Two Weeks Later

Hermione didn't bring it up again for two whole weeks after she first suggested that Harry teach Defence Against the Dark Arts class.

Harry's confinement at Umbridge was finally over, and Ron attended four more Quidditch practice sessions, the last two of which he was not scolded.

The Transfiguration has progressed from teaching snails to make mice disappear, and now they've taken it a step further, teaching kittens to disappear. Even Professor McGonagall is amazed by the students' progress.

Potions progressed from moonstones to various antidotes—one of the most popular topics in OWL exams. After getting a D on his moonstone paper, Harry started taking Potions assignments seriously. While not as good as Hermione, he was much better than Ron and Neville.

Then, on a stormy night in late September, as the three of them sat in the library searching for the various Potions ingredients for Snape's antidote, the topic came up again.

"I'd love to know," Hermione suddenly spoke, her tone firm, "Have you seriously considered teaching us Defence Against the Dark Arts, Harry?"

Harry's fingers paused for a moment, but he quickly resumed flipping through the "Asian Antidote Compendium Books," pretending to be extremely focused on the contents. He didn't want Hermione to see what he was thinking, and even less did he want her to know that he had pondered this issue countless times in his mind recently.

At first, when he and Hermione first discussed this, he thought it was just an absurd idea, utterly insane. But as time went on, the idea, like a seed, took root and sprouted in his heart, slowly becoming an irresistible temptation.

But sometimes, a voice whispers deep within his mind, bewitching him—

"That's a brilliant idea."

This is an opportunity to demonstrate your strength, a chance to let everyone see your true capabilities.

"Everyone will watch you, admire you, depend on you... They will know who the strongest wizard at Hogwarts is."

His hands unconsciously tightened around the pages of the book, his eyes flashing with a complex light. He could imagine that if he really stood in front of those students and taught them defensive techniques, they would look at him with reverence, listen to his every word, and regard him as a true hero—just like every time he helped the Quidditch team come back from a losing streak to win.

Then, a familiar face suddenly appeared in his mind.

--Zhang Cho Chang.

Her clear eyes, her flowing black hair as she raced through the Quidditch Match, the tender look she gave Skylar...

A surge of restless emotion rose from the depths of his heart, and the irrepressible agitation made him blink irritably.

This is an opportunity for me to prove myself to her.

"Even... the chance to get her."

He could almost picture Cho Chang sitting quietly in a corner of the training field, watching him instruct his students with admiration and wonder in her eyes—he would become her hero, not Skylar Malfoy.

Harry took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions within him. He knew he could no longer resist the temptation.

He finally closed the book, looked up, and gazed intently at Hermione, slowly saying, "Alright, since you trust me so much, I'll give it a try!"

"Then it's decided. We'll go to Hogsmeade on the first weekend of October. I'll arrange for everyone who's interested to meet with us in the village and discuss this matter properly," Hermione said.

A lot has also happened in Skylar's territory over the past two weeks, allowing his power to make astonishing progress once again.

One day two weeks later, a rare Nogtail broke out in Nock County. The Ministry of Magic's Beast Extermination Execution Squad quickly mobilized, initially thinking it would be a routine clearing operation. However, they soon discovered that the situation was far more complicated than expected—an unusually powerful mutated individual had infiltrated the swarm of Nogtail.

Due to underestimation and inadequate preparation, the firing squad suffered heavy losses in their first engagement. Captain Amos Diggory was ambushed during the battle and suffered extremely serious injuries, which may leave him permanently disabled and unable to perform his duties again.

Just as the situation was reaching a critical point, Walton Macnair, a member of the firing squad, displayed remarkable resourcefulness and courage. He swiftly cast a rare Beast Roar Simulation Charm, emitting a deep growl powerful enough to intimidate the Nogtail and throw them into chaos for a moment.

That moment of hesitation became the key to turning the tide of the battle—the firing squad seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack, and ultimately worked together to successfully kill the dangerous mutated Nogtail, quelling the riot.

Macnair's heroic performance in this battle earned him high recognition from the Ministry of Magic, and he was awarded the Medal of Honor. After Amos Diggory retired due to injury, McNeil naturally succeeded him as the new captain of the Beast Extermination Execution Squad.

Afterwards, Macnair quietly appeared in the Chamber of Secrets.

The newly appointed captain of the Beast Extermination Execution Squad showed no trace of pride from his promotion; instead, he seemed to be suffocating under an invisible pressure. He knelt on the ground, his head bowed low, his forehead almost touching the cold stone bricks, unable to look directly at the figure sitting quietly on the throne before him.

"Master..." His voice was low, carrying a hint of instinctive awe and obsequiousness, "Your plan has succeeded. Diggory is now a cripple, and I have lived up to your expectations, taking over as captain of the Beast Extermination Execution Squad."

His trembling breaths echoed in the Chamber of Secrets. After a moment of silence, Skylar finally spoke, his voice leisurely and indifferent, seeping into people's hearts like a cold wind in the night. "Very good, Macnair, you have not disappointed me."

