Hogwarts: This professor is too Muggle.

Chapter 129 The Dark Mark
"Mary, I'll leave it to you, Professor Lewinter. We used to think that this was just the child's personality, but we didn't expect it to be..."

Mrs. Aikmo spoke with a complicated expression. As a powerful official in the Transportation Department, she was always accustomed to bringing work into her family life, slowly suppressing and distorting her children's nature, and disciplining them into subordinates who lacked autonomy. Her mood at the moment was indescribable.

In fact, when Melvin revealed the truth, she even thought about quitting her job and taking the child home to take good care of him.

Lockhart next to him was still a little dazed at this time, a little confused about the situation. They were just discussing business, how come the topic suddenly turned to student issues? The student issues were not explained clearly, but the business seemed to be settled.

He opened his mouth, wanting to ask something, but no words came out.

"As I said before, this is what a professor should do," Melvin said with a kind smile. "School is not just a place to impart knowledge."

This statement is absolutely correct, and sounds like something a professor truly means.

However, Mrs. Aikmo knew very well that there were hundreds of students in the school, and Melvin was just a foreign professor of elective courses, not the dean. They were not related to each other, and there was no interest in the relationship. Who would bother to do anything other than their job?

"I will also do a good job as the Transportation Division Director."

Mrs. Aikman restrained her words.

Melvin knew that both parties had reached an agreement. He then looked up at the progress of the party and said goodbye to Mrs. Aikmo: "It's almost time. We should go back."

"I'll take you out."

The three of them walked out of the manor slowly. The party was nearing its end. The band played a soothing and melodious tune. Only a small number of people were still dancing on the dance floor, and some of the guests had already left.

When they reached the country road outside, the two professors took out their wands and prepared to Apparate. Melvin stretched his arms, as if to relax his stiff muscles, and inadvertently glanced at the lady's shoulder.

Mrs. Aikman didn't notice anything, thinking it was just a habit of foreign wizards. "Regarding the Magic Mirror Club, the Transportation Department can only guarantee full assistance with the construction. The exact cooperation plan and measures still need to be approved by the Ministry. I will compile the details and send them to you in a letter later."

Melvin nodded and agreed.

"I can see that you are an excellent professor, able to easily see through the problems of your students. However, I need to remind you that sometimes your keen observation also requires attention to others."

Mrs. Edgecombe glanced at Lockhart beside her, and finally her eyes fell on Melvin. She said tactfully and sincerely: "Some wizards are not as they appear. It is best to keep your distance from such people."

Is the great writer Lockhart exposed now?
Melvin was a little surprised, but thanked him calmly: "Thank you for your reminder, I will keep an eye on it."

As two crackling sounds, one strong and one weak, were heard, the figures of the two professors disappeared into the night.

In an instant, he crossed hundreds of miles and arrived outside the school gate. Melvin's body swayed slightly, and after he stood firm, he felt a soft touch on the soles of his shoes, reminding him that he was back outside the castle in the Scottish Highlands.

Lockhart's Apparition was obviously rougher. His face was pale, his smile was stiff, and he looked like he was carsick and about to vomit. The journey across several counties made him feel very uncomfortable.

After walking through the school gate and along the path for a while, Lockhart slowly recovered, straightened his back, and gave Melvin a not-so-perfect smile: "The negotiations went better than expected, right, Melvin? My energy was not wasted. Before asking her to meet you, I gave her a lot of advice..."

"Thank you very much, Professor Lockhart."

Melvin glanced at him, feeling quite good. "If the plan goes well, by this time next year, the Mirror Club's videos will be able to be transmitted to the homes of wizards in England via the Floo Network."

"The whole of England! Isn't that really exciting? Then all the wizards in England will be able to see my smile! And learn how to deal with dark creatures!"

Lockhart's eyes suddenly lit up, he muttered to himself, and unconsciously slowed down his pace, immersed in the imagination of his own success.

It took a long time for him to come back to his senses. Melvin had already walked a long way away. Seeing the back from afar, Lockhart recalled the scene at the party.

Although he had published several best-selling books, won the Order of Merlin, and was popular among young girls and housewives, he was just an insignificant character to a powerful wizard like Mrs. Edgemore, who didn't even want to talk to him.

