Hearing the word "work", the voodoo doll's previously elated expression immediately collapsed.
It knew there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. How could someone like Ciel, who would exploit even cursed objects, possibly give it so much flesh and blood for nothing?
After hesitating and struggling for a moment, the voodoo doll could only helplessly nod at Ciel. There was no choice—he was offering too much!
Then Ciel took out the Patronus tree seed and had the voodoo doll cast curses on it.
With one of Ciel's severed fingers in its mouth, the voodoo doll began mumbling indistinctly. Instantly, cold and eerie magical power emanated from the voodoo doll, coiling toward the Patronus tree seed.
But before it could even get close, the silver patterns on the seed's surface lit up slightly. An invisible barrier appeared, and the curse magic from the voodoo doll couldn't approach even a fraction.
Moreover, Ciel could clearly sense that the curse magic was being annihilated. This surprised him greatly.
After all, curse magic's nature was extremely strange—almost no magic could have obvious effects on it. Even sacred magic, which most wizards believed could restrain curses, could usually only deal with fairly ordinary curses. Against truly powerful, strange curses, sacred magic's effectiveness was very limited.
But now, this Patronus tree seed's annihilation effect on curse magic was extremely restraining.
"Truly worthy of being a mutated seed catalysed by mythical-level Patronus Charm influence. This displayed protective ability indeed far exceeds previous Patronus trees."
"No wonder even the curse magic from the human-faced monster created by the Delia Island temple being couldn't cause me much harm."
Ciel's eyes sparkled with light.
"This is just its seed state. If it grows to maturity, even reaching the highest Legendary reward tier, its protective ability would probably reach unimaginable levels. Black wizards in the magical world capable of breaking through this protection would be extremely few!"
Thinking this, Ciel was naturally excited and expectant.
But soon, watching the Patronus tree seed's reward lustre change very little under the voodoo doll's full-effort cursing, his expression became somewhat bitter.
This scene indeed confirmed his previous guess. The condition for improving this Patronus tree seed's reward tier was indeed resisting dark magic.
But his voodoo doll had consumed his Legendary-level flesh and blood. Even though this feeding process hadn't lasted long, the voodoo doll was quite a powerful cursed object in the magical world.
Yet even with the voodoo doll exerting all its strength, the reward lustre on the Patronus tree seed changed so minutely it was barely perceptible. If Ciel hadn't been constantly observing, he might not have noticed the Epic-level lustre increasing slightly.
At this rate, if he wanted to rely on the voodoo doll's curses to elevate the seed to Legendary level, he felt it might not happen even by his Hogwarts graduation.
"What methods could accelerate this progress? Perhaps more and stronger dark magic is needed?"
After thinking for a moment, a place naturally came to his mind: the Room of Requirement.
This place was supposedly where Hogwarts students had hidden contraband for a thousand years. Even Voldemort had hidden a Horcrux there.
Of course, Ciel naturally wouldn't target the Horcrux. That thing was practically synonymous with trouble—better to stay as far away as possible.
Moreover, using the Patronus tree seed to resist a Horcrux's dark magic might cause unknown mutations.
Although the diadem Horcrux at Hogwarts didn't carry super-strong dark magic curses like the Resurrection Stone ring, Horcruxes themselves were synonymous with danger. In the original story, Harry and his friends nearly capsized with the locket.
Plus there was Quirrell's precedent—confidently seeking Voldemort's soul remnant, thinking he could control it, only to be instantly dominated.
Ciel didn't think he had protagonist plot armour. No need to take such risks. Better leave the Horcrux for future Harry.
But besides Horcruxes, maybe the Room of Requirement contained other things?
Thinking this, he quickly headed to the castle's sixth floor, skilfully arriving at the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy being clubbed by trolls.
With Occlumency clearing his thoughts, his mind contained only one idea: "I need a place to hide things."
Then a smooth door appeared on the wall. After he opened it, a spectacular scene appeared before him.
Indeed, it was as described in the original—countless contraband items hidden by students over a millennium were piled here like small mountains, with a musty smell in the air.
Initially, Ciel was quite interested in sensing the magical particles in the air, trying to find dark magical items that could help improve the Patronus tree seed's level.
But soon he disappointedly shook his head. There were indeed dark magical items here, but most could only be called entry-level dark magic products.
To use a comparison, it was like programmers who had just learnt to write "Hello World".
