16 Chapter 16 "Real life Lesson"

The Easter holiday had arrived, and during the past month, Skyler had Dobby retrieve the Dragon egg and diary for him.

The dragon egg was concealed in his dormitory locker while Skyler eagerly delved into the diary's contents.

As it turned out, Professor Quirrell had once been a talented scholar, well-versed in magical theory.

However, due to his timid and neurotic personality, he had been frequently ridiculed and bullied during his time at Ravenclaw.

Unhappy with his situation, he sought to prove himself and slowly became drawn to dark magic, nurturing a latent desire for admiration and recognition from the world.

What intrigued Skyler even more was Quirrell's resignation from his position as a Muggle Studies professor after the 1990 school year.

He had embarked on a journey throughout Europe and Africa, ostensibly to gain practical experience, but his true motivation was to seek the trace of a dark wizard.

This quest stemmed from a mix of curiosity and the desire to become someone of significance, no longer a target of ridicule.

Quirrell harbored hopes of being the one to track Voldemort and perhaps even learn how to avoid being mocked by acquiring powers from Voldemort himself.

During his travels, Quirrell encountered Vampires, Hags, and various challenges in different regions, which Skyler found amusing.

He chuckled at the fact that most readers in his previous life had dismissed these adventures as fabrications.

The diary provided a detailed account of Quirrell's journey, revealing him as a meticulous, introverted man who found solace in recording his thoughts in writing.

The diary abruptly ceased recording once Quirrell suspected Voldemort's remnant soul resided in the Albanian jungle.

Skyler guessed that Quirrell's diary would have omitted the following events, which included his encounter with and possession by Voldemort, as Quirrell wouldn't dare to document such an experience.

Instead, the diary contained sporadic, incoherent notes towards the end.

Skyler patiently worked on piecing them together, drawing from his deciphering abilities and patience cultivated from previous life experiences.

Eventually, he successfully reassembled these notes, revealing a technique Quirrell had learned from Voldemort—the art of spell casting.

This unique spell-casting technique not only smoothed the process of casting spells but also reduced magical energy consumption by improving spell control accuracy.

Skyler marveled at the power of Voldemort's spell-casting technique, realizing that mastering it could enhance his spell-casting abilities significantly.

Wizards who mastered such techniques were highly regarded.

For instance, Dumbledore had developed a unique spell-casting technique during his student years, earning the Barnabus Finkley Award for Excellence in Casting Techniques.

Skyler had successfully learned Voldemort's spell-casting technique!

Unfortunately, Quirrell's diary didn't contain more details of what he had learned from Voldemort, as it seemed that he had shaken hands with Harry at the Leaky Cauldron before the school year started.

Skyler suspected that Quirrell had been robbed at Gringotts and possessed by Voldemort, leading him to avoid documenting his experiences and thoughts in the diary.

Skyler convened with Daphne and Meredith one night in the Slytherin common room around 1 a.m.

Daphne couldn't contain her curiosity and asked, "Skyler, lack of sleep is a woman's natural enemy. What's the reason for summoning us at this hour?"

Skyler responded with an air of mystery, "Do you recall what the Headmaster said on the first day of school?"

Meredith furrowed her brows. "You mean..."

Coughing slightly, Skyler said, "It's about the restricted area on the fourth-floor corridor. Professor Dumbledore cautioned that approaching it could lead to accidental death. I've gathered information; several professors are guarding that area to prevent students from entering. How about we put our skills to the test with a rare adventure? Plus, it's an opportunity to assess our magical combat capabilities."

Excited at the prospect of adventure, Daphne eagerly agreed to set off immediately.

On the other hand, Meredith voiced her concerns, saying, "We're going out late at night to a restricted area. What if we're caught by Filch or a professor?"

Skyler reassured them with a smile. "Don't worry, I'm well-prepared for this. Watch this."

He gently tapped Daphne on the head with his wand, causing her to shiver.

To her surprise, she suddenly blended into her surroundings.

Meredith, recognizing this as the Disillusionment Charm, exclaimed, "Oh my God, you've mastered the Disillusionment Charm? This is an Auror-level curse!"

With confidence, Skyler replied, "I've tested this spell on mice numerous times. Apart from Professor Dumbledore, I'm confident it can deceive any other Hogwarts professor."

He then cast a Silencing Charm on Daphne, rendering her mute as she moved.

While this spell was typically taught to fifth-year students, Daphne and Meredith, who had witnessed the Disillusionment Charm, were familiar with it.

Witnessing Skyler's impressive skills, the two girls were brimming with confidence about their adventure.

However, they also carried a heavy burden on their hearts.

Skyler was nothing short of exceptional, hailing from the prestigious Malfoy family possessing extraordinary magical talents, striking looks, and a gentle demeanor.

He embodied the ideal partner for both them and their families.

Finding such a distinguished and talented match would benefit their families greatly.

Yet, they grappled with a significant issue: they might not be worthy of Skyler.

Aside from his family background, Skyler's current abilities and potential signaled that he was far from ordinary.

