Hogwarts Emerald

By the Black Lake, a cream-colored Labrador was running, chasing after fluttering butterflies with all its might.

The butterflies would rise and fall, effortlessly outpacing the puppy, leaving it barking in frustration.

This cream-colored Labrador was none other than Garlon, and its owner was sitting under a large tree, reading.

Warm sunlight bathed Eda, with the occasional breeze lifting her golden hair.

It was still morning, and there weren't many people by the lake yet, so Eda had unleashed Garlon to let it roam freely.

It had been half a month since the start of term, and Garlon had become familiar with Hogwarts. During the first few walks, Garlon would timidly tuck its tail and follow closely behind Eda, but that was no longer the case.

As the sun grew a bit too bright, more people started gathering around the lake.

On weekends when they couldn't visit Hogsmeade, the scenic Black Lake was a good alternative, and there was even a chance of spotting the giant squid in the water.

Eda called Garlon back, fastening its muzzle and leash. It was about time to leave—the growing crowd and noise made it no longer an ideal place to continue reading.

"Didn't expect to see you here, Twist."

Just as Eda was about to leave, someone called her name from behind. She turned to see Professor Glover Cecil, dressed in a dark blue robe, holding his pipe.

"Professor Cecil, good morning."

"Out here reading? Morning is indeed a fine time for that," Professor Cecil said as he approached, bending down to gently pet Garlon. "What's its name?"

"Garlon."

"Not a bad name, though a bit common, but still quite popular," Professor Cecil said as he stood up, looking at Eda. "Would you mind wasting a bit of this sunny morning walking with me?"

Professor Cecil walked ahead while Eda followed slightly behind, holding Garlon's leash. Neither of them spoke. If it weren't for their unusual attire, the two might have looked like a grandfather taking his granddaughter for a stroll.

"I've heard some things about you from Dumbledore," Professor Cecil said, turning to Eda. "You're a brave girl, but not very smart."

Eda remained silent. She didn't understand why Professor Cecil had randomly asked her to walk with him, but she figured it was safer to say less. She waited quietly for him to continue.

"I suppose I'm the first to tell you that," Cecil added. "You're brave because you're willing to face darkness head-on. But you're not smart—also because you face darkness head-on."

His words were a bit roundabout, but Eda understood the gist.

Facing Fawly alone had indeed been a foolish move. Last year, she had plenty of opportunities to tell Professor McGonagall, but instead, she had decided to bear the burden on her own, almost losing her life in the process.

"It seems you've grasped my meaning. Your grades are excellent, which shows you have a good head on your shoulders, but you've only been using it for academics, not for anything else," Professor Cecil continued as he packed tobacco into his pipe. "I hope you don't mind me saying that?"

"I don't mind," Eda replied. She didn't particularly mind Professor Cecil smoking, but even if she had, he would've smoked anyway. The fact that he bothered to ask was already a courtesy.

Professor Cecil packed the tobacco, put the pipe in his mouth, and though Eda didn't see him light it, the tobacco began to burn. Magic truly made life more convenient.

"Someone once said something similar to me, though he never complimented me. To him, I was as dumb as a troll," Eda remarked, thinking of Snape, the old bat who constantly criticized her yet had helped her immensely. His words, though harsh, were meant to guide her.

Cecil's advice, on the other hand, was much easier to hear. Snape's approach often felt like he was putting in effort only to be unappreciated.

Professor Cecil stopped walking and leaned against a large rock by the lake. Smiling, he said, "You're the best-looking troll I've ever seen."

"Getting old—just a few steps and I already feel tired. I can't compare to Dumbledore. That old bee, the older he gets, the sharper he becomes," Cecil added with a laugh. "Funny enough, I was caught by Dumbledore back in the day."

Before the school year started, Eda had heard that the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was a friend of Dumbledore's. She had never imagined that he was once a dark wizard, a former Azkaban inmate, and that it was Dumbledore who had personally caught him. That was a lot to take in!

A cloud of blue smoke obscured Professor Cecil's face, making it hard for Eda to read his expression, but there was no trace of bitterness in his tone. It sounded more like he was recalling a youthful mistake.

"You mentioned in class that you once paid a heavy price…"

"That's right—my family and my freedom. Isn't that heavy enough?" Professor Cecil asked. "Would you like to hear my story?"

Eda hadn't expected to stumble upon one of her professors during a morning reading session, let alone end up walking with him and learning his life story—what a surprising turn of events!

Professor Cecil took a deep drag from his pipe and slowly exhaled, his thick glasses unable to hide the sadness in his eyes.

He began to speak in a slow, measured tone. "The first time I came into contact with Dark Magic was during Grindelwald's reign. Everyone's attention was focused on Grindelwald and his followers, so who would notice some fanatic out in the countryside, obsessively pursuing the Dark Arts?"

As Cecil recounted his tale, Eda couldn't tell how much was true and how much was embellished, but one thing was clear—the sorrow in the old man's eyes was real.

Cecil had been born into a wizarding family. He had two older brothers and a younger sister, but he was the most gifted of them all. At Hogwarts, he was the top student and even became Head Boy. His future had seemed bright.

Two years after graduating, Cecil had fulfilled his dream of becoming an Auror at the Ministry of Magic.

He had mapped out every step of his future carefully, but three years later, tragedy struck, disrupting all his plans.

That tragic summer, Cecil lost his mother and sister. They had gone out shopping when a Dark wizard brutally murdered them.

Desperate for revenge, Cecil used all his connections to track down the Dark wizard responsible. Without notifying anyone, he went alone to confront the man at his hideout.

But the young Cecil was no match for the Dark wizard. He had no choice but to flee in defeat. By the time he returned with other Aurors, the Dark wizard had vanished without a trace.

His plan for vengeance had failed.

After that, Cecil never found any trace of the Dark wizard again. Because of his stubbornness, he had missed his chance for revenge.

Cecil began to show up late to work, started drinking heavily, and the former Head Boy seemed to vanish. His life spiraled into chaos. Nightmares haunted him—scenes of his mother and sister being murdered, the Dark wizard's cruel grin, and his own defeat under the wizard's powerful spells.

Gradually, Cecil became obsessed with that immense power.

While continuing his search for the Dark wizard, he secluded himself in the countryside, diving deep into the study of Dark magic.

During his time at Hogwarts, Cecil, like many others, had viewed Dark magic as something terrible, something to be feared. But as his research into it deepened, he discovered its immense power and grandeur. His perspective shifted—magic itself was never wrong, only the people who wielded it were.

Cecil mastered many incredible Dark spells, growing stronger and more powerful. His thirst for revenge only intensified. But despite his growing power, he never found the Dark wizard.

The prospect of revenge became more distant, and he could only bury himself in his studies of Dark magic to numb the pain.

Then one day, an old friend visited him, bringing news—good news.

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