Harry potter:Dark lord

"No need… Let's go back together," Aberforth's voice came from the woods.

He emerged, carrying the pale-faced Aurelius on his back.

Aurelius' eyes were closed, but he was still breathing—he had only fainted.

At least he had kept his word—he could still hold on and wasn't going to die…

—

In the blink of an eye, they all Apparated back to the Hog's Head Inn.

Aberforth carried Aurelius up to the attic, while Robert was left on the first floor with Dumbledore. They sat together at the bar.

"I assume you have something to explain to me," Dumbledore said.

"Oh, tonight was truly… a thrilling night, Professor," Robert said with a sigh.

He wasn't exaggerating. If his magic hadn't improved significantly in recent days, he might have ended up as Nagini's dinner…

Dumbledore didn't interrupt, patiently waiting for Robert to continue.

Robert placed a cage on the bar. Inside was Nagini.

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "What is this?"

In truth, Dumbledore had been wondering about the cage since they returned—Robert had been holding onto it tightly the entire time.

"It's Nagini," Robert replied.

Dumbledore's eyes narrowed. He leaned in and peered through the gaps in the cage. Sure enough, a small green snake lay motionless inside.

"What on earth happened?"

Robert exhaled. "I ran into her in the Forbidden Forest. She attacked me, but I managed to subdue her. I then used Transfiguration to shrink her down and lock her in this cage."

Dumbledore studied Robert carefully. His calm tone made it seem as if what he had just described was completely ordinary.

But Dumbledore knew better.

Not long ago, he had found one of Nagini's scales in the sewers—her current size was much larger than it had been back then.

For an eleven-year-old wizard, escaping from such a deadly serpent was nearly impossible.

Yet Robert was claiming not only to have escaped but to have defeated Nagini, transformed her, and trapped her?

It was almost absurd.

Still, Dumbledore was not the kind of professor to dismiss a student's words outright.

"Logically, you shouldn't have been able to escape from Nagini on your own… Did Aurelius help you?"

Robert shook his head. "No. Aurelius had already left when I was facing Nagini."

"So you fought Nagini alone? And managed to control her?"

Robert nodded. "Yes."

Dumbledore remained silent for a moment, then reached out and touched the cage.

The cage instantly unraveled, the vines disassembling themselves and falling onto the bar. Moments later, they transformed into withered yellow leaves.

This confirmed Dumbledore's suspicion—Robert had likely transfigured the fallen leaves in the Forbidden Forest into vines, used them to restrain Nagini, and then shrunk her.

Dumbledore poked the tiny snake with his finger, his expression growing increasingly astonished as he examined her.

This was, without a doubt, Nagini.

And the Transfiguration that had been cast on her was so powerful, so extreme, that even he found it shocking.

How had Robert managed such a feat?

"This is indeed Nagini… How exactly did you do it?" Dumbledore finally asked.

As he spoke, the fallen leaves on the bar stirred and reassembled into a sturdy cage, once again trapping Nagini inside.

Robert was amazed—Dumbledore had performed the spell with nothing more than a gesture, no incantation needed.

"This ties into the reason I went to the Forbidden Forest tonight," Robert said, taking a small object from his pocket. It was a lighter, glowing faintly with a strange blue light.

"Professor, can you see the blue light?"

Dumbledore studied the lighter but shook his head. "No. I see nothing unusual."

"As expected… Even you can't see it?" Robert murmured.

"What is this? And how does it relate to your trip to the Forbidden Forest?"

Robert recounted his visit to the junk shop, where he had found the lighter. Of course, he omitted his true reason for being there—seeking an old wand. Instead, he claimed he had been looking for magic manuscripts.

Dumbledore listened quietly.

"A blue light that only you can see…" Dumbledore extended his hand. "May I examine the lighter?"

Robert handed it over.

Dumbledore turned it over in his palm, his fingers brushing across its surface.

"I cannot see the light, but I do sense traces of ancient magic on this object…" He returned it to Robert. "This lighter once contained ancient magical power, but it no longer does."

"I see… I thought it was strange that no one else could see the light—Tom, the shopkeeper, even Mr. Aberforth. That's why I decided to ask you."

Dumbledore nodded, motioning for Robert to continue.

Robert hesitated before saying, "While I was sleeping tonight, I saw the lighter open on its own. The flame inside flew out and disappeared out the window. So… I followed it. Before I knew it, I had arrived in the Forbidden Forest."

Dumbledore's expression turned serious. "That was reckless, Robert. You should have told Aberforth. What if something had happened to you?"

"I know, Professor… I was just curious and acted on impulse." Robert looked embarrassed.

Dumbledore sighed. "At least you're safe. But you must learn from this. You haven't been sorted yet, but I suspect you'll end up in Gryffindor…"

Robert's eyes widened. "Do Gryffindor students often wander into the Forbidden Forest at night?"

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Uh… no, of course not. Just continue your story."

Robert nodded. "I kept following the flame until I found a hidden spot in the forest. There, I discovered a glass bottle filled with a strange mist—black with hints of red, occasionally flashing blue."

Dumbledore's expression darkened. Items like that often had ties to dark magic.

"Do you still have the bottle?"

"…It broke during my fight with Nagini." Robert fished some shards of glass from his pocket and placed them on the bar. "As for the mist…"

He hesitated.

"Go on, Robert. You can trust me," Dumbledore said gently.

Robert exhaled. "The mist… entered my body. I suddenly felt this surge of power—like I had to release it. And then…"

He gestured toward Nagini. "I shrank her."

Dumbledore frowned, reaching for the glass shards. He held them close, scrutinizing them.

A long silence followed.

Finally, Dumbledore sighed, placing the shards down. He looked at Robert with an expression of intrigue. "The magical traces on these shards… They are identical to the ones on the lighter. But this may not be a bad thing."

"…Not a bad thing?" Robert, who had been making up half the story as he went, was caught off guard.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "If I'm not mistaken, you have the ability to use ancient magic."

Robert blinked. "Ancient magic?"

Dumbledore smiled, his gaze filled with nostalgia. "When I first started at Hogwarts, I heard of a remarkable senior. She made great contributions to the school. Later, as a professor, I learned even more about her from Headmaster Dippet…"

Dumbledore looked at Robert with warmth. "And I believe you, like her, also possess the ability to wield ancient magic."

Robert was stunned. "Your senior?"

(End of Chapter)

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