"A Maledictus?"
Upon hearing the term, Ethan's eyebrows twitched. A single name surfaced instinctively in his mind: Nagini, the viper—one of Voldemort's Horcruxes.
Slughorn hemmed and hawed, his voice cautious. "You know of the Maledictus condition, don't you? It's an exceptionally rare blood curse. The victim is born with a hereditary curse that eventually forces them to lose their human form entirely, turning them into a mindless beast."
"Look, you managed to develop a cure for lycanthropy... I was profoundly shaken by that achievement," Slughorn continued, his eyes glowing with a sudden fervor as he gripped his teacup. "In the years I've spent hiding from Voldemort since my retirement, I fear the world has begun to forget my name! That simply won't do!"
The old professor leaned in, his gaze burning. "If I want to reclaim my social standing—or even just for the sake of my pride as a former Potions Master—I must make a name for myself once more. To that end, for the past two years, I've set my sights on another curse deemed incurable—"
"—The Maledictus," Ethan finished for him.
Ethan nodded slowly, lost in thought. "I see. I hadn't actually considered that possibility..."
In the past, his first reaction to a Horcrux was usually "kill it and be done with it." Since Nagini had been a snake for decades, the thought of "curing" her had never crossed his mind. Of course, there was no guarantee it would work, but it was certainly an experiment worth conducting.
"It's an intriguing idea," Ethan said, a slow, sharp grin spreading across his face. "I'll do my best to assist you, Professor."
"Wonderful!" Slughorn exhaled a massive sigh of relief and stood up, overcome with excitement. "The Wizarding World needs innovative talents like you—er."
He paused, suddenly remembering Ethan's previous "innovations"—the kind that were literally unprecedented and often terrifying. Slughorn fell silent for a moment.
Perhaps... a little too innovative, he thought.
"Ahem. Anyway, I'm short on everything right now. The correct brewing method, experimental samples, rare ingredients—oh, I don't expect you to handle it all, Mr. Vincent."
"I only ask that you keep an eye out during your usual... adventures. Once the new term at Hogwarts begins, we can officially start our research."
"No problem," Ethan agreed immediately.
Brewing a potion for a Maledictus was a monumental task, far more difficult than a Wolfsbane variant. Lycanthropy was, at least, an acquired condition. A Maledictus, however, carried a curse rooted in their very DNA. It was part of their being, making it far more complex than a simple extraction. They would be starting from scratch.
Slughorn sighed. "Speaking of potions, I can't help but think of my brightest student, Lily... what a tragedy." A flash of genuine sorrow crossed his eyes, but he quickly steered the conversation back. "You've helped me, so I shall help you. Reciprocity is the foundation of all good social circles, Mr. Vincent."
"Hmm, let me see... Philip works in the Department of Mysteries. And then there's McLaggen—oh, that clever boy is doing quite well for himself these days, haha!" The old professor chuckled, nonchalantly flaunting his vast network of connections.
"I'll get you into the Ministry as soon as possible, Mr. Vincent. Though... to be honest, I don't think this is a wise move. The Ministry's security screenings are incredibly strict. If you're discovered... it's all over."
Ethan shrugged nonchalantly. "Then I simply won't be discovered."
Slughorn raised an eyebrow and muttered, "...Hmph. Confidence is a good thing."
But some things, he knew, couldn't be accomplished through "confidence" alone.
The three of them conversed for a while longer until the night grew as dark as ink.
"You really are the most talented student I've ever seen, Mr. Vincent. Truly. I doubt even Riddle was your equal at your age." Slughorn looked at Ethan, his eyes filled with the greed of a collector who had found a priceless treasure. "I almost wonder if you come from some ancient, hidden pure-blood line."
Ethan gave him a look that was both chilling and vaguely mocking. "Pure-blood? The flesh is weak, Professor. I'm holding out for a more... alien ascension."
Slughorn: "..."
The boy was brilliant, but his train of thought was several stations past "eccentric." It seemed that when Merlin opened a window for someone, he occasionally decided to rip the entire roof off the house while he was at it.
It didn't take long for the highly efficient Professor Slughorn to deliver results.
By early August, within an office in the Department of Mysteries...
The room was cramped, barely large enough for five people to stand in. Currently, it was thick with a swirling white haze and the pungent aroma of tobacco and dried herbs.
Croaker, a Senior Unspeakable and the man in charge of the Veil, sat with a pipe clenched between his teeth. He was squinting through the smoke at a resume.
Suddenly—BAM!
He slammed the parchment onto the desk and glared at the person standing before him.
"You're the new recruit? No prior research experience?"
The visitor's face was obscured by the thick clouds of smoke. Only a clear, calm voice could be heard:
"Yes, sir. But I am a fast learner. I'll do my best not to hold the team back—"
"—We don't need a newcomer here!!" Croaker roared. His pipe fell to the floor with a clatter as he frantically scratched at what was left of his thinning hair.
"How many times do I have to say it? I don't want a 'fresh face,' I want an experienced veteran! Dammit! We're already short-staffed, and now I have to waste energy babysitting some kid? I hate these 'parachute' hires! I hate Ministry politics!"
The Department of Mysteries had been drowning in work lately. Ever since the Minister of Magic—who clearly had a death wish—learned that Ethan Vincent was interested in the Veil, he had ordered the Unspeakables to uncover its secrets immediately.
"Heaven knows why that crazy brat is obsessed with that door! I haven't slept in ten days! Ten days!!"
He was only staying upright thanks to an unhealthy amount of Invigoration Draught.
"That little brat better not cross my path... or so help me! I'll hit him with a Petrificus Totalus followed by a Jinx of a Thousand Fleas! I'll have him rolling on the floor from the itching!"
The department head boasted, brandishing his wand with wild gestures. It took a several moments before he remembered there was still someone waiting to be assigned. He turned his head and waved a hand dismissively.
"You... go follow Sasha. Don't expect to do any actual research. Just mop the floors, keep the place clean, and try to stay out of the way!"
"Understood, Director," the newcomer said obediently.
As the smoke shifted, it revealed a pair of eyes that shimmered with a faint, cobalt-blue light.
Once the "newbie" had left, Croaker rubbed his temples and let out a long, weary groan. He picked up a thick stack of research data and began to read, his head throbbing.
"If we want to actually study the Veil, we have to go inside... The feedback from the last set of probes that exploded suggests we need a level of intense, blistering heat to counteract the deathly chill... and then there are the protective suit parameters... countermeasures for unknown entities... Argh! Dammit! I should just throw the Minister in there!"
Croaker slumped against the table with a thud, suddenly realizing he had forgotten the newcomer's name.
"...Not that it matters. Just another well-connected brat. As long as he doesn't cause a disaster, it's fine. It's not like a 'parachute' hire is going to produce a breakthrough."
He let out a dry, hacking laugh. "I mean, unless that kid was Ethan Vincent in disguise... but that would be ridiculous."
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