Chapter 84: Danger Within Danger
Chapter 84: Danger Within Danger
"Professor?" Ved's voice held a note of surprise.
"The dangers posed by some people are not always apparent on the surface." Professor Mori crossed his fingers and looked inquiringly at Ved. "How much do you know about curses and contracts?"
Ved thought for a moment. "I've read about the Unbreakable Vow and the Fidelius Charm in books. I also studied the magic contract you made for me and Mr. Machioni, but I haven't systematically learned about this aspect yet."
He had only been learning magic for a short time, and there was so much to discover. Knowing that the future held more chaos and danger, Ved had focused on improving his survival skills.
No longer placing his hopes for safety in anyone else, he desperately wished to possess the ability to face any crisis.
Professor Mori nodded, not disappointed in the least.
—Or, rather, upon discovering that Ved still had much to learn, he felt a sense of accomplishment as a professor.
"The Unbreakable Vow is an extremely powerful oath, and those who break it face certain death. Therefore, it is only used in extreme situations. It's like a blood pact, the kind of vow that most people would not make even if they were willing to keep their promises." Professor Mori left it at that.
—A blood pact?
Ved's heart skipped a beat.
"The Fidelius Charm is extremely complex and powerful; it's a magical spell used for secrecy. But the choice of Secret-Keeper is critical—if the Secret-Keeper betrays, the spell is broken; if the Secret-Keeper dies, all those who knew the secret become the new Secret-Keepers. So, this spell places all hope in one person—”
Professor Mori paused before continuing, "Harry Potter's parents died because of the wrong Secret-Keeper."
Ved was aware of this, but he still asked, "Who was it?"
"Sirius Black."
Professor Mori slowly uttered the name with disdain. "He used to be best friends with James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew, but he betrayed them, leading to the death of two of them. He himself was sent to Azkaban. The only one still at large is Remus Lupin, though I haven't heard from him in many years..."
Ved nodded slowly. "Are you worried that he's a hidden Dark Wizard who might harm me?"
"Not only that, but he's also..."
—A werewolf.
Professor Mori hesitated and decided against saying it aloud.
It was not uncommon for there to be a few Death Eaters among the students, as almost all British wizards had attended Hogwarts, and all sorts of people were to be found there. However, if it became known that Dumbledore had allowed a werewolf into the school and had him live among the other students for seven years, even wizards who supported Dumbledore might think he had gone mad.
But if Ved was unaware of this, he might also be in danger.
Professor Mori chose his words carefully, trying to be vague yet informative. "He's also someone you shouldn't approach during the full moon—you're a smart kid, you should understand what I mean."
Ved nodded and stated plainly, "In our Dark Magic Defense class the other day, Professor Quirrell talked about various treatments for werewolf bites, and I've looked into it as well."
"Knowing this, do you still want him to be your agent?" Professor Mori asked. "You know, this means that he will always pose an uncontrollable risk. If you need it, I can help you find some reliable and safe people."
Ved was truly tempted for a moment because he knew that if Professor Mori said this, he would use his methods to make sure that the people he introduced were reliable.
However, after hesitating for a moment, Ved still said, "I'm very grateful, Professor. But I already promised to give him this opportunity... It's a commitment for me... Unless he's of bad character, I don't want to break my promise lightly."
Professor Mori was a little worried but not surprised.
"Since that's the case." He waved his hand, summoning a few books, and said, "Let's put alchemy aside for today and talk about magic contracts—this is the most common way for strangers to build trust."
...
Time flowed like a gentle stream, smooth and silent, and soon it was Saturday.
It wasn't a Hogsmeade weekend, so most students slept in. Early in the morning, Ved got dressed, wrapped himself in a cyan scarf, and made his way to the Great Hall.
In a rare occurrence, Professor Mori was also present at the staff table, enjoying his breakfast. This surprised Professor McGonagall, who eyed him cautiously a few times before greeting him, as if verifying that this was indeed Professor Mori and not an imposter.
"Don't be so strange, Minerva."
Professor Mori nodded and smiled at Ved before turning to Professor McGonagall. "I occasionally like to immerse myself in the vibrant atmosphere the students bring."
Ved bowed slightly to Professor Mori and took his seat at the long table. He noticed that the food on his plate had been replaced with his favorite dishes, accompanied by a few familiar candies.
He first popped a candy into his mouth, savoring the sweet and refreshing taste that wasn't the least bit cloying—just like the treats his mother used to send him.
It seemed the house-elves' culinary research had been a success.
After breakfast, Ved made his way to the castle gates and waited. Soon enough, Professor Mori joined him, smiling as he said, "The variety and quality of food in the Hogwarts kitchens have improved. I haven't visited in a while, and it seems I've missed out on many interesting changes."
Ved smiled in return, casually commenting, "There must be some house-elves who are not just doing their jobs but are passionate about culinary arts, right?"
"An interesting thought—very interesting—" Professor Mori glanced at Ved. "Most people would assume that a wizard gave them better recipes, rather than believing that house-elves would take the initiative to explore cooking."
"Why is that?" Ved asked, perplexed. "They have intelligence and rich emotions. Isn't it normal for them to have personal interests and strive to make breakthroughs in those areas?"
Professor Mori was taken aback for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter. "Oh, Ved... You know a lot, but you grew up in the Muggle world... There are some things that are common sense to others, but you know nothing about them—that's very normal, too normal, in fact—"
He affectionately ruffled Ved's hair, his gaze filled with tenderness as if he were looking at a toddler taking his first steps.
"House-elves don't have a sense of self, Ved." Professor Mori smiled gently. "Or to put it another way—house-elves with a sense of self are... dangerous to wizards. Remember that, child."
(End of Chapter)
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