Origins of Ancient Magic

"Harry, look. Just as I thought, all Slytherins loved stirring up trouble."

Ron and Harry walked out of the common room. Thinking of Lyon, Ron spoke to Harry.

"I think they're all right. Other than Malfoy, who left the Hospital Wing a few days ago and is a bit annoying, I can't tell that the others are particularly arrogant."

"No, no, that's because you don't know them well enough. Wait, watch out for Peeves!" Ron pulled Harry around the corridor where Peeves was wreaking havoc and headed to the first-floor hallway.

This place was not far from the Slytherin common room.

"Harry, look. Those evil Slytherins all live beneath the Black Lake. I heard it used to be Slytherin's dungeon."

"See? Only someone like Lyon would live beneath the Black Lake."

After Ron finished speaking, he waited for a while and realized Harry beside him had fallen silent.

"Harry?"

Ron had just turned his head when his expression froze.

At some point, a group of Slytherin students had gathered around them, many of them upperclassmen.

"Uh? What are you...?"

A bad feeling suddenly rose in Ron's heart.

One person stepped out from the group of Slytherin students and came before Ron, tilting his head as he looked Ron over from head to toe.

"Do you know me?"

"No."

"That's all right. You'll know me soon enough."

The boy smiled sinisterly. Suddenly, more than a dozen Slytherins stepped forward with their wands raised, surrounding Ron.

"Uh... everyone, I don't think I've offended you, have I?" Ron asked. His legs were trembling, and he had no idea why these Slytherins were targeting him.

The boy who had spoken earlier suddenly laughed, exchanging glances with the people around him.

"The person you just insulted was our godfather, Lyon Shelby."

"Leg-Locker Curse!"

"Stinky Mouth, Poop Eggs!"

"Expelliarmus!"

"Many Bullets Blazing!"

As soon as the boy finished speaking, more than a dozen spells shot from behind him toward Ron and Harry. In an instant, Ron was engulfed by the barrage of spells, and screams rang through the corridor.

After an unknown amount of time, Ron was spitting out poop eggs while Harry struggled to pull slugs off his legs. The two sat on the ground pitifully, looking at the dozen people surrounding them.

"Ron, right? I'll remember you. My name is Marcus Flint. If I catch you insulting our godfather again, spitting poop eggs won't be the worst of it."

As Marcus spoke, he glanced at Mrs Norris appearing at the far end of the corridor. "Mrs Norris is here, which means Filch can't be far behind. Let's go."

The dozen students immediately left, leaving the two disheveled boys on the floor.

Meanwhile, Lyon was sitting in a ward in the Hospital Wing, completely unaware of what had happened.

Seeing the Weasley Twins and Lee Jordan appear at the ward door, he elegantly shifted aside and let the three enter.

"Big money man! Our Jinx-Proof Armor is finished!"

"It'll definitely exceed your expectations!"

"This is Lee Jordan. He helped us a lot."

Lyon nodded and took the wizard robe George and Fred handed him. With a flick of his wand, a spell instantly struck the robe.

Amazingly, the spell had no effect at all, and the wizard robe did not appear damaged in the slightest.

Lyon tried several more spells in succession and discovered that only his Fiendfyre Curse could damage the robe.

That was already beyond his expectations.

He had thought he would not see results anytime soon this year. After all, George and Fred were only second-years. He had not expected such a pleasant surprise.

"Very good. Can these clothes be mass-produced?"

"How many do you want?"

"Two thousand."

"No problem, we... Wait, how many did you say?"

Fred had been about to agree immediately, but then he froze and stared at Lyon in disbelief.

"Two thousand," Lyon repeated.

"We simply can't make that much Jinx-Proof Armor, and besides..."

"Two thousand pieces. Five Galleons each."

George had barely started speaking when Lyon cut him off.

"Uh, this isn't about money. We have principles too."

"Two thousand pieces. Ten Galleons each. Your production costs aren't high."

It was as though Lyon could see right through their thoughts. As soon as he finished speaking, George immediately answered, "No problem, though it may take a while."