Upon hearing this brief commendation, Macnair felt a sense of relief wash over him, as if he had just been pulled back from the brink of death, and a bead of cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He immediately prostrated himself and whispered, "It is my honor to serve my great master."

Skylar tilted his head slightly, his grey eyes gleaming faintly in the dim candlelight, like a beast scrutinizing a loyal servant. He tapped the side of the chair lightly with his fingertips, his tone slow and meaningful. "Now that you have proven your worth... from this day forward, you will be one of my Seven Dragon Fangs —bestowed the name 'Blood Mastiff'."

Macnair's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, followed by overwhelming joy. He immediately lowered his head even further, his voice trembling slightly. "Thank you for your great favor, Master! Macnair is willing to follow you to the death!"

Skylar's gaze was deep, and he smiled faintly, as if everything was under his control.

Then, he slowly stood up and stepped down from the throne. He held the black wand in his hand, his steps unhurried yet carrying a chilling sense of oppression.

"As my servant, your strength is not enough, so let me bestow upon you one more thing—" Skylar raised his wand, twirled it slightly, and pointed it at Macnair's left shoulder.

"Cursed Seal - Blood of the Mad Beast!"

A crimson magical energy poured down instantly, like a scorching brand, fiercely imprinted into Macnair's flesh and blood.

Macnair tensed all his muscles, a burning pain shooting through his shoulder—as if something was tearing, reshaping, and gnawing at his soul through his bones and veins.

He groaned, veins bulging on his forehead, cold sweat streaming down his face, but he gritted his teeth and remained silent. His blood was boiling, his magic was roaring, and an unprecedented, violent power was awakening deep within his body.

Macnair was panting, his shirt soaked with cold sweat, but he didn't utter a sound. He knew this was not only a gift, but also a test.

The red light at the tip of the wand grew brighter and brighter, and a deep, wolf-like howl echoed through the Chamber of Secrets. Following this, an ancient and cruel rune slowly took shape on Macnair's skin—

It was a totem of a two-headed wolf, its crimson lines as if carved from blood, its fangs bared, and its eyes flashing with wild, bloodthirsty rage.

"The 'Blood of the Mad Beast' is etched into your soul." Skylar sheathed his wand, gazing down at him with profound eyes. "It will plunge you into a berserk state when injured; the more severe the injury, the stronger the magical burst. If it's a fatal blow... you will gain destructive power comparable to Grand Sorcerer."

Macnair gasped for breath, feeling the surging, violent magic within him. His pupils turned slightly red, as if some kind of wild animal instinct was awakening.

"But what's most precious is—" Skylar leaned slightly forward, adding calmly, "Every wound you bear, every pain you experience, will permanently increase your magic."

Macnair lowered his head sharply, his voice hoarse and fervent. "Thank you for your kindness, Master! I will certainly live up to your expectations!"

Skylar smiled slightly, turned and walked back to the throne, his black robes sweeping across the cold ground. In the Chamber of Secrets, only the two-headed wolf curse mark on Macnair's shoulder remained, still throbbing slightly, like some bloodthirsty creature, waiting for its next chance to ignite.

[The "Servant" Blood Mastiff has been obtained!]

Recruiting Macnair was just the first piece of good news.

The second thing was the information that came back from Amelia. Through her, Scrimgeour's, and Crouch's efforts, they finally succeeded in making Mr. Bletchley Family the head of the Spirit Division of the Department for the Control of Fantastic Beasts, and Alvin Carrow, the current head of the Carrow Family, also successfully took over as the new Department for the Control of Fantastic Beasts.

At this point, all four top officials of the Department for the Control of Fantastic Beasts (the Director and the three division heads) were Skylar's men. It can be said that, following the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, the entire Department for the Control of Fantastic Beasts had also successfully fallen under Skylar's control.

Of course, some other minor incidents occurred within the Ministry of Magic, but they didn't have much impact on Skylar.

For example, the shameless Ludo Bagman actually returned to the Ministry of Magic, swore allegiance to Fudge, and successfully regained his position as Director of the Department of Magical Games and Sports.

The Department of Magical Games and Sports is not a powerful position, and even if it boosts Fudge's influence, the effect is expected to be quite limited. Skylar did not take the matter too seriously.

For example, the Travers Family, the last remaining Pure-Blood Extremist Faction, rejoined the Ministry of Magic, providing Fudge with high-profile financial and public support, which further strengthened Fudge's position within the Ministry of Magic.

Although the Travers Family was not weak, in Skylar's eyes they were just so-so. To be fair, while this family didn't rank among the top tier of Pure-blood families, they were still quite powerful in the second tier, at least no worse House of Avery.

When Skylar received this intelligence, he simply chuckled coldly. This fish that had slipped through the net, which he had never taken seriously before, now gave him a reason to take care of it.