Chapter 111: Mastering the Levitation Charm
"No one has taught me Apparition yet, and I don't dare to try it casually myself."
Dylan browsed through Voldemort's skill vault, and after eliminating most of the spells that required complex rituals to take effect, the remaining Unforgivable Curses were completely unnecessary for him to choose.
—After all, he had already maxed them out.
As for ordinary dark magic, he might as well wait until school started, get that flashy autograph, and go directly to the Restricted Section to read forbidden books.
So, after much deliberation, Dylan still wanted to directly master Voldemort's Apparition.
Besides that, the Levitation Charm Voldemort had researched was also quite good.
The former could help Dylan with long-distance or short-distance teleportation.
The latter could greatly compensate for his positioning issues during combat.
Thinking back to the sharp confrontation between Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape, Snape directly used the Levitation Charm to evade several of McGonagall's spells, then shattered the glass and left Hogwarts.
Dylan thought this spell was also good.
Moreover, after mastering the Levitation Charm, he could directly transform himself into a black mist, no longer needing to rely on a flying broom.
In terms of speed alone, the Levitation Charm naturally couldn't compare to Apparition, which was almost teleportation.
However, the reason Voldemort researched the Levitation Charm was precisely because he could use this spell, even while fighting other wizards, without losing focus.
And he wouldn't have to worry about operating Apparition during intense magical duels, where a moment's carelessness could lead to problems.
Getting killed by the enemy was one thing, but tearing oneself apart or shattering into pieces... that wouldn't be worth it.
"If I want to make my name as the Fool known and let the entire wizarding world know the terror of Karthus, this summer will probably involve many duels with other wizards."
—And to quickly unlock more abilities of the suitcase, he also needed to earn money quickly.
"So, should I take Apparition or the Levitation Charm?"
The Levitation Charm was a dark magic spell completely self-developed by Voldemort. According to common sense, it was absolutely impossible for anyone to teach him.
As for Apparition, usually, one had to wait until the sixth or seventh year to be eligible to apply for learning it.
But based on his image in the professors' minds, whether it was Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall, or even Professor Flitwick.
Even Dumbledore.
Had taught him advanced magic ahead of time.
Learning Apparition, after the professors determined he was capable of learning it, they would most likely teach him early as well.
"The key is, Dumbledore obviously uses Apparition much more skillfully than Voldemort. Voldemort himself hasn't mastered Apparition to the max level, so learning it directly would be a loss for me."
After careful consideration, Dylan still decided to learn Voldemort's Levitation Charm.
In fact, Voldemort also had some research on the Finite Incantatem, but his proficiency wasn't very high either.
Moreover, Dylan himself had also learned the Finite Incantatem.
His proficiency wasn't very high either.
So, if Voldemort had mastered this spell proficiently, Dylan could have taken this ability.
However, Voldemort's mastery of the Finite Incantatem, although not low-level, wasn't particularly high either.
It wasn't as good as an advanced Levitation Charm.
—Although Voldemort hadn't practiced the Levitation Charm to the max level either, after all, it was a spell he created himself, and there must still be areas that needed continuous improvement.
But this was a spell that Dylan didn't know.
"That's decided then!"
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[Message]: Congratulations on mastering the seventh-level spell — Tenebris Volo (Shadow Flight of the Nether Mist)!
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Dylan closed his eyes slightly, and in his mind, the specific knowledge about Voldemort's Levitation Charm had already emerged.
It was an extremely magical feeling. This spell seemed to involve and entangle the power of Transfiguration, while also containing a lot of dark magic knowledge.
The moment he mastered it, Dylan even had further insights and improvements regarding other dark magic spells.
Slowly opening his eyes, Dylan pondered to himself.
"In the original work, little Voldy and Professor Snape seemed to be the only two wizards who mastered the Levitation Charm, but in the movies, whether it's white wizards or dark wizards, they also seem to have this kind of flying ability."
—Transforming oneself into black or white smoke.
"Now that I'm in this real world, I'm really not sure if others might have mastered the power of flight."
Because according to one of the most popular books in the Hogwarts library—Quidditch Through the Ages.
Dylan remembered that even in the movie version, the first page of this book stated that spells that could allow wizards to fly without the aid of flying tools had not yet been invented.
That's why in Quidditch matches, wizards had to ride flying brooms.
However, after Dylan had read this book, he found that sentence was gone.
From this, Dylan couldn't help but speculate in his heart.
—Perhaps the Levitation Charm might have already spread among the higher echelons of the wizarding world.
After all, it was a means of flying directly without the aid of a flying broom.
After Voldemort demonstrated it, how could it not be coveted by others?
And why would Professor Snape know this spell?
And even dare to use it openly?
It couldn't possibly be something he secretly learned from Voldemort, right?
Dylan believed that Voldemort himself had a bit of a tendency to enjoy being a teacher.
—Otherwise, he wouldn't always be thinking about becoming a professor.
Besides that, Snape was one of Voldemort's most trusted subordinates.