To current Ciel, these were all child's play. If he wanted, he could use dark magic transfiguration to create a basketful of far superior dark magical items in a few days.
"Makes sense. After all, everyone hiding things here were Hogwarts students. Except for freaks like Voldemort, what powerful magic could students access?"
"What they thought needed hiding to avoid expulsion was actually just child's play at the time. Not to mention much time has passed—these dark magical items' effectiveness has greatly weakened, most becoming worthless junk long ago."
Even if some students had hidden truly dangerous things here, they had either broken down over time or lost their dangerous properties.
For instance, Ciel saw the iron cage that appeared in the original story, containing a young Quintaped's bones, still emanating a hair-raising feeling. But to him, it was completely useless.
"The most valuable thing in the entire Room of Requirement, besides the miraculous room itself, should be Voldemort's hidden Ravenclaw diadem. As for everything else combined, it probably isn't worth as much as a few more days of the voodoo doll's cursing."
He disappointedly left the Room of Requirement. If this place wouldn't work, where else?
Just then, a short figure appeared in his vision—Professor Flitwick, whose travel plans had been disrupted by the previous storm and who was temporarily staying at Hogwarts.
Now that the storm had passed, he seemed eager to depart, carrying his suitcase and miniature children's broomstick, ready to execute his cross-channel summer plan.
Seeing Ciel, Professor Flitwick happily greeted him: "Ciel! I'm looking for an excellent takeoff position on the sixth floor. I plan to fly across the channel without landing once. You're an excellent flyer—could you guide me later?"
Ciel was stunned but naturally nodded repeatedly. Professor Flitwick became even more excited, testing the wind direction outside.
"Soon, soon. The wind direction will change soon. I need to catch the tailwind."
Then he seemed to remember something, excitedly telling Ciel: "By the way, did you see today's Daily Prophet? Big news!"
When Ciel looked confused, Professor Flitwick pulled out a Daily Prophet from his waist, skipping the usually ignored front page headline and pointing to an article.
His gaze fell on it: "The Moser Club announces the next early magical duelling championship in three years. Rewards are unprecedented—they can fulfil any champion's wish. Anonymous registration, regardless of identity or age; previous champions eligible."
Ciel looked quite surprised. If he remembered correctly, according to Professor Flitwick, the next duelling championship should be seven or eight years away. Why suddenly move up? And with the rarely appearing ultimate prize?
Professor Flitwick was delighted: "This is good news for me. In another seven or eight years, these old bones might creak and groan. But in three years, I feel I'll still be in my prime."
"Watch—maybe I can get a double championship. I'd make Moser Club give me a golden belt, you know, like in Muggle boxing. I secretly love studying old boxing matches, especially Ali's classic fights. Butterfly-like footwork—he's almost half my duelling level!"
Just then, the wind direction suddenly changed, interrupting Professor Flitwick's chatter.
"Tailwind? Then I really should depart. See you next semester."
Professor Flitwick immediately struggled onto his children's broomstick, leaping directly from the windowsill.
"Woohoo! Takeoff!"
Ciel watched Professor Flitwick's wobbling figure, wondering about his flying skills. Given the Professor's height, even at Ravenclaw, he probably couldn't join the Quidditch team. Could he really complete his cross-channel plan?
But soon he set aside these worries. After all, Professor Flitwick had no accidents in the original story, and a Charms master had a hundred ways to handle any emergency.
Instead, the news Professor Flitwick mentioned made him feel strange. Moser Club suddenly choosing to advance the duelling championship? Looking at the Daily Prophet's date and considering submission and printing time, this decision seemed to coincide with when he survived the lightning strike.
Though this was just his instinctive feeling, he chose to trust his repeatedly warning sixth sense. Perhaps Moser Club's abnormal behaviour was indeed mysteriously connected to his previous actions.
Otherwise, logically, such duelling championships shouldn't have been unmentioned in the original story.
Simultaneously, he recalled the International Herbology Association's formal qualification exam, with the venue hastily changed from Paris to London—so sudden that even herbology masters like Professor Sprout found it incomprehensible, saying such things had never happened before.
This also seemed to have undercurrents.
His thoughts flashed as he shook his head lightly. The magical world's waters were indeed deeper than in the original story. But whatever lay behind this, empty speculation was useless. Improving himself would provide more confidence for handling various accidents.
