My Hogwarts has a serious problem.

Chapter 26.026. The Book of Evil Words

In the exquisitely crafted porcelain cup, black tea is gently steaming.

Lynn did not answer Professor Fox's question immediately, but instead asked it in return.

"Professor, I want to know if what they're saying is true? Did you really torture and kill five wizards using dark magic? And were you imprisoned in Azkaban afterward?"

Without probing, Lynn directly voiced the question that had been on her mind.

Professor Fox's expression didn't change much, but Lynn noticed that his fingers gripping the teacup handle had tightened considerably, and his knuckles had turned slightly white from the excessive force.

He was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"They're not wrong. I was a murderer. I tortured five wizards for three days with the Cruciatus Curse, and then killed them with the Killing Curse. The Wizengamot Wizarding Court sentenced me to life imprisonment in Azkaban. These are facts, and I cannot deny them..."

His voice was calm, and his grip on his fingers gradually loosened. He looked at Lynn with a very serious expression.

"But do you know why Dumbledore, hailed as the greatest white wizard of the twentieth century, was willing to be my defender, and why I was released after being imprisoned in Azkaban for eight years, while those wizards who hated me were all pure-bloods?"

Lynn didn't avoid Professor Fox's gaze. He shook his head and said, "That's also why I believe you, Professor, aren't the cold-blooded, ruthless killer they describe. So, can you tell me why?"

Fox leaned back in his chair, but his body didn't seem relaxed. His deep eyes were fixed on the cup of black tea on the table, which was gradually losing its steam, as if he didn't want to recall his past.

"I actually have high hopes for you, Lynn. You possess qualities that most wizards lack. After I sat in your house listening to you tell me how you found a foster father on your own, I was certain you would be sorted into either Slytherin or Gryffindor, with Gryffindor being the more likely choice at the time. But even Slytherin isn't incomprehensible, because the requirements for admission to these two houses are extremely similar. Sometimes, whether you're a little snake or a little lion is just a matter of the Sorting Hat's decision..."

Professor Fox talked about many things that were unrelated to Lynn's question, but Lynn did not interrupt him. Instead, he listened quietly until Lynn was willing to speak up himself.

"When I was in Hogwarts, my Divination professor once said that I didn't have a talent for prophecy, but I've never had this strong intuition. Lynn, I feel that my life's work is very likely to be left unfinished when I die, which is something I can't accept, I can't accept... So I need someone to continue my research."

After I left Azkaban, I met many wizards, but most of them were afraid of black magic and kept their distance, let alone actively approaching it, changing it, or exploring it.

There was nothing I could do; adult wizards all have their own ideas, and I couldn't change them. It just so happened that Dumbledore found me and told me that Hogwarts had several vacant teaching positions. I thought I might be able to use this opportunity to change a young wizard's view of the Dark Arts, and that's how I chose you."

"Your choice is very important to me, Lynn. It concerns whether the path I've followed my whole life is ultimately the right one, so I don't want you to misunderstand me. But..."

He picked up the now lukewarm black tea, took a small sip, and said solemnly.

"I don't want to tell anyone about my past anymore. Everyone has their secrets, and I'm no exception. But I can tell you that the five wizards I killed were no good people. They were the worst of the worst. They all had infamous names: Death Eaters."

Lynn looked at Professor Fox in surprise.

"Are they... followers of the mysterious man?"

Professor Fox also seemed somewhat surprised.

"I didn't expect you to already know about that history. I thought I would need to explain to you that past that the entire British magical community is unwilling to recall."

"Since you understand, you should know why Dumbledore was willing to defend me back then, why I was released eight years later, and why those young wizards from pure-blood families hate me so much."

"Of course, we haven't known each other for very long, so I can understand if you don't believe what I'm saying. However, Dumbledore and Minerva are the only people who know about this. If you still have doubts, you can ask them to determine whether what I'm saying is true."

"No need, Professor." Lynn shook his head. "I haven't known you for long, but I've known Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall for even less time. It's even questionable whether Professor Dumbledore knows me, a first-year wizard. I believe what you say."

Lynn didn't want any contact with Dumbledore too early. Right now, he just wanted to stay at Hogwarts, honestly and diligently learning magic. He had no intention of getting involved in the headmaster's savior plan because of any special performance.

Moreover, he genuinely believed what Professor Fox said.

Since the other party had no reason to deceive him, and he was just a little wizard with a bit of potential and a slightly precocious personality, there was no point in fabricating such a lie that could be exposed at any time.

Lynn looked at Professor Fox with some eagerness.

"So, Professor, can you teach me dark magic now?"

Professor Fox looked at Lynn and couldn't help but chuckle; at this moment, Lynn seemed like an eleven-year-old child.

"You're underestimating dark magic, Lynn. This type of magic is considered the pinnacle of spells, and also one of the most difficult to learn. At least ninety percent of adult wizards don't know how to use even a single advanced form of dark magic. Besides, at your age, even if you had the ability to learn it, you wouldn't have enough magic power to use it effectively."

Lynn looked at him, puzzled. "Then what do I need to learn first?"

Professor Fox waved his finger at the bookshelf, and a completely black book floated down from the shelf and gently landed in front of Lynn.

The book's cover was printed with its name in silver powder: The Book of Evil Words.

"You may have seen this quote from Miranda Gossack, the author of Standard Spells: Beginner's Guide: Black Spells, Poison Spells, and Curses are collectively known as Black Spells. This book will not cover such spells."

The so-called Black Curse is actually a type of curse. Like other curses, Black Curses can apply specific magical effects to the target, but the effects are mainly negative.

Furthermore, dark magic is a type of spell related to dark magic, only its effects are not as domineering and powerful as advanced dark magic.

Professor Fox gently tapped the book, "The Book of Harsh Words."

"Wicked curses are among the least negative types of dark curses, and they're also easy to learn. Many older wizards know a few of them to use as pranks with their friends. This book records nine common wounded curses, and your first step is to learn all of them."

(End of this chapter)