Just a gold chest?
Cro sighed inwardly, feeling a bit disappointed.
He had expected Dumbledore to at least contribute a diamond chest this time.
But it seemed like he had overestimated.
In that case,
he would have to go all-in!
Cro raised an eyebrow his face showing a deep thirst for knowledge.
"Professor Dumbledore, the question I want to ask is about the Patronus Charm. You might not believe it, but I've encountered something that can't be explained in any of the books."
Dumbledore frowned slightly.
"The Patronus Charm? Is it that you can't cast it? You don't need to be upset. It's a very difficult spell, especially since you've only just started learning magic. It's perfectly normal not to have mastered it yet."
He didn't question where Cro had learned the Patronus Charm.
Everyone has their secrets and pressing too hard could only cause Cro to be resentful which would make it harder to guide him.
"It's not that I can't cast it. In fact, I've learned the Patronus Charm, and I can summon my Patronus, but..."
Cro hesitated, putting on a troubled expression.
"I don't know how to explain it, Professor Dumbledore. I feel like only you can help me!"
Dumbledore stroked his beard in puzzlement.
"Summoning a Patronus means you've already succeeded in mastering it. So what's the problem? Something the books can't explain... Is it about the Patronus?"
Dumbledore's frown deepened.
"A Patronus reflects what's in your heart and cannot easily be changed. Even if you're not satisfied with your current Patronus, you must learn to accept it. It is your Patronus—your partner!"
Dumbledore began advising Cro earnestly, thinking that Cro wanted to change his Patronus.
There was no way to find a method for that in the books because there was no way to change a Patronus.
Cro's expression became firm.
"Alright, Professor Dumbledore. I trust your words. My Patronus is my partner, and I should accept it!"
Dumbledore nodded in satisfaction just about to praise Cro when—
"Even if it's a basilisk, I will accept it and treat it as my dear partner!"
Cro spoke again before Dumbledore could finish.
"Well said, even if it's a... Wait, what? A basilisk? Your Patronus is a basilisk?"
Dumbledore shot up from his seat staring at Cro in disbelief.
A basilisk was no ordinary dark creature.
It was a monster bred by an ancient Dark wizard incredibly savage and bloodthirsty!
Even among dark magical creatures the basilisk was one of the most dangerous.
To hear Cro say that his Patronus was a basilisk how could Dumbledore not be shocked?
Seeing Cro's innocent confirmation Dumbledore's mood instantly turned grave his brows furrowing so tightly they could crush a fly.
"Cast the Patronus Charm for me. I want to see it for myself."
Dumbledore said, still in disbelief.
In all his years he had never seen anyone with a dark creature as a Patronus.
Cro hesitated, glancing around.
"You don't need to worry about damaging anything. Just go ahead and cast the Patronus Charm!"
Dumbledore quickly understood Cro's concerns.
Hearing this, Cro pulled out his wand and stepped back a few paces pretending to be very serious.
"Expecto Patronum!"
A deep green light filled the headmaster's office.
The massive basilisk reappeared its body coiled protectively around Cro its bloodthirsty, crimson eyes locking onto Dumbledore.
Creak! Creak!!
Fawkes, startled by the basilisk's deadly aura,
burst into flames and flew to perch above Dumbledore warily eyeing the serpent.
"Hold on, Fawkes."
Dumbledore stopped Fawkes from attacking then walked over to stand in front of Cro.
He looked up at the menacing basilisk his expression becoming incredibly serious.
[You have detected intense confusion!]
[Reward: Diamond Chest!]
"Professor Dumbledore, I'm terribly sorry. These books must be very important. I hope nothing got damaged?"
Cro began picking up the scattered magic books putting on a face full of guilt.
Now that he had secured the diamond chest he needed to restore some favor.
If Dumbledore really thought he was a dark wizard with sinister intentions,
and decided to finish him off here he'd have nowhere to cry.
He hadn't forgotten about his cursed talent—
that passive ability to provoke hostility from Light wizards.
And it was just his luck that...
Dumbledore was the strongest Light wizard of all!
If that cursed passive skill were triggered...
who knew if Dumbledore might actually take action against him?
Dumbledore gazed at Cro with a complicated expression the suspicion that had briefly risen in his mind extinguished.
No matter what Cro was still just a child.
A child who hadn't harmed anyone yet!
Right?
Malfoy and the Slytherins: ...
"It's alright, child. It's not your fault. I was the one who asked you to cast the Patronus Charm."
"Reparo!"
Dumbledore reassured Cro with a few kind words then drew his wand from his sleeve, waving it around.
The toppled bookshelf and scattered books all returned to their original positions and the headmaster's office was once again neat and tidy.
Cro kept his head bowed in apology.
"I'm really sorry, Professor Dumbledore. You taught me to never abandon a companion, but I..."
Dumbledore's face twitched.
He wanted to take back his previous words,but once something was said,there was no way to undo it.
Unless... Could he use magic to retract his words?
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T/N:
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