He still needed to find ways to quickly elevate the Patronus tree seed's level. Even if not reaching Legendary level, if he could ensure it reached Epic level, then using his ancient ash to catalyse it—even without full maturity—just its protective effects would let him ignore most dark magic.
But this returned to the problem of where to obtain numerous powerful dark magical items.
He thought carefully about what left deep impressions in the original story. The basilisk, as a dark magical creature, definitely counted, but the risk was too high. Moreover, the basilisk was key to the original's second year—he didn't want the original plot to fragment so early.
Though plot deviations were inevitable, like with the Philosopher's Stone, having references was better than having none.
Besides the basilisk, the powerful dark magic he knew was either the Resurrection Stone ring's curse or the cave's numerous Inferi around the locket—all related to Horcruxes, which he preferred not to touch.
"Besides these, is there nothing else—"
While deep in thought, wind fluttered through, making the Daily Prophet in his hands rustle, revealing the usually ignored front page headline.
His gaze was unconsciously drawn to it—Fudge's sanctimonious appearance at a press conference. Undoubtedly a political propaganda article that Professor Flitwick wisely ignored.
Initially he didn't care, but closer inspection surprised him.
"To truly protect all British magical community citizens' safety and ensure people's lives aren't harmed by dangerous items or creatures, I, Fudge, announce that Auror Office and Department of Magical Law Enforcement will jointly act, thoroughly investigating every corner of the magical world, searching any place that might contain dark magical items. We welcome citizens to provide leads."
This was clearly a declaration about strictly confiscating dark magical items.
He immediately recalled events from this summer vacation mentioned in the original story. Mr Weasley from the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office was working crazy overtime. Lucius Malfoy had to come to Knockturn Alley's Borgin and Burkes to sell the Malfoy family's numerous dark magical items to Borgin.
Everything is connected. This should be due to Fudge's announced operation.
But compared to the original, Fudge seemed to be acting earlier.
As for the reason, he chuckled. Due to previous disappearances, the magical community was undoubtedly lacking security. At this time, Fudge doing such things would naturally boost his approval ratings.
Such actions would undoubtedly offend pure-blood families with the most dark magical item collections—hard, thankless work that made enemies, naturally thrown to the responsible Auror Office and Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
A killing-two-birds scheme. The Auror Office and Department of Magical Law Enforcement would probably be played by Fudge again.
If Fudge had half his political manoeuvring skills during wartime, he wouldn't have been nailed to the pillar of shame in the original story.
But now, Ciel didn't care about Ministry internal struggles and undercurrents. He cared about this event's impact on himself.
As thoughts turned, his eyes gradually brightened. Right—where had the most dark magical items? Definitely in various pure-blood families' collections!
Just last time, the Malfoy family had given him dozens of cursed jewellery pieces. One could imagine how many dark magical items the Malfoy family possessed.
As for other pure-blood families, even if not as prominent as the Malfoys now, whose ancestors hadn't been wealthy?
The Gaunt family once produced a Resurrection Stone.
Getting things from these old families wouldn't be strange.
If he wanted numerous dark magical items to improve the Patronus tree seed's level, now—while pure-blood families had to dispose of such contraband—was undoubtedly a good opportunity.
After thinking briefly, he returned to the greenhouse, writing a letter to the Malfoy family.
Meanwhile, due to today's Daily Prophet, the Malfoy family was in complete chaos.
Lucius Malfoy frantically directed house-elves to move out and inventory the Malfoy family's treasured dark magical items from over the years.
Some extremely secretive, special dark magical items required his personal attention, making the always elegant Lucius grit his teeth.
"Damn it. Your Ministry infighting—why drag us into it?"
From now through the entire summer vacation, Ministry people would probably come checking frequently. Calculating the time left for disposing of these contraband items, there weren't many days left.
Hastily, Lucius rushed to Knockturn Alley.
With his intelligence, he could foresee that all pure-blood families were now frantically preparing to dispose of various dark magical items. Early action meant better prices.
Don't think Lucius wasn't generous when spending—last time helping Ciel, he casually gave dozens of cursed jewellery pieces and valuable Alihotsy seeds without hesitation.
But managing such a large family business required some frugal traits. Otherwise, in the original story, after the Firebolt's release, Draco was practically drooling—with Malfoy family wealth, buying a Firebolt was no problem.
If he were truly so free-spending, he wouldn't refuse to buy Draco one.
So somewhat, Lucius was still "thrifty in managing the household."
