The person is at Hogwarts, but the system is in Middle-earth!

Two weeks after the Quidditch match ended, it was already December.

Luo Wei has been spending the last few days at the library studying.

Hogwarts' library, in the eyes of most students, is an ocean of knowledge, a refuge for finishing assignments, and occasionally a secret hideout for couples. But in Rowe's eyes, it is the Royal Archives of Minas Tirith, a tomb burying countless dark secrets of Middle-earth.

Lowe sat in a corner against the wall, where he could observe the movement of the entire reading room without worrying about being attacked from behind. In front of him were several thick books, as thick as bricks, with titles on their covers that would make any normal Hufflepuff student back away: *History of Medieval Torture*, *On Castle Fortifications: From Moats to Boiling Oil*, and a tattered copy of *A Guide to the Anatomy of Dark Creatures*.

[System Notification: Current exploration progress in the [Olsankerta Library] area: 15%.]

[WARNING: High-energy reaction zone ahead—[Forbidden Book Zone]. Danger level: Lv.50. Team recommended.]

Luo Wei's gaze swept over the iron fence that separated the forbidden book area in the distance.

"Don't be silly," he scoffed. "Even if you gave me a full set of mithril armor, I wouldn't go in. Every book there might be imbued with Sauron's remnant soul."

Suddenly, a series of hurried whispers interrupted his thoughts.

"Where have you looked?" Harry's voice asked.

"I didn't find him... I told you, he couldn't be from modern times." Ron's voice.

"Shh! Mrs. Pince is looking over here!" Hermione's voice rang out.

Rowe raised his head slightly. Behind a bookshelf not far away, Harry, his two friends, and others were sitting around a table, with a large pile of books about famous modern wizards spread out in front of them.

Ever since Hagrid let slip the name "Nico Flamel" a few weeks ago, the three little guys have been obsessed, spending all their free time in the library.

Lo Wei sighed and closed the book, *A History of Torture*. Of course, he knew who Nicolas Flamel was. But through the system's lens, the name meant far more than just "alchemist."

[Keyword capture: Nicolas Flamel.]

[System analysis in progress...]

[Database match successful: Keller Brippen.]

[Identity: Elven craftsman, forger of the Ring of Power.]

[Related item: Philosopher's Stone -> A lower-tier version of the One Ring/Silmarillion.]

"I knew it." Rowe rubbed his temples. "An old man who's lived for over six hundred years created a stone that can grant immortality... This plot sounds like a prequel to The Lord of the Rings. If Voldemort wanted that stone, he certainly didn't just want to be resurrected; he wanted to forge a new One Ring to rule over all living beings."

He stood up, carrying the pile of "hardcore" books, and casually walked past the trio's table.

"Still looking for that name?" Lowe asked in a low voice.

Harry jumped in surprise, nearly knocking over the ink bottle. "Love! Why do you walk so quietly?"

"The racial gifts of hobbits." Rowe shrugged. "Listen, I don't recommend you look in the 'Records of Modern Wizards.' If someone lives long enough to be forgotten by history, then he's more than just a wizard."

"What do you mean?" Hermione looked up sharply. "Do you know who he is?"

"I don't know who he is," Rowe lied without batting an eye. "But I do know one thing: if someone can create things that defy the laws of nature—like immortality or conjuring gold out of thin air—they must have paid a price. Such people are usually not found in glamorous lists of notable figures, but rather hidden in those yellowed, even bloodstained, ancient scrolls."

He pointed to a corner of the book "The History of Alchemy" that Hermione was holding.

"Try going back a few hundred years. Or a few thousand years," Rowe said meaningfully. "Perhaps you'll find that he wasn't just an alchemist, but also... a craftsman. A craftsman who forged some kind of world-destroying artifact."

Hermione frowned, staring thoughtfully at Rowe. "You always exaggerate like that, Rowe. But I'll give it a try."

Harry was clearly uninterested in this academic discussion. His gaze went over Rowe's shoulder and landed on the forbidden books section.

"Maybe the answer is there," Harry muttered. "Hagrid said only Dumbledore knew how to get that thing. If Nicolas Flamel's book is banned..."

"Don't think about it, Harry." Rowe suddenly put on an extremely serious expression and blocked Harry's view.

"What's wrong?"

"The books there are alive," Lowe whispered, recounting a ghost story. "They're not written in ink, they're written in blood. Some books, once opened, emit a banshee-like scream, sucking the sanity from your brain like jelly. And some books... they bite."

"Bite?" Ron's eyes widened.

"That's right." Luo Wei nodded, images of "The Book of Monsters" flashing through his mind. "Unless you're wearing a cloak that can deceive light and even causality, don't go near that iron gate. The guards there, even a book, can tear your soul to shreds."

Harry swallowed instinctively.

"Alright, I should go now." Lowe glanced at Mrs. Pins, who was patrolling with a feather duster, and decided to call it a day.

He carried the books back to the Hufflepuff common room. As soon as he entered, a warm, baked aroma wafted over him, instantly dispelling the library's chill.

"Love!"

Susan jumped up from the sofa. It was Susan Bornes.

"Hi, Susan." Rowe smiled genuinely. In this dangerous world filled with Dark Lords and Death Eaters, the Hufflepuff classmates were as kind and lovable as their fellow hobbits in the Shire.

"You went to the library again?" Susan ran over, looking curiously at the books in Luo Wei's arms. "What's it this time? 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'? Or 'The Complete Herbalist'?"

She tilted her head and read out the name of the topmost book.

"A History of Medieval Torture?" Susan's smile froze on her face. "And A Treatise on Castle Fortifications?"

"Uh..." Rowe awkwardly hid the book behind his back. "Academic research. Purely academic research. You know, I want to understand how Muggles handle conflict."

Actually, he was researching how to establish a defensive line at Hogwarts and how to efficiently interrogate Death Eaters if they were captured. But in Susan's opinion, this was clearly a bit too "hardcore."

"Okay." Susan sighed, seemingly used to Rowe's strange hobby. "Oh, right, I just wanted to tell you I'm going home for Christmas. But I left you a present."

"A gift?" Lowe was taken aback.

"I put it on your bedside table. It's not Christmas yet, but you can keep it for now." Susan scratched her head shyly. "It's a pair of gloves. I always see you wandering around outside, always carrying those weird tools (and your hands are all red from the cold)."

A warm feeling welled up in Luo Wei's heart.

On the system interface, Susan Bornes didn't have any epic title or unfathomable rank. She was just an ordinary, kind little witch. But at this moment, Rowe felt she shone even brighter than Celebrimbor.

"Thank you, Susan," Lowe said softly. "Really."

"Don't mention it! I also sent one to Cedric." Susan waved happily. "I'll go pack my bags now! Have a great holiday, Rowe!"

Watching Susan skip away, Lowe looked down at the book in his arms, "A History of Torture," about how to skin people, and suddenly wondered if he was being too tense.

[System Settlement:]

[Mission Complete: Clues Provided.]

You have successfully guided the "Ringholder" (Harry) to shift his focus back to the correct historical direction.

[Reward: Skill - [Ancient History Knowledge Lv1]]

[Comment: Your interpretation of alchemists is rife with Middle-earth-style biases, but this inadvertently proves correct. After all, the Philosopher's Stone and the One Ring are, in essence, tempting and alluring objects.]

Luo Wei closed the system pop-up window in front of him and walked back to his dormitory.

"A monster?" he muttered to himself. "Hopefully, that silly boy Harry won't actually be bewitched by that rock or that mirror."