The Impact of the Killing Curse

"The Killing Curse is progressing very quickly? By killing?" Basil keenly perceived Riddle's implied meaning.

Riddle nodded, "It's a quick-start guide for dark wizards. In your words, our world doesn't have highly efficient cultivation methods like meditation. But in reality, our world does. It's just limited to dark wizards. With the Killing Curse, the higher the quality of the life you kill, the more feedback you receive."

"This curse allows a dark wizard's power, through killing, to rapidly reach the limits that their mind, personality, and will can bear."

"As you know, if we don't stick to the written terminology, curses are divided into Dark Magic, White Magic, and Charms. At most, Transfiguration is added."

"Among these, Dark Magic, White Magic, and advanced Charms are easier to 'come alive' than ordinary spells. They don't require both form and spirit. As long as they are successfully used or mastered, they can form 'talismans' that influence the host."

"It's just that Dark Magic and White Magic, due to their nature, exert positive or negative influences on the host's worldview. Unlike advanced Charms, which are more neutral."

"And the Killing Curse is undoubtedly the easiest to 'come alive' and the curse that brings the greatest negative impact to the host. Even if a dark wizard's nature leans towards good, the power gained from using the Killing Curse easily reaches its limit."

"But the talisman itself will also influence the host, making the host closer to it, and increasing the limit."

"So, as long as a dark wizard is willing to use the Killing Curse to kill, as long as they kill enough people, they won't be weak in any way."

"And that person won't be any better either."

"This is also why anyone who uses the Killing Curse is sent to Azkaban."

"If what you say is true, can't I just kill a few more spiders and ants to get started? Why all this trouble? And Snape, while not a good person, nor a good teacher, he isn't that bad, is he? His Killing Curse?" Basil raised his question.

"You can indeed get started by killing. With your 'Sorcery Doctor' Echo, you are even less afraid of mental deviation. But I don't recommend it; such a Killing Curse is not pure enough. It's the same reason you didn't get started through me or a Boggart."

"As for Snape," Riddle made a face like he was about to vomit.

But this was not directed at Snape.

"Because of so-called love. Negative influences can be offset by positive influences. For example, the Patronus Charm can offset the effects of the Killing Curse. But a fallen soul cannot produce a Patronus. One can only master it before falling. And dark wizards who possess so-called love find it difficult to completely fall, thus enabling them to master the Patronus."

"What about the other two Unforgivable Curses?" Basil continued to ask.

"Them? They make people evil. Evil souls are bound to fall. Fallen souls are not necessarily evil."

Then the conversation ended there.

This was also why Basil had not mastered the Killing Curse until now.

In Charms class, Basil, recalling this scene, blew his hair back in frustration.

Professor Flitwick divided the entire class into pairs to begin training.

Harry's partner was Ron.

Basil's partner was Hermione.

But coincidentally, neither Basil nor Ron were practicing the Levitation Charm very seriously.

Basil was feeling down, thinking about when he could get started with the Killing Curse.

As for Ron, he spread out a piece of parchment.

He quietly shared his recent findings on Lockhart with Harry: "Based on Basil's clues, after my repeated investigations, the wizard who freed a village from the scourge of werewolves is more likely an old American wizard named Frank. He looks very ugly and is quite mad, which is why no one wants to approach him."

"The witch who drove away the Banshee was a woman with a cleft lip."

"."

"In conclusion, I've discovered a pattern. Lockhart targets wizards who lack advantages in appearance or are unapproachable, yet they have accomplished remarkable things. They likely have a significant sense of disappointment in their hearts. And at this time, think about it, a handsome young wizard actively approaches them."

"Plus, he's very good at talking, making it hard for you not to open up to him."

"And after stealing their deeds and erasing their memories, they, being fringe figures, wouldn't have been noticed anyway."

"This is probably why Lockhart has gotten away with it for so many years."

Ron nodded with certainty.

Meanwhile, Basil's slacking off.

Activated Hermione's reporting radar.

But due to Basil's excellence, and her own girlish feelings, she couldn't bring herself to report him.

At this moment, she noticed Ron.

So, after Ron finished his long speech, she suddenly raised her hand, "Professor, Ron hasn't been practicing; he's been talking!"

The result was that Ron lost 2 points.

As class was about to end, Ron's mood was at an all-time low.

"She's relying on her family's wealth and doesn't care about my efforts at all!" he told Harry as they struggled through the crowded corridor, "Honestly, if it weren't for Basil, we wouldn't even pay attention to her. She's like a nightmare."

Someone bumped into Harry and hurried past them. It was Hermione.

Harry caught a glimpse of her face—to his surprise, her eyes were red.

Basil followed closely behind.

"I think she heard you," Harry said quietly.

"So what?" Ron said, though a hint of unease showed, "She deserves it."

"Basil is following behind," Harry reminded him.

"Alright, I'll apologize to her at noon," Ron said reluctantly.

However, Hermione didn't show up for the rest of the afternoon.

Basil also found this rather dramatic.

In fact, with Basil accompanying her, Hermione didn't pay much attention to Ron's words.

She didn't even shed any tears because of it.

But on the way back to the dormitory, Hermione encountered her roommates again at a corner.

"That b*tch! She's clinging to Basil all day."

"Basil only accepted her because she has no friends."

"Always holding her head high, looking down on everyone. Just because her grades are a little better? It's disgusting. Who wants to copy her homework anyway?"

"Exactly, I'm quite confident about my looks. If she weren't in the way, Basil would have been ours sisters' long ago! I've noticed, he's particularly enthusiastic towards us."

"Right!"

On the other side of the corridor, Hermione stood pale-faced, her eyes blurry with tears.

She immediately recognized them by their voices.

Her roommates, Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil.

And Parvati's twin sister, Padma.

She didn't really care about her roommates' taunts.

But the content... Basil was indeed more enthusiastic towards the Patil sisters.

Parvati was right, she was beautiful, the most beautiful among all the first-year students.

Not to mention she had a twin sister.

Boys would definitely like them.

Did Basil really think she was a burden, an obstacle, as Parvati had said?

Behind Hermione, Basil stood with a confused expression.

Hadn't Hermione's relationships with other students improved? Ever since she became strict only with him, Harry, and Ron.

How could these girls be so two-faced?

Everyone knew what happened next.

Hermione hid in the girls' lavatory and refused to come out.

Just like in the original story.

This wasn't about fate, but about her personality, leading to inevitable conflict.

As long as Hermione wasn't willing to change her way of handling things, conflict would arise sooner or later.

But fortunately, this wasn't the information age yet.

Stupid people wouldn't become super-stupid just because they had a large information base and met other stupid people, leading to a resonance of stupidity.

Stupid people gathered, saying and doing things they agreed with, and became increasingly stupid.

At least Hermione would be able to change because of this.

But staying in the lavatory and skipping class was too much.

Basil couldn't persuade her on this matter.

She thought Basil was only with her out of kindness.

This made Basil very annoyed.

Am I kind? I'm after your Echoes!

Silly girl!