Chapter 81: I Want to Learn Dark Magic
"You're saying you want to learn Dark Magic?" Cedric exclaimed, his face a mix of shock and disbelief.
Wentworth, however, nodded resolutely.
"You both saw what happened yesterday. I may not know who harbors ill intent against me, but such incidents are becoming more frequent. I need the ability to protect myself, and quickly. The fastest, most effective way is through Dark Magic!"
There was a hint of urgency in Wentworth's tone, his calm demeanor cracking under the pressure. Cedric and Kirk exchanged uneasy glances before Cedric spoke hesitantly:
"Wentworth, we understand your concerns, but Dark Magic is dangerous. It corrupts. Slowly but surely, it changes the very core of a person's mind and soul!"
Unfazed, Wentworth countered firmly:
"Some people wield weapons to harm; others wield them to protect. It's not the magic that's good or evil—it's the wizard who decides!"
Cedric found himself momentarily at a loss for words. Just as he was about to argue further, Kirk interjected, stopping him with a gesture.
"Let's set aside the question of whether magic itself can be good or evil for now," Kirk said. "The problem is, Cedric and I are just ordinary students at Hogwarts. We don't know any Dark Magic!"
Wentworth frowned. "Then do you know where, in Hogwarts, one could learn Dark Magic?"
Realizing Wentworth was determined, Cedric sighed deeply before responding.
"Wentworth, you need to abandon this idea. Hogwarts isn't Durmstrang. We don't have a tradition of teaching Dark Magic. The only place that might have information about Dark Magic is the Restricted Section of the library, but without a professor's approval, you'll never get in!"
Wentworth looked momentarily deflated but knew Cedric was right.
It was then that Kirk suddenly spoke up, his tone thoughtful. "Maybe we're thinking about this all wrong. Whoever targeted Wentworth must be a Dark wizard. If Wentworth needs to deal with Dark wizards, we should consult someone with expertise—like our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor!"
Wentworth's eyes lit up at the suggestion, and the three of them hurried to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. However, Professor Ilona was not there.
The trio lingered at the classroom door, debating whether to wait for her, when a familiar voice echoed from down the corridor.
"Boys, what are you doing here?"
Dumbledore's piercing gaze swept over the three students, finally resting on Wentworth.
After a moment's hesitation, Wentworth decided to share his intentions openly.
When Dumbledore heard Wentworth's plan, his expression darkened. A deep concern he had long harbored now stood before him, undeniable.
Dumbledore doubted Wentworth, trained by the Pureblood Party, lacked knowledge of Dark Magic. Just the previous night, Dumbledore had intentionally left Wentworth to face a Dark wizard alone, hoping to assess his abilities. Wentworth, however, had fought using only the spells taught at Hogwarts—except for one moment at the end when his skill suggested he was holding back.
To Dumbledore, Wentworth's current request was a thinly veiled attempt to gain permission to openly use Dark Magic—a prospect Dumbledore could never allow.
Dumbledore understood all too well the allure of powerful Dark Magic for young wizards. He could already imagine the wave of fascination it would provoke among the students if Wentworth wielded it at Hogwarts. He could not allow a new Pureblood Party to rise within these walls.
Fixing Wentworth with a serious expression, Dumbledore said gravely:
"Wentworth, I understand your concerns. But you must know, when you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes back at you. Dark Magic is such an abyss. To fight Dark wizards, there are many other ways."
Wentworth, unsurprised by Dumbledore's response, knew his plan to learn Dark Magic at Hogwarts had hit a dead end. Undeterred, he shifted his strategy.
"I understand, Headmaster. That's why we came to seek Professor Ilona's guidance. Could you ask her to provide me with extra training sessions in the evenings?"
This, in truth, was Wentworth's real goal. He doubted he could persuade Professor Ilona on his own, but with Dumbledore's endorsement, it would be much easier.
However, instead of agreeing, Dumbledore scrutinized Wentworth intently, as though searching for something hidden within his thoughts. This unexpected scrutiny made Wentworth uneasy.
Dumbledore, too, was conflicted. His vigilance over Wentworth and Ilona had brought him here quickly, but he remained deeply suspicious. He was nearly certain Ilona was connected to the Pureblood Party, and Wentworth's request seemed like another ploy to study Dark Magic under the guise of legitimate training.
After a moment of silence, Dumbledore spoke slowly.
"Professor Ilona is already busy teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts to the entire school. Asking her to dedicate extra time to you every evening would be unfair. Besides, if other students found out, it might cause discontent."
Dumbledore paused, then continued, "Instead, I'll introduce you to a wizard outside Hogwarts. You can meet with them on weekends to learn defensive magic. How does that sound?"
Wentworth's disappointment quickly gave way to delight. He hadn't expected Dumbledore to offer a private tutor. He nodded eagerly in agreement.
But Dumbledore's expression turned serious once more. After a brief hesitation, he added, "There's something you should know about this tutor before you decide."
Puzzled, Wentworth asked cautiously, "What do you mean by 'something I should know,' Headmaster?"
Dumbledore hesitated again before replying.
"This tutor... is a werewolf."
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