Stop spell?
The old man slowly walking along the cobblestone street did not cast a spell.
Ian naturally couldn't make an accurate judgment from this.
He could only sense that an invisible hand had stopped the process of magic going out of control.
The moment the blazing firelight disappeared, it was as if the whole world dimmed, with a faint hint of smoke lingering in the air.
That might be the only proof that there had once been a fire.
Moonlight pierced through the clouds.
Under the night sky.
Everything seemed as if it never happened.
Even the fence that had burned down was restored to its original state.
"Headmaster Dumbledore..."
Recognizing the old man walking slowly towards him, Ian couldn't help but lower his head a little awkwardly.
While worried and apprehensive, he also raised a bit of doubt. Why would Dumbledore come to Hogwarts Village in the middle of the night?
"I prefer you little wizards to call me Professor, it makes me seem less stodgy." Dumbledore soon walked up to Ian.
He did not scold Ian for his recklessness.
Instead, he teased himself in a joking tone.
"Alright, Professor Dumbledore."
Ian immediately changed his address.
"Aren't you going to invite me in for a sit?"
Dumbledore looked at the wooden house's door.
"Sorry, I must've been a bit rattled."
Ian hurriedly opened the door and made an inviting gesture.
He was a bit apprehensive as well.
Not knowing what Dumbledore meant by this—Thought Perception could sense Snape's emotions, yet it didn't seem to work well in front of the headmaster of Hogwarts.
"I didn't expect to encounter a bold wizard who dared to try creating new magic right at his doorstep on my way back to the castle."
Dumbledore mused as he walked in. He scrutinized the tidy living room, glanced in the direction of Ian's bedroom, and finally chose to sit at the desk by the window.
"That can hardly be called creation, more like a disaster." Ian hurried to the tea table and poured a cup of black tea for Dumbledore.
"At least you've set foot on this path, and that's significant." Dumbledore, from nowhere, pulled out a bag of brown sugar and poured it generously into his tea.
A straightforward compliment.
Yet Ian couldn't really be happy.
"Without your help, Professor, I might have caused a huge catastrophe." He didn't wait for Dumbledore to bring it up; he began self-reflecting first.
"I shouldn't have attempted something so dangerous; I almost burned down the entire village. I'm truly a foolish guy!" Reflecting on it now, Ian indeed felt a bit scared.
His face full of remorse and self-reflection caused Dumbledore to pause momentarily.
Then quickly.
This old man faintly shook his head with a smile.
"We can't be too harsh on little wizards like you." Dumbledore didn't look up at Ian, seemingly focused on blending his tea.
"I just hope this thrilling encounter will make you deeply remember that on the path of exploring magic, 'caution' is far more important than any other quality."
In the calm wooden house.
Dumbledore's sincere words were calm yet full of power.
"I'll always remember your teachings."
Ian seriously nodded.
"Relax a bit, maybe…aren't you going to put on your clothes and pants first?" Dumbledore suddenly chuckled, and only then did Ian realize he was only wearing shorts.
"It's alright, just a little bird sighting."
Ian's face flushed slightly, but he pretended to be at ease.
"??????"
Dumbledore's expression looked slightly bewildered.
"Professor, did you specifically come to find me?"
Ian took the opportunity to ask.
He didn't think Dumbledore usually lived in Hogwarts Village.
"No."
As expected.
The old bee shook his head, took a sip of tea with a "lethality" sweetness, "I was just delivering a notice and happened to see the firelight on my way back."
"Actually, I've been watching you from not far away for a while, and I must say..." A hint of complexity flashed in Dumbledore's eyes, and he continued with an astonished tone.
"Your understanding of magic differs from most wizards." He was clearly referring to research on magic circuits, which many wizards never delve into deeply.
"Huh?"
Ian posed a puzzled demeanor.
With a hint of apprehension.
"Don't worry, it's not a bad thing; it's a talent that only a few can possess." Behind Dumbledore's thick glasses were deep eyes.
"I heard you learned Snape's Sectemsempra?"
He appeared curious as he unexpectedly asked.
"Huh?"
Ian froze for a moment.
Then quickly.
He nodded.
Although Snape warned him not to tell anyone, since Dumbledore asked, to conceal it might be disrespectful to a master of Legilimency.
No matter what.
Ian couldn't take the gamble.
"It wasn't something I wanted to learn; Professor Snape practically forced on me, saying if I couldn't learn it, he'd lock me in some incredibly evil place."
Ian still adhered to the approach of telling the truth but not the whole truth, vividly describing Snape's coercion while portraying himself as weak and pitiful.
However.
Dumbledore clearly wasn't concerned with his story.
"How long did it take to learn?"
The old bee appeared casual while sipping his tea.
"An hour?"
Ian lied.
Had to.
If he didn't lie.
The fact that he could instantly grasp dark magic could cause unnecessary misunderstandings.
"Mainly because Professor Snape is such a good teacher!"
After speaking, he didn't forget to justify himself.
"..."
Dumbledore didn't respond to that.
He continuously stirred his tea with a conjured stick.
And didn't take another sip.
"I roughly understand now..."
Dumbledore turned his head towards the starry sky outside the window, "You are destined for greatness, my child, don't waste your extraordinary..."
His words were cut short.
Suddenly.
The air rippled with fine, peculiar waves.
Immediately after.
A dazzling red light appeared, and a red phoenix flew out, its feathers shimmering in the dim room, breathtakingly beautiful.
"Mr. Prince, it seems tonight's tea party is coming to an end." Dumbledore set down his cup and stood up, adjusting his slightly wrinkled white robe.
Suddenly as if remembering something.
"A small hint, the configuration of magic circuits isn't the direct cause of magic's birth; perhaps you should shift your focus on the path of seeking magic." Dumbledore stated concisely.
"Shift my focus?"
Ian pondered thoughtfully.
At this moment.
Dumbledore had already raised his arm.
Waiting for the phoenix to descend.
However.
Neither he nor Ian, lost in thought, anticipated that after circling the room a few times, the phoenix swooped down from the ceiling.
Its two claws.
Landed directly on Ian's head.