[Marvel's Hogwarts Professor] Chapter 711 - 715

Chapter 711: Reunions and Reinforcements

New York, Blanc District.

Kaecilius strolled down the street, waving his wand and casting spells to drive away the people around him. Simultaneously, he extended his mental powers to scan his surroundings while sending out magical messages.

It was obvious from the previous battle that he was no match for Voldemort. So even though he had escaped, he couldn't be certain whether he had completely covered his tracks. Though he didn't know Tom Riddle's true identity, based on the information provided by Lockhart and what he had gathered during his time here, he could make a rough guess.

Facing such a formidable figure with concentrated power and authority, he dared not relax his vigilance for a moment. From day to night, he had traveled across several continents and visited many cities, using various methods to check whether anyone was following him. He chose to come to New York only after he felt reasonably certain there was no further danger.

Despite this, Kaecilius remained extremely cautious, prepared to be attacked at any moment.

Soon, he reached his destination—the gathering point from which he had received the magical message. It was an apartment building next to Luna Street. Looking at the tall structure, a realization flashed through Kaecilius's mind: this location corresponded exactly to where the New York Sanctum stood in the Marvel world. It had merely been converted to fit the wizarding world.

After all, the two worlds were extremely similar in many respects. It was only after Voldemort initiated the Imperial War that drastic changes had occurred.

He surveyed the apartment building and then the deserted street.

The next moment...

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Kaecilius quickly activated the ring he wore, and with a fluid motion, red flame-colored threads emerged from his hands. They shot through the air like dragons, some flying high into the sky while others submerged underground.

Kaecilius closed his eyes tightly as a large number of red flame-colored threads swam back and forth. From underground to high in the sky, from apartment buildings to street lights, they shuttled back and forth, as if exploring or mapping something.

After a while, as if responding to a silent command, these threads flew quickly back to Kaecilius, pouring into the ring on his hand. A hint of joy appeared on his face.

Indeed, as Lockhart had said, the two worlds shared many similarities. This was also one of the hidden boundary-breaking points. Naturally, Kamar-Taj's choice of locations for the three major sanctums hadn't been made blindly. After all, their purpose was to guard the world and prevent invasions from dimensional threats. Every action they took, including the placement of the sanctums, was closely related to this mission.

The core criterion for establishing the three major sanctums was to position them at the weakest points in Earth's dimensional fabric. The purpose was to detect and prevent invasions by extradimensional entities as quickly as possible while reinforcing the space around these weak points.

Kaecilius had just used Kamar-Taj's unique detection method to confirm it. The weak points in the spatial fabric of the two worlds—the breaking points—were essentially identical. Currently, they had verified this only for New York, but according to Kaecilius's calculations, London and Hong Kong should follow the same pattern.

Kaecilius understood what this meant. They could bypass the enormous amount of time normally required to detect breaking points. The reconstruction of the three major sanctums could proceed much more quickly than anticipated.

However, this time, the role of the three major sanctums would not be reinforcement and defense. Instead, they would serve as points of arrival and return.

London library, nighttime.

Ian and Vera were both in the library, one sitting at a desk and the other on a sofa. Each held a book and appeared to be reading with great interest. But a powerful wizard sitting nearby would have detected subtle mental fluctuations passing between them.

Yes, the two were communicating telepathically.

"Vera, is there anyone trailing you?" Ian asked mentally.

"Probably not. This is the first time I've seen such dedicated Aurors," Vera replied sarcastically.

Indeed, the former Aurors of the Ministry of Magic had once been synonymous with inefficiency and incompetence. Unexpectedly, after the Dark Lord unified and reorganized the Aurors, they had become remarkably effective. Though individually of only average strength, they were like bloodhounds, relentlessly pursuing their targets.

Despite having eliminated several of the pursuing Aurors, it didn't seem to affect the continuous stream of replacements. They were like mosquitoes—annoying and seemingly endless. Kill one batch, and you couldn't finish them all before the next arrived. One after another, they kept coming, becoming increasingly irritating.

