"You..."
Ron instinctively wanted to say, you should be angry, but almost immediately, he thought of Harry's response—"What use is being angry?" Unable to find words to refute, Ron was somewhat speechless.
Because such a question and answer had already occurred more than once.
Recently, the verbal attacks from Malfoy were actually less frequent—but these are regular occurrences, after all, "less" is a comparison to before. Most of the time, Malfoy would only mock Harry in some public places, but as for earlier?
Like a pesky dog that you just can't shake off.
The changes weren't limited to Malfoy; there was also Harry—his attitude towards Malfoy's provocations had gradually shifted from anger in his first and second year to indifference, and now he outright ignored them.
Yes, completely ignored.
But Ron, who had been petrified for a year, couldn't accept this because Harry had changed too much.
For example, it was like they were buddies defending each other in court yesterday, and today you say you're retiring?
Even if it's not a betrayal, what do I do?
Though Harry explicitly told him that ignoring Malfoy's provocations is the best resolution, as the opponent would eventually find it boring due to lack of reaction—for this, Hermione felt "extremely relieved," as she no longer needed to worry about Harry picking fights with Malfoy and costing Gryffindor points.
But the problem was, Ron simply couldn't ignore Malfoy's words.
As a standard red-haired Gryffindor, a child from a wizard family, he couldn't be like the old Hermione, who didn't even fully understand Malfoy's insults. Ron couldn't pretend not to hear those vicious words, even Neville was indignant now.
But what about Harry, who stood at the center of the ridicule?
With a calm expression, eyes showing no ripple, Ron somewhat confusedly locked eyes with the boy, suddenly feeling slightly alienated.
He felt as if he had seen that emotionless look somewhere before.
Indeed, Harry originally couldn't stand it. After all, the enmity between them was irreparable.
But recently, he had been studying diligently. Lupin had remarked more than once about his rapid progress, especially with Expecto Patronum, though he still couldn't form it into a solid shape, using the shapeless white mist to fend off Dementors disguised by Boggarts had become effortless.
The Boggart had recently gone on strike simply because—having "poop" smeared on its face daily, if you faced that, you'd also be fed up.
During the Boggart's strike, Harry began learning Occlumency from Lupin, and though his progress was slow, diligence had made up for his shortcomings, at least he could hold under William's Legilimency for a good three seconds.
Congratulations, congratulations.
And William also tried teaching him some emotion magic—yes, Harry learned it.
The reason he could remain calm all the time was due to the method William taught him to restrain and inhibit all external emotional displays, though Harry wasn't very proficient at it yet.
The fact that Harry could learn such magic amazed William—
Naturally, there was the concern of whether it indicated Little Tom's influence on Harry growing deeper? Nevertheless, if the prophecy were true, and the Dark Lord had to be killed by Harry himself—then when Voldemort returned, what he'd face would be a "Little William."
Hehe, the thought alone was beautiful.
Over here, the Dark Lord had just shot a Killing Curse, and Harry had already countered with three Killing Curses—
What's that? You say the real prophecy is that only one can survive between them? Harry might not win?
William: If necessary, I'll intervene.
Therefore, William had Harry try other attempts... although not the Avada Lightning Chain! That thing, after all, was somewhat extraordinary.
Aside from emotion magic, Harry couldn't learn his signature Atmospheric Charm Pro or Reducio Max... However, these charms are based on the ancient magic system William had refined himself, there's no reason to learn one but not another.
Furthermore, emotion magic is supposedly more difficult.
So, William shifted his focus to another point, a crucial one he had long ignored.
"... You're saying Harry's mother might possess ancient magic talent?"
While Harry was suffering in Potions Class, William was sitting in the headmaster's office, discussing a topic that left the old man incredulous.
"Otherwise, there's no way to explain that 'love' magic on Harry."
William nodded. Yes, many people thought that Dumbledore's talk about love magic and relying on blood relations to sustain it was pure fantasy. Hagrid had expressed his confusion about this many times when Harry was younger, considering how little "love" that family showed Harry.
But Dumbledore, indeed, didn't need everyone's understanding.
William, on the other hand, as an advocate for ancient magic in the present world, had never stopped researching emotion magic.
Blood relations can surely sustain it, though crudely, it was the only viable option. Actually, the only family from the Dursleys with any relationship of blood would be Petunia Evans, but she couldn't have had any "love" for Harry.
However, sustaining the magic of "love" didn't require her love for Harry, but rather for Lily Evans.
Though Petunia, being a Muggle, showed hostility towards her sister, due to the favor shown by their parents to Lily, they were real good sisters before the Hogwarts letter arrived—the scant power of this connection allowed Lily's magic to continue working.
"This is her backup plan."
Dumbledore searched his memory, finally organizing his thoughts and revealing everything, "It turns out she was right. In Harry's first year, he encountered Voldemort directly, and at that time, the 'love' magic was indeed in effect."
Yes, Dumbledore, who hadn't mastered emotion magic, was following the plan Lily had left behind during her lifetime—as someone central to the event, Lily clearly understood the prophecy, she made this contingency plan, and handed it over to Dumbledore.
... It turned out to be needed.
"Premeditated?"
William frowned, it seemed this clever Evans Miss had substantial research into emotion magic?
Yet, when he hurriedly left a century ago, leaving numerous clues in the castle, theoretically if someone had the same talent, she should have... wait, William blinked, recalling that Professor Lachham once mentioned, someone had once breached the first defense of the Map Chamber.
... Could it have been this Lily Evans?
Could she have been blocked by the "Password Lock" he set?
Was the reason she could grasp emotion magic because of the notes he left in the Room of Requirement? After all, though he wasn't proficient in love emotion magic, its underlying principles and his emotion magic were identical.
At that time, out of boredom and a desire to develop successors, he casually left two notebooks in the Room of Requirement's pile of miscellaneous items, which also included a trial.
Without the talent, it was impossible to spot these amongst the clutter, but anyone with research ties would naturally continue solving the puzzles he had put in place.
Yes, he mentioned the Map Chamber in the notes, and after finding the Map Chamber's gate, there should be a trial checkpoint...
But unbeknownst to most, he left unexpectedly, without completing the "checkpoint"...
So Harry's mom found the notes he left behind, learned emotion magic, but when she wanted to further explore the Map Chamber and complete the trial, she was blocked right outside?
The more he thought about it, the more William found it plausible—regarding why Lily was not as powerful in combat, William also understood well. After all, she hadn't accessed the Secret Vault, nor had the teaching from the several Guardians, but only held a half-written book on emotion magic research because of someone's twisted humor...
William had additional advantages too, like his mimicry talent which allowed him to learn any spell without needing a professor to demonstrate it a second time.
Yet, the potency of the protective magic Lily cast on Harry was indeed formidable.
Nevertheless, William also felt a bit of apprehension towards emotion magic, as it easily influences one's mind, stirring fears that another Isadora arises (creator of the Secret Vault who turned numerous students and professors into walking dead)...
She might have refined the whole Eaglebirdlue?