Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 124: Elderberry
"I have to wonder if all of those... are safe enough..."

Professor Flitwick's voice was still high-pitched. He stood on the ground, his voice heard but his figure hidden by the two tall wizards.

It wasn't until Professor Flitwick conjured up book after book from beneath his feet that the crowd saw the worry in his eyes.

Inside the principal's office, silverware filled the entire oak table, and a worn-out kettle spewed white steam. Phoenix Fox rested on a gilded perch, its feathers gleaming with a dark red sheen.

Albus Dumbledore didn't answer immediately. He sat behind the wooden table, his blue eyes gleaming above his glasses. The open spellbook in front of him automatically turned a page, and only then did his voice gradually rise:
"I think we don't need to worry, right? The kids are braver than we imagine."

He smiled kindly, as if to point something out.

"Of course, bravely rush to die."

Professor Snape gave a cold laugh.
"Sending first-year wizards to deal with trolls, is this your plan... Dumbledore?"

Professor McGonagall watched silently from the side, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

"Hogwarts is the safest place in all of Britain."

Dumbledore simply said something profound.

"Humph--"

Professor Snape said nothing more, gave a cold snort, and then turned and left.

“You should be more careful, Albus.”

Minerva McGonagall left with these words.

After they left, Dumbledore muttered to himself thoughtfully:

“Severus, change…it’s been so long…”

He then began to speak with Professor Flitwick:
"Professor Flitwick, could you tell me about that child?"

“Of course! Headmaster Dumbledore, that child is far more talented than we imagined, both in spells and in the Dark Arts' Defense Against the Dark Arts…”

Professor Flitwick's high-pitched voice was filled with excitement. In fact, if Severus and Minerva were to witness the child's fighting prowess, they would know—between the troll and the first-year wizard—who would truly be the challenger…

This is why Professor Flitwick was the calmest of everyone present.

in the corridor.

Snape's wide black robes created an atmosphere of extremely low pressure, causing the young wizards in the corridor to avoid him at all costs.

The last person to dare mess with Professor Snape is still in solitary confinement in the dungeons. It's been a full month...

Sheehan waited outside Professor McGonagall's office with many books on Transfiguration.

The biting wind was icy cold, yet it couldn't penetrate Mr. Filch's scarf. Sheehan wore the gloves Mrs. Finley had given him, Professor Snape's sweater, and Professor McGonagall's personal treasures in his bag...

Overall, he rarely feels cold anymore.

The reason he was standing here was that he had to learn Transfiguration first thing that afternoon, and arriving early was his usual practice.

If the professor is there, I can study a little longer; if the professor isn't there, I can still review and read some books.

Just then, a large figure blocked out the light from the window. Sheen looked up and saw that it was Professor Snape's gloomy face.

He stared at Sheehan's sweater collar for two seconds, then looked towards the cellar and said in a sinister tone:
"Come on, you idiot."

Sheen ignored the taunts and silently followed behind.

The cellar was always colder. From a distance, Sheen could hear the sound of the rain pounding against the windows. Turning his head, he saw that the glass windows were covered with a thin layer of ice.

"who do you think You Are?"

Professor Snape's taunts came as swiftly as ever. Before Sheen could react, he heard Professor Snape unleash a long, mocking laugh: "Ah—our Mr. Grimm, thinking himself some kind of 'hero,' fighting trolls all by himself... Oh, I bet those fools admire you greatly!!"
"—Grimm, do you think defeating a troll is something great? Let me tell you, staying alive is what's truly remarkable..."

Professor Snape's lips curled into a cold, mocking smile as he looked at Sheehan with a look of utter disappointment.

"Compared to those idiots... do you think anyone would mourn you if you died?!"

Sheen remained silent.

Professor Snape snorted loudly; he had known all along that this guy was a complete idiot!
If this fool is given a few more chances, he'll probably never learn to protect himself wisely.

"Grab your wand!"

In the cellar, Professor Snape's tone was colder than the biting wind.

"I don't think you're old enough to die—"

Sheen looked up and a crumpled notebook was thrown into his hand; the pages were yellowed, as if it were from decades ago.

While Sheehan was flipping through the books, Professor Snape's attention was drawn to his wand:
The texture of the staff is unlike any other, a dull, lifeless wood. The shaft is the color of the deep night, almost jet black, yet as light shifts, it subtly reveals deep purple and dark red veins beneath…

This is elderberry.

Elder wands are the rarest of all woods, yet they have a terrible reputation. This is because elder wands are more difficult to wield than any other type of wand.

It possesses powerful magical abilities, but is unwilling to cooperate with wizards who are less capable than itself.

No matter how long a wizard possesses an elder wand, that wizard will always be renowned throughout the world.

Only exceptionally rare individuals can perfectly wield the Elder Wand, and when such a rare occurrence occurs, the wizard is destined for a dramatic and extraordinary life.

Yet, this very high-quality material ended up in the hands of this "fool".

The wand core is made of proud phoenix tail feathers, making this wand extremely difficult to tame.

This is a wand... extremely advantageous for using dark magic...

He looked at the slightly excited young wizard holding the notebook, his cold face complex and somber.

The elder wand sealed his fate, making his life anything but peaceful. Snape's tone grew even colder and more serious:

"If you can't learn it, you can forget about leaving the cellar!"

……

"Sectumsempra! (The Unseen Blade!)"

Sheen's wand tip bore no magical marks, yet the toad that was struck suffered a gaping, massive wound. Snape quickly cast a counterspell, his gaze fixed somewhat blankly on Sheen.

[You have practiced the Divine Sharpness Shadowless Spell to a proficient standard once, proficiency +10]

【Divine Sharpness Shadowless Spell: Beginner Level (100/900)】

In just one hour, the young wizard in front of him not only learned the Divine Sharpness Without Shadow right in front of him, but also entered the field at an extremely fast pace.

His talent even surpassed that of some sixth-year wizards who had reached the level of dark magic upon entering school.

"Come to the cellar... an hour earlier..."

Before leaving, Sheehan heard Professor Snape's somber voice.

"Don't let anyone know you're learning magic, remember—nobody!"

Before Sheen could nod, Professor Snape closed the cellar door.

(End of this chapter)