The Force Behind the Scenes

The Shrieking Shack, a famous haunted place. The villagers of nearby Hogsmeade never came near it.

"Ah, no tools. But magic is a wonderful thing."

The Shrieking Shack, which no one had ever visited, now had two more people in it.

More accurately, one person.

Eli was standing there, while the attacker he had killed floated beside him.

He had examined the memories, but since his memory magic was not yet refined enough, he had gained little information.

But there was one crucial piece of information—Burke.

That was right, the Burke from Borgin and Burkes. He had sold a bottle... no, a whole pile of poison there before.

He just had not expected Borgin and Burkes in Knockturn Alley to have such a broad range of business. The magical materials he sold had actually affected their market.

What Eli did not know was that while giant spiders were not especially rare, the market had always been monopolized by the Burke Family, so hardly anyone sold Acromantula materials in large quantities.

When Eli began selling those materials in large batches, the Burke Family sent people to identify the seller and bring him back.

Unfortunately, he had run into Eli. What terrible luck—he had lost his life, and even his soul had been absorbed.

Now, it was time for his body to serve its final purpose.

Eli had once received a proper education. He was no saint, but at least an ordinary decent person. Still, he had not the slightest sympathy for anyone who wanted to hurt him.

Magic lifted the corpse into the air.

With a light wave of Eli's Wand, his skin and muscles slowly separated.

Actual practice was always more profound than what one read in books.

Having studied anatomy for so long, Eli now looked like a genuine scientist, and magic let him work with ease.

Thankfully, Snape had helped him improve his control over magic. Otherwise, this body would already have been torn to pieces.

Still, things were not perfect. His magical control was not refined enough, and Eli accidentally damaged some of the body's tissues.

Fortunately, the overall result was still acceptable.

Beside him floated a sheet of parchment and a quill that recorded everything automatically.

The thing was not cheap, but with Eli's current wealth, it was nothing.

The prolonged precise control of magic left a thin layer of sweat on Eli's forehead.

Yet even when sweat ran past the corners of his eyes, he did not move, as though he had entered some strange state.

Extreme concentration.

After nearly an entire night of work, what lay before him could no longer be called a body.

Various tissues had been spread out like a totem.

"Phew..."

The moment he finished, Eli collapsed onto the floor, a stabbing pain blooming in his head.

It was not because his magic had run dry. Mainly, the prolonged fine control of magic had greatly drained his mental strength.

But... seeing several parchments filled with records, Eli smiled in satisfaction.

It was all worth it!

"Blood Demon Possession!"

A scarlet beam shot from Eli's Wand. The blood in the mangled remains it struck instantly began to coagulate.

"Ah, still not quite there."

Eli shook his head at the slightly charred areas.

This was the Blood-Clotting Curse. The name might not sound like much, but any creature hit by it would die within moments as its blood solidified.

The effect Eli had just produced, however, had gone a little too far, causing parts of the body to char.

Its destructive power might have been greater, but it also showed that his control over magic and spells was still poor.

This was the greatest gulf between him and advanced wizards.

But he was only a first-year wizard. He still had time.

With a wave of his Wand, the parchment and quill were stored in his bag.

Eli dripped Bone-Dissolving Water onto the remains, and within moments, they vanished without a trace.

After looking around the Shrieking Shack, he nodded. "Hmm, this would make a pretty good secret base."

The place was deserted. Nearby residents would never come here, so whatever Eli did would go unnoticed.

The Room of Requirement could never belong to him alone. Besides, as long as he was at school, there was always the possibility of old Dumbledore discovering him.

If old Dumbledore had found out about today's experiment, he might have expelled him outright.

It would be best if old Dumbledore did not learn that he was practicing Dark Magic either. Who could guarantee that he was tolerant of Dark Magic?

It was impossible for him to stay away from Dark Magic. In truth, most offensive spells were stronger as Dark Magic than as Light Magic.

As for what other wizards said about Dark Magic tempting people into corruption? What a joke. That was just something they told children.

Dark Magic's effects were indeed strange and evil, but it had no power to bewitch people's hearts.

The only possibility was that those who used Dark Magic became too obsessed with power.

Of course, that did not mean there was no truly evil magic.

The Killing Curse was something that absolutely could not be used!

What spell had Voldemort used to split his soul when he created Horcruxes?

The Killing Curse!

The Killing Curse not only destroyed others' souls, it also harmed the caster's soul.

Just look at how crazed and deranged Voldemort became later on. The Killing Curse had surely played a part in that.

By comparison, the [Ultimate Death] Eli had created by chance was far better.

At least, Eli had not noticed any discomfort, and the spell did not destroy souls.

Instead, it severed the connection between soul and body. It could be understood as life force.

Besides, Dumbledore had never said he was forbidden from using this spell, right?

When the time came, he could just blame old Dumbledore for not warning him. Heh heh...

Speaking of Dark Magic, Eli was not learning only from old Voldemort's memories. Snape was teaching him too.

Sectumsempra was taught by Snape. Snape had created it himself, and it was extremely useful.

Eli was determined to learn Dark Magic. He was no great Light wizard.

As long as he mastered Dark Magic, this world would become his, the Dark God of Gunara...

Ahem... wrong show...

Eli returned to the castle. Dawn was already breaking. Fine, he would not study today. I approve my own leave!

At that moment, inside Borgin and Burkes in Knockturn Alley.

"Mr. Burke, Kester hasn't returned. He is probably dead!"

A man in black with slicked-back hair spoke respectfully to the hunched man behind the counter.

"Dead?"

A greasy voice came from beneath greasy hair, carrying a trace of coldness.

The man in black became even more respectful. "Should we capture that shop owner and question him about the identity of the supplier?"

Borgin and Burkes pondered for a while, then sneered. "No need. After being alerted this time, he will not show himself again anytime soon. Remember, our goal is Galleons, not murder! That old fool Dumbledore has been putting pressure on the Ministry of Magic lately. That coward Fudge has started cracking down on Dark wizards everywhere. We should not go looking for trouble ourselves."

"Yes!"

The man nodded.

Borgin and Burkes spoke again. "But still send someone to keep watch over there. Pay special attention to any movement at Hogwarts."

The man frowned. "You mean this matter is connected to Hogwarts?"

Borgin and Burkes stopped fiddling with greasy hair.

The man in black hurriedly shut his mouth.