"Accio notes!"
Wyzett strode out of the office, drew his wand, and cast a Summoning Charm. Instantly, his hand-drawn copy of The Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration came whizzing from his dormitory straight into his hand.
No question about it—the Summoning Charm was an incredibly handy bit of magic.
Especially once you mastered it, this spell could help you find lost items or fetch textbooks left behind in your dorm room...
"Magic really is brilliant," Wyzett murmured in awe as he made his way toward the Transfiguration classroom.
"Wyzett!" A cold voice called out from the shadows.
Snape emerged, his face as inscrutable as ever.
"Professor Snape?" Wyzett blinked in surprise. "Good afternoon!"
"Hmm." Snape gave a curt nod, his tone low and shadowed. "Come with me."
They walked through the winding corridors until they reached a secluded corner. Only then did Snape turn to face him directly. "Why did you visit Quirrell's office?"
Wyzett answered honestly, "I'm interested in compound magic, Professor. Professor Quirrell wanted to recommend a few books, so I went to see him."
Yet, as he met Snape's gaze, he felt a strange sensation, as if his thoughts were being laid bare—thoroughly uncomfortable.
Instinctively, he slipped into Custodis Meditatio, and clarity washed over him, dispelling the unease.
"Oh?" Snape murmured, eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "So you have begun, though it's easily detected."
Wyzett looked puzzled. "Professor Snape… what exactly did you detect?"
Snape ignored the question, pressing on. "You spent your entire lunch break in his office. What did you learn?"
"Basic theory on compound magic, and I was introduced to a few hexes and jinxes." Wyzett held up the slip of parchment Quirrell had signed. "He also asked me to look for these books in the Restricted Section."
"And besides that? What do you think of Quirrell as a person?" Snape's expression grew even more unreadable, as if the words themselves tasted sour.
"He's a decent professor. If you're willing to listen, you can learn a lot from him."
"And?" Snape pressed, voice now tinged with something sharper. "Did you notice anything unusual? Anything strange?"
Wyzett took a subtle step back. "I don't think it's a student's place to judge professors so casually, is it?"
"Heh..." Snape let out a cold, humorless chuckle. "Gryffindors would disagree. Two points from Gryffindor."
Wyzett couldn't help but smile inwardly, offering a silent moment of sympathy for Gryffindor. Less than a month into the term, their House Points were already at a record low.
Ravenclaw and Slytherin were neck and neck—looking at the hourglasses, it was anyone's guess who'd come out on top.
"What if I insist?" Snape repeated, eyes boring into him. "Did Quirrell seem unusual to you? Anything odd at all?"
Wyzett relented. "Well… Professor Quirrell's office had a strange, metallic smell. Even though the sun was shining outside, the room felt cold."
"That's all?" There was a flicker of disappointment—and perhaps relief—in Snape's eyes.
"That's all."
"So, what compound spell did he teach you?"
"The Wasting Curse—it's the complete form of the Snot Hex, with all the power and effects a real curse should have."
"You… interested in Dark Magic as well?" Snape's eyes narrowed, his voice now colder than ever.
Wyzett shook his head. "I haven't had much exposure to Dark Magic, so I can't say I'm interested or opposed. To me, all magical knowledge is worth understanding. Besides, I think magic is like a knife."
"It can be a murder weapon, or it can be a surgeon's scalpel. The tool itself isn't what matters—it's the intent of the one who wields it."
"Ravenclaw through and through," Snape said flatly. "You do have a way with words. All theory, no shortage of it."
"In that case, show me. Demonstrate this magic—let's see how much you've really learned. Can you give it the power it deserves?"
"Should I be able to cast it so soon?" Wyzett hesitated. "He's only taught me the theory so far—just introduced the hexes and jinxes."
"Quirrell gave me the signature so I could consolidate my knowledge. He wants me to experiment with pronunciation and try constructing a suitable incantation."
"That's his approach?" Snape frowned, suspicion flickering in his eyes. "He didn't teach you the incantation or how to cast it directly?"
"No!" Wyzett shook his head. "He also introduced me to counter-curses, saying that wizards developed compound magic to deal with them."
"That's about all he's capable of," Snape sneered. "Using magic to counter magic is just one—rather unstable—solution."
Wyzett caught on immediately. "Professor Snape, you mean potions could be used as well?"
"You're a bit sharper than he is." Snape allowed himself the ghost of a smirk and a soft snort—his version of praise. "When did Quirrell tell you to come back?"
"Saturday afternoon at two. That way there's more time for magical practice."
"Then you'll come to my office on Sunday at two."
"Ah?" Wyzett blinked, caught off guard.
"If you don't want to, you can refuse," Snape said, frowning.
Wyzett waved his hands quickly. "Not at all—I'd love to learn more!"
Snape immediately doused his enthusiasm. "Then prepare for the worst. I might throw you out at any moment."
"I'll do my best!" Wyzett replied with a grin, waving his Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration. "Professor Snape, I should get to class."
…
Once Wyzett was gone, Snape headed straight for the headmaster's office.
Dumbledore's voice was low and thoughtful. "How is he?"
Snape's face was unreadable. "Wyzett's far too well-liked—even Quirrell is willing to teach him everything he knows."
"Really?" Dumbledore's eyes sparkled. "What has he taught him?"
"The Wasting Curse—a curse dark enough for anyone's taste."
"So… Quirrell didn't just force Wyzett to cast the spell or recite the incantation, but actually taught him step by step?"
"Exactly. Your worries were unnecessary."
"Quirrell isn't all bad—that's good news." Dumbledore's relief was plain. "And you? Are you willing to…"
Snape replied with obvious reluctance, "I've sacrificed my precious time. He'll come to see me Sunday afternoon."
"I won't treat him like a treasure the way you do. I'll get my lost time back from him, one way or another."
"I understand!" Dumbledore sounded genuinely pleased. "The fact that you're willing is more than enough for me!"
Snape curled his lip. "Glad you understand."
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
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