Chapter 82: Night Wander
"What I've taught you so far are jinxes and hexes, Dark Magic that won't change your mind. As for curses, if you want to learn them, I can teach you those too." Voldemort in Quirrell's body smiled happily.
"No thank you, Professor. Learning some hexes and jinxes is enough for now." Ethan quickly refused.
"Good, then let's begin today's lesson. Some of what I'll discuss repeats what's in the manuscript I gave you before, but listen carefully. Ask questions after I'm finished."
Ethan nodded to show he understood.
"Incendio is actually the most widely used Dark Magic spell. Many self-proclaimed righteous wizards also learn this spell for self-defense, though most end up using it to light fireplaces for Floo Powder travel. Because without malicious intent, it's not much more powerful than other spells used to light fireplaces."
Voldemort brought up last semester's incident: "You used this magic when you killed the troll, so your understanding should be profound. You harbored thoughts of harming or killing the troll, so you unleashed magic that could shatter a highly magic-resistant troll in one blow. So during this past period, has the Incendio you've cast been as powerful as before?"
Ethan recalled his recent practice with this spell and nodded.
"Indeed, Professor. If I don't intentionally harbor harmful thoughts, I can only release magic of about the same power as before."
Voldemort smiled softly. "But that's not what I want. I believe this convenient flame spell shouldn't be limited to this level, so I've made some modifications. I've incorporated some Meteorological Charm principles, allowing it to release greater power without relying on strong malice, which can be further enhanced when malice is added. This way, while it still can't match Fiendfyre, it's a useful spell."
"Meteorological Charms?!" Ethan was shocked. He'd never imagined Meteorological Charms could be involved.
Voldemort took out his wand and wrote the original spell and his modified version in the air, along with many Meteorological Charms and Dark Magic incantations. He recited these incantations and explained their respective effects.
"See, doesn't my modified spell have some rhythmic similarities to these?"
Ethan nodded vigorously, eagerly taking notes with his quill at lightning speed, recording knowledge he normally couldn't access.
He'd searched many books in the library and only found a Thunderstorm Charm and a Rain Charm. But among the spells Voldemort wrote were more offensive weather charms like Hail Charm and Lightning Charm.
Several other Dark curses were also unknown to him, and he needed to be cautious learning them, not knowing if they were curses.
Most importantly, Voldemort's approach to modifying Incendio based on weather charms provided him with inspiration.
Voldemort truly deserved his title as Dark Lord, possessing crystal-clear understanding of Dark Magic's origins, development, and evolution.
Ethan was completely immersed in this ocean of magic, forgetting how dangerous the person before him was.
He listened to Voldemort speak with great eloquence, completely enthralled and hungry for knowledge.
An hour passed quickly.
Voldemort stopped the lesson, picked up his cooled red tea, and took a sip.
Ethan was still noting down the slowly fading text.
"Whew!" Finally, before the text completely faded, he had recorded everything in his notebook.
"Any questions for me?"
"Yes, far too many questions, but I can't organize them all at once." Looking at seven or eight pages of notes, Ethan's mind was now full of knowledge and questions.
"Then think slowly. I can give you ten minutes."
Ethan quickly organized his notes and asked his most pressing questions one by one.
Half an hour later, Voldemort had answered all his questions, concluding this master class.
Ethan stood and bowed respectfully.
"Thank you, Professor," he said with genuine gratitude.
Voldemort was stunned. Seeing his sincere eyes, he laughed heartily. "Hahaha, excellent! Ethan, I truly appreciate you sincerely calling me Professor."
"Alright, you may go. See you next week."
"Thank you for your teachings. I'll take my leave now. Good night, Professor."
After this evening's interaction, Ethan had indeed changed his view of Voldemort.
Perhaps because his previous application for Defense Against the Dark Arts professor had failed, his obsession with being a professor had deepened.
And Quirrell, whom he was possessing, though nominally the course instructor, had never properly taught the class due to Voldemort's goals.
Now, with a student like Ethan who genuinely treated him as a professor, he was delighted.
After Ethan left, Voldemort returned control of the body to Quirrell.
Feeling his life force weaken once more, a flash of resentment crossed Quirrell's eyes, followed by a scream.
"I was wrong. I shouldn't have such thoughts. Forgive me, Master!" Quirrell begged with a sob.
The punishment stopped, the screams ceased, but Quirrell's crying continued.
Ethan returned to his dormitory happily, digesting what he'd gained that day.
Now he was busier than before, learning potions on Saturdays, studying with Voldemort on Wednesday nights, and finding time to study Dumbledore's Transfiguration notes.
He was as busy as a bee. Besides attending classes, he spent all his time either in the library or on the way there.
Outwardly, he always studied Transfiguration and potions notes. After the library closed, he returned to his dorm to study the Dark Magic Voldemort taught.
It's time to sneak out at night and find the Room of Requirement. The dormitory is somewhat inconvenient. He glanced at the two beds with snoring sounds and made up his mind.
His Disillusionment Charm could cover him after his second magic surge, but without an Invisibility Cloak and lacking robes suitable for coordination, he always felt it wasn't perfect, so he'd never acted on it.
Now, the poor learning environment forced him to make a change.
Moreover, he now needed a place to practice what Voldemort taught.
It wasn't too late yet, curfew had just begun. He decided to act tonight.
He packed the manuscripts into his backpack, cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself, and quietly left the dormitory.