Especially with a Dark Lord of unpredictable power behind them, Ian and Vera had focused primarily on evasion.

"Wait a little longer. Tomorrow we'll turn around and head back to New York to see if any other mages have received the message," Ian communicated silently, then lowered his head to continue reading.

The two ceased their mental conversation, reading or thinking in silence.

At that moment, suddenly...

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

A series of deafening explosions reached the ears of everyone in the library. Instantly, all the readers were startled from their concentration, and panic ensued as people rushed to evacuate. Though no one knew precisely what had happened, it was obvious that a fierce battle was raging outside. At such times, escape was the priority.

Among the panicking crowd, Ian and Vera exchanged meaningful glances. They had sensed a wave of magical energy that was unmistakably familiar—it was the power signature of their mentor's disciples.

The two looked at each other without hesitation and, contrary to the flow, rushed toward the library's exit. Against the tide of the fleeing crowd, Ian and Vera moved with supernatural grace. They stepped lightly and floated into the air as gracefully as swallows, flying toward the battle site.

Amidst the shouts, warnings, and chaotic struggle of the crowd, Ian and Vera reached the library's exterior. The battlefield outside was alive with activity. Aurors swarmed in waves, constantly releasing spells, surrounding three wizards who stood opposing them.

Two men and one woman!

"Vice Principal Carter!" "Mr. Snape!"

Ian and Vera immediately recognized and called out to their familiar allies.

Indeed, during the previous events, Carter and Snape hadn't returned to the Marvel world with Lockhart. Carter naturally wanted to oversee the newly established Kamar-Taj School, as she was its vice principal. Snape's reason was even simpler—Lily had been resurrected and remained at Kamar-Taj, so of course he had stayed behind.

They just hadn't expected that "staying behind" would mean not seeing Lockhart for 37 years.

Ian and Vera didn't hesitate for a moment and immediately joined the battle. Carter, Snape, and Holm—the wizard from the ranks of the sorcerers—saw Ian and Vera coming to their aid. There was no time for explanations or lengthy greetings. They acknowledged each other with brief nods, then waved their wands and cast defensive spells.

"Reducto!"

"Diffindo!"

"Avada Kedavra!"

"Protego Maxima!" "..."

Spells flew one after another, constantly repelling or eliminating the attacking Aurors, who continued to press forward. These Aurors seemed endless, like ants. Killing them accomplished little, as they showed no fear—like puppets, they kept advancing relentlessly.

Ian waved his wand and joined the fray. Meanwhile, Vera began tracing intricate runes in mid-air, breaking through the confinement of the surrounding space.

And at the same time... Opening a portal!

Chapter 712: The Spatial Storm

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Boom! Boom! Boom! BOOM!

Outside the London Library, the whistling of magic spells, the sounds of collisions, and the roar of explosions filled the air. Although wizards and Aurors were constantly being repelled or killed, more Aurors continued to arrive, with seemingly endless reinforcements, trapping Carter, Snape, and the others.

The most unsettling aspect was that these Aurors seemed to have no expression on their faces, as if they felt no pain. Like robots controlled by a program, they continuously waved their wands to cast spells. Even when injured, they showed no reaction. Even when their wands were knocked away and shattered, they simply charged forward recklessly, heedless of the killing curses flying toward them.

These puppet-like Aurors, despite their individual weakness, caused considerable trouble for Snape, Carter, and the others. Especially since the surrounding space was magically imprisoned and anti-flight spells had been cast, making them easy targets for concentrated firepower.

Not to mention, there were undoubtedly countless powerful wizards watching from the shadows, waiting for them to reveal any weakness.

But it was alright... They also had support.

"Vera, how much longer?" Seeing the pressure brought by the opposing Auror army, Ian couldn't help but urge.

"Just a minute, just a minute!" Vera replied with a frown, waving her wand to trace intricate runes. Silver-gray and red-flame runes continued to blend into the nearby void as she attempted to break the spatial confinement.

