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The Principal's Office
Outside the window, the moonlight poured in like water, casting a quiet glow over the room.
Dumbledore, who had been gently stroking Fawkes, turned around slowly. A kind smile appeared on his face as he spoke softly, "Filius, Minerva, please sit down first. There's no need to be so anxious."
Professor McGonagall stood stiffly, her sharp gaze focused. Beside her, Professor Flitwick, despite his short stature, wore a serious expression.
"This matter must not be ignored!" McGonagall stated firmly.
Dumbledore sat down, folding his hands together.
"I understand your concerns. Root is a gifted child. In your eyes, he is like an uncut gem with limitless potential. But because of his strength, he is more likely to linger at the edge of darkness."
Professor McGonagall exchanged a glance with Flitwick before saying, "That's exactly it. I didn't even know he was attempting to teach himself Defense Against the Dark Arts!"
"You know that if someone studies Defense Against the Dark Arts alone, they risk getting lost in it!"
Professor Flitwick looked slightly embarrassed.
After Root had left his office, Flitwick had intended to consult Dumbledore about the matter. However, he had unexpectedly run into McGonagall, who was also seeking Dumbledore. Naturally, he couldn't keep the information from her, and thus, the situation had escalated to this moment.
Dumbledore smiled gently at both of them. "You both understand that young people are always curious about the unknown."
"I heard he defeated a giant troll using a blazing fire?"
Professor McGonagall nodded, her face tense.
"This clearly demonstrates that the child possesses extraordinary learning and judgment abilities. I believe he must have read about the Fire Curse in a book, combined it with what he already knew, and decided to apply it to real combat. That's why he has taken such a strong interest in Defense Against the Dark Arts."
Seeing that neither professor had taken a seat, Dumbledore sighed and stood up, supporting himself on the desk.
"Our responsibility as professors is not just to stop but to guide."
He walked to the window, gazing at the snowy night beyond.
"If he wants to learn, and we refuse to teach him, won't he just seek knowledge on his own?"
"Filius, didn't he say that he approached you because he couldn't fully grasp the subject by himself?"
Professor Flitwick nodded. "That's precisely what he told me."
Dumbledore turned back toward them with a knowing smile. "Then, all we need to do is provide him with a safe framework and guide him in the right direction. I believe he will not stray."
"After all, he is a Gryffindor student."
Professor Flitwick nodded again. "Yes, this young fellow is remarkably bright. Besides, I don't think there's anything unusual about his interest in Defense Against the Dark Arts."
Professor McGonagall pressed her lips together before finally speaking. "Yes, learning the counter-spell to the Fire Curse isn't particularly strange. However… today, he mentioned something else to me."
Both Dumbledore and Flitwick turned their full attention to her.
McGonagall took a deep breath before continuing.
"He spoke of a new spell—the Entropy Distortion Spell."
"…What?"
Professor Flitwick and Dumbledore exchanged surprised glances.
McGonagall sighed.
"In all my years of teaching, I have never encountered such courage in a young wizard! His audacity exceeds my wildest imagination!"
Professor Flitwick frowned. "This spell… doesn't sound particularly friendly."
McGonagall's expression darkened slightly.
"His research on Living Transfiguration seems to have reached a bottleneck. During our discussion today, he suddenly brought up this spell."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled with curiosity, though there was an underlying concern in them.
"Living Transfiguration is already a highly advanced topic," Flitwick mused. "What does he want to achieve with this Entropy Distortion Spell?"
McGonagall's fingers tightened around the edge of her robe.
"He suggested that, although Transfiguration can be applied in battle, wouldn't it be far more efficient to… directly transfigure the opponent?"
Professor Flitwick's eyes widened. "Oh my Merlin!"
"For those who lack a deep understanding of Transfiguration, it is difficult to use in direct combat," McGonagall explained. "Root believes he can create a spell that instantly alters an opponent's body—or even splits them into multiple parts."
"He also thought about limiting the transformation so that the opponent wouldn't become something too powerful or unmanageable."
"Dylan mentioned that ideally, the spell should split the opponent into two parts or alter specific limbs, significantly reducing their combat effectiveness."
As McGonagall finished speaking, silence filled the principal's office.
Dumbledore sat back down, his fingers steepled. After a long moment, he spoke carefully.
"Well… after all, he is only a first-year student. The idea of applying Transfiguration in combat is something many young wizards would consider."
"But the spell he envisions is… indeed disturbing. The theoretical framework may hold potential, but if pursued recklessly, it could lead him down a dangerous path."
Dumbledore tapped his fingers against the desk.
"Perhaps we should provide him with more structured guidance, allowing him to understand that creating a spell is not so simple."
McGonagall's sharp gaze softened slightly. "What do you suggest?"
Dumbledore nodded. "Introduce him to the concept of shaping and secondary control of spells. These techniques significantly enhance the effectiveness of spells in real combat while reducing the risk of unethical use."
McGonagall considered this for a moment before nodding.
"Yes, shaping and secondary control can expand a spell's applications without resorting to extreme measures. We haven't discussed this with him before since it requires near-complete mastery of a spell."
"But now…" She sighed. "Perhaps this will guide his research in a safer direction."
Dumbledore's gaze shifted to Flitwick.
"Filius, the Defense Against the Dark Arts curriculum doesn't usually cover counter-spells for the Fire Curse, but Root is no ordinary student. If you believe he can handle it, there's no harm in teaching him. It is, after all, an important part of understanding magic."
Flitwick hesitated briefly before nodding.
"You're right. He has proven himself to be an exceptional student. I'll supervise his learning to ensure he stays on the right path."
Dumbledore smiled reassuringly.
As McGonagall and Flitwick exchanged glances, they finally took their leave.
The door closed with a soft click.
For a while, all was quiet.
Then, Dumbledore looked toward the shadows.
"Severus, has Root come to see you as well?"
From the darkness, Professor Snape emerged, his expression unreadable.
His voice was low and sharp.
"Look at the situation now, Albus. This is the professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts you carefully selected. And what has he done to such a promising young wizard?"
Dumbledore remained silent.
(End of Chapter)
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