Harry potter:Dark lord

Although what Robert told Dumbledore was meant to gain his trust, it also revealed his genuine concerns about ancient magic.

When he spoke those words, he was telling the truth.

That's why Dumbledore's response gave Robert a lot of insight.

For example, ancient magic had no inherent side effects. His strong desire for it was merely his own greed.

Looking back, Robert recalled how he had once refused that "senior sister's" request. Even after experiencing the power of ancient magic, he had resisted the urge to go back and change his decision.

All of this proved that he had controlled his desires well.

However… even though Dumbledore believed in his restraint, Robert himself was not so sure.

Hadn't that "senior" also claimed she could control her desires in front of her own teacher? But in the end, she had failed miserably.

Dumbledore noticed Robert's frown and realized that his words had not reassured him.

"Robert, always remember that you are not facing this alone. As your professor, it is my responsibility to help you master ancient magic."

Robert gave a helpless smile. "If I simply don't use this power, wouldn't that solve everything?"

"You can certainly refrain from using it, and that would be proof of your self-control," Dumbledore acknowledged. "However, I believe that suppression is not the best approach. Instead of forcing yourself to never use ancient magic, it is better to understand it and regulate its usage. That way, control becomes easier."

Dumbledore sighed. "It's a pity that your senior disappeared shortly after graduation. She would have been the best person to guide you in mastering ancient magic."

Robert remained silent.

He had just come back from meeting that "senior sister."

Moreover, she had failed to control her thirst for power, and her tragic fate was proof of that.

She was now lying frozen in a corner of the stone chamber, nothing more than a lifeless husk.

But since Dumbledore spoke so highly of her…

Robert began to consider the possibility of using ancient magic. After all, Dumbledore—a true master of self-control—was watching over him.

Robert knew that, in order to avoid becoming someone like Grindelwald, Dumbledore had distanced himself from power for decades.

Even after becoming Headmaster of Hogwarts and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, he never actively sought control.

For a man who had once dreamed of reforming the world, such restraint was no small feat.

When it came to self-control, Dumbledore was undoubtedly a master.

Of course, the one time he failed—when he put on the Resurrection Stone ring and got cursed—wasn't due to a lack of restraint.

After all, his desire to see his deceased loved ones had been his greatest weakness. The Resurrection Stone had simply struck at his most vulnerable point.

—

Robert also felt that he could now draw a conclusion about whether ancient magic had harmful side effects.

Given Dumbledore's strict stance against the Dark Arts, the fact that even he saw no issue with ancient magic meant that it was likely safe.

Dumbledore's judgment carried weight.

With that in mind, Robert continued chatting with him for a while.

By piecing together various pieces of information, Dumbledore gradually understood what had happened that night.

Robert had been drawn to the power of ancient magic and ventured into the Forbidden Forest, where he obtained a vial of ancient magical energy.

At the same time, he had encountered Aurelius, who had just met Nagini.

Perhaps the emotional turmoil from seeing Nagini had triggered something in Aurelius, pushing him to the brink of losing control.

Then, when Robert rushed back to report the situation, he was attacked by Nagini, who had gone mad.

In response, Robert had used ancient magic to subdue her and brought her back to Aberforth.

Aberforth, in turn, had informed Dumbledore, leading to the rescue of Aurelius.

Of course, Dumbledore only reached this conclusion because Robert had carefully guided him toward it.

Now, he just had to find a way to coordinate with Aurelius later. If any inconsistencies emerged, things could become complicated.

After all, it was reasonable that Robert, a student, had learned about ancient magic. But if he displayed an advanced mastery of Apparition at his age? That would be hard to explain.

Even prodigies had their limits.

Fortunately, Aurelius was still unconscious.

Aberforth, after hearing the full story from Dumbledore, had no intention of questioning Aurelius further.

There was no point in stirring up painful memories that might cause him to lose control again.

Every time Aurelius transformed into an Obscurial, it took a heavy toll on his body.

The only reason he had survived this long was his extraordinary willpower—he had rarely transformed over the years.

After everything was settled, Dumbledore let Robert return to rest.

He took Nagini away from the Hog's Head Inn.

Robert had been right about one thing: Dumbledore always had a way of handling troublesome matters.

—

When Robert returned to his room, Tom was sleeping soundly, while Toby, the house-elf, was also taking a nap.

It was no surprise that Tom was resting so well. Robert knew why.

As for Toby, he hadn't even noticed Robert's absence. That meant he had fallen under the influence of the nightmare magic cast by Robert's "senior."

She hadn't wanted anyone to know that Robert had left the inn.

Robert gently patted Toby's shoulder, waking him up.

"Toby… Toby actually fell asleep?!"

The house-elf was terrified. He had failed to follow his master's orders!

Robert shook his head. "No, I cast a sleep spell on you. There were things I needed to keep secret, even from you. Now, go get some rest. Just prepare some porridge for me in the morning. Also, keep this matter to yourself."

Toby let out a sigh of relief. "So… it wasn't Toby's fault? Oh, that's good… very good! Toby understands! Toby will fulfill his master's wishes!"

Satisfied, Robert watched as Toby left.

For house-elves, direct instructions were always the best approach.

After Toby was gone, Robert used nightmare magic to quickly fall asleep.

Once inside his dream, he woke up within it and began modifying his surroundings.

Soon, his dream took the shape of a vast garden—one eerily similar to the dream of his "senior sister."

He called out into the dream.

"Senior?"

"Dream Maker?"

The silence stretched on. His voice echoed, but there was no response.

Just as he was starting to wonder if she could even hear him…

"I'm here."

Robert turned around.

His "senior sister," clad in black, had somehow appeared in the pavilion.

"I didn't expect you to come find me so soon," she said. "And… how did you know I liked gardens?"

Robert hesitated. Was it just his imagination, or did her voice sound happier than before?

"Well… your dream was about a garden, so I made a few adjustments," he admitted.

"I see," she mused. Then she added, "I heard you call me 'senior' just now."

"Uh… I learned more about you from a professor," Robert replied. "I asked him about ancient magic."

The "senior" was silent for a moment. Then she said, "But you didn't tell the professor about me, did you?"

"No."

"…Thank you," she said softly. "I… I don't want others to see me like this. Especially not the professors at Hogwarts."

A pause.

"Well, you can keep calling me 'senior.' It sounds much better than 'weirdo' or 'Dream Maker.' If we're just talking, a friendly title is better."

Robert hesitated. "Actually… you could just tell me your real name."

He looked at her expectantly.

"Can you tell me your name?"

(End of Chapter)

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