Chapter 1
July 1992, London, United Kingdom – The Society of Knowledge
Lucian was conducting a lecture on dark magic knowledge together with his two capable assistants.
"Last time we discussed how the power of the Unforgivable Curses depends on the intensity of our malicious intent, and we extended that to exploring how one can instantly amplify negative emotions through spellcasting to significantly increase the destructive force of dark magic.
Today we'll continue this topic. Jeffery, you'll give the first report."
"Yes, Professor!"
The named assistant, Jeffery, tensed inwardly. With a solemn expression, he walked up to the lectern.
Once he was in position, a few familiar students quietly raised their fists in silent encouragement. Jeffery returned them with a small smile.
To any outsider, the entire teaching atmosphere would appear extremely harmonious and praiseworthy.
Provided, of course, that what they were studying wasn't dark magic.
"Ahem."
Jeffery cleared his throat lightly. Just as he was about to speak, something in his peripheral vision made him freeze.
The professor had already tightened his grip on his wand and was striding forward.
That movement usually meant only one thing—
The Aurors had come!
"There are intruders."
"Jeffery, take them and leave by Portkey immediately. Camille, you're with me."
"Yes, sir!"
Wand in hand, Jeffery led the group of students out. The entire process was carried out without the slightest trace of panic — they were all far too familiar with dealing with Aurors.
Although those Aurors were already considered elite within the wizarding world, in front of the professor and his two teaching assistants, they were nowhere near enough.
Rather than worrying about being caught by those "useless parasites," the students felt more annoyed that their lesson was being interrupted.
"Damn Aurors! I stayed up two nights in a row preparing for this class — did they really have to pick this exact moment to come looking for a beating?"
"Calm down, mate. The professor will probably finish them off in less than half an hour. We'll just move to another location and continue."
A long-haired student patted his irritated companion as the two hurried to catch up with the main group.
No one scolded them for complaining.
In fact, not only did the students feel this way — both teaching assistants, and even Lucian himself, shared the exact same sentiment.
Dealing with a few Aurors? If they weren't deliberately holding back to avoid killing anyone, the three of them together could end the fight in under a minute.
But this time… something seemed different.
"This entire classroom was transfigured by you, wasn't it? Lucian, you're even more outstanding than I imagined."
A gentle, aged voice arrived at a speed no one had anticipated.
Immediately afterward, a tall figure emerged from the bright light.
The moment they saw clearly who it was, the entire classroom lost all sound and color.
Every single person's gaze was uncontrollably drawn to that figure, hearts trembling in fear!
Because standing before them was the wizard universally acknowledged as the greatest white wizard of the entire magical world since the 19th century —
**Albus Dumbledore.**
In his hand, he was holding Barton, the house-elf responsible for security.
Even knowing the identity of the person who had captured him, the loyal little elf still bared his teeth and claws, desperately struggling to break free from the old man's grasp.
"Oh, my friend, could you perhaps relax a little?"
Dumbledore lowered his head and spoke softly to the devoted servant.
An invisible pressure instantly enveloped Barton's entire body along with the words, rendering him completely immobile. All he could do was let out weak, helpless whimpers.
"…Everyone leave immediately. Jeffery and Camille stay."
Lucian issued the order calmly.
Jeffery, who had originally been responsible for leading the students out, tightened his grip on his wand without hesitation and stood directly beside his professor!
He exchanged a glance with Camille. Both saw the tremor in each other's eyes — but no matter the time or place, they would stand firmly beside their professor!
"Jeffery, Camille — Use the Third attack Formation."
"Yes, Professor!"
The two of them took positions to his left and right, forming a precise sixty-degree angle with Lucian. With a soft "bang", Lucian pointed his wand at the ground. A brilliant blue light bloomed from beneath his feet, instantly connecting with the two behind him, forming a perfect hexagram array.
"Third attack Formation?" Dumbledore held his wand loosely, smiling as he looked at his former student. He showed no intention of attacking immediately.
The ease he displayed could only belong to someone with absolute, overwhelming confidence — as though the moment he appeared, everything here was already decided. No matter how the dozen or so people before him resisted, the outcome would not change in the slightest.
He was merely… still thinking about the best way to proceed.
"Professor, are you here to arrest me?"
Seeing that Dumbledore wasn't going to attack right away, Lucian naturally wouldn't be foolish enough to strike first.
"The Ministry came to me with very firm words. They said 'a dark wizard comparable to Herpo the Foul' is currently being born. He bewitches people's hearts, forms factions, repeatedly uses force to resist Auror capture — an extremely dangerous existence…"
"Professor, you can't possibly believe that, can you? That's pure fear-mongering."
Dumbledore looked at Lucian, carefully studying this student who had graduated fourteen years ago. His emotions were complicated.
Fourteen years earlier, his attention had been entirely focused on James and his group. He had rarely noticed this low-profile student.
During the wizarding war, this young man had never appeared in anyone's field of vision. Dumbledore had even thought he was dead.
Who would have expected that, fourteen years later, he would quietly rise, step by step becoming an existence that even the Ministry of Magic had begun to worry about and feel headaches over.
In every era, there are always wizards with ulterior motives pursuing the power of dark magic.
This time, had evil fate once again fallen upon a Hogwarts student?
"Lucian, you're putting me in a very difficult position."
"If possible, I truly do not wish to raise my wand against a student I once took pride in."
Dumbledore held his wand and quietly sensed the emotions of the students who were silently leaving.
Unease, sorrow, anger, hope… among the many complicated feelings, there was surprisingly no fear.
No.
There was fear — but only fear of his arrival.
Toward Lucian, what these students felt was worry and hope. There wasn't the slightest trace of being controlled or coerced.
Although they were pursuing dark magic, he truly was different from Tom.
But it was precisely because the harm had not yet spread that Dumbledore had to convince himself to make the decision — to nip this dangerous sprout in the bud while it was still possible.
"Then Professor… is there any chance we can reach an understanding?"
As someone who had finished reading *Harry Potter*, Lucian of course knew exactly how terrifying Dumbledore was.
The undisputed T0 of the entire wizarding world — a figure who only existed in legends and biographies.
After defeating Voldemort, no second wizard was worthy of making him personally lift his wand.
That was precisely why Lucian couldn't understand why Dumbledore would come to him in person.
Although studying dark magic was explicitly forbidden by the Ministry, Lucian had never used dark magic to harm anyone.
Even against the Aurors who came to capture him, he had only used Transfiguration and Stunning Spells to defeat them. Those people hadn't even suffered minor injuries.
The Ministry's baseless accusations — Dumbledore couldn't possibly believe them… There were plenty of dark wizards out there who had committed far worse crimes. Why single him out?
What Lucian could never have imagined was that it was precisely because of his "lenient" behavior that the Aurors felt humiliated and provoked. After repeated failures, in a fit of rage and embarrassment, they had finally gone running to Dumbledore.
At this moment, there was only one thought in Lucian's mind, 'Could this battle… be avoided?'