Inside the thick, white mist, the Aurors were descending into a state of sheer panic.
"Since when did the Farley family stop being neutral? Why would their daughter publicly declare her support for Ethan?!"
"Tsk, tsk... the folly of youth..."
"Quisquiliae Purge! Tergeo!"
After a moment of chaotic spell-casting, the eerie white mist finally dissipated. However, the train carriage that reappeared before them had transformed into something unrecognizable.
The patterned wallpaper on the walls seemed to be melting, flowing downward and warping into twisted, grotesque shapes. Dim lights flickered rhythmically, illuminating sections of the darkness only to make the shadows feel more threatening—as if something was waiting to lunge out at any second.
"L-look! The driver's cabin is gone!" an Auror shrieked, spinning around.
Behind them, where the engine and the driver's seat should have been, there was now only a corridor that stretched into an infinite, yawning abyss of darkness.
It was still the Hogwarts Express, but everything had shifted. It was as if they had been pulled into a macabre parallel dimension.
Gulp.
Paul, a rookie Auror who had only recently joined the force, swallowed hard. Terror began to claw its way up from the pit of his stomach. He knew Ethan Vincent was an eccentric, dangerous wizard, but he hadn't realized Ethan's associates were just as twisted.
Is this madness contagious?!
"It's... it's fine!" Paul puffed out his chest, trying his best to look brave. "It's just an enemy trick! There are so many of us! It's not like there's some scary monster waiting for—"
"Shut up, Paul!" the other Aurors hissed in unison.
Right then, a heavy THUD echoed from deep within the carriage ahead.
THUD. THUD. THUD.
The sound grew louder, vibrating through the floorboards as if something massive was stomping toward them, one deliberate step at a time. Paul's face went bone-white, his forced smile crumbling instantly. He looked at his comrades' furious glares and stammered:
"I-I was just talking! Besides, we're battle-hardened veterans! How big of a monster could fit in a train carriage anyway—"
BOOM!
A massive weight slammed into the floor ahead, making the entire carriage shudder. Paul swallowed again, his wand trembling as he stared into the oppressive darkness.
"I'm not scared...! I'm an adult Auror! Am I really supposed to be afraid of something a student dreamed up? Whether it's a troll or a Hebridean Black, bring... it... on..."
His voice trailed off into a pathetic whimper. He slowly tilted his head back, staring up at the figure emerging from the gloom.
THUD. THUD. THUD!
It had legs as thick as elephant trunks. Great mounds of rotting, gangrenous flesh were stacked upon its body like discarded tires, emitting a putrid stench. It hunched its back to fit, filling the entire width of the carriage. It was cruder and more savage than any mountain troll, but its tiny, bead-like green eyes glinted with a sharp, murderous intelligence.
Creeeeeak...
In its grip, it held a massive wooden club studded with jagged, rusty nails, stained with a dark, brownish-red grime. The design was intentional—the nails would tear through flesh and drag out organs as the club was pulled back.
[Name: Nightmare Inquisitor] [Rank: Tier 2 · Blue (Rare)] [Type: Portrait Creature] [Effect: A monster that appears in dreams. It is not limited to nightmares, but its presence turns any dream into one.] [Note: Cannot appear in reality, but is nearly invincible within the dream world.] [Description: According to its creator, he wanted to give everyone a "complete and memorable childhood."]
"Fire..." Paul stared at the monstrosity in horror, finally screaming, "INCENDIO!"
WHOOSH!
A fierce tongue of flame erupted from his wand, spiraling toward the monster and engulfing it completely.
"I got it!" Paul cheered, his adrenaline spiking. It was a powerful spell, fueled by his sheer desperation.
As the thick smoke cleared and the flames died down, Paul's joyful grin froze. The monster stood there, completely unscathed. There wasn't a single singe mark on its skin, let alone any sign of it being defeated.
"How... how is this possible?" Paul stumbled back, his legs shaking. "It's impossible!"
How could a monster created by a student be more powerful than an Auror's spell?!
Heh... heh heh...
The monster pulled its lips back into a grotesque sneer, a raspy, guttural laugh vibrating in its throat. It was mocking him. In the next heartbeat, it swung the nail-studded club downward with bone-shattering force!
CRASH!
The compartment door exploded into splinters, leaving a massive crater in the floor just inches from Paul's toes. Glass shards flew everywhere.
"WHAT ARE YOU STANDING THERE FOR?! RUN!!"
His partner grabbed him by the collar, snapping him out of his trance. Paul scrambled to his feet, turning to bolt down the endless corridor. For some reason, Apparition was blocked. They were forced to rely on their own legs, running for their lives.
THUD. THUD. THUD!
The frantic footsteps of the monster sounded like a death knell behind them. Paul's face shifted between flushed red and ghostly pale. He felt like a human who had accidentally stumbled into a Khorne-themed funfair.
"S-senior," Paul gasped, out of breath. "Can I... can I request a transfer? This Ethan Vincent guy... he's too much."
