Tewell looked at Hermione with some surprise. He had only casually assigned such a task to prevent the first-year students from slacking off due to lack of homework. He hadn't expected anyone to actually follow through with it, let alone execute it so diligently. As Tewell spoke, he pulled out a test paper.
"To be honest, I was worried you might focus too much on theoretical knowledge and neglect practical application."
The first thing Hermione noticed wasn't the test paper but Tewell's hand. His fair and well-defined hand looked like a piece of art, but on his slender index finger was a dark golden ring with a black gemstone engraved on it, captivating her eyes like a black hole. Tewell withdrew his hand, and Hermione snapped out of her trance. She embarrassedly averted her gaze and focused on the test paper.
It was the test paper she had done in her first class, with no traces of correction, identical to the one she had handed in.
"You are the only one in the first year to score full marks. Even Mr. Malfoy, who came second, couldn't answer some of the knowledge beyond the textbook."
Facing Tewell's approving gaze, Hermione blushed and lowered her head.
"I've just read more books, and your test wasn't too difficult. Remembering the textbook knowledge was enough to achieve this level."
Thinking of Harry, the savior with dismal grades, Tewell chuckled happily.
"It's better to keep those who can't even pass from knowing about it if they found out, they would be angry."
"However, there aren't many young wizards like you. May I ask, did you memorize the entire book?"
Hermione immediately looked up with joy. "Yes, not only "Dark Magic: Self-Defense Guide" but also the textbooks for Transfiguration and Charms classes, I've memorized them all!"
"Professor, you must have memorized quite a few books too, right?"
This was her pride. Coming from a Muggle background, she worried about falling behind her classmates in school. After getting her textbooks, she spent nights flipping through them and even memorized them. However, Tewell dampened her spirits.
"The more books you read, the less you'll rely on memorization. Understanding is more important than rote learning."
Memorizing without understanding is meaningless and only takes up precious time. Tewell never saw the point in memorizing things that didn't hold meaning. Of course, his memory was good, but there was a subtle difference between memory and rote learning. He only memorized things he urgently needed to understand.
Seeing Hermione's crestfallen expression, Tewell comforted her.
"Of course, your ability to memorize shows your dedication. As a professor, I always have a soft spot for hardworking students."
"But it's crowded here, so I can't give you practical exercises. Let me help you with any learning difficulties instead!"
The girl's face immediately brightened, excitement shining in her eyes, completely erasing her previous disappointment. Tewell marveled inwardly at how girls' emotions were more complicated than the "Four Elements".
With Tewell's permission, Hermione eagerly presented questions accumulated during classes, ranging from Dark Arts Defense to Transfiguration and other subjects. Even though Hermione was brilliant, she was still a new student, so her questions weren't overly complex. Thus, even astronomy questions could be easily answered by Tewell's deep knowledge.
Time passed swiftly, and soon an hour had gone by. Tewell took a sip of pumpkin juice, only to find his cup empty, realizing it was already ten o'clock. For him, it was just the start of a night's study session, but for the students, it was curfew time.
"Oh, it's already this late. Let's end it here for tonight. Hurry back to the common room. If you encounter any other professors or caretakers like Filch, just say you were receiving tutoring from me."
Hermione nodded dejectedly and left Tewell's office, feeling listless.
Tonight she learned a lot, not only from the textbooks but also from many peculiar perspectives she had never heard of before. Like how ordinary spells, when mastered with profound knowledge of magic, could unleash powerful effects. This was something she had never seen in the textbooks!
Watching Hermione leave, Tewell stood at the door in a daze.
"What, trying to use that little witch as your new, what's-it-called, pawn?"
A dispassionate voice echoed in Tewell's mind. But he didn't answer, instead fiddling with the ring on his hand.
Tonight, he was actually researching Dark Magic, delving into Dark Magic he had never touched before. One of the Unforgivable Curses— the Soul Severing Curse.
Tewell excelled in many magics— Transfiguration, Fiendfyre, Ironclad Curse, and many other strange Dark Magics. But if there was one thing he excelled at the most, it was the study of souls. This was also because a soul resided in the ring on his hand, constantly attempting to corrupt his own.
"Hey, hey, don't just smear souls around, it's only the first three years, okay?" Voldemort hastily retorted, uninterrupted. "Ever since you learned the Occlumency, you've been studying me in return!"
In any case, his study of souls had reached an unparalleled level. But he had yet to lay hands on the three Unforgivable Curses.
The Soul Severing Curse— controlling souls;
The Heart Piercing Curse— tormenting souls;
The Life-Ending Curse— destroying souls!
The deeper he delved into soul studies, the deeper his fear of these three curses grew. If it was simply a matter of use, he could have effortlessly accomplished it five years ago. But throughout history, no one had ever been able to master these three curses. Wizards had developed countless advanced applications of magic, yet these three curses remained just that— curses, merely used, not mastered.
"There's nothing the Killing Curse can't solve, except for two things," Voldemort rambled on, "I really wonder what you've encountered to have your mind so thoroughly corrupted."
Yes, before Hermione arrived tonight, Tewell had been researching the Soul Severing Curse. Researching Dark Magic required guarding one's own mind against corrupting influences, or else one would become a slave to Dark Magic. So, he habitually found a pawn for himself, providing a channel for mental relaxation during breaks from studying Dark Magic.
But while researching the Soul Severing Curse, he could keenly experience a sense of control, a pleasure of manipulating a life as he pleased. This pleasure, in the negative influence of Dark Magic, could be considered low-grade. But for Tewell, who naturally felt he was controlling the narrative of the world, such thoughts were inherent. So, he almost lost control of his mind. Yet, in a moment, he seemed to sense the essence of the soul. And in that moment, his consciousness returned to his body, leading him to flee in panic to the outside of his office, seeking to soothe his troubled mind.
"I have seen something you have never seen, Voldemort," Tewell sneered as he watched the torches gradually extinguish outside, his figure also disappearing into the darkness. "It is the greatest secret of the soul."