"Tiger, trust me."
"This matter isn't suitable for jokes."
Realizing his Disillusionment Charm had been seen through once again, Dumbledore naturally revealed his form, though his expression remained extraordinarily grave.
Seeing the familiar figure suddenly materialize outside the abandoned classroom, Harry's eyes widened as his small face drained of color.
"I'm not joking..." Tiger's smile turned utterly sinister, brimming with menace.
Clearly, this old bastard Dumbledore was terrified—afraid he'd lead a pack of little Slytherins to study this forbidden art.
Pureblood noble collections were genuinely extensive... and genuinely sinister.
Did necromancy truly exist?
No one could provide definitive answers—or dared speak such truths. This remained absolute taboo.
Because of Dumbledore's existence, young wizards could only glimpse this term within dubious ancient biographies or fairy tales.
Yet like ghost stories in the Muggle world, some would always yearn to uncover mysteries while fearing complete corruption.
"Tiger, please..."
Dumbledore regarded Tiger somewhat helplessly, momentarily uncertain what to say.
This individual never responded to either gentle persuasion or firm pressure.
Should he misspeak and provoke this unscrupulous bastard, he'd face serious consequences...
Finally, Dumbledore could only redirect his attention toward Harry. "Harry, don't worry..."
Observing the kindly smile within the old man's eyes, Harry visibly relaxed.
"Sorry, Headmaster, I just..."
"Oh, it's nothing, child."
Dumbledore beckoned, summoning Harry to his side and leading the anxious boy into the abandoned classroom.
"The Mirror of Erised's pleasure invariably captivates countless souls—this proves entirely normal."
"No one remains exempt..."
Gazing at his parents materializing within the mirror once more, Harry's expression gradually became entranced, surrounding voices beginning to fade and drift away.
As if within this abandoned classroom, only their family existed—quietly savoring precious, warm moments together...
Behind him, shadows silently emerged as Venom's fangs suspended soundlessly above Dumbledore's head.
Within pale, grotesque eyes flickered excited, ravenous light—as if witnessing a magnificent feast's commencement.
Dumbledore continued observing Harry quietly, seemingly oblivious to impending events.
"Crack!"
Cold, razor-sharp fangs snapped shut like steel gates—Dumbledore's head completely vanished from his shoulders.
Harry violently awakened, spinning around.
This horrifying spectacle made his pupils contract instantly, face draining of all blood.
He instinctively retreated, trembling legs weakening until he collapsed before the mirror.
"Ah..."
Before Harry could scream, Dumbledore's figure transformed into silvery-white mist, slowly dispersing.
"Ah, damn it!"
Sharp, burning agony struck.
The massive, fang-filled maw suddenly gaped as Venom cursed and spat out his mouthful.
Brilliant silver radiance erupted from his throat like a miniature phoenix, carrying flame-like vapor toward the abandoned classroom's far end.
With mocking phoenix cries, Dumbledore emerged from shadows wearing a pleasant smile.
The silvery-white phoenix alighted gently upon his shoulder, raising its head with lifelike grace.
"Tiger, you acted too hastily..."
"Cut the bullshit—hand over the Philosopher's Stone immediately."
Hoarse, resonant dual tones rang from Venom's mouth as dark, twisted muscles began expanding and contracting rhythmically.
Tiger possessed zero patience for Dumbledore's inspirational speeches.
"I cannot surrender the Philosopher's Stone to you yet."
Dumbledore shook his head with serene composure, but to Tiger, this felt like pure provocation.
Motherfucker!
Can't give it to me, but can hand it to others?
"Then enough talk..."
"I never intended peaceful negotiations!"
Violent roars proved deafening.
Under Harry's terrified gaze, Venom surged forward amid fierce air currents straight toward Dumbledore, dark twisted arms transforming into exaggerated giant curved blades.
"Calm yourself, Tiger. Don't allow the Philosopher's Stone to influence you—you possess this strength..."
