By October, Britain had entered the most unbearable stretch of the year—weeks of unending drizzle. The damp, penetrating chill crept into the castle and into the students. When Tver noticed more and more of them trying to attend class while sick, he teamed up with Madam Pomfrey to make a batch of chocolates that could ward off or treat colds, and handed them out.
With that settled, and as the days went by, classes finally fell into a steady rhythm. Armed with last year's slacking experience and with Lockhart's overly eager assistance, Tver managed to secure a fair amount of free time. He spent some of it on Dumbledore, some on Marvolio and Cynthia, some on the Basilisk, occasionally on detentions for Harry's trio, and finally tutoring Neville and Percy. To his surprise, this year was somehow even busier than the last.
Fortunately, Lockhart was… enthusiastic. Far too enthusiastic when it came to marking tests and essays. He seemed determined to sign his name on every assignment, then add "Tver" in parentheses afterward. He had no idea this was only ruining his reputation even further. Still, Tver was grateful. Without that help, he wouldn't have had much time to study the Diadem.
Ever since realizing the Diadem was absorbing life force, he'd kept it beside the Philosopher's Stone. The Diadem behaved itself, quietly drawing energy until it had nearly drained the stone. Of course, the stone clearly had self-recovery abilities—otherwise Nicholas Flamel wouldn't have been able to use it for centuries.
But the Diadem was a little too obedient. No matter how Tver tested it, nothing unusual happened. After examining it for half a day, all he could sense was that the Diadem had become more "alive." It felt like an embryo—there was life inside, but not enough to be called a complete living being. And because that life relied entirely on the Stone, even the short time he spent studying it caused the "embryo" to show signs of weakening. It drained the Stone relentlessly, giving it no rest at all.
After carefully putting away both the Diadem and the Stone, Tver looked around his dull office. Only the mischievous Cornish Pixies made the occasional thump. He had expanded the Pixies' cage slightly, just enough for them to actually live in it. He'd enlarged the cages of the other magical creatures too. With no grading mannequins around, the office stayed very quiet most days. So quiet that even someone who enjoyed peace like Tver found it boring.
He stepped out of the office, planning to pick up some extra reading in the library. It was evening, the sun giving off its last bit of light, and young wizards were squeezing in a final moment of fun, laughing and chasing one another around the castle.
Some students, however, were still working. When Tver reached the library, a few small groups were still reading or finishing homework. Most were fifth- and seventh-years. Even if Tver's class was considered easy, exam preparation was never simple.
But among them was one sixth-year student. Percy Weasley. Penelope, who usually sat with him, wasn't there, and his expression looked unusually strained.
"Percy?" Tver sat beside him. "I heard you've been dating lately. Don't tell me you're having a library date?"
Startled by the sudden voice, Percy quickly shut the book he was reading.
"Professor Fawley, I… I'm just waiting for Penelope. She went back to the common room for something."
Something was definitely wrong.
Tver glanced at the cover. Though only "—of Malicious Control" was visible, he recognized it immediately. One of Durmstrang's required extracurricular books for first-years—Malicious Control of Dark Magic.
"You're studying Dark Magic?!" Tver stared at Percy in disbelief.
Percy glanced at the exposed title and gave an awkward smile.
"I was just curious… I wanted to understand dark magic a little."
Tver didn't believe that for a second. If Percy simply wanted general knowledge, Tver could recommend dozens of overview texts. But this book was unmistakably an introductory dark magic manual.
It was meant for learning dark magic.
"Tell me," he said gently, showing no anger at Percy's lie. "Why this sudden interest in dark magic?"
Realizing he'd been caught, Percy hesitated before finally speaking. "Do you remember that night? I sensed dark magic in your office."
Tver thought back. The night Percy sensed it must have been the first time he took out the Horcrux to study it. The aura leaking from Voldemort's twisted soul would indeed stand out to someone as sharp as Percy. That was also why he later continued the research only in Knockturn Alley—he didn't want Dumbledore to notice. A Horcrux was sinister enough, let alone studying the soul inside it.
"Yes, I was studying dark magic. To be honest, I've never really stopped learning it."
He didn't go into detail. Horcruxes were not something Percy should be exposed to.
Percy took a deep breath and finally looked up at Tver.
"But dark magic is… it's ultimately fueled by malicious intent."
He knew that studying dark magic was normal for adult wizards, especially powerful ones. But the book made it clear that the twisted intent required to cast dark magic could erode a wizard's mind, and its raw power made it dangerously tempting.
What he didn't expect was how readily Tver admitted it.
"You're right. Any successful use of dark magic carries hostility. The stronger the spell, the stronger the hostility."
"But remember this: when Aurors fight Dark Wizards, they also carry intense hostility. Even if they don't use dark magic, that malice can be just as strong as what dark magic brings."
"So as long as you can control your intent, you can study and research dark magic."
Tver didn't disturb him as he fell into deep thought and was just about to find a book to pass the time when Percy suddenly snapped out of it.
"Professor, could you teach me dark magic?"
Tver lifted a brow in surprise. Meeting Percy's determined gaze, he could feel the force behind it.
"You don't need to learn dark magic. If you simply want to grow stronger, I can teach you enough normal magic to defeat most opponents."
But Percy shook his head. "Professor, I want to learn dark magic not just to get stronger, but so I can… face it more calmly."
He didn't dare meet Tver's eyes, because he hadn't said the real reason—I just want to be closer to you…
Tver stroked his chin, thinking. When Percy looked like he might crumble under his own nerves, Tver finally smiled.
"Of course. I'll add some dark magic into our tutoring sessions when appropriate. But if you can't handle it, I won't let you continue."
"Of course I can!" Percy's face lit up.