Teaching him a few spells, Dylan felt, was not impossible.
What if, through brainstorming, the Levitation Charm was further improved?
Wouldn't Voldemort himself be happy then?
For this reason, perhaps Voldemort even held special lectures when meeting with the Death Eaters, just to allow his subordinates to master more magical knowledge.
And to acknowledge, or rather, feel the greatness of his, Voldemort's, creation of magic.
It was just that due to the high difficulty of the Levitation Charm, in the end, only Professor Snape had learned it.
Dylan felt the power of advanced Transfiguration in this Levitation Charm, and not only that, but Dylan also felt a lot of profound magical knowledge.
—Perhaps it was precisely because of this that Professor Snape's position in Voldemort's heart rose another level.
After all, who wouldn't be fond of a subordinate who was completely focused on himself, intelligent, quick-witted, easy to teach, and stood out like a crane among a flock of chickens among a group of idiots and fools?
Not to mention little Voldy, even if Dylan had such a subordinate, he would treat him as a confidant!
—He wasn't saying he wanted to treat Professor Snape as a subordinate.
—He hadn't even thought about it that way.
"But the wizards in this world aren't just Voldemort and Professor Snape who are smart. Just because the Death Eaters couldn't learn it doesn't mean other wizards can't."
After Voldemort had demonstrated the Levitation Charm and might have even taught others, it wasn't impossible for the spell to spread.
Even if other wizards couldn't create spells, the possibility of them taking existing spells and modifying them to suit their own needs was something Dylan believed definitely had a chance of happening.
"If everyone is keeping the Levitation Charm a secret, then I need to learn this spell even more."
Having basically extracted all the valuable achievement rewards, Dylan finally finished his sundae and cake.
"Sigh, I was originally thinking of seeing if I could find some unusual things in the black market—like living magical creatures, but it's not convenient to go there now."
Dylan shook his head.
Ordinary magical creatures could be bought, but he wasn't interested.
High-level magical creatures basically relied on smuggling, so he could only think of ways through the black market.
So now the Aurors' constant searches made it impossible for him to handle these things.
Dylan also didn't suggest letting the names of Karthus and the Fool spread for a while longer.
—Sometimes, appearing too many times in a short period isn't good.
It would make people feel there was no mystery.
And without mystery, people would lack awe.
Dylan tidied up, planning to go home.
But before that, he could buy some things in Diagon Alley that could simply decorate his suitcase.
—Fortunately, although the suitcase had many other functions that needed to be unlocked, Dylan could easily arrange the current space.
—After all, it was a suitcase.
After opening it, it wouldn't be like an ordinary bag where you could directly see inside.
In this regard, it was similar to Newt's suitcase.
On the surface, it was covered by a camouflage layer. Even if directly opened, in the eyes of those Muggles, it was just an ordinary, unremarkable box.
"When the suitcase's abilities are all unlocked, I can roughly divide the space inside the suitcase into several areas."
By then, the entire suitcase could almost be considered another small world.
He could even cast the Fidelius Charm on it to hide it.
However, his Fidelius Charm proficiency wasn't very high yet. Fortunately, the suitcase itself hadn't unlocked other abilities, so this wasn't urgent.
"In the future, if my identity is exposed, Mom and Dad can also directly get into my suitcase. If it can become an entire world... they won't be so bored here."
After leaving Diagon Alley, Dylan went to the Muggle world and bought a lot of food and various parts.
Although most of the things in the wizarding world were very useful and could provide him with a lot of convenience when stored in his space, there were also many things that Muggle gadgets were very useful for.
Like the Lumos Lamp.
It could turn on and off according to the owner's instructions.
—Wasn't that just like a Muggle voice-activated light? ...
Time flew by, and almost a month had passed.
After being dormant for more than half a month, Dylan once again transformed into Karthus, bearing the title of the Fool, and walked the dark paths daily, robbing several dark wizards who tried to act improperly towards him.
This alone brought him another forty to fifty thousand Galleons.
Although these people weren't as wealthy as Mr. Borgin, there were many of them.
There were always a few guys who tried to attack him when he repeatedly walked the dark paths.
In the end, they were all attacked by Dylan.
"This is called reaping what you sow."
Dylan weighed the money bags in his hand, very satisfied.
One million Galleons seemed like a lot, but if one person could contribute ten thousand Galleons, he only needed to "beg" from a hundred people.
If someone could be as generous as Mr. Borgin and willingly open their purse for him.
He might only need to "beg"... from a dozen people.
"It's just a pity that it took me a long time to find this dark path, and after I've 'consulted' a few waves recently, surprisingly no more dark wizards are coming this way."
Especially in the past two days, Dylan had waited for a long time before he finally encountered a brave soul who wanted to ambush him.
Shaking his head, Dylan put on the Shadow Ring and quickly disappeared from the spot.
After he changed his clothes and came to the street.
Dylan looked around.
