From Voldemort's capture to Quirrell's desperate attempt to cast the Killing Curse and Professor McGonagall's immediate counterattack, everything happened in a matter of seconds.
The entire confrontation was over almost before the students understood what was happening.
That only made the panic worse.
The Hufflepuff and Slytherin first-years erupted into chaos. Some students screamed, others scrambled away from Quirrell's unconscious body, and several looked on the verge of tears after hearing the name Voldemort spoken aloud.
Cassandra ignored all of them.
The moment the danger passed, she rushed straight toward Liam and grabbed his shoulders, looking him over from head to toe.
"Are you hurt?"
Her silver eyes scanned every inch of him.
Liam blinked.
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Only after confirming that he was completely unharmed did she finally relax.
"Quiet!"
Dumbledore's voice suddenly exploded through the room.
The magical amplification behind it instantly silenced every student.
The classroom fell completely still.
"Students," Dumbledore said calmly, "the danger has passed. You are all safe. There is no need to panic."
The reassuring tone worked wonders.
Several frightened children immediately calmed down.
Dumbledore then turned toward McGonagall.
"Minerva, I'll leave the students in your care."
His gaze shifted toward Liam.
"Mr. Hale, you have performed an extraordinary service today. For discovering and reporting this threat, Slytherin is awarded two hundred points."
The announcement shocked everyone.
Two hundred points.
Even Cassandra looked surprised.
Then her surprise transformed into excitement.
"You're amazing!"
Without thinking, she leaned forward and kissed Liam on the cheek.
The classroom instantly went silent again.
Several students stared in disbelief.
Even Liam froze briefly.
Then he cleared his throat.
"Ahem."
He looked toward Dumbledore.
"Headmaster, are you referring only to the House Points?"
The old wizard blinked.
Liam's meaning was obvious.
House Points were nice.
But Voldemort had one of the largest bounties in wizarding history.
For years, countless witches and wizards had dreamed of claiming it.
The problem was that nobody had actually managed to catch him.
Now Voldemort was sitting in a bottle.
As far as Liam was concerned, this wasn't just a Dark Lord.
It was a walking vault.
He had worked hard for this arrest.
If Dumbledore intended to settle everything with two hundred House Points, that would be a terrible business deal.
After all, Liam wasn't some wealthy pure-blood heir with family fortunes waiting for him.
He needed money.
A lot of it.
Dumbledore immediately understood.
The corners of his mouth twitched.
"Don't worry," he said with amusement. "You won't be overlooked."
The old wizard shook the bottle containing Voldemort's soul fragment.
"I imagine you'll receive considerable rewards once news of this spreads."
"That sounds much better."
Liam nodded approvingly.
Dumbledore laughed softly.
"Come with me. There are several matters we should discuss."
He glanced meaningfully toward Cassandra.
Reluctantly, she released Liam's arm.
A few minutes later, Liam found himself back inside the Headmaster's office.
The small bottle containing Voldemort was placed securely on a nearby table.
Dumbledore sat behind his desk and folded his hands.
"Liam," he began, "you've made a tremendous contribution to the wizarding world today."
The old wizard's voice became serious.
"When this news becomes public, I expect you'll receive Voldemort's bounty, substantial rewards from various organizations, and likely several honors as well."
"Possibly even the Order of Merlin."
Liam raised an eyebrow.
That sounded expensive.
Dumbledore continued.
"However, I hope you'll remain clear-headed. Wealth, status, and fame are seductive things. Many people lose themselves after receiving such recognition."
The concern in his voice was genuine.
From Dumbledore's perspective, Liam was still a child.
A remarkably talented child, certainly, but a child nonetheless.
The old wizard worried that overwhelming praise might corrupt him.
Liam listened quietly.
Then he replied with a single sentence.
"I've already been to Azkaban."
The room fell silent.
Dumbledore couldn't argue with that.
Liam continued calmly.
"The Ministry confiscated most of my property. I've had wealth before. I've lost it before."
He met Dumbledore's gaze.
"And I'm still the same person."
Dumbledore sighed.
"But even so, those two Muggles died by your hand."
