Behind-the-Scenes Forces

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

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

The Shrieking Shack, where no one ever came, now had two more people in it.

More accurately, one person.

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

He had examined the man's memories. Since his skill with memory magic was not yet profound enough, he had not gained much information.

But there was one crucial piece of information—Burke.

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

He just had not expected Borgin and Burkes in Knockturn Alley to have such extensive business. The magical materials he had sold had actually cut into their market.

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

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

Unfortunately, he had run into Eli. Truly unlucky—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 received a proper education. He was no saint, but he had at least been a normal person. Still, he did not feel the slightest sympathy for anyone who wanted to harm him.

Magic lifted the corpse into the air.

With a gentle flick of Eli's wand, the man's skin and muscles slowly separated.

Practical work was always more profound than anything seen in books.

Having studied anatomy for so long, Eli now resembled a true scientist. Magic made the work come naturally to him.

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

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

Fortunately, it was acceptable overall.

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

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

The prolonged fine control of magic brought a thin layer of sweat to Eli's forehead.

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

Extreme concentration.

After nearly a full night of work, what lay before him could no longer be considered a body.

The various tissues had been spread out like totems.

"Whew..."

When he finished the last step, Eli collapsed onto the floor, a sharp pain stabbing through his head.

It was not because his magic had run dry. The main issue was that the prolonged delicate manipulation of magic had severely drained his mental strength.

But... looking at the several parchments filled with records, Eli revealed a satisfied smile.

It was all worth it!

"Blood Demon Possession!"

A crimson beam shot from Eli's wand. The blood within the mangled remains it struck began to coagulate instantly.

"Ah, still not quite there."

Eli shook his head as he looked at the partially charred areas.

This was the Blood-Clotting Curse. Its name might not sound like much, but creatures struck by it would die within moments as their blood coagulated.

It was just that the effect Eli had produced was somewhat excessive, causing charring in certain places.

In terms of lethality, it might have been even more vicious, but that also showed that his control over magic and spells was lacking.

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, he packed the parchment and quill into his bag.

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

He looked around the Shrieking Shack. "Hmm, this would make a fine secret base."

Hardly anyone came here. The nearby residents would never set foot in this place, so whatever Eli did here would not be discovered.

The Room of Requirement certainly would not belong to him alone. Besides, as long as he was at school, there was always the possibility that old Dumbledore might discover him.

If Dumbledore found out about an experiment like today's, he might very well expel him outright.

It would be best not to let old Dumbledore know about his practice of Dark magic either. Who could guarantee that his attitude toward Dark magic was tolerant?

It was impossible for him to avoid Dark magic entirely. In fact, 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 all just meant to fool children.

The effects of Dark magic were indeed strange and evil, but it had no power to beguile 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—this was something that truly could not be used!

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

The Killing Curse!

The Killing Curse not only destroyed the souls of others, but also harmed the soul of its caster.

Just look at Voldemort's later crazed, idiotic state. The Killing Curse surely played a part in it.

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

At the very 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 cutting off life force.

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

When the time came, he could just blame old Dumbledore for never warning him. Heh heh...

Speaking of Dark magic, Eli was not learning solely from old Voldemort's memories. Snape was teaching him as well.

Sectumsempra was taught to him by Snape. It was also Snape's own creation, and it was extremely useful.

Eli was determined to learn Dark magic. He was no great white wizard.

As long as he mastered Dark magic, then this world would become his—Guna La, God of Darkness...

Ahem... wrong script...

Eli returned to the castle. Dawn was already breaking. Forget it, I won't study today. I approve my own leave!

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

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

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

"Dead?"

An oily voice came from beneath oily hair, carrying a trace of chill.

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

Burke pondered for a while, then sneered. "No need. After being alarmed this time, he will not show himself again anytime soon. Remember, our goal is Galleons, not murder! That old fool Dumbledore has been pressuring the Ministry of Magic lately, and that coward Fudge has begun cracking down on Dark wizards everywhere. We must not throw ourselves into the fire."

"Yes!"

The man nodded.

Burke spoke again. "Still, send someone to keep an eye on that area. Pay special attention to developments at Hogwarts."

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

Burke stopped fiddling with his greasy hair.

The man in black quickly shut his mouth.