One blast of Fire God, Open the Way, and golden flames swept out in a surging tide, vast and overwhelming.
Compared to the time Theodore had used it over the Black Lake, this version—where he'd taken Incendio, flipped it along a harsher, reversed axis, and pushed it up into Gubraithian Fire—was clearly far stronger than before.
And thanks to the properties of Gubraithian Fire, the flames now burned for much longer, and could be followed up with Control Fire at Will, Transfiguration, and all sorts of other tricks.
In terms of practical use, it was a huge improvement over the previous attempt.
But Theodore still shook his head.
The change in this bout of Fire God, Open the Way came almost entirely from Gubraithian Fire; the Patronus Charm itself hadn't really been woven into it at all.
Yes, the power had risen, but he still hadn't touched the true essence of Fire God, Open the Way.
The Patronus—that was the heart of this magic.
Next, Theodore kept running tests one after another, groping for a way to combine the Patronus Charm with Gubraithian Fire and Transfiguration, and thereby unleash the true Fire God, Open the Way.
However, by the time he finally emerged from the Room of Requirement that evening, he still hadn't seized upon the key.
On the way back to the dormitory, Theodore drew in a long breath.
"After all, this is one of the most powerful spells in the entire magical world, Dumbledore's signature move. Even with my Seven Apertures Heart, trying to work it out alone with no guidance is going to take some time."
"If Dumbledore could pass on just the crucial piece, I should be able to see through it at top speed…"
After a moment, Theodore shook his head.
"Old Dumbledore's probably busy arranging the Saviour's obstacle-course game right now. I heard that business with the troll appearing at Hogwarts caused quite a stir in public opinion."
"He's very busy; how would he have time to pay attention to me?"
"Forget it. I'll just tinker with it in my spare moments. Call it rest and relaxation."
So over the next few days, apart from going to lessons, cleaning the Restricted Section, and playing wizard chess with Ron, Theodore spent almost all his free time with a notebook in hand, scribbling diagrams and notes, frowning from time to time as if something thorny was bothering him.
Hermione, Harry, and Ron watched Theodore vanish the instant class ended, with no one knowing where he'd gone, and worry crept into their eyes.
Hermione said firmly,
"This isn't normal."
"I've never seen Theodore care about anything this much. He's a genius who's completely outside the norm—no magic has ever managed to stump him, let alone stump him for several days in a row."
Harry nodded repeatedly and added,
"Unless this spell is really extraordinary. But even Transfiguration, which is supposed to be one of the hardest subjects, doesn't give Theodore trouble. So what kind of magic would it have to be?"
"I mean, is there any chance it's the kind Professor Quirrell mentioned—that highest, most terrible sort of Dark magic?"
"Ron, Theo's been disappearing a lot lately and only coming back late at night. You spend the most time with him—do you know where he keeps going?"
Ron shivered suddenly and lowered his voice.
"I know. The library. But not the bit Hermione always haunts—deeper in."
"Malfoy's father gave Theo a pass into the Restricted Section. He's been going there every day!"
All three of them looked even more worried.
Hermione stood up, anxiety written all over her face.
"We have to do something."
"Professor Quirrell said it himself—studying Dark magic can twist your soul."
Ron paced back and forth.
"But we all know what Theo's like. He's very strong-willed. Even a professor's words can't make him change his mind."
"If he gets obsessed with something, he won't rest until he's figured it out."
"Unless there's someone he recognises as an absolute authority…"
"What about Professor McGonagall?"
Harry's mind immediately flashed to the image of Professor McGonagall being treated like a cat to be petted by Theodore, and he shook his head hard.
"No."
"Theo isn't afraid of Professor McGonagall."
"If we want to talk him down, we probably have to go to Headmaster Dumbledore."
"Let's go right now!"
—
The library, Restricted Section.
Theodore was deftly brushing the dust from banned books as he continued to ponder the key to blending the Patronus Charm into other spells.
At the same time, his gaze swept once more toward the depths of the Restricted Section.
Over these past few days, his understanding of the Patronus Charm had grown much deeper.
On the thirty-six-petalled lotus, Pangu still showed no signs of condensing into a clear form, but the lotus itself had become even more vivid and lifelike.
From deep within the Restricted Section, that ancient magical call flickered again, then vanished.