"Ron wrote to me, Harry's with him, and he asked me to come over and hang out. Since I don't have anything to do at home anyway, I might as well go."
Dylan really had nothing to do at home now.
—He was the only one there.
Some time ago, when Dylan once again walked the dark wizarding world under the name of Karthus.
It was after Dylan's parents had stayed with him at home for half a month that they couldn't bear it any longer. They planned to take advantage of the time before Dylan went back to school, when they weren't so busy, to quickly go on another trip.
They had politely asked Dylan if he wanted to go with them.
Having experienced the "third wheel" situation for this period, Dylan decisively refused.
He felt that his parents really wanted to give him another younger sibling.
"Sigh, once people have money, they really do change."
They used to love him so much, and after only a year of him being away at school, the situation completely reversed. Their hearts were no longer with him.
If his parents weren't away from home, Dylan wouldn't have run out to walk the dark paths every day, luring those dark wizards.
"But is it not too good to visit so late?"
After thinking for a moment, Dylan dismissed the idea.
Whether it was good or not, would Mrs. Weasley really not receive him?
"It just so happens that this dark wizard had some small gift boxes on him, I don't know where he swiped them from, but they'll be perfect as gifts."
No sooner said than done.
Dylan, wearing the Shadow Ring and concealed, directly shot into the sky.
After mastering the Shadow Flight of the Nether Mist, Dylan was no longer accustomed to riding a flying broom.
The two places weren't far apart.
The Weasleys lived just outside Ottery St. Catchpole in Devon, England.
It also had a nice name—The Burrow.
Actually, Dylan thought calling it "The Shack" would also be fitting.
When Dylan gradually approached his destination, he mounted his newly bought Nimbus 2000, deactivated the Levitation Charm and the Shadow Ring's effect, and leisurely flew towards the Burrow.
—He didn't want the Weasleys, who were members of the Order of the Phoenix, to see him skillfully using Voldemort's Levitation Charm.
After mounting the broom and flying a short distance further, he immediately saw the Weasleys' house—it was indeed quite dilapidated.
A building at least four stories high, built crookedly, making Dylan feel like it would collapse at any moment.
Chimneys stood tall on the red roof, and the whole thing looked like a stack of blocks put together with magic.
—Full of a unique, irregular beauty.
There was a yard in front of the house and a garden in the back, with a chicken coop, garage, and broom shed in the yard.
There was also a pigsty.
The garden had a lot of weeds, but some parts had been cleared and planted with vegetables.
It gave off a rather rustic feeling.
Dylan didn't hover in the air for too long. He quickly landed on his broom.
—He saw the plump Mrs. Weasley standing at the door, quietly watching him.
After he landed, Mrs. Weasley had a smile on her face, but her eyes revealed a strange look as she sized Dylan up.
"At this time... child, is there something wrong?"
Dylan glanced at the pitch-black sky, then smiled shyly and apologetically.
"Oh, you are so beautiful that you make the surrounding flowers pale in comparison. I presume you must be Mrs. Weasley?"
Mrs. Weasley didn't expect Dylan to shower her with such exaggerated compliments right away. Although a bit embarrassed, she couldn't help but cover her cheeks and smile even more at such a sweet-talking little boy.
"I am."
Dylan followed up, "Hello, I'm Ron's roommate. My name is Dylan Hockwood. I wonder if Ron has mentioned me to you?"
"Ah?" Mrs. Weasley paused, her gaze sweeping over Dylan once more. "You're Dylan?"
How could he be so tall?
Why hadn't Ron mentioned this to her?
With that build, he looked more like George's roommate!
She had just seen a wizard flying this way and wondered what was happening!
In the end, this wizard turned out to be a little boy, and when he introduced himself, he was actually a little fellow who hadn't even started his second year!
Mrs. Weasley didn't think too much about it, just quickly smoothed out her somewhat stiff smile and said, "Ron has told me about you. Not just him, but Fred and George have also mentioned you."
"They all said they made a good friend at school, very smart and well-liked by the professors."
Mrs. Weasley stepped aside. "Come in, Ron and the others aren't here yet. I'm waiting for them right now."
Dylan blinked. "Not home?"
Mrs. Weasley took Dylan's hand, leading him across the threshold and into the house.
Soon, his arms were filled with all sorts of snacks by Mrs. Weasley.
"This is Ron's share, you can eat it all."
Dylan looked at the big bag of things in his arms, blinking again.
Wasn't this a bit too much?
Mrs. Weasley led Dylan to the sofa to sit down and poured him a cup of hot tea.
"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley," Dylan said elegantly, gently placing the bags of snacks aside before taking the teacup from her.
Mrs. Weasley smiled, then muttered to herself, "You look so well-behaved. If only Ron and the others could be so worry-free for me. You wouldn't believe it, those mischievous little devils actually—"
Before she could finish her sentence, a sudden commotion erupted outside the house.
Dylan cocked his ear to listen. It sounded like...
"A car engine?"
(End of chapter)
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