The Book of Curses

The black tea in the exquisitely crafted porcelain cup steamed gently.

Linley didn't immediately answer Professor Foxx's question, instead posing one of his own.

"Professor, I want to know if what they say is true? Did you really torture and kill five wizards using dark magic? And were you ultimately sent to Azkaban?"

Without any preamble, Linley directly voiced the doubts in his heart.

Professor Foxx's expression didn't change, but Linley noticed that the fingers gripping the teacup handle had tightened considerably, the knuckles turning pale from the excessive force.

He was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"Everything they said is true. I was once a murderer. I tortured five wizards for three days each using the Cruciatus Curse, and then killed them with the Killing Curse. The Wizarding Court, the Wizengamot, sentenced me to life imprisonment in Azkaban. These are all facts, and I cannot deny them..."

His voice was calm, and his tightly clenched fingers gradually relaxed. He looked at Linley with extreme seriousness.

"But do you know why the greatest white wizard of the 20th century, Dumbledore, was willing to be my defense counsel, why I was released after eight years in Azkaban, and why those wizards who hated me were all pure-bloods?"

Linley met Professor Foxx's gaze and shook his head. "That's also why I believe you aren't the cold-blooded, heartless killer they claim you are, Professor. So, can you tell me why?"

Foxx leaned back against the chair, but his body didn't appear relaxed. His deep-set eyes gazed at the cup of black tea on the table, which was gradually ceasing to emit heat, as if he was reluctant to revisit his past.

"I actually think very highly of you, Linley. You possess qualities that most wizards lack. After I sat in your home and listened to you recount how you found a foster father on your own, I was certain you would be sorted into either Slytherin or Gryffindor. At the time, I thought Gryffindor was more likely. But even Slytherin isn't incomprehensible, as the admission requirements for these two houses are extremely similar. Sometimes, whether one becomes a little snake or a little lion is merely a matter of the Sorting Hat's whim..."

Professor Foxx spoke at length about matters unrelated to Linley's question, but Linley didn't interrupt him. He listened quietly until Professor Foxx was ready to speak.

"When I was a student at Hogwarts, the then-Divination professor told me I had no talent for prophecy, yet I've never had such a strong intuition. Linley, I feel that my life's research may very well remain unfinished when I die. This is something I cannot accept, cannot accept... Therefore, I need someone who can continue to follow my research."

"After I was released from Azkaban, I met many wizards, but most of them shied away from dark magic, let alone actively engaging with it, changing it, or exploring it."

"There was nothing I could do. Adult wizards have their own minds, and I couldn't change them. Coincidentally, Dumbledore found me and told me that Hogwarts had several vacant professorships. I thought I could use this opportunity to perhaps change a young wizard's perception of dark magic, and that's why I chose you."

"Your choice is very important to me, Linley. It concerns whether the path I've followed my entire life is ultimately the correct one, so I don't want you to misunderstand me. But..."

He picked up the now lukewarm black tea, took a gentle sip, and said solemnly.

"I don't want to recount my past to anyone else. Everyone has their own secrets, and I am no exception. However, I can tell you that the five wizards I killed were not good people. In fact, they were the worst of the worst. They were known by the infamous name: Death Eaters."

Linley looked at Professor Foxx in astonishment.

"They were followers of Vol— You-Know-Who?"

Professor Foxx also seemed somewhat surprised.

"I didn't expect you to already know about that period of history. I thought I would need to explain the past that the entire British wizarding world is reluctant to recall."

"Since you know, you should understand why Dumbledore was willing to defend me back then, why I was released after eight years, and why the young wizards from pure-blood families hate me so much."

"Of course, we haven't known each other for very long, and I can understand if you don't believe what I'm saying. However, Dumbledore and Minerva are also aware of this matter. If you still have doubts, you can ask them to determine if what I've said is true."

"There's no need, Professor," Linley shook his head. "While I haven't known you for long, I've known Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall for even less time. It's even debatable whether Professor Dumbledore even knows me, a first-year student. I believe what you're saying."

Linley didn't want to have too much contact with Dumbledore too early. For now, he just wanted to keep a low profile at Hogwarts, diligently and conscientiously learning magic. He absolutely didn't want to be drawn into the Headmaster's Savior plan due to any special performance.

Moreover, he genuinely believed Professor Foxx.

There was no reason for the other party to lie to him. He was just a young wizard with a bit of potential and a slightly precocious personality. Fabricating such a lie, which could be exposed at any moment, would be utterly meaningless.

Linley looked at Professor Foxx with a hint of impatience.

"So, Professor, can you teach me dark magic now?"

Professor Foxx looked at Linley and let out a wry smile. At this moment, he truly seemed like an eleven-year-old child.

"You think dark magic is too simple, Linley. This category of magic can be considered the pinnacle of spells, and it's one of the most difficult to learn. At least ninety percent of adult wizards don't even know how to use a single advanced dark magic spell. Furthermore, at your age, even if you had the ability to learn it, you wouldn't have enough magical power to cast it."

Linley looked at him, puzzled. "Then what do I need to learn first?"

Professor Foxx flicked his finger towards the bookshelf, and a book bound entirely in black floated down from the shelf, landing gently in front of Linley.

The book's title was printed in silver powder on its cover: "The Book of Curses."

"In your excerpt from 'Standard Spells: Elementary,' you should have seen a quote from its author, Miranda Goshawk: 'Jinxes, hexes, and curses are collectively known as dark spells. This book does not cover such charms.'

Dark spells are, in fact, a type of spell related to magic, just like regular spells. Dark spells cast specific magical effects on a target, but their impact is primarily negative.

And dark spells are a category of spells associated with dark magic, although their effects are not as overbearing or powerful as advanced dark magic."

Professor Foxx lightly tapped "The Book of Curses."

"Jinxes are the mildest type of dark spell, with the least severe negative effects, and they are very easy to learn. Many older students have mastered a few jinxes to play pranks on their friends. This book contains a total of nine common jinxes. Your first step is to learn all the jinxes in this book."