章節 247: Chapter 246 "The Wand of Curse"

Daphne's gaze narrowed slightly, a strange emotion stirring within her. As Skyler strode forward, she couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't just heading to a student competition but embarking on a life-and-death duel against a formidable foe.

Clasping her hands tightly, she suppressed her unease, whispering softly, "Skyler, please, ensure your safety. We're all counting on you to return unharmed..."

Meanwhile, Dumbledore intently observed the departure of the four champions. His gaze lingered on Harry's figure, his eyes reflecting a mix of sorrow and complexity. He knew Harry was on the brink of a significant moment in his life, one that could prove fatal if the mysterious assailant targeted him that night.

Shifting his attention to Skyler, Dumbledore's brows furrowed deeply. Despite the distance between them, he sensed something familiar—a turbulent surge of magical energy emanating from Skyler, enveloping him in an aura of formidable power. This sensation struck a chord with Dumbledore, triggering a sense of foreboding.

"This young fellow might actually have gone through another magical breakthrough; just how far can you prove yourself to be capable in these tough times..." Dumbledore thought as he watched Skyler's confident stride.

This surge of magical energy was reminiscent of the power wielded by the Elder Wand!

Ever since Skyler departed with the Philosopher's Stone at the end of his first year, Dumbledore had been intrigued by the young scion of the Malfoy family. He had deployed his intelligence network to gather information on this enigmatic young man, but extracting details from the insular Malfoy clan proved challenging.

Despite his efforts, Dumbledore could only piece together fragments of Skyler's past, primarily centered around his visit to Diagon Alley before starting school.

One particular incident caught Dumbledore's attention—the encounter at Ollivander's Wand Shop and Madam Malkin's Clothing Shop. The custom wizard robe Skyler commissioned hinted at a keen sense of practicality and combat readiness from a young age, a trait Dumbledore could appreciate, albeit with caution.

Dumbledore couldn't shake off his curiosity about Skyler's actions at the wand shop. While Ollivander was the preeminent wandmaker, Dumbledore's own expertise in alchemy granted him insights into wand lore.

Staff making was an offshoot of alchemy, a craft intimately familiar to Dumbledore. He shared Ollivander's belief that "the wand chooses the wizard," a hypothesis born of centuries of wand lore.

Ollivander, renowned for his impeccable memory, recounted how Skyler had tested an array of wands during his visit to the shop—seven unicorn hair wands, twelve fire dragon heartstring wands, nine phoenix feather wands, and numerous other combinations.

Yet, none proved to be a match for Skyler.

Dumbledore recalled his conversation with Ollivander a while ago as he was trying to investigate Skyler's past.

"Mr. Dumbledore, it's not rare for a young student like him not to have any choice available because ordinary wands reject him. There is---" Ollivander tried to explain, but Dumbledore cut him in the middle.

"I know of it, Mr. Ollivander. I had several cases of my own students with the same symptoms as well, but what I'm curious about is Mr. Malfoy's mysterious growth. There is no wizard in the history of this entire world that exceeds his achievements. All his growth might even be on par with those historical figures and the founders from the past!" Dumbledore replied fiercely, confused with his own feelings about Skyler.

To preserve his family's esteemed reputation, Skyler reluctantly retrieved the Thestral tail-feather wand left by his great-great-grandfather—an artifact with an extraordinary history.

Contrary to Ollivander's prior explanation, Skyler knew the true story. His great-grandfather had embarked on a quest to craft a wand surpassing even the Elder Wand in power, dedicating himself entirely to its creation, forsaking rest and sustenance in his pursuit.

Ultimately, his relentless pursuit led him into the abyss of his own obsessions. On the day of its completion, drained of every ounce of strength, he vomited three liters of blood and perished on the spot.

With the loss of their most skilled wandmaker, the family viewed the wand as an ominous relic, shrouded in whispers of dark secrets. Rumors swirled within the family, one suggesting the wand bore a curse, devouring the life and soul of its creator to fuel its own power—a claim never substantiated.

Nevertheless, the wand's peculiarities remained undeniable. Other Ollivanders dared to wield it in secret, yet not a single spell could be conjured with its touch. Attempts to sell it in the shop were futile; in its presence, other wands lost their resonance, severing the connection between aspiring wizards and their destined wands.

As a last resort, the family expended considerable resources to commission an alchemist to craft a box, embedding the wand within a magical crystal infused with the essence of the four elements. This repository was then concealed within a clandestine chamber deep within Ollivander's Wand Shop.

On that fateful day, an unprecedented harmony unfolded between Skyler and the Thestral tail feather wand—an alliance unforeseen by Ollivander's exhaustive understanding of wand lore. It transcended the conventional wisdom of "the wand chooses the wizard," leaving Ollivander to entertain the haunting notion of the cursed wand's legend:

This wand, imbued with a dark enchantment, recognizes only one master in its lifetime. Only the individual anointed by the enigmatic forces of destiny, as elusive as they are, can lay claim to its dominion. Beyond that chosen soul, no other shall wield its power.

Dumbledore, among the most knowledgeable wizards of their time, comprehended the unparalleled potency the Thestral tail feather wand bestowed upon its wielder. Particularly in the realm of dark magic, its augmentation was profound, an attribute Dumbledore understood intimately.

The reason for Dumbledore's furrowed brow lay not in the scent of the Thestral's tail feather wand lingering around Skyler, nor did it stem from any discernible aura of dark magic exuded by him.

Instead, in the years gone by, Dumbledore had clandestinely observed Skyler, scrutinizing for any inklings of a propensity towards delving into the darker arts.

Having grappled with the likes of Grindelwald and Voldemort, Dumbledore possessed an intimate understanding of the telltale signatures of those steeped in the shadowy depths of sorcery.

Yet, in Skyler, he discerned none of these hallmarks. Instead, Skyler embodied an amalgam of traits—akin to Dumbledore himself. Skyler harbored the same ambitious aspirations as Grindelwald yet was cloaked within a veneer of humility and dormancy akin to Dumbledore's own demeanor.

Similarly, Skyler possessed the cunning and guile of Voldemort, yet tempered by the same vein of "love" and "bond" characteristic of Dumbledore himself.

Thus, Dumbledore found himself compelled to place his faith in Skyler, believing that akin to himself, Skyler would eschew the allure of power, transcending to become the master of the wand rather than succumbing to the shackles of power's servitude.

Truth be told, Dumbledore had long been aware of Skyler's possession of the Thestral Tail Feather Wand. Thus, the presence of an aura akin to that of the Elder Wand came as no surprise to him.

Even had Skyler truly exuded an aura of dark magic, Dumbledore might have felt a measure of solemnity or even a headache. Still, he wouldn't have been left with the expression of utter disbelief that now etched his features.

Dumbledore believes as long as Skyler's intention of paving his future in the wizarding world doesn't cause harm to the majority of the wizards and witches. There is no reason for him to interrupt a sleeping serpent.