"No!" his senior replied instantly, his expression one of mock righteousness. "Do you know how much effort we put into tricking you into joining this squad? We're short-staffed! No resignations allowed!"
The senior suddenly turned to the dazed Paul, flashing a bizarre, unsettling grin.
"Nobody... escapes."
We're all going down with the Ethan ship.
Paul: "!!!"
Two seconds later, the man who had been brimming with confidence moments ago let out a wail like a stuck pig.
"NOOOOOOOO—!!!"
I don't want to do this anymore! Enlightenment Society, are you hiring?!
On the pitch-black windows of the train, ghostly reflections watched the chaotic pursuit in silence. Suddenly, they raised their thin, withered arms and began to clap. The rhythmic, hollow applause echoed through the carriage, blending with the monster's raspy laughter in a disturbing symphony.
Outside the Nightmare: The Real World
Gemma Farley stood by a window, adjusting her hair as she listened to the muffled, nonsensical screams of the unconscious Aurors lying on the floor.
She nodded slowly to herself. "It seems they are enjoying a very 'sweet' dream."
"Well then, it is time for me to depart."
Gemma tilted her slender, pale neck and spritzed on a bit of perfume. She rose, smoothed out her robes, and placed a hand over the golden lamp-shaped badge pinned to her left breast.
A moment later, a rhythmic thrumming sound echoed from the distance. Shadows began to stretch across the landscape as the sky seemed to dim. With a high-pitched whistle, a massive, pitch-black train—larger and more imposing than the Hogwarts Express—ground to a halt in front of her.
Hiss—
The doors slid open. A puppet conductor bowed respectfully.
["Welcome, Miss Farley. Please step inside. The Master has been expecting you."]
Gemma gave a sharp nod. With her chin tilted up and her back straight, she stepped onto the train with the elegance of someone attending a royal banquet.
The train let out a plume of steam, and the wheels began to churn once more. The massive iron beast surged forward, vanishing into thin air within seconds, as if passing into another dimension.
Hogwarts: The Chamber of Secrets
[You have used a clever diversion to successfully collect all of this year's new students! You have also gifted the Aurors a dream they will never forget!] [Soul Fusion increased by 0.08%!] [Current Fusion: 97.03%]
A ripple of magic spread through Ethan's body. Though the change was minuscule, these small increments would eventually culminate in a world-shattering transformation.
"Fusion is getting harder to increase," Ethan murmured, setting down his carving knife.
His cobalt-blue eyes reflected the lifelike wooden face in front of him. "If it's not something on the level of blowing up the Ministry of Magic, there's no significant growth... Sigh, how frustrating."
Despite his words, a playful, expectant glint danced in his eyes.
He was currently deep within the silent, subterranean Chamber of Secrets. Eerie green light flickered in the air, while the walls remained shrouded in shadow. The heavy iron doors, carved with serpents, groaned as they swung open.
"Lumos."
A brilliant orb of white light illuminated the room, chasing away the darkness. Dozens of humanoid figures stood against the stone walls. They were carved from fine wood—their faces and bodies were still somewhat rough, but they were all identical. Their eyeless sockets stared vacantly into the world, looking as though they might spring to life at any moment. They filled every corner of the chamber in perfect, silent ranks.
The newcomer paused at the sight, the light at the tip of her wand flickering. It was as if she regretted walking into such a bizarre scene unprepared.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The sound of high heels clicking against the stone floor echoed clearly before stopping a short distance behind Ethan.
Ethan didn't turn around. He simply smiled. "What do you think? Aren't my puppets adorable?"
He turned then, smiling at the young woman standing before him. Compared to his memory of her, Gemma Farley had shed some of her youthful edge, replaced by an air of cold, steady composure.
"Though they are far from finished, I believe they will be the perfect assistants for the students when the time comes!" Ethan tilted his head, looking genuinely puzzled. "The strange thing is... I clearly stated in my letters that I wanted to take away the children who didn't want to attend Hogwarts before my 'Puppet House' was finished—since the plan is to assign one puppet assistant to every student."
"But why did those parents complain? They even called me 'evil' and 'cruel'!" Ethan sighed, shaking his head in mock helplessness. "Goodness! They truly are strange. I have no idea what goes through their heads."
He looked exactly like a dedicated teacher who was being harassed by unreasonable parents.
Gemma Farley: "..."
Excellent. We've been talking for two minutes and he's already killed the conversation.That's so Ethan.
Feeling that familiar, "human-like" aura from him, Gemma's icy expression softened, and a small smile touched her lips. She opened her mouth to speak, but a figure stepped out from the shadows beside Ethan.
Clad in a white dress, she looked as though she were draped in moonlight; even the shadows seemed to retreat respectfully from her path. Luna Lovegood's long, silvery-blonde hair cascaded down her back. Her blue eyes fixed on the suddenly tense Gemma.
"Good evening, Miss Farley," Luna said with a faint smile. "Welcome back to Hogwarts."
Gemma didn't hide her scrutiny. Her initially dismissive gaze gradually turned wary.
