"Cool!" Ron's eyes sparkled. "Can I try?"
"Why not?" Harry shrugged.
Children of that age were easily influenced by those around them.
Under Harry and Hermione's subtle influence, Ron had already abandoned his carefree attitude from the beginning of the school year.
Moreover, a young wizard of Ron's age might not care much for Potions or Transfiguration, but he would be highly motivated to learn some minor spells.
Just imagine how fun it would be to cast a few spells on Malfoy's annoying face.
"But it seems we need a proper place to practice spells," said Hermione, visibly concerned. "Magic isn't allowed in the Gryffindor common room…"
"I've got it," said Harry.
To avoid drawing attention, he decided to explore the crypt the next day.
Ron and Hermione had the perfect excuse as well: finding a safe place to practice spells.
While their classmates were settling in for the feast in the Great Hall, Harry quietly descended to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom and located the entrance to the crypt.
The entrance looked like an old cupboard with four clock dials on the door. The hands had to be aligned in a specific direction to gain entry.
Harry drew his wand and adjusted the dials as Sebastian had taught him.
When all four hands pointed correctly, the door swung open with a loud creak.
Harry stepped inside, feeling a familiar dizziness as he crossed the threshold into the crypt.
The place appeared untouched for years; the entire room was covered in a thick layer of dust.
He had to pull his scarf over his nose to avoid being choked by the dust stirred up by his steps.
He could have easily cleared it with magic, but Harry feared that cleaning might inadvertently erase important clues, so he left everything as it was.
The crypt was called a crypt because it lay at the bottom of the Defense Against the Dark Arts tower, with only faint beams of light filtering through the skylight above.
Harry raised his wand and ignited the brazier and torches.
He then slowly approached the desk nearby.
A thick layer of dust covered its surface, and Harry had to use his wand to brush it away.
To his delight, there was a letter on the desk, and judging by the handwriting, it appeared to be from Cassandra.
He picked up the letter; time had blurred some of the words, but after careful reading, he finally deciphered its contents:
"I think Grindelwald has truly gone mad. Time magic is forbidden magic, a forbidden existence that not even Merlin would dare touch. When she leaves that love nest with Potter, I hope you can persuade that foolishly infatuated girl and make her understand that ancient magic is not omnipotent.
—CC Malfoy"
Harry's heart raced.
Time magic?
Could it be… that after his disappearance, Villanelle was experimenting with some form of temporal magic to try and find him?
He clutched Cassandra's letter tightly, his mind spinning.
If what Cassandra said was true, then Veratia had likely failed—and with serious consequences.
It made sense. Why is it that only the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald exists in this century, with no news of his sister?
Given her personality, she wouldn't have abandoned her family.
So it was very likely… that she was trapped somewhere.
Could it be the Chamber of Secrets? Harry realized Cassandra's sarcastic comment; the so-called "love nest" was how she referred to the Chamber, since only those who inherit ancient magic could freely enter it.
Harry pocketed the letter, his determination to uncover the truth growing.
Back in the vault, his intuition told him that with the item inside the package, he could surpass the age limit and awaken the ancient magic.
Since it belonged to the Headmaster, Harry thought he might… be able to consult him.
Now with a clear goal and a clue, Harry temporarily set the matter aside.
He found several thick books on dueling techniques in the crypt's library, placed them in a small pocket using the Extension Charm, and silently exited the crypt.
He had no plans to return for the time being; after all, he wasn't dabbling in Dark Arts with Sebastian, nothing shameful.
To practice dueling, he would use the Room of Requirement.
Back in the Gryffindor common room, Harry placed the book he had brought in front of Hermione, who was correcting Ron's homework.
"Here, you made a mistake," Hermione said seriously, pointing out the error with the precision of a teacher.
"Ah," Ron replied obediently.
Noticing Harry's return, Ron quickly changed the subject.
"Harry? You're back? Did you find it? Oh, right, Hermione already corrected your homework and marked all the mistakes."
Harry looked in the direction Ron indicated and indeed saw his homework.
It had been a request he and Ron made to Hermione, the academic prodigy, to have her correct their assignments in her free time—but Hermione had firmly refused Ron's request to copy, using the excuse: "What would you learn then?" which made Ron abandon the idea.
"Harry only made a few tiny mistakes in History of Magic, Ronald!" Hermione shot Ron a furious glance. "And you, Ronald, look at your mistakes! How many times have I told you? It's Leviosa, not leviosar!"
"Ah." Ron puffed out his cheeks and lowered his head, dejected.
"I've got this," Harry helped, steering the conversation away from Ron. "We'll get to that later. This is the book I found there."
The 19th Century Dueling Manual, Harmless Curses… Hermione held the books, her eyes shining. "My God, Harry, I've never seen these in the library…"
"How do you know they aren't there?" Harry asked instinctively.
Hermione gave him a very serious look. Harry understood immediately: do not interfere with a genius's academic life.
She opened Harmless Curses quickly and, after a brief glance, closed the book as if she had seen a ghost.
"My God, you call these 'harmless curses'?" she muttered under her breath.
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