The sun was shining, casting a warm glow on his face.
A gentle breeze blew, causing the yarn curtains to sway up and down.
It was a beautiful morning.
Since embarking on his journey, Anton had never slept so soundly.
As an apprentice to a dark wizard, the old man didn't require much sleep. Sometimes, he would angrily burst into the room at the crack of dawn, shouting, "Sleep is for the dead! There's plenty of time for that after you die!"
If you stayed in bed at that time and waited for a curse, although it may not be as dreadful as the Cruciatus Curse, it would still cause unbearable pain for ordinary people.
Now, Anton rolled over and let the sun warm his back, intending to go back to sleep in comfort.
But suddenly, a thunderous roar exploded in his ears!
Startled, Anton leaped out of bed, exclaiming, "Teacher, I apologize! I will never..."
His expression froze as he stared blankly at the Fiennes.
The pale, translucent figure, seemingly fading away, floated right in front of him.
Anton muttered in disbelief, "I'll be damned..."
Fiennes, unable to believe his ears, retorted, "How dare you insult me!"
He lunged with teeth and claws, but passed straight through Anton's body.
An ice-cold sensation struck Anton, causing him to shiver as if he had devoured an entire fridge full of ice cream.
Fiennes continued to scold, "You stupid idiot!..."
Anton swallowed, secretly hoping that the old wizard wasn't already dead so he could grab a kitchen knife and kill him all over again.
He now had a whole new understanding of ghosts.
They couldn't be harmed or touched, they passed through walls, and they couldn't be attacked. They were like invincible cheat codes!
Incredible!
The wooden door of the room softly rattled. It was Old Tom, coming to deliver breakfast.
This kind-hearted man was always careful not to wake Anton, so he opened the wooden door with as much force as he could, ensuring it wouldn't creak. He then placed hot milk and bread on the small round table, always calculating the perfect time for Anton to wake up and ensuring the milk was at the ideal temperature.
Old Tom was surprised to see Fiennes.
"First a bleedin' werewolf, now a bloomin' ghost!" Old Tom exclaimed, his mouth hanging open, revealing his toothless gums. "No bleedin' wonder ya ain't afraid to go out at night. Ya're clearly surrounded by 'em."
"..."
Anton could only respond with a smile that wasn't too awkward.
Old Tom left, but Fiennes remained.
He scolded and berated Anton while he brushed his teeth, stared at him when he used the toilet, and even stood beside him as he drank his milk and ate his bread.
Anton felt like he was going insane.
He sighed and silently looked at Fiennes, thinking, "Maybe you can start a brand new life."
Fiennes was taken aback. "A new life?"
There was hope!
This guy could communicate!
"Yes!" Anton suddenly became energized. "Think about it. You used to hide like a mouse in a ditch, walking in shadowy corners, too afraid to communicate with people, fearing that others would harm you."
He said with great enthusiasm, "You built a high wall in your heart, isolating yourself from the world. When you were alive, no one remembered you, no one knew you, you weren't even truly living."
"People were afraid of you, and you were afraid of others."
"But now..." Anton's tone grew passionate, his whole body filled with enthusiasm. "Even though you're dead, you have gained the right to live a good life!"
"You can freely walk the streets." Anton pointed to the bustling traffic outside the window.
"Just walk right in the middle, standing out from the crowd, head held high, without fear, moving forward."
"There's nothing to fear in this world anymore. You can explore any scenery you've never been able to experience before."
Anton's eyes grew misty, and he opened his arms wide as if embracing the entire world.
"You can witness the sunrise from a mountaintop, feel the shimmering waves by a clear river, and sit freely in a noisy Quidditch field, watching the game."
"You..."
"I..." Fiennes seemed to be touched by such words, a longing smile on his face.
He floated straight out, passing through the wall of the bar and hotel, and disappeared.
"Hey, it's done." Anton continued happily munching on his bread. "Let others go to hell."
After breakfast, Anton lay back on the bed and flipped through the three books he had purchased.
The first book he read was "The Standard Book of Spell, Grade 1," which provided detailed explanations of various basic spells.
Softening spell, cutting spell, unlocking spell, levitation spell, locking spell, repairing spell, repelling spell, lumos spell, incendio spell...
Each one was incredibly useful. For example, with the unlocking spell, high-level magic locks could be easily undone with a single incantation.
Having learned this, Anton could even go to the Muggle bank to loot and live a life of luxury.
Of course, as long as he didn't get caught by the Aurors.
There is also the floating spell, which has an invincible effect. With a wave of the wand, no matter how heavy an object is, it can float lightly in mid-air.
Additionally, the content of the first-grade Hogwarts textbook is lacking. While it contains spells and explanations, there is no guidance on how to properly cast the spells, including the tone and emotions needed.
After reading the entire book, Anton felt lost and lonely. He seemed to have gained some understanding, but also felt like he hadn't learned anything substantial. It's like reading a scientific journal article without the crucial data.
The other two books Anton bought, "Magical Theory" and "Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection," were also disappointing. "Magical Theory" only contains theoretical information without any mention of curses, and "Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection" was less useful than Anton's own experiences.
It's frustrating to have spent 4 galleons for nothing. Anton's desire to enter Hogwarts and study has only grown stronger.
He was slightly angry and had the urge to throw the three books into the trash can. However, after struggling for a while, he could only put them back in his backpack. After all, they were purchased with money, and if he had the opportunity to study at Hogwarts in the future, these books would be necessary.
In the end, he took out the book "The Apprenticeship of the Great Alex Fiennes" from his shoulder bag.
Although it contained dangerous black magic, at least the old wizard had documented all the key points with great detail.
As he turned over the first page, he eagerly absorbed the contents.
In addition to the various spell records, the book also included the life experiences of the old man.
This was also incredibly valuable knowledge.
"Haha." Anton chuckled as he read Fiennes's subtle criticisms of his teacher. "You've had these experiences too, you old rascal."
Fiennes's teacher was a dark wizard who was equally unpleasant.
Anton could empathize in a way.
"You idiot, you're actually reading my diary!" a voice roared in his ear, startling him.
He turned his head in astonishment, only to find the angry and contorted face of the old wizard looming close to him.
"How dare you!" the old wizard roared and lunged at him.
A shiver ran down Anton's spine as he stared blankly at the old wizard, and muttered, "Didn't you leave? Oh my god!"