章 35: 035 The Curse Of The Dark Lord

Since that fateful night when Bryan had first entered Dumbledore's office after Christmas, there had been an underlying tension between them. It wasn't because Bryan was particularly afraid of the contemporary greatest white wizard, but rather due to a sense of caution and wariness. As the saying goes, one should not fear a thief but rather fear the thief's intentions. Bryan couldn't shake off the feeling that Dumbledore had ulterior motives for summoning him once again.

The circular office remained largely unchanged since Bryan's previous visit, except for one notable difference. The phoenix he had encountered before, still a young bird back then, had now matured into a resplendent creature. Its once vibrant red and gold feathers now adorned its entire body, shimmering in the soft light of the office. However, the phoenix seemed undisturbed by Bryan's presence, sleeping soundly with its head tucked beneath its wings in the brazier. Even the sound of Bryan's footsteps passing by failed to rouse it from its slumber.

As Bryan entered the office, Dumbledore appeared occupied, engrossed in the act of answering someone's letter. Upon noticing Bryan's slightly fatigued appearance, the light in Dumbledore's blue eyes softened considerably compared to their initial meeting

"Good evening, Headmaster Dumbledore, I hope I didn't disturb you," Bryan nodded, "I heard from Professor Snape that you seem to have something to discuss with me."

Dumbledore beckoned him to sit down, with a smile on his face, but there was some blame in his tone of voice, " Ah, that is indeed true, Bryan. Unfortunately, I'm afraid I won't be able to offer you any decent wine this time. Moreover, considering your current mental state, I believe it would be best for you to abstain from alcoholic beverages."."

Bryan smiled and didn't speak, he could see that the old man was holding something bad in his heart!

There was nothing new in the words of greeting. Dumbledore expressed his heartfelt thanks to him for his noble behavior of staying out at night for many days and doing his best to guard the safety of the young wizards. He also implicitly expressed his concern about his current physical condition and asked if Bryan needed some time off.

"Thank you very much for your concern, Headmaster Dumbledore," Bryan cautiously refused to say a word, "It is the task entrusted to me by the school board to catch the attacker of the attack, and I have to be serious about my work. As well as the safety of the students, I will not leave my post without permission until the culprit surfaces."

"Oh, such noble sense of responsibility. The safety of the young wizards is indeed important, but Bryan, your well-being is equally of concern to me," Dumbledore seemed moved by Bryan's response. He sniffled, took off his glasses, and wiped the moisture from them.

"Severus and Minerva have mentioned their concerns to me on several occasions," Dumbledore admitted, his voice tinged with a mix of gratitude and worry. "They expressed their concerns about your overly dedicated work style. Both of them hope you can try not to be so tense. Even if new attack incidents occur, it is not solely your responsibility."

Bryan furrowed his brows, a bit puzzled. Did Dumbledore call him here just to express gratitude?

"—Especially Minerva. She believes that, in the absence of more leads, instead of spending a lot of time searching for the attacker, it would be better... cough, cough. She told me that she mentioned it to you during the Christmas break. Oh, speaking of that, I feel ashamed. It seems she thinks that the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor I brought in is not quite competent and has hindered the young wizards 'learning'."

As expected, Dumbledore had an ulterior motive for calling Bryan to his office.

Dumbledore frowned in distress and fell silent, while Bryan raised an eyebrow high, his mouth twitching, without an immediate reply.

An awkward and suffocating silence abruptly descended, leaving only the alchemical apparatus of uncertain purpose in Dumbledore's office chiming and clinking like wind chimes.

"Let me ask first, Headmaster Dumbledore—" Bryan was the first to break the embarrassing silence after a long while, "If I refused your request, wouldn't you arrest me and send me to Nurmengard or Azkaban or somewhere else?"

"Oh, of course not, Bryan," Dumbledore laughed, "It's all my fault, Bryan, I'm here to ask for your help... Actually, hey, sometimes I really wish someone could take care of my difficulties. Well, finding a qualified Defense Against the Dark Arts professor is much more difficult than finding out the twelve uses of dragon's blood—" Bryan pursed his lips, his expression showing no excess emotion, "About the professor of this course has always had unconfirmed rumors in private, Headmaster Dumbledore."

"I can't lie to you, Bryan," Dumbledore said with a solemn expression, nodding his head, "Although there is no direct evidence, since I rejected Voldemort's application for this teaching position, no professor has been able to stay in this position for more than a year."

Bryan sat calmly, without expressing any hasty opinion.

"——However, there are two Defense Against the Dark Arts professors in the school at the same time, and in the case of only teaching for a few months, I think the risk is controllable."

You think the risk is controllable, why don't you go and teach yourself?, Bryan secretly rolled his eyes but remained silent.

"—But let me assure you, Bryan, if you choose to assist me, I am willing to provide you with a year's worth of payment for your services. Think of the bright futures of those children who would benefit from your guidance," Dumbledore earnestly pleaded.

