Halloween Eve (Part 2)

In the washroom, the air seemed to freeze. The troll's corpse exuded a foul stench, but more suffocating at this moment was the solemn atmosphere emanating from the three professors and Silas's pale, weak defense.

Professor Dumbledore didn't immediately respond to Silas's nonsensical claim, "Who put the curse in my wand?" His sharp blue eyes, behind his half-moon spectacles, gave Silas a deep look that seemed to pierce the soul, seeing many deeply hidden things. He wasn't angry, nor did he scold. He simply spoke in an unusually calm, yet undeniably weighty tone:

"Mr. Kirill," his voice echoed in the silent washroom, "please come to my office with me. Now."

Then, he turned to Harry and Ron, who were still frozen at the doorway, their faces pale. "Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, we will handle things here. Please return to Gryffindor Tower immediately, to your common room. Do not mention tonight's events to anyone."

Harry and Ron felt as if they had been granted amnesty. They cast a worried glance at Silas before quickly pulling each other along, stumbling away.

Silas looked at Dumbledore's inscrutable face, his heart in turmoil. He knew he couldn't talk his way out of this one. With a mournful expression, he made a final, desperate attempt, his tone deliberately exaggerated with grievance and sincerity:

"Professor... I'm really a good person... Believe me! I killed the troll to save Hermione! See, isn't Hermione safe now? I acted out of righteous indignation, eliminating a pest for the people! That green light... it, it was probably just a slightly more powerful banishing spell? Or... the troll's heart was weak, and it scared itself to death?"

He said things he didn't even believe himself, looking expectantly at Dumbledore, hoping to see a hint of wavering or a hint of a joke on the old Headmaster's face.

However, Dumbledore merely sighed softly, his eyes holding a complex expression, as if he had seen through everything yet was filled with worry. He neither refuted nor agreed, simply repeating in a gentle but unrefusable tone:

"My office, Mr. Kirill. I think we need to have a good talk. About many... things."

Professor McGonagall stood nearby, her lips pressed tightly together, her gaze on Silas filled with shock, confusion, and deep worry. Snape, as always, stared at Silas with an icy, bone-chilling gaze that seemed intent on drilling a hole through him. He gripped Silas's wand tightly in his hand.

Silas knew that his glib talk was useless now. He drooped his head, like a defeated rooster, and resignedly mumbled, "Alright..."

He dejectedly followed behind Dumbledore, with McGonagall and Snape walking behind him on either side like escorts. The group silently traversed the quiet castle corridors, heading towards the Headmaster's office guarded by the stone beast.

Silas's heart pounded wildly: It's over, it's over, I've really messed up this time! I actually cast the Avada Kedavra curse, and in front of the Headmaster and the Head of House! This isn't something detention can fix! Will I be expelled? Will I be sent to the Ministry of Magic for trial? Will old Bee believe my story? System! System! Think of a way!

However, the System in his mind was unusually quiet at this moment, as if it had never existed.

Silas dejectedly followed behind Dumbledore, with Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape like two guardian deities behind him. He felt like a prisoner being escorted to the execution ground, his mind in chaos, frantically trying to figure out how to explain that fatal green light.

(Inner wail: It's over, it's over! I've completely messed up this time! The Avada Kedavra curse! Right in front of the Headmaster and two Heads of House! How can I not control my mouth! No, how could my hand be so fast! Now, I might get expelled, or even thrown into Azkaban! System! You useless System! Failing me at the crucial moment! Come out and help me think of a solution!)

Just as despair washed over him, the familiar voice with a slight electronic sound effect finally rang out in his mind, its tone surprisingly carrying a hint of... cheerfulness?

[Ding! Detected host successfully casting and killing a target for the first time in an extremely critical situation! Congratulations to the host for achieving the hidden achievement: 'Forbidden First Experience'!]

Silas: "What? What kind of damn name is that for an achievement?" He almost thought he misheard.

The System continued to announce in that "congratulations on winning the lottery" tone: [Distributing achievement rewards... Congratulations to the host for obtaining - Darkhold (Fragment · Chapter One)!]

As the System spoke, Silas felt a slight tremor deep within his consciousness, in the "Dark Dimension" skill tree that had always been grayed out and locked. At the very bottom of the roots, a scroll icon, which was originally completely dim and emitted an ominous purple-black light, was lit up! Although it was only an extremely faint glow, it was indeed activated!

Silas: "Pfft--!"

He couldn't help himself and almost burst out laughing. He quickly covered his mouth with his hand, pretending to have choked on his saliva. The despair and anxiety in his heart were instantly diluted by a sense of immense absurdity and a hint of indescribable excitement.

(Inner roar: Darkhold?! A fragment?! Just because I used the Killing Curse under Dumbledore's nose?! What kind of logic does this system have! The reward is too hardcore!)

His originally heavy mood suddenly didn't feel so bad, and he even felt a little... smug about this unexpected fortune? Although he knew this "fortune" might carry a deadly poison.

Dumbledore seemed to have heard his suppressed "pfft," and glanced at him slightly, his eyes deep, but he said nothing. Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape also cast inquisitive glances.

Silas quickly lowered his head, hiding the strange expression on his face, and complained furiously to the System in his mind: "You... what kind of reward is this?! Are you encouraging me to use Unforgivable Curses more?! And, can you just give out the Darkhold like that? Doesn't that thing corrupt the mind?!"

The System's voice returned to its slightly teasing tone: [Host, please note, the reward is 'Fragment · Chapter One'. The content mainly concerns the basic perception and guidance of Dark Dimension energy. It is introductory knowledge with relatively controllable risks. This System's purpose is to 'follow the host's development path and provide corresponding resources.' Since you have already taken this step, the System naturally needs to provide necessary... 'reference materials' for your subsequent 'growth.' Please use it with caution~]

Silas: "..."

He finally understood. This System was just watching the show and not minding the chaos! However, the temptation of the Darkhold was too great. Even just a fragment made his heart race. He secretly "glanced" at the scroll icon emitting a seductive purple light in his consciousness, and felt that going to the Headmaster's office for "tea" didn't seem so terrifying anymore.

"Alright..." he said to the System in his heart, "You got me. But let's put the Darkhold aside for now. Hurry up and help me figure out how to explain that Avada Kedavra curse to old Bee properly!"

System: [...Suggest the host utilize your linguistic talents and improvise. This System currently has no relevant dialogue templates. Wishing you good luck!]

Silas: "..." Fine, at the critical moment, he still had to rely on his own deception.

Although the road ahead was uncertain, with the "Darkhold" fragment, which had just come into his possession (albeit through illicit means), tucked away in his embrace (consciousness), Silas felt his back straighten a little. He took a deep breath, adjusted his expression, and prepared to face the impending "frank" conversation with the most powerful wizard.