Hogwarts: From Luna's House to Godhood Through Intense Competition

Harry didn't want to leave Hogwarts;

Ron didn't want anyone to write to his mother to complain after he got into trouble at Hogwarts.

“Professor McGonagall, since the children are all safe, how about we give them a small punishment as a warning?” Dumbledore said, a satisfied smile on his face.

Professor McGonagall adjusted her glasses and sighed deeply. "I see the radiance of friendship in you all."

"But violating school rules must be punished. Gryffindor loses thirty points! Percy, take them back to rest!"

Harry and Ron exchanged a glance and breathed a long sigh of relief. For them, this was the best possible outcome.

Hermione's eyes were still red, feeling that it was her fault that Gryffindor had lost another thirty points.

“Now it’s your turn.” Dumbledore took two steps forward. “You’ll be facing trolls head-on, won’t that be even more thrilling? Why… why didn’t you go back to the common room?”

"Headmaster Dumbledore, it was all an accident!" Compared to Harry and the others' panic, Fred seemed much calmer, even managing to wink as he answered.

George remained remarkably calm, responding with perfect understanding, "We were only a few minutes... a few tens of minutes... at most half an hour late to the auditorium, who knew we'd run into this mess?"

“The auditorium was completely empty, and we were terrified…we almost burst into tears!” Fred recounted vividly.

George covered his face with his hands, nodding and wailing, "That's right! I actually cried... Waaaaaah..."

Penelope, standing to the side, covered her mouth, trying hard not to laugh out loud.

Vizette held her breath, also trying to suppress her laughter.

"What were you doing before?" Professor McGonagall took a deep breath, seemingly to calm herself. "Why were you with Vizette?"

"To learn magic..." Fred's eyes darted around, and he blurted out, "We'll go to Vizet to learn potions."

"Discuss Potions with first-year students?" Professor McGonagall murmured, her tone skeptical. "At the very least, one should..."

“Vizet is qualified,” Snape said abruptly, arms crossed. “Those two are not as good as him, I’m telling you!”

“Uh…” George lowered his hand and nodded repeatedly in agreement with Snape’s words. “Although Professor Snape’s words hurt me, it is indeed the truth.”

"Alright! The matter is clear now; this was an accident." Dumbledore maintained his smile. "Everyone's tired tonight, so go home and rest."

Fred and George said in unison, "Yes, yes, yes! We're sleepy too! Headmaster Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and Snape... Professor, goodnight!"

Fearing that Dumbledore might change his mind, they quickly shouldered the large green slime vials on their backs and sprinted out of the Great Hall.

Before leaving, he left a message: "Vizet! We will never forget your life-saving grace!"

Chapter 61 Dumbledore's Plans

Professor McGonagall watched Fred and George walk away and sighed softly, "Those two kids!"

“Headmaster Dumbledore, shall I take Vizet back with me?” Penelope asked tentatively.

The fact that no points were deducted for this incident is the best possible outcome.

“I’m afraid not, Miss Crevat.” Dumbledore waved his hand. “I have some things I’d like to ask Mr. Lovegood alone.”

“Professor Flitwick, could you please take him to the principal’s office? The password is ‘Jelly Slug’.”

The number of people dwindled again. Dumbledore looked at Quirrell and asked softly, "Professor Quirrell, I couldn't find you earlier. Where did you go?"

"Ah... I woke up!" Quirrell stammered, sweat beading on his forehead. "And then I... I left! Later, I heard a noise and came over... to check it out!"

"Is that so?" Dumbledore murmured, turning to Snape. "Professor Snape, I saw you coming with him just now."

Quirrell took a deep breath, his eyes filled with worry, and looked at Snape with trepidation.

Snape pursed his lips and gave a brief reply, "Just happened to run into you."

“Yes…it was a coincidence.” Quirrell breathed a sigh of relief. “I was a little groggy when I woke up, but I’m…much better now!”

"It's great that you're alright, Professor Quirrell!" Dumbledore nodded. "Why don't we all go home and get some rest?"

……

The professors left, leaving only Dumbledore in the Great Hall.

He strolled to the far corridor, where the floor was a mess, littered with bricks and stones knocked over by the giant.

"Traces revealed!"

He murmured, and golden smoke flew from the tip of the wand, forming a vortex in the air.

The vortex made a rustling sound, scattering countless golden dust particles outwards...

The gold dust gathered again, forming moving figures, like a scene from a movie.

Dumbledore pulled out a bag of lemonade and, like an audience member in a movie theater, ate it with relish while watching the film.

"Magic fireworks! Fred and George's skills have improved. Could it be with Vizette's help?"

"So this is the special summoning spell that Minerva was talking about? How interesting..."

"Knowing the troll's weakness, an extremely skillful levitation spell... and it seems there's additional magical power at play."

