The holidays were finally approaching. At the End-of-Year Feast, Headmaster Dumbledore, usually known for his eccentric brevity, became unusually loquacious.
He began with a solemn self-criticism.
"I must confess," Dumbledore said, his voice echoing in the silent Great Hall, "that as Headmaster, I failed to shield you from the storm. I allowed fear to stalk these halls, and for that, I accept full responsibility."
He paused, looking over the sea of faces.
"I accept the criticisms levied by the press. In the twilight of my tenure, I hope only to serve you to the best of my ability for the few years I have left."
A ripple of shock went through the staff table. Professor McGonagall dropped her fork. The students whispered frantically. Dumbledore retiring? The very idea was terrifying.
Then, Dumbledore smiled—a small, twinkle-eyed expression that eased the tension.
"Of course," he added, "a 'few years' for a wizard of my age might still be quite a while."
Ted smirked. 'Classic political maneuvering. Show weakness to disarm the opponent, then subtly remind them you're still the boss. If he really retired, the magical world would collapse into chaos within a week. The Dark Faction knows this. They don't want him gone; they just want him weakened.'
Dumbledore then shifted gears, his tone becoming rousing.
"Difficulties and dangers cannot defeat us. We stand firm in this great upheaval following the planetary conjunctions. Together, we shall build a harmonious and stable world!"
Ted raised an eyebrow. 'That was unusually direct. "Great upheaval"? "Planetary conjunctions"? Is he signaling someone? Or is he just getting mystical in his old age?'
"Who cares!" Ted decided, grabbing a goblet of pumpkin juice. "It's holiday time!"
Caught up in the mood, Ted jumped onto the stage one last time. He performed a medley of three songs: The Sound of Silence, Try Everything, and Summer Soseki by Orange Ocean.
When he bowed, the applause was deafening.
"I dub thee the Bard of Hogwarts!" a Ravenclaw shouted.
The next day, the Hogwarts Express chugged its way south, carrying a cargo of exhausted but happy students.
In their compartment, the group shared snacks and holiday plans. As the chatter died down and his friends dozed off, Ted leaned against the window, watching the rolling green hills of the Scottish Highlands blur by.
It had been a long year.
'System,' Ted thought. 'Status.'
---
Name: Ted Epifani Class: Level 6 Wizard / Level 4 Psion (Mind Mage) Experience Pool: 17,014 XP
Attributes: (Values in parentheses indicate bonuses from equipment and external items. Bonuses have caps depending on the item level; exceeding the cap grants no additional effect.)
Strength: 5 (+1 Rope Bracers)
Constitution: 5 (+2 Philosopher's Stone)
Agility: 5 (+1 Spider Boots)
Intelligence: 7 (+2 Psionic Crystal Servant)
Perception: 7 (+1 Wand, +2 Psionic Crystal Servant, +1 Ring of Dazing)
Spirit: 15 (+2 Philosopher's Stone, +3 Psionic Crystal Servant)
Charisma: 7
Luck: ???
Talents:
[Otherworldly Knowledge (Gold)]
[Academic Prodigy (Purple)]
[Voice of the Heart (Red)]
Skills:
Wizard Level: 6 (+1 Wand, +2 Philosopher's Stone)
Spell Resistance: Level 3
Spell Penetration: Level 1
Spellcasting Proficiency: Level 5 (+1 Wand)
Psionics: Level 5
Mental Resistance: Level 3
Transfiguration: Level 4
Potions: Level 3
Divination: Level 1
Herbalism: Level 2
Dark Arts: Level 6
Magizoology: Level 6
Biomancy (Bloodline Modification): Level 5
Ancient Runes: Level 1
Alchemy: Level 1 (+1 Philosopher's Stone)
Culinary Magic: Level 2
Magic (Active):
Sectumsempra (Divine Sharpness Without Shadow): Level 5
Conjunctivitis Curse: Level 5
Obliviate (Memory Charm): Level 5
Scourgify: Level 5
Frost Nova (Modified): Level 4
Frostbolt: Level 4
Conjure Water: Level 4
Arcane Intellect: Rank 3
Helmet of Protection: Level 2
Evocation (Magic Awakening): Level 1
Astral Alignment (Magic Activation): Level 1
Psionic Abilities:
Mind Palace, Psicrystal, Concealed Thoughts, Empathy, Mind Steal, Identify (Appraisal), Fast Reading, Charm Person (Favorability), Ghost Sound (Illusory Sound), Message, Voice Mimicry, Chameleon Skin, Mind Spike, Taunt (Emotional Provocation).
