Magical Studies at Hogwarts...

Chapter 118 The Robbery of the Centenarian

After the Dementors behaved themselves, life at Hogwarts returned to normal once again.

Classes, Quidditch, more classes—everything went smoothly without a ripple.

Ike carried out his plan step by step. Although his growth was slow, it was solid.

In mid-December, Ike's research had achieved some success, and he finally had time to look at the book "The Secrets of Advanced Dark Magic" that Dumbledore had sent him.

This is a book of dark magic containing numerous references to the soul and immortality, largely based on the many achievements of the despicable Herpo. The compiler of the book was clearly a fanatical Herpo worshipper, with his personality cult interspersed throughout the text.

The contents were far too evil and dark, containing a large number of human experiments. The results of these experiments made Ike feel his scalp tingle and his worldview completely shattered.

It's hard to imagine that many of the humanoid beings currently existing in the magical world were cultivated as tools of war.

In comparison, Horcruxes are considered a relatively mild method.

The next day, after reading "The Secrets of Cutting-Edge Black Magic" once, Ike took the book to the principal's office. This stuff was too twisted; looking at it for too long would really drive a person insane.

"What is it, Mr. Streid?"

Dumbledore was engrossed in some task, sitting at his ornate desk writing something.

"I've come to return the book, Professor." Ike placed the book on the table. "I don't think this book is suitable for me."

"Oh? I thought you'd be looking at it for a while longer." Dumbledore put down his quill and adjusted his glasses.

"One time is enough."

Without saying anything more, Ike had made his stance very clear. Whether Dumbledore believed him or not, he had long since stopped caring. The rigor of an unbreakable oath was far more reliable than any blood oath.

"Then I won't bother you any longer, Professor, I have a class to teach later."

"Well, Mr. Strayed, it's never wrong for students to prioritize their studies." Dumbledore watched Ike walk toward the door, and then suddenly spoke up when he was almost at the door, "By the way, Severus told me something very interesting, so I contacted an old friend of mine who happens to be coming to the school to see his grandson."

He glanced at the time and continued, "There's still time. I think you could go see Severus."

"I will, Professor." Ike nodded and left.

He went straight to the basement after leaving the principal's office, knocked on the door, and Ike pushed it open and entered.

Snape's office, unlike its usual gloomy state, was brightly lit by many candles. A thin, white-haired old man stood beside Ellie, occasionally poking her with his wand, while Snape stood respectfully to the side.

"I think you should learn some manners, Strayed." Noticing Ike enter, Snape's face instantly reverted to its usual cold expression.

"Sorry, Professor." Ike knew when to back down, and besides, he was more interested in this skinny old man than Snape.

After all this time, Snape still knew Ike very well, and he could tell what Ike was thinking just by looking at him like this.

"This is Mr. Scamander..."

"Newt Scamander?" Ike's eyes brightened instantly. "The author of 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,' Mr. Newt Scamander?"

"Oh? Do kids these days even know an old man like me?" Newt turned around. "I always thought nobody knew me anymore. My grandson always said I was outdated."

"Of course not, you are the greatest magizoologist of modern times," Snape quickly replied.

"That's right, that's right." Ike nodded repeatedly, pointed to Ellie, and asked, "Are you here to see her?"

"Oh, yes, that's right." Newt's interest suddenly piqued. "Unbelievable, I actually saw this amazing little guy in person."

"This is truly a major discovery! Did you know that there's a type of snake in Africa...?"

Newt went on and on about a similar incident he had witnessed while searching for magical creatures in Africa.

"...Unfortunately, that was a magical creature, completely different from this little one." Newt nudged Ellie again. "There's magical energy emanating from her!"

"So, Mr. Scamander, can you heal her?" Ike asked.

"Well... I can try," Newt said after a brief silence. "I've never encountered anything like this before, and there's not much information about cases like hers."

"But overall, there shouldn't be any problems."

"In my opinion, she should be..."

Newt talked a lot, leaving Ike stunned. In short, Ellie had severely damaged her vitality while stimulating the growth of the Red Rose. Although Ike's treatment helped her survive the process and she received magical blessings as a result, she was still just an ordinary nightingale, and the magic's transformation of her was not complete.

"...So, if...then...that should solve her problem."

"Okay, so for now, all we need to do is speed up the transformation of her magic..." Ike thought of a transformation method mentioned in "The Secrets of Cutting-Edge Black Magic." If some of the more bloody steps were removed, it should be fine.

"Thank you, Mr. Scamander." Ike patted Ellie's head. "I can finally make you feel better, Ellie..."

"Wait, wait!" Newt initially nodded in agreement, but then suddenly realized, "You're going to save her yourself?"

"yes?"

"Do you have a solution?"

"I have a slight idea..."

"That won't do." Newt suddenly hardened his stance, his thin body ramrod straight. "You're still a student; studying is the most important thing. I'll do it."

Without giving Ike a chance, he grabbed the bird stand and ran out, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Ike was dumbfounded and quickly followed, but couldn't see Newt anywhere. He returned, scratching his head, and asked Snape with a bewildered look, "What he just did...it was a robbery, wasn't it?"

"I agree with Mr. Scamander; he's more certain than you are." Snape resumed his icy demeanor, lifting his robes and sitting down in a chair. "As Mr. Scamander says, you should focus your energy on your studies, Strayed."

"Alright, Professor." Ike nodded subconsciously. In this situation, there was no use in being unwilling. Besides, with Newt, the magizoologist, involved, his method was much more reliable than his own, which was still just a conjecture.

(End of this chapter)