His demeanor hinted at a man with grand ambitions, one destined for greatness.

It was clear to the two girls that his future wife should match his status in terms of talent and reputation.

Both girls, wise beyond their years, were fully aware of each other's aspirations.

Though their friendship remained intact, it didn't hinder their silent competition.

Even if they both ended up marrying Skyler, they would vie for the position of the rightful wife.

Skyler remained oblivious to these intricate thoughts.

His past and present lives had not rendered him a master of the emotional realm.

He had been consumed by global adventures, eschewing long-term relationships in his previous life.

In this life, he devoted most of his time to enhancing his strengths and orchestrating various plans.

After Skyler cast the Disillusionment and Silencing Charm on all three of them, they traversed the dimly lit corridor and reached the end of the fourth-floor restricted area.

Skyler retrieved a music box from his pocket, producing several copies for the two girls.

Daphne and Meredith exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of what was transpiring.

Skyler wound the music box's mechanism, filling the air with a crisp melody. "The first challenge beyond this door is a three-headed dog imported from Greece by Hagrid. This ferocious beast's combat prowess rivals that of a dragon. It's typically used by wizards to guard treasure vaults. The three-headed dog can only be subdued by over five adult wizards, but it has an unexpected weakness—it falls asleep when it hears music. This music box can play for two to three minutes. We'll take turns winding the mechanism to keep the three-headed dog in a deep slumber."

Observing the two girls nod in understanding, Skyler organized their plan.

With his wand in hand, he tapped the door lock, whispering, "Alohomora!"

The lock clicked, and there was no low growl as the door creaked open.

As soon as the music box's tune filled the air, the three-headed dog's eyes drooped, swaying for a moment before succumbing to slumber.

Skyler directed them, "See the trapdoor behind the three-headed dog? Open it quickly."

He continued, "Remember, don't let the music stop. I don't want to become its breakfast."

As the two girls cautiously approached the enormous creature with its hot, foul breath, Daphne frowned, "Uh, the dog's body is blocking the trapdoor."

Meredith had a sudden realization.

She used the Levitation Charm she had learned in class to lift the three-headed dog's body away from the trapdoor.

Then, she bent down and pulled the latch on the trapdoor. With a creak, it swung open, revealing a dark hole below.

A triumphant expression graced Meredith's face as she turned to Skyler.

Skyler nodded in satisfaction, indicating they should take turns winding their music boxes.

He then asked, "Since there's nothing visible below and no ladder to descend, we'll need to jump straight down. Who wants to go first?"

Meredith displayed hesitation, understandably concerned about the daunting passage below.

Just as Meredith wavered, Daphne firmly stated, "I'll go first." She leaped into the hole but was halted by Skyler.

"It's commendable to confront the unknown with courage, but recklessness isn't advisable. In this situation, it's better to cast a Cushioning Charm on yourself before jumping. I assume you've learned it?" Skyler scrutinized Daphne.

She sighed in relief, affirming that she was indeed familiar with the charm.

Although her magical abilities didn't match Skyler's, she was among the more proficient first-year students, and the Cushioning Charm happened to be one of her mastered spells.

Once Daphne had jumped down, she landed with a peculiar, muffled thud on a soft surface.

Her eyes hadn't yet adjusted to the dim light of the new environment, but she could sense that she was seated atop some kind of plant.

She called up to the opening, "No problem! It's a soft landing. You can jump!"

Skyler followed suit, and Meredith descended afterward.

The music box on the ground continued to play, but its melody would soon conclude, and the slumbering three-headed dog would eventually awaken.

Even though there was a safety net of Devil's Snare below, Skyler had no intention of plummeting into it.

He chanted the Cushioning Charm, abruptly halting himself in mid-air.

Witnessing this, Meredith quickly followed suit, enchanting the spell on herself and floating beside Skyler.

Together, they descended gracefully, descending as if they were feathers.

Skyler pointed to the plant on the ground and inquired, "Do you recognize this plant on the ground?"

Meredith pondered for a moment and then appeared to recall something. Her face lit up in realization. "It's Devil's Snare!"

At that very moment, the Devil's Snare started wrapping around their legs.

In her frantic attempts to tear away the clinging vines, Daphne found that the more she struggled, the tighter they wound around her.

Meredith swiftly intervened, urging her to stop, "Don't struggle; the more you fight, the tighter the Devil's Snare becomes."

After some thought, Meredith continued, "Devil's Snare thrives in darkness and dampness, and it's afraid of fire and light."

Together, they cast Incendio to disperse the Devil's Snare.

Daphne, her dignity slightly wounded, cast an annoyed glance their way. "Are you two deliberately enjoying my misfortune? Couldn't you have come up with a solution?"

Skyler gave an awkward smile and replied, "Didn't I mention it? These challenges are meant to assess your ability to apply the knowledge you've acquired in everyday learning to real-life situations. It's not just about taking exams. Furthermore, it's vital to cultivate the ability to remain calm, think rationally, and make sound judgments in various circumstances. If you had remained calm just now, you'd have realized that this challenge primarily tested first-year level knowledge."