Inside the office, Bryan sat in contemplation, pondering his next move. He did not readily accept or decline Dumbledore's request, instead informing the Headmaster that he needed time to consider the matter.

The curse that loomed over the Defense Against the Dark Arts position was no secret. Its power had remained formidable throughout the years, defying all attempts to weaken or break it, even from Dumbledore himself. It was evident that the Dark Lord had invested great effort into establishing the curse.

According to Bryan's thoughts during the Christmas vacation, he would definitely not accept this risky and unpredictable job.

As for why he didn't immediately refuse now, it was because Bryan had new considerations.

Before receiving this task and entering Hogwarts, Bryan subconsciously believed that this commission would only take a few months to solve; otherwise, the Chamber of Secrets case would interfere with the great savior Harry Potter's adventures for the next school year.

However, that may not be the case in reality.

Because of his own intervention, the plot of the original book must have changed a lot, and this also means that the originally destined ending has actually changed.

If that heir is really a very cautious person, then he doesn't have to touch Bryan's mold.

If the heir is determined to be patient with Bryan, Bryan, who is passively waiting for clues, is almost doomed to fail in this protracted battle because it is impossible for Bryan to stay in school for the rest of his life because of this matter.

In this case, the information that the Golden Trio has acquired is very important. As long as he can provide a key clue, Bryan is confident that he can follow the clues and find the secret chamber before everyone else.

How to further gain Potter's trust, Bryan has also thought about this issue, and the result of his thinking is that if he has always been labeled as an investigator, then it may be difficult for him to breakthrough the relationship between him and Potter,

However, if Bryan assumed a different identity, such as that of a professor, it might facilitate a closer connection. Frequent interactions and shared opportunities would foster a friendlier relationship..

"Then..." After making up his mind, Bryan took a deep breath. He waved his wand to clean up the messy desk, "Let me experience your curse, Mr. Dark Lord."

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章 36: 036 Not to be Underestimated

Bryan meticulously cleaned up the desk, ensuring that even the smallest items, such as the candlestick and the cherished photo of him and Grandma Ferena, were carefully relocated to other places to prevent any potential damage.

Before commencing the task of rearranging, Bryan cast a brief glance at the monitoring wall across the room. Hogwarts appeared serene, with no significant incidents taking place at that moment. Letting out a sigh, Bryan returned to the bedside to retrieve his suitcase. After rummaging through it, he retrieved a peculiar candlestick.

The lower section of the candlestick featured a voodoo doll with eyes as large as a baby's fist and teeth bared, extending below its earlobes. The doll's body was black, while its face, swollen and displaying a terrifying smile, was roughly half the size of its body.

Bryan preferred not to delve into the origins of this doll. He had acquired it as an alchemy item from the underground trading market, sold by a wizard hailing from wakadorga in Africa.

Wakadorga, among the countries with flourishing magical civilizations, was known for its chaotic nature. This was perhaps due to the influence of its intricate Muggle social order. Even now, many people lived in tribal communities there, with the tribal leaders usually being witches with extensive lineage.

The tribal witches and wizards in Wakadorga still retained numerous ancient and brutal spells. Cursing and sacrifice were their favored methods, They performed dark rituals and practices that even a formidable wizard like Bryan preferred not to provoke.

The upper part of the candlestick held a transparent tube containing candle liquid. Since the doll had not been used previously, the tube remained pristine, devoid of any stains.

Next, it was time to prepare the candle liquid. Bryan reached into the box once more, retrieving a bottle of scarlet dragon's blood. This particular bottle contained the blood of a Norwegian red-scaled dragon that Bryan had slain. During the encounter, he had collected a substantial amount of dragon blood. Concerned about attracting the attention of the Ministry of Magic with excessive use, Bryan had amassed a significant reserve of dragon blood.

As known to many, the body of a fire dragon held immense treasures, particularly its blood and nerves, which were infused with potent magical energy, making them ideal ingredients for potions and spellcasting.

Bryan poured the dragon's blood into the transparent tube atop the voodoo doll's head. He observed the crystal-red mist forming on the surface of the slightly rippling liquid, nodding in satisfaction. It was now time to pay a small price.

Rolling up his sleeves, Bryan bared his arms, causing a dark silver light to flicker in the surrounding air. The spurting blood from his arm condensed into a coagulated stream, guided by the influence of his magic power, flowing accurately into the tube, merging with the dragon blood.

An ominous magic power permeated the office, seemingly capable of devouring light. The candlesticks on the bookshelf, once radiant, grew dimmer and dimmer, as if tainted by dust.

Bryan's expression turned solemn, the two purple vortexes in his eyes seeming to swirl in slow motion. With a steady hand, he continued to wave his wand, causing black tadpole-like runes to emerge from the wand, their gray glow indicating signs of life. These tadpole runes swam in the void before Bryan, leaving faint ink-like traces on the space they traversed.

