Chapter 15: The Most Useful Application of the Laws of Inheritance
When Professor McGonagall arrived, Snape was talking to Professor Quirrell, who was wearing a turban.
Even with his greasy hair and sallow complexion, Snape looked thoroughly unhappy to be talking to the stuttering Quirrell.
Professor McGonagall's arrival saved him. "Alright, Professor Quirrell, let's leave it there for now," Snape said. "I need to consider why Dumbledore wanted to see me."
As the matter involved a student, Snape hadn't elaborated to Quirrell, which conveniently served as an excuse.
Once all the food on the table had disappeared, Dumbledore stood up and said, "Now that everyone has eaten their fill, I have a few announcements."
Ethan perked up slightly and listened to what this self-proclaimed greatest wizard had to say.
"Attention, first-year students: You are strictly prohibited from entering the forest on school grounds."
"Furthermore, Mr. Filch, the caretaker, asked me to remind everyone not to cast spells in the corridors during breaks."
"Quidditch players..."
Dumbledore paused, then said solemnly, "Finally, I must tell you that anyone who does not wish to suffer an accident or die a painful death should stay away from the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side."
Ethan knew the reason for Dumbledore's warning, and he was curious about what magical creatures lived in the Forbidden Forest, and what kind of magical object the legendary Sorcerer's Stone was. He wanted to see it for himself.
However, preoccupied with the mystery surrounding his origins, he had lost all interest in the proceedings and just wanted the evening over so he could return to his dormitory for some peace and quiet.
"Now, let's sing the school song together!" Dumbledore shouted happily.
A long golden ribbon floated from Dumbledore's wand, unfurling into lines of text that the first-year students sang along to, led by the teachers and older students.
Ethan's mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out.
Once that was over, they were led by Prefect Marcus Flint through the dungeons to a concealed entrance at the back.
"Glory!"
"That's our password. Remember it."
They passed through a stone door in the damp wall and entered a long, narrow basement with a low ceiling.
The walls and ceiling were made of rough stone, and round lamps glowing green hung from chains on the ceiling.
Beneath an exquisitely carved mantelpiece, a fire burned, and beside it sat several carved chairs.
The common room window overlooked the Hogwarts Lake, and a huge aquatic creature swam past, drawing gasps of amazement from the new students.
It was getting late. Although Marcus still wanted to assert his authority as a Prefect, seeing the first-years yawning forced him to set aside his own desires and lead the boys toward their dormitory.
Spotting his name on the doorplate, Ethan entered and found his luggage piled on a bed.
His roommates were Draco Malfoy, Gregory Goyle, and Vincent Crabbe, the notorious Slytherin trio.
While the three were still unpacking, Ethan simply set down his suitcase. Without even changing his clothes, he lay down on the four-poster bed with its silver-green canopy.
He opened his eyes and stared at the velvet fabric above him.
He carefully recalled his parents' faces, then compared them with his own, and slowly realized he was most likely not their biological son.
"It was careless of me. Although it's possible for blue-eyed and green-eyed parents to have a child with black eyes, the odds are obviously slim according to Mendel's laws of inheritance. The fact that my parents never suspected meant they must have known; they simply kept it from me."
He'd never expected that the first time he applied Mendel's laws of inheritance outside an academic paper would be to his own life.
"If a DNA test could be done, it would be even more convincing."
He had accepted this conclusion deep down, but he was confused.
In his previous life, he had been an orphan. He'd thought he would finally have a happy family in this one, only to discover he was likely adopted. In the end, he was still an abandoned child.
Having finally experienced a happy family life, he found this truth difficult to accept.
He had made peace with being abandoned in his previous life, but he couldn't bear the thought of being discarded twice.
He wanted to find whoever had abandoned him, confront them, and demand to know why.
Ethan hurriedly opened his suitcase, changed into his pajamas, washed up, and lay down on the bed.
He couldn't accept this revelation immediately, and it kept him tossing and turning, unable to sleep. He could only endure the bombardment of Crabbe and Goyle's snoring.
After the banquet, Snape and McGonagall went to Dumbledore's office.
Professor McGonagall recounted in detail how she had sorted Ethan and raised her concerns.
"You mean a Muggle-born has been sorted into Slytherin? Professor McGonagall, you know that's impossible." Snape was the first to object.
"Severus, calm down. What Minerva means is that there's a high probability this child isn't Muggle-born. You know, during those years, many parents of young wizards lost their lives because of him. Perhaps he is from one of those families?"
Dumbledore gave Snape a meaningful look.
"That's exactly what I mean, but how can we find out the truth? Do you have any ideas?" McGonagall couldn't think of any other solution, so she turned to the centuries-old wizard.
Dumbledore stroked his beard. "I believe Nicolas has some alchemical artifacts that could help us determine this. I'll write to him tomorrow."
"That's none of my concern. I'll take my leave," Snape replied.
Wait a moment, Severus. You need to keep a close eye on both children. Besides Ethan, whom Minerva mentioned, you should know who the other one is.
"I know." Snape gave him a penetrating look, then swept from the room like an overgrown bat swathed in black robes.
"You've worked hard this evening, Minerva, presiding over the Sorting Ceremony and worrying about the children. Would you care for a Cockroach Cluster?" Dumbledore grabbed a few candies that were Cockroach Clusters, still crawling about, and held them out to her.
"No need. I should be going too." Professor McGonagall glanced at the candies, which were still crawling about, and strode from the Headmaster's office with a serious expression.
Left alone, Dumbledore stuffed several Cockroach Clusters into his mouth and muttered, "Some people simply don't know how to enjoy life."
//=================//