However, their opponent's method of imprisoning the space was extremely meticulous, constructed in multiple layers that were constantly being repaired. Obviously, they were facing a master of spatial magic whose level far exceeded Vera's own.

As she cracked through one section, Vera felt it being repaired by her opponent, suddenly returning to its original state. This frustrated her immensely.

Are you kidding me?

With rage burning in her heart, Vera lowered the wand in her hand expressionlessly. She looked at the Auror forces that continued to encircle them. Vera gave a cold smile and raised her wand once more.

BOOM!

In an instant, a dazzling dark blue pillar of light shot into the sky. A buzzing sound filled the air as the beam rotated rapidly, with dark blue ripples quickly spreading outward. Strong spatial fluctuations enveloped the surroundings, and the space itself seemed to warp and shift with each movement of Vera's wand.

A ray of the original power of the Space Gem.

At this moment, wielding this ray of spatial energy, Vera took direct control of the surrounding space. No matter who they were, all within range suddenly lost control of their environment.

Immediately afterward, Vera closed her eyes and waved her wand slightly. The surrounding spatial ripples changed rapidly. In an instant, all the Aurors in the nearby area froze in place, as if held by invisible bonds.

Spatial confinement!

Vera ignored the imprisoned Aurors and continued to wave her wand, using the power of space to sense her surroundings. She wanted to find the wizard who had just taunted her—the one who had watched as she cracked through most of the barriers, only to repair them all in one swift move while adding reinforcements.

It was as if they were expressing that she was merely a mouse playing with a cat. Such naked provocation and mockery was impossible to ignore. Her anger was further fueled by the knowledge that Carter, Ian, and Professor Snape were waiting for her.

She didn't want to engage in a technical contest with her opponent. She preferred to simply overwhelm them with raw power.

However...

The spatial fluctuations continued to extend outward, but no trace of her opponent could be found. She had broken through their spatial confinement, but it seemed they had already fled.

Vera felt frustration rising within her. The trump card given to her by her teacher couldn't be wasted like this.

But then...

"Vera, let's retreat now!" Ian glanced at the Auror wizards who were imprisoned around them and called to Vera, who was becoming increasingly agitated.

Having been partner for so many years, how could he not know her personality? Though she usually appeared mild-mannered, when challenged, she not only had a strong competitive streak but was also prone to recklessness.

This was why Ian always accompanied Vera on missions. He needed to pull her back when she gained the upper hand. Otherwise, Vera would use all her trump cards to destroy her opponents without hesitation.

Today, however, Vera seemed even more aggressive than usual, her methods sharper as she wielded the trump card given by their teacher.

After hearing Ian's appeal, Vera gradually calmed herself. With a cold snort, she quickly flicked her wand, and a violent spatial storm flew rapidly toward the center of London. No matter where their opponent was hiding, the Wizarding Building in central London was certainly their home base.

Moreover, this could also serve as a message to the Dark Lord Voldemort. After all this time hiding, Vera was seething with anger.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

As the massive spatial storm formed, black cracks appeared throughout the sky. Violent energy erupted, causing the surrounding magical energies to fluctuate chaotically. Winds howled, nearby buildings began to tremble, and vicious cracks appeared on their surfaces.

Almost immediately, sounds of wailing, struggling, and desperate pleas for help arose from all around—the voices of innocent pedestrians caught in the chaos.

Seeing the tragic scene unfolding, Vera suddenly realized something was wrong and instinctively began to suppress the spatial storm. Although she was willing to use methods of mass destruction, she would never kill innocent people without reason.

Something was clearly wrong with her judgment today. While suppressing the storm, Vera began to examine her own mind. She discovered wisps of black mist tainting the surface of her otherwise clear consciousness.

My mind has been clouded!

Upon this realization, Vera quickly worked to control the anger in her heart. She removed a bottle of magic potion from her waist and poured it down her throat.

At this moment, Ian and the others also sensed something was amiss. Though the unfolding scene was tragic, they were hardly sentimental idealists who would object strenuously. At most, they might offer some words of advice after the fact.

