"Dragon blood is actually selling for sixteen Galleons an ounce, they've completely lost their minds!"
"Look over there! That's the brand-new Nimbus 2000! I want one so badly!!"
"Our basic cauldrons are crafted from the finest copper alloy, ensuring high temperature resistance and corrosion resistance to keep your potions in pristine condition while brewing."
London.
Diagon Alley.
Another bustling day.
Devereux Alexander felt like crying.
He had just received another rap on the head from Snape.
The reason was that he kept staring stupidly at other wizards while shopping.
Snape couldn't bear to watch and taught him a lesson.
Devereux wanted to say that he didn't want to either!
But he had made a discovery that made it impossible for him to keep a straight face!
Traits could actually be fused and evolved!
To be precise.
The traits in the trait library could be fused and upgraded.
Right on Devereux's interface.
There was something called the [Trait Library].
It recorded the quantity of traits of all levels that Devereux currently had loaded.
When a certain threshold was reached.
Fusion and upgrades could be performed.
And this didn't mean fusing and upgrading the exact same trait.
Instead, it fused based on the accumulated loaded traits from the trait library.
Then Devereux could independently choose one already-carried trait to upgrade.
After all, not every trait's effect was necessarily positive for Devereux.
So the system thoughtfully allowed Devereux to choose from the trait library which traits he needed to carry.
Of course, it wasn't plug-and-play.
Instead, upon the initial load.
You could only choose once.
If you chose not to carry it.
Then you wouldn't be able to carry it later on either.
As for choosing to carry it, if he wanted to unequip it.
Devereux hadn't found a way yet.
The specific fusion rules were:
One red trait could be obtained by fusing five golden traits.
One golden trait could be obtained by fusing ten purple traits.
One purple trait could be obtained by fusing one hundred blue traits.
One blue trait could be obtained by fusing one thousand green traits.
One green trait could be obtained by fusing ten thousand white traits.
Ugh.
Although the condition requiring ten thousand traits to fuse did startle Devereux for a moment.
Thinking about it, it was quite reasonable.
Almost everyone carried a few white traits.
Like buckteeth or freckles, and so on.
Using those to fuse into a high-tier trait.
Would indeed be a bit challenging.
However, he discovered that every wizard actually had at least one blue trait.
[Magical Capability: Possesses the potential to become a qualified wizard.]
So all he had to do was load this blue trait from every single person he laid eyes on.
With so many wizards in London.
Getting a purple trait was practically guaranteed.
Things would be even better once he got to Hogwarts.
There would be so many students waiting for him to load. Not to mention dozens or hundreds of young wizards every year.
Waiting for him to harvest!
Devereux had never looked forward to going to Hogwarts as much as he did right now!
"Besides, it's not like everyone only has white, green, and blue traits. If I can collect higher-tier traits, my growth rate will definitely be even faster!"
This was why Devereux had just stared stupidly at a wizard.
It was because that person actually possessed a purple trait!
[Master Culinary Wizard (Purple): You possess exceptional magical cooking talent, and with just simple guidance, you can master the ability to prepare a lavish feast.]
Devereux loved this ability.
But because the cooldown for trait loading hadn't ended yet.
He had to painfully let it slip away!
He had thought that finally, he wouldn't have to suffer through Snape's cooking anymore.
Over the past year.
Although Snape hadn't actually starved Devereux.
He certainly never intended to make anything delicious either.
Or rather.
Devereux was immensely shocked that Snape could even cook.
At first, he thought Snape was going to feed him potions.
That was why Devereux had been smiling so happily just now.
Right.
There was another matter that made Devereux very happy.
Under the effect of the Magic Prodigy trait.
He could learn spells simply through observation.
And right here in Diagon Alley.
Many adult wizards used various spells.
Thus.
[Ding!]
[New spell successfully added to the library!]
[New spell successfully added to the library!]
[New spell successfully added to the library!]
....
Before long, Devereux's spell library became quite well-stocked.
