HP: Professor From Azkaban

A green, vibrant chest slowly opened in the void, releasing a shimmering card.

[Confuser of Blessed Curses: After the last curse fatally backfired on the caster upon killing the victim, this curse has entered a strange state. Now, as the new cursed individual confuses the names of targets, the curse has spiraled into chaos after shifting to a new victim.]

[Confusion (Passive): When the number of targets exceeds two, the killing effect is nullified, and all other effects are significantly weakened. This card will self-destruct after the death of the first victim in the current cycle.]

Was that last part really necessary?

Feigning silence, William opened the chest without hesitation.

The result surprised him slightly; this information about the curse killing someone was completely different from what Dumbledore had told him.

Before starting at Hogwarts, he had been informed that the most severely injured had spent a year and a half in the hospital.

It was good news that the new Professor wouldn't be killed and that the curse's effects would be significantly weakened, but the idea of a fatal curse victim couldn't be ignored.

Feigning calm, William raised his head and casually asked Dumbledore, "Professor Dumbledore, I'd like to know who my predecessor was. There are still many things I don't fully understand, and I'd like to send an owl to ask him some questions; hopefully, he wouldn't mind."

It was perfectly normal for a successor to consult their predecessor.

But William noticed that Dumbledore's expression changed. After a moment of silence, Dumbledore finally responded.

"I wish to keep this matter confidential because it could cause widespread panic in the wizarding world. However, I believe that in the coming days, we will encounter that person more frequently. I think, William, you will become one of our allies. I can tell you everything, but you must swear not to reveal it."

"Alright, I swear."

William extended his hand and pointed his wand at it. In the black market, brewing certain illegal potions often required oaths with various levels of confidentiality.

A pale yellow beam flowed from his wand. After a vow carrying a compensation clause of three thousand Galleons, William got the answer he wanted.

"Your predecessor was Professor Quirrell. Unfortunately, he died during his tenure, but it wasn't due to the curse. He trusted the wrong person; he was personally killed by the one who cast that curse."

"The caster?"

"Yes, a former student of mine; Voldemort. He was furious when I refused to appoint him as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and cursed the position. Although I have some knowledge of Dark Arts, I'm not skilled enough to lift the curse."

William glanced at the card in his bag labeled [Dark Wizard Dumbledore] and decided not to interrupt.

"Wait a minute, Professor Dumbledore. If I remember correctly, the Dark Lord was defeated ten years ago. How could he have appeared at Hogwarts and killed the previous professor?"

"I said ten years ago that he would eventually return. He manipulated Professor Quirrell and used him to infiltrate Hogwarts. After being defeated, he killed Quirrell."

William recalled the scene of Voldemort's rebirth he had seen. Only now did he realize that Hogwarts was far more dangerous than he had imagined.

The Dark Lord, whom even Azkaban inmates referred to as the Mysterious One, wasn't just scheming in secret to revive himself. He had begun targeting Hogwarts even before his full resurrection; and eventually succeeded in restoring his body. If it weren't for the curse entangling him, William would likely have fled abroad.

"That's all I can tell you for now. Much of what I know is speculation, and I'm still gathering evidence to confirm it. I hope this information clears up your doubts. The matter of Professor Quirrell must not be disclosed to the outside world. I don't want you to think we deceived you when you learn more about him in the future," Dumbledore said sincerely.

"I understand, Headmaster."

***

After seeing Dumbledore off, William uncharacteristically spent a long time in a daze.

He couldn't help it; the information he had just received was overwhelming.

When he thought about it carefully, all he had done was inquire about the previous Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Even if an explanation was necessary, was it really worth Dumbledore's heartfelt confession to a temporary professor like him?

Although bound by an oath, this unnecessary effort hardly seemed worth Dumbledore's trouble.

No favor comes without a reason.

Based on what he had learned from the inmates and Tom; Dumbledore didn't have a granddaughter or granddaughter-in-law of marrying age. The only explanation was Dumbledore's so-called prediction, made ten years ago, about the Dark Lord's return.

This uninspiring thought made William momentarily resent the notes he had prepared on the table. However, he quickly adjusted his mindset.

Since that troublesome curse had already targeted him, he was determined to eliminate Voldemort.

Even though the new card had hinted at a weakened curse, William remained extremely cautious. Weakened? What exactly did weakened mean?

Would he be paralyzed in his next life?

Permanently lose an arm or a leg to dark magic?

Maybe lose an ear or an eye?

Sorry, but he was quite fond of all his organs and had no intention of donating them just because some guy called the Dark Lord wanted them.

With that thought, he gave up on resting, flipped to the bookmarked page in his book, and prepared his paper and quill to continue studying.

Killing Voldemort wasn't something that could be accomplished by mere words. While relying solely on reading to kill him was nearly impossible, studying could help him get closer to the Dark Lord.

Then, with the system, the mysterious prophecy that might fulfill itself someday, and the power of the greatest white wizard, he could take down Voldemort.

Knock, knock, knock--

Someone knocked on the door.

"Come in. It's not locked," William shouted toward the entrance, annoyed.

No need to guess; it was definitely Tom.

Sure enough, when the door opened, William had already pointed his wand at the intruder: Tom, making his fourth visit. Ever since discovering the curse, William's wand was always the first thing he reached for.

The tea, hot chocolate, nuts, and other items that clearly didn't belong in a bar were all brought in by Tom, just so he could catch a glimpse of Dumbledore.

"Oh, Professor Dumbledore left?"

"He left. Any longer and he might have burst. You really outdid yourself, gathering all these snacks in a bar."

"Snacks? Now that you mention it, I almost forgot. The rests on me, but that hot chocolate is ten sickles. This bar doesn't serve hot chocolate. That's from somewhere else."

William rolled his eyes at him in exasperation.