"But your magic just now..."
But the crux of the matter was not there.
What did Snape just witness?
A young wizard, who had only been at Hogwarts for less than a year—even as a natural-born great wizard—should not be capable of performing such magic with a simple wave of his hand.
It was undeniable that this display shattered Snape's understanding of the capabilities of wizards.
"How did you do it?"
"A whole new realm, Professor."
With his newfound strength, Ivan spoke with confidence.
"A new realm?"
Snape frowned, clearly puzzled by Ivan's statement.
"Let me put it this way," Ivan began. "Do you know about the concept of an Archmage?"
Snape certainly did. Voldemort, Dumbledore, and the former Grindelwald—all of them were great wizards.
Moody and Kingsley understood the distinction between great wizards and ordinary ones, but Snape, who had close interactions with both Voldemort and Dumbledore, knew even more. He was fully aware of the vast gap that separated them from ordinary wizards.
"I am a natural-born Archmage, Professor. You should know that, right?"
"Are you showing off to me?"
"..."
Ivan smiled. "I suppose so. But isn't it simply the truth?"
"Then, what is this new realm you're talking about?"
"God."
When Ivan spoke, Snape looked at him as though he had lost his mind.
"Well, of course, I mean the power of God," Ivan clarified, his tone calm. "I call it Greater Magic—a new power that has undergone a qualitative change from ordinary magic."
Ivan regarded Snape with optimism. He genuinely believed Snape had the potential to become a great wizard.
Not just Snape, but also Professors McGonagall and Flitwick.
Although the two deans were older, seventy years wasn't much for wizards.
Wizards with powerful magic unconsciously conveyed their needs to magic as they aged, maintaining the vitality of their bodies.
Take Dumbledore, for example—he was nearly 120 years old. Despite his white hair, his physical condition was still robust.
While it would be an exaggeration to call him young, he could still hold his own against a middle-aged man in his fifties.
For wizards, as long as they weren't killed or succumb to a magical mishap, their natural lifespans easily exceeded 100 years.
Snape, McGonagall, and Flitwick were all masters in their respective magical fields.
They had no shortage of magical knowledge or experience. What they lacked was the courage to attempt a magic transformation ritual—and, perhaps most importantly, "luck."
The mortality rate of magic transformation was extraordinarily high. Any trace of fear in one's heart would lead to failure, almost without exception.
But now, there was Ivan.
Just as he could help Penelope and Hermione design magic transformation potions, he could also help the deans take that crucial step further.
In front of the magic eye and a soul attribute of 5, luck is irrelevant.
As long as Ivan desired, he could ensure the safety of magic transformation.
Even in the case of failure, he could still protect them and avert any danger.
After multiple magic transformations, a master of magic can break the shackles of life, let their magic power advance further, and thus become an Archmage.
"And now, I am at the edge of the Archmage's realm."
For this new realm, Ivan could only describe it as mythical.
The power to pluck the strings of the world felt scarcely different from the abilities attributed to legendary gods.
Ivan didn't go into detail about the specific changes.
It was impossible to explain; without experiencing that reality firsthand, one couldn't comprehend how the strings of the world truly functioned.
"Magic is power."
"Professor, you asked me why I didn't disguise myself," Ivan said, his tone calm. "But is it necessary?"
"In all of England, there is no wizard more powerful than Professor Dumbledore."
"But why does the Ministry of Magic fear Voldemort but not him?"
"Because the headmaster restrains himself and abides by the rules of the magical world," Ivan answered plainly.
Voldemort is a complete disruptor. He disregards the rules of the magical world entirely. Not only does he kill wizards indiscriminately, but he also treats Muggles as less than human, slaughtering them at will.
And yet, even such a Voldemort has the support of many pure-bloods.
It can be seen from this that the laws of the Ministry of Magic are bullshit!
"The Ministry of Magic is no match for me alone."
"Professor, do you know what this means?"
Ivan said boldly, "It means that if I wanted to, I could destroy the entire Ministry of Magic by myself!"
Hearing this, even Snape couldn't help but tremble inwardly before taking a deep breath.
He had always known that the young wizard before him was not an ordinary student.
Ivan might be even more terrifying than Voldemort!
With greater talent, more powerful magic, and his ambitious thoughts, Ivan was a force that no one could ignore.
As Ivan said, if he wished, the laws of the Ministry of Magic were utterly meaningless to him.
