Teacher's Teacher

Flying Broomsticks were incredibly fast.

Guided by the magical cursor, as if he had magical navigation, Anton quickly arrived at Pedro the Goblin's island.

"Are you coming in with me?" Knowing the Old Wizard was too proud to meet acquaintances as a ghost, Anton still asked mischievously.

But when he turned around, the Old Wizard had already floated off to who knew where.

Heh.

Anton did not mind. He lowered the Flying Broomstick and descended.

His left hand tightly gripped his wand inside his Wizard Robe as he knocked on the Goblin's door again.

He did not wait long. Steady, crisp footsteps approached. The sound of a bolt being drawn was accompanied by the rattle of a chain, and the door slowly opened.

A delicate little face appeared behind it.

It was still that little girl, Anna Rosier.

The little girl wore an elaborate Victorian-style sapphire-blue dress embroidered with intricate patterns, though over it she had on a brown Dragon Hide craftsman's apron stained with oil.

This proud little swan politely nodded to him. "Mr. Rosier is in."

With that, she turned and left. Anton vaguely caught the little girl secretly rolling her eyes.

"Hehe." She was really holding a grudge over something as minor as him not announcing his name. Anton followed her inside.

The Goblin's Cottage looked tiny from the outside, but the space within was vast. It had clearly been illegally expanded with an Undetectable Extension Charm.

At the front was what appeared to be an ordinary reception room. Following Anna through several twists and turns, he arrived at a laboratory filled with all sorts of strange instruments.

Lupin lay on a wooden frame resembling a Muggle hospital bed. A bulky device hung over the Goblin's head, extending in front of his eyes with something like a telescope attached to it.

Lupin was still pale, but he was clearly awake and spotted Anton at once.

Pedro the Goblin stared at his chest, muttering under his breath.

Hearing the movement, he raised his head and finally set the instrument down.

"Young Wizard, this is rather troublesome."

Anton shook his head, unwilling to believe it. "Don't lie to me. My teacher is a master of the Cruciatus Curse. Normally, if an ordinary wizard is struck by the Cruciatus Curse for a short time, a few days of rest will do."

Pedro sneered. "A master of the Cruciatus Curse..."

"Of course, of course. His Cruciatus Curse is indeed formidable." Pedro took out a Cigar again and gestured for Anton to follow him outside.

As they passed through a workshop next door, Anton saw a strange machine filled with gears, a full eight meters tall. Anna's tiny body stood on a scaffold as she struggled to turn a screw with an enormous wrench.

The sight was especially amusing: the meticulous, expressionless little girl, in proportions like a mouse beside an elephant.

"Anna, take a break," Pedro called.

Anna merely nodded, then continued laboriously lifting the wrench.

"A large Time-Turner. I am the only one in the world who still understands this craft." Pedro casually waved the hand holding the Cigar, his unconcerned manner utterly imposing.

Anton silently nodded and said nothing.

He was not interested in the thing.

Time-Turners were a favorite subject in Harry Potter fanfiction. He knew them well.

Yet no matter which story it was, they all made one fact clear to him—the Wizarding World's Time-Turners could not change anything.

Wizards could only keep looking forward. Going back to the past was not entirely useless, but it was barely better than nothing.

After passing several mysterious-looking rooms, they finally reached one containing an enormous table.

A tall pile of sand sat atop the table.

"Many patients come here, and this is where I explain their conditions to their families." Pedro extended a thick finger and lightly tapped the table.

A model resembling Lupin rose from the sand.

Very good. Very magical.

Anton curiously studied Pedro's Hand Gesture, hoping he could learn a trick like that too.

"Hehe, you're just like your teacher. You always want to learn whatever you see." Pedro had clearly noticed Anton's gaze, and his tone was filled with mockery.

Anton did not mind. He merely stared at the Lupin model atop the sand pile with sparkling eyes and exclaimed, "A figurine that moves on its own!"

The sand Lupin suddenly began struggling. Its body started expanding, its height shooting upward without pause until it finally turned into a Werewolf.

"Your teacher has a very foolish claim." Pedro clearly especially disliked the Old Wizard.

"He believes Werewolves are humanity's only magical Animagus."

Anton nodded. "They say an Animagus can only transform into animals that cannot use magic. My teacher believes Werewolves are the only magical creatures humans can become."

"That is because he has seen too little." Pedro pulled a long face, looking utterly disdainful.

"By his logic, do Blood Curse Orcs count as magical Animagi?"

What a coincidence. Just a few days ago, Anton had indeed encountered a Blood Curse Orc—Nagini.

Nagini had originally been human, but she inherited the Blood Curse from her mother. This curse could turn a person into a snake, but eventually they would gradually lose their human form and memories, becoming fixed as a snake.

"There are far too many things. This world is not as small as what his eyes can see." Pedro exhaled a cloud of smoke, then suddenly focused on Anton. "Young Wizard, did you give your teacher the potion I told you to make him drink?"

Anton pursed his lips, looking troubled. "He is a very powerful wizard. I am looking for an opportunity."

Pedro stared at him for a long moment, then chuckled. "No matter the difficulty, you must do it. No one can resist the Unbreakable Vow. Even the price Dumbledore paid was terrifyingly high."

"You make your teacher drink it, and I heal your uncle. We each do our part, and the magic will ensure everything follows the agreement."

That was true.

"All right, I gave it to my teacher." Anton said with a grin.

"Impossible!" Pedro looked utterly unconvinced.

"With his understanding of potions, it would be difficult for you to find an opportunity. It has only been a few days!"

At that moment, a Headless Body floated out of the sand on the table. Its left hand held up its head as it smiled at Pedro. "I'll vouch for him. He really did give it to me."

The Old Wizard's expression was extremely complicated as he stared at Pedro. "My dear teacher."

Pedro was clearly startled out of his wits. Upon suddenly seeing the Old Wizard's face, he stumbled back several steps in panic. At some point, a long blade that looked like a Dragon Rib Longsword had appeared in his hand.

The inscriptions on the blade glowed with a light similar to that of a spell.

"Are you afraid of me, my teacher?" The Old Wizard cackled.

Pedro swallowed. The longsword vanished from his hand as he stared at him in shock, then glanced at Anton.

"You..."

"You actually killed him and even cut off his head?"

Of course he was familiar with ghosts. It was precisely because he was familiar with them that this seemed so absurd. The Old Wizard's state clearly showed that he had died from being beheaded!

Had this Young Wizard done it?

Anton also stared at the Old Wizard and Pedro in shock. "Teacher?"