Dumbledore stood up and walked towards the window, "He's mad, but he's not completely mad, so he knows what he can and can't do."
"When the trump card is not enough, I think he will still make himself the refined selfish student... the smart one who sees what Hogwarts means to me."
Dumbledore's tone carried a touch of indescribable flavor.
"You're gambling."
Professor McGonagall didn't know what Dumbledore was scheming, she still didn't agree with Dumbledore's crazy actions, only feeling that Dumbledore was risking the lives of the little wizards.
"Perhaps... this is the best way I can think of." Dumbledore's voice also carried a hint of helplessness, he could only fish for information to find the location of other soul artifacts.
Honestly speaking.
This is actually not so risky.
"Nothing should involve innocent children, Dumbledore." Professor McGonagall also sighed and reminded, knowing she couldn't change Dumbledore's already made decisions.
"I'm not a qualified headmaster, but I will ensure the safety of all the little wizards." Dumbledore nodded and assured, Professor McGonagall shook her head and left the office after hesitating to speak several times.
The room returned to silence.
Dumbledore still stood alone in front of the window.
"Is this worth it?"
He murmured softly.
As if asking the portraits of other headmasters in the room, or as if interrogating himself. No headmaster responded to him, soon, Dumbledore's gaze was firm as he raised his head again.
"It's not just about finding the hidden soul artifacts, it's about finding a way to ensure that child's survival." Dumbledore's gaze turned towards the window.
Beside the Black Lake.
There was also a child.
She was practicing a spell that had failed repeatedly. Aurora often practiced magic by the Black Lake, which Dumbledore always knew.
However.
This time, the tremendously talented little witch was obviously encountering setbacks.
"It seems you need some help... my apprentice."
Carried by the Phoenix.
Dumbledore's figure appeared behind Aurora.
...
Grindelwald's teachings were indeed invaluable.
Ian's [Fiendfyre Spell] proficiency skyrocketed like a rocket, the teachings in "Advanced Dark Arts Unveiled" were obviously not as profound as Grindelwald's in-person guidance in the Room of Requirement.
After hours of practice.
Ian was already nearing the awakening of the extraordinary traits of the [Fiendfyre Spell], if it weren't for two nights without sleep, he would insist on continuing to burn the midnight oil and practice through the night.
"Another day of becoming stronger."
Ian slept contentedly in the Room of Requirement, the sweet sleep made him feel refreshed the next day, his personal panel showing the Fiendfyre Spell level and skill level were extremely inflated.
[Fiendfyre Spell (Level 4) 728/800]
As Ian was eating breakfast and feeling invincibly strong, a furious Snape stormed into the hall and under everyone's gaze, smacked him on the back of the head.
"What have you done to Hogwarts' restroom!"
The voice of the Slytherin College head was filled with uncontrollable anger.
"Waxing, wasn't that your request?" Ian said while rubbing the back of his head, quickly standing up and distancing himself from a seemingly enraged Snape.
His defiant attitude made Snape lose his mind even more!
"I asked you to wax the floor! Not wax the toilet!" A roaring Snape chased Ian around the room, his robe and its corresponding area matched the sheen of his hair.
Glossy and shiny.
"I put a lot of effort into it! If you don't believe me, wash your face in the restroom, I waxed the faucet too!" The agile little wizard quickly dodged away from the big bat.
Young people do run fast.
The oily middle-aged professor simply couldn't catch up.
Of course.
In their race, Ian indeed achieved victory, but in other aspects, like the morning's Magic Potion Class, he clearly didn't have the qualifications or the courage to attend.
Forced to skip class, Ian dove into the library, continuing to seek help from alchemy knowledge — during class hours the library was, of course, cold and quiet.
Madam Pince didn't guard Ian like other little wizards, she was originally reading Lockhart's book; upon seeing Ian enter the library, she merely glanced up and then immersed herself back in Lockhart's adventures. She neither reminded Ian nor asked him why he skipped class.
This might've already seemed to her as Ian's regular operation.
Ian, familiar with the terrain, directly dove into the Forbidden Book Area others weren't allowed to enter, starting today's research. His ability in this aspect was also in the process of serious study achieving breakthroughs.
[Ancient Alchemy (Level 5) 1/1600]
Reaching level five in skills meant awakening the extraordinary traits, only the extraordinary trait named [Super Limit Alchemy] clearly couldn't help Ian tackle the challenge of the Resurrection Stone.
Of course.
It's not that this extraordinary trait is particularly lame, quite the contrary, it's an overwhelmingly powerful trait that allows Ian's alchemical creations to surpass material limits in alchemy practice.
Not only does it make Ian's alchemical creations unable to be replicated with the same effect, but it also allows him to construct possibilities using materials that normally shouldn't be applicable to his unique methodology.