A significant portion of the current magical chaos rested squarely on Ernst's shoulders.
The terrifying vampire ancestor currently leading Voldemort's vanguard would not exist if the Dark Lord hadn't visited the Devil's Cabin.
Voldemort had purchased the potion from him.
The resulting vampire clan, bound by gratitude, had sworn allegiance to Voldemort.
They had plunged the British wizarding world into a bloody, chaotic stalemate.
Ernst, naturally, would never publicly admit his role in this disaster.
Very few entities in the universe knew he was the true master of the Devil's Cabin.
"Professor Dumbledore," Ernst began, a calculated hint of curiosity lacing his voice.
"Your magical power should theoretically surpass Voldemort's, even with his new vampire allies."
"If Remus Lupin can physically contain the vampire ancestor, defeating the Dark Lord should be a straightforward tactical maneuver."
"Why let him rampage unchecked across your country?"
Dumbledore hesitated.
His face was etched with deep-seated, heavy worry.
Finally, after a long, weary sigh, the Headmaster withdrew a hand previously hidden beneath his heavy robes.
"Ah. I see the variable," Ernst noted, feigning mild surprise.
Twisted, blackened tendrils of necrotic flesh crept across Dumbledore's right hand.
Ernst instantly recognized the dark, corrosive magic. It was a highly lethal curse.
"It seems your time on this earth is rapidly dwindling," Ernst analyzed coldly.
"This curse actively devours your life force. It is weakening your magical core considerably."
A wry, tired smile touched Dumbledore's lips.
"Voldemort's curse was significantly more potent than I anticipated," Dumbledore admitted.
"It was a foolish, careless mistake."
"Death holds no true fear for me, Ernst. But a heavy burden currently rests on my shoulders."
"I must rectify my errors before it is too late."
"An admirable sentiment, Professor," Ernst replied smoothly.
"While this specific curse is undeniably vicious, it is not unbreakable."
"I can lift it. But my intervention comes with a price."
Dumbledore's blue eyes widened in genuine shock.
"You can lift it?" Dumbledore asked.
The greatest healers at St. Mungo's and countless ancient methods had already failed him.
Dumbledore did not fear the next great adventure, but clinging to life to finish a war was a necessary tactical instinct.
"Then what do you require? Name your price," Dumbledore demanded.
The desperate plea vanished from the old man's posture. It was instantly replaced by the firm, unyielding resolve of a wartime leader.
"I am fully aware of your overarching strategy," Ernst stated, his voice betraying zero emotion.
"You intend to use the Deathly Hallows—the Elder Wand, the Resurrection Stone, and the Invisibility Cloak—to counter Voldemort."
"I have no interest in obstructing your prophecy."
"What I desire is a Time-Turner."
"You provide that temporal artifact, and I will fulfill my end of the bargain."
"Lifting a necrotic curse should not be difficult to justify for someone of your political caliber."
A flicker of dark curiosity crossed Ernst's face.
Time-Turners were incredibly rare, highly regulated treasures.
They functioned similarly to a microscopic Time Stone, possessing the volatile power to actively meddle with chronological causality.
Ernst knew Hermione Granger had utilized one in the past to manipulate academic schedules and save lives.
The temporal mechanics fascinated him.
Dumbledore readily agreed.
"A Time-Turner it is."
The Headmaster paused, calculating his next move carefully.
"Additionally, since you possess such advanced, theoretical knowledge regarding soul magic..."
"Might I inquire about the possibility of removing a parasitic fragment clinging to a child's soul?"
Ernst understood the true request instantly.
"You speak of Harry Potter, do you not?" Ernst replied.
"Due to the unfortunate, rebounding killing curse, he became Voldemort's final, accidental Horcrux."