[Spell Library: Levitation Charm (Proficient/Silent + Verbal), Summoning Charm (Novice/Verbal), Unlocking Charm (Novice/Verbal), Scouring Charm (Novice/Verbal), Mending Charm (Novice/Verbal)]
....
Having spent less than an hour in Diagon Alley.
Devereux had already learned five spells purely through observation.
The most commonly used and fundamental among them, the Levitation Charm.
Devereux hadn't even practiced it.
Just by watching others cast it.
He had already reached a proficient level.
"Oh! Merlin's beard, this is the kind of effect only a unique-tier trait should have!!"
So Devereux followed closely behind Snape.
Constantly peeking at other wizards casting spells.
While loading their white and green traits.
Even though it took many of them to fuse and strengthen.
Still, something was better than nothing.
He didn't even have time to look at the endlessly fascinating shops in Diagon Alley.
Next.
Snape took Devereux to buy his school robes.
All kinds of stationery.
And went to Flourish and Blotts to buy the books he needed for the new term.
As soon as Devereux got his hands on the books, he couldn't put them down.
Especially the newly purchased *Book of Potions*.
The potion-making knowledge written in this book by the wizard Zygmunt Budge made him completely lose track of time as he read it.
As a result, because he stood blankly in the middle of the street for ten minutes, he received another rap on the head from Snape.
"You don't usually seem this interested in potions. Are you putting on a show to draw attention to yourself?"
Snape said contemptuously.
Devereux naturally knew that Snape detested arrogant and conceited people the most.
In front of him, one had to appear extremely modest.
"Of course not, sir. It's just that after studying for the past few days at The Leaky Cauldron, I've finally realized that potion-making is an extremely profound, mysterious, and fascinating science, and I can't wait to learn more."
Pumping up the brilliance of potion-making in front of Snape.
Would slightly soften his temper.
"Oh? I thought I covered that in the very first lesson I gave you. I didn't expect you to only just figure it out now."
Sure enough, this time Snape only said that single sentence.
And led Devereux toward their next destination.
If Devereux hadn't said that just now.
Snape might well have abandoned him in Diagon Alley and walked off on his own.
Devereux fully believed he was capable of it.
As they walked.
Devereux secretly pulled out the *Book of Potions* to read on the sly.
With the Potion Genius trait.
He now found these abstruse and obscure contents.
Surprisingly delightful to read.
Keep in mind that previously, when he only possessed the Potion Perception trait.
Reading *Magical Drafts and Potions* had felt like doing hard time in prison.
And this *Book of Potions* was even more advanced!
Just think, Snape had possessed such talent even as a child.
Studying it continuously all this time.
God knows what terrifying level his potion-making skills had reached now.
As expected of Hogwarts' youngest professor.
His skill level was absolute top-tier!
With the purchase of the final cauldron.
They stepped out of the cauldron shop.
[Ding!]
[Your exploration progress of the wizarding secret realm — Diagon Alley reaches 30%!]
[Rewards have been distributed!]
Devereux happily opened his personal interface.
...
[Name: Devereux Alexander]
[Age: 11 years old]
[Identity: Unenrolled Hogwarts First-Year, Potion Apprentice]
[Spell Library: Levitation Charm (Proficient/Silent + Verbal), Summoning Charm (Novice/Verbal), Unlocking Charm (Novice/Verbal)...]
[Carried Traits: Time-Traveler (Unique), Magic Prodigy (Unique), Potion Genius (Gold)...]
[Trait Library: Unique (2), Gold (1), Purple (1), Blue (3), Green (51), White (235)]
[Pet: None]
[Items: Spell Mastery Card]
[Magical Secret Realm Explored: 1]
[Secret Realm Diagon Alley: Exploration Progress 30.1%]
...
Although he really wanted to use this first item immediately to see its effect.
Devereux still held back for the moment.
Because essentially all the required school supplies had been bought.
Except for the single most important companion for every wizard — a wand!