Lee Jordan, standing nearby, was already dumbfounded.

Business could be negotiated like this?

The cost of one robe was not even one Galleon, yet Lyon had raised the price to ten Galleons without even blinking...

He was seriously loaded!

As they spoke, the Hospital Wing door was suddenly pushed open again.

"Lyon!"

A girl's tearful voice suddenly rang out. Before Lyon and the others could react, they felt a warm, fragrant body throw itself into his arms.

"Lyon, do you know how worried I was when I heard you were admitted to the Hospital Wing?"

The person in his arms was Hermione. Her voice was aggrieved, and it was obvious she had been worried sick.

"All right, all right. Don't cry."

Lyon patted Hermione's back, and only then did she reluctantly let go. "How did you end up in the hospital?"

"A Magical Outburst. Madam Pomfrey insisted that I stay."

"A Magical Outburst?" George and the other two gaped at Lyon in disbelief.

They seemed to realize something and suddenly exchanged glances.

"Wait, there was a powerful magical disturbance in the castle just now. Could it be...?"

"It all fits! Merlin's butt!"

"How did you make such a huge commotion? Teach me. I want to give our dear Filch something to do too."

The three cried out in alarm, quickly attracting Madam Pomfrey's attention. Amid the noise in the ward, George and the other two were soon forced to shut their mouths.

"So your magical power has already reached the level of an adult wizard?"

After Lyon explained the situation to them, Lee Jordan stared wide-eyed and asked in disbelief.

Little Hermione gazed at Lyon with stars in her eyes. Only when she noticed George and the others giggling beside her did she realize what she was doing and shyly lower her head.

"I just got lucky. By the way, do you know what Ancient Magic is?"

Lyon changed the subject and asked about Ancient Magic instead.

Lee Jordan frowned. "Ancient Magic is something you can only encounter when choosing electives in third year, but I've heard some older students mention it."

"Oh?" Lyon showed interest. He had not yet had time to study the spell rewarded by the system, and Ancient Magic had never been mentioned in the original story.

"I heard that Ancient Magic often has more complicated effects, and its effects are stranger as well. It is cast through arrays and special forms. Things like the Unbreakable Vow are Ancient Magic."

Lee Jordan roughly explained the situation with Ancient Magic.

Much Ancient Magic had already been lost during the great wizard massacre of the sixteenth century.

In the sixteenth century, Muggles began persecuting wizards. The magic wizards used then was not as simple and quick as the spells of today. At that time, most wizards used magic similar to curses and vows.

Lyon remembered that when Voldemort was resurrected in the original story from his previous life, he had used similar magic—father's bone, enemy's blood, and so on. So that had been Ancient Magic.

And because wizards needed faster and more convenient methods of casting, the current method of wand casting emerged.

It was said that Ancient Magic was often more mysterious and powerful, but with the changing times, much of it had not been preserved.

Lyon narrowed his eyes. He needed to find time to ask Professor Flitwick about it.

As they spoke, Madam Pomfrey suddenly walked in.

"Fred, George, Granger, it's already nighttime. Lyon needs to rest!"

"Oh, Madam Pomfrey, for Merlin's sake, let us talk a little longer!"

Despite the Weasley Twins and the others' pleas, they still had to leave. The lights in the room were switched off, and everything became pitch-black, but Lyon was not sleepy at all.

"System, what exactly is this Ancient Magic?"

Lyon called out to the system, and a panel appeared before him.

[Host Panel]

[Name: Lyon Shelby]

[Magical Power: Level 9]

[Talents: 1. Surging Magic: The host's magical power doubles.

2. Dark Magic Prodigy: You can effortlessly learn and master any Dark Magic you study and practice.

3...]

[Mastered Spells: Occlumency (Master), Fiendfyre Curse (Master), Stunning Spell (Nonverbal), Levitation Charm (Master)...]

[Ancient Magic: Time-Reversal Charm (Beginner)] (Expand)

His system panel had actually gained another option. It was a system Lyon did not understand.

Seeing the word "Expand" after that entry, Lyon willed it, and the panel before him rapidly changed.