FOR MORE CHAPTERS
patreon.com/STEPHENHART427
picked up a cockroach cluster from the table.
"Care for one?"
Professor Snape frowned, leaned back slightly, and eyed the treat with undisguised disgust. His thin lips pressed together.
"I have no interest in such repulsive things," he said coldly.
Dumbledore shrugged. "A shame. They're quite delicious."
"I'm here to talk about Dylan," Snape interrupted in a low voice.
Dumbledore chuckled. "I never thought you'd be so concerned about a young wizard."
Snape's frown deepened. "He's headed straight for danger."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled with curiosity. "Surely, he hasn't come into contact with anything truly dangerous yet?"
"Not yet. But it's not impossible," Snape replied, his tone sharp.
Dumbledore studied him. "Are you suggesting he might be drawn to forbidden magic? That his curiosity could lead him astray?"
"I'm afraid it's worse than that," Snape said with a grim expression.
His voice dropped lower. "Today, he asked me more than just how to counter the Fiery Curse."
Dumbledore's brow arched slightly.
Snape continued, "After I answered him, he proceeded to ask about the workings of love potions."
"Hmm?" Dumbledore's interest piqued.
A first-year student asking about such things? His research interests were... unusual.
"Why would he be looking into that?"
Snape let out a derisive snort.
"Love potions create strong emotions, but they don't foster true love. At first, I assumed he was simply being foolish. But then I realized—" Snape's face darkened.
"He understands their effects all too well. What he truly wants to study is this: if a potion can generate false emotions, could he create another that produces real emotions?"
"Clearly, he's exploring the idea of using potions to study dark magic."
Snape's eyes bore into Dumbledore, his face set.
Dumbledore remained silent for a moment, then—rather unexpectedly—his lips curled into a smile, his eyes alight with curiosity.
"So… is it possible?"
Snape's expression twisted in frustration. "No, it is not!"
Dumbledore chuckled awkwardly. "Ah, I see… well, that's a relief, isn't it?"
Snape's scowl deepened.
Dumbledore mused aloud, "The boy does have a peculiar way of thinking. He's full of strange but logical ideas."
"At least, I've never considered whether potions-induced emotions could replace the corruption of dark magic."
Snape's brow furrowed even more, and he looked as if he had swallowed something particularly bitter.
Dumbledore coughed lightly.
"Regardless, dark magic is dangerous. It grants power too easily, and the cost is irreversible."
"A wizard who grows too comfortable wielding it will eventually be consumed by it."
Snape's expression eased ever so slightly.
"I even asked him directly if he was studying dark magic," he said. "He insisted he was merely researching the differences between it and regular spells."
"And? Did you believe him?"
"I'm certain he wasn't lying. He genuinely wants to study the Dark Arts."
Dumbledore nodded slightly.
In just one night, three professors had approached him about Dylan.
Yet, despite their concerns, Dylan had not truly strayed into darkness. His ideas, though unconventional, were simply the result of a mind that wandered beyond the limits of common magical knowledge.
The most telling sign? He openly asked professors for guidance rather than hiding his studies.
That alone proved he wasn't secretly delving into forbidden magic.
"He's still young," Dumbledore said. "We have time to guide him. Besides, he's a Gryffindor. You know, dark wizards rarely emerge from Gryffindor."
Snape's eyelid twitched.
With a sharp "Hmph!" he spun on his heel, his black robes billowing behind him as he stalked away.
Dumbledore watched him go, his smile fading as his thoughts grew serious.
Perhaps it was time to intervene.
A Snowy Morning at Hogwarts
The night passed, blanketed in wind and snow.
By morning, Hogwarts was buried under a pristine layer of white.
Outside, the cold was biting, but Dylan remained snug in his bed, reluctant to leave.
He had just discovered a delightful trick—by spending 100 Galleons, he could transform his wizard robe into a luxuriously warm nightgown. The soft fleece pressed against his skin, providing a cocoon of warmth.
Curiously, while he could easily revert the nightgown back into his wizard robe at no cost, turning it back into pajamas required another 100 Galleons.
"What a scam!" Dylan grumbled. "I paid for the customization, but they won't even let me keep it permanently!"
Coal Ball, his black-furred pet, curled into a tighter ball in his arms.
Dylan finally sat up, stretching lazily. Then he noticed it—
At the foot of his bed lay a mountain of gifts.
"So many?" Dylan blinked in surprise.
Curious, he crawled closer, with Coal Ball peeking out from his collar.
He reached for the largest package and tore off the wrapping.
"Wow!"
Inside was a Gryffindor scarf and gloves set.
He ran his fingers over the fabric. The magically enchanted wool was unbelievably soft and adjusted its temperature automatically.
It was a gift from Professor McGonagall.
Beside it, he spotted another present—a book titled Advanced Transfiguration: A Guide to the Transfiguration of Complex Creatures.
And, even more thrilling—an entire year's worth of Transfiguration Today magazines.
"Whoa!"
This was an incredible gift.
Transfiguration Today was a renowned publication featuring articles and research from the world's top scholars in the field.
Dylan had managed to collect a few scattered issues before, and they had already been invaluable.
It wasn't that he couldn't afford a full-year subscription—though it was expensive, he had enough Galleons saved up.
The real issue was the reservation process. One had to submit a request at the start of the year, and there was always a limited number of subscriptions available. Even bookstores had trouble keeping it in stock.
"This is amazing!" Dylan murmured, flipping through the pages excitedly.
Compared to this… his own gifts suddenly felt lacking.
(End of Chapter)
FOR MORE CHAPTERS
patreon.com/STEPHENHART427