"So it is connected to the Patronus Charm, that ancient spell."
"Maybe when my Patronus fully manifests, this call will grow clearer and clearer."
With that, Theodore hefted the more than a hundred banned books he'd just finished cleaning and walked toward the edge of the Restricted Section.
By now, the number of banned books he'd handled was approaching five hundred.
Another few days, and he'd hit the thousand-book mark. At that point he'd be able to reach Close Friend with Madam Pince, and the Demon-Refining Pill recipe would finally be his.
He'd already taken the last two Flying Tiger Golden Pills over the past few days.
They still had an effect, but it was already starting to taper off. The combined result of the second and third pills wasn't even as good as the first one alone.
With Theodore's grasp of pill-craft, of course he understood the reason: the Flying Tiger Pill's level was simply too low.
It was, after all, just a low-grade standardised pill attached to the Flying Tiger Manual. If he hadn't refined them into golden pills with his own Profound Pill Dao, they'd have been even weaker.
But the Demon-Refining Pill recipe was different.
That one came from the Guardian Immortal who watched over the Demon Grotto on behalf of the Chan Sect. Its level was far, far higher than the Flying Tiger Pill.
If he could successfully refine it, the benefits to Theodore would be enormous.
Just as Theodore was thinking this, his gaze fell on a figure standing just outside the Restricted Section.
It wasn't Madam Pince, but a tall silhouette with hair and beard both entirely white.
When Theodore's eyes swept over, the blue eyes behind that pair of spectacles were also quietly taking his measure.
On the System's light-screen, lines of text suddenly refreshed in rapid succession:
[You once more fought your way out of the Demon Grotto, drenched in blood, killing intent soaring to the heavens.
But the Guardian Immortal outside the Demon Grotto was nowhere to be seen; in his place stood an elder with high crown and wide sleeves, white brows and unfathomable depth.
You recognised him as the Primeval Lord of Heaven's foremost disciple—the South-Pole Elder, whose cultivation spanned the vault of the sky and the breadth of the earth, who grasped the heavenly secrets and could stand toe-to-toe with Duobao Daoist of the Jie Sect.
This time, the South-Pole Elder had descended at the request of Nezha, Lei Zhenzi, Deng Chanyu and the others. They feared that your days and nights of slaughter in the Demon Grotto would stain your Dao-heart with killing intent, sending one with great potential sliding into crooked paths, and so he had come personally to offer guidance.
If you truly had already fallen deep into the demonic way, the South-Pole Elder would not lack for thunderous means to give you a harsh wake-up call!]
Theodore froze for a moment, then finally reacted, feeling half amused and half helpless.
So Dumbledore had come over to the Restricted Section at this hour because Harry and the others had invited him, afraid Theodore was getting obsessed with Dark magic in here?
On top of that, Dumbledore was probably worried about another Voldemort appearing, and had come to sound him out?
After that brief speechless moment, Theodore narrowed his eyes slightly.
Come to think of it, this was his first time having a private interaction with Dumbledore.
Maybe…
This could be an opportunity.
Theodore looked over at Dumbledore.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, what are you doing here?"
"You're in the Restricted Section this late at night?"
Dumbledore's expression was warm; he smiled and joked,
"Well, it is this late at night, Theodore—but aren't you here as well?"
"So, is there anything you'd like to tell me?"
Theodore paused, his expression shifting a few times.
"Headmaster, I'm not sure if I should say it."
"Would you be angry?"
Encouragement glimmered in Dumbledore's eyes.
"Of course not. You can tell me anything. My duty is to listen to my students."
"Yes, I promise I won't repeat it to anyone, and I certainly won't be angry. You don't need to worry about that."
Theodore nodded, drew in a deep breath, then looked at Dumbledore with all due seriousness.
"Headmaster, you really shouldn't be here at this hour."
"You know, the magic in the Restricted Section is powerful, but it will never compare to a certain kind of magic—the magic of love."
"You're getting on in years. You should be resting properly, not reading these extreme books."
As he spoke, Theodore reached out to a nearby shelf and drew out a copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, which he held out to Dumbledore.
"I think this book is much more suitable for someone your age."
Dumbledore suddenly went still.
"?"
Wait a second. Why did these words sound so familiar?
Wasn't this the speech he had prepared?
Theodore, are you turning the heavens upside-down on me?!
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