Of course, the greatest wizard in history couldn't possibly act so recklessly toward Kai Adler.
According to Dumbledore's explanation, after Kai systematically studied White Magic, the tainted energy within his body would gradually be purified. The volatile nature of his magic—its lean toward Dark properties—would fade, and in turn, he would be better able to suppress the Obscurus.
However, as Dumbledore himself admitted, this was merely a temporary solution.
The core issue remained: the incompatibility between Kai's soul and his body.
Unfortunately, even Dumbledore knew little about the nature of souls.
In his words, perhaps only the Master of Death could truly understand such things.
By the time Kai returned to the Gryffindor common room, it was well past curfew. But the moment he stepped through the portrait hole, he froze.
Hermione was sitting on the couch by the fire, her expression anxious and pale in the dim light. As soon as she saw him, she sprang up and hurried toward him, eyes sweeping over him from head to toe.
"Where did you go?!" she whispered harshly, grabbing his arm. "I heard Professor Lockhart went straight to the Headmaster to complain—he didn't punish you, did he?"
"Relax," Kai said gently, touched by the genuine worry in her voice. "You're forgetting my relationship with Professor Dumbledore. I just gave Lockhart a little scare; he won't dare try anything."
"You should call him Professor Lockhart," she said automatically, though the edge in her voice softened. She tugged him to sit on the couch beside her.
"Then why did you come back so late?"
"Professor Dumbledore gave me… something like extra tutoring," Kai said after a beat. He'd been about to say 'training,' but seeing her eyes narrow, he quickly adjusted.
"Really? That's wonderful."
Hermione beamed at him, her eyes full of earnest admiration. "To be personally taught by the greatest wizard alive—Kai, you'll definitely become a great wizard too."
Looking into her eyes, glowing with sincerity and belief, Kai thought for a moment that it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen in this world.
"If that's what you wish for," he said softly, "then I will be."
The next morning in the Great Hall, Ron flopped down opposite them with an expression like he'd just lost a Quidditch match.
"Did you hear? Lockhart's still our Defense teacher."
"He told everyone he fainted yesterday due to low blood sugar," Ron muttered bitterly. "And apparently that Occamy was just… a 'teaching aid' he'd carefully selected."
Hermione and Harry turned in surprise to Kai, who sat calmly next to Hermione, buttering his toast with a faint smirk.
"You're not surprised?" Harry asked.
"What's there to be surprised about?" Kai said, his tone dry. "It's hardly believable that a second-year student smuggled in a magical creature like an Occamy. It's easier to blame Lockhart than to expel Luna."
"Luna?" Ron blinked.
"Oh—that's the Occamy," Hermione chimed in proudly. "I named her."
At that, she reached into her robe and produced a wriggling mealworm.
"Here, Luna. Breakfast."
A blur of purple darted from Kai's sleeve, landing in Hermione's arms. The little Occamy devoured the worm with elegance, then rubbed its sleek head affectionately against her cheek, chirping softly for more.
Harry and Ron stared, stunned.
"That's the same beast from yesterday?!"
Luna let out an indignant squeak at Ron and made to nip his finger. Hermione gently restrained her, offering another worm.
"Don't say that about her! Luna is a very dainty young lady."
"Alright, alright, my mistake." Ron raised his hands.
"Occamies are fascinating creatures," Hermione said, cuddling Luna. "They can change size freely to suit their environment. She's much more relaxed now—well-fed and comfortable."
Kai observed the interaction quietly. But noticing that Harry and Ron still looked glum, he chuckled.
"Think of it this way," he said, handing Hermione a slice of toast he'd spread with strawberry jam, "if Lockhart had been fired, who do you think would replace him?"
"Anyone would be better than that pompous peacock," Ron grumbled.
"Except Snape," Harry added darkly.
At that, Kai's eyes flicked toward the High Table.
There sat the infamous Potions Master, clad in black, his greasy hair hanging in curtains around a sallow face and a nose so sharp it looked like it could open envelopes.
"You lot seem to have strong opinions about him," Kai said mildly.
Hermione, curiously, didn't scold Harry for calling Snape by name. She looked rather thoughtful instead.
"You haven't had a class with him yet," Ron said, glowering. "He's ten times more sarcastic than you."
Kai arched an eyebrow at the comparison—but later that morning, he would come to understand exactly what Ron meant.
Potions class was held in the dungeons—cold, damp, and filled with the sharp tang of various steeped ingredients. Shelves lined the walls, stacked with ominous jars containing shriveled roots, twitching leeches, and floating animal parts.
Kai was examining a floating basilisk fang in pale fluid when Hermione tugged at his sleeve. He turned—and locked eyes with a pair of dark, narrowed ones across the room.
Professor Snape stood at the lectern, arms folded.
"Kai Adler," he said, voice smooth and low, "the student who bypassed first year and leapt straight into the second. I don't know how you managed it, but…"
He stepped forward, voice dripping with disdain.
"Apparently, your debut in Defense Against the Dark Arts was… noteworthy."
A pause.
"Then again, we all know what level Professor Lockhart is operating at."
Snickers echoed faintly. Snape placed both hands on the desk, eyes gleaming like a hawk's.
"Still, making a fool of him isn't reason to arrive in my class with such… arrogance."
His eyes sharpened.
"Particularly if you plan to spend it daydreaming."
Kai smiled faintly, perfectly composed.
"Thank you for your concern, Professor Snape. But—"
He paused, mimicking Snape's cadence.
"—as a fellow professor, I do hope you won't compare me to Lockhart."
Ron coughed into his fist. Harry tried not to laugh. Hermione nudged Kai's foot beneath the desk—but her lips quirked upward despite herself.
Snape's eyes narrowed to slits.
For a moment, tension crackled in the air.
But he only said, "Very well," and turned to begin the lesson.
The reprieve was temporary. Throughout the class, Snape's gaze returned to Kai repeatedly, like a serpent waiting for a misstep.
But Kai, calm and practiced, performed each potion step to perfection—giving Snape no reason to interfere.
The same couldn't be said for the rest of the class. Under the crushing pressure of Snape's scrutiny, mistakes abounded. Seamus accidentally scorched his cauldron, creating a minor explosion that singed Ron's eyebrows and reeked of burnt sage. Gryffindor lost ten points.
As laughter erupted from the Slytherin side, Kai suddenly felt a sharp, targeted gaze.
He turned his head just slightly—just in time to see the back of a blond boy's head shift, pretending to focus on his brew.
A trace of cold amusement flickered in Kai's eyes.
Draco Malfoy…
He recognized the name. The boy's father had sneered about Muggles in Diagon Alley—until Kai had publicly humiliated him.
So this was his son. And judging by the sour glare, the younger Malfoy hadn't forgotten that humiliation.
Interesting, Kai thought.
How do you plan to deal with me, little prince?
Because now… Kai was curious.
And very, very patient.