Pets:
Anzu, Parker, Chicken Bro, Cabbage (Big White Horse), Stuart (Little Mouse).
---
Reflection:
Thanks to the experience gained from leveling up, both [Sectumsempra] and the [Conjunctivitis Curse] had reached Level 5. The [Obliviate] spell had also hit Level 5, largely thanks to studying Professor Lockhart's... unique technique.
In addition, Ted had modified and strengthened many existing spells, experimenting with combinations to create new magical effects.
For example, he had tested various applications of [Frost Nova], enhancing its crowd-control applicability.
The [Conjure Water] spell now incorporated techniques from Azeroth, allowing for the creation of magical springs that persisted for extended periods and provided a mana-regeneration effect when consumed. Whether used for drinking water or as a base for potion brewing, the results were fantastic.
He had also combined several protective and auxiliary charms to create the [Helmet of Protection]. It was a customizable defense spell; he could toggle specific resistances or physical shields at will, and its durability was considerable. This was arguably the most advanced original magic he had developed to date.
Then there were the new additions:
[Evocation] (Magic Awakening): A spell originating from the mages of Azeroth that allowed for a rapid burst of mana restoration over a short period.
[Astral Alignment] (Magic Activation): A spell that temporarily boosted his effective Magic Level. It originated from the otherworldly knowledge [The Way of the Moonkin (Blue)], a specialty of a certain Druid sect in Azeroth proficient in owl-form transformations.
Speaking of knowledge from other worlds, he had gained a massive haul this year.
Especially the Red-tier [Cultivator's Knowledge (Red)]. This knowledge didn't provide an instant stat boost, but it was all-encompassing—a philosophical and metaphysical foundation he would benefit from for decades.
The Blue-tier items, [Druid Transformation Research (Blue)] and [Grand Master Alchemist Balduran's Alchemy Notes (Blue)], were also incredibly practical.
The former guided his progress in Animagus transformations, while the latter contained a treasure trove of alchemical recipes and enchanting formulas. Once he deciphered and localized the materials, impersonating a Master Alchemist would be trivial.
Furthermore, supplemented by the [Manual of Breeding & Fertility (Green)], his ability to craft magical items and breed magical creatures had expanded significantly.
Ted had already made plans to cram his Alchemy studies during the summer holidays. By the time school started in September, he intended to be decked out in a full set of "Six-God" enchanted gear.
Currently, his [Culinary Magic] level was actually higher than his [Alchemy]. (He swore he wasn't just a glutton; the buffs were just that good).
And then there was his [Biomancy] and [Magizoology].
'It's a long story,' Ted thought wryly. 'I never intended to go down this path.'
But between Professor Quirrell's "tutoring" and the data looted from Slytherin's Chamber, his proficiency had skyrocketed despite his lack of formal study.
Magizoology Level 6 and Biomancy Level 5. That was comparable to a seasoned expert like Quirrell.
'If my Dark Arts reached Level 6... I'd basically be a mini-Dark Lord.'
If he paired these stats with his two creature-related otherworldly knowledge items—[Official Pokémon Trainer's Manual (Green)] and [Reincarnated as a Slime (Green)]—and declared himself an authority on Magical Beasts, who could argue?
...
The train rattled into King's Cross Station in the late afternoon.
Platform 9¾ was a sea of anxious faces. Although many parents had pulled their children out of school during the crisis, the turnout for the end of term was massive. The atmosphere was tense; the Daily Prophet's fear-mongering had taken its toll.
But as the steam cleared and the children began to pour off the train, the tension broke. Tears, hugs, and relieved laughter filled the air.
Ted stepped onto the platform and spotted a diverse crowd. He saw wizards, witches, and even a pair of stout, bearded Dwarves—Clara's parents.
'Dwarves are definitely cuter than Goblins,' Ted thought. 'Goblins always look like they're calculating the compound interest on your death.'
To his surprise, Clara pointed him out. The Dwarf couple marched over, beaming.
"Ted Epifani!" Clara's father boomed, his voice like grinding stones. "Thank ye for closing the Chamber! Our Clara wouldn't stop talkin' about ye!"
It wasn't just them. Dumbledore had ensured the names of the "Heroes of the Chamber" were leaked. People were pointing.
"That's him! That's the Epifani boy!"
"And the Longbottom lad!"
Jerry and Ron puffed out their chests, preening under the attention. Neville, turning beet red, tried to hide behind his formidable grandmother's vulture hat.
_______________________________
Word count: 1418
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