"Go," Bryan commanded with a tone of mild majesty. Following his words, hundreds of tadpole runes rushed toward the mixture of dragon blood and his own blood, akin to weary birds returning to their nests.

Suddenly, an eerie breeze swept through the tranquil room, the tadpole runes agitating the blood, causing it to spin

Small blood-red electric sparks intermittently erupted from the undulating liquid's surface, creating a captivating yet disconcerting sight.

Bryan continuously infused his magic power into the concoction, creating a gray current of air. Under the catalytic effect of his own magic power, the magic within the tadpole runes gradually merged with the magic within the blood, causing the dragon blood to transition from a smooth liquid to a viscous state. Just before the blood fully solidified, Bryan plucked a lock of hair from his head and dropped it in. At that moment, a vibrant red candle with a flickering wick was finally crafted.

In the dimly lit room, Bryan wiped away imaginary beads of sweat from his forehead. He straightened his posture, his expression still serious.

"Peng!"

A towering flame, nearly three feet high, emanated from the lit candle, surrounded by a dark gray halo. From a distance, it resembled a flaming torch positioned above the voodoo doll's head.

By all accounts, a candle burning at such a staggering pace would last mere minutes before extinguishing. However, the stout form of this peculiar candle refused to diminish. It seemed as though the consumed elements were not the candle's liquid or wick.

"It is up to you," Bryan murmured softly, his eyelashes trembling slightly. Standing before the voodoo doll, he held his wand upright, his expression profoundly solemn. His low tone seemed to carry the weight of an oath, as if conducting a momentous ceremony.

"I, Bryan Amos Watson, willingly accept the invitation of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry's Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, to serve as an assistant professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts," he intoned, the sound reverberating in the room.

In that very instant, the air in the office trembled violently. A tremendously powerful and malevolent curse, forced into action, descended upon Bryan through the barriers of time and space. In a trance-like state, he seemed to hear the agonized screams of countless tortured and brutally murdered individuals in their final moments.

Simultaneously, Albus Dumbledore, seated behind his desk on the eighth floor, jolted from his contemplation. He swiftly turned his head, fixing his sharp, solemn, blue eyes towards Bryan's office. It was as if he could see, through the layers of walls, the exact events unfolding before Bryan's eyes.

As the curse's power was directed towards him, Bryan had prepared a substitute, successfully diverting the actual curse away. However, upon encountering the voodoo doll, the curse swiftly realized it had been deceived.

An enraged roar reverberated through the void, transforming the cursing power, infused with trembling magical energy, into a tangible and rapidly expanding dark bubble. It engulfed the voodoo doll, hurtling towards Bryan!

Observing the impending failure of the substituted curse, Bryan remained composed. His eyelids fluttered, and his slightly furrowed brow added a touch of majesty to his otherwise indifferent expression. Standing two feet away, Bryan suddenly retracted his raised right hand, firmly pressing the tip of his wand against the materialized curse's force.

A strong gust of wind, created by the clash between the expanding curse and Bryan's powerful magic, surged from the tip of his wand. It swept through the entire office, filling every inch of space with fleeting gray lightning.

Even the images displayed on the monitoring wall flickered continuously due to the violent magic magnetic field that enveloped the entire floor.

The enigmatic vortexes in Bryan's eyes began spinning once more. His entire being bathed in a thin, imperceptible twilight. The magic consumed by the wand's tip resembled the tide of a typhoon, each surge growing stronger than the last.

As time passed, the bubble formed by the curse's power gradually lost momentum. It began to shrink, inch by inch, eventually retracting fully into the voodoo doll's body.

At that very moment, a slender crack appeared on the voodoo doll's grinning face, running across its prominent nose. The flames that had been burning vigorously diminished to a mere third of their original size.

Within the circular office, Headmaster Dumbledore wore a wry smile on his lips. He stood up involuntarily, placing his hand on Fawke's paw, then slowly settled back into his seat.

As for Professor Lockhart, his office located on the third floor, he had been on the verge of falling asleep in the faculty dormitory. His heavy breathing and the act of rubbing his eyes were interrupted by a jolt of energy akin to consuming a large jar of vitality tonic.

"Ah, fortunate little witch!" Lockhart exclaimed with a gleeful smile, returning to his desk. He retrieved a magnificent peacock quill from the pen holder and began writing with great fervor.

"Congratulations on receiving my response a day earlier!"

"It's truly challenging to deal with," Bryan muttered, his gaze fixed upon the voodoo doll with intricate markings. Finally, a relaxed smile crossed his face...

Author's Note: The things about wakadorga in the above text is a fiction, the place is also imaginary but if it matches with the name of a place then that is just a coincidence.

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