With that, he handed several volumes to Alan. Alan took them and flipped through the pages, finding four books he had never seen before. Two were centered on the Dark Arts, one was a specialized text on Potions, and the last was a collection of Magic Runes containing several rare combination formulas.
"Not bad. These four will cover your protection fee for the next four months. I'll return the originals to you once I've made my copies. See? I can be quite benevolent when I want to be," Alan said with a satisfied grin.
Upon hearing this, Rozier's anxious heart finally settled halfway, and he nodded fervently in agreement.
"Speaking of Travers, where is he hiding? Has he truly given up on bothering me? You know, I left him lying in the Owlry for an entire afternoon," Alan said, tucking the books away.
"He's tried to track you down more than once, but aside from class time, you're always appearing and disappearing. He can't find you at all. Lately, he's been hanging out with Wilkes and Yaxley, obsessing over how to deal with the Gryffindors," Rozier explained truthfully.
Alan considered this. It seemed he really had been spending very little time in the castle lately. As soon as his lectures ended, he would vanish back to his Forbidden Forest cabin to research magic. As for the petty squabbles with Gryffindor, Alan had no intention of getting involved. He had once worried their conflicts might turn bloody and even went to warn Charles, but he eventually realized they were just children; their "battles" were little more than elaborate pranks. Alan couldn't be bothered to interfere.
"Alright, Rozier, you've done well. If you run into real trouble, let me know. That protection fee isn't for nothing; I'll look after you from now on," Alan said.
Rozier was far more interested in avoiding Alan than seeking his protection, but he offered a few perfunctory replies, desperate to get away as quickly as possible.
After they parted ways, Alan returned to the cabin and began to dissect his new haul.
"It seems the knowledge preserved by these ancient families truly is the greatest foundation. There's even a section on Bloodline Magic," Alan mused. One of the Dark Arts books contained extensive notes on blood-based enchantments, and the Potion book included the precise formula for the Blood Frenzy Potion.
The Potion's full name was the "Evil Dragon Blood Frenzy Elixir," and its primary ingredient was dragon blood contaminated with various vicious substances during the brewing process. It was a strictly prohibited substance. Once consumed, it induced a berserk state, drastically increasing a wizard's resistance to spells while significantly enhancing their own power and control. However, the cost was steep: once the effects wore off, the user suffered massive blood loss and ran a high risk of permanent insanity.
"No wonder Evan Rozier had a vial of this. But to actually drink it... I can't decide if you were brave or just had a hole in your head," Alan muttered, mocking the dead man's desperation.
Next, Alan prepared to copy the texts. Simply using a basic Copying Charm was insufficient, as the duplicates would vanish once the magic dissipated. The proper method involved preparing blank parchment and ink, then utilizing a Text Duplication Spell to transcribe the content permanently.
He spent several hours meticulously transcribing all four books. He didn't find the work tedious; it was another way to refine his casting precision. Fortunately, these were not the type of sentient books imbued with protective curses. He had heard of a volume called "The Wizard's Sonnets" that cursed anyone who read it to speak only in limericks for the rest of their lives.
*I need to accelerate my study of Runes,* he thought. *To master counter-spells and break curses, that knowledge is essential. I'd rather not be finished off by a cursed book one day.*
With his plan set, Alan returned to his study of Magic Runes. He used the rune disk to materialize characters, practicing the combinations outlined in his new collection. This hands-on approach allowed him to grasp the underlying concepts of various spells more thoroughly.
While analyzing the Shield Charm, he felt his understanding of the Impediment Jinx deepen. His control grew more solid, and the shaping of the magic became effortless. He was now able to condense the Jinx into a fist-sized sphere—an "Obstacle Ball." When launched, its impact was significantly greater than the standard spell. Lately, he had even been researching how to make the sphere detonate upon impact.
---
Two weeks later, during a Transfiguration class.
Professor McGonagall was wrapping up a lecture on the subtle differences between transformation and conversion spells. Alan summarized the hour-long lecture as: transformation is an overhaul, while conversion is partial.
"That concludes today's session. Next time, you will begin attempting to transform a mouse into a snuffbox. This requires diligent practice; it may very well be your final exam question," McGonagall announced.
Alan suppressed a smile at the "hint." Saying "perhaps" in that tone made it a certainty. Just as he was packing his bag to head back to the forest, the Professor called his name.
Once the room had cleared, she looked at him over her spectacles. "Alan, Headmaster Dumbledore would like to see you."
Alan guessed this concerned the Ministry's reward and felt a surge of anticipation. "Yes, Professor. I'll go right away."
"The password is 'Sherbet Lemon,'" she said. She paused, her expression softening into a serious look. "Alan, I heard what happened over the holidays. Your courage is commendable, but as your Professor, I must remind you to prioritize your safety. The current political situation is not something a young wizard should be meddling in."
Alan knew she was genuinely worried. He nodded respectfully. "I understand, Professor. I won't recklessly go looking for trouble, but when trouble comes knocking, I've found that being decisive is the best way to stay safe."
McGonagall knew Alan was far more rational than most his age, but as an elder, she couldn't help but fret. She nodded. "Very well. Go on then; he's waiting for you."