Hogwarts was vast, especially considering the severe shortage of new students. Even if they gathered all the children in Godric's Hollow, they wouldn't fill a single house of the future Hogwarts.
There were few students, but even fewer staff.
Aside from the Four Founders, the only other professor was Rolanda Hooch.
Despite the severe staff shortage, Salazar Slytherin insisted on teaching Terence and Rey separately.
"They are here to learn the Dark Arts; they need private instruction. Or are any of you willing to teach them the Dark Arts instead?"
Whenever the other three indignantly demanded Salazar take up the post of Potions Master, he would reply with this cold statement. Especially towards Godric Gryffindor—Salazar rarely spoke to him now, preferring to silence him with an icy glare.
After all, Rey Faest had been recommended to Salazar by Godric.
In the dungeons of Slytherin, within what would become the Potions classroom.
Currently, aside from tables and stools, it lacked the countless jars of pickled specimens that Snape would later display.
If there were more students, studying here wouldn't be an issue. But with just Rey and Terence in the massive, silent dungeon, it felt somewhat unnerving.
The environment was dim. And Professor Salazar, aside from his occasional warmth toward Godric (in the past), rarely showed anyone a pleasant face.
Stepping into this dungeon, Salazar seemed to transform. He radiated a chill that made not only the cautious Rey but even Terence tremble with fear.
"Are you thinking that Dark Magic must be learned in an environment like this?"
"That 'Dark Wizard' is synonymous with evil and filth?"
"That Dark Magic is inherently linked to death, curses, and terror?"
"Tell me now. Is that what you think? Terence, you go first."
Salazar questioned them coldly, sounding like he had swallowed gunpowder. When he finally named Terence Barrow, the already trembling boy shuddered involuntarily.
As Salazar's disciple, he knew his teacher best.
Salazar's current state was explosive. Terence had never seen his teacher this angry before.
"Professor, I believe Dark Magic isn't necessarily like that, but it is certainly related to the things you mentioned. Compared to White Magic, I think it is more dangerous."
Terence sat up straight, thought for a moment, and answered promptly.
His answer was conventional and safe. Salazar nodded in acknowledgment. Only then did Terence Barrow let out a deep breath of relief.
"And your answer? Mr. Rey Faest. Let me hear your brilliant opinion. If it's just superficial understanding like Terence's, I'll throw you out of this classroom. You can go learn Dark Magic from that mad lion, Godric Gryffindor."
Salazar's voice was suppressed with anger. On the surface, he sounded calm, but Rey could feel the raging storm beneath. He believed that if he couldn't give a satisfactory answer, Salazar would absolutely kick him out.
"Professor, please let me think for a moment. It's hard to answer in a rush."
Rey requested respectfully.
There is no shame in a student asking a professor for time.
Moreover, Salazar Slytherin was clearly furious because of Godric Gryffindor. Rey didn't know what conflict had arisen between them, but it had enraged Salazar to this extent.
Rey had clearly heard him call Godric a "mad lion" just now.
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The reason Salazar Slytherin was exceptionally angry today was a significant conflict with the other three founders over the allocation of Hogwarts' resources.
Hogwarts was built to provide a good learning environment for children with magical abilities.
That was their original intention.
Salazar Slytherin believed that compared to the children of poor Muggles, pure-blood wizards had more magical talent. Therefore, Hogwarts' various learning resources should be tilted toward the more talented pure-blood students.
When Salazar voiced this idea, he expected opposition from Rowena Ravenclaw and Helga Hufflepuff. But what infuriated him was that the first person to oppose him was his best friend, Godric Gryffindor.
Allocating more resources to students with better talent wasn't wrong in his eyes. But that mad lion had bluntly stated: All children with magic should be treated equally, and resources should be distributed evenly.
Salazar wouldn't have been this angry if anyone else had opposed him. The key was Godric's opposition—that was what he couldn't stand.
That his best friend, someone he would trust with his life, was the first to oppose his ideology—how could he not be heartbroken?
At this moment, more than his rejected philosophy, Salazar Slytherin cared about Godric's opposition.
He was driven mad by Godric, which led to him making things difficult for Rey now.
This kid is from the future, isn't he? Godric Gryffindor cares about him, doesn't he? Well then, let me, Salazar, see what's so special about this student from the future.
Otherwise, get back to where you came from.
Salazar's thoughts were plainly written on his face. He didn't care if Rey figured it out. Even if Rey did, the decision to teach or not lay solely with him.
Rey knew that if he couldn't answer, the outcome wouldn't be good. So, he racked his brains: What exactly is Dark Magic?
"Are you done yet?"
Salazar stood before Rey, looking down at him imperiously.
Hearing this, Rey looked up at Salazar, who was deliberately making things difficult, and thought, Screw it. I'll just say whatever comes to mind.
"What is Dark Magic?"
Rey started with a question, causing Salazar's brow to furrow instantly. Before Salazar could explode, Rey continued, "If we equate Dark Magic with darkness, then White Magic should be light."
Light exists every day; likewise, so does darkness.
Light can be seen as day, and darkness as night. They alternate and depend on each other.
Without the darkness of night, the light of day wouldn't be called light.
Everything has two sides; light and darkness coexist. Therefore, whether it's White Magic or Dark Magic, there is no fundamental difference.
If we must distinguish, it is only the users who are different.
So, I believe true Dark Magic isn't necessarily evil. The evil lies only within the user of that magic.
---
Time was short; Salazar Slytherin hadn't given Rey much of it.
Saying this much was the best Rey could do.
However, even this ambiguous answer stunned Terence Barrow. He hadn't expected such a unique interpretation of Black and White Magic.
Salazar looked at the confident Rey and said indifferently, "Although you spoke a lot of useless nonsense, there is some truth to it."
"Listen well, both of you!"
"To date, there are no true Dark Wizards, only ordinary wizards who arrogantly manipulate evil magic."
"True Dark Wizards come from Hell, and the magic they use is naturally Dark Magic power. This power is extremely rare in the mortal world. For mortals, the closest thing to the title of 'Dark Wizard' is what is known as a Necromancer."
Salazar's explanation of Dark Magic and Dark Wizards left Rey and Terence completely confused.
If Dark Wizards come from Hell and true Dark Magic uses dark power, then what exactly were they learning?
"Then, Professor, are you a Dark Wizard?"
Confused, Rey boldly asked the question.
Facing Rey's doubt, the corner of Salazar's mouth curled up into a faint smile. "I am not, but I can make the two of you into true Dark Wizards who wield dark magical power."
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