Sectumsempra, The Long-Awaited Attack Spell

After finishing with the gift-giving, Charlie finally got to look at his own presents.

A pile of gift boxes sat on the bedside, all shapes and sizes, looking quite generous.

Charlie nodded, pretty satisfied with his popularity.

He picked up the first gift at random; the tag had Professor Flitwick's name on it.

Tearing open the wrapping, inside was an Advanced Spell Explanation and a note.

"If you want to learn Apparition, then work hard at it."

Next was Professor McGonagall's gift—a latest issue of Transfiguration Today, basically the cutting-edge academic paper in the transfiguration field.

These two books clearly weren't cheap, unavailable in ordinary bookstores, representing top-tier knowledge in their respective fields.

Both professors' expectations for Charlie were plain to see, but unfortunately, Charlie couldn't use either book.

Compared to self-study, drawing lots was clearly faster and more direct.

Plus, studying didn't earn Tyrant Points; without Tyrant Points, he couldn't draw; without draws, spell progress slowed; slow spell progress meant not studying.

So studying equaled not studying.

All the system's fault—Charlie really wanted to flip through those two books.

[...]

Professor Sprout's gift was a box of fancy biscuits.

Charlie opened it and tried one; the taste wasn't bad.

Then he searched for a while but couldn't find Professor Snape's gift anywhere.

"That old bat, not even a token of appreciation?"

"My thirteen-in-one shampoo, truly wasted feelings."

"Outrageous. Next detention, I'll mix his ingredients up."

Charlie grumbled as he kept unwrapping gifts.

Harry and Ron jointly sent a big bag of Chocolate Frogs.

The Weasley Twins gave a box of trick candies.

Ernie sent a set of Hufflepuff badges and tie clips, the very formal kind.

Justin gave a whole copy of Victoria's Secret.

Charlie glanced at the door, sighed in relief—good thing Grandma White hadn't come.

He hid the book under his pillow. Shameless and corrupting—he'd have to critique it thoroughly tonight.

The last gift was from Hermione.

The box wasn't big, but it was delicate.

Opening it, inside was a silver alarm clock.

"What's this supposed to mean?" Charlie raised an eyebrow.

"Saying I'm late for class?"

"When have I ever been late?"

"I always arrive right on the dot, okay!"

Though he complained out loud, Charlie felt warm inside.

These gifts might not be useful to Charlie, but they represented his friends' care for him, proof that he'd truly integrated into Hogwarts, into this world.

After unwrapping all the gifts, Charlie lay contentedly on the bed.

"About time to draw."

He checked the System Panel; Tyrant Points had accumulated to 1,200.

"System, give me 120 draws!"

The golden wheel spun in his mind, and Charlie watched nervously.

[Congratulations, Your Majesty, obtained: Levitation Charm Proficiency +10]

[Congratulations, Your Majesty, obtained: Shield Charm Proficiency +15]

[Congratulations, Your Majesty, obtained: Free Talent Point]

A few draws in a row were all spell proficiencies he'd already gotten, and Charlie was a bit disappointed.

Only the Free Talent Point was decent, but Charlie's talent in Transfiguration and Charms was already maxed at 10 points.

He'd save this Free Talent Point for later, when some subject needed it.

"Sectumsempra, Apparition, Sectumsempra..."

He kept mentally reciting the little combo Professor Flitwick used.

The draw count was running low, but he still hadn't pulled the spell Charlie wanted, not even a single new one.

Just as Charlie was about to give up—

[Congratulations, Your Majesty, for obtaining: Teeth-Grinding Stick Proficiency +25]

[Congratulations, Your Majesty, for obtaining: Sectumsempra]

Charlie sat up instantly.

"Sectumsempra? What kind of spell is that?"

[Sectumsempra is a dark magic invented by Professor Snape, far more powerful than Diffindo.]

[Wounds inflicted by it cannot heal unless the corresponding counter-curse is used.]

"Snape can invent spells too?"

"And the wounds won't heal? That's vicious, just like Snape."

Charlie jumped out of bed in excitement.

"I've got to test this out!"

He left his room and headed to the backyard of the orphanage.

The backyard was quiet, with only the faint chirping of insects in the distance.

Charlie found a football-sized rock and placed it in the center of the yard.

"Sectumsempra!"

He muttered the incantation softly, giving his wand a light flick.

An invisible blade shot out, slicing clean through the rock.

Crack!

The rock split neatly in two, the cut surface smooth as a mirror.

Charlie's eyes lit up.

"If I'd had this move back when I was fighting that goblin, I could've taken him out in one hit."

"Finally got a strong offensive spell."

"But this is dark magic. Quirrell said dark magic can mess with your mind, right?"

Quirrell might seem totally unreliable, but he was still the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.

He shouldn't be wrong about basic stuff like this, should he?

[Rest assured, Your Majesty. Magic produced by the system has no such side effects. It will never erode Your Majesty's mind.]

That put Charlie completely at ease. He opened the System Panel to check the results of his draws.

[Your Majesty: Charlie White]

[Age: 11]

[Magic Talent Rating: (Max Level 10)]

[Transfiguration: 10]

[Charms: 10]

[Potions: 6]

[Defense Against the Dark Arts: 7]

[Herbology: 4]

[Astronomy: 4]

[History of Magic: 5]

[Tyrant Points: 0]

[Free Talent Points: 1]

[Mastered Spells: Transfiguration (Level 3: 0/1000), Flaming Bear (Level 3: 800/1000), Stupefy (Level 3: 760/1000), Expelliarmus (Level 3: 0/1000), Protego (Level 3: 380/1000)...]

Most of his spells had reached Level 3, which meant he could cast them nonverbally.

Even Transfiguration was at Level 3. At that level, not only could he cast it nonverbally, but he could also turn objects into living creatures.

To Charlie, this was the sneakiest thing about wizards.

Think about it—if you wanted to assassinate someone, you could just turn a fly into a carrier, poison their food, and kill them without a trace.

He'd heard that Voldemort once wanted to wipe out Muggles and killed a lot of people with dark magic.

In Charlie's eyes, that was just stupid.

If it were him, he'd just turn thousands of mosquitoes into carriers of a deadly virus, and in a week, London would be done for.

Guess that's why being a wizard takes brains. If you don't use your head, even being the Dark Lord puts you a step behind.

Time at home always flew by. It felt like the holiday had just started yesterday, but today was already the first day of school.

Charlie grabbed his ticket, said goodbye to Grandma White, and headed to King's Cross Station.

Day 2 of the verification period~ Big shots, please add to your bookshelves~ Heart, heart~