The Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor Who Studies Dark Magic

Linley didn't wait long in the robe shop before Fox walked in carrying a money bag.

"Let's go, Belloc. Something seems to have happened at Gringotts. If you're done shopping, we should probably hurry and leave."

Linley picked up the cage for Xiao Mai, said goodbye to Madam Malkin, and walked towards The Leaky Cauldron with Fox.

"Did something happen? I saw a lot of goblins in Diagon Alley, like they were looking for someone."

"I don't know the specifics, but judging by the goblins' demeanor, someone must have stolen something from Gringotts."

"Didn't they say Gringotts' security is very strict?"

"Nothing is absolute in this world. In the eyes of skilled wizards, Gringotts' defenses are full of loopholes, but no one wants to provoke those goblins."

There were noticeably fewer customers in The Leaky Cauldron than when Linley and his companion first arrived.

Old Tom was wiping glasses behind the bar, looking with displeasure at the goblins guarding the entrance and fireplace, as if blaming them for the customers' departure.

As soon as Linley and Fox entered the bar, a goblin glared at them impolitely, staring intently.

"Don't mind them, Belloc. What would you like to drink?" Fox led Linley to a table and sat down. Before Linley could speak, he called Old Tom over again.

"We're outside now, so you should drink orange juice. Tom, one Butterbeer and one orange juice."

Old Tom brought them the beer and orange juice on a tray, adding a complaint.

"These ugly things have blocked all the exits in Diagon Alley. They say a thief stole something from Gringotts, but by scaring away my customers like this, who would want to drink with them staring at them?"

"Don't worry, Tom. Once the news of Gringotts being robbed gets out, the goblins will lose much more than you."

"What does that have to do with me? I only care about how much less money I'm making. Who cares about them?"

Old Tom grumbled as he took his tray back to the bar, looking quite unhappy.

"Never mind that for now." After Tom left, Fox placed the money bag on the table.

"There are 500 Galleons in here. Including what I gave you before, that makes a total of 525 Galleons. This is all my investment in you."

Linley weighed the money bag. It was light, likely enchanted. From the outside, it didn't look like it contained 500 coins.

Fox continued, "This money should be enough for you until graduation, assuming you don't buy anything too expensive."

Linley put the money bag back on the table. Although he didn't know the exact purchasing power of Galleons, he understood that 525 Galleons was a considerable fortune.

"I can't accept money without knowing what you're researching. Can you tell me now?"

When it came to his research, Fox pondered for a moment before becoming more serious. He looked deeply at Linley.

"I don't mind you knowing. Many people in the wizarding world know what I'm researching."

"It's a taboo for wizards, yet it's the pinnacle of magic. Wizards call it dark magic."

Whether it was an illusion or his imagination, Linley felt the air around him solidify when Fox mentioned dark magic.

"It's not something related to dark magic, but dark magic itself.

I can't tell you the specifics yet, but I can assure you that my research is not for the purpose of harming anyone. Otherwise, Dumbledore wouldn't have allowed me to be a professor at Hogwarts."

Although he had suspected it before, hearing about the magic that wizards called taboo directly from Fox's mouth still left Linley speechless.

Dark magic was incredibly powerful, with the three Unforgivable Curses being the most potent. These forbidden spells could directly take lives, torture people to the point of wishing for death, and completely control a person's actions and thoughts.

However, these exaggerated effects were not the reason they were called dark magic.

The truly evil aspect of these spells was their ability to subtly corrupt the user's mind, bit by bit.

This would cause dark wizards to become irritable, quick-tempered, strange, and even insane without realizing it.

Eventually, it would completely change a person's personality, making them unrecognizable even to their closest loved ones.

Used too much, it could make you a completely different person. That was the most terrifying aspect of dark magic.

For Fox to be so bold as to make the wizards' taboo his research subject, Linley couldn't help but silently admire him.

You're truly fearless.

"You may not understand dark magic yet, or what kind of magic it truly is. I will give you enough time to learn about it," Fox said seriously to Linley.

"After Hogwarts starts, if you change your mind, you can come back to me and return these 500 Galleons. Then our deal will be void. As for the 25 Galleons, consider them my personal contribution to you. After all, I think you're quite likable."

Despite dark magic's notorious reputation, Linley had no reservations about researching it. Putting aside his exceptional talent for dark magic, which would be a waste not to use, the fact that dark magic could influence one's personality was also a matter of who the user was.

The most classic example was Snape, the mole between Hogwarts and the Death Eaters.

Before his lover's death led him to see the light and join Dumbledore, he was a genuine dark wizard, a staunch supporter of the Dark Lord, and a core member of the Death Eaters.

He wielded dark magic as casually as drinking water or eating, using Avada Kedavra until his eyes turned green. His dark nature was so profound that even while attending Hogwarts, he created the immensely powerful dark magic spell, Sectumsempra.

Yet, this was a man whose heart was so dark that some doubted he even had one. He endured everyone's criticism, selflessly infiltrated Voldemort's ranks, hated the son of his enemy with all his might, yet had to show him great care because he was also his lover's son. In the end, even as he was bitten to death by the snake, he was still repenting for the mistakes he had made that led to the death of the one he loved most.

It could only be said that this was perhaps what Dumbledore called the power of love.

Although... Snape's mind was sometimes a little erratic, overall, he wasn't truly corrupted by dark magic, or at least, not significantly changed.

Linley had absolute confidence in his own strong will.

This confidence wasn't blind. After all, he had experienced death himself.

"I've bought quite a few books about magic, and I'll make my own judgment during the rest of my summer vacation."

Linley didn't make a direct promise, as that would make him seem too eager and not steady enough.

Fox nodded, then stood up.

"Alright, that's all for today. I'm very happy to meet a student like you. We'll see each other again at Hogwarts."

Linley also stood up.

"Me too, Professor. Thank you very much for today."

Hearing Linley's thanks, Fox's eyes curved into a smile.

"You're welcome, Mr. Belloc."

From today on, there will be two updates. The next chapter will be at 12:30. I suddenly feel reluctant to give up my lazy one-update-a-day lifestyle (つД`) I hope everyone will cast their recommendation votes for me to comfort this poor soul.