"Is this what makes the Obscurus so special? The power of the Curse of Oblivion... is comparable to that of some Death Eaters."

Realizing this, Dumbledore carefully put away Lemon Olaf, his expression turning extremely serious. "So this was Voldemort's purpose!"

"What is his purpose?" Snape's voice suddenly rang out as he limped toward Dumbledore.

Seeing Snape's actions, a hint of guilt flashed in Dumbledore's eyes. "You're not in good shape. I need to get Fawks to..."

“There’s no need,” Snape said curtly. “Since you say Quirrell is the Dark Lord’s henchman, we should have less contact with him.”

"Phoenix Tears can indeed heal wounds, but my wounds healed too quickly, which will make me more insecure in the future."

“I’m sorry,” Dumbledore sighed softly. “Your leg… was it because of your fight with Quirrell? His strength is…”

“I was bitten by Cerberus,” Snape interrupted. “You didn’t tell me that Cerberus was hiding in that room. Why isn’t that thing in the Forbidden Forest?”

“Actually, I did say… at the opening banquet,” Dumbledore explained. “I set up a spell on that room, marked by the door.”

“Lowe only stays inside; it won’t come out and hurt anyone unless the door is opened. I never expected you to go inside.”

Snape opened his mouth, trying to keep his tone cold, "Quirok disguised himself very well, his silent spellcasting was very skilled, and he destroyed the door with fire, which was a lucky accident, something I didn't expect."

Dumbledore sighed, "He was a talented wizard, what a pity..."

"You certainly have a talent for foolishly risking your life for the Dark Lord," Snape said mercilessly. "What did you just say was the Dark Lord's purpose?"

Dumbledore explained, "Let Vizet use dark magic to stir up the Obscurus... Voldemort's goal is the Obscurus."

His eyes revealed a hint of reminiscence, as if he were recalling some past event, and his expression instantly turned grim. "He also wanted to obtain the power of the Obscurial."

Snape asked, "Is this the Dark Lord's intention, or Quirrell's?"

Dumbledore frowned. "What else happened between you and Quirrell tonight?"

"When Quirrell heard Wizette's voice, he immediately tensed up, even begging me and exposing his back to me before running downstairs like a madman."

"Is this why you've all appeared together?" Dumbledore's brow relaxed as he stroked his long silver beard. "That's a good thing."

"To gain Vizet's power and care for him at the same time, is that a good thing?" Snape crossed his arms. "I think he should go to St. Mungo's to get his head checked."

“Perhaps his soul has split, with one half caring about Vizet and the other half only thinking about carrying out orders. I don’t mind brewing some potions to free him.”

Dumbledore waved his hand. "Conflict is an opportunity. Under Wizette's influence, Quirrell may have a chance to turn back."

"You still need to maintain contact with him and find out how Voldemort is doing now. That's very important to us."

"Heh...what else?" Snape sneered. "That's why I don't use Phoenix Tears. I'll go see him again tonight."

Dumbledore gave Snape a deep look and said sincerely, "Severus, thank you..."

“No need!” Snape’s tone was very curt. “I’ll do anything to kill the Dark Lord!”

"Ah! I haven't sighed this often in ages!" Dumbledore said with a self-deprecating laugh, changing the subject. "Let's keep watching! Do you need me to help you?"

Snape didn't speak, but frowned and took two steps forward, demonstrating his answer through his actions.

The two returned to the auditorium and saw Vizette, made of gold dust, emanating a twisted aura.

Dumbledore said in a deep voice, "The Obscurians are stirring. This is not a good sign!"

He looked thoughtful. "By the time I calmed Harry down and returned to the Great Hall, Vizette had already returned to normal. How did he do that?"

Soon, the tracking spell gave him the answer: Vizet, made of gold dust, waved her wand and cast a spell on himself.

Seeing that familiar movement, Snape's expression turned strange. "A composite spell, something new right in front of me. I remember the incantation is... Dust Removal!"

The wand traced a beautiful "S" arc, and a vortex rose from beneath their feet, carrying away a cloud of dust...

Chapter 62 Staffless Spellcasting and Silent Spellcasting

Snape explained, "As you can see, it can clean all kinds of dirt, even dragon blood."

Dumbledore murmured, "When was it completed? Was it under your guidance?"

“No!” Snape shook his head. “The knowledge of composite magic comes from Quirrell, although his classes are worse than the Potion of Despair.”

"But when he was teaching Wizette alone, he demonstrated the level expected of a Ravenclaw, at least in terms of solid theoretical knowledge."

"He's only a first-year student!" Dumbledore exclaimed. "To have created a composite spell, that's remarkable!"

Snape abruptly reminded him, "Don't even think about changing your target. You want me to find time to face Harry Potter? Impossible!"