After all, one of them was a war-era agent, another a former dark wizard, and the third a sorcerer supreme. Even Ian was not known for being soft-hearted.

But clearly, something was wrong with Vera at the moment. Why else would she suddenly drink a soul-purifying potion?

Ian waved his wand, taking advantage of the weakened spatial confinement to open a red-flame portal. Looking at Vera, who was still struggling to suppress the storm, he quickly shouted: "Vera, let's retreat for now!"

However...

"Just a moment!" Vera called back, her face contorted with effort as she fought to contain the spatial storm.

The Dark Lord's wizard truly was insane. Vera had initially contained the storm successfully, but then the dark wizard deliberately amplified it.

Were they seeking death?

Chapter 713: Return to Kamar-Taj

"Vera, let's go!"

After opening the portal, Ian looked at Vera, who was struggling to maintain control, and shouted urgently. He increasingly felt that what they were experiencing was a carefully laid trap, designed to test step-by-step how many trump cards they possessed.

It was obvious who stood behind this scheme. Who else but Voldemort?

Ian's unease grew by the moment. He needed a safe environment to carefully reassess their predicament. Leaving London—leaving the island of England entirely—was their best option.

Hearing Ian's call and sensing that the hidden adversary was not only refusing to weaken the spatial storm but actively strengthening it, Vera realized the truth. It seemed all they wanted was to use her sympathy to keep her there.

Vera felt fury rising within her.

"Vera, it's useless—this is exactly what he wants!" the Current Principal Carter, seemingly having perceived something critical, shouted with narrowed pupils. "Quickly, let it go immediately!"

Though she didn't fully understand the reason, in that flash of realization, Vera chose to trust her mentor and immediately released her suppression of the spatial storm.

Buzz! Hiss! Hiss! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The moment her control was lifted, the spatial storm expanded rapidly, like a child suddenly freed from restraint. The sky filled with black cracks as violent energy roared unchecked, battering the surrounding buildings and causing them to shake violently.

"Help!"

"Ahhh!"

"Save me! My uncle is a wizard councilor!" "..."

In that moment, London lost all of its former prosperity. The bright lights vanished, replaced by endless chaos. Buildings were torn apart and collapsed, dust rising in clouds all around as pedestrians frantically ran for their lives through the night.

Fires flickered and spread, flames wildly engulfing nearby life and structures. Gunshots rang out as pedestrians desperately called for help. It was a moment of sheer desperation for the ordinary citizens. Though they struggled frantically, their lives were being harvested like weeds.

The wizards fared little better. The chaotic energy unleashed by the spatial storm greatly interfered with spellcasting. Those riding broomsticks or flying carpets found themselves buffeted by invisible forces, struggling to maintain control and prevent themselves from plummeting to the ground.

The Aurors on the ground seemed to have regained their senses at this moment. Looking at their fallen comrades and the scene of apparent natural disaster around them, fear spread across their faces. They waved their wands, clearing obstacles in their paths as they fled in all directions, completely forgetting about the dark wizards they had been pursuing from Kamar-Taj.

"Let's go!" Ian maintained control of the red-flame portal as he called to Vera, who remained behind the others.

Vera gazed at London, now caught in what appeared to be a natural disaster because of her actions. She pressed her lips together, looking somewhat dazed. After hearing Ian's call, she took one last, long look at the disaster-stricken city, firmly committing the scene to memory before turning and stepping into the portal.

Seeing Vera disappear through the portal, Ian prepared to follow. After passing through to the other side of the English Channel, Ian waved his wand to close the portal.

Suddenly, his pupils contracted in shock.

He saw a figure appear on the other side of the portal. The man smiled at him and even waved, as if casually greeting an old friend. But the face Ian saw sent a chill down his spine—it was none other than Voldemort, Tom Riddle himself!

After his casual greeting, Tom Riddle showed no concern about the escape of Ian and the others. He simply transformed into a blood mist and flew over London.

Buzz!

Ian couldn't see what happened next because the portal had already closed.

