of him. They were not just carriers of knowledge - each parchment contained the thoughts and will of Salazar Slytherin himself when he wrote the information. It was a kind of calm and cold reason. In his eyes, various magical creatures were just materials that needed to be studied. You couldn't feel any sympathy or pity for them.

But it is this absolute calmness that makes Slytherin's research process extremely methodical. Every line of text and every composition contains the ultimate charm of magic.

Even under the protection of the brain block, Felix can't help but be fascinated, and the idea of ​​following Slytherin's footsteps surges in his heart.

This is not the influence of magic, but the powerful personal charm of a legendary wizard in the pursuit of magic.

Felix resisted the reluctance to completely seal the information, "That's not my way." He warned himself.

There were only three pieces of parchment in front of him, all of which were the knowledge he selected that was most suitable for him.

However, Felix did not start studying immediately. He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the scenery in the distance of Hogwarts.

His heart was in turmoil.

"Oh! Tom, is this your plan? You can find a way to fight back even in extreme disadvantages." Felix murmured.

Many books in the magic world are potentially dangerous, and not everyone is qualified to read them. Just like the restricted area of ​​Hogwarts, there are a lot of dangerous books locked inside - not only the knowledge recorded in them, but many books, just reading them will cost you a heavy price.

Tom Riddle's purpose is very clear, borrowing the attraction of Salazar Slytherin's own magic path to influence and assimilate Felix's thoughts.

I can't beat you, and I can't influence you, but I can find someone stronger than me and let his thoughts change you.

The winter sun is warm but not dazzling, the snow in the courtyard is white but not dazzling, and the cold wind blowing through the tower is biting but not biting.

He looked into the distance and said softly, "Salazar Slytherin..."

"...In a sense, we have the same goal, both pursuing the ultimate in magic. But I have my own path, and I will not jump into your field just because you go further."

"Everyone starts from a weak place. Thousands of years ago, you were confused about your own path like I am today?"

"Now in my eyes, you are a steep and narrow mountain, a legend that is out of reach, but time is on my side, and the future is on my side. One day, I will walk side by side with you until I surpass you."

Felix stood in front of the window, watching the sun rise until it reached the zenith. When its light spread to every corner of Hogwarts, his heart became firm again.

This morning, Felix did not think about any magic problems, but he felt that his understanding of "magic" itself had taken a big step forward. This "progress" was all-round. It could not be reflected in a specific spell, but it gave him a feeling of clearing the fog.

He knew that the bottleneck of his magic theory, which had been stagnant for a long time, had finally loosened.

The accumulation of the past few years has qualified for qualitative change at this moment.

Felix waved his wand, and the milky white light centered on him, illuminating the courtyard below, the greenhouse in the distance, the snow on the ground, and even the frozen black lake.

The mottled swaying dead branches and the shadows of the black stones by the lake disappeared at this moment. In

the principal's office next to the main building of the castle, Dumbledore, with a loose beard, held a piece of fizzing bee candy in his hand. He raised his head, and his azure blue eyes reflected a bright gaze through the half-moon lenses.

"It's amazing." He said softly, "Right, Fawkes?"

A palm-sized phoenix was combing its feathers by itself.

At this moment, in Hogwarts School, all kinds of things are happening in the world -

Gilderoy Lockhart is sleeping soundly in his bed, enjoying the leisure of the Christmas holiday;

Professor McGonagall makes a cup of coffee and flips through the students' report cards;

Professor Flitwick waves his wand and reads "The Spells Tasting" with relish;

Professor Sprout is taking care of the naughty mandrake in the warm greenhouse;

Professor Snape is fiddling with a measuring cup with a look of disgust, with an illustrated booklet at hand;

Hermione Granger is looking in the mirror and pulling the cat ears on her head in distress;

Luna Lovegood is sitting in the Ravenclaw common room, shaking her head while reading a joke book;

...

On the snow, two young wizards are trudging in the snow.

Harry suddenly felt a flash of white light in front of his eyes. He looked around but found nothing.

"Did you notice it?" he said to his companion.

"What?" Ron looked up and said absentmindedly.

"It seemed like a flash of light just now..."

"Where?" Ron looked around but found nothing.

The two continued to step on the snow in the courtyard and walked towards Professor McGonagall's office.

A gust of wind blew up, bringing up a few fallen leaves, and their faint voices were heard -

"Harry, do you think Professor McGonagall will give me leave?"

"Of course she will. You are doing serious work. You should have changed your wand a long time ago."

In front of a window in the castle tower, Felix put away his wand calmly, without any confusion in his eyes.

"For the next thousand years, I will be a legend."