Chapter 120: Pollution of the Soul
But why would that twisted man, who was free to torture students at Skuller, come to Hogwarts?
And why would Dumbledore let him teach?
Phineas decided he had to ask Dumbledore directly. Richie was far too dangerous to be allowed at Hogwarts.
Phineas, deep in thought, didn't notice how serious his expression had become.
Lee Jordan noticed and asked,
"What's wrong, Phineas? What about Professor Rich?"
Only then did Phineas snap out of it. He shook his head.
"It's nothing. Just remembered something. You lot head to the library. I need to speak with Professor Dumbledore."
George nodded.
"Alright. We'll wait for you there."
Phineas nodded and turned, heading to the Headmaster's office.
The stone gargoyle guarding the door needed a password, but Dumbledore's choices were predictable—simply reciting sweets from Honeydukes usually worked.
As he walked up the moving staircase, he heard Dumbledore's voice.
"Seems I really ought to change my password. Guessing from the sweets list—how unimaginative."
It was clear Dumbledore had known he was coming, but still hadn't opened the door. He had let him try passwords one by one.
"Professor Dumbledore, you know I wouldn't come here unless necessary. You could have let me in instead of making me guess."
Dumbledore smiled.
"Very well, Mr. Black. What brings you here?"
Phineas came straight to the point.
"Professor, do you know what Sakaski Rich used to do?"
Dumbledore nodded.
"I know a little. He was a professor at Skuller. That school's reputation precedes it. Naturally, his abilities are exceptional. I believe he's well-suited to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. Why?"
Phineas frowned.
"Professor, I don't believe for a second that you know nothing about him—or about Skuller. Even before you became a great wizard, you must have had access to information about the deep structures of the magical world, including what Skuller really is. And now, as a legendary wizard, you could be an outer elder of the pureblood Council if you wanted."
Dumbledore inclined his head.
"You're right. I am aware of Skuller."
Phineas pressed on.
"Then you should know how nightmarish that place is. You should know what kind of mental state its graduates end up with. Sure, the Patronus Charm is difficult—it draws on emotional energy. But for graduates of Skuller, especially great wizards trained in soul magic, it should be easy. And yet they can't do it. Why?"
Dumbledore fell silent. He knew the answer.
Phineas answered for him.
"It's about the soul. The charm doesn't just require emotion—it requires purity of soul. And theirs are corrupted. That's why they can't cast it."
Dumbledore nodded.
Phineas continued,
"After age seven, Skuller students are regularly subjected to the Cruciatus and Imperius Curses. After age eight, they start combat magic. By then, students begin turning on each other. The school stops intervening—as long as no one is killed or permanently ruined, it's all permitted. That's where the warping begins. At eleven, they start soul magic. Every week, they experiment on goblins, house-elves, werewolves, vampires, elves—any creature available. Their mastery of soul magic allows many of them to become great wizards…"
"But they rarely reach Legendary status," Dumbledore finished the thought. "Because their souls are damaged. The state's use of soul magic taints them. That's why the Patronus Charm is impossible for them."
Phineas nodded.
"But Mr. Black," Dumbledore asked gently, "what does that have to do with hiring Professor Rich?"
Phineas sighed and shared what the Black family archives and elders of the Wizengamot had noted about Sakaski Rich—a prodigy of dark magic, twisted even by Skuller's standards.
As he listened, Dumbledore's expression grew grim. He had always known Skuller left its students... changed. But this was worse than he'd imagined. No wonder the old pure-blood families turned out the way they did.
Sakaski Rich wasn't just a graduate of Skuller—he had taught there for years. The Unforgivable Curses weren't condemned simply for their effects. There were worse spells in the magical world—especially among ancient families like the Blacks who had access to forbidden magic through the Wizengamot Council.
But the Unforgivable Curses were named as such because of what they did to the soul. Used once or twice, they might not do much. But frequent use warped the user.
Even in Skuller, the staff rotated spell-casting duties to prevent corruption. But Sakaski Rich had cast the Cruciatus and Imperius Curses constantly, for years.
Dumbledore couldn't imagine how damaged his soul must be.
Still, he trusted Hogwarts. He believed that the school itself would prevent Rich from harming students.
"Mr. Black," he said at last, "you should understand—Hogwarts won't allow Professor Rich to harm anyone. Your concerns are valid, but exaggerated. What I'm more curious about is—what made you begin suspecting him?"
Phineas answered immediately.
"Three reasons. First, the Defense Against the Dark Arts post has been cursed for years. Every professor ends up a problem."
"Second, it's just too coincidental. Despite being at school for months, I never once saw Professor Rich. If I hadn't asked today, I wouldn't have even known who he was."
"And third—and most importantly—Marcus Flint doesn't have the brains to start a family war on his own."