In an instant, everything returned to silence. The quiet of the night wilderness enveloped them, peaceful enough that they could hear the hooting of owls. Only the faint energy disturbances emanating from distant England seemed to confirm the reality of what had just transpired.

"Vera, are you alright?"

Ian, just recovering his composure, heard Principal Carter comforting Vera.

"Don't forget what I taught you. As a warrior, don't allow yourself to be easily swayed by emotions. Don't blindly blame yourself for what happened. Only by seeing through the essence behind the chaos can you be qualified to shoulder your proper responsibilities."

Listening to the familiar Carter-style reassurance, Ian snapped back from the horror he had just witnessed.

"Don't worry, Professor, I'm fine," said Vera, who had been training for too long to remain weakened for long. She quickly adjusted her mindset and changed the subject. "Professor, what happened? How did Voldemort come to rule the world? Where is Headmaster Dumbledore?"

A series of questions poured from Vera in one breath.

Ian, too, turned his attention to Professor Carter. Since returning to the wizarding world, he had been puzzled by many questions and could only guess at the truth from fragments of information. Now, finally, someone who had witnessed events firsthand could provide answers.

"Let's get away from here first—it's not safe," Snape interjected before Carter could speak.

Snape remained unchanged from before—still clad in his century-old black wizard robes, his hair as oily as ever, exuding a dangerous aura like a bat poised to strike.

Carter nodded in agreement and waved his wand, opening a portal that glowed with multicolored light.

Feeling the familiar aura of dream power, Ian and Vera exchanged glances before stepping through.

The Kamar-Taj Dream World.

The grand dreamscape originally created by Lockhart had shrunk considerably. Many of the strange terrains had disappeared entirely, and the once-abundant magical creatures roaming the grasslands had dwindled to a mere handful.

It was clear that over the past thirty years, Carter and the students of Kamar-Taj had not fared well. No—"not well" was an understatement. Their situation had been dire.

Sitting at the table, looking at the plate of steak devoid of magical energy, Ian reflected silently.

Of course wizards could eat non-magical food. But it was obvious that consuming the flesh of magical creatures was highly beneficial for magical development. Indeed, every meal that Ian, Vera, and wizard students worldwide typically ate consisted of magical food derived from magical creatures or plants.

Mundane delicacies were merely for satisfying cravings.

The food their former teacher now provided was enough to prove that Kamar-Taj in the wizarding world was barely surviving—living in destitution, even.

These thoughts flashed through their minds as Ian and Vera lowered their heads to eat the freshly fried steak. Carter and the others said nothing; this was apparently their usual fare. The unspoken message was clear: don't harbor too much hope. The current situation was precarious at best.

Eat without talking, sleep without talking!

Carter had always followed this rule.

She quickly finished her steak and looked up to meet the expectant gazes of her former students.

"Ian, Vera, I know what you want to ask," Carter said gravely. "I'll tell you everything you need to know."

Chapter 714: Dumbledore's Ascension

34 years ago, in 1998. England, Hogwarts.

Whoosh! Boom! Tick tock! Tick tock! Tick tock!

As the wind howled, a deafening thunderclap suddenly erupted in the sky, and the sound of raindrops began to patter against the windows, growing louder and louder. What started as a light drizzle had now transformed into a torrential downpour, battering the fallen leaves and branches, streaming down like silver threads along the eaves.

From a distance, the entire world seemed to blur in the hazy, rain-drenched sky. It was pouring relentlessly, washing everything clean.

The sudden storm attracted the attention of many young wizards at Hogwarts. They all ran to the windows and railings to watch. Some Gryffindor students even dashed outside, cast water-repelling charms on themselves, and began playing in the rain.

Observing this harmonious, peaceful, and beautiful scene, Dumbledore stood on the rooftop of Hogwarts Castle with a smile playing on his lips.

Good! he thought. It's really like a dream.

There was no Dark Lord Voldemort wreaking havoc, no Grindelwald pulling strings from the shadows, and no Lockhart causing trouble. His heart felt noticeably lighter.

