Chapter 101 Draining the Black Lake for You
The lake water rippled, its waves dyed red by the evening glow.
Neville stared blankly at Anton's back, for some reason recalling what Anton had just said, "We are wizards, noble wizards."
Those words seemed filled with a firm conviction, full of wildness and freedom, even carrying the pride of a deity looking down upon the world.
"I..."
The corners of Anton's mouth curled up slightly as he spoke in an operatic tone, "I... am a god!"
Boom!
The lake water began to boil, this great lake, many times the size of Hogwarts Castle, began to boil furiously.
Like a pot of boiling soup with its lid thrown off.
"I declare..."
Anton's eyes were calm as he gazed placidly at the scene before him, "The lake water shall float!"
His voice was deep, carrying an undeniable weight, and he flicked his wand forcefully.
Boom!
A column of water five meters in diameter shot up from the lake's surface, carrying countless splashes as it rushed towards the sky.
"No!" Anton murmured, "It's not enough! It has to be all the lake water!"
"I can definitely do it!"
"Wizards are not mages, the effect of magic isn't about quantity or numerical values, it's only about the power of the mind, a true belief!"
His hands waved gently and elegantly, like a conductor.
One after another, columns of water shot into the sky, and then, more and more of the lake water began to rise in entire sheets.
"Wizards are gods!"
"Execute my will!"
Boom!
Neville stared blankly at the scene before him, watching the entire great lake float up!
In the lake water, aquatic plants swayed, merpeople looked around in terror, Grindylows, a giant squid, a sea serpent...
There were even countless magical creatures Neville didn't recognize appearing in the water.
The massive lake floated in mid-air, obscuring the sky and the sun.
It flew higher and higher, blocking the evening glow, and the adjacent Hogwarts Castle was cast into shadow, instantly plunging into darkness.
The castle windows were crowded with heads, everyone screaming as they watched the great lake floating in mid-air.
From within the lake water, a crystal-clear Remembrall floated out.
It fell gently into Neville's arms.
Boom!
The lake water fell back down, kicking up countless splashes.
Anton turned around, looking at Neville with a smile, "Well then, I've gotten the Remembrall for you, it's time for you to pay the price."
Neville swallowed hard, "The... the price?"
"Of course." Anton shrugged, "Everything has a price, I drained the Black Lake for you just to find it!"
Really.
Neville really wanted to cry, he thought about just giving the Remembrall to Anton, pretending none of this ever happened.
Anton's expression was too terrifying.
Neville timidly took half a step back, "What... what do you need me to do?"
"I need a lab assistant to help me prepare those troublesome and time-consuming herbs." Anton patted Neville's shoulder with a smile, "Every evening after class until lights out, Friday afternoons, and all of Saturday and Sunday, you have to come help me."
Neville was stunned for a moment, somewhat dejected, "I can't do anything right, I'm always so terrible, if I help you with your experiments, I'll just mess everything up."
Anton ignored him, patted his shoulder, and walked away.
"Then it's a deal."
He walked towards the Weasley's hut with a smile.
Opened the door, went in, thud, and collapsed on the floor, instantly falling into a deep sleep.
Rapid magic recovery sleep—the 'Mother Tom's Embrace' spell.
Anton carefully perceived the changes at every moment.
After a wonderful sleep, the magic power that had been exhausted by draining the lake was miraculously restored again.
The time required was two hours.
In other words, the previous one-hour effect was likely the combined result of the spell and the potion prepared by Madam Pomfrey.
...
"A Levitation Charm?" Professor Snape stared at Anton.
Anton nodded with a smile, looking at the other professors in his Head of House's office.
Headmaster Dumbledore, Deputy Headmistress McGonagall, Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor Quirrell, and Charms Professor Flitwick.
One more professor than at the last inquiry.
Snape still didn't believe it, staring intently at Anton, "The Levitation Charm doesn't have that effect, I remember clearly, Anthony, we required you not to use Dark Magic again."
Anton smilingly took out his wand and placed it on his desk, "You can use the Priori Incantatem to check, Dumbledore has restricted my use of magic, it's impossible for me to cast any Dark Magic now."
His expression was strange, "Head of House Snape, you seem to be doubting the power of Dumbledore's spell, that's just terrible."
Hah!
Snape's face instantly darkened.
His hollow eyes stared intently at Anton, "You disturbed all the creatures of the Black Lake, you must take responsibility for this, they are all under the protection of our Hogwarts."
"That was indeed a Levitation Charm, it seems Anthony has an unparalleled talent in this area." Professor Flitwick looked at Anton with amazement, "You're all overreacting, this sort of thing should be praised, not staring at this student as if interrogating a criminal."
Professor McGonagall also nodded, clearly thinking this was making a mountain out of a molehill.
Dumbledore smiled slightly, "Congratulations, you have clearly taken another step forward on your magical path."
Anton looked at them, somewhat baffled, and finally picked up his wand and left.
Not long after, Professor Flitwick, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Quirrell also left.
The office fell into silence.
"They are very similar, Severus." Dumbledore's gaze was distant, looking out the window at the waters of the Black Lake.
"Delicate features, very handsome, a charming smile, with no trace of arrogance or aggression on the surface." Dumbledore turned the strange ring on his finger, "As an orphan of extraordinary talent and great looks, he attracted the attention and sympathy of the faculty almost as soon as he arrived at school. He appeared polite, quiet, and thirsty for knowledge. Almost everyone had a good impression of him."
"Severus." Dumbledore turned to look at Snape, "You know who I'm talking about."
Snape was clearly agitated, he stood up and paced back and forth in the office.
Yet Dumbledore's words continued to drone in his ear, "I'm tired, Severus, I'm not as strong as everyone imagines, I've been fighting my whole life, and before I had even defeated Grindelwald, he was already growing up step by step right under my nose."
"I am over a hundred years old, my life has quietly reached its end."
Dumbledore stared intently at Snape, "I can't keep an eye on Anthony anymore, just as I couldn't pay attention to him when he was a student while I was dealing with Grindelwald, now I can only focus on him, and I likewise have no way to watch Anton."
"Severus, Anton is your student, this is your responsibility."
Snape turned his head, staring coldly at Dumbledore, "You should be saying that to Quirrell as well."
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, "That is what I'm most worried about, Severus, be careful of Quirrell."
Snape sat back down in his chair, very displeased, "All you do is tell me to do this, and tell me to do that!"
"You are much luckier than I was, Anthony is not bad by nature, I like him."
"Ha." Snape laughed in anger, "Oh, the great Dumbledore likes this little boy, and tells me, the evil Snape, to keep a close eye on him, to be the bad guy."
Dumbledore just gave a strange, knowing smile.