"Who could have imagined, in just a few dozen days, you've already mastered the Killing Curse." Professor Ronnie Ehrich thought of the green light emanating from Ian's wand earlier. He trusted his judgment; that was definitely a Silent Spellcasting ready to burst, and the little wizard's skill level was far superior to that of the Disarming Spell.
"Professor, can you answer my question? I want to know where your last clear memory stops." Ian felt that the other party simply didn't want to answer his question.
As expected.
Even without a wand, and having to lean against the dragon bone to support his body, Professor Ronnie Ehrich still ignored Ian's question with a smile.
"To be honest, Hogwarts can't accommodate such an excellent seedling as you. The headmaster here has always hated anyone who learns the Dark Arts. I think he wouldn't forgive you if he knew your situation."
This guy's chest had already collapsed, and he occasionally spat out bloody saliva, clearly in a miserable state, yet he still tried to frighten Ian using school rules.
"I have a very good relationship with Dumbledore, you don't need to worry." Ian rolled his eyes exaggeratedly, finding it really difficult to communicate with someone whose mind was stuck in the past.
"The people he likes to hurt most are those who think they have a good relationship with him. You don't understand our headmaster." Professor Ronnie Ehrich made no effort to conceal his bias against Albus Dumbledore.
As a saint.
His thoughts seemed reasonable, but the only unreasonable part was that he shouldn't expose himself like this. His behavior almost directly told Ian he was a Hogwarts traitor.
"I understand our headmaster far better than you do. It's you who doesn't understand your current situation. I hope you won't change the topic to avoid my inquiry."
Ian frowned.
He searched the underground palace but found nothing unusual, which deepened his view that Professor Ronnie Ehrich was the key issue.
"Sorry, that's a secret I can't tell you."
Professor Ronnie Ehrich shook his aching head, finally responding directly to Ian's persistent questions, continuing in a bewitching tone.
"Hogwarts isn't suitable for you. I know a better place where your potential can truly be realized." His intent to recruit Ian was blatantly obvious.
Perhaps this is the generational gap between people living at different points in time.
"Professor, save your strength. Nimongard is not a good place for further education now." Ian sighed while patting his forehead.
His words made Professor Ronnie Ehrich's pupils shrink abruptly.
"How is this possible! Damn it! What do you know!" Professor Ronnie Ehrich's voice became uncharacteristically tense; even when doubting whether he'd been under the Imperio curse, he hadn't seemed this emotionally stirred.
"You're Gellert Grindelwald's person, I suppose that's not much of a secret, is it?" Ian hadn't expected such a strong reaction from Professor Ronnie Ehrich.
The professor first clasped his head, then his eyes became murky.
"On the surface, I was sent to monitor Dumbledore, but that's not the reality..." Professor Ronnie Ehrich didn't bother pretending anymore; his expression changed dramatically as he spoke.
"So that's how it is! It seems the person who placed the Imperio curse on me was Dumbledore... Indeed, only a wizard like him could ensnare me so unconsciously."
"No wonder I'm still alive; that hypocrite Dumbledore loves to showcase his moral high ground." Professor Ronnie Ehrich looked as if he was piecing all the information together.
His extremely murky eyes scanned the surroundings.
"Everything makes sense. This is Hogwarts' prison, right? If he didn't find answers in my memory, he plans to use little wizards like you to fish for them?"
Professor Ronnie Ehrich chuckled softly, "It's a pity; my memory has no hidden parts. I initially thought my purpose here was to find you."
"But now it seems you've chosen Dumbledore... Moreover, he even involved you in my interrogation. Tsk tsk, perhaps you consider this as valuing you."
"I think your final fate will be like that of others who trust him. You're only eleven, and he's taught you the Killing Curse. How can you be sure you're not just a weapon he's created?"
"Let me think, you have a Voldemort here, right? Was he also one of Dumbledore's treasured disciples?" Despite being severely injured before, Professor Ronnie Ehrich now had a sinister demeanor and attempted to disparage Dumbledore to Ian.
The little wizard was unmoved.
Such a tactic might work on Harry Potter, but to him, it was mere nonsense. As a good brother of the Dumbledore family, how could he not know if Voldemort was Dumbledore's prized disciple?
"You overestimate yourself and underestimate our headmaster... Why would you think he'd be troubled by your memory-hiding techniques when wanting to check your memory?"
Ian found it difficult to communicate with Professor Ronnie Ehrich.