The new semester started with few changes to the curriculum; it was still the same classes.
It's heartening to see the Care of Magical Creatures.
After a period of adjustment, Hagrid finally emerged from the shadow of failure and stopped making the students play with the boring Flobberworm.
The course content was changed to caring for salamanders.
It's old-fashioned, but much better than those slimy bugs.
At least the salamander is somewhat useful; its blood has healing properties and can also be used to make Potions.
After class, Morris walked down the hallway, holding a small glass bottle about the size of a thumb— Hagrid had given all the students a small sample of salamander blood.
Incidentally, Draco, who was injured by the Hippogriff, initially went around shouting that he would make Hagrid pay, but then suddenly disappeared.
Speaking of Draco Malfoy, Morris has been seeing him frequently going to Snape's office lately, though he's unclear what he's up to.
As he was thinking about this, Morris suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Two figures stood not far in front of him, seemingly engaged in conversation.
One of them was Draco Malfoy, with his back to him, and the other was Snape.
Neither of them noticed his arrival.
"... I don't understand, Professor," Draco said, his voice tinged with urgency, "I've practiced your method countless times, but why is it still..."
"Patience, Draco, patience," Snape's voice was as deep and emotionless as ever. "Dueling skills cannot be mastered through haste. Your foundation is not solid enough; rushing into advanced spells will only backfire."
So that's it. Draco was practicing dueling.
For Slytherin students, Snape was indeed a good teacher; after all, he was their headmaster and would naturally be more approachable to students from their own house.
Morris was about to walk by silently when he suddenly heard Draco say, "Professor, you should know Morris Black. What's his dueling skill like?"
Um?
Is there anything else about him?
Morris stopped walking, intrigued.
Snape narrowed his eyes, looking at Draco with a slightly scrutinizing gaze. "What do you want to do?"
Draco straightened his back. "Defeat him."
Morris smiled silently.
Alright, Malfoy, after all this time, you're up to something again?
Upon hearing Draco's words, Snape simply shook his head slightly. "Why not try to surpass him academically?"
Draco's expression froze.
study?
That has to be something you can actually do!
Who is Morris? He's a monster who gets near-perfect scores in all subjects.
Can he do it?
Compared to that, defeating the opponent in a duel is more promising... Well, the prospects aren't great either, considering the opponent is a ruthless individual capable of killing the Basilisk.
Seeing this, Snape shook his head again and continued, " Draco, although I will teach you dueling techniques and spells, I cannot guarantee that you will win. No one can guarantee that."
Draco looked slightly embarrassed. "That's not what I meant, Professor."
Just as he was about to say something, suddenly, a hand landed on his shoulder.
"!"
Draco turned around abruptly.
There stood Morris Black, the very person they had just been talking about, standing behind him, smiling at him.
"You—!" Draco's voice trembled, "What are you doing here?!"
"Just passing by." Morris's smile widened.
Draco's expression twisted more and more.
You heard everything!?
"Yes," Morris nodded, appearing quite composed. "You were talking in the middle of the road, weren't you? But then again, I don't think it was anything shameful."
He paused, then added, "Want to defeat me? What's there to hide? Having goals is a good thing, and I welcome your challenge anytime, Malfoy."
Draco didn't know how to reply.
But there is no doubt that he disliked the other party's unhurried attitude.
It was as if they didn't take him seriously at all.
Morris glanced at Snape, who remained silent beside him, a slight smile playing on his lips, and continued speaking to Draco, "However, if you want to challenge me, you'd better be prepared to fail and bear the consequences."
Draco was visibly taken aback. "What consequences?"
"I haven't decided yet, hehehe."
Morris suddenly let out a strange laugh.
Draco suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
At the same time, Snape's lips twitched slightly.
"Don't go too far," he said calmly. "I have no interest in your personal feuds. Draco, remember to come to my office tomorrow at noon."
After saying that, Snape turned and left, his footsteps fading into the distance until he disappeared at the end of the corridor.
Only Morris and Draco remained in the corridor.
The atmosphere suddenly became quiet.
Draco looked at Morris and silently made up his mind.
The opponent is indeed strong, but his efforts over the years have not been in vain.
Besides, Morris must have areas where he's not good at something.
For example, Dark Magic.
If he can control what he brought from home, he can undoubtedly defeat his opponent...
"Alright," Morris shrugged. "If you want to duel me, I'm ready anytime. But if you cause me trouble behind my back... well... I'll have my Basilisk bite off your arm."
Draco's face suddenly turned pale. " The Basilisk? Didn't you kill it?"
Morris blinked. "I saved it again. That's all, goodbye."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Draco stood there, his mind blank for a long time.
After teasing Draco Malfoy, Morris was in a great mood.
Back in his dormitory, he used a teleportation magic circle to enter the Gap World, intending to take a walk.
The Gap World remained as desolate as ever.
As Morris strolled through the area, even his inner self found peace.
This time, instead of stopping or condensing energy crystals, he randomly chose a direction and kept walking forward.
Looking around at his surroundings, Morris couldn't help but feel a little sentimental.
No matter how many times I come here, it always seems incredibly mysterious.
It is said that this is the place where souls must pass through after death.
Perhaps, at this very moment, an unseen soul is drifting past him.
It's... touching.
As time passed, Morris did not stop.
There was still nothing around him. He turned to look at the way he had come, but the castle had vanished.
If Grindelwald is correct, somewhere here lies an entrance to the world of the dead.
I don't know exactly where it is.
Does the world of the dead really exist?
Morris stopped, blinked, and in the next second, he was back in his Hogwarts dormitory.
The portal has run out of energy.
He sighed.
We need to find a way to extend the portal's duration.