After three consecutive failures, Liam finally achieved a breakthrough.
The fourth test subject survived.
At least partially.
That alone was enough to prove that his counter-curse was moving in the right direction.
Of course, the success was only temporary.
The mouse had survived because it possessed almost no magical power of its own.
That meant it hadn't triggered the second layer of curses attached to the grimoire.
One of those curses carried a particularly troublesome effect.
It corrupted magical energy itself.
Once contaminated, a wizard's magic would gradually become unusable, eventually turning them into little more than a Squib.
Fortunately, mice didn't have enough magic for the curse to interact with.
That was why the test subject remained alive.
The solution wasn't difficult.
Liam could simply inject a portion of his own magical power into the mouse and then use a stabilization spell to prevent the energy from dissipating.
The real challenge was figuring out how to neutralize the corruption effect itself.
That problem was far more complicated.
Everything he had read so far suggested that magical contamination was notoriously difficult to remove.
He would likely need to consult entirely different branches of magical theory.
Perhaps there were relevant texts hidden somewhere within Hogwarts.
The thought lingered in his mind as he stretched tired muscles.
Several hours had passed.
His stomach growled.
Only then did he realize how hungry he had become.
Liam climbed out of the suitcase and returned to the abandoned classroom.
A quick inspection confirmed that none of his warning spells had been disturbed.
The detection charm remained intact.
The reinforced door showed no signs of tampering.
Satisfied, he dispelled the security measures.
By the time he opened the classroom door, the light outside had already dimmed considerably.
Evening had arrived.
Liam left the abandoned room and headed toward the Great Hall.
He expected an ordinary dinner.
What he found instead left him momentarily stunned.
Every House was present.
Every year group.
Every professor.
The long tables overflowed with food.
Yet nobody was eating.
The entire hall was strangely quiet.
Then someone spotted him.
"He's here!"
A voice exploded from the Slytherin table.
"Our hero is here!"
The reaction was immediate.
Students leapt to their feet.
Cheers erupted from every direction.
The Slytherins started it.
The Hufflepuffs joined next.
Then Ravenclaw.
Then Gryffindor.
Within seconds, the entire Great Hall was roaring with applause.
Even the professors were clapping.
At that moment, House rivalries no longer mattered.
This wasn't about Slytherin.
It wasn't about points.
It wasn't about school competition.
The students understood only one thing.
The boy who had exposed Voldemort's scheme was standing before them.
And they were grateful.
Liam calmly walked through the chaos.
Cassandra had already reserved a seat beside her.
He sat down as though the entire school wasn't celebrating him.
The cheers continued for nearly a minute.
Eventually, Dumbledore stood.
The room gradually quieted.
"Today," the Headmaster announced, "is a day worthy of celebration."
His eyes sparkled behind his half-moon glasses.
"For years, Voldemort has hidden in the shadows."
A murmur swept through the hall at the name.
"Yet thanks to the courage, intelligence, and quick action of one student, that threat has been exposed."
Dumbledore raised a goblet.
"Therefore, I ask everyone present to join me in celebrating this remarkable achievement."
His gaze found Liam.
"To Liam Hale."
The students immediately raised their cups.
Even if the goblets contained nothing stronger than pumpkin juice, the enthusiasm was genuine.
"To Liam Hale!"
The Great Hall echoed with hundreds of voices.
Liam sighed internally.
Then, out of respect for the occasion, raised his own goblet.
The celebration lasted long into dinner.
Afterward, the real nightmare began.
Students from every House lined up to speak with him.
Some wanted to shake his hand.
Others wanted advice.
Several wanted stories.
A few simply wanted to say thank you.
Liam spent nearly an hour dealing with them.
By the time he finally escaped and returned to the Slytherin common room, he felt more exhausted than after an entire day of magical research.
Unfortunately, he had no idea that things were about to get much worse.
The next morning, he attended Charms alongside Cassandra as usual.
Professor Flitwick was enthusiastically demonstrating levitation techniques when someone knocked on the classroom door.
"Professor Flitwick."
The door opened.
Professor McGonagall stepped inside.
"May I borrow Liam Hale for a moment?"
Flitwick blinked.
Then immediately nodded.
"Of course."
The tiny professor looked toward Liam.
"Off you go."
Liam stood and walked out into the corridor.
The moment he stepped outside, he noticed three men waiting beside McGonagall.
Two of them were familiar.
Very familiar.
The first was a broad-shouldered Auror with short gray hair.
Delixy.
The second was an imposing Black wizard whose combat ability Liam remembered quite clearly.
Kingsley Shacklebolt.
The man who had remained standing after taking multiple Cruciatus Curses during Liam's arrest.
The third was unfamiliar.
He wore an expensive suit and carried a polished cane.
The smile on his face was almost painfully enthusiastic.
Liam looked at the two Aurors.
"Ah."
A mocking grin appeared.
"We meet again."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Have you come to send me back to Azkaban?"
The words immediately made both Aurors uncomfortable.
Their expressions turned awkward.
After all, only a few months earlier they had been enemies.
Now circumstances had completely reversed.
Fortunately, the third man stepped forward before the silence became unbearable.
"Oh, no, no, no!"
He waved both hands energetically.
"Nothing like that."
The man's smile widened.
"I've personally reviewed your case."
His tone became reassuring.
"The evidence clearly shows that those Muggles attacked you first."
"Yes, perhaps your self-defense was a little... excessive."
"A little?"
Liam asked.
The man coughed.
"Ahem."
"In any case, that's not important right now."
His excitement quickly returned.
"You exposed Voldemort's conspiracy."
"You helped capture him."
"You are a hero of the wizarding world!"
The man enthusiastically extended his hand.
Liam accepted the handshake out of politeness.
"And you are?"
The man laughed.
"Cornelius Fudge."
His chest puffed out proudly.
"Minister for Magic."
Liam blinked.
Interesting.
"So why are you here?"
His tone remained neutral.
Fudge seemed completely unbothered.
"Dumbledore informed me about your contribution."
The Minister's smile practically glowed.
"As you know, the Ministry established a bounty for information leading to Voldemort's capture."
His eyes sparkled.
"That reward currently stands at twelve thousand Galleons."
Now Liam was paying attention.
Proper attention.
"I've brought the paperwork."
Fudge continued happily.
"The reward is yours."
"And between us, I believe you'll become a very important wizard someday."
The Minister leaned slightly closer.
"If you're interested, the Ministry would be delighted to offer you an internship in the future."
Liam ignored that part completely.
His mind was already focused on a different matter.
"Minister."
"Yes?"
"When the Ministry arrested me, all of my personal possessions were confiscated."
Fudge nodded.
"That is standard procedure."
"I'd like them returned."
The request came instantly.
Several of those items were extremely important.
Most notably, his original magical research equipment.
Fudge waved dismissively.
"Of course."
The answer came so quickly that even Liam was surprised.
"I'll notify Magical Evidence Storage personally."
His smile remained broad.
"Everything will be delivered to Hogwarts intact."
"Thank you."
For the first time during the conversation, Liam sounded genuinely satisfied.
After all, some treasures were worth far more than twelve thousand Galleons.
....
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.