Even now, as he dealt with the International Council of Wizards and the Ministries of Magic from various countries—despite their various schemes and calculations causing friction and delays—overall, it was certainly easier than confronting Dark Lords like Voldemort.

But...

Dumbledore stood on the rooftop, gazing at the pouring rain before him. He gently stretched out his right hand, reaching forward. The raindrops flowed smoothly down his skin, and an inexplicable feeling of familiarity arose in his heart.

As these thoughts flashed through his mind...

Buzz!

Suddenly, the world fell silent, as if time itself had frozen. All the raindrops before him hung suspended in mid-air, like nails firmly fixed in space. Visible to the naked eye, crystal-clear and perfectly formed raindrops remained motionless in the air.

Dumbledore stared at the raindrops before him, and almost instantly, he seemed to connect with them, glimpsing a more subtle world beyond. Thoughts turned to images, flowing through his consciousness as he peered through a raindrop to see everything he wished to observe, across vast distances.

In less than a second, the suspended raindrops returned to their natural state and continued falling downward. The young wizards playing below seemed not to notice the momentary pause.

But that brief second had been enough for Dumbledore to perceive many things. He had even glimpsed his former student, Tom Riddle, in Africa through one of these raindrops.

No—not through the raindrops themselves, but through them, he had established a mysterious connection. He could see anything he wished to see.

His strength had increased!

No, it would be more accurate to say that he was growing stronger with each passing moment. He could clearly feel the magical power within his body expanding drop by drop, minute by minute. All kinds of insights and knowledge would materialize in his mind merely by thinking about them.

It was as if he wasn't generating these thoughts himself, but rather, half were being gifted to him by some other force.

Now, without a wand, he could create the effects of complex spells with just a wave of his hand or even a mere thought. If Voldemort were to appear before him at this moment, he was confident he could subdue him with a casual gesture. Even if Lockhart stood before him, Dumbledore had an inexplicable feeling that the outcome would be the same.

Was this the strength that came from standing at the pinnacle of the world as Speaker of the Wizards Council?

Dumbledore felt his growing power, clearly perceptible with each passing moment. Yet he also felt inexplicably uneasy in his heart. Growth in strength was generally a positive development. But this rate of growth was decidedly strange.

These thoughts flashed through his mind. Looking at rain-soaked Hogwarts, Dumbledore took a step forward.

In the blink of an eye, Dumbledore vanished from Hogwarts, reappearing in America the next moment. Spanning half the world had required merely a thought, and it hadn't even seemed to consume much energy. It had happened naturally, as if it were the most normal thing in the world—as if it were simply the law of nature.

This was the strength of being the most powerful wizard in the world.

Dumbledore materialized at the entrance of an expansive garden. Standing at the gate, he sent a magical message, quietly waiting for someone to welcome him. Even to his eyes, there was a spatial passage behind this door that would be difficult for ordinary people to detect. He needed only to take another step forward to reach the secret world through the passage.

He refrained from doing so out of politeness, because the wizards on the other side were valuable allies.

Lockhart's Kamar-Taj!

Yes, after Lockhart's departure, Carter had chosen to relocate Kamar-Taj. After all, the island of England could not comfortably accommodate two major wizarding institutions—Hogwarts and Kamar-Taj—especially when both were schools. There simply wasn't enough room.

So Carter had come to America with a clear understanding of historical developments. In the coming decades, the United States would become the center of global economic development, drawing talented individuals from thousands of miles away. The Americas were vast and sparsely populated, with plenty of space for both Muggles and wizards.

Moreover, not long ago, the conflict between Grindelwald, Voldemort, and the goblins had reshaped the established order. Kamar-Taj could easily establish itself in the Americas and firmly control this continent. Then, they would wait for Lockhart's return.

That had been Carter's plan.

However, after waiting for two or three years with no sign of Lockhart's return, Carter had grown somewhat uneasy. During this time, she had supported Dumbledore in promoting the new magic system for new wizards, in accordance with the plan Lockhart had left behind.

