The Headmaster's Office.
Outside the window, moonlight like water quietly spilled in.
Dumbledore, who had been teasing a bird, slowly turned around. With a kindly smile on his face, he said gently, "Filius, Minerva, sit down first. There's no need to be so anxious."
Professor McGonagall stood ramrod straight. Though Flitwick beside her was short, his expression was equally grave.
"This absolutely cannot be taken lightly!" Professor McGonagall said decisively.
Dumbledore sat down on his own.
"I understand your concerns. That boy Dylan is extraordinarily gifted. In your eyes, he is like an uncut gem with unlimited potential. But precisely because he is so powerful, he is more likely to linger on the edge of darkness."
Professor McGonagall glanced at Flitwick. "Exactly. I had no idea he actually wanted to teach himself Defense Against the Dark Arts!"
"You should have known. If someone studies Defense Against the Dark Arts on their own, the slightest mistake can lead them astray!"
Professor Flitwick smiled sheepishly.
After Dylan left, he had intended to seek Dumbledore's advice. Unexpectedly, he had run into Professor McGonagall on the way, who was also going to see Dumbledore.
Naturally, he could not hide from her that Dylan wanted to learn Defense Against the Dark Arts.
And that was how things had ended up like this.
Dumbledore smiled gently at the two of them. "You should both know that young people are always curious about the unknown."
"I heard he killed a Troll with Incendio?"
Professor McGonagall nodded, her face tense.
"That clearly shows that this boy possesses a strong capacity for learning and judgment. I think that after seeing an explanation of Fiendfyre in a book and combining it with the Blaze Spell he has already mastered, he developed the idea of learning Defense Against the Dark Arts."