The Black Tea Suddenly Lost Its Sweetness

Finite Incantatem?

The old man walking slowly along the cobblestone street had not cast a spell.

Ian naturally could not make an accurate judgment based on that.

He could only perceive that an invisible hand had halted the process of the magical backlash.

The moment the scorching firelight vanished, the entire world seemed to dim, and a faint, lingering scent of smoke permeated the air.

That was perhaps the only proof that a great fire had ever existed.

Moonlight pierced through the clouds.

Under the cover of night.

Everything seemed as if it had never happened.

Even the fence that had been burned to the ground had returned to its original state.

"Headmaster Dumbledore..."

Ian recognized the old man walking toward him and couldn't help but lower his head in embarrassment.

While feeling worried and anxious, a flicker of confusion also arose in his heart; why would Dumbledore come to Hogsmeade Village in the middle of the night?

"I prefer for you young wizards to call me Professor; it makes me seem less old-fashioned than I look." Dumbledore soon reached Ian.

He did not reprimand Ian for his recklessness.

Instead, he teased himself with a playful tone.

"Understood, Professor Dumbledore."

Ian changed his address immediately.

"Won't you invite me in for a seat?"

Dumbledore looked toward the door of the wooden cabin.

"My apologies, I must have been a bit stunned."

Ian hurriedly pushed open the door and gestured an invitation.

He felt somewhat uneasy.

He didn't know what Dumbledore's intentions were—Thought Perception could sense Snape's emotions, yet it was not very effective in front of this Hogwarts Headmaster.

"I truly did not expect that I would run into a bold wizard on my way back to the castle, one who would dare to attempt creating a new spell right at his own doorstep."

Dumbledore sighed with emotion as he walked inside. He glanced at the tidy living room, looked toward the direction of Ian's bedroom, and finally chose to sit at the desk by the window.

"That could hardly be called creation; it could only be called a disaster." Ian hurried to the tea table and poured a cup of black tea for Dumbledore.

"At the very least, you have stepped onto this path, which is of great significance." Dumbledore pulled a bag of brown sugar from somewhere and began pouring it heavily into the tea.

It was a direct compliment.

Yet, Ian could not bring himself to be happy.

"If not for your help, Professor, I fear I would have caused a catastrophe." He didn't wait for Dumbledore to find fault and took the initiative to self-reflect.

"I shouldn't have attempted such a dangerous experiment. I nearly burned down the entire village; I really am a foolish fellow!" Thinking back on it now, Ian was truly terrified.

His look of remorseful reflection left Dumbledore slightly stunned.

Then.

The old man shook his head with a quiet chuckle.

"We cannot be too harsh on a young wizard like you." Dumbledore did not look up at Ian, as if focused on mixing his tea.

"I only hope that this harrowing encounter will make you deeply remember that on the path of exploring magic, 'caution' is far more important than any other quality."

In the quiet wooden cabin.

Dumbledore's earnest words were calm yet full of power.

"I will take your teachings to heart."

Ian nodded with utmost sincerity.

"Relax a little. Perhaps... you should go put on your shirt and trousers first." Dumbledore suddenly smiled, and only then did Ian realize he was only wearing his underwear.

"It's fine, just letting things breathe."

Ian's face flushed slightly, though he feigned a relaxed demeanor.

"????"

Dumbledore's expression was slightly bewildered.

"Professor, did you come here specifically to find me?"

Ian took the opportunity to ask.

He did not think Dumbledore usually lived in Hogsmeade Village.

"No."

As expected.

The old honeybee shook his head and took a sip of black tea with a "lethal" sugar content. "I merely came to deliver a letter, and happened to see the firelight from your direction on my way back."

"In fact, I have been observing you from not far away for quite a while, and I must say..." A complex look flashed in Dumbledore's eyes as he continued, his voice filled with wonder.

"Your way of understanding magic is different from most wizards." He was clearly referring to the study of magical circuits, something many wizards would never delve too deeply into in their entire lives.

"Huh?"

Ian put on a bewildered expression.

He even added a hint of trepidation.

"Do not worry, this is not a bad thing; it belongs to a... talent that only a small number of people possess." Behind his thick spectacles, Dumbledore had a pair of deep, profound eyes.

"I heard you learned Snape's Sectumsempra?"

He asked abruptly, appearing curious.

"Huh?"

Ian froze for a moment.

Then.

He nodded.

Although Snape had warned him not to tell anyone, since Dumbledore had already asked, trying to hide it might be seen as not giving a master of Legilimency his due respect.

Regardless.

Ian dared not gamble.

"It wasn't that I wanted to learn it; Professor Snape held my head down and told me that if I couldn't learn it, he would lock me away in an incredibly evil place."

Ian continued to uphold his policy of telling the truth, but not the whole truth, vividly describing Snape's coercion and how weak and pitiful he had been.

However.

Dumbledore clearly did not care about his story.

"How long did it take to learn?"

The old honeybee drank his tea, appearing casual.

"An hour?"

Ian lied.

There was no help for it.

If he didn't lie.

Heaven knows what unnecessary misunderstandings might arise if people knew he could master Dark Magic in seconds.

"It was mainly because Professor Snape taught it well!"

After he finished speaking, he didn't even forget to add a little cover for himself.

"..."

Dumbledore did not respond.

He used a conjured stick to stir his black tea continuously.

He did not take another sip.

"I think I understand..."

Dumbledore turned his head to look at the starry sky outside the window. "You will surely achieve great things, child. Never let down your own brilliant..."

Before he could finish his sentence.

Suddenly.

A series of subtle and strange ripples stirred in the air.

Immediately after.

A dazzling red light emerged, and a red Phoenix flapped its wings and flew out. Its feathers were like blinding radiance in the dim room, breathtakingly beautiful.

"Mr. Prince, it seems our tea party must end here for tonight." Dumbledore set down his cup, stood up, and straightened his slightly wrinkled white robes.

He seemed to have suddenly thought of something.

"A small hint: magic circuits are not the direct cause of magic's birth. You might want to shift your focus on the path of pursuing magic."

Dumbledore spoke concisely and clearly.

"Shift my focus?"

Ian was lost in thought.

At this moment.

Dumbledore had already raised his arm.

Waiting for the Phoenix to descend.

However.

Neither he nor Ian, who was lost in thought, had expected that after circling the room a few times, the Phoenix would dive straight down from the ceiling.

Both claws.

Landed squarely on Ian's head.

Thanks to Mao Mao Yu for the tip! Much obliged!