"Professor, it seems no one's particularly excited about your return."
In the office, Draco watched Tver leaf through a document, sounding bored and faintly teasing.
Tver had not deliberately hidden his return, so naturally, word had spread on its own.
He simply had not expected that after an entire weekend, the students' reaction would be so lukewarm. Aside from Harry's trio, Neville, and Draco, who had come by to visit him, the others could almost be described as indifferent.
Tver himself did not quite know how to feel about it.
To say he cared would not be right. On the international stage, saying he could summon wind and rain would be an exaggeration, but he was undeniably famous. There was no way he would feel hurt just because a bunch of greenhorn students ignored him.
But to say he did not care…
He had worked so hard… Well, perhaps not that hard, but he had still taught them wholeheartedly for more than four years!
Although he had occasionally used them to test his ideas and practice the magical knowledge he had gained from the founders…
All right, that did seem a little unkind…
But how had these little brats changed their loyalties so quickly?!
"That only proves Sirius is a good teacher. After all, I taught everyone for more than four years. It's only natural they would find Sirius's teaching fresh and interesting."
Tver pursed his lips, his attention still fixed on the document in his hand.
To be precise, it was Dumbledore's report on his experience using the Resurrection Stone.
After that day, all Tver had found in the Headmaster's office was this report and an emptied tissue box.
As for what had actually happened, even after he asked the portraits and the Sorting Hat, there was no way to know.
But during his brief contact with Dumbledore afterward, Tver could clearly feel the sharpness coming from the First White Wizard.
In the past, Dumbledore had already stood at a height in the wizarding world where one might call it lonely at the top. To keep himself from seeming too far above everyone else, he could maintain his composure even when facing provocation from someone like Fudge.
The occasional edge he showed appeared only in a handful of urgent situations.
But now, although his movements, expression, and tone had not changed, every gesture carried a piercing force that allowed no refusal.
And that sharpness was perfectly reflected in this report.
"The Resurrection Stone recalls more than the living's memories of the dead. In other words, the figure one sees is not simply what one wishes to see, but the true and definite thoughts of the deceased.
I suspect that when the dead pass on, a thread of their will remains in this world.
It resembles a ghost in some ways, and also resembles the imprint of a Horcrux within Limbo, but it is unconscious. This lingering attachment also cannot form a shape the way a ghost can.
Most importantly, I could clearly sense that some powerful force was affecting Ariana's existence, as though it did not wish to see the dead return.
I do not believe that force is the Grim Reaper. If it were, I could not possibly have failed to sense it.
I believe this should be the law of life and death. I remember Nicolas Flamel once telling me that the longer one remains in this world, the stronger the feeling of rejection becomes.
I used to think that feeling came from being out of step with the times. Now, it seems it should be the power of this law restraining him.
Although I do not understand why you are suffering this pressure at such a young age. Perhaps it has something to do with that badge? In any case, if you need it, I can give you the Elder Wand at any time.
After all, I have always felt that the Elder Wand does not suit my hand as well as my previous wand."
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
The words were clearly written in ink, yet Tver could feel Dumbledore's domineering confidence from them.
Forget everything else. That was the Elder Wand.
Even Harry had used the Elder Wand to repair his own wand.
Even Ollivander would have to spend countless effort and precious materials to repair a wand.
Yet Dumbledore was actually complaining about it.
Then just give it to me!
Tver shook the report in annoyance.
He had more or less guessed the contents already. This only confirmed them further.
His crossing over because of the badge had triggered restrictions from the rules of the world. The so-called Grim Reaper was the embodiment of these rules of life and death.
Tver's goal, then, was to break free from that restriction.
To be honest, he was not completely without countermeasures. In fact, after understanding this point, he had already thought of several possible methods.
For example, he could let himself "die" once. There was just one small problem.
How to come back to life afterward…
Or he could simply endure it head-on.
When soldiers came, he would send generals. When water came, he would block it with earth. At worst, he could learn how to make the Elixir of Life from Nicolas Flamel and, with his abundant vitality and formidable power, take endless pleasure in struggling against the heavens.
But honestly, that was not elegant enough.
Yes. Thinking of this, Tver could not help smiling, as though he had found an amusing new toy.
Overturning the Statute of Secrecy was no longer particularly difficult for him now that Dumbledore had officially joined. He only needed to proceed step by step according to his meticulous plan, and the world he envisioned would arrive on schedule.
But was he going to stop there?
Even though he always talked about slacking off and complained about one job after another, the truth was…
Challenging the rules of the world sounded incredibly interesting just to think about.
Unexpectedly, Draco, who was sitting opposite him, was the first to be unsettled.
The resentful words at the beginning were understandable, but why had the professor suddenly started smiling?
And it was the kind of excited smile that looked as if he was about to stir up trouble. If the other students saw it, they might think the professor had been controlled by Voldemort!
After considering it for a moment, Draco decided to bring up the real reason he had come before the professor got too excited and forgot about him.
The professor had done that before!
"Although Professor Black usually doesn't pay much attention to Slytherin students, in class, he really does teach everyone fairly. The lessons are interesting too, so it's only natural that everyone likes him."
"Perhaps it's just that Umbridge and Karkaroff were too useless. By comparison, the students naturally feel more favorable toward Professor Black."
"Oh?"
Tver was pulled back from his thoughts and looked at Draco curiously.
If Draco was respectfully calling him Professor Black, then Sirius's performance really did seem to be quite good.
Draco did not notice Tver's surprise and continued with the speech he had prepared before coming.
"Professor, you don't need to be discouraged. Maybe if you teach everyone one or two lessons. Of course, more would be even better. Maybe everyone's attention will turn back to you."
Looking at Draco's expectant face, how could Tver not see through his little scheme?
"Actually, I don't care where your attention is. Of course, if it's only a matter of teaching, that's not impossible…"
Draco immediately asked excitedly, "Really?"
"Of course."