Melvin owns the Magic Mirror Club, and he hasn't been awarded the Order of Merlin yet, so he's not really an important character. Mrs. Edgemore didn't take him seriously at first, but he was able to change the impression with just a few words and force others to take him seriously.

Then he quickly finalized the cooperation and made the deal in a few words. Power and wealth were just his bargaining chips.

Looking back at myself, I can’t write a new book, my fame is fading, the bird-snake egg shampoo I developed can’t be promoted, my savings have run out, and my classes are failing.

Lockhart's impeccable smile gradually faded, revealing an envious look. He quickened his pace to catch up with Melvin. His eyes inadvertently glanced at his hand and asked in confusion, "Melvin, what's that glass bottle in your hand?"

"Is this what you're talking about?"

Melvin laughed. "The little beetle I just caught seems to be a rare species. I plan to take it back and study it."

……

Late at night, a full moon hangs on the window.

A cylindrical glass bottle was upside down on the table. It was the bottle used to store honey on the party table. Melvin took it over and used it as a temporary container to imprison a beetle that had fallen into the trap.

The elytra are bright blue, trembling slightly to reveal the thin wings underneath, as if it feels the gaze. The two front antennae sway slowly, with circular patterns underneath, like glasses on the face. There are spots under the wings, and the characteristics are obviously different from those of ordinary beetles.

It is slightly larger and fatter than ordinary beetles, but smaller than a fingernail, and can easily hide in inconspicuous places such as hair, collar folds, curtain gaps or bushes.

If Melvin hadn't been lying motionless on someone's shoulder for a long time, he wouldn't have noticed it.

"Rita Skeeter," Melvin whispered, smiling.

When the beetle suddenly heard the name, it shuddered all over, trembled like a spasm, spread its wings and fled in panic, making a crisp sound when it hit the glass bottle.

However, it failed to break through the glass bottle. The honey bottle was too hard for the beetle. Even the powerful vibrations of its wing membranes could not leave any marks on it.

The beetle buzzed through the bottle wall. After its disguise was exposed, it no longer hid. Then magic power bloomed in its body, and the shadow of a witch emerged, about to break through the constraints of the glass bottle and return to its original form.

Melvin sat motionless in his chair, watching the Animagus perform quietly.

The blurry shadow disappeared in an instant, and when its body expanded, it touched the solid glass bottle, making her feel as if her original body was stuffed into the narrow space, and her bones and muscles were crushed. Intense and short-lived pain enveloped her whole body, and the beetle's wings curled up and trembled again.

After a long time, he came to his senses and retreated to the corner of the glass bottle, shaking his two tentacles as if confronting Melvin.

"Sorry, I forgot to mention that the glass bottle has a securing charm on it."

Melvin said earnestly, his gaze seemingly appraising an interesting object: "Rita Skeeter, a top journalist, a contributing writer for several publishers including the Daily Prophet, and while not as renowned as Lockhart, she's still quite famous." The plump beetle trembled.

"In fact, I admire you very much." Melvin spoke slowly. "You were able to teach yourself Animagus when you were young, which proves that you are smart. You are an outstanding graduate of Ravenclaw. After graduation, you quickly became familiar with the work of a journalist. You are very good at exploring the dark side of readers. You know what they like to read."

The beetle was stunned. In her eyes, Professor Lewinter was already huge and looked like a ferocious monster, and the information revealed by these words was even more terrifying.

How did he know his identity? When did he know it? Who else knew it?

In the past, it was Skeeter who found out other people's secrets and revealed them in newspapers. Now his own secrets have been revealed and his life is in danger. He can only hide in a glass bottle and wait to be slaughtered.

"The upright and great are corrupt at heart, the glamorous are privately filthy, the idol heroes are actually despicable and embarrassing..."

Melvin had obviously read her articles. "You're well aware of these points, so the targets of your attacks are generally influential figures in the wizarding world. The more famous and popular they are, the more they suit your expectations. At the same time, you know how to restrain yourself and won't slander or offend powerful wizards. You almost always report on them after their deaths."

"Former Principal Dippet, Minister Harold Minkan, and even the mysterious man... These reports don't directly tell readers the truth. Instead, they weave together false speculations based on real events, weaving the truth into the fabric of the lies."

