Inside the Headmaster's Office, candlelight flickered gently, bathing the entire room in a soft glow.
Lucien and Dumbledore sat across the table from each other, just as they did during their usual afternoon tea.
A steaming teapot and several plates of desserts sat on the table.
Dumbledore wasn't wearing his signature half-moon spectacles. He was dressed in a loose, dark purple dressing gown and leaned back in his chair, looking far more relaxed than usual, like an ordinary old man.
Of course, an ordinary old man wouldn't be eating Fizzing Whizzbees, Jelly Slugs, Fudge Flies... and so many other sweets this late at night.
Fawkes had left his perch and was now standing on Lucien's shoulder.
With his small beak, he carefully preened the boy's slightly longer hair, occasionally pressing his head against Lucien's neck as if sniffing his scent. His manner was incredibly affectionate.
Dumbledore watched the scene, a faint smile flickering in his eyes.
Looking at Lucien, whom he hadn't seen in some time, and seeing Fawkes behave even more affectionately toward him than before, a strange thought arose in Dumbledore's mind. If an uninformed outsider saw this, they might think the young man was the phoenix's true master.
Picking up his teacup and taking a sip, Dumbledore asked with a smile, "How was Beauxbatons?"
"It's very beautiful."
Dumbledore nodded. He had also visited Beauxbatons several times.
The scenery and architecture there were quite extraordinary, magnificent, with fountains and gardens. He had to admit it was indeed much more "interesting" than Hogwarts, an ancient castle that could feel somewhat gloomy.
Suddenly remembering a few things mentioned in a letter from that extremely long-lived "old friend", a sly smile flickered in Dumbledore's eyes as he set down his teacup and asked,
"Is it only the school that's beautiful?"
Seeing the playful expression on Dumbledore's face, Lucien somehow felt it was very similar to Teacher Nicolas's manner whenever they chatted. These two truly deserved to be friends despite the difference in their ages. Even their teasing expressions were identical.
He smiled candidly. "Beauxbatons' geomancy is nourishing. Naturally, the students living there are as beautiful as flowers and jade."
"Beauxbatons' geomancy?" Dumbledore blinked, afterall he just wanted to tease him a little.
"However, Headmaster," Lucien changed the subject, "I can try to recreate part of Beauxbatons' 'geomancy' at Hogwarts. Well, tomorrow I'm preparing to break ground... I mean, start work!"
This only left Dumbledore more puzzled, though it sounded like something beneficial for Hogwarts.
Chuckling, Dumbledore played along. "Then we must thank our Mr. Alchemical Champion."
Lucien said, "Seeing the teaching styles of other magical schools, interacting with different professors and students, and bringing honour to Hogwarts... this experience has been wonderful."
Dumbledore looked at Lucien with a gentle gaze.
"As we agreed before," Dumbledore said, turning the conversation to business, "the redundant emotional energy within Hogwarts' magic core can be extracted tomorrow."
Lucien nodded in agreement, then suddenly said, "Headmaster, could there be one more 'bonus'?"
"Bonus?" Dumbledore found the phrasing quite amusing and gestured for Lucien to continue.
"I've been very interested in elemental magic lately, especially fire-based magic," Lucien said bluntly. "I'd like to learn a related spell from you."
Dumbledore burst out laughing.
When seeking knowledge, Lucien always expressed himself so directly. It made him seem more like the innocent and straightforward child he should be at his age, simply saying what he wanted without beating around the bush.
After a moment of thought, Dumbledore slowly said, "I do have some skill with fire-control magic. It's just..."
At the words "fire-control", Lucien's heart beat slightly faster, and the light in his eyes grew even brighter.
Dumbledore had originally intended to say, "This spell is quite difficult to learn." After all, Firestorm was certainly not a charm that an ordinary wizard could master.
But looking at the boy sitting across from him, a young wizard who could not be judged by ordinary standards, the words "difficult to learn" probably held very little meaning.
