Magic Surge

The Dark Mark.

Dumbledore pondered those words, looking at Harry's scar with a deepening gaze.

Voldemort's influence on Harry ran deeper than he had thought, and the connection between them seemed even closer.

He suspected that the black mark which had torn through the Troll's skin was the power Voldemort had left in Harry's scar, inadvertently drawn upon by Harry.

Dumbledore had formed some ideas about the scar, though none showed on his face. Perhaps the plan concerning Quirrell needed some adjustments.

"What a remarkable adventure!"

Dumbledore turned to Hermione, Ron, and Harry in turn, praising them. "Wisdom, sacrifice, courage—even from merely hearing your account, I can see those qualities shining brightly."

Harry and Hermione both blushed at his words.

Loren clicked his tongue, unconvinced. "Is there a reward?"

Dumbledore did not take the bait. He looked into Loren's eyes. "I have a vague guess regarding the strange light you saw."

The others looked at Dumbledore curiously.

"A wizard's Magic Power is greatly connected to the soul and emotions. I imagine that when you first discovered you were unusual, your emotions were unusual as well."

Harry recalled some of his strange experiences. Dudley and his gang had chased him, only for him to fly onto a chimney. At the zoo, when he had wanted to teach Dudley a lesson, the glass had vanished and released the python.

Hermione remembered reading a fairy tale as a child. When she reached an exciting part and became overwhelmed, both she and the book had floated into the air.

Loren, meanwhile, thought of his remarkable eyes. He felt that his magic had awakened through them.

Dumbledore quietly waited for them to emerge from their memories before continuing. "Young wizards' souls are rather unstable. When their emotions run high, they are more prone to Magic Surges."

Generally speaking, young wizards below Third Year were at the very bottom. Their Magic Power was insufficient even for somewhat advanced spells.

As they grew older, upper-year students could encounter more complex spells with greater magical demands. Spells like the Patronus Charm and Apparition required not only a wizard's understanding of magic, but Magic Power was also a limiting factor.

Adult wizards varied far too greatly to be categorized.

There was a gap between ordinary wizards and Aurors, another between Aurors and Hogwarts professors, and even a gap between a dueling champion like Flitwick and a professor like Quirrell. Beyond that lay a realm occupied by only a handful of people.

The growth of Magic Power was not merely a matter of quantity—not simply how many spells a young wizard could cast versus how many an adult wizard could cast.

There was also a matter of quality. Magic of different qualities could produce entirely different effects when casting the same spell. Many factors were involved, and no one could explain them all.

When Loren was fooling around, he could cast Colloportus nonstop for most of the day. Yet when fighting the Troll, a single blast of fire had drained him dry.

Loren asked aloud, "Headmaster Dumbledore, why can emotions promote the growth of Magic Power?"

"I don't know, Loren." Dumbledore raised a hand to smooth his beard.

The answer surprised them somewhat. Even the famous Dumbledore had things he did not know.

"In truth, most of magic's mysteries remain unknown."

Dumbledore explained briefly, then continued. "Emotions can also have harmful effects. Long-suppressed emotions may lead to an Obscurus."

"An Obscurus!" Hermione cried, covering her mouth. She knew about that.

Some unfortunate young wizards came to hate their own magic. Long-suppressed emotions could cause their Magic Power to mutate, harming others and themselves.

An Obscurus... Dumbledore recalled events from decades ago—such a person, such ideals.

"Headmaster? Headmaster Dumbledore?"

Only when Loren called to him did Dumbledore come back to himself. "My apologies. At my age, it is difficult to keep my attention focused."

Dumbledore continued, "During a Magic Surge, wizards follow a kind of instinct. They may cast some spell, become impulsive, or perhaps do nothing at all. No one can say for certain."

Harry recalled his state at the time and understood why he had charged toward the Troll.

"So it was a Magic Surge. I was wondering why I'd been so impulsive!" Harry chuckled foolishly.

"In truth, a Magic Surge follows your instincts." Dumbledore repeated the statement.

Harry felt that might not be a good thing. He stammered, "W-what does that mean?"

Loren snickered. "It means you're naturally impulsive."

No one laughed at him, but Harry felt that even Dumbledore's smile had become blinding.

Hermione struggled to keep a serious expression. She looked very solemn, if one ignored her trembling shoulders.

"Courage is a precious quality."

Dumbledore changed the subject. "To this old wizard's senses, all four of you still have lingering magical fluctuations around you."

Loren was somewhat surprised. He had thought only Harry and Ron had experienced Magic Surges. He had not expected that Hermione and he had as well.

As though seeing Loren's confusion, Dumbledore explained, "Both life and death possess powerful magic. At the boundary between life and death, your Magic Power, bodies, and souls were all in an extraordinary state. Whether the Magic Surge was large or small was merely a matter of degree."

Hermione nodded. "Casting spells in class has felt a little easier."

"For at least the next week or two, do not cast spells with all your strength. The growth in your Magic Power will continue for some time," Dumbledore warned them.

Dumbledore looked at Ron. "Even now, your friend who dared to sacrifice himself still has powerful Magic Power surging within him."

Their gazes focused on Ron. Bandages covered his body, the tip of his nose was still a little red, and his expression was calm.

Harry said, "He feels very guilty. He thinks he was the one who put us in danger."

Hermione was also somewhat downcast. "It's all my fault. I was too self-righteous. Ron's wand just didn't suit him." When Ron had fallen to the ground and vomited blood, she had thought he was dead.

Harry and Loren fell silent. It would be easy to buy Ron a wand, but Ron would not accept it. Friendship became strange when Galleons were mixed into it.

The chestnut wand Loren had previously planned to get from Peter Pettigrew had been confiscated by the Ministry of Magic, and he had no other options now.

"Madam Pomfrey said his injuries aren't serious anymore," Harry said softly.

Dumbledore praised him. "He treasures friendship and has the courage to sacrifice himself. He is a true Gryffindor."

Loren had to admit it. Ron might be greedy, dislike studying, and have a habit of complaining and talking big, but when something happened, he truly stepped up.

"I imagine that while the Troll has no particularly valuable magical materials, it can still be sold for some money." Dumbledore looked at them with a smile.

"I can convert the Troll into a Galleon reward for you, around fifty Galleons."

A wand cost seven Galleons. Hermione quickly did the math. "Even if we give Ron a share, it'll be enough to buy a wand!"

Harry hesitated. "Is that really all right?" All the money from selling the Troll was being given to a few students.

"Of course. You defeated the Troll and protected the Castle's safety. You have earned it." Dumbledore brought up another matter. "You defeated the Troll, but you also broke school rules by leaving the group and acting on your own—"

Hermione stared at Dumbledore anxiously, as though he were about to announce her final grades at any moment.

"Your merits and faults cancel each other out, so no points will be deducted."

Hermione sighed in relief.

"However, all of you will serve detention with Professor Snape!"

The young Witch's expression fell.

Loren had already spent plenty of time with Snape, so he had no objections.

Harry nearly exploded. "Can't we switch professors? Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, even Professor Binns would be fine!"

Harry felt that Snape targeted him viciously even in class, let alone during one-on-one detention. Snape would surely make him drink all kinds of poisons, then have Loren and the others brew antidotes!

Dumbledore did not change his mind. He chatted with them for a while longer, told them to rest well and listen to Madam Pomfrey, then left with Hermione.

"You all get some rest. Seamus and the others will come see you tomorrow!" The young Witch waved, then pulled the door shut behind her.