Chapter 228: It's Got a Humiliation Charm
"Yes, the charms on this are very valuable for me to study."
Dylan nodded. Just as the Weasley twins' faces began to light up with joy, Dylan's tone shifted.
"I imagine you two haven't gotten a Christmas gift for Harry yet, have you?"
George and Fred froze for a moment.
"No, we're still working on it. This map was ready, so we gave it to you first."
Dylan gave a slight nod. "If you haven't prepared anything, you don't need to. After I've finished studying the charms on this map, I can pass it on to Harry for you."
"I'm sure he'd be very interested in it, and then you can go on adventures with him. You know, I have no interest in exploring Hogwarts' secret passages."
The Weasley twins paused, then pursed their lips, looking a little hesitant. Taking a gift they had given to someone else and giving it to Harry? Was that… a bit rude?
But they were also racking their brains trying to figure out what to get Harry for Christmas. Dylan's suggestion neatly solved their problem. After a moment of hesitation, they nodded, agreeing to Dylan's idea.
"We already gave you the map, so it's yours now. You can give it to whomever you like."
Dylan nodded slightly. "Then it's settled. I think I'll have the charms on this map pretty well figured out before Christmas."
The Weasley twins said no more, and then urged Dylan to quickly put the map away, in case they ran into Filch and he saw it.
After saying goodbye to Fred and George, or rather, after the two of them had scurried away like secret agents even though there was no one else around, Dylan walked out, head held high, with an entirely righteous stride. He then returned to the dormitory.
The common room was empty at the moment. Dylan turned his attention to his system panel. He had noticed a new achievement pop up right after the Weasley twins had given him the map, but he didn't know what it was.
Dylan wasn't expecting much. Ever since Voldemort hadn't been making appearances as frequently as in the past two years, his system hadn't given him any particularly exciting achievements. The rewards had been similarly uninspired and trivial.
Before he started studying the Marauder's Map, Dylan took a casual look. This time, however, the achievement reward was a surprise.
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[Achievement]: I'll Be Watching Hogwarts Forever!
[Description]: Now that you've got the Marauder's Map in your pocket, you can even see what Snape and Voldemort are doing in the closet! — Oh dear, their footprints seem to have overlapped!
[Unlock Requirement]: Possess the Marauder's Map.
[Achievement Reward]: The All-Seeing Eye.
——————
"Urgh…"
This system achievement was, as usual, an assault on the senses. Professor Snape and Voldemort's footprints overlapped in the closet? What was it trying to imply?
The corner of Dylan's mouth twitched. If Professor Snape were to see this description, he would likely cast a Curse of Unforgivable Cruelty on the spot.
What's more, this achievement reward was different from his previous, minor achievements, such as those that boosted his physical stats, mental strength, or stamina. This was a tangible, skill-like reward.
But the name didn't sound very legitimate. The All-Seeing Eye?
Dylan had a guess, but he still checked the system's description for the skill.
——————
[Trait]: The All-Seeing Eye
[Description]: What's more enjoyable than watching someone in plain sight?
[Effect]: With a slight focus of your mind, you can see through surfaces and watch what is on the other side of an obstacle.
——————
"Ugh, ugh, ugh…"
Dylan blinked, looking at the system's explanation, and the corner of his mouth twitched again.
The All-Seeing Eye? It was just X-ray vision. The description just had to make it sound so dirty.
Regular X-ray vision focused on seeing through obstacles. The emphasis was on "seeing." While this trait's emphasis was also on "seeing," it was clearly about "peeking," wasn't it?
Shaking his head, Dylan tried looking at his bed. Immediately, he saw a box sitting underneath it. The box was where he kept miscellaneous items. While he could put all his belongings directly into his suitcase or system space, it was important to keep up appearances. What would people think if he had no luggage at all? Wouldn't that be unsociable?
Dylan believed he was very considerate of other people's feelings. Was there anyone kinder than him in the world?
"Just because I know a lot of dark magic, doesn't mean I'm not a good kid at heart."
Dylan closed his eyes slightly. The ability to see through things vanished.
"Not a bad skill."
Especially since it wasn't a charm but a trait. Using the trait didn't cost any magical power, only a bit of his mental energy.
He placed his suitcase beside his bed, then took the Marauder's Map and slipped inside. Christmas was coming soon. He only had a few days, so he had to hurry up and study all the charms on the map.
It was Friday, the night before the trip to Hogsmeade. In the evening, after Harry had finished dinner, Dylan told him to hurry back to the dormitory. Harry didn't understand why, but out of trust for Dylan, he left the Great Hall immediately and returned to their room.
Ron tried to follow, but Dylan stopped him.
"Hey! Where are you two rushing off to the dorm? And leaving me behind!" Ron glared.
Dylan glanced back at him indifferently. The look was so calm, it made Ron shiver.
"Cough, cough!" Ron coughed twice, then grumbled, "Go on then, I haven't finished my dinner anyway!"
As he spoke, he immediately pulled a plate of steak closer and, turning his sadness into an appetite, attacked the meat with his knife and fork.
The corner of Dylan's mouth twitched. "Eat slower. Don't choke on it."
"?!"
With his cheeks bulging and half a strip of steak hanging out of his mouth, Ron looked up at Dylan in disbelief.