"Yes.. Magic is power," Snape murmured to himself. He found no words to refute Ivan's claim.
"But!"
"Professor," Ivan said, raising a finger with a smile, "I am willing to abide by the rules of the game everyone has set."
"I want to be the second Dumbledore, not Voldemort."
When a wizard with overwhelming power chooses not to wield violence and instead adheres to the established rules, what more could anyone demand of him?
Would they really push such a being to the opposite side, forcing them to become an enemy?
The old headmaster had already recognized this truth, which was why he was so reassured.
In the wizarding world, there is a clear path to advancement.
After graduating from a magical school, wizards either join various departments in the Ministry of Magic or become free wizards, quietly building their reputation.
When the term of the current president of the International Confederation of Wizards ends, candidates can seek nominations from the Ministries of Magic in various countries.
The nominated individuals then step onto the international stage to garner votes.
With Ivan's talent, he didn't need to follow Voldemort's destructive path.
What sense did it make to set oneself against countless wizards?
"I don't really understand Voldemort," Ivan said thoughtfully.
"With his abilities, he could have taken a much broader road, yet he chose the most extreme one."
Perhaps, in the eyes of Voldemort—who had reached the level of an Archmage—the bureaucrats of the Ministry of Magic weren't worth walking alongside.
So, he decided to carve his path through sheer force.
But that wasn't Ivan's style.
Ivan preferred Dumbledore's way of handling things, albeit with less of the self-sacrificing "martyr" approach. He would not cause destruction or kill indiscreetly, but he would also not be taken as a fool who only knows pacifism and will command authority and respect.
"I will continue to grow, and I will work hard to cultivate my own team," Ivan said confidently.
"Then, I'll gain the support of the Ministry of Magic."
Ivan didn't desire the position of Minister of Magic himself.
But there was someone close to him who was perfectly suited for it—Hermione—under Ivan's control, of course.
In the original timeline, Hermione had become the Minister of Magic.
It was clear that she possessed the talent and determination needed to excel in such a role.
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If Hermione became the Minister of Magic, it would mean that Ivan effectively controlled the entirety of England.
He would have legitimate authority and the backing of a righteous cause.
England's international status in the wizarding world is exceptionally high.
As the base camp of the Western European wizarding community, candidates nominated by the British Ministry of Magic are naturally very competitive.
Once Ivan was elected as the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, the entire wizarding world would shift according to his will.
Those who opposed him, the stubborn elements, or those who lost their vested interests—
in the future, they would all share one title: losers.
"You know about my club. Would you like to join us, Professor?"
Ivan extended an olive branch to Snape.
He didn't expect to gain Snape's allegiance immediately.
Ivan simply made it clear that he valued Snape's abilities and was open to recruiting him.
It must be acknowledged—Snape was an exceptional talent in the original timeline.
Voldemort sought him out, and Dumbledore recruited him as well.
If not for his deep involvement with Harry and his role as a double agent, Snape might never have met such a tragic end.
"Are you kidding?"
"What do you think?"
Ivan lowered his hand. He wasn't offended by Snape's refusal.
It was natural for someone to harbor doubts, especially about someone as young as Ivan.
Besides, Snape's devotion to Lily and his protective instincts toward Harry were well-known.
"The Ministry of Magic will arrive soon."
Ivan stood up, walking toward the door with his hands clasped behind his back.
As he reached the doorway, he turned and looked at Snape, who still seemed puzzled.
"Professor, do you want to come with me?"
"What?"
"Prophecy magic, you know. I can see the future~"
Ivan said, pointing at his eyes and then gesturing toward the window. "In about half an hour, officials from the Ministry of Magic will arrive at Hogwarts to invite Dumbledore to a meeting."
"You haven't been exposed, have you?"
"Well..."
Ivan shrugged nonchalantly. "Who knows? But I think the Ministry of Magic is likely just coming to speak with the headmaster."
The Path of the Fire God spell was too closely tied to Dumbledore.
Moody knew this magic.
However, Ivan believed Moody would never betray Dumbledore. If Moody wanted to confirm the truth, he would likely approach Dumbledore in private.
That said, Moody wasn't the only one who had witnessed POTFG.
If the Ministry of Magic employed certain investigative spells, uncovering the truth was only a matter of time.
"What are you planning to do?"
Snape asked, his voice carrying both curiosity and unease.
The Ministry of Magic was on their way, yet Ivan—the person most likely responsible for the commotion—seemed completely unbothered.
