She's the one providing the magic power!
Why does the magic feel like it belongs to someone else?
"Albus, actually, I think Mr. Prince doesn't need our rescue because when we arrived, he was chasing that... the Mysterious Man whose name cannot be mentioned." Professor Flitwick hesitated for a moment, but eventually corrected Dumbledore's statement.
His little flying broom looked particularly comical. In fact, Professor Flitwick could ride a regular flying broom, but the one he customized himself was better suited for aerial combat. Who would have thought there'd be no battle, as the Little Wizard had already skipped the combat segment for them?
"I think... wouldn't the word 'pursuit' be more appropriate?" Professor Sprout looked around, feeling heartache over the damaged precious plants.
"Hmm?"
Dumbledore's eyes narrowed slightly.
Hagrid, who had been comforting Yaya, couldn't help but widen his eyes at Professor Flitwick's words, his mouth opening in an exaggerated expression of shock.
"Hiss! Little Ian, what have you done!"
His booming voice was filled with astonishment.
To this Half-blood Giant caretaker, Ian's achievements were simply incomprehensible; their magical nature only slightly less impressive than that of the child he had always been watching, Harry Potter.
"I'm protecting our school, Hagrid." Ian seemed to be explaining his actions to Hagrid, but in reality, he wanted Snape to understand he wasn't causing trouble for no reason.
He glanced at Snape as if intentionally, but the Professor of Potions looked no less grim, his face darkening even more—as expected, a true talent for becoming the Black Demon King.
"Is that so?"
Dumbledore's gaze flickered slightly, seeking confirmation from Professor McGonagall.
"Yes, Dumbledore, the matter is indeed as absurd as you think; this little guy actually knows how to use Fiery Fire. I suppose the Mysterious Man also didn't anticipate this," Professor McGonagall sighed helplessly, pulling Ian from behind her to the front. Her current emotions were a mix of relief and a sense of loss that this little wizard wasn't a Gryffindor.
"Mr. Prince, your magic is very powerful, and your Magic Transformation is extremely impressive, but I still hope you can tell me where you learned such a dangerous magic as Fiery Fire."
Professor McGonagall's tone was extremely stern, with an unusually serious air, yet she gave off an impression strikingly similar to Ian when he was explaining to Hagrid earlier. Although the Gryffindor head was facing Ian, her gaze was askance, aimed at Snape standing on the ground.
In her view, Ian knowing Fiery Fire undoubtedly had something to do with Snape, and the other two heads seemed to share this thought, so all three heads' gazes fell on Snape.
"..."
The Potions Master of Hogwarts appeared rather speechless.
His facial muscles twitched, his hands clenched tightly together, but despite the veins pulsing in his temples, he only looked away elsewhere.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Snape ultimately did not offer an explanation. Seeing his good uncle willingly take the blame, Ian naturally refrained from explaining and simply sought a justification for his Fiery Fire.
"Thank you for the compliment, Professor McGonagall. I think this is also thanks to the headmaster; he once guided me in the practice of Fiery Fire." Ian, appearing humble, responded accordingly. This was indeed the truth, as it had happened before, so after he spoke, he gave Dumbledore a slight wink.
"No wonder... no wonder your Fiery Fire shows such mastery." Professor Flitwick immediately seemed to have an epiphany, as if he finally understood where Ian had learned so many advanced spells.
First the Patronus Charm,
and now Fiery Fire!
Each more unfathomable than the last!
If Dumbledore had been surreptitiously teaching, everything made sense. All the professors at Hogwarts knew Dumbledore was a supermaster at playing with fire.
"Albus?!"
Professor McGonagall appeared somewhat stunned, while Professor Sprout seemed to be pondering deeply.
"Indeed, Minerva." Dumbledore first glanced at Ian, then slowly nodded, and his acknowledgment immediately turned Ian from a kid secretly learning Dark Arts into a good student earnestly learning the headmaster's teachings.
"You... how could you... it's such a dangerous spell." Professor McGonagall seemed to hold back, not wanting to publicly question Dumbledore's decision, but she still found herself bewildered by his actions. For years, the person emphasizing teaching security had always been this headmaster.
"Mr. Prince needs to learn Fiery Fire, for some existing reasons, but, Minerva, could I explain the specifics to you a bit later?"
Dumbledore seemed to be covering for Ian. Seeing Professor McGonagall nodding, he offered his signature smile and, after pondering for a moment, continued to speak.
"That person might still be hiding in the Forbidden Forest. Clearly, he is no longer the powerhouse he used to be. Professors, could I trouble you all to seal off the Forbidden Forest and search it."
Dumbledore's arrangements met no opposition from the three heads.
"What about you? Won't you join?"
Snape suddenly spoke up.
"I need to return to the school first to handle some matters and will join in this operation later to personally cast spells in search of our Black Demon King's whereabouts."