Overall, everything was progressing in a positive direction. The only question was: when would Lockhart return?

After sensing Dumbledore's arrival, Carter came to greet him personally. The garden gate slowly opened, and Carter emerged, approaching Dumbledore with several professors. "Speaker Dumbledore has arrived," she said. "Please, come in. Kamar-Taj is also Headmaster Dumbledore's home. Our Principal Lockhart specifically emphasized this."

Hearing this, Dumbledore's face also brightened with a smile. "If you put it that way, I won't stand on ceremony."

As they conversed, Dumbledore and Carter crossed the dimensional threshold and entered the secret world of Kamar-Taj.

Upon entering this hidden realm, Dumbledore observed the young wizards of Kamar-Taj, various magical creatures, and spectacular, otherworldly landscapes. He felt a slight relaxation in his heart, but curiously, his rapidly growing strength began to slow, even showing signs of stabilization. He even had the vague sensation that something was missing.

However, this made him feel relieved rather than concerned.

"Principal Carter, there are some matters I would like to discuss with you."

Chapter 715: The Price of Progress

"Headmaster Dumbledore, I think you're overthinking this," Carter said, standing on the castle lawn. "This situation is perfectly normal."

"Lockhart once shared a book with me that explained how after breaking through a bottleneck period, one's magical strength tends to experience rapid improvement," she continued. "I believe that's exactly what's happening to you."

Carter fell silent, thinking to herself: Is he really being this Versailles about it?

Everyone in the wizarding world knew that after Dumbledore became President of the World Association of Wizards, he had dedicated enormous resources to support research at both Hogwarts and the Order of the Phoenix.

This was evident in the new magical theory Dumbledore had introduced. The entire new wizard and new magic system, primarily led by Dumbledore, was expanding at an unprecedented rate.

Under these circumstances, it would be more surprising if his strength hadn't improved. After all, Lockhart had integrated all the concepts from Kamar-Taj and chaos magic into it, claiming it had the potential to elevate wizards to godhood.

It was completely natural that Dumbledore would find his strength improving. Especially for geniuses like him—they were as powerful as tigers with wings, soaring through the skies.

Was Dumbledore a genius? The answer was obvious.

As for Carter herself, while her talent exceeded that of an ordinary wizard, during this period her strength had also risen rapidly thanks to her status, position, and access to resources. Still, she couldn't help feeling a twinge of envy and jealousy toward true geniuses! Hearing Dumbledore's seemingly casual dismissal of his own extraordinary progress only intensified the complaints in her heart.

Dumbledore listened silently to Carter's response without further comment. He had merely mentioned that his growth in strength was abnormal, without elaborating. His personality had always dictated that he wouldn't share too many details.

Seeing that Carter didn't completely believe him, he didn't particularly care. The main purpose of this conversation was simply to leave a warning.

If something happened later, today's conversation would inevitably resurface. At least there would be some clues left when Lockhart returned.

Of course, what troubled Dumbledore most was that he didn't know whether these developments were ultimately good or bad.

Everything was progressing in what appeared to be the right direction. He couldn't suddenly hit the brakes, and besides, he couldn't hold back the tide of change even if he wanted to. In the wizarding world, many organizations like Kamar-Taj were actively promoting the new magic systems.

With virtually no obstacles ahead, there was no rational reason to stop.

Yet he couldn't shake a growing uneasiness in his heart.

Pushing these thoughts aside, Dumbledore continued his conversation with Carter about promoting the new magic and integrating non-traditional wizards into their world.

As President of the World Wizards Association, his visit to Kamar-Taj naturally came with official business.

"Carter, in this year's parliament, I want to push the goblins to further integrate with the wizarding world, democratize it, open up Gringotts and the wizarding banks..."

At hearing this, Carter instantly became energetic, immediately calculating the potential opportunities. After all, hidden behind every reform in the wizarding world were enormous benefits—if one knew where to look.

34 years later

"So, teacher, what happened in the end?" Ian couldn't help but ask.

