Chapter 513: Stunned Words

Hogwarts remained as quiet as ever.

Aside from Wizard Sean’s return, no other young wizard was permitted to stay at Hogwarts.

The professors here rarely left, so Wizard Sean could receive one-on-one instruction from all of them—if he could leave the dungeons.

Since returning from the Leaky Cauldron that morning, Wizard Sean had begun practicing the Fiendfyre.

A gentle breeze brushed past, and the roaring flames gradually filled nearly half the underground classroom.

As the panel rated his control this time as 【Expert】, Wizard Sean pondered how to reshape dark magic.

Yes, reshape dark magic.

Magic is born from the wizard’s inner order; Wizard Sean could imagine cruelty and killing had always existed within wizards’ beliefs.

After all, ancient wizards faced a dangerous magical world and wild, untamed magic; to survive in such a perilous realm, they had to forge such savage power within themselves.

Thus, ancient wizards twisted their own minds, shaping cruel beliefs to pursue greater power.

If ancient wizards could create powerful yet soul-corrupting dark magic, then now, Wizard Sean could reexamine its origin, reshape the 【Order】 with a different purpose, and seek 【Wisdom】.

It was a wildly fanciful plan—so far, it existed only in Wizard Sean’s thoughts.

But if it could be completed, the entire magical world would witness true transformation.

Dark wizards were always known for brutality and strength; when they embraced dark magic, they sacrificed their conscience.

But what if one day, dark magic no longer required the vengeful hatred of the good-hearted or the burning rage of the pure?

Would dark magic then become a force wizards could master, like any other spell?

Wizard Sean knew cruelty would never vanish.

But could cruelty cease to be a shortcut, luring wizards to ruin?

Today at Hogwarts was an exceptionally brilliant morning.

The sky was a clear, hazy pale blue.

Even through the narrow window, Wizard Sean could see the tall beech tree.

Its green branches were fuzzy, edged in gold, watching over generations of Hogwarts wizards.

Wizard Sean knew Professor Snape had once studied exam problems beneath it, brow furrowed, just as he was now.

“You’re daydreaming…”

Professor Snape’s cold voice now appeared.

“Sorry, Professor.”

Wizard Sean snapped back to attention.

“Hmph—”

Snape stared at him for a moment, his expression unchanged.

“Control, Green. Unless you want to be reduced to ash like my foolish students, keep control at all times—even when you’re nearly extinguishing it…”

He stepped down from the podium and approached the young wizard, exhausted from prolonged Fiendfyre practice.

“Now…”

He fixed his gaze on Wizard Sean,

“I’m going to teach you how to resist the Imperius Curse. Memorize every word…”

Wizard Sean lifted his head and neatly tucked his wand away.

“Listen carefully—Dumbledore doesn’t want you to touch—

But Green, accidents never choose a time or a person—

If you prefer to learn through crueler means—waiting for someone to cast the spell and fully control you—then fine.

But I disagree.”

Snape tightened his grip on his wand,

“I will teach you to resist it, to fight it—watch closely—”

Snape turned his gaze to the living creatures in the cabinet and cast the Imperius Curse upon them.

Wizard Sean watched as, under the spell’s influence, each animal performed its most unnatural behavior.

A mouse hopped in three circles before the cat, offering no resistance when the cat bit it;

A toad mimicked a squirrel, trying to climb the oak tree outside the window;

A venomous snake performed a series of astonishing movements it could never achieve normally.

Their bodies were no longer under their own control; they only returned to normal after Professor Snape lifted the curse.

“Green,”

Snape said in a low voice,

“Your turn. Remember—resist me—”

Wizard Sean hesitated slightly, then walked to the center of the underground classroom.

Between the wooden tables stood countless cauldrons, each topped with brass scales and jars of ingredients.

Snape moved closer through the swirling smoke.

He raised his wand, pointing it at Wizard Sean, and said:

“Imperio!”

Wizard Sean felt a strange sensation.

He felt weightless, his thoughts and worries swept clean away, leaving only a hazy, intangible joy.

He stood there, utterly at ease, free of care.

Then he heard Professor Snape’s voice echoing from some distant corner of his empty mind:

Come… come…

But why? Another voice stirred in the back of his mind.

Why should he go? the second voice said.

Come… the first voice returned;

Why… the second voice replied, firmer now;

Come! the first voice shouted louder.

As the two voices clashed, they suddenly fell silent, drowned out by others:

“Wizard Sean Green, my student, don’t sleep.”

One voice said.

“Wizard Sean Green, my friend, wake up.”

Another voice repeated.

Then Wizard Sean reclaimed his body; Snape, astonished, saw mist drifting from the amulet on the young wizard’s chest.

The mist was pale white—not like ordinary fog, but more like something yet unmanifested.

Snape studied them closely, frozen in surprise.

“Professor?”

Wizard Sean stepped forward, curious.

“Not bad—”

Snape said quickly.

“You resisted. No—you didn’t resist…”

As he spoke, he fell into thought.

Wizard Sean saw Professor Snape’s brow furrowed, his eyes shifting between Wizard Sean’s chest and the mist.

“What else are you hiding from me?”

He paced, then leaned down before Wizard Sean, his face dark as storm clouds.

…

Wizard Sean explained the Borderlands with little effort.

Snape stared at him coldly, and his first words left Wizard Sean stunned:

“The Empty Sigil, the sacred artifact of Vagadu, a legendary creation never seen beyond Vagadu…

Granting wizards the power to walk in legendary realms, to traverse the dreams of souls—if it is not a myth—

Tell me, Wizard Sean Green, then what of mine? What of my dreams?”