Dumbledore appeared not far from the battlefield. The Headmaster's magical signature was distinct—powerful, wise, majestic, and kind, though he also happened to be a stalker who enjoyed observing from the shadows.
Makiya had sensed the old man peeking several times during his trips into the Forbidden Forest.
"Speaking of which, did that mysterious figure in the black robe escape? Makiya, why did you stop me?" Harry poked his head out, his face full of curiosity.
"The thing possessing the man in black ran away, but the man himself... well... I knocked him out," Makiya brushed it off casually.
"Er, little Harry, Hermione, Ron—it's best if you don't ask anymore." The towering Hagrid saw Quirrell's mangled corpse lying in the crater. It was a horrific sight; his skin was shredded, half of his legs were missing, and black, putrid blood oozed from his chest. It was the kind of gruesome scene that would give anyone nightmares.
For the sake of the young wizards' mental health, Makiya had no intention of letting them see it.
Just then, Dumbledore stepped out from behind a large tree, his sonorous voice catching everyone's attention. "Oh dear! Thank heavens you're all alright!"
"Headmaster!"
"Professor Dumbledore!"
"It's the Headmaster! Thank goodness!"
""
The group cheered instantly. Dumbledore's appearance acted as a reassurance to everyone, as if a great weight had been lifted from their hearts. Suddenly, there was nothing left to fear.
Makiya's gaze met Dumbledore's. The latter conveyed a message through his eyes, leaving Makiya completely bewildered.
'Wait, what do you mean? What exactly is that look supposed to convey?'
"Professor Dumbledore!" Harry stepped forward. "We were patrolling the Forbidden Forest when we were suddenly attacked by a mysterious figure in black robes. Makiya saved us!"
Harry pointed at Makiya, trying to explain the situation to prevent the Headmaster from misunderstanding.
Dumbledore knelt down and listened patiently to Harry's recount, his expression gradually turning serious.
"I see. I will handle this matter with the gravity it deserves."
After Harry finished, Dumbledore patted the boy on the head. Quirrell's situation had indeed exceeded his expectations. Fortunately, Makiya was powerful, otherwise the consequences would have been unthinkable.
"You children head back to the school first. I'll take care of the intruder." Dumbledore scanned the group, his eyes eventually settling on Makiya. "Mr. Makiya, your performance today was flawless. That phoenix Transfiguration was magnificent—a true testament to your hard work and talent. When your companions were in danger, you bravely stood your ground and defeated a powerful enemy. I shall award you extra points during the House Cup final tally."
"Thank you, Headmaster," Makiya nodded.
Ravenclaw students didn't usually care much for the House Cup, but extra points were always welcome. If he brought points to his house, Filius Flitwick might finally be more willing to sign his library slips.
The Head of Ravenclaw was Professor Filius Flitwick. He was naturally sensitive and diminutive in stature but immensely powerful. A former Dueling Champion, he currently served as the Charms Professor at Hogwarts.
Hogwarts' library was incredibly rich. Between the precious texts left by the four founders and the wealth accumulated over centuries, the school's resources far exceeded those of any average pure-blood family.
However, the books students could borrow were quite limited. For safety reasons, the Board of Governors had sealed away a vast number of volumes, creating the Restricted Section.
This measure was intended to protect the well-being of young wizards. Books in the magical world couldn't be read lightly; many contained the malevolent will of their original owners or hidden Dark Magic traps. Triggering them accidentally could have severe consequences.
Makiya had been eyeing those books for a long time, but Professor Filius was very cautious. He rarely signed Makiya's slips, believing that Makiya was still young and had plenty of time, so there was no need to rush.
But to Makiya, those books held the explorations and insights of magical pioneers. They were key to understanding this world and recreating abilities from other worlds.
At Dumbledore's urging, the group followed Hagrid and left the Forbidden Forest, heading back to the school.
After seeing them off, Dumbledore returned alone to the forest and found Quirrell's body, his face full of gravity and regret.