My goodness! Dylan had gone from sharp-tongued to downright malicious! He had actually cursed him! By Merlin's smelly socks! What if Dylan's curse was real? After all, he was a powerful Diviner!
As he thought this, Ron felt the half-chewed meat suddenly slip down his throat. But his throat wasn't ready, and the chunk of steak became stuck.
"Cough, cough, cough!!"
Ron started coughing violently, his face turning bright red. The piece of steak hanging from his mouth dropped back onto the plate.
Dylan: "...?"
Dylan looked on, utterly perplexed. What was he doing? Choking on his own food?
He let out a 'tsk' and sighed.
Under the dumbfounded stares of the people around him, he slowly raised his wand.
"Scourgify!"
The Cleaning Charm wasn't just for tidying up. It was useful for many things, just like now.
As he uttered the incantation, a brilliant, rainbow-colored light burst from the tip of his wand—a new wand effect he had recently unlocked for one hundred Galleons. When the light transformed into a stream of water and shot toward Ron's throat, it instantly cleaned out the stuck meat.
Ron's airway, which had been blocked by the steak, became clear. The offending piece of meat flew out of his mouth, covered in a sticky film of saliva, and landed with a 'plop' on the plate.
"Ew," Dylan said with a look of distaste.
Ron let out a long sigh of relief, slumping in his chair as if all the energy had been drained from him, breathing heavily. He quickly gulped down two mouthfuls of water, then patted his chest, still shaken.
"Thank goodness! That was awful!"
Dylan's mouth twitched. "I told you, no one was fighting you for it. Why were you eating so fast? You brought it on yourself, didn't you?"
Ron: "..."
Ron glanced at Dylan, then gave an embarrassed smile. On the surface, he was sheepish, but inside, he was roaring.
"Sure enough! Dylan's words are a curse!!"
Ron thought to himself, completely incredulous: Dylan is a truly terrifying and evil wizard! Even more terrifying than my mum!
Dylan, without even deliberately using Legilimency, simply watched the ever-changing expressions on Ron's face and knew exactly what was going through his mind. Rolling his eyes, he didn't bother with him and returned to the dorm.
Harry's expression was a little worried. "Is Ron okay…?"
Dylan waved a hand dismissively. "Don't worry. As long as he doesn't try to kill himself by shoving a ton of food in his mouth at once, he'll be fine."
Harry hesitated. "But… what if he does try to kill himself again?"
Dylan was taken aback, then blinked. Good question!
"In that case… I'm sure the professors in the Great Hall would do something." Even if there were no professors, there were other students. Could they really just stand by and watch a friend choke to death in front of them? It wasn't as if no one knew magic; they didn't have to resort to the Heimlich maneuver on Ron. It was a single spell. Even if the Slytherins didn't care about Ron, the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws wouldn't just sit idly by. So Dylan wasn't too worried.
However, thinking about Ron's personality, he might just get so angry that he would get himself choked up again…
"Oh well, who cares?" Dylan said with an indifferent wave of his hand, then turned his attention to Harry.
Harry looked back at him. "Dylan, did you have something you wanted to tell me?"
Dylan nodded. "Yeah, I do."
Harry didn't say anything, just looked at Dylan, waiting for him to continue. His spirits were low. Or rather, he was listless. After all, he still hadn't gotten a guardian's signature. He hadn't been able to go to Hogsmeade last time, and now everyone was going again. He'd have to stay behind alone. How could Harry not feel depressed? Especially since everyone had brought him back some things from Hogsmeade last time, like candies or non-alcoholic beer. After tasting them, he didn't even care how good they were, he just wanted to go to Hogsmeade with Dylan and Ron. Even if it was just to buy a few sweets at Honeydukes. It wasn't like he was short on money! Wizard money, that is. He didn't have any pounds.
"I'm going to give you your Christmas present right now."
"Christmas present?" Harry's previously listless eyes instantly lit up.
Dylan nodded, then took out the Marauder's Map. "This is a map. It's a gift from Fred, George, and me."
Dylan said this completely without shame or burden. It just so happened that he wouldn't need to prepare a separate Christmas gift for Harry. It was perfect!
"What's this?" Harry looked at the map Dylan had pulled out—or more accurately, the blank piece of parchment. He was a little confused.
"It's the Marauder's Map. I don't know if you've ever heard of it, but I suspect it was made by your dad and his friends back in the day."
"Huh?" Harry blinked, stunned. He took the parchment from Dylan's hand. It looked heavily worn and was perfectly square. Harry couldn't see anything special about it.
"This is a map?" He turned the parchment over and over, trying to figure it out. But he had another question. Harry looked up at Dylan. "If this was a map my dad and his friends made, then how did it end up with… me and the twins?"
Dylan chuckled softly. "That's because this thing was in Filch's office, and a few years ago, Fred and George stole it. In the last two years, they've been trying to figure out how to operate it. I took it over, studied it carefully, and deduced that your father and his friends were the ones who made it."
"Why…"
Before Harry could finish, Dylan interrupted him with an explanation.
"I found a humiliation charm on this map—it's aimed at Professor Snape."
With those words, Harry instantly shut his mouth.
"Er…"
Well. Now he believed it.
"That's an explanation no one can question…"
....
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