The atmosphere grew heavier.
"Human life shouldn't be treated so lightly."
Liam didn't look away.
"Professor Dumbledore, I grew up in a Death Eater household."
His voice remained calm and steady.
"After the Death Eaters died, nearly every person I encountered was either a dark wizard or a criminal."
"If they attacked me, I defended myself."
"The same thing happened with those two Muggles."
His expression never changed.
"They tried to rob me."
"I fought back."
"That was all."
Dumbledore remained silent.
Liam continued.
"When dark wizards died, the Ministry looked the other way."
"When criminals disappeared in Knockturn Alley, nobody cared."
"But the moment two Muggles attacked me and died, the Ministry suddenly remembered justice and threw me into Azkaban."
There was no anger in his voice.
That somehow made the words hit even harder.
"I don't believe I did anything wrong."
He looked directly into Dumbledore's eyes.
"Those men preyed on children."
"If they hadn't died that day, they would have harmed someone else."
"Tell me honestly, Professor."
"Did I really do something wrong?"
The office became completely silent.
Dumbledore found himself unable to answer immediately.
Those clear eyes contained no guilt.
No shame.
No hesitation.
Only certainty.
Eventually, the old wizard sighed.
"I simply hope you'll give people more chances to change."
His voice softened.
"You possess extraordinary talent. One day, you may become one of the most influential wizards alive."
A shadow crossed Dumbledore's expression.
"I worry about what might happen if you begin deciding who deserves to live and who deserves to die."
"I don't consider myself a saint," Liam replied.
"But the people who died by my hand earned their fate."
Most had been murderers, dark wizards, or violent criminals.
He felt no guilt over any of them.
Dumbledore studied him carefully.
His emotions were complicated.
The conviction he saw in Liam wasn't born from cruelty.
Nor was it born from selfishness.
The boy genuinely believed he was protecting innocent people.
In some ways, that was far more dangerous.
History was full of individuals who had justified terrible actions because they believed they were right.
And Liam's confidence was absolute.
More troubling still was his talent.
At only nine years old, he had detected something Dumbledore himself had failed to notice.
A fragment of Voldemort's soul hidden inside Quirrell.
That achievement alone was astonishing.
Dumbledore had little doubt that Liam's future accomplishments would rival his own.
Perhaps even surpass them.
That thought sent a chill through him.
Because a wizard of that level could influence the entire world.
The Statute of Secrecy existed for a reason.
There were far more Muggles than wizards.
If someone with Liam's abilities began interfering openly in Muggle affairs, history could repeat itself.
The persecutions of centuries past might return.
Countless lives could be lost.
And despite everything, Dumbledore still couldn't fully understand the boy sitting before him.
Raised among Death Eaters.
Imprisoned in Azkaban.
Possessing overwhelming magical talent.
Yet somehow claiming to stand for justice.
Was it genuine?
Or was there something hidden beneath the surface?
Dumbledore's blue eyes gradually deepened.
A decision formed in his mind.
He would use Legilimency again.
Not casually.
Not as a simple probe.
This time, he would treat Liam as a serious opponent.
He needed to know exactly what kind of person this child was.
For the future of the wizarding world.
For Hogwarts.
For everyone.
The moment the decision formed, Liam's expression changed.
A cold smile appeared on his face.
Slowly, he pulled his wand from his sleeve.
"Professor Dumbledore."
His voice was calm.
Dangerously calm.
"Are you really not going to use your wand?"
Dumbledore froze.
Liam's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Please don't underestimate me."
The smile never reached his eyes.
"You won't break through my Occlumency with Legilimency alone."
His wand rose into a ready position.
"If you intend to see what's inside my head, then this half-hearted attitude isn't going to work."
For the first time since entering the office, the atmosphere became genuinely tense.
Because Liam finally understood what Dumbledore intended to do.
And regardless of who stood before him—
Even if it was the greatest wizard alive—
He would never allow anyone to pry into his mind.
....
Join my P*atreon for 100 premium chapters ahead of the public release.
Link: pa*treon.com/MysticVerse (Remove the *)
Free members also get 2 advanced chapters for free.