Looking at the carnage everywhere and listening to the groans filling the hospital wing, Quirrell swallowed and had to admit: Ethan Vincent was truly talented at using Dark Magic.
Damn it, if not for him, how would he have fallen to this state?!
He would have already used a curse to make Harry Potter fall to his death from his broomstick during the Quidditch match! He had planned it all out, absolutely foolproof!
Quirrell secretly gritted his teeth, wishing he could hit Ethan's face with ten consecutive Cruciatus Curses.
[Don't disappoint me...]
In his mind, he recalled Voldemort's low, gloomy voice. Like a lightning whip, it struck his nerves sharply, making Quirrell shudder violently.
"Yes, yes, Master..."
Quirrell responded in his heart, forcing down his hatred. That's right. He still had to pretend to be magnanimous and forgive what Ethan had done to him. Invest money, energy, and knowledge. To support and teach Ethan in researching his sinister paintings.
Damn it! How he hated it!
"Are you alright, Professor Quirrell?" Professor McGonagall said in surprise. "Your complexion... doesn't look very good?"
His features were twisting around, as if he was having an episode.
Quirrell stiffened and quickly laughed awkwardly: "It's, it's an old injury acting up, nothing serious, hahaha!"
Professor McGonagall's eyes lit up: "Speaking of which, don't forget to give Ethan appropriate and proper punishment to make him realize how wrong it is to attack a professor."
At this moment, Quirrell was agitated, and his brain was buzzing. He didn't hear clearly what Professor McGonagall said and just nodded randomly.
Seeing this, Professor McGonagall thought he already had a plan. Determined to show professorial authority and properly discipline Ethan. To bring that child back to the right path.
With Quirrell's assurance, Professor McGonagall finally felt relieved. She turned to help treat the injured students. She placed the severely injured and unconscious Sean Mike on the bed next to Quirrell.
Quirrell: "..."
He suddenly had an extremely terrifying premonition. In the future, wouldn't this ward be filled with unlucky victims of Ethan?!
Monday
Ravenclaw dormitory
"I still can't believe you actually passed the selection!"
Michael sat on his bed, buttoning his shirt while staring at Ethan with wide eyes.
At this time, Ethan was already fully dressed. He sat upright at his desk, writing a letter as usual. The quill tip scratched against the paper, making rhythmic rustling sounds.
Compared to the beginning, Ethan's desk had many more items. A row of books arranged alphabetically, a soft prosthetic hand that could move on its own, and Ethan usually used it to hold pens. Now, Michael was used to opening his eyes and seeing a prosthetic hand waving at him.
Besides that, there were rolling eyeballs, dancing little figures, a telescope that showed pitch blackness when you looked through it...
Michael really didn't know what Ethan saw in these things to buy them back. And he would play with them for long periods. Even Gobstones that sprayed stinking water when you lost were more interesting!
"I was just relatively lucky," Ethan stopped his quill, reviewing his sentences, saying leisurely.
Michael: "..."
Lucky?
He had heard that except for Ethan, all other contestants ended up in the hospital wing! And there was that chaotic scene that could be seen even from a distance.
Could only say, worthy of being Ethan.
"Do you know the rumors have become so ridiculous that you transformed into a great demon, became the final boss, and defeated all other contestants to get selected?"
"Hmm," Ethan pondered, "that sounds very interesting."
...Please don't.
Otherwise, Hogwarts' lifelong reputation would be ruined. Michael couldn't imagine what kind of shock Ethan would bring to students from other houses. Just thinking about it was interesting.
Hehe~
Watching Ethan torment others was always fun. Michael was extremely excited, feeling more and more that Ethan was simply too amazing! No one in the entire school would have thought that first-year Ethan could actually pass the selection!
Haha, when one person attains enlightenment, even his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven!
"Dear Ethan~ If you have any orders, please feel free to ask~"
Ethan: "Let's paint together."
Michael: "...Sir, please spare me. (QAQ)"
"Heh, shrimp-head boy."
Ethan laughed contemptuously. He turned and handed the finished letter to the owl.
This owl, "Carrot," which had developed muscles in just over two months, no longer looked cute and silly like before. It looked at Ethan with majestic, dignified eyes, spread its thick wings, and flew out with a whoosh. Mercilessly swatting away a pigeon that was in its way. Soaring straight into the sky.
Michael: "..."
How did even the owl become super masculine after hanging around Ethan for so long?
"Alright, let's go eat. We have Defense Against the Dark Arts this morning. I really hope Professor Snape can substitute forever."
"Ah~ Please don't let that happen."
"Hmph, at least it's better than that incompetent Professor Quirrell. I really don't know why Hogwarts would hire such a person."
Another housemate, Mandy Brocklehurst, pushed her glasses and said indignantly.
"I think it's pretty good," Michael said casually with a smile, "at least the final exams will be easier."
Mandy frowned: "We're Ravenclaws, we should maintain first and strive for second."
"My knowledge has never been in boring ABCs, but in... hey! Good morning, Miss Padma, you look radiant this morning~"
"...Shame of the house!"
Ethan listened to his companions engage in heated discussion about "Will we really encounter Dark wizards?" while his mind gradually began to wander.
[Beginner's Gift Pack has been opened]
A line of blue subtitles appeared before his eyes. This was the beginner's gift pack he had opened after the selection ended.
[Current gallery has collected extraordinary paintings: "Always" (given away), "Broom Rash," "Portal," "Call of Erised," "Gate in the Pupil"]
[Due to your excellent performance, initially spreading your great art to the world]
[Special gift of S-rank Beginner's Gift Pack: Living Portrait Technique!]
Like transferring learning data to a hard drive, Ethan's mind was suddenly filled with fresh knowledge. The complete crafting process for "living portraits."
First was the special canvas. To carry part of a portrait's soul and life, the purest material was needed: canvas woven from precious unicorn hair. Then soaked in a solution of moonstone powder and slowly tanned.
The entire process required painting with magically imbued pigments. This meant every stroke and line required Ethan to infuse magical power. A massive undertaking, extremely difficult.
Besides that, there were complex spells, memory threads of the portrait subjects, aromatics during painting, and so on. It could be said that every living portrait was unique and extremely precious. They were memory preservations of the departed, the only remembrance for the living.
After learning about the living portrait creation process, when Ethan looked at Hogwarts' walls full of paintings, a sense of moving shock arose spontaneously. These were all generations of memory and historical inheritance...
Really fucking rich.
Coincidentally, living portrait techniques and Horcruxes both led to the same destination through different paths, both belonging to soul magic. But the former brought comfort to people, while the latter brought disaster.
Magic itself wasn't good or bad... it was always the user who made the choice.
Therefore, Ethan believed Hogwarts should teach Dark Magic. What could you learn from that garbage Defense Against the Dark Arts class that changed teachers every year? No wonder those young wizards couldn't even master the Disarming Charm by sixth or seventh year.
Using Dark Magic instead of defense could also avoid curses... killing two birds with one stone.
Death Eaters? Eat my Imperius Curse!
Ethan thought this method was very feasible.
More importantly, although he knew how to make living portraits, this was just theory. Those complex spells with blurred boundaries required a more open-minded teacher to instruct him.
Once he successfully learned it, he could invent a new set of cards: Summoning Cards!
What, you have ten people? Sorry, I summon monsters to directly attack the main body!
The more he thought about it, the more feasible Ethan found it. His eyes sparkled. Everything was ready, only lacking a professor.
Who would receive this honor...
Ethan licked his lips expectantly.
While thinking, he entered the Great Hall with his companions.
[Chapter Complete]
***
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