Magical Studies at Hogwarts...

Chapter 32 May 30th

Comrade Lao Fu's magical abilities are beyond doubt.

On the way back, Voldemort, unusually, did not let Quirrell cover himself with a headscarf or hood, and kept answering Ike's questions.

Whether it was an extra method to increase magic power, the wonderful use of Felix Felicis, or the difference between European curses and ancient Egyptian curses, Comrade Voldemort always hit the nail on the head, which greatly benefited Ike and made him even more glad that he hadn't immediately broken free from the Possession Curse.

By holding back, even though the more you think about it, the angrier you get, you actually benefit a lot.

Before parting, Voldemort even taught him an extra little spell that was widely circulated among dark wizards: the Concealment Charm, which could effectively hide a wizard's face, making him appear as a blurry figure to others, as if he were separated by thick clouds.

A very useful little spell, although Ike thinks it should be called the Blur Face Spell, since that's all it can do.

The following days were quite leisurely. Quirrell and Old Voll focused their energy on breaking through the barriers. In Quirrell's current state, even an unscathed unicorn would be easy for him to defeat.

Ike was indeed very busy. There were only two weeks left until the final exams, and young wizards could be seen studying everywhere in Ravenclaw. The young hawks were more obsessive about their grades than one might imagine.

Whether it's the common room, the library, or even the auditorium, you can see little wizards engrossed in their books everywhere, creating a very strong learning atmosphere.

Of course, simply studying books can only solve theoretical exams to a certain extent. For courses like Charms, Potions, Transfiguration, and Herbalism, which have practical components, simply reading and reviewing books is not enough.

And so, the vast meadows by Black Lake were taken over by the young wizards, further reducing the space for older couples to go on dates and strolls.

In fact, putting so much energy into reviewing is just a desperate measure. For lower-grade students, the practical part is not difficult. Even the transformation is still just about turning a smooth-looking, simple object into another object, and the score is based solely on the beauty of the transformed object.

For most young wizards, this is not difficult at all.

However, these days nobody believes the truth, so Ike was often resented by Stuart and others.

For every student who studies diligently, there is someone who is mischievous and troublesome. Even in Gryffindor, the concentration camp of troublemakers, what Harry, Harry, and their friends did was indeed excessive.

The deduction of 50 points per person, totaling 150 points, caused Gryffindor, who were previously neck and neck with Slytherin, to fall to the bottom, surpassing Hufflepuff, the perennial "number one." If Ravenclaw had been in first place, the Gryffindors might not have been so angry, but to hand over the House Cup first place to Slytherin so easily has infuriated the little lions!

Hermione, Harry, and Neville became the target of everyone's anger, while Ron escaped unscathed because he was bitten by Hagrid's dragon and ended up in the school hospital.

So, in Ike's opinion, the Gryffindors should be glad that Ron had gotten involved; they would have lost an extra fifty points.

Hmm... that might set a record?

Without Ekko's involvement, the trio's story unfolded much as he remembered, which reminded Ekko of something else:

Quirrell is going back to the Forbidden Forest to search for unicorns.

Unlike what I remember, the current Quirrell is doing this to perpetuate the effects of the unicorn bloodline. Although both are unavoidable, they are fundamentally different.

About ten days later, Ike secretly noted down this time, something that wasn't recorded in the books.

The life of a top student is so boring. While others are studying hard, Ike is complacent about a piece of useless knowledge that is not recorded in the book.

Ike, who had been showing off, was once again ruthlessly suppressed by Stuart and the others, who even confiscated his favorite pile of cockroaches!

On May 30th, while Harry, Hermione, and Neville received notice that the Forbidden Forest would be locked down that evening, Ike also received a note from Quirrell, instructing them to meet at 10 p.m.

Silently destroying the note, Ike acted as if nothing had happened, spending the last classes before exam week—Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, and History of Magic—with Stuart and the others. It was already past nine o'clock when they left the History of Magic classroom.

After setting a time with Stuart and Terry again, Ike skillfully cast the Illusion Spell and walked silently towards the Forbidden Forest.

Upon entering the Forbidden Forest, Ike began to miss the days when he was afflicted with the Soul Reaper's Curse by Old Voldemort, at least back then he didn't need to use the Level 1 Tracking Charm to find Quirrell's location.

After searching for almost twenty minutes, Ike arrived at the so-called "meeting point." Ike had noticed during his Defense Against the Dark Arts class earlier that Quirrell looked much worse, a gaunt, malnourished appearance. Now, Ike could even faintly see the bluish veins behind Quirrell's ears.

"Great Dark Lord! Teacher!" Ike nodded slightly and bowed respectfully to Comrade Old Voldemort. Comrade Old Voldemort was still very happy, but his tone was indeed weaker than before, not as vigorous as before.

