Draco Malfoy looked down at the figure of "himself" at his feet and felt as if he were dreaming.
The bystanders, far more experienced than Draco, immediately recognized the enormity of the magic involved. To forcibly separate a person's soul from their body required extraordinary skill—something only Merlin, the legendary God of Magic, could normally accomplish.
Outside the Hospital Wing, another observer, nearly 130 years old, had been quietly watching the "miracle" performed by Dantes. After contemplating it for a long moment, he quietly turned and left, no words needed.
Draco Malfoy's soul appeared translucent, yet a small area on his shoulder emitted a black mist. This darkened patch marked the contamination of the Werewolf curse. Over time, the curse would continue to corrupt the soul. When the darkness consumed it completely, even Merlin himself could do nothing to revive the soul.
At present, however, Dana and the Ancestor Merlin were on equal footing in terms of strength.
Count Dantes stepped forward.
"Draco, bear with it. This is going to hurt a little."
Young Malfoy's soul shivered at the words. It was a subtle movement, one Dana had never noticed before—souls, apparently, could shiver too. Draco nodded, steeling himself.
Count Dantes extended his left hand into the void. A green beam of light shot from the void to his finger—a power derived from Avalon. Only Morgan le Fay and Dana could recognize it.
Although Dana was no longer the Lord of Avalon—since Ancestor Merlin had passed, Avalon had become ownerless—there remained an inescapable bond between the Emrys bloodline and Avalon. As a result, Dana could still borrow Avalon's power to manipulate souls.
Count Dantes' body began to glow green. He stretched out his right hand and plucked a fragment from Draco Malfoy's soul, as effortlessly as a child scooping sand from a sandcastle. The shoulder portion, corrupted by the Werewolf curse, was separated in an instant.
Draco's mouth gaped open.
If Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, Professor McGonagall, or Madam Pomfrey could hear the screams of a soul, they would have been deafened by the mournful wail. Even without hearing it, the Malfoys understood that their son was enduring unimaginable pain—the distortion of his soul was horrifying, almost inhuman.
"This fragment of the soul, tainted by the Werewolf curse, must be properly preserved," Count Dantes explained. "I need Hogwarts' power to seal it."
He placed the corrupted soul fragment into the stone statue he had just summoned. With precise gestures, the tall statue gradually shrank to human size, its eyes flickering with faint light. Only after sealing the curse did Dantes turn his attention back to Draco.
He reached out and gently stroked the wound on Draco's soul. Slowly, the depression healed under his guidance, and Draco's soul appeared complete once more—though the separated fragment remained detached. Overall, his soul had shrunk by nearly one percent, but the process was a vital step.
What the future held for Draco Malfoy, and how it intertwined with Dana's destiny, remained uncertain.
Once Draco's soul was restored, Count Dantes stomped on the magic circle on the ground. A flash of red light, and the young man's soul returned to his body. In mere seconds, Draco opened his eyes.
"Uncle Dantes, thank you!" he exclaimed, struggling to stand and bowing deeply in gratitude.
Although the Werewolf curse now resided in the stone statue, the shoulder injury inflicted by Lupin remained. With Madam Pomfrey's treatment, recovery would be swift.
Lucius Malfoy's eyes shone with excitement.
"Count… Minister, thank you! If possible, please allow me to host a banquet in your honor tonight, as a token of gratitude!"
Count Dantes gave a knowing smile but shook his head.
"Lucius, I suspect now is hardly the right moment for a celebration."
The combat unit looked puzzled.
"Minister, what do you mean?"
Before Dantes could respond, Lucius overheard his explanation.
"Young Master Wang Wenhui has left?"
Dantes nodded.
"Indeed. He felt that the Phase Two housing prices in Merlin City were exorbitant, believing he was being swindled. In anger, he returned to his country with all his retainers and sold off every property he had previously purchased at low prices."
Lucius's mind reeled.
"Then… will he still invest in Merlin City Phase Two?"
Count Dantes shrugged.
"Not likely. He seems to view Westerners as greedy fools. If it were me, I would feel the same—relocating my clansmen to Britain might invite all sorts of trouble."
Boom! The words struck Lucius like a thunderclap. Without Young Master Wang, who would take over the properties? The major Western families and merchant associations had pinned their hopes on Merlin City Phase Two. Without his backing, their financial plans were in jeopardy.
Ignoring Lucius, Dantes turned to Professor McGonagall.
"Professor, as a school governor, I must point out that Hogwarts' nighttime management of young wizards is insufficient. Otherwise, Young Malfoy would not have been attacked by a Werewolf during curfew."
McGonagall nodded hesitantly. Dantes continued:
"The stone statue containing Young Malfoy's soul has been given a degree of sentience. It can follow simple commands without needing activation with [Mobilize Stone Statues]. As Principal, you may command it to patrol the Castle at night, for example."
Professor McGonagall hesitated, then spoke to the statue.
"Return to the Headmaster's Office and await further orders."
The statue nodded and walked away. Its movements were fluid, almost indistinguishable from a human, aside from its dusty gray exterior.
"Oh, it won't need the password for the Headmaster's Office…" she murmured.
"Don't worry," Dantes reassured. "The statue is integrated with Hogwarts' entire defense system. Any command you give it grants free passage throughout the Castle."
McGonagall accepted the explanation but couldn't hide her curiosity.
"But Minister, how are you so familiar with Hogwarts?"
Count Dantes smiled.
"I am currently the only school governor. Legally, the entire school belongs to me, so authority over Hogwarts is mine by right."
McGonagall frowned.
"But the previous governors…"
"Indeed," Dantes interrupted gently. "Hogwarts has always granted governors immense authority. Unfortunately, previous governors never discovered the full scope of this power. I am fortunate enough to know."
Meanwhile, Lucius Malfoy, finally regaining composure, bowed repeatedly.
"Minister, I must return to Merlin City immediately. Please forgive any rudeness…"
"There's no need," Count Dantes said warmly. "I understand. Your business is clearly more important than a simple thanks. And remember, if you face difficulties, do not hesitate to seek my help. I will never refuse assistance if I can provide it."
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