"What did you just say?"
Professor Flitwick still seemed half-asleep. "Professor Snape? And little Ivan?"
Boom!
But before the three could question further, the darkness above the forest had already completed its final contraction.
"It seems that the winner has been decided."
Dumbledore waved the Elder Wand, and his magic enveloped the forest.
The damage caused by the duel—the slope blown up by Ivan and the devastated land—was all restored to its original state under Dumbledore's repair spell.
"Amazing, this... is this still just a repair spell?"
Hermione was utterly amazed by Dumbledore's magical prowess. The scene in front of her looked like time had been reversed, no less impressive than the duel itself.
"You truly are incredible, Headmaster Dumbledore."
Ivan's voice came from above their heads.
They looked up and saw Ivan riding a black-and-red storm that kept expanding and contracting, floating down.
"Severus..." McGonagall began.
"Don't worry, the professor is fine."
Ivan raised his hand slightly, and the black mist behind him immediately dissipated, setting Snape, who was bound like a prisoner, gently on the ground.
What had just unfolded left the three heads of house completely speechless.
What happened?
Snape, defeated?
"No."
Professor Flitwick stepped forward, his voice uncertain. "What is this? Little Ivan, are you... an Obscurial?"
"Merlin's beard!"
Professor Sprout gasped, while Professor McGonagall ignored the black mist and hurried forward to check on Ivan's condition.
Snape stood off to the side, disheveled.
His clothes were torn, but no one seemed to pay him any attention, which made his expression turn even darker...
"Child, are you okay?"
McGonagall looked at Ivan closely, watching him draw the Obscurus back into his body. "You... you're controlling it..." she exclaimed.
She turned to Dumbledore, as if recalling a young man from the past.
Decades ago, when Professor McGonagall was still working at the Ministry of Magic, she had seen Credence at the Hog's Head Inn.
But back then, Credence had been in terrible condition—emaciated and near death.
Thinking of this, McGonagall became even more concerned for Ivan.
Compared with the powerful power of the Obscurus, Professor McGonagall was more concerned about Ivan's well-being. She didn't want the child she had brought out of the orphanage to "lose his life in a humble way."
And the Obscurus...
Even if they had never seen it before, they knew the conditions for the birth of an Obscurus.
"Poor child."
Professor Sprout had tears in her eyes, feeling deep sympathy for Ivan's childhood. "You must have suffered a lot in the past."
"Albus, you need to think of a way. He's still so young."
Professor Flitwick focused his gaze on Dumbledore—the greatest white wizard in the world had to do something worthy of his reputation!
"Oh, my dear professors..."
Dumbledore felt a wave of relief wash over him.
He had indeed believed that they would not discriminate against Ivan because of his identity as an Obscurial, but seeing their concern touched him deeply.
The professors at Hogwarts truly were remarkable teachers.
Well, except for the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor...
"Thank you, professors."
Ivan spoke up. "But my health is still good for the time being, and there's no problem."
Ivan's words made Hermione very puzzled. She interrupted: "Sorry, I mean, what do you mean, professor? It seems like Ivan is about to... about to..."
About to die?
Hermione didn't say the rest, but McGonagall and the others gave her that feeling.
It was as if Ivan was about to die.
"Heh."
"It seems that our Miss Know-It-All doesn't know everything."
Snape repaired his clothes and cleaned himself up, leaving only his greasy black hair, showing his last bit of stubbornness.
"What?"
"He is an Obscurial or what he calls himself, an Obscurialist!"
Snape would not discriminate against Ivan either.
To be honest, as a teacher, Snape also sympathized with Ivan in his heart. If he could help him, Snape would not refuse.
But being an Obscurial—this has been a dead end in the wizarding world for thousands of years. No one has ever been able to break this curse.
"When a young wizard is forced to suppress their magic due to physical or psychological abuse, they develop extremely painful emotions, which create a dark parasitic magical force called an Obscurus."
Professor McGonagall explained: "But since the establishment of magic schools, young wizards have had an outlet for their magic, which is why Obscurials have almost become extinct in the wizarding world."
McGonagall: "Ivan is the second Obscurial I have met in my life. Obscurials usually don't live past 10 years old."
Then, Snape's words made Hermione feel dizzy: "It's a miracle that he can live until now and master the Obscurus in his body."
Upon hearing such bad news, the little girl burst into tears.
Wooo woo woo~~
"This.. this can't be real! I-Ivan, Sniff you.. you, don't die... please don't die. We-We agreed to stay together forever! What should I do without you"
Ivan obviously didn't expect Hermione's reaction to be so intense.
Looking at the little witch who threw herself into his arms with tears on her face, he suddenly felt a headache.
"Hic, don't leave! Sniff, you, you are my first friend. Not just in the magical world but the first friend I ever had! h-how can I live without you..."
Inexplicably, a famous scene from his previous life floated through Ivan's mind.
"Don't worry, Hermione."
Ivan patted the little witch's head and smiled: "My situation is not as bad as the professors said."
The Obscurus is indeed a sword of Damocles hanging over Ivan's head, but it is also an important self-protection force for him.
Just like just now, Ivan could easily defeat Snape without using the trump card of the Fenix Spirit sleeping in the Sycamore Wand.
The trend of the battle took a sharp turn from the appearance of the Obscurus, which could be called a crushing defeat.
No matter what spell Snape cast, Ivan only needed to think about it, and the Obscurus, which was connected to his mind, would automatically attack and defend.
Facing the storm transformed by the Obscurus, Snape truly had no way.
His spells could not penetrate, and he had to face the overwhelming black and red wind. As long as he was touched, it would be fatal.
Just think about it, you can know how easy it would be for the Obscurus to crush the rock houses and the earth and tear apart a flesh and blood body.
Of course, this is also because Snape did not use his full strength.
After all, Snape is best at black magic.
It's just that black magic is too dangerous, Snape is no longer the Death Eater he once was. He can't be so harsh on his students.
It was easy to see that even when facing a fatal duel, he did not use the killing curse on Ivan.
Even if Ivan had told him to, he couldn't bring himself to cast such a foul curse on his student.
_________
Read 15 Chaps ahead of WN:
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