"My child, I'm glad you've come. Unfortunately, tonight we may have to go hunting a new unicorn."

"It would be my pleasure to help you, teacher."

Voldemort seemed to sigh, but his voice was so soft that Ike didn't hear him clearly: "The last one didn't last until today. It died in the Forbidden Forest about four days ago. The day before yesterday, I saw that stupid half-giant running out of the Forbidden Forest crying, carrying the corpse of that beast on his back."

"Today I want you to enjoy the thrill of catching a unicorn..." Voldemort continued, "Don't worry, Quirrell will protect you."

"As you wish, teacher!" Ike exclaimed excitedly, gripping his wand tightly, his eyes radiating fervor and unwavering confidence.

"Then, go..." Voldemort's voice grew softer and softer, and Quirrell also wrapped his turban around his head and put on his hood, heading straight into the depths of the forest.

Having learned from their previous experience, the two humans and one soul quickly found a lone unicorn. Looking at the pure white creature before him, Ike sensed a deep sadness emanating from it.

He casually swung a cutting spell, precisely severing a scabbed wound on the unicorn's leg.

"Is it the one that escaped last time?"

"Obviously, yes."

The unicorn let out a mournful cry, glanced at Ekko, who was also wearing a black hooded robe, and turned to run. Ekko unleashed another slicing spell, which struck the unicorn's rump, leaving specks of silvery-white blood on the ground.

"It seems your accuracy has improved quite a bit, Mr. Strayed," Quirrell remarked, impressed that both of Ike's spells had hit.

"Of course, I haven't been idle these past few days."

Ike flicked two Levitation Charms onto his and Quirrell's legs, then lightly pushed off the ground and darted far ahead, closely following the unicorn. Slicing and Barrier Charms flew towards the unicorn, some hitting empty air, but those that did send it staggering. Quirrell would also occasionally raise an earthen wall to spur and correct the unicorn's course.

They followed leisurely until they reached an open space, where the unicorn finally gave out. With a mournful cry, it collapsed to the ground. Its hooves, calves, and body were covered in tiny wounds, and silvery-white blood flowed down its path.

"Teacher, I did it." Ike bowed slightly.

"Very good, very good..." Old Comrade Fu's voice rang out, then he instructed Quirrell, "Go, my servant, do what you must do..."

"Yes, Master," Quirrell replied, taking a few steps to the unicorn's side. He cast a cutting spell on the unicorn's neck, slicing open a wound the size of half a palm. Silvery-white blood splattered in several streams, spreading out on the ground like a slowly flowing brook.

Quirrell lay down and swallowed large gulps of liquid from his wound, feeling the renewed strength within him, his heart filled with both satisfaction and anxiety.

"Aaaaaaah!"

Suddenly, a scream rang out. Ike looked in the direction of the sound and saw Malfoy being led away by a dog, screaming as he ran. A bespectacled little wizard was left behind, painfully clutching a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead.

It was Harry.

Ike watched quietly as Harry knelt on the ground in pain, sighed inwardly, glanced at the bushes behind Harry, and raised his hand, sending a beam of red light flying towards them.

The red light was fast, but even faster was an arrow flying from the jungle. Ike's wand twitched slightly, and the red light immediately changed its target, deflecting the arrow aside. Just then, a centaur with platinum blonde hair stood between Ike and Harry.

Ike waved his wand, and two beams of red light flew towards the centaur. The centaur swung his bow, dispersing one of the beams, while the other struck Harry from beneath him, sending Harry rolling several times on the ground before finally lying on his back.

While the centaur turned to check on Harry, Ike skillfully cast the Disillusionment Charm and the Silent Word Charm on himself and vanished from the spot.

As for Quirrell, he had already left.

"Are you alright?" the centaur asked, helping Harry up.

"It's nothing, thank you." Harry didn't feel anything wrong with his body, and the scar on his forehead didn't hurt anymore.

"You're the Potter boy? You'd better get back to Hagrid. The Forbidden Forest is very dangerous lately; two unicorns, including Ryan, have already died," the centaur said, noticing Harry's signature scar. "It's too dangerous here!"

"By the way, my name is Ferenze," the centaur added, casually twirling his front legs. "You can climb on my back; that'll be faster."

"Alright." Harry didn't refuse; he was eager to get back to the castle. Reaching out and putting his arm around the centaur's neck, Harry easily climbed up.

As soon as he settled down, Harry suddenly noticed something flash on his arm, the spot where he had been hit earlier.

Looking up, I saw a five-pointed star faintly glowing red.

I heard there's going to be a group? I created one when I had some free time, 714141880. Time for bed, I can't stay up any longer.

(End of this chapter)