The Old Ones of Hogwarts

Chapter 79, Section 78: Fiendfyre and the Mystery of Dumbledore

The flashback spell failed to be cast.

All the professors present, including Dumbledore, were quite surprised. It's worth noting that Philius Flitwick, as an expert in Charms, possessed a profound understanding of magic.

When it comes to one-on-one duels...

If there's anyone in the entire Hogwarts who could definitively defeat him, it would only be Dumbledore, the greatest of the 20th century. A master with the skills to teach Charms would never fail with the Flashback Charm.

"It rejected my Flashback Charm. I can't force the wand; that would destroy the child's companion." Flitwick was able to realize why the spell had failed.

He looked at Dumbledore with a troubled expression.

"This is truly an unexpected situation."

Dumbledore stepped forward, took Ian's wand, and examined it with great interest. The feel and shape were so familiar, but what it lacked was that captivating and powerful aura.

"Prior Incantato!"

He took out his wand and cast the spell himself, but the image only appeared for a moment, and he couldn't see anything clearly. Then, like a mountain collapsing, it collapsed completely in the blink of an eye.

After the smoke cleared, it was as if nothing had ever happened.

"A very special wand."

Dumbledore didn't seem surprised. He chuckled and handed the wand back to Ian, saying, "Don't betray its loyalty, and don't betray the kindness of the unicorn wand core."

A very sharp eye.

Dumbledore was highly skilled in alchemy and was able to become friends with Nicolas Flamel.

How could he not be a master of alchemy?

Some say that Dumbledore became weaker as he grew old. In reality, the increase in age does not affect the strength of wizards; on the contrary, the more profound their knowledge, the more invincible they become.

What makes Dumbledore appear "weaker" in the eyes of others is never his age.

But his heart became increasingly calm.

"I will remember your teachings."

Ian humbly accepted his wand.

This guy is a true buddy!

"Is there any other way to prove my innocence?" Ian glanced at the other professors, and finally looked up at Dumbledore standing in front of him.

"It was an insignificant verification, and it doesn't affect our judgment that you are innocent." Dumbledore nodded, and none of the other professors objected.

The grade leaders were still somewhat bewildered.

Even the two Ravenclaw prefects were staring at Ian's wand hanging at his waist, completely baffled as to what had just happened.

Can a wand refuse a flashback spell?

Why isn't my wand working!

"Since the principal says Ian didn't kill anyone, can we take Ian away now? This kind of scene would definitely leave a nightmare that traumatizes a child."

Penelope was as caring as a loving mother.

She probably didn't realize that Ian's face was much rosier than hers.

"Mr. Prince, please stay. The prefects may leave now, but please keep today's events a secret."

"Don't cause any unnecessary trouble for the relevant personnel." Dumbledore's admonition obviously had no binding force, but the prefects present all nodded in agreement on the surface.

Ian would bet twenty Galleons.

None of these people were able to keep the secret after they went back.

Just as everyone was preparing to leave.

"What are you doing? Weren't you supposed to flashback to the spells he cast? I bet there's some of the magic he used when he killed Professor Ronnie Ehrlich!"

Marcus Flint couldn't accept Dumbledore's decision and started yelling, even pushing away the two prefects who tried to pull him out the door.

"Are you questioning Dumbledore's judgment?" Snape, his tone chilling, didn't tolerate the guy. He grabbed the emotionally distraught Marcus Flint and slammed him to the ground.

"It is common knowledge that a wand core made of unicorn tail hair cannot be used to cast dark magic. You are not only questioning Dumbledore, but also the truth of the wizarding world."

1

Snape really did his best to finish saying that sentence with a straight face.

The fourth-year wizard was very strong, but Snape cast a control spell on him, making him unable to get up and just lie on the ground like a slug.

The two Slytherin prefects couldn't bear to watch this scene and dared not say anything. They quickened their pace and left the Owl's Hut, followed by the other prefects.

"It must be this killer's trick! It's him! There's no mistake! I saw it with my own eyes! You can't protect him! The Ministry of Magic won't let you who are protecting him get away with it!"

"My family has connections in the Ministry of Magic; you can't possibly harm me! I'm going to sue you! You'll all be arrested and imprisoned in Azkaban!"

Marcus Flint's emotions grew increasingly agitated, even bordering on irrational. Ian, standing nearby, had already sensed something was wrong.

The same goes for the professors.

"Flint seems very convinced that he saw Mr. Prince commit murder—well, very persistent." Dumbledore pondered for a moment.

"Severus, I beg you to take this child back and examine for any traces of the Imperius Curse, and also see if anyone has tampered with the child's memories."

The task assigned by Dumbledore was exactly what Snape wanted.

"Boom!"

He knocked Marcus Flint unconscious with his elbow. Yes, that's right, not with magic, but by physically putting Flint, who had many connections in the Ministry of Magic, to sleep.

