Chapter 37: Leonard: Do Poorly and You Might Get Expelled

"Just call me Harry," Harry Potter said with an eager grin. "I still can't believe it—I've really stepped into the wizarding world!"

He then launched into an excited recounting of everything he'd seen in Diagon Alley.

Harry hadn't come to Leonard with anything important; he simply wanted someone his own age to share his joy with.

Leonard forced himself to listen as Harry rambled on about his discoveries, his words filled with wonder and admiration for the wizarding world.

To Leonard, it felt like listening to someone read out a perfect school essay—enough to make him drowsy.

But suddenly, a chill like a venomous snake crept down his spine, making every hair on his body stand on end and sweeping away his sleepiness in an instant.

It was the same kind of instinctive dread as having a sniper rifle trained on his forehead.

In his past life, Leonard had learned this sense the hard way—a natural reaction whenever someone directed unmasked malice toward him.

And the stronger the enemy, the sharper the reaction.

Like the difference between being targeted by a sniper rifle and a simple handgun.

Right now, the feeling was terrifyingly strong. The only one here capable of giving off such intent was... Voldemort? Was he watching him?

The sensation came and went in a flash, as though it had only been a casual glance.

Out of the corner of his eye, Leonard saw Quirinus Quirrell bowing his head, lips moving faintly as if murmuring something.

"Master, should I cast the Imperius Curse on that boy? With that, we could get close to Harry Potter—killing him would be easy."

A cruel gleam flickered in Quirrell's eyes. After enduring so much torment lately, he was desperate to find someone to unleash his pain upon.

"Fool! I've already told you—no moves against Harry Potter now! That would only increase the chance of exposing myself!"

Voldemort's furious voice pierced Quirrell's mind, stabbing at his nerves like needles.

"S-sorry, my Lord... your foolish servant failed to understand your will." Quirrell bowed lower, trembling, muttering pleas for forgiveness.

...

Did that guy just have a spasm?

Leonard cast a discreet glance at Quirrell, who was trembling like he'd grabbed a live wire, and couldn't help but grumble inwardly.

Thankfully, that suffocating sense of danger had faded. Looked like Quirrell—or Voldemort—had no plans to bother with him, a background extra. For now, he could breathe easy.

He let out a slow breath. When his attention returned, Harry Potter's nonstop chatter was still buzzing in his ears.

Leonard: …

Kid, you really don't know when to shut up.

Taking a steadying breath, Leonard forced a smile and played along, pretending to be just another child intrigued by the "Chosen One."

It wasn't until Harry invited him to an ice cream shop in Diagon Alley that he finally spoke up to turn him down.

"Sorry, I've got things to do," Leonard said, pausing for effect. "I need to practice magic."

"Practice magic?" Harry blinked at him, eyes wide and clear, as if the concept had never crossed his mind.

"That's right. I'm worried that if I don't do well at Hogwarts, I'll be expelled. So I need to prepare in advance." Leonard almost burst out laughing at the look of sheer horror that swept across Harry's face.

Good. Let the Chosen One carry a little pressure. Give him something to keep him busy, so he wouldn't be pestering Leonard with idle chatter and half-baked invitations.

Leonard knew the words would hit hard. No one feared losing Hogwarts more than Harry Potter. Expulsion meant getting shoved into some dodgy private school by those incompetent relatives of his, destined to grow into a useless delinquent.

For Harry, the thought of being kicked out of Hogwarts was pure nightmare fuel—a fear that would linger even after he got in.

The carefree boy simply hadn't thought about it. Or maybe the wonder of the magical world had blinded him to it.

Leonard's little push had just dragged that fear into the open.

Unkind? Maybe. But who cared?

It wasn't like Harry could actually be expelled. Kids who grew up without worries rarely matured properly. A pinch of hardship, a splash of doubt—that was seasoning for life.

"Does Hogwarts really expel students?" Harry asked, his face twisted with worry.

"To be honest, I don't know. I'm from a Muggle family, after all," Leonard replied with mock seriousness. "Why not ask the man beside you? See if he knows whether Hogwarts expels students." He leaned in slightly. "Though I'd suggest not digging too much. Better to spend that time practicing magic."

Of course, he'd never say anything definite. If someone called him out, that would be embarrassing. Better to leave it vague, let Harry's imagination gnaw at him, drag him deeper into doubt.

As for asking Hagrid?

Hagrid himself had been expelled from Hogwarts. Asking him was about as wrong as it got.

Watching Harry shuffle away, dazed and ready to question Hagrid, Leonard let a faint smile curl across his lips. "See you around," he said before heading upstairs.

Predictable. The Chosen One would stay quiet for a while now. All Leonard needed to do was steer clear of Quirrell and Voldemort's notice, and he'd be free to handle his own business.

Like tonight. He had a trip to Knockturn Alley planned to meet Midgard and hear what she wanted from him.

But first, he intended to test the Bitterthorn.

Back in his room, Leonard penned a quick letter to Midgard, telling her he'd come by that night and asking her to send someone to meet him. He handed it off to Gray for delivery.

Then he locked the doors and windows, set a flowerpot on the floor, and plucked a Bitterthorn seed from the vial—a grotesque little thing bristling with hard, needle-sharp spines.

By rights, it should've pricked his hand, but Leonard felt nothing. It was as if the seed was consciously restraining itself, refusing to harm him.

That was unusual. Testing it, Leonard dragged the seed across a scrap of parchment—the spines sliced through effortlessly.

Razor sharp, just as expected.

But when it rested in his palm, those same spines lost all bite.

Even the seed of a plant knew not to harm its keeper?

Leonard smirked, pinching the seed between his fingers, and activated his Optimize Growth talent.