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Dyroth transformed the iron basin back into a wooden table with a wave of his wand. He then pulled out the notes Voldemort had given him. Just skimming through them earlier had made his heart race.
"It's unfortunate that your intentions are so clear," Dyroth muttered to himself, activating his Occlumency.
While Voldemort's notes contained genuine and powerful magical knowledge, the dark arts within were far too advanced for an eleven-year-old wizard. Focusing too much on them would only invite the risk of being consumed by evil thoughts. However, Dyroth's mastery of Occlumency far exceeded Voldemort's expectations. By not delving too deeply, he could easily absorb the knowledge without falling prey to its dangers.
Even if Dyroth couldn't study it all by himself, he had Grindelwald, Vinda, and others who could make good use of it.
Time flew by, and Dyroth was so engrossed in Voldemort's notes that the sky was already dark when he snapped back to reality. He couldn't help but marvel at what he had just read.
No one becomes the Dark Lord easily.
Although Dyroth hadn't learned everything from the notes, he had gained invaluable insights in just one afternoon. Voldemort had explained the origins of dark magic with astonishing clarity, giving Dyroth new perspectives.
Dyroth had always believed that jinxes, hexes, and curses were completely separate branches of dark magic. But Voldemort's notes presented a different theory—no matter the type of magic, they all stemmed from a wizard's evil intentions. The only difference was the intensity of these dark desires.
Spells like the *Engorgio* curse and the *Densaugeo* hex, seemingly harmless, were actually simplified versions of far more dangerous curses. Many unrelated spells, when explained by Voldemort, shared a foundational core that led to much more complex dark magic.
"It's getting late. I should eat before heading to the Forbidden Forest for detention," Dyroth muttered, closing his eyes briefly to purge any lingering evil thoughts.
Reflecting on his earlier conversation with Voldemort, Dyroth realized that Voldemort had likely figured out the location of the Philosopher's Stone but hadn't made a move yet, wary of the consequences of failure. Dyroth, already familiar with the plot, had no intention of taking any risks. He planned to subtly leak information about the three-headed dog, Fluffy, to Voldemort at their next meeting.
He could sell the information about Fluffy's existence, its role, and maybe even how to bypass it. One piece of knowledge sold three times—this was a lucrative deal. As for Voldemort's resurrection? That was Dumbledore's problem. After all, Dumbledore was already aware of Voldemort's plans. Speeding up the process by sharing information would only ensure that a mere remnant of a soul couldn't cause too much trouble.
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After dinner, Dyroth met Hagrid and joined him for the night's patrol in the Forbidden Forest.
The following days were uneventful, allowing Dyroth a moment of relaxation. On the last night of his detention, he received a letter from Vinda Rosier, informing him that she had acquired several shops in prime locations in Diagon Alley. Everything was ready, and they could open the stores anytime.
However, Vinda didn't include much more detail. She was well aware of the dangers of using owls for sensitive information. Some things were too important to risk revealing in a letter.
Dyroth, satisfied that the shop locations were settled, decided to discuss obtaining magical creature materials from Hagrid that night.
---
Late at that night
After the patrol, as they stood at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, Dyroth turned to Hagrid.
"Hagrid, if you have time over the next couple of days, could you gather the materials you want to sell? I can take them with me using a traceless extension charm. It'll save you a trip."
Hagrid, looking surprised, replied, "You're really serious about this? I thought…"
"You thought I was joking?" Dyroth chuckled. "I haven't brought it up recently because I've been busy with some things for the shop. But rather than making you go through the hassle of transporting everything, it's easier if you leave the magical creatures' materials in your care. After all, you're the expert!"
Dyroth's flattery had its intended effect, and Hagrid's face flushed under his beard. Scratching his head, Hagrid said, "Sorry, Dyroth. I shouldn't have doubted you…"
"No need to apologize. I'm only eleven years old, after all. It's perfectly understandable to be cautious when dealing with someone so young."
"I always forget you're only eleven," Hagrid sighed. "Sometimes, you seem more like a fully-grown wizard. But remember Dyroth, it's important to stay close to people your age. It's easy to lose the joys of youth if you grow up too fast."
"I'll keep that in mind," Dyroth replied.
---
The next morning
Despite staying up late the night before, Dyroth's internal clock woke him early. Back in Austria, Vinda had insisted on morning exercises, something Dyroth hadn't taken seriously at first. He'd thought wizards only needed to focus on magic, but Vinda had proven him wrong during their training. Even without magic, her physical skills had rendered him helpless. That was when Dyroth realized that a wizard's body was just as important as their magic. Even Dumbledore wasn't immune to the limitations of his physical form.
Since then, Dyroth had almost never missed his daily exercises.
After another day of classes, Dyroth encountered a problem—his dormitory was too small for practicing advanced magic. Practicing there could cause too much commotion.
"It seems like the Room of Requirement would be the perfect place for this."
Dyroth recalled the legendary room hidden in Hogwarts. Known as the Room of Requirement, it would only appear when someone truly needed it and would provide whatever the person required.
"If I practice there, I won't have to worry about anyone finding out."
Determined, Dyroth tucked Voldemort's notes into his robe and headed for the eighth floor. He searched for the tapestry of "Barnabas the Barmy being clubbed by trolls" and, after confirming no one was around, he thought to himself, *I need a place to practice my magic.*
Immediately, a smooth, doorless entrance appeared on the opposite wall.
"Hogwarts really is full of secrets," Dyroth murmured. "With this place, I can finally practice freely without worrying about being discovered."
With a smile, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
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