"Regardless, if Quirrell has slain the unicorn, I might as well capitalize on the situation."
Moreover, Dylan was eager to see if he could seize this chance to confront Quirrell.
He had already invested 10,000 Galleons to embark on a series of challenging quests.
[Spell features to be unlocked]: Endless pain
[Refining task in progress]: Cast the Crucio curse on the same living being forty-four times to unlock the spell's features and complete its refinement.
Initially, Dylan intended to experiment with the Cruciatus Curse on Scabbers, Ron's pet rat.
However, casting the curse forty-four times proved difficult, as the rat seemed to sense impending danger.
Each time Dylan approached, Scabbers would squeak.
When Ron noticed this behavior, he would promptly take the rat to Madam Pomfrey for examination.
This routine left Dylan with limited opportunities to proceed.
He had planned to wait until nighttime, cast a silencing charm on Scabbers, and then施
However, Quirrell's sudden appearance prompted a change in his strategy.
Quirrell, already a suspicious figure, was now concealing himself under an invisibility cloak.
Dylan doubted that anyone, except perhaps Dumbledore, could see through such a cloak.
Even if someone did recognize him, would they dare report it?
And even if they did, who would believe them?
Who would suspect that a seemingly innocent young wizard like Dylan could master the most advanced Unforgivable Curses?
And that he could cast them instantly and repeatedly?
No one would take Quirrell's word seriously, especially given his possession by Voldemort!
"Hehehe!"
Dylan chuckled to himself.
Beyond these considerations, he was also interested in the possibility of encountering Firenze.
The centaurs seemed to possess valuable resources...
For instance, their hooves.
They could be used to craft healing ointments!
The hooves, having been in magical forests for ages and imbued with inherent power, were tough and resonated with various magical elements.
Extracting their hooves and brewing them with other potions could heal external injuries and mend bone fractures.
Most importantly, Dylan recalled Professor Snape's teachings.
A potion made from centaur hooves could form a protective magical layer, offering resistance against dark magic and enhancing one's defense against curses.
Such benefits were too good to overlook!
Of course, Dylan didn't plan to capture Firenze, kill him, and harvest his hooves.
Four hooves wouldn't be sufficient.
Instead, he aimed to locate the centaur tribe, build rapport, and obtain hooves from multiple members.
"However, achieving this won't be easy."
Dylan didn't fixate on acquiring the centaur's hooves. His immediate goal was to see if he could meet Firenze, foster a relationship, and then make further plans.
Venturing deeper into the Forbidden Forest, Dylan noticed the air was thick with a damp, decaying odor, now mingled with a strong scent of blood.
Rather than feeling apprehensive, his eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Could it be that we've stumbled upon the unicorn wounded by Quirrell?"
Dylan's nostrils flared as he detected the unmistakable fragrance of grass and wet earth.
Indeed, it was a unicorn!
He was thrilled.
Unicorn blood was a top-tier magical ingredient, but any blood obtained through malicious harm would carry a curse.
Even products derived from such blood would be tainted.
But Dylan wasn't concerned.
He didn't intend to use this blood personally, so any curses would be irrelevant.
If he did create a cursed object, he could always use it against Voldemort when the time came.
Dylan adjusted his invisibility cloak, ensuring no part of him was exposed, and continued forward.
His excitement grew.
This was the first time he was directly confronting Quirrell!
In the nearly year-long period since his arrival at Hogwarts, he had been diligently learning magic and studying spells. Wasn't it all in preparation for moments like this?
As Dylan ventured further, he noticed the blood trail becoming more pronounced.
The blood exuded a palpable malice.
Instinctively, Dylan hesitated to approach.
"The blood appears nearly dried; further study would be futile."
He decided not to waste time on the blood.
His objective was the unicorn.
If the unicorn still lived and he could save it, perhaps it would willingly offer some pure blood for his research.
At the very least, he could collect the cursed blood filled with malice.
Suddenly, a sharp neigh pierced the silence.
But it was quickly muffled, likely by a silencing charm.
Dylan blinked.
"Alive?"
If the unicorn yet lived, he couldn't extract its horn, but obtaining its untainted blood would be invaluable.
Moving swiftly, yet silently, Dylan approached.
Behind two large trees, he witnessed a chilling scene:
A pristine unicorn hung suspended by thick vines, blood seeping from a wound on its neck.
It struggled, its horn emitting a faint, holy light, but to no avail.
Beneath it, a cloaked figure greedily consumed the blood dripping from above.
The vines constricted, tightening around the unicorn's neck.
Dylan regarded Quirrell with disdain.
"How uncouth."
He raised his wand.
"Crucio!"
Instead of immediately aiding the unicorn, Dylan targeted Quirrell with a searing curse.
He refrained from using Avada Kedavra, as even Dumbledore approached it with caution.
He wasn't about to grant Voldemort such an easy exit.
If Voldemort perished, others would rise in his place, causing widespread chaos and hindering Dylan's financial pursuits.
Dylan's wand emitted a subtle glow as he cast the Cruciatus Curse.
Quirrell stiffened, then convulsed, his face contorting in agony beneath the hood.
"Ah—this... this can't be!"
Quirrell's voice, high-pitched and strained, echoed through the forest.
"Who dares?!"
He spun around, desperation evident in his tone.
In the nearly year since his arrival at Hogwarts, he had been diligently learning magic and studying spells. Wasn't it all in preparation for moments like this?
Dylan, concealed under his cloak, raised an eyebrow.
"So formidable?"
Could it be that practitioners of dark magic possessed an inherent resistance to such curses?
He wasn't sure, having never tested it on himself.
Intrigued, Dylan raised his wand again.
"Crucio x 10!"
Swish, swish, swish!
Invisible waves of magic surged toward Quirrell.
"Ah!!!"
Struck by the barrage, Quirrell staggered.
Despite his attempts to shield himself, Dylan's relentless assault left him reeling.
"Confound it! Who is this? Where are they?!"
Quirrell's screams were laced with fury and fear.
Dylan, still hidden, glanced at the wounded unicorn.
Deciding to act, he cast, "Diffindo!"
The vines severed, and the unicorn began to fall.
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
In a fluid motion, Dylan levitated the unicorn, preventing it from crashing to the ground.
Gently, he lowered it, noting its weakened state from blood loss.
Its once-vibrant neighs were now faint whispers.
"Blast it
FOR MORE CHAPTERS
patreon.com/STEPHENHART427