The Dark Lord's Notes! Finding the Room of Requirement!

He turned the iron basin back into a wooden table.

Argus took out the notes Voldemort had given him.

Just a cursory glance at them in the office had shaken him to his core.

"Unfortunately, your intentions are far too obvious."

Argus smiled faintly and activated Occlumency.

Voldemort's notes were indeed valuable, and the knowledge within was genuine.

But for an eleven-year-old wizard like Argus, this Dark Magic was far too advanced.

Never mind a moment's carelessness-even with his full concentration, it would only be a matter of time before malicious thoughts took over.

What he did not know, however, was that Argus's level of Occlumency far exceeded his imagination.

As long as he did not deliberately delve into it, gaining a basic understanding of the knowledge within would be effortless.

Even if Argus could not study it himself, there were still Vinda, Grindelwald, and the others!

The notes would be just as useful in their hands.

Immersed in Voldemort's notes, Argus only snapped out of it when the sky began to darken.

He marveled inwardly.

Sure enough, anyone who could become a Dark Lord was no ordinary person.

There was not much Argus could actually learn, but even so, he had gained a great deal over the afternoon.

The notes analyzed the origins of Dark Magic in clear, accessible terms.

Previously, Argus had always held one misconception: that the three major types of Dark Magic belonged to three separate categories.

Yet Voldemort proposed a completely different view in his notes.

Whether jinxes, hexes, or curses, they all originated from a wizard's malicious thoughts.

The difference lay in the strength of that malice!

For example, Densaugeo and Rictusempra seemed to be mere minor jinxes, but were actually weakened or broken-down versions of many curses.

Through Voldemort's explanations and connections, many seemingly unrelated spells turned out to form the underlying foundations of a vast number of complex Dark spells.

"It's getting late. I should get something to eat first."

"I still have detention in the Forbidden Forest later."

Argus closed his eyes and cleared away the malicious thoughts eroding his mind.

He recalled his conversation with Voldemort that morning.

Judging from Voldemort's words, he had probably already guessed where the Philosopher's Stone was hidden.

He had not acted rashly because he feared that a failed attempt would alert the enemy.

That was why he wanted Argus to go there beforehand and gather information.

Unfortunately, Argus, who knew the plot well, already knew what was hidden inside and had no intention of taking the risk.

He only needed to briefly reveal Fluffy's existence when he saw Voldemort next week.

He could sell the three-headed dog's existence once, then sell its origins a second time.

Perhaps he could even sell the method of dealing with the three-headed dog a third time.

Selling one piece of intelligence for three separate payments-this deal would net him a huge profit.

As for Voldemort's resurrection... that was Dumbledore's headache.

Even in the original story, Dumbledore had known what Voldemort was planning. Revealing the information would merely speed up the process.

A remnant soul could not make any waves!

After eating, he followed Hagrid to the Forbidden Forest.

Nothing happened along the way.

Over the next few days, the peaceful routine left Argus feeling more relaxed than ever.

Then, on the last day of his detention, Argus received a letter from Vinda Rosier.

The letter informed him that she had purchased several well-located shops in Diagon Alley, and they could open for business at any time.

Beyond that, there was no other information.

For most wizards, owl post was not the best option.

Important information in particular was far too easy to leak!

Vinda knew Argus's circumstances and did not dare describe the Acolytes' current situation in a letter.

She intended to find a suitable time and place to discuss their next move with him.

Argus felt the same way.

After learning that the shop locations had been settled, he planned to speak to Hagrid that evening in the Forbidden Forest about purchasing Fantastic Beasts materials.

Late that night.

After finishing their patrol, he and Hagrid reached the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

Argus spoke.

"Hagrid, if you have time over the next couple of days, you can sort out the materials you want to sell."

"When the time comes, I'll take everything away using an Undetectable Extension Charm, so you won't have to make another trip back and forth."

"Ah! You really want to buy them! I thought..." A trace of surprise appeared on Hagrid's face.

"You thought I was joking back then?" Argus said helplessly.

"I haven't brought it up these past couple of days because there were still some things to sort out with the shops."

"Rather than have you go to all that trouble without knowing where to deliver them, it's better to leave them with a Fantastic Beasts master like you."

"Your preservation methods are far better than those of the so-called scholars!"

Argus piled on the flattery. He clearly wanted a free scapegoat, someone to hold responsible if anything went wrong with the materials.

Yet he made it sound as though he trusted Hagrid immensely.

Through Hagrid's thick beard, he could clearly see his face flushing with shame.

He scratched his head.

"Sorry, Argus. I shouldn't have doubted a friend..."

"It's fine. I'm only eleven. It's perfectly normal to have reservations about discussing a major business deal with a young wizard like me."

"I'd forgotten you're only eleven. Sometimes I really feel like I'm talking to an adult wizard."

Hagrid sighed. "Argus, I suggest you spend more time talking to Harry and the others your age. When young wizards act too grown-up, it's easy for them to lose the joys of childhood."

"I'll consider it."

The next day.

Although Argus had gone to bed very late the night before, his body clock still woke him early.

Back in Austria, Vinda had made sure he exercised every morning.

At first, Argus had thought little of it, believing that wizards only needed to focus on magic.

Then, while practicing magic with Vinda, he discovered that even without using magic to fight back, she could leave him helpless through physical movement alone.

Only then had he understood that, for a wizard, the body was just as important as magic.

Even someone as powerful as Dumbledore could not escape the limitations of his body.

From then on, apart from special circumstances that left him genuinely unable to get out of bed, Argus had exercised with almost unwavering regularity.

After a day of classes, Argus noticed a problem.

The dormitory was too small. It was fine for reading and the like.

But if he wanted to practice magic, he would probably cause quite a commotion.

"Looks like I'll have to go to the Room of Requirement to practice magic after all."

Argus remembered a legendary place within Hogwarts Castle.

The Room of Requirement, also known as the Come and Go Room.

According to legend, it was sometimes there and sometimes not, and a person could only enter when they truly needed it.

It arranged itself according to the visitor's needs, and even the Marauder's Map could not display it.

"If I practice there, I probably won't have to worry about anyone finding out."

He acted at once!

Argus tucked Voldemort's notes inside his robes and, relying on his memories of the Room of Requirement's features, found the tapestry of "Troll Clubbing Barnabas the Barmy" on the Seventh Floor of Hogwarts Castle.

After making sure no one had seen him along the way, Argus silently repeated to himself.

I need a place to practice magic.

Opposite the tapestry, a very smooth door abruptly appeared before Argus.

There had been no warning whatsoever.

"Hogwarts really does hide plenty of secrets!"

"With this place, I won't have to sneak around anymore when I want to practice magic or conduct experiments."

Argus chuckled. He pushed the door open and entered.