Dumbledore remembered most of his graduates. He still had some impression of Quirrell—a clever though somewhat solitary young man. He hadn't expected him to end up like this.
"Voldemort is actually clinging to existence in such a state..." Dumbledore crouched beside Quirrell, using the Elder Wand to lift a drop of the blackened blood for closer inspection. "Powerful Dark Magic. It amplifies power through intense emotions. Without a doubt, this is Tom's magic."
Dumbledore was deep in thought. He knew Voldemort wasn't dead, but he hadn't known exactly how he had escaped the effects of the Killing Curse. Based on the soul fragment that had soared away at the end of the battle, Dumbledore likely had his answer.
To verify his theories, he would need to consult more ancient texts.
"I need to accelerate Harry's training... and Makiya's as well," Dumbledore muttered under his breath, looking at the Elder Wand.
Makiya's strength was terrifying, but the magical world had its own unique system of destiny. True prophecies were bound to manifest. The method of fulfillment might surprise everyone, but Dumbledore firmly believed that the one to defeat Voldemort had to be Harry Potter.
Makiya's arrival had made Dumbledore hesitate. After much deliberation, he chose to trust the natural laws of the wizarding world. The fates of Harry and Voldemort were intertwined; only one could survive.
Dumbledore had long since planned Harry's path, but Makiya's sudden rise had caught him off guard. He had hoped his old friend, Nicolas Flamel, would take on the responsibility of mentoring Makiya. To his surprise, in less than a semester, Nicolas had already quit and dumped the burden back on him.
With Voldemort as a precedent, Dumbledore knew exactly how terrifying a wayward genius could be and the destruction they could wreak upon the British wizarding world and beyond. Thus, Makiya's guidance was a top priority.
As a myriad of thoughts swirled in his mind, Dumbledore recalled the warning in Nicolas's letter.
'Do not attempt to change Makiya's worldview from the perspective of an elder, Albus. That child's maturity is far beyond your imagination. His thoughts and values are already set. All we can and should do is offer slight guidance to ensure he grows toward the side of kindness and justice.'
'A mature child, eh...?' Dumbledore felt a headache coming on. The more mature a child was, the harder they were to teach. One wrong move could leave a bad impression or even trigger a counterproductive reaction.
Meanwhile, after Harry and the others returned to the school, Professor McGonagall personally escorted them to their dorms. Makiya was taken to Filius, who saw him back to the student dormitories.
The fully awakened castle settled into a quiet lull under the orders of various professors, but the energetic wizards weren't about to sleep. They gathered in the common rooms, whispering and discussing the night's events.
In the Ravenclaw common room, Makiya's arrival didn't draw any special attention. Wizards being brought back by the Head of House after sneaking out wasn't uncommon, and everyone assumed that was the case for him as well.
He sat on a sofa. The fireplace continuously radiated heat, making the young wizards' faces glow red.
Of course, it might have been the heated discussions. When the topic grew intense, the young wizards gesticulated wildly, spittle flying everywhere.
After listening for a while, Makiya lost interest and let out a wide yawn.
His action was contagious; soon, the entire common room was filled with the sound of cascading yawns. Many students decided to head to bed.
When Makiya returned to his dormitory, he found a small note on his bed.
'Mr. Makiya, please come to the Headmaster's office if you are not yet asleep...'
'Tonight's password is: Cockroach Cluster.'
'—Albus Dumbledore'
"Why is Dumbledore looking for me at this hour?" Makiya frowned. He suspected the man wanted to discuss Quirrell and Voldemort away from Harry and the others, or perhaps talk about the firearms competition.
Thinking back, his actions then were indeed a bit out of line. He should have given some prior notice.
However, Makiya's guesses were all wrong. As soon as he entered the office, Dumbledore's first sentence left him rooted to the spot.
"Mr. Makiya, would you be willing to become the Defense Against the Dark Arts... Teaching Assistant?"
Makiya: "Huh?
"