In fact, he seemed eager to invite him.
Snape has never seen such a bold and arrogant dark wizard!
Yes, a dark wizard.
Even if he is still young, Ivan now gives Snape the same feeling as a dark wizard who ignores the law.
Of course, it doesn't mean that dark wizards are bad people.
Snape himself is a dark wizard.
The so-called dark wizards and white wizards are actually two types of people in the magic world, and there is no difference between the two.
Maybe in the eyes of Muggles, dark wizards are very evil.
But in the eyes of wizards, the black market is similar to professions such as forensic doctors and gravekeepers.
People will avoid risks and be afraid, but they will not think that they should not exist.
Dark wizards are not criminals, they are just wizards who study dark magic, that's all....or that is what Snape thinks.
"Let's go, Professor," Ivan said casually, already heading toward the seventh floor.
Snape followed quickly, intending to warn Ivan not to provoke the Ministry of Magic.
But as he trailed behind, he couldn't help but worry—not about Ivan, but about the Ministry itself.
Would they even be able to handle him?
By the way, who should be afraid here?
This little monster!
Snape thought to himself, both frustrated and awed.
He couldn't comprehend why such an impossibly powerful little wizard existed.
Can an Archmage evolve even further?
What is that?
Is it more powerful than Dumbledore and Voldemort combined?
"Ivan?"
On the way, Ivan encountered Professor McGonagall.
When the stern professor saw Snape accompanying him, she hesitated for a moment before directing her attention toward Ivan.
She had a good idea of what Ivan might have done the day before.
This morning, when McGonagall saw the headlines in the Daily Prophet, she had been nearly scared to death.
"Are you okay?"
McGonagall, unlike others, understood Ivan's nature. He wasn't like Voldemort, reckless and malevolent. Whatever his reasons for invading Gringotts, McGonagall believed he must have had a valid purpose.
Moreover, Ivan had exercised restraint throughout the incident. That alone was enough to reassure her to some extent.
"For the cursed gold coins from before," Ivan said, his tone softer and more respectful toward McGonagall than it had been with Snape.
Ivan truly respected Professor McGonagall, viewing her as an elder akin to Dumbledore.
Snape, on the other hand, did not occupy such a place in Ivan's heart.
To Ivan, Snape was more like an exceptionally skilled manager—someone to be recruited as a capable subordinate.
By contrast, Ivan had never considered treating McGonagall or Flitwick as followers.
His vision for them was different.
McGonagall and Flitwick were better suited to remain at Hogwarts, where their talents as educators would continue to inspire new generations of wizards.
As for Ivan, his goal was clear: to succeed Dumbledore as the next headmaster of Hogwarts when the time came.
Additionally, when considering the issue of qualifications, Ivan thought it best for Professor McGonagall to succeed Dumbledore as the next headmaster. He could wait another decade or so—until he was about twenty-four or twenty-five years old—before officially stepping into the role himself.
"Cursed gold coins?"
"Yes, they're items from the Ambrosius family."
Professor McGonagall's expression grew tense. "So..."
"I destroyed them," Ivan stated simply.
Both McGonagall and Snape froze for a moment before quickly processing what Ivan had just said.
"Just as you might suspect, they were dangerous," Ivan continued. "As the heir of the Ambrosius family, I have an obligation to destroy them."
"But... directly invading Gringotts?" McGonagall said hesitantly.
"Professor, do you really think the goblins would willingly return what they've claimed as theirs?" Ivan asked, raising an eyebrow.
His words left both professors momentarily speechless.
It was true. Everyone in the wizarding world was well aware of the goblins' insatiable greed. Even treasures legally stored by wizards at Gringotts were sometimes eyed covetously by the goblins, let alone artifacts that the goblins considered part of their own hoard.
Not even the Ministry of Magic, and certainly not Fudge, could force the goblins to relinquish something they had already claimed.
"The Ministry of Magic won't risk straining relations with the goblins just because of my demands," Ivan said matter-of-factly. "In that case, my only option was to take matters into my own hands."
Even Snape, usually skeptical, found it difficult to argue with Ivan's reasoning. As for McGonagall, the stern professor let out a long sigh of relief.
At least Ivan hadn't done this for selfish or malicious reasons. He had acted to destroy dangerous magical items.
"You should remain cautious for now and avoid exposing yourself," McGonagall advised. "I'll do what I can to ensure they don't discover the truth."
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