The Invention: The Aegis Rings
In the autumn of 1991, Darius Zogratis identified a critical systemic vulnerability within the British Ministry of Magic: the reliance on Dementors to guard the wizarding prison, Azkaban. Recognizing that the Patronus Charm was a feat beyond the capabilities of the average witch or wizard, Darius sought a technological solution to the problem of despair.
The result was the Aegis Ring. Utilizing his advanced understanding of Ancient Runes, Darius carved microscopic runic arrays into silver bands. Unlike a traditional Patronus, which requires the caster to manifest a potent happy memory, the Aegis Ring functioned as a magical "battery." It was designed to draw energy from the ambient magical field, projecting a permanent, corporeal Patronus shield around the wearer.
This invention suggested a monumental ethical shift for the wizarding world. For the first time in history, the Ministry possessed the means to replace Dementors with human guards who could be protected 24/7 by the silver light of the rings.
The Fourth Year: The Sage and the Boy Who Lived
The 1991 academic year saw the arrival of Harry Potter at Hogwarts. While the public expected the "Boy Who Lived" to be the focal point of the era, the reality within the castle was starkly different. The student body and faculty alike were captivated by the individual known as "The Sage of Ravenclaw."
Historical accounts from the period describe the first meeting between the two: Harry Potter, the symbol of a past victory, encountering Darius Zogratis, the architect of a new magical age. Eyewitnesses noted that while Potter's fame rested on a singular event he could not remember, Darius commanded respect through sheer, demonstrated mastery. Darius reportedly viewed the young Potter with "total indifference," a chilling contrast to the hero-worship found elsewhere in the castle.
A Record Unmatched: The Quadruple Mastery
In a single day during the spring of 1991, Darius sat for examinations in both Charms and Ancient Runes. He passed both with distinction, bringing his total to four Masteries at the age of fourteen. This feat effectively ended any debate regarding his status; he had become the most academically decorated minor in the history of recorded magic.
The Silent Conflict: Dumbledore's Growing Fear
While the wizarding world celebrated Darius as a savior, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore became increasingly unsettled. From the High Table, Dumbledore observed a fourteen-year-old boy who had systematically conquered the four pillars of magical theory:
Transfiguration: Power over Form.
Potions: Power over Life and Death.
Charms: Power over Reality.
Runes: Power over Language and Universal Law.
It was noted by contemporary observers that Darius showed absolute disdain for the "Philosopher's Stone" incident occurring on the third floor that year. While Potter and his peers risked their lives to protect the Stone, Darius was rumored to have dismissed Nicolas Flamel's work as "elementary alchemy," far below the scope of his own research into spatial dimensions and genetic restoration.
Dumbledore's private journals from this year reflect a profound concern: he saw in Darius a brilliance that eclipsed his own, coupled with an emotional detachment that made the boy's ultimate intentions impossible to discern.