Harry potter:Dark lord

The only viable solution now was to conceal the fact that Robert possessed ancient magic traits until they uncovered the truth. Otherwise, he might suffer the same fate as the senior student who had mysteriously vanished.

"But... Professor, how could something so bizarre even be possible?" Robert was still puzzled. "And what's the purpose behind this? If someone wanted to erase all traces of a person, why stop at just their name?"

Dumbledore frowned, deep in thought. "You're right. However, I believe that erasing the name wasn't the true goal. Although I have never encountered this type of magic before, it seems the intent was to erase the person entirely. Perhaps there was a flaw in the spell, which is why only the name was erased while other traces remained."

To erase a person's name so thoroughly that no one—not even the person themselves—would notice its absence was already an unsettling notion. But what if this magic could be applied to an entire person?

Would that mean someone could vanish into thin air, leaving no traces behind, with no one remembering they had ever existed?

Just the thought sent chills down Robert's spine. This magic was beyond the realm of black magic—it was something even more sinister.

"Are you worried that I might be the next target?" Robert asked.

"Yes... Fortunately, not many people know that you are proficient in ancient magic," Dumbledore replied gravely.

He had made sure never to reveal Robert's knowledge of ancient magic. As far as he knew, only three individuals were aware of it—himself, Robert, and Nagini, who was quietly listening in her cage.

When asked about the missing senior student, Dumbledore had only admitted that he couldn't recall their name, carefully avoiding any mention of Robert. Given the situation, such caution now seemed absolutely necessary.

"Alright, I won't investigate anything about the senior anymore," Robert promised.

His words were genuine. Investigating had merely been an excuse to gather information from Dumbledore. If he truly wanted answers, wasn't it better to ask someone who had been directly affected?

"That's a wise decision," Dumbledore agreed. "I will personally look into this matter."

After learning that the senior might have met with an accident, Dumbledore couldn't simply stand by and do nothing.

"Professor, please be careful," Robert urged. "If the situation becomes too dangerous, prioritize your own safety. You are too important to the wizarding world."

Because of his mere existence in this timeline, many things had already changed. If this mysterious magic truly existed, it was impossible to predict what would happen if Dumbledore investigated it recklessly.

If Robert hadn't noticed the missing name, Dumbledore would have never realized it. And without his intervention, he wouldn't have even started looking into the matter.

Dumbledore was one of Robert's most vital allies. He couldn't afford to lose him.

"Don't worry," Dumbledore reassured him. "I won't draw unnecessary attention. I will start by researching the magic itself. Once we understand how it works, we can determine our next steps."

Robert nodded. If Dumbledore was only studying the spell, it shouldn't arouse any suspicions.

However, for this to remain safe, the fact that Robert knew ancient magic had to stay a secret. If word got out, Dumbledore's research would likely alert their enemies.

This meant that Robert had to be extremely careful.

He resolved to visit his senior tonight. The person who erased their name might have left some clues, and the senior might remember something—anything—that could help.

At the moment, that was the only lead he had.

Dumbledore, noticing Robert's determination, shifted the conversation. "Alright, let's move on to the second matter." He placed a cage on the table. "Unlike the first, this one is good news."

Dumbledore opened the cage, and a small snake slithered out.

Robert immediately noticed something different about Nagini. Her eyes were no longer blood-red or filled with aggression. Instead, they were clear and calm.

"She's… awake?" Robert asked hesitantly.

"In fact, it was your ancient magic that kept her awake," Dumbledore said with a smile. "That is why I didn't keep your knowledge of ancient magic a secret from her."

"My ancient magic?" Robert was confused.

Dumbledore nodded and explained his conversation with Nagini at Newt's house, as well as his own theory.

Hearing this, Robert finally understood why the system had rewarded him with merit points for preventing Nagini from falling into darkness.

"So, as long as I continue reinforcing the Transfiguration with ancient magic, she will remain conscious?"

"Yes. You don't need to recast the spell, just extend its duration. But, of course, you must use ancient magic for it to work."

Robert focused, sensing the ancient magic within him.

After a night of rest, his energy had recovered significantly, though not completely.

"What do I need to do?" he asked.

"This part is simple," Dumbledore said. "It's just like standard Transfiguration, but with ancient magic. Watch closely."

Dumbledore demonstrated how to extend the duration of a Transfiguration spell on an already transformed object.

Since Robert was highly proficient in Transfiguration, he quickly grasped the technique. Under Dumbledore's guidance, he successfully used ancient magic to extend Nagini's transformation. Unlike the first time, when he had drained all his magic, maintaining the spell now only required a small amount of energy.

Afterward, Dumbledore examined Nagini again.

"It seems that each time you use ancient magic on her, it weakens the beast soul inside her. This effect appears to be cumulative."

"Since this spell affects her beast soul rather than her human soul, each extension of the spell further suppresses the beast. In the long run, you might be able to eliminate the beast soul completely and break the blood curse."

"Are you planning to have Nagini stay with me?" Robert asked.

Dumbledore nodded. "Yes. That way, you can reinforce the spell whenever necessary. Besides, this will also give you more opportunities to practice ancient magic. The more you use it, the better your control will become."

A flicker of concern crossed Robert's face. "But if I keep casting ancient magic on her, won't it weaken her body over time? Her human soul and beast soul share the same body."

Dumbledore acknowledged the concern and handed him a small bottle.

"This should help. It's a nutritional potion made by Professor Slughorn. If her body weakens, have her take this. If you run out, just ask me for more."

Robert accepted the bottle. "But if I continue using ancient magic on her, won't someone eventually notice?"

"They won't," Dumbledore assured him. "I've placed a concealment spell on her. Even if someone examines her closely, they will only see my magic, not yours. Let them assume it's my Transfiguration work."

Dumbledore was meticulous, always thinking several steps ahead.

"Then how long can I extend the transformation at a time?" Robert asked.

"About three days. So, be sure to keep track."

(End of Chapter)

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