The main reason Louis had Voldemort investigate him was to lay the groundwork for the third and fourth stages of the [Nightmares and Wizards] mission.
One of those stages required convincing Dumbledore. The other, the International Confederation of Wizards.
Neither would be easy. It would take full-spectrum information coverage to make them even consider believing it.
And Voldemort—he was Louis's tool for "dark wizard disinformation."
As a supreme authority among dark wizards, Voldemort's word was practically gospel to them. Especially those loyal fanatics locked away in Azkaban—his every statement, no matter how absurd, was received like divine prophecy. If he said something, it must be true.
So by having Dio Brando "reveal" to Voldemort that Louis Wilson carried Merlin's bloodline, the credibility of the rumor would skyrocket.
The second reason was secondary—a "just in case" strategy. Louis didn't expect it to work, but it was worth the shot.
He fabricated an enemy force supposedly opposed to the [United Villains of the World Unite as One Big Family]—hoping that a prideful Voldemort, unwilling to be humiliated, might side with the so-called Merlin bloodline instead.
And then?
Well, the Merlin bloodline and Dio Brando were the same person.
So yeah… good luck, Voldy. Let's see how long it takes you to start doubting reality.
As for the potion ingredients? They were substitute materials Louis had found using the basic principles of "Black Qi Magic." Collecting them himself would've been a hassle. Better to make Voldemort do the hard work.
---
Time passed. Halloween was almost here.
Though the holiday was technically tomorrow, today the entire castle was already drenched in the scent of pumpkins. The ever-industrious Hagrid had dragged in the massive pumpkins he'd cultivated all year and delivered them to the kitchens last night. Many were carved out and now hung as lanterns all around the castle.
For those who hated pumpkins, this would be a nightmare day. Luckily, Louis didn't mind the smell.
The Halloween feast would be held tonight—on Halloween Eve. Tomorrow, the real Halloween, there were… no holidays.
Oh well. They still got a feast. What more could you want?
Early that morning, Louis left his dorm, pulling a suitcase behind him.
No, he wasn't dropping out. He was just planning to spice up Halloween with a little magic show.
He found Hagrid, who was on a ladder, hanging up a hollowed-out pumpkin carved with a creepy face to serve as a lantern.
"Wouldn't magic be easier for that?" Louis said, looking up at the three-meter-tall Hagrid wobbling on a ladder.
The sudden voice startled Hagrid. He looked down and saw Louis waving, dragging a massive suitcase.
"Morning, Louis. You're up early," Hagrid greeted.
"Well, it'd be a shame if a magician didn't do something on Halloween." Louis patted his suitcase. "I came to borrow a pumpkin."
"They're all in the kitchen now," Hagrid said as he climbed down. "All I've got here are pumpkin lanterns. That work for you?"
"That's exactly what I need," Louis grinned.
Hagrid handed him a pumpkin lantern as big as his own head. Louis motioned for him to hold it while he opened the suitcase.
POP!
The suitcase sprang open, and an over-the-top, creepy-looking clown burst out, pulling a face at Hagrid and letting out a high-pitched, eerie screech.
"HURK!"
Hagrid dropped the pumpkin in fright—thankfully, Louis caught it just in time.
"What in Merlin's name is that?" Hagrid thumped his chest.
"A clown, obviously. What, the wizarding world doesn't have circuses?" Louis chuckled as he placed the pumpkin down and removed the clown's head with a tool.
"'Course we have circuses—and clowns too," Hagrid scratched his head, "I just don't get what this thing's for."
"It's a Halloween prank." Louis fitted the pumpkin onto the clown's neck, the carved face now acting as the clown's new expression. Then he placed a hat on top.
"Now a bit of Black Qi magic…" he said theatrically, pulling out his wand and tapping the pumpkin-head.
A barely visible stream of black energy flowed from Louis's hand into the wand, then into the pumpkin-clown.
Immediately, the puppet began to twitch and shudder, trying to move but finding itself still stuck in the suitcase.
"This magic's amazing," Hagrid muttered, watching the thing twitch like it had come to life. "What spell is that?"
"Dunno. Read it in a book somewhere," Louis replied nonchalantly.
He bent down, released the restraints, and the pumpkin-clown bounced out on its springy half-body, hopping around wildly.
This was a puppet created using Black Qi Magic. Compared to something like the Rat Talisman, the difference was night and day. Sure, the Rat Talisman could animate objects, but those objects had their own minds—and they wouldn't necessarily follow orders.
Black Qi puppets, on the other hand, were obedient.
"Now go hide in a corner and give people a little surprise," Louis said, patting the pumpkin-clown on the head. Then he handed it a small mechanical phonograph loaded with a recorded clown laugh.
The clown understood immediately, wound it up, and a piercing giggle came shrieking out.
"This'll be a Halloween to remember," Louis said, watching the pumpkin-clown bounce away.
"I reckon so," Hagrid nodded, rubbing his chest again. Something told him today was going to be chaos.
Louis had ordered the pumpkin-clown to hide in corners and startle passersby.
Technically, that didn't count as deception or trickery, so it wouldn't earn any Trick Points.
But it was fun. And bringing a bit of mischief to Hogwarts? That was worth it.
—
As for the pumpkin-clown, it gleefully bounced around looking for a proper corner to hide in.
Perhaps it was because it had spent time in the Slytherin dorms.
Or maybe it was just the vibes—Slytherin being underground and near the Black Lake gave off a fittingly eerie atmosphere. The pumpkin-clown loved it.
So it snuck over to the exit of the Slytherin common room and crouched down, compressing its body into hiding—waiting for its first lucky victim.
A studious Slytherin boy emerged from the common room…
BOING!
The clown leapt into view, unleashing its creepy laughter.
---
> [Your Pumpkin Clown made a young wizard question if he was still dreaming.]
> [Effectiveness: Outstanding]
> [You gained 200 Trick Points. Current Total: 85,120]
> [Achievement Unlocked: Nightmare Herald (All who harbor malice toward you will feel true terror from deep within their soul)]
—
Back in the Hogwarts kitchen, Louis looked up from his breakfast, confused.
"Huh?"
---