Chapter 24 The Pub Doesn't Serve Hot Chocolate
(A small revision was made to the end of the previous chapter)
A green, vibrant box slowly opened in the void, and a shining card jumped out.
[Confounder of the Blessed Curse: After the previous curse proved fatal to its victim and backfired on the caster, it entered a strange state. You, the newly cursed, then confounded the name of the curse's target. Now that a new person has become the target, the curse has fallen into complete chaos.
Confounding (Passive): When the curse has more than two targets, its lethal effect is nullified, and all other effects are significantly weakened. This card will be destroyed after the first victim of this round of the curse dies.]
The last sentence isn't necessary, is it?
William feigned silence and opened the box immediately.
The result was a bit surprising—the information that the last curse was lethal was completely different from what Dumbledore had told him.
The information he'd received before coming to the school was that the most severely injured person had required a year and a half of hospitalization.
The fact that the new, duped professor wouldn't be killed by the curse and that the curse he received was greatly weakened were both good things, but he couldn't ignore the information about the victim being killed by the curse.
Feigning silence, he raised his head and casually asked Dumbledore, "Professor Dumbledore, I'd like to know who the professor before my predecessor was. I still have many things I don't quite understand, and I'd like to ask him some questions by owl—I hope he won't mind. Also, if possible, could you tell me how last year's professor died?"
As a successor, it was perfectly normal to consult a previous professor. And since the matter of the curse was one of life and death, he wanted to get a clear picture.
Although it wasn't obvious, Dumbledore's expression changed several times. After a moment of silence, he finally responded to William. "As for the professor from two years ago, I will contact him after you arrive at Hogwarts to see if he is willing to speak with you…
As for last year... I originally intended to keep this matter a secret, as it would cause panic throughout the Magical Society. However, I believe we will be encountering that person more and more in the time to come. I feel that you, William, will become our partner. I can tell you everything, but you must swear an oath not to reveal it."
"Alright, I swear."
William extended his hand and pointed his wand at it—the brewing of some illegal potions on the black market often required oaths with varying levels of secrecy.
A pale yellow beam of light flowed out. After an oath with a penalty of three thousand Galleons, William received the answer he wanted.
"Your predecessor was Professor Quirrell. Unfortunately, he died during his term, but it was not due to the curse. It was because he trusted the wrong person—he was killed by the very person who cast that curse."
"The one who cast it?"
"Yes. A former student of mine, Voldemort. He was angered that I did not hire him as the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor and cast a curse on the position. While I have some knowledge of Dark Magic, I am not an expert, and I cannot dispel this curse."
William glanced at the Special Card in his bag, [Dark Wizard Dumbledore], and decided against interrupting.
"Wait, Professor Dumbledore, if I recall correctly, that Dark Lord was defeated ten years ago. How could he possibly appear at Hogwarts and kill the previous professor?"
"As I said ten years ago, he would eventually return. He bewitched Professor Quirrell and used him to infiltrate Hogwarts. After he was ultimately defeated, he killed Professor Quirrell."
William recalled the scene he had witnessed of Voldemort's resurrection and realized that Hogwarts was likely far more dangerous than he had imagined.
The Dark Lord, whom even the Azkaban Prisoner referred to as the Mysterious Person, wasn't just secretly plotting his own resurrection bit by bit. He had started his assault on Hogwarts even before he was revived and ultimately succeeded in his resurrection. If it weren't for this clinging curse, William would have most likely fled the country.
"This is all I can tell you for now. Many things are merely my own speculation, and I am still looking for evidence to prove them. I hope this information clears up your confusion. The matter of Professor Quirrell cannot be revealed to the outside world. I don't want you to learn of it later and think we deceived you," Dumbledore said sincerely.
"I understand, Headmaster."
————
After seeing Dumbledore off, William spent a rare, long moment in a daze.
He couldn't help it; the amount of information he had just received was immense.
Thinking about it carefully, he had only asked about the previous Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. Even if an explanation was needed, was it necessary to be so forthcoming with a temporary professor like him?
Although he was bound by the oath, it didn't seem like such an unnecessary disclosure was worth so much of Dumbledore's effort.
When someone is overly courteous, they must be seeking something.
From what he had learned from the prisoners and Old Tom, Dumbledore didn't have a granddaughter or grandniece of marriageable age. Therefore, the only possible use Dumbledore could have for him was related to what he'd mentioned—the prophecy from ten years ago about the return of the Mysterious Person.
This uninspiring speculation made him suddenly annoyed by the notes he'd been making, but he quickly adjusted his mindset.
Since he was already targeted by that troublesome curse, he was determined to kill Voldemort.
Even though the new card indicated the curse's effects were weakened, he remained extremely wary of it. Weakened? What exactly did 'weakened' mean?
Spending his next life in a wheelchair? Permanently losing an arm or a leg to Dark Magic? Losing an ear or an eye?
Sorry, but he was quite happy using all those body parts. He had no intention of donating them just because some fellow called the Mysterious Person wanted them.
At this thought, he gave up on resting. He flipped the book to the bookmarked page, readied paper and a pen, and prepared to continue studying.
Killing Voldemort wasn't just empty talk. Although it was nearly impossible to kill Voldemort just by reading books, studying could bring him closer and closer to the Mysterious Person.
Then, by relying on the System, on the seer whose prophecy he didn't know when would be fulfilled, and on the power of the Chief White Wizard, he would kill that bastard Voldemort.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in, it's not locked," William shouted irritably toward the door.
No need to ask, it had to be Old Tom.
Sure enough, the person William had his wand pointed at after the door opened was Old Tom, visiting for the fourth time. Ever since discovering he was cursed, William's first instinct was always to draw his wand.
The refreshments, hot chocolate, nuts, and a series of other things on the table that shouldn't be in a pub were all brought by Old Tom, just for a chance to see Dumbledore.
"Ah, has Professor Dumbledore left?"
"He left. If he hadn't, he'd probably have burst. To think you could gather so many snacks in a pub, you're really something else."
"Snacks? Now that you mention it, I'd forgotten. The rest is on me, but that cup of hot chocolate will be ten Sickles, if you please."
"The pub doesn't serve this kind of thing. It's from another place."
William rolled his eyes at him.
(end of chapter)