Chapter 90: Secret Leaked
After teaching the spell, Cyril didn't bring up Ethan's deceased parents to manipulate him, but instead asked about some unusual traits Ethan had displayed.
"You've attracted small creatures since childhood. That's different from the rest of us; we usually only attract snakes and have no particular affinity for humans."
"This suggests your talent exceeds ours, manifesting differently."
Ethan listened silently, nodding occasionally.
He had forgiven Cyril's behavior, though calling this man, whom he hadn't seen in over ten years, grandfather still felt like a psychological barrier.
Cyril didn't mind. He knew the boy in front of him valued affection deeply.
Cyril had also noticed the change in Ethan's attitude today. He felt that if he maintained this progress, perhaps by summer vacation, he would have the opportunity to take him to visit Shafiq Manor and France.
The door to the Headmaster's office opened. Dumbledore returned from his walk. "I haven't returned too early, have I?"
"Just in time. I should be going as well."
Cyril stood up.
"Ethan, I'm leaving. There's still a great deal of knowledge about our bloodline back at the family estate. I was in a rush this time and didn't bring any of it, but I'll bring some next time," Cyril said.
"You can come and go freely?" Ethan asked. He couldn't help feeling that Cyril talked about Hogwarts as if it were a place he could just walk in and out of.
"Oh, I forgot to mention it. Our family, the Shafiqs, are among the governors of Hogwarts. We have the right to visit frequently for inspections." Cyril smiled.
Ethan nodded. Understood. He was the school's financier.
Cyril laughed. "Then I'd better be going. See you next time."
They left the Headmaster's office together. Ethan headed for the library, while Dumbledore and Cyril walked to the gates.
After parting ways with Ethan, Dumbledore and Cyril began speaking in low voices.
"How did it go?"
Cyril was pleased. "Very good. Ethan is indeed a good boy."
"I didn't want to seem too hasty, so this time I only shared some family secrets with him and steered clear of anything too personal."
"I think after another two or three visits, I'll truly be able to connect with him."
"As long as you have a plan." Dumbledore didn't press further.
Then he asked, "By the way, does your family have a natural talent for Occlumency?"
"None that I'm aware of. What? Ethan's a natural Occlumens, too?" Cyril was even more surprised.
"Yes. From the moment he was Sorted, the Sorting Hat could barely read him." Dumbledore abandoned his earlier plan.
"Next time I visit, I must bring him the family's important records. He's a genius! The family's revitalization rests on him." Cyril burned with fervor.
After bidding farewell to Dumbledore at the gates, he Apparated away with a sharp crack.
The Easter holiday passed quickly in a flurry of activity. All the students who had gone home for the break returned to Hogwarts, and the castle came alive once more.
Ethan spent the rest of the holiday practicing the Feign Death Spell, which could save his life.
Casting with a wand was simple, but wandless casting proved difficult, and silent wandless casting would take far longer to master.
When classes resumed on Monday, he didn't waste a single break, spending every spare moment with his wand in hand, practicing silent casting of the Feign Death Spell.
Previously, he practiced wandless magic in the dormitory when it was empty. Once his roommates returned, he moved to the Room of Requirement to practice at night.
The Marauder's Map the twins had promised to lend him was already in his possession, but he wasn't in the mood to use it to spy on Quirrell.
Then on Tuesday, Hagrid sent a note.
"Hatching soon." Hedwig delivered the note to Harry, and Hermione passed the news on to Ethan as well.
"I'm not going," Ethan said. He worried that if Draco caught them again, the blame would fall on him, so he reluctantly skipped the gathering.
Between his morning classes, he had an hour free. Ethan found a quiet corner in the grounds, drew his wand, and practiced silent casting.
During his detention after class, Ethan asked Voldemort for the secret to wandless silent casting.
"Oh? Which spell are you practicing this technique for?"
"Confringo," Ethan said, naming the spell he'd prepared in advance.
"That spell is still too advanced for you. I can manage it, but you'll need extensive practice."
Voldemort didn't move, but a small orange fireball shot into the fireplace where he was pointing.
"Wow!" Ethan responded with a surprised expression, giving Voldemort exactly the reaction he wanted.
"Come, let me explain the fundamentals of silent, wandless casting." He was clearly pleased as he walked Ethan through the technique.
Seeing how satisfied Voldemort looked, Ethan asked, "Professor, besides the specific casting method for this spell, are the others the same?"
"Every spell has its own technique, but there are common threads. For example, the Bone Shield you're learning now should be cast like this..."
Voldemort demonstrated as he explained, proving to be an excellent instructor.
Ethan jotted the techniques down in his notebook. "Thank you, Professor. I've written everything down. I'll practice hard and master them as soon as possible."
"Mm." Voldemort nodded with satisfaction.
Once Ethan left, Voldemort retreated to the back of Quirrell's head, his voice losing any trace of the kindness he'd shown earlier. "My life force is still being drained. Return to the Forbidden Forest. You need more unicorn blood."
"Yes, Master."
Quirrell had accepted his fate. Since killing that first unicorn to extend his life, he could only continue down this dark path, hoping that once Voldemort was resurrected, he might find a way to break the curse and free himself from this half-dead existence.
In the afternoon, before class, Hermione told Ethan that Harry had accidentally let Draco overhear their conversation that morning after receiving the note.
So when they went to Hagrid's hut to watch the baby dragon hatch, Malfoy accompanied them and saw the hatchling himself.
"Ethan, can... can you ask him not to trouble Hagrid?" Hermione looked somewhat embarrassed. They had accidentally let the secret slip, and now they had to ask Ethan for help.
Ethan didn't refuse. "I can try, but I can't promise anything."
Sure enough, his request was denied.
"Ethan, what dragon? I don't know." Draco's eyes darted away as he spoke. Ethan knew he was determined to cause trouble for Harry and the others.
That day, Ethan told Hermione what Draco had said, which greatly disappointed her.
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