LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 34: Blessing
In the dimly lit Screaming Shack, Fred and George exchanged puzzled glances. Outside, Lee Jordan continued hopping around, occasionally shouting their names in an attempt to figure out what was happening inside.
However, the three inside unanimously ignored him.
A few seconds later, Fred and George spoke in unison:
"Blessing?"
"Yes," Viktor nodded.
"It's something fairies and Patronuses like to cast. I happened to learn it, though the effects are slightly weaker. It's said only those with a pure heart can wield the most powerful blessings."
"The effects of a blessing generally grant extraordinary wisdom or unparalleled courage."
The moment Viktor finished speaking, the Weasley twins' eyes lit up. They immediately dismissed the latter part (Courage? Who needs courage? Gryffindors are born with it!).
Their focus was solely on the word "wisdom."
Everyone knew the last known object that could bestow wisdom was Ravenclaw's Diadem, which was said to grant the wearer unparalleled intellect, allowing them to master any magic effortlessly. This legend had driven countless wizards to search for the diadem ever since its disappearance a millennium ago.
Although Ravenclaw's Diadem was irreplaceable, if blessings worked as the professor claimed, he surely wasn't lying.
Especially Viktor—a professor who seemed far too aloof to bother with deception.
At that moment, Fred and George could already envision themselves wearing the diadem, surpassing everyone in wisdom, and forever free of academic and prank-related worries.
They even began fantasizing:
"One day, no one at Hogwarts will match my brilliance. When I cast legendary ancient magic, Professor McGonagall will shed tears of joy..."
"Ahem."
"What are you two thinking about?"
Viktor cleared his throat twice and asked suspiciously, finally pulling Fred and George's attention back to the grimy little shack.
"Nothing, Professor!"
Fred and George responded in unison.
"Fine," Viktor frowned, clearly unconvinced, but he continued speaking.
"But I can only bless one of you. I'm still not entirely adept at the process. If I attempt more than one, the effect will diminish, and it won't be worth the effort."
"...Guess it's you, Fred."
"Me?"
Fred was taken aback.
"Speaking of which, Professor, how do you always tell us apart so easily? I've never asked before, but why is that?"
Even Mrs. Weasley couldn't distinguish them at a glance. Growing up, the twins had played countless rounds of "Who's Fred?"
But Viktor, without even sparing them a second glance, would always say with certainty:
"It's simple."
"It's your star of fate, Fred. Yours is dim and fading, whereas George's is relatively bright. If I don't bless you, the potential value you could create in the future will disappear along with it. That would be quite a pity."
Before Fred could ask any more bewildered questions, Viktor started pacing the room, scanning his surroundings until he stopped at a central corner of the shack.
This corner was on the left side of the Screaming Shack, featuring a tattered sofa, an old bed, a broken-legged stool, and a small cushion, suggesting that four people might have once lived there. Above them, the dilapidated wooden roof had a crack, allowing a single beam of sunlight to stream through.
"Alright, stand over there."
Without needing further instructions, Fred gleefully ran into the patch of sunlight.
Viktor gave him a nod.
"Ready to start, Professor?"
"..."
Viktor didn't reply immediately. He simply placed his wand back at his waist and stared directly at Fred for a moment. His eyes shimmered with an odd light, making his left and right eyes appear subtly mismatched.
Fred couldn't quite articulate what seemed off.
He only knew that the moment Viktor steadied himself, his gaze turned hollow, as though he was peering through Fred at something far beyond.
As their eyes met, Fred felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.
But before he could fully grasp the situation, Viktor spoke in a strange, ethereal voice:
"Beware—your enemy rises from below."
"He cannot be defeated, nor can he be stopped... His return is fated... None born of parents can harm him... None who scorn death can bring about his downfall..."
As Viktor spoke, the air seemed to chill, sending a shiver down Fred's spine. He instinctively wanted to exchange a glance with George, but the "blessing" process was brief. Viktor paused for only two seconds before continuing in a softer tone:
"Yet, pay no mind to who rages, who plots, or who conspires against you;
"You shall remain undefeated. Spells shall not pierce your body, nor shall shrapnel touch you;
"Until the southern woods move to Godric's Hollow,
"To challenge you."
"...It's done."
A few seconds later, Viktor abruptly spoke again.
The peculiar light in his eyes vanished instantly, as though it had never been there.
As Fred regained his senses, he felt no immediate change, only that the sunlight above seemed slightly blinding.
He took a few steps forward and asked incredulously, "That's it? It's over?"
"It's over," Viktor replied. "What more do you want? This is already quite good."
"But I don't feel any different?"
Fred began touching his face and hands, searching for any signs that his skin had turned to wood or iron, but found nothing.
Throughout the entire process, Viktor hadn't chanted any incantations or even used his wand. He had simply waved his hand lazily in the air in front of Fred's forehead, as if casually reading a palm.
Normally, the more powerful the magic, the more precise the incantation or ritual required.
Yet Viktor insisted:
"That's how blessings work. If you doubt its effectiveness, feel free to test it on a classmate. However..."
"...No, there's no 'however.'"
"You can leave now. It's done. But don't come back here again, or I'll make sure you end up in detention."
Viktor dismissed them curtly. Facing Fred and George's confused gazes, he showed no change in expression, merely adjusting his pointed hat to obscure his eyes.
As he turned away, Viktor thought to himself: Ah, my first blessing is complete.
Indeed, this had been his first time casting a blessing.
If not for the novelty, he wouldn't have impulsively decided to try it on Fred—after all, blessings were usually given only when requested.
True fairies and witches wouldn't casually use such a precious magic. The number of blessings they could grant in a lifetime was limited, and to squander one recklessly would tarnish their reputation.
But Viktor was different.
He had no reputation—oh no, he had no willing recipients for his magic.
In fact, ever since he learned how to cast blessings, no one had been willing to be his test subject. To this day, the memory still irked him.
Clearly, the people back in the kingdom lacked vision.
He had even gone out of his way to learn blessings while teaching Maleficent prophecy! Yet when he offered to demonstrate, from his dragon companions to the princes and princesses he met, every single one refused—some even avoided him outright.
Even the Magic Mirror had hidden itself!
As for Baba Yaga, her response had been:
"Don't mess with these old bones of mine. Everyone knows only the kindest fairies can cast blessings properly. And you? There's bound to be something... off with yours."
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