"What's wrong?" Kevin asked.
They walked along the bustling street. Professor McGonagall gave a discreet wave of her wand, and a soft hush fell over the world around them. People continued their errands, but the sound had vanished, as though they were trapped inside a silent film.
"From your story, most of the professors believe you've suffered a tragic past and are under a powerful Confusion Charm," McGonagall said gently.
"I'm sorry, but at times you don't behave like an eleven-year-old at all, and the reaction of that wand…" She hesitated. "Is there anything you want to say? Please remember—power is not everything. Once, there was a student who believed that power alone mattered. In the end, he brought disaster upon the magical world… and destruction upon himself. However dark your past may be, never lose the warmth and love within your heart."
Kevin frowned. "Can I know what happened in the past? You're looking at me as if I'm a potential criminal."
She described to him the one whose name could not be mentioned—the Dark Lord.
The Dark Lord had swept across the British wizarding world like a ravenous wolf, tearing apart ordinary life with ruthless precision. Other nations voiced concern yet refused to intervene, offering only moral support. Perhaps out of indifference—or more likely because Britain had committed far too many questionable acts abroad, not unlike the Dark Lord himself.
The Death Eaters thrived under his rise, acting as his vanguard—vultures picking at wounds, snakes striking in the dark. They were not as terrifying as the Dark Lord, but they were many, and wielded more than wands. Within those masked ranks hid wealth, influence, and a web of blackmail strong enough to paralyze any society struggling to save itself.
"You didn't do anything? Don't you have a professional organization?" Kevin asked.
"Yes—the Ministry of Magic," McGonagall said bitterly. "At first, they insisted nothing was happening, that the so-called Death Eaters were merely a malicious rumour. Later, they admitted Death Eaters existed, but said they were entitled to express opinions and the Ministry shouldn't act."And then, when innocents began dying, they said perhaps something ought to be done—but they couldn't. Finally, when many in the Ministry had become Voldemort's puppets, they said they should have acted earlier. But by then, it was too late."
"Voldemort?" Kevin repeated.The name should have sounded absurd, but it didn't. It burned with a cold, merciless sharpness, like a titanium hammer striking flesh. A shiver ran down his spine. He decided he'd use a safer title—the Mysterious Man—until he reached level five.
"But heroes always rise to confront evil," McGonagall said softly. "Like James Potter and Lily Potter. Because of a traitor, the Dark Lord found them. He murdered James, he murdered Lily, and when he cast the Killing Curse on their son Harry, the curse rebounded and destroyed the Dark Lord's body. His reign ended, and we were free."
"How old was Harry then?"Kevin now understood why there was a book titled Harry Potter. But why hadn't he read it?
"He was just a baby," McGonagall said. "The key was love. Lily's sacrifice activated an ancient, powerful protection. Voldemort could not overcome it."
That makes no sense, Kevin thought. Don't most mothers love their children? How many wouldn't risk their lives? And if doing so grants immunity to dark magic, wouldn't every mother do it? There must be details missing… or we're living inside a children's book.
They bought a telescope, a cauldron, and several supplies he would need later. McGonagall even gave Kevin some pocket money for ice cream or anything he fancied.
The colourful ice cream was tempting, but Kevin decided to spend his limited resources on something more useful. His shortlist:
• A potion granting fire protection(Disadvantage: short duration.)
• Herbs for underwater breathing(Disadvantage: look like a bundle of rat tails.)
• Candy that repels Dementors(Weakness: smells like ordinary chocolate.)
• A drink guaranteed to make you laugh aloud(Disadvantage: might spray out your nose.)
• Rat tonic (possibly increases his familiar's max HP)(Disadvantage: expensive.)
He began calculating which item offered the best cost-to-survival ratio.