Witnessing Tiger nearly losing all reason, Dumbledore helplessly brandished his wand as light bloomed from its tip.
"Petrificus Totalus.*"
The howling blade suddenly froze mid-strike, wild winds rising as Dumbledore's hair and beard scattered chaotically.
However, after merely two seconds, the cement-gray coloration spreading from Venom's chest ceased expanding, then shattered thunderously as roars resumed.
"Don't imagine you can control me, insect!"
The grotesque, terrifying form resembled a drawn bowstring—the giant blade slashed directly toward Dumbledore's skull.
Without resistance, the kindly elderly figure was instantly cleaved in half.
Harry covered his mouth, face ghastly pale.
Phoenix cries rang out.
Dumbledore's collapsing figure transformed into silvery-white flames, enveloping Venom's giant blade.
Then countless chains attacked from every direction, binding Venom's legs and torso tightly.
Searing pain intensified Venom's increasingly violent roars.
"Incarcerous!"
Reappearing beside the window, Dumbledore continued waving his wand—he could distinctly sense his flames weren't inflicting fatal damage upon Venom, while the chains couldn't resist Venom's frantically surging power.
[It's developed magical resistance?] Amazement and realization flashed through Dumbledore's profound eyes.
[Merlin's beard—what a terrifying creature.]
Beyond his magic far exceeding ordinary wizards' capabilities, his attention had never wavered from this mysterious, dangerous entity called Venom.
What could correlate with magical resistance was undoubtedly the troll devoured on Halloween night.
[No wonder Fawkes felt afraid...]
With metallic snapping sounds, chains could no longer impede Venom's advance—the black shadow launched skyward.
The blade transformed into a colossal hammer wrapped in silvery-white flames, boldly smashing toward Dumbledore.
Dumbledore waved his wand lightly—ground bricks and stones became thick stone slab barriers, surging toward Venom.
"Impedimenta..." A compound spell merging Transfiguration and Impediment Jinx—exquisitely masterful.
Yet it merely delayed Venom for an instant.
Deafening rumbling erupted as Venom burst through stone walls like shattering deadwood, brick fragments scattering everywhere.
Within that precise moment, sounds resembling surging tidal waves suddenly materialized—behind the stone wall awaited a massive swirling water sphere.
The chilling dark figure plunged straight inside, followed by even more turbulent waves sweeping around.
"Ah! Damn it!"
"Let me devour you!!!"
Furious roars caused the water sphere to ripple in undulating waves, yet Venom's massive form resembled rootless duckweed—regardless of his struggles, he couldn't break free from magical control.
"Tiger, listen carefully."
"Calm yourself—resist the Philosopher's Stone's temptation. You are power's master—go tame it!"
Dumbledore's eyes narrowed slightly, observing the figure within the water sphere as additional amazement flickered behind his spectacles.
Venom's adaptive capabilities almost exceeded any known magical creature—this represented an absolutely unprecedented phenomenon.
Beyond mere evolution—it didn't require oxygen for underwater survival.
The water prison's magical energy was also being absorbed. Were this an ordinary wizard, magical exhaustion would have occurred long ago.
Countless possibilities regarding Venom's future flashed rapidly through Dumbledore's consciousness...
At this moment, Tiger seemed to have weathered an instinctual tempest, his mind in complete chaos.
Hearing external calls, he relied upon even more furious willpower to forcibly suppress the surging restlessness within his thoughts.
Observing Venom struggling and roaring continuously within the water sphere gradually returning to calm, Dumbledore smiled approvingly and nodded, waving his wand lightly as the water sphere shattered thunderously.
Losing support, Venom crashed heavily earthward, the floor trembling slightly.
"Damn..."
"Take that broken stone and stay away from me!"
The dark, twisted figure quietly contracted.
Tiger clutched his forehead, swaying as he stood upright, completely drenched in perspiration...
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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