Melvin recounted the biographies she had written, her smile gentle and friendly. "If readers knew that the golden reporter Skeeter was an unregistered Animagus, they would probably be more convinced of the truth you weave, right?"

Beetle didn't dare to imagine such a thing, but the consequences of the secret being exposed kept emerging in his mind. Even if he hid in St. Mungo's Hospital or Azkaban, he would be hit by dozens of curses from behind and would die of inexplicable illness.

Her six legs kept shaking, tapping against the glass bottle, making a faint sound.

"boom……"

Melvin flicked the glass with his finger. Although it was only a slight tremor, the beetle showed an extremely painful posture, curled up tightly, and its wings and legs kept twitching.

The tremors stopped and the beetle collapsed onto the table.

"You are an outstanding graduate of Ravenclaw, possessing extraordinary wisdom. You should know why I say so much. Think about it carefully..."

Melvin moved the glass bottle to the corner and ignored it.

An excellent media system needs a qualified mouthpiece. The gold medal reporter Skeeter is such a mouthpiece. Her articles spread very quickly and it is very convenient to convey information to the outside world.

A useful tool needs to be completely sharpened. Just controlling it with the handle is not stable enough. It needs stronger control.

Melvin took out his diary, waited for the quill to be soaked with water, and wrote on the front:

"My dear Tom, remember the Dark Mark we mentioned when we were talking about Death Eaters and the Dark Arts?"

"Why are you asking this all of a sudden?"

The diary responded quickly, clearly intrigued by the topic, its ink flowing continuously. "From the information you've revealed, this is a profound yet convenient black magic, involving the principles of soul branding and enslavement curses..."

Melvin read the relevant information with great interest, and once again felt the generosity of Senior Riddle, who was simply a living dictionary of black magic.

The Dark Mark is the mark that Voldemort gave to the Death Eaters. It consists of a skull and a poisonous snake. It is usually bright red and will gradually turn black after activation.

It is almost impossible to erase. Even if Voldemort dies, it will turn into an indelible scar.

Voldemort can use the mark to share his location with the Death Eaters, summon the Death Eaters or respond to the Death Eaters' call, locate and track them, and Apparate directly to them.

Melvin had learned a similar curse before. When he first arrived at Knockturn Alley, he branded a few Ouroboros on the wizards who were robbing him on the road, but it could only be used to scare people and the effect was much worse.

The map business was originally a spur-of-the-moment idea, so it doesn't matter if it's a little loose, but the gold medal reporter is different. He has a quick mind and is good at disguise, so he can't be let go.

"The Dark Mark is quite complex, but with your talent, you'll master it quickly." The diary paused, ink flowing. "Do you want to learn, Melvin?"

Direct teaching?

Don't you even try to shirk your responsibility?
Melvin raised an eyebrow and slowly moved his notebook across the paper. "Okay, you teach me."

"First, there's the branding. The mark isn't just on the body, it's on the soul, and it involves the application of the Cruciatus Curse..."

……

early morning.

"Pfft... pfft..."

The night moth in the transparent glass bottle flapped its wings continuously. A spell with a faint green light fell, and the night moth suddenly lost its balance and fell on the table. Its wings trembled slightly, and its life gradually dissipated.

A miniature Dark Mark appeared on the abdomen.

The area is small and is gradually disappearing.

This black magic, which Voldemort tailored for himself, was even more difficult than Fiendfyre. Senior Riddle did not hide anything, and explained the core principles clearly, with illustrations showing the casting movements.

Melvin already had a foundation, but he learned hastily and used living animals for experiments after practicing for less than half an hour, so the results were not ideal.

Melvin frowned slightly as he looked at the gradually blurring skull and snake patterns on the night moth's body, and threw the dying night moth into the trash can.

The diary seemed to know about his experiment: "Insects don't have souls, and animal souls are too weak to bear the mark. You need to find a wizard to conduct the experiment."

"..."

Melvin lowered his eyes slightly.

Senior Riddle taught with all his heart, but he seemed a little too eager and his intentions were too obvious.

By branding a wizard, one can determine whether Voldemort's main soul is still alive by the state of the Dark Mark, and by the way, recruit new members for the Death Eaters.

Before completing the modification of the underlying principles, Melvin did not intend to test it on wizards. He wanted to disassemble the principles, design his own mark, and build his own power.

(End of this chapter)