Seeing the undisguised anticipation in Lucien's eyes, Dumbledore swallowed the words he had intended to say and instead spoke gently.
"This charm is called Firestorm. The incantation is Partis Temporus..."
After finishing his explanation of the key points of Firestorm, the Headmaster's Office fell silent once more.
Feeling a little thirsty, Dumbledore picked up his teacup and took a slow sip.
Lucien sorted through the information he had just received. Firestorm itself was not a spell for producing powerful flames, but rather one for manipulating fire.
In other words, one first needed to use another spell to create flames, then use Firestorm to guide and shape them, increasing their power while allowing for flexible variations.
Dumbledore explained that this magic needed to be used together with fire spells, and since he had already taught Lucien Firestorm, he might as well throw in a fire spell as a bonus.
In any case, Dumbledore wasn't worried that Lucien would fail to learn it.
"Lava Fire or Gubraithian Fire. You may choose one."
Dumbledore set down his teacup, his tone sounding as though he were recommending two kinds of tea snacks.
Lava Fire had an extremely high temperature, capable of producing heat comparable to molten lava, making it more suited for pure offensive power.
Gubraithian Fire, on the other hand, was a combination of alchemy and charms. Its temperature was far lower than that of Lava Fire, but it could burn eternally and be used in alchemy and potion-making, making it more useful for practical purposes.
Lucien gripped his teacup, thinking that both sounded excellent. Anything produced by old Dumbledore was bound to be exceptional.
With a chuckle, Lucien tentatively asked, "Headmaster, can I learn both?"
Dumbledore had just reached for the teapot when his hand paused slightly.
Should this be called eagerness to learn, or greed?
A trace of helplessness flashed through his eyes, but he also found it amusing. If anything, it made Lucien seem more like a child.
Dumbledore continued pouring the tea.
"Very well."
After refilling his cup, Dumbledore explained the key points of Lava Fire and Gubraithian Fire in turn.
The former required the caster to channel a large amount of fire elemental energy, while the latter relied more heavily on a foundation in alchemy.
Coincidentally, Lucien lacked neither.
As Lucien listened and pondered, a sudden thought entered his mind.
Could Firestorm be used to control Fiendfyre?
Fiendfyre belonged to the Dark Arts. It summoned magical flames imbued with a curse that consumed all combustible material and grew stronger as it burned. Ordinary water could not extinguish it, and only a specific counter-curse could stop it.
However, Fiendfyre was extremely difficult to control. Wizards without sufficient ability often ended up harming themselves, and only truly powerful wizards could manipulate it with precision.
Grindelwald had mastered Fiendfyre to perfection. He had created Protego Diabolica, which he could even use to distinguish his supporters from his enemies. Those who followed him loyally could pass through the flames unharmed, while those who opposed him would be reduced to ash upon contact.
Of course, aside from Fiendfyre itself, Grindelwald had probably also used magic similar to Firestorm to manipulate the flames.
Dumbledore and Grindelwald were both masters when it came to playing with fire.
Thinking of Fiendfyre naturally reminded Lucien of curses within the Dark Arts.
He had considered the matter before. To repay the Apple of Youth loan by curing three bloodline curses, he still needed to study curses within the field of Dark Arts.
And the old man currently sipping his tea leisurely in front of him was the most suitable person to ask.
Only after Dumbledore finished his tea and set down the cup did Lucien speak.
"Headmaster, if I want to study curses within the Dark Arts, do you have any suggestions?"
Lucien's tone was extremely casual, like that of a good student sincerely asking a teacher for guidance.
But the content of the question itself was rather startling.
The quiet, peaceful atmosphere of the Headmaster's Office seemed to ripple as though disturbed by something invisible.
Several portraits of former headmasters who had not been sleeping deeply immediately opened their eyes.
The others, who had never intended to sleep in the first place and had been secretly listening to Dumbledore's "lesson", also turned their attention through their canvases toward the old man and the young man sitting opposite each other.
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