"I remember you," Gemma said slowly. "Mr. Vincent's little shadow. You've changed quite a bit over the last two years."
In Gemma's memory, this blonde girl was a whimsical country waif who was constantly covered in dirt. Now, she radiated an aura of profound mystery. Like the moon hanging in the night sky, her pale, serene face hid thoughts that no one could fathom. Furthermore, she was radiating a thick, powerful magic.
Gemma felt the hair on her arms stand up. Her hand instinctively drifted toward her wand.
The two women stared at each other in silence. Their magic clashed in the air like static electricity, crackling between them. Ethan stood right in the center of the storm, neither side willing to back down.
In the midst of this silent standoff, Ethan suddenly let out a sharp "Ah!"
He slapped his forehead and shouted, as if the girls weren't even there: "The angle of the nose should be one millimeter to the left! That would be much more realistic!"
With that, he dove back toward his wooden puppet, his eyes burning with focus as he began to carve with absolute concentration.
Gemma fell silent for a moment, then let out a sudden, mocking snort. She waved a hand, dissipating the scent of her perfume. It was useless anyway. She gave a curt nod to Luna as a greeting and turned to Ethan.
"Mr. Vincent, as per your request, I have trapped the Aurors who intended to intercept the train."
"Perfect." Ethan gave his artwork one final look before turning to Gemma with a brilliant smile. "Thank you for your help, Miss Farley."
"...It was merely for the interests of my family. I hope you won't disappoint the House of Farley." Despite her cold words, a faint, almost imperceptible blush crept onto Gemma's cheeks under Ethan's gaze.
"The timing should be right," Ethan said, adjusting his collar. He no longer needed Ageing Potion to look like a man grown. He pulled a pure white mask from his robes and pressed it onto his face.
The moment the mask covered his handsome features, Ethan's aura shifted. He became something uncanny, something beyond human. Even Gemma felt a surge of nervous tension.
She was immensely glad she was on his side. She couldn't imagine having to face this "monster" as an enemy. Standing before his tall, straight silhouette, even the terrifying Inquisitor from the nightmare seemed like a mere shadow.
A swirling portal—the Anywhere Door—appeared before them.
Gemma suddenly remembered something. "Are you still the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor this year, Mr. Vincent?"
"No," Ethan replied. "If I steal Professor Snape's job again, he'll definitely throw a tantrum. I'm taking a different position."
Gemma frowned. She knew Professor Slughorn had been rehired—and was currently at the top of the Ministry's wanted list. She hadn't heard of any other professors being sacked. Was Ethan going to be a "Disciplinary Officer"? Filch, that Squib, would lose his mind.
As Gemma was thinking, Ethan, with one foot already through the door, turned his head.
"Oh, by the way, your perfume smells lovely. It reminds me of the flower fields in France."
With that, he stepped through the portal. Luna glanced at the stunned Gemma, then followed him. Before her figure disappeared, a few beautiful small flowers bloomed in her pale-blonde hair.
Gemma's mouth hung open as she stared at the empty doorway. It took her a long time to snap out of it. She bit her lip, her face turning crimson, and finally stamped her foot in frustration, forgetting her composure entirely.
"Curse him! Curse that... that Ethan!"
After venting for a moment, she took a deep breath. Blushing, she silently reached for her perfume and sprayed herself again.
At least nobody saw that...
["Ah, youth... I shall convey your feelings to the Master."]
A sighing voice drifted from one of the wooden puppets.
Gemma: "..."
What is wrong with this place?
Her face instantly reverted to a cold, expressionless mask as she bolted through the portal. Her movements looked suspiciously like a retreat.
The Great Hall
The Sorting Ceremony had concluded, and the students were whispering amongst themselves.
"I can't believe there are actually new students this year. I thought they wouldn't come!"
"They didn't want to, but Ethan basically dragged them here."
"How can you say that about Mr. Lamp? It's not kidnapping... it's an 'invitation'!"
At the Gryffindor table, Ron stared hungrily at his empty gold plate, muttering, "Why hasn't Dumbledore started the speech yet? Why is he just standing there like a statue? Is he waiting for Ethan? Can't he just let us eat first?"
Seamus leaned in, looking curious. "Speaking of which, what is Ethan up to this year? I saw Professor Snape looking incredibly smug earlier!"
"Tsk, they definitely made some dark, unspeakable deal."
"Anyway, I just hope Ethan isn't the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor anymore... I don't want another year of that torture!"
While the students gossiped, a pitch-black portal opened on the staff dais.
When the figure in the pure white mask stepped out, the noisy Great Hall fell into an immediate, heavy silence. Hundreds of gazes—filled with a mix of adoration, awe, and trembling fear—locked onto him.
He walked right past Professor Dumbledore and stood behind the owl lectern.
A clear, rich voice flowed from behind the mask:
"Greetings to students old and new. Welcome to a new academic year at Hogwarts."
"I am your new Headmaster. You may address me as—"
"Mr. Lamp."
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