After the feast ended, the prefects began organizing the students back to their respective dormitories.
Charlie followed the flow of Hufflepuff students, strolling leisurely toward the basement.
Their dormitory was still the same room as last semester. If nothing unexpected happened, it would remain theirs for the next six years.
The only difference was the plaque by the door, which had changed from First Year to Second Year.
Charlie walked to his bed and silently said in his mind, "System, open the panel."
[Your Majesty: Charlie White]
[Age: 12]
[Magical Aptitude Rating (Max Level 10)]
[Transfiguration: 10]
[Charms: 10]
[Potions: 9]
[Defense Against the Dark Arts: 7]
[Herbology: 4]
[Astronomy: 4]
[History of Magic: 5]
[Tyrant Points: 5269]
[Unassigned Talent Points: 0]
[Mastered Spells: Transfiguration (Tier 3: 50/1000), Incendio (Tier 3: 960/1000), Stunning Spell (Tier 3: 910/1000), Disarming Charm (Tier 3: 120/1000), Patronus Charm (Tier 2: 0/500), Sectumsempra (Tier 2: 10/500) …]
Charlie nodded in satisfaction at the numbers.
Tonight, it was time for a big draw.
[Congratulations to Your Majesty: Stunning Spell Proficiency +50]
[Congratulations to Your Majesty: Transfiguration Proficiency +30]
[Congratulations to Your Majesty: Incendio Proficiency +40]
A flood of proficiency notifications scrolled past.
Charlie frowned.
"System, can you block these proficiency notifications? Just notify me when I get new spells or items."
He continued drawing. The interface instantly became much cleaner.
[Congratulations to Your Majesty for acquiring a new spell: Obliviate]
[Obliviate can erase specific memories]
Charlie fell into thought.
The system continued drawing.
[Congratulations to Your Majesty: Talent Point +1]
[Congratulations to Your Majesty for acquiring: Imperius Curse]
[The Imperius Curse allows complete control over another person's will, forcing absolute obedience]
Charlie's thoughts grew even heavier.
Disillusionment Charm for covert infiltration, Imperius Curse for absolute obedience, Obliviate to erase memories afterward. Am I really learning proper magic?
[Congratulations to Your Majesty: Talent Point +1]
[Congratulations to Your Majesty: Talent Point +1]
Two more talent points in a row. His accumulated Tyrant Points were completely drained.
Charlie felt an odd sense of emptiness after spending everything in one burst.
He opened the talent panel and considered where to allocate the points.
After glancing at Herbology, he decisively invested all three points there.
After all, Professor Sprout was his Head of House. It wouldn't hurt to show some respect.
And if he really wanted to grow a Whomping Willow later, Herbology knowledge would be essential.
[Congratulations to Your Majesty: Herbology Level increased: Level 4 → Level 7]
In an instant, vast amounts of Herbology knowledge interconnected in Charlie's mind.
Things he had never fully understood before became crystal clear.
The habits of magical plants, cultivation techniques, medicinal uses. Everything was firmly etched into his memory.
Charlie nodded in satisfaction and checked the panel again.
The panel had undergone another major update.
[Your Majesty: Charlie White]
[Age: 12]
[Magical Aptitude Rating (Max Level 10)]
[Transfiguration: 10]
[Charms: 10]
[Potions: 9]
[Defense Against the Dark Arts: 7]
[Herbology: 7]
[Astronomy: 4]
[History of Magic: 5]
[Tyrant Points: 9]
[Unassigned Talent Points: 0]
[Mastered Spells: Transfiguration (Tier 3: 550/1000), Incendio (Tier 4: 140/5000), Stunning Spell (Tier 4: 210/5000), Shield Charm (Tier 4: 90/5000), Patronus Charm (Tier 3: 0/1000), Sectumsempra (Tier 3: 10/1000) …]
Transfiguration was now firmly in mid Tier 3. Incendio, Stunning Spell, and Shield Charm had all reached Tier 4.
Most other spells sat around mid Tier 3 proficiency. Sectumsempra and the Patronus Charm had also successfully advanced to Tier 3.
Charlie raised his wand and murmured softly, "Expecto Patronum."
A silvery-white divine dragon burst forth from the tip of his wand, circling the dormitory.
This time, the dragon was fully solid, lifelike. Each scale was clearly defined.
Its whiskers drifted gently, its eyes sharp and radiant, exuding overwhelming majesty.
"Merlin's beard!" Ernie stared, eyes wide.
"What is that?" Justin was equally stunned.
"Charlie, what spell is that?"
Charlie lowered his wand, and the dragon dissipated.
"It's my Patronus," he said casually.
Ernie looked utterly envious. "When do you think I'll ever be able to cast a spell like that?"
After testing the spell, Charlie greeted Ernie and Justin.
"I'm going out for a walk. You guys should turn in early."
Ernie and Justin had no interest in sneaking out at night. They were also worried about being too tired for class tomorrow, so they didn't follow him.
Charlie picked up his Undetectable Extension Trunk, left the dormitory, and entered the corridor.
He drew his wand and cast the Disillusionment Charm on himself.
His body instantly became transparent, blending seamlessly into the surroundings.
Filch was definitely on patrol right now. Better safe than sorry.
Charlie quietly slipped through the castle corridors toward the Whomping Willow.
Sure enough, he ran into Filch along the way. His cat, Mrs. Norris, twitched her nose as if she had sensed something.
But when she looked up, there was nothing there.
Before long, Charlie reached the castle grounds.
Moonlight spilled across the lawn, and in the distance stood the Whomping Willow.
The tree looked miserable.
Thick branches were scattered all over the ground.
There were obvious impact marks on the trunk, with a large patch of bark scraped clean off.
Charlie cautiously approached and began collecting the fallen branches.
They still looked full of vitality. Perfect candidates for propagation.
Just as he bent down to pick one up, the Whomping Willow suddenly sensed something.
The massive trunk began to sway, and the remaining branches assumed an attacking posture.
Whoosh, whoosh!
Several thick branches lashed toward Charlie.
He quickly stepped back, leaving the Willow's attack range.
"This thing's perception is pretty sharp," Charlie thought.
Even under the Disillusionment Charm, the Whomping Willow could still sense his presence.
That actually satisfied his requirements for a security guard.
If anyone could stroll past it easily, what would be the point?
Left with no choice, Charlie stood at a distance and used his wand to control the fallen branches.
"Branches, come here."
One by one, the branches obediently floated toward him.
He stuffed every last one into his trunk.
Most of them were badly damaged and probably wouldn't take root. But who cared?
Cast a wide net, catch more fish. Who knows, one might sprout. Believe first.
Just then, out of the corner of his eye, Charlie noticed a small figure in the distance.
Under the moonlight, the figure looked especially slender, wandering alone outside.
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