Marcus Flint immediately fainted, his eyes rolling back in his head. He was carried by Snape like a giant lizard towards the door of the Owl's Shack.

Before Snape left.

He even turned back and gave Ian a warning look.

It was as if they were telling Ian to behave himself.

"Let's help Pomona thoroughly inspect the castle and see if the killer is still hiding somewhere." Professor McGonagall noticed that Dumbledore wanted to speak with Ian alone.

Dean Felius Frivi was the same; after all, they had worked together for many years.

"You need to think carefully when you get back. Have you offended anyone, especially dark wizards?" Dean Flitwick reminded Ian earnestly before leaving.

"What kind of dark wizard could I, an orphan, possibly offend?"

Ian frowned and pondered for a long time. He really felt that he was innocent. "If I had to say, before the start of the semester, I met someone who looked like a dark wizard at Charing Cross Road in London."

.

Perhaps this is useful information?

However, Dumbledore's expression was somewhat strange.

"We'll investigate."

He nodded somewhat perfunctorily, and after hesitating for a moment, he spoke again.

"Just to satisfy a little personal curiosity—Mr. Prince, let me see your Fiendfyre spell." Dumbledore's sudden whisper left Ian completely bewildered.

Could this turn of events be any more abrupt?

"what?"

He wanted to play dumb, but he realized he couldn't. Since Dumbledore was able to make this request, he must already know that he had learned the Fiendfyre spell.

How did you find out?

Aurora?

There's no way Aurora could know that!

Although "The Secrets of Cutting-Edge Black Magic" comes from Aurora, and Aurora recommended learning the Fiendfyre spell, Ian has never cast it even once after learning it.

Capturing the mind and seizing thoughts?

He's had brain surgery before!

With his [Mind Perception] ability, he doesn't need anyone to teach him in this area, as he has already installed the essential mod for attending Hogwarts!

He was met with Dumbledore's smiling gaze.

Ian remained silent for a moment.

Raise the wand.

He recited the incantation.

A vibrant blue light rose from the shed, yet remained untouched by the flammable straw.

"You've practiced well."

Dumbledore, still smiling, praised softly. The half-moon frame on his face reflected the leaping elves in the room, and only a slight ripple flashed in his deep eyes.

"Principal, I..."

Ian tried to explain that he wasn't an evil little wizard, but Dumbledore simply patted him on the shoulder and raised his wand to extinguish the Fiendfire in the room.

"This afternoon's History of Magic class will be a battle, so go back and get some rest."

Without waiting for Ian's reply, Dumbledore had already strode out of the room, leaving Ian standing alone at the crime scene, wand in hand, with no one to protect him.

"what?"

Ian was completely bewildered.

The deceased professor.

Do we really need him to collect the body?

Is burning a corpse with a raging fire impolite?

"But shattered pieces of a corpse can't dance." Just as Ian was pondering whether Dumbledore was hinting that he should burn the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher with Fiendfyre.

"Swish swish~"

Two house-elves appeared before him.

Principal's Office.

The circular room was filled with all sorts of whimsical decorations, and numerous silver items were displayed on a long, narrow table.

They spun around, constantly emitting small plumes of smoke.

The portraits of the former principals hang on the wall, many of them snoring, as if they have different schedules from the people outside.

There are also images of people communicating.

"It's unbelievable that Ravenclaw kids can be punished by being made to face the wall in the office?"

"Heh, you think Ravenclaws never make mistakes? Judging from her flustered look, she'll probably be expelled from school this time, even if she doesn't go to Azkaban."

"In my time, children who made mistakes were punished with caning, and there were no children who couldn't be managed."

"Can't you all be quiet? You're scaring people. They've been dead for so many years, what are you reminiscing about? The current headmaster, Dumbledore, never punishes students physically."

"But Severus will."

Penelope sat on the bench, somewhat anxiously waiting.

Time seemed to pass very slowly.

She didn't know what kind of torment she endured amidst the noise before she finally heard a sound coming from the spiral staircase behind her.

"Headmaster Dumbledore."

Penelope turned to look at the old man who had appeared. She had already recalled everything she had done that day, but she still couldn't find a reason why she had been called to the principal's office alone.

"Don't be nervous, Miss Krivat. You haven't done anything wrong and you won't be punished. I had Fox bring you here just to get some information."

Dumbledore walked to his office chair.

"Is it related to the professor's death today?"

This was the only possibility Penelope could think of.

"That matter has nothing to do with you young wizards anymore, so don't worry about it. The professors will handle everything properly," Dumbledore said gently, gazing at the students before him.

His eyes were darting around.

But she still tried her best to maintain a gentle smile.

"I only heard from the ghosts in the castle that you've been tirelessly inquiring about things in the castle since yesterday afternoon—things that perhaps shouldn't be sought out by anyone?"