Once again, Sean fell into a dream.
Inside the dream—
he found himself standing in the Great Hall on the very first day of school.
Professor McGonagall stood proudly before the students and announced loudly:
"When I call your name, step forward and place the Sorting Hat upon your head."
Then—
"Sean Sebastian."
Sean walked forward blankly.
Professor McGonagall lifted the Sorting Hat and gently lowered it toward his head.
But the instant the hat touched him—
the Sorting Hat suddenly screamed in absolute terror.
"AZKABAN!!"
"SEND HIM TO AZKABAN!!"
At the same moment—
the system's voice echoed mercilessly inside his mind.
[He's in Slytherin.]
[She's in Gryffindor.]
[And you're in Azkaban.]
[All of you have bright futures.]
"I DON'T WANT TO GO TO AZKABAN!!"
Sean jolted upright violently.
Only then did he realise it had all been a dream.
The Slytherins surrounding him jumped in fright.
Sean wiped cold sweat from his forehead while muttering darkly:
"Damn system…"
"Why are you still talking nonsense inside my dreams…"
Then suddenly—
the system replied calmly.
[If I were the host, I would first check whether I had been cursed.]
Sean froze instantly.
"…Cursed?"
His voice rose sharply.
"I've been cursed?!"
The surrounding Slytherins panicked immediately.
"CURSED?!"
"Oh Merlin!"
"Prefect, are you alright?!"
"We need a professor!"
"Forget the professors, go get the Headmaster!"
The entire common room descended into chaos instantly.
Meanwhile, Sean himself slumped backward weakly again while mumbling half-asleep:
"You're still calling yourself a system…"
"…and now I'm cursed…"
The system continued explaining mechanically regardless of whether Sean remained conscious.
[This curse causes no substantial physical harm.]
[The caster is inexperienced and highly unskilled.]
[In order to monitor the host, the system temporarily disabled automatic curse defence.]
The Slytherins carefully carried Sean from the training room and laid him across the common room sofa.
Several minutes later—
Sean abruptly woke again with terror written all over his face.
Malfoy hurried forward anxiously.
"Boss!"
"How do you feel now?"
Sean stared at Malfoy in horror.
"…Malfoy."
"I dreamed Professor Snape drugged you…"
"…and then your arse—"
"You will pay dearly for finishing that sentence, Mr. Sebastian."
Snape's cold voice echoed directly above Sean's head.
Sean stiffened instantly before slowly looking upward.
Snape stood there glaring down at him with his usual dead-eyed expression.
Hermione looked slightly embarrassed nearby.
"I discovered Sean was cursed…"
"So I went to find Professor Snape."
"Relax, Severus."
Dumbledore's calm voice suddenly followed.
"Our little Sean merely appears delirious."
"Let me see."
Dumbledore quickly walked over before crouching beside Sean gently.
Then he carefully lifted Sean's head slightly.
Everyone nearby suddenly gasped.
At the back of Sean's neck—
a black skull-shaped mark had appeared.
Dumbledore's expression immediately darkened.
"Poor child."
"This curse hasn't appeared in many years."
Then his expression softened slightly.
"Fortunately, whoever cast it appears inexperienced."
"The curse itself was terribly crude."
While speaking—
a scarlet blur suddenly swept into the room.
Fawkes landed gracefully nearby.
"Fawkes."
Dumbledore smiled gently.
"I'll trouble you."
The phoenix tilted its head before landing lightly atop Sean's shoulder.
Then—
a single tear fell directly onto the black skull mark.
SSSSSSHHHH—
A harsh burning sound instantly echoed out.
The skull mark gradually faded before disappearing completely.
Sean immediately felt his mind becoming clearer.
Strength slowly returned to his body.
Snape's face remained terrifyingly ugly.
"This is a vicious attack, Headmaster."
Even Snape's usually emotionless tone now carried unmistakable anger.
"Calm yourself, Severus."
Dumbledore gently lowered Sean's head back onto the sofa.
"We'll uncover the culprit eventually."
"Though little Sean likely still requires rest in the Hospital Wing."
Snape's eyes darkened dangerously.
"No."
"That student must be expelled immediately."
"This kind of curse is more malicious than many Dark spells."
Then Snape's voice turned ice-cold.
"I will personally send the caster to Azkaban."
Several younger Slytherins visibly trembled hearing that.
But Sean suddenly shook his head weakly.
"…No, Professor Snape."
"I'll handle this myself."
Then Sean quietly spoke inside his mind.
"System."
"Completely remove the remaining curse."
[Purging…]
[Purging complete.]
A strange warmth instantly flowed throughout Sean's body.
The lingering heaviness disappeared completely.
Under everyone's shocked gazes—
Sean suddenly sat upright normally and stretched lazily.
"I'll find the culprit myself."
Then he looked toward Snape seriously.
"Thank you, Professor Snape."
"And thank you, Professor Dumbledore."
Snape's expression remained grim.
"Sean."
"This is not your decision."
"That student violated wizarding law."
Then his eyes narrowed dangerously.
"If the caster had been even slightly more competent…"
"…you would already be dead."
Sean shook his head again.
"I already know who did it."
"And honestly…"
"…they probably don't even understand what they actually cast."
"It was likely just a prank between friends."
Then Sean glanced toward Dumbledore calmly.
"…Right, Headmaster?"
Dumbledore's eyes flickered slightly.
Then he smiled.
"Very generous of you, Mr. Sebastian."
"I believe so as well."
Then Dumbledore looked toward Snape.
"Come, Severus."
"It appears little Sean is completely fine now."
Snape stared at Sean for a very long time.
Then finally—
he flicked his robes sharply and strode out of the common room.
Watching Snape leave, Sean suddenly felt warmth rise inside his chest.
Snape rarely became angry.
Especially not for someone else's sake.
At that moment—
Sean finally understood clearly.
Their relationship had long since surpassed ordinary teacher and student.
Then suddenly—
Sean shivered instinctively.
.....
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