Kurt introduced Sean and Chris to the other five members. There was one representative from each grade, and the president of the Ouroboros Society was Kurt himself. Sean had originally assumed the leader would be the seventh-year student.
Chris explained that within Ouroboros, seniority didn't matter. The one with the most outstanding talent became the president. Clearly, Kurt Malfoy—coming from an ancient wizarding family—possessed exceptional aptitude for Dark Magic.
"You two are first-years," Kurt said. "If you ever need help in the future, you can come to them—or come to me."
He gestured toward the other members.
"From now on, every Saturday at seven in the evening, we meet here to exchange knowledge and study Dark Magic."
On the way back, Sean seemed distracted. Chris talked beside him for a while, but he barely heard a word.
Kurt would definitely become a Death Eater someday. Sean was certain of it. Beneath that polite, gentlemanly exterior lay something darker.
Chris had mentioned earlier that Kurt's uncle was Lucius Malfoy. That alone convinced Sean even more that the Ouroboros Society was essentially a place where future Death Eaters were cultivated.
Kurt hadn't openly told them to join the Death Eaters. He had only spoken of teaching Dark Magic and granting them power.
But how many people could truly resist the temptation of Dark Magic without falling into darkness?
"Sean, tomorrow at noon there's a Slytherin freshmen gathering. Are you coming?" Chris asked.
"Huh? Tomorrow?" Sean snapped back to attention.
"I have something to do tomorrow. I probably can't make it."
Chris looked slightly disappointed.
"Alright then."
They returned to their dormitories separately.
Sean pulled out his wand and resumed his daily magical practice.
The previous night, when he had gone to the Room of Requirement, he had already returned Snape's textbook to the cabinet in the Potions classroom.
Now he practiced Sectumsempra while studying his own copied notes.
This spell was far more difficult than he expected. After two or three days of practice, Sean had only managed to construct the first two magical frameworks.
"Hogwarts even has Death Eater trainees," Sean muttered to himself.
"That person who attacked me the other night might very well have been someone from Ouroboros."
But Sean couldn't withdraw from the group now.
Kurt had said one thing that was undeniably true:
Ouroboros could give him power.
All the magic Sean currently knew came from textbooks. Even though he had already mastered spells from the first through third year, Hogwarts' teaching philosophy discouraged violent magic.
Most textbook spells lacked offensive power.
The only truly offensive spell Sean possessed at the moment was Sectumsempra, created by Snape.
In fact, Sectumsempra itself was a form of Dark Magic. It inflicted wounds that could not be healed unless the counter-curse was used.
Even if Sean mastered it, he wouldn't dare use it at school.
He needed new spells.
Not just Dark Magic from Ouroboros—but also the advanced magic used by upper-year students.
Sean practiced several third-year spells to reinforce his control.
By eleven o'clock, his magical power was starting to feel drained. He set down his wand, took a hot shower, and went to bed.
The next morning at nine, Sean put on a brown hoodie and walked out of the castle toward Hagrid's hut.
The mild maritime climate of Britain made the first weekend of September especially pleasant. Many students had gone outside in groups to picnic on the grounds.
The Slytherin freshmen gathering was happening outdoors as well.
"Hi, Hagrid!" Sean called from a distance.
He could already see Hagrid feeding something outside the hut.
Hagrid turned around and waved happily.
Sean hurried over.
Only when he got close did he realize what creature Hagrid was feeding.
"Is that a hippogriff?" Sean asked.
Hagrid looked pleasantly surprised.
"You actually know that!" he said cheerfully.
"How about it—Buckbeak is beautiful, isn't he?"
"Buckbeak? That's his name?" Sean asked.
Sean knew Hagrid owned a hippogriff, but he had forgotten the name.
Up close, the creature was honestly terrifying.
Over two meters tall, with the head of a massive eagle—it radiated intimidation and majesty.
Sean stood before Buckbeak and bowed deeply.
Buckbeak shook his head slightly, then bowed back in return.
"Sean! You even know the proper greeting!" Hagrid exclaimed.
"You must really like magical creatures."
To approach a hippogriff safely, the first step was to bow while maintaining eye contact. If the hippogriff bowed back, it meant you had earned its respect.
Only then could you touch it—or even ride it.
Sean had already received Buckbeak's acknowledgment, but he still hesitated to step closer.
Hagrid grabbed Sean by the arm and led him right up beside the creature.
"Go on, give him a pat," Hagrid encouraged enthusiastically.
"Alright…" Sean said helplessly.
He slowly extended his hand and gently touched Buckbeak's fierce eagle head.
The texture felt like feathers, but tougher and firmer.
Buckbeak nudged Sean's palm twice.
"I think he likes you, Sean," Hagrid said happily.
"Why don't you try riding him?"
Before Sean could react, Hagrid lifted him up and placed him onto Buckbeak's back.
Sean panicked.
"Hagrid! I came here to see the Thestrals!"
"Of course!" Hagrid said casually.
"Buckbeak knows the way. He'll take us to them."
Hagrid climbed up behind him, and the spacious back suddenly felt crowded.
"The Thestrals are on the far side of the Black Lake," Hagrid explained, pointing toward the distant forest.
"It'd take a while to walk there. But Buckbeak can get us there in no time."
Sean looked across the lake.
The distance was indeed quite far.
Moments later, Buckbeak soared across the water, gliding over the lake until they reached the forest on the other side.
"Stay here a moment, Buckbeak. We'll be right back," Hagrid said.
He took a chunk of raw beef from the gray pouch at his waist and fed it to the hippogriff.
"Hagrid… are the Thestrals in there?" Sean asked, pointing toward the woods ahead.
"Yes," Hagrid said, walking forward.
"They wandered over here a few days ago. I was planning to check on them today anyway."
Sean followed him into the trees.
They hadn't gone far when they stopped.
Before Sean stood several strange creatures.
Their bodies were skeletal, their black skin stretched tightly over visible bones. Their heads resembled dragons, with blank white eyes staring forward without pupils.
From their shoulder blades extended enormous black wings—leathery and bat-like.
Hagrid tossed several pieces of raw meat onto the ground.
Two Thestrals approached slowly and began eating.
Sean felt nervous.
They look pretty dangerous…
How am I supposed to collect their saliva?
"Sean," Hagrid asked, "can you see them?"
Sean hesitated for a moment before realizing what he meant.
"Yes," he said quietly.
"I can."
"Hagrid… can you give me a few pieces of meat?" Sean suddenly asked.
Hagrid handed him the pouch.
Sean took three pieces of raw beef and slowly walked toward the nearest Thestral.
It's fine…
I even touched Buckbeak.
Why would I be afraid of a Thestral?
He carefully held the meat out.
The Thestral's pale eyes glanced at the food before lowering its head and swallowing the meat in one bite.
"Have another," Sean said, offering the second piece.
The Thestral lowered its head again.
At that moment, a thin strand of white saliva dripped from the corner of its mouth.
Sean glanced back.
Hagrid was busy feeding another Thestral.
Quickly, Sean pulled out the small vial he had prepared and collected the droplet of saliva into it.
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