Magical Studies

Three weeks later, Room of Requirement.

It was a comfortable room styled like a study.

The bookshelves lining both sides were crammed with all sorts of books and notes—none of them particularly valuable. They seemed to be extracurricular books left behind by previous students.

Opposite the door stood a floor-to-ceiling window. Beyond it, magic simulated a raging storm, making this room—with its expensive wool carpet and blazing fireplace—feel especially warm and cozy.

On the soft sofa, Vaughan closed the book in his hands and rubbed his eyes.

"System!"

[Host: Vaughan Weasley]

[Magic Power: 438 (the average adult wizard has 500)]

[Talents: Charms 7, Dark Magic 6, Transfiguration 8, Potions 10, Herbology 6, Divination 2 (maximum 10)]

[Spells: Occlumency LV5 (MAX)... Memory Charm LV0 (0/2), Reductor Curse LV0 (0/2), Disillusionment Charm LV0 (0/2), Vanishing Spell LV0 (0/3), Sectumsempra LV0 (0/3), ... Scarpin's Revelaspell LV0 (0/4), Patronus Charm LV0 (0/4), Fiendfyre LV0 (0/5)...]

[Potions: Elixir to Induce Euphoria, etc. Newly added: Strengthening Solution, Veritaserum, Wit-Sharpening Potion, Amortentia, Baruffio's Brain Elixir, Polyjuice Potion...]

[Reputation Points: 22]

Looking at the changes to his magic power and reputation points, Vaughan suddenly came to a realization.

A month had already passed!

Ever since Snape had approved his access to advanced books from the Restricted Section, he had spent every day in the Room of Requirement except when attending classes.

After studying painstakingly for so long, he had finally reached a stopping point.

Vaughan tossed aside the book and let out a long breath. Shaking his head, which felt heavy and swollen from prolonged concentration, he looked at the system panel.

The newly added spells and potions brought immediate joy to his long-still heart.

They were things he had been unable to access no matter how hard he had tried over the past few years. Even relatively common spells such as the Reductor Curse and Memory Charm had few learning channels on the market.

That was because they were spells whose circulation was restricted by the Ministry of Magic. Unless someone attended an official school like Hogwarts, where students were registered and recorded with the Ministry, freelance wizards had no chance of learning them—

There were quite a few freelance wizards in the magical world. They might be werewolves or vampires who had been bitten and transformed at a young age, or undocumented Dark wizards who had drifted in from abroad.

Not all Dark wizards were as "high-end" as Death Eaters. There were plenty who committed petty theft or operated in gray areas.

What Vaughan had not expected was that Snape had even approved his request to borrow a book on Dark magic.

Most of An Introduction to Dark Magic consisted of simple jinxes and curses, but someone had added a handwritten page at the very end.

It recorded Sectumsempra, its counterspell Vulnera Sanentur, and Fiendfyre!

Vaughan did not need to think to know who had added it.

As expected of a former Death Eater—he had no reservations whatsoever about Dark magic.

Of course, Snape would not dare go so far as to let Vaughan learn the Unforgivable Curses now.

Still, Vaughan was already very satisfied. If Snape had not pulled strings for him, he probably would not have learned these spells for another four or five years.

As for Dark magic, he might have had to follow the example of those freelance wizards and go to Knockturn Alley or the black market, seeking out people from the underground world.

There were far too many risks in that. The underground world was full of swindlers and scoundrels. Losing money to a scam would be one thing; the real concern was encountering a Dark wizard looking to rob him outright.

After staring at the system panel for a while, the brief excitement faded. Vaughan pressed a hand to his forehead.

"There are too many new spells. If I practice them all myself, it'll take a long time. The ideal method is to use reputation points to raise them one or two levels first, reaching the beginner or proficient stage, then practice them myself."

"Twenty-two reputation points are nowhere near enough... I need to find a new source of income!"

With that thought, Vaughan no longer hesitated. He invested all his points into Scarpin's Revelaspell, raising it in one go to LV2 (10/16).

This spell would be a great help in his upcoming development of potions, and potions could help him find a new source of income and increase the reputation points he received in the monthly settlement.

At this stage, while he was still in school, investing all his reputation points into it was undoubtedly the most effective choice.

After allocating the points, Vaughan took out a bottle of Cure for Boils and poured it into a cup. With a light flick of his wand, he spoke a spell as skillfully as though he had practiced it hundreds of times.

"Revelaspell!"

His vision immediately changed. The potion in the cup began to glow in his eyes!

Various colors floated across the surface of that light, mingling together while remaining incomparably clear and distinct.

Vaughan suddenly felt that he could break down this finished potion!

So he waved his wand again—

The deep-blue potion in the cup immediately split into several clumps under a mysterious force. Their colors shifted rapidly, shedding their pure blue hue and gradually returning to the colors of ingredients such as snake fangs and dried nettles.

The ritual that had formed the potion had been disrupted by the spell, and then, under the spell's influence, the ingredients tried their utmost to revert to their former states.

Vaughan observed for a moment before pouring out the Cure for Boils.

It was useless now. Scarpin's Revelaspell could only revert a potion; it could not make it take shape again.

"What an incredible spell. I wonder how that wizard named Scarpin developed it?"

"Too bad he died a long time ago. They probably couldn't even find his ashes..."

After using Scourgify to dispose of the mess, Vaughan stretched lazily and prepared to return to his dormitory to sleep.

Starting tomorrow, he would begin brewing and developing potions.

He already had a few ideas in this area, and he was ready to make a splash!

Then, as he left the Room of Requirement, he ran into Dumbledore...

The greatest white wizard of the century stood in the eighth-floor corridor, dressed in pinkish-purple pajamas and wearing a childlike nightcap, pretending to have bumped into him by chance.

"Ah—Mr. Vaughan Weasley, good evening. Are you here to use the bathroom too?"

"...?"

Vaughan froze for a moment.

Dumbledore continued with a beaming smile. "So you discovered this place too. How marvelous. I've been at Hogwarts for over a hundred years and walked this corridor more times than I can count, yet one day, when I was desperately looking for a bathroom, a room suddenly appeared in this stretch of wall. It was filled with all sorts of toilets I liked. Thank Merlin, it has been my favorite place ever since!"

This old man is playing dumb again...

Vaughan quickly caught on. Smiling just as warmly, he gave a polite bow. "It truly is a magical room. Unfortunately, I'm not here to use the bathroom. I'm still young and don't need it at night, Headmaster Dumbledore."

As though he had not seen the books tucked under Vaughan's arm, Dumbledore smiled and made small talk. "Yes, I am rather old, after all. I cannot compare to the young. Still, I think you should give it a try when you have the time."

Vaughan shrugged. "I probably won't be coming here anytime soon."

"Oh? Why not?"

"I've finished reading most of the books. I'm going to start developing potions and refining my own theories. I'm sorry to disappoint you, Headmaster."

"Severus has been praising you to me all along—the Slytherin potions prodigy."

Vaughan smiled. "It is only due to Professor Snape's and your kind regard. It's getting late, Headmaster. I should return and rest. Good night."

"Good night, Mr. Weasley."

The two foxes, one large and one small, exchanged greetings and parted ways, as if it had all been nothing more than a chance encounter and ordinary small talk.