Not every form of dark magic is branded as forbidden or untouchable.
But it is still not something an ordinary wizard should have access to. And after Voldemort started the First Wizarding War, attitudes toward anything in that area became especially sensitive.
It had even vaguely become something of a byword for Death Eaters.
So no one would have expected Harry Potter, a Gryffindor who saw himself as one of the righteous, to have mastered such a powerful piece of dark magic.
And not just that. It was dark magic personally created by a certain black bat...
Sectumsempra!
...
Although Harry Potter had used it nonverbally, the disturbance caused by the spell still made Draco and the other two, Ginny and Luna included, recognize it instantly for what it was.
Quite apart from Draco, who already knew Sectumsempra himself, everything that had happened in the sky back then was still vivid in Ginny and Luna's memories. Even now, scenes from that time still surfaced in their dreams from time to time, along with Draco's back, which had made them feel so protected.
It was precisely that sense of safety and trust that kept Ginny and Luna from retreating or feeling afraid even now.
And just as Ginny and the others had expected, as they watched the translucent barrier block Sectumsempra outside, magical light flared where spell struck spell, and Ginny's eyes reflected that beautiful glow.
Ginny looked at the figure in front of her with mixed emotions.
"I... we got saved by this guy again?"
What Ginny saw before her was Draco, who had also cast a Nonverbal Spell and easily blocked Harry Potter's attack.
But while Ginny was confused, Draco's thoughts were much heavier.
"That cutting power and force... it really is Sectumsempra. But..."
Ginny and Luna had indeed recognized Sectumsempra as the spell Draco excelled at, but they did not really understand what that implied.
Because this involved magical inheritance.
For every wizard, the inheritance of magic was something of the utmost importance. For families like Draco's, one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, that was even more true.
And Draco, having gained Snape's approval, was naturally his one and only inheritor.
In other words, Harry Potter should not have been able to learn Sectumsempra at all.
So... where had he stolen it from?
Draco flicked his wand, dispersing the translucent barrier in front of him.
"Where did you learn that spell, Potter?"
Seeing how easily his attack had been blocked, and feeling the vast abyss-like magic coming from Draco, Harry Potter swallowed hard, his expression turning ugly.
His eyes widened.
"I don't think I'm under any obligation to answer that question!!"
The very next second, Harry Potter ground his teeth and answered Draco's question in the most suicidal way possible. He fired off a second Sectumsempra.
From the fact that he could not grasp the key point in Draco's question, it was obvious Harry Potter did not know Sectumsempra's true origin.
For all Draco knew, Harry Potter might not even realize that this powerful spell, capable of summoning an invisible blade, was itself a dark art...
...
"Here it comes again, Draco!!"
Compared to Draco, who could casually throw out a Sectumsempra, Harry Potter's grasp of the spell was clearly far weaker.
The raising of his hand was too obvious. The long stiffness after casting made it impossible for him to chain it smoothly. Its power and speed were far inferior as well. Even Ginny could easily read his intent to attack.
For all anyone knew, Harry Potter might not even have mastered the counter-curse for it.
All of that proved Harry Potter had not truly learned the spell, nor had he ever received Snape's detailed personal guidance...
Watching that flaw-ridden Sectumsempra, Draco gave a casual wave of his wand.
"As expected. It's just a counterfeit."
Boom!
Under Draco's deliberate control, the Sectumsempra cast by both sides collided head-on in the middle.
Snow and wind exploded outward.
Flurries of snow obscured their vision.
"How beautiful."
Even though they knew things were turning bad, the instant they saw the magical light scatter through the wind and snow, Ginny and Luna still could not help lighting up at the beautiful sight before them.
It reminded the girls of that great adventure in the past...
By contrast, cold sweat broke out across Harry Potter's body. The excitement he had felt just moments ago turned ice-cold in a matter of seconds.
Because right by his feet, there was now a vicious gash, one that had very nearly sliced straight through his body.
That was the mark left behind by Draco's Sectumsempra.
No matter how lacking Harry Potter might be, from the result of that clash, and from the spell that had nearly brushed past his feet, even he could tell.
The gap between himself and Draco.
Cold sweat.
Helplessness.
That familiar feeling surged into Harry Potter's heart once again.
Again, it was this result.
Again, it was this person standing in front of him.
Just as Harry Potter was trying to calm himself down, Draco's magnetic voice drifted into his ears.
"So this is the justice you were talking about?"
"You..." Hearing the thick mockery in those words, Harry Potter's eyes instantly reddened.
Draco ignored his impotent fury and continued in a low voice.
"In my eyes, justice... is nothing more than a noble illusion."
Crunch.
That was the sound of a foot stepping into the snow.
With his noble robes stirring in the wind and snow, Draco Malfoy crossed through the storm and came to stand in front of Harry Potter.
That overwhelming pressure made Harry Potter instinctively take a step back. The panic on his face was utterly different from the arrogant, defiant look he had worn just moments earlier.
That humiliating display only deepened Ginny's disappointment. The filter of admiration she had been struggling to maintain shattered completely in that instant...
...
Whether Draco's words had provoked him, or Ginny's expression had filled him with unbearable shame, Harry Potter suddenly shrieked,
"You have no right to speak of justice, you evil Death Eater!!"
Steadying himself again, Harry Potter seemed to drive out every last bit of magic he had left, without caring about anything anymore.
At that moment, he looked like a mad dog driven into a dead end...
Faced with a Harry Potter like this, Draco merely raised his wand slightly and spoke words that stunned everyone.
"You are not the side of justice."
"Because in this wizarding world, only the victor gets to represent justice!!"