But upon arriving at Borgin and Burkes, Borgin's reception of Lucius was completely different from his original smooth, flattering manner.
As if certain that only he had the strength to handle the Malfoy family collections in such a short time, Borgin casually picked up Lucius's inventory list.
"Weather-beaten, centuries-old, dirty human skin, priced at thirteen Sickles and twenty-four Knuts."
"Eighteenth-hand broken porcelain tea set that brews fishy, smelly black water, specialised in ruining good tea, useless—priced at one Galleon."
Lucius looked at Borgin, his face immediately darkening: "What do you mean? Such low prices?"
Borgin grinned, showing blackened teeth: "Mr Malfoy, that's not how you put it. Borgin and Burkes' reputation is fair to all ages. These items are indeed worth this much."
"If you find it unsuitable—" He sneered. "Keep them hidden at home, or find some wilderness to bury them."
"But I dare say Aurors have ten thousand ways to find them. By then, tsk tsk, I think Azkaban will have many of your old friends waiting."
Hearing "Azkaban", Lucius's face went completely pale. This was indeed his greatest fear—that place was no place for humans.
Those Death Eaters following Voldemort might be willing to squat in Azkaban, but he wasn't.
For a moment, Lucius was both angry and furious, but facing the obviously opportunistic Borgin and Burkes, he was helpless. He could only console himself mentally—they were just collectibles anyway. Give them away; consider it money to avoid disaster.
Borgin naturally caught all of Lucius's expression changes, his eyes flashing with satisfaction.
For the first time in his life, he truly appreciated the Ministry, allowing him to collect so many treasures at such low prices.
As for Ministry inspection, Borgin wasn't worried at all. Operating in Knockturn Alley for so many years, he naturally had trump cards. Even if Mad-Eye Moody came, he'd find no trace of contraband.
Now he just waited for Lucius Malfoy to relent, and he'd make a fortune.
Just then, a crystal ball Lucius carried began heating up. He quickly stepped aside, warily blocking Borgin's view to look into the crystal ball.
On the other side, Draco Malfoy hurriedly said: "Father, Ciel sent a letter."
Then the crystal ball showed the letter's contents.
Seeing the content, Lucius's spirits immediately lifted.
Ciel's letter actually enquired whether the Ministry's actions would trouble the Malfoy family. If needed, he could help dispose of those dark magical items.
Seeing this letter now, Lucius felt like a huge weight had lifted from his heart.
Borgin and Burkes had indeed operated in Knockturn Alley for many years and definitely had connections. But compared to Ciel, who could use some strange dark magic to make the Marcus family disappear in the North Sea without even being investigated by the Ministry, that was completely different levels.
Heh. Ciel could possess such powerful dark magic at Hogwarts, under Dumbledore's very nose. How could such mastery compare to Borgin's?
Since Ciel was willing to help, why suffer Borgin's exploitation?
Lucius was even more moved. No wonder they said Hufflepuffs were honest. Look at this!
Ciel had immediately offered help upon seeing the report. What a good little badger!
So the next moment, after putting away the crystal ball, Lucius strode to Borgin and snatched back the inventory list.
Borgin's previously confident smile suddenly froze: "Mr Malfoy, what do you mean?"
Lucius glanced at him coldly: "Nothing special. Just not selling to you."
With that, Lucius directly left Knockturn Alley, leaving behind the bewildered Borgin and Burkes.
Looking like someone had offered higher prices and intercepted the deal.
But after a moment, Borgin's face showed mockery.
He dared quote such low prices because he had confidence. After all, processing dark magical items was laborious—preserving most functionality while removing dark magical power was very difficult.
In all of magical Britain, he dared say only he could handle large quantities of dark magical items in such a short time and ensure Ministry Aurors found no traces.
Lucius might think he'd found another option now, but Borgin was certain that soon, when Lucius discovered the Malfoy family's dark magical items couldn't be processed, he'd return.
"But by then, it won't be this price."
"As for that colleague trying to steal my business—" Borgin narrowed his eyes, sneering.
"I haven't encountered such an idiot in years."
He slowly returned to his shop, caressing a black cloth-covered statue-like object, his eyes showing fanatical fervour.
"After this busy period ends, I'll give him a thoroughly unforgettable lesson."
As Borgin moved, the shadow cast by light behind this black cloth-covered statue seemed to move slightly, like a living thing—though it might have been an illusion.