The Old Ones of Hogwarts

Chapter 41: The Black Tea Suddenly Loses Its Sweetness

Can the curse stop it instantly?

The old man who walked slowly down the cobblestone street did not chant any incantations.

Ian was naturally unable to make an accurate judgment based on this.

He could only sense that an invisible hand had stopped the uncontrolled progress of the magic.

The moment the intense flames disappeared, it was as if the whole world went dark, and a faint, lingering smell of smoke filled the air.

That might be the only proof that a fire once existed.

Moonlight pierced through the clouds.

under night.

It was as if nothing had ever happened.

Even the fences that had been burned down have been restored to their original state.

"Headmaster Dumbledore..."

Ian recognized the old man who was walking slowly towards him and lowered his head in embarrassment.

While feeling somewhat worried and uneasy, he also had some doubts. Why would Dumbledore come to Hogsmeade in the middle of the night?

"I prefer you little wizards to call me Professor; it makes me seem less old-fashioned than I appear." Dumbledore quickly walked up to Ian.

He did not reprimand Ian for his recklessness.

Instead, he made a lighthearted joke about himself.

"Yes, Professor Dumbledore."

Ian immediately changed his tune.

"Aren't you going to invite me in for a seat?"

Dumbledore looked toward the door of the cabin.

"Sorry, I was definitely a little terrified."

Ian quickly pushed open the door and extended an invitation.

He was also a little uneasy.

I don't know what Dumbledore meant by this—his mental perception could sense Snape's emotions, but it didn't seem to work so well in front of the headmaster of Hogwarts.

"I really didn't expect that I would run into a daring wizard on my way back to the castle, who actually dared to try to create a new spell on his own doorstep."

Dumbledore walked in, sighing with admiration. He glanced around the tidy living room, then looked towards Ian's bedroom, before finally choosing to sit at the desk by the window.

"That's far from being a creation; it's more like a disaster." Ian quickly went to the tea table and poured Dumbledore a cup of black tea.

"At least you've embarked on this path, which is significant." Dumbledore pulled out a bag of brown sugar from somewhere and began pouring it vigorously into his black tea.

A very direct compliment.

But Ian couldn't be happy.

"If it weren't for your help, Professor, I'm afraid I would have caused a terrible disaster." He didn't even wait for Dumbledore to make a move before starting his self-criticism.

"I shouldn't have made that dangerous attempt. I almost burned down the whole village. What an idiot I was!" Ian is actually quite scared now that he thinks about it.

His remorseful reflection and self-examination surprised Dumbledore slightly.

immediately.

The old man shook his head with a wry smile.

"We shouldn't be too harsh on a little wizard like you." Dumbledore didn't look up at Ian, as if he was focused on preparing his tea.

"I only hope that this harrowing experience will serve as a profound reminder that 'caution' is far more important than any other quality on the path of exploring magic."

Inside the peaceful wooden cabin.

Dumbledore's words were earnest yet powerful.

"I will keep your teachings in mind."

Ian nodded very seriously.

"Relax a bit, perhaps... you should put on your clothes and pants first." Dumbledore suddenly smiled, and only then did Ian realize that he was only wearing a pair of underwear.

"It's okay, just treat it like taking the bird for a walk."

Ian's face flushed slightly, but he still pretended to be relaxed.

"????"

Dumbledore looked slightly bewildered.

"Professor, did you come here specifically to see me?"

Ian seized the opportunity to ask a question.

He didn't think Dumbledore would normally live in Hogsmeade.

"No."

as predicted.

The old bee shook its head, took a sip of its black tea which contained sugars with a "lethal rate," and said, "I just came to deliver a notice, and on my way back I happened to see the firelight over here."

"Actually, I've been observing you from not far away for quite a while, and I must say..." Dumbledore's eyes flashed with a complex emotion, and he continued speaking with great amazement.

"Your understanding of magic is different from most wizards." He was clearly referring to the study of magical circuits, which many wizards never delve too deeply into in their entire lives.

"what?"

Ian adopted a bewildered expression.

There was still a hint of trepidation in her voice.

"Don't worry, it's not a bad thing. It's a talent that only a few people possess." Behind Dumbledore's thick-rimmed glasses were a pair of deep eyes.

"I heard you've learned Snape's Shadow Blade?"

He asked a question out of seemingly curiosity.

"what?"

Ian was taken aback.

immediately.

He nodded.

Although Snape had warned him not to tell anyone, now that Dumbledore had already asked, if he still wanted to keep it a secret, then he was probably not giving the Legilimency Master any face.

No matter what.

Ian wouldn't dare gamble.

"It wasn't my idea to learn it. Professor Snape pressed my head down and told me that if I didn't learn it, he would lock me in a very evil place."

Ian remained committed to telling the truth, but not the whole truth. He vividly described Snape's coercion and how weak and pitiful he was.

however.

Dumbledore clearly didn't care about his story.

"How long did it take you to learn?"

The old bee seemed to be casually sipping its tea.

"An hour?"

Ian lied.

no way.

If you don't lie.

Who knows what unnecessary misunderstandings might arise from the fact that I can instantly learn dark magic?

"It's mainly because Professor Snape taught so well!"

Even after he finished speaking, he didn't forget to try and salvage the situation.

"..."

Dumbledore didn't respond.

He kept stirring the black tea with a stick that appeared out of thin air.

I didn't drink another drop.

"I think I understand..."

Dumbledore turned to look at the starry sky outside the window. "You will surely achieve great things, my child. Never waste your extraordinary talent..."

He hadn't finished speaking.

suddenly.

A series of subtle and strange ripples appeared in the air.

Followed by.

A dazzling red light appeared, and a red phoenix took flight. Its feathers shone like a radiant glow in the dimly lit room, breathtakingly beautiful.

"Mr. Prince, it seems that tonight's tea party will have to end here." Dumbledore put down his cup, stood up, and straightened his slightly wrinkled white robe.

He seemed to have suddenly thought of something.

"A little tip: the circuits formed by magical energy are not the direct cause of the birth of magic. Perhaps you should shift your focus in your pursuit of magic."

Dumbledore began concisely.

"Should we shift our focus?"

Ian seemed to be deep in thought.

at this time.

Dumbledore had already raised his arm.

Waiting for the phoenix to descend.

however.

Neither he nor Ian, who was deep in thought, expected that after circling the room a few times, the phoenix would swoop down from the roof.

Two claws.

It landed directly on Ian's head.