The story had been building for some time. His teacher had spent considerable time discussing the reformation of the wizarding world, seeming to reminisce about past glories.

Perhaps this was the inevitable change brought about by hiding for nearly thirty years. After all, time could not be bullied—time possessed its own powerful magic.

Carter heard Ian's question and fell silent for a moment, not immediately continuing with the development of Kamar-Taj's secret world. She looked somewhat dazed, as if lost in memory.

After a long pause, she spoke again.

"That was a year after my meeting with Headmaster Dumbledore," she said quietly. "And it changed everything."

33 years ago

Carter sat in the principal's office, the enchanted quill in her hand sweeping across the surface as lines of text automatically appeared on the documents spread across her desk.

She was reviewing official papers—not only from Kamar-Taj, but also from the World Council of Wizards. She now held the position of Director of New Magical Systems Implementation, a role with considerable authority.

As the strongest long-term supporter of the Speaker, it was only natural for Kamar-Taj to hold such an influential office.

Just moments ago, she had revised a plan to reform the wizard banking system that would successfully transition 80% of the goblins out of the financial sector, creating new positions for Muggle-born wizards instead.

The financial sector reforms had been fruitful, and the implementation of the new wizard system had made significant progress, which gave Carter great satisfaction.

Once, she had stood behind the scenes, guiding the world from the shadows. Now, she stood at the pinnacle, steering their world toward a new future. It was deeply fulfilling, and she enjoyed the work immensely.

But...

When she thought about Lockhart's unknown fate and uncertain return, she felt an inexplicable sadness wash over her. She missed Steve, just a little.

The thought flashed through her mind, and Carter consciously pushed away these distracting emotions, returning her attention to the documents before her.

She had been working for some time when suddenly—

Clatter! Clatter! Clatter!

A strange tapping sound came from outside the door. It resembled someone knocking, but also sounded oddly like metal striking the door.

"Please come in!" Carter called without looking up, then returned to her work.

Clatter! Clatter! Clatter!

The door to the principal's office remained closed.

The knocking didn't cease—in fact, it grew more insistent.

This was unusual.

Carter became instantly alert.

She raised her head, drawing the wand from her waist with her right hand, and fixed her gaze on the office door.

"Please come in!" she called again, more firmly this time, but still the door didn't open.

Carter stood slowly, raised her wand, and gave it a gentle wave.

A light breeze swept through the room, and the door slowly swung open.

The hallway outside was empty.

Yet the clicking sound continued, emanating from thin air.

Clatter! Clatter! Clatter!

It resembled the sound of iron striking wood, but also somehow reminded her of the second hand of a clock moving inexorably forward.

The situation was profoundly unsettling.

Just as Carter's internal alarms reached their peak and she prepared to fully activate Kamar-Taj's defense systems with another wave of her wand—

Whoosh!

In the blink of an eye, there was a rushing sound. Carter felt her entire body go limp as the world around her began to spin rapidly.

Horror flooded through her.

This was the secret world that Lockhart himself had established within Kamar-Taj, with magical defenses that ranked among the most formidable in the world, incorporating the ancient protections of Kamar-Taj itself.

Theoretically, even if the entire wizarding world launched an attack against Kamar-Taj, Carter was confident that with this comprehensive defense system and the secret world's protections, they could withstand it.

This had been Lockhart's most important guarantee to Kamar-Taj.

And yet now...

Silvery white light flowed rapidly before her eyes, surrounded by countless spatial fluctuations.

Carter's nerves stretched to their breaking point.

She prepared herself to fight to the death.

Then—

Buzz!

A humming sound filled the air. In less than five seconds, the scene stabilized. Carter felt her feet touch solid ground again, bringing a small measure of relief.

Before she could fully recover, she heard a familiar voice, though it sounded hoarse and strained.

"Carter, I'm so sorry for bringing you here like this."

Dumbledore was floating in mid-air, his figure transparent like a ghost.

But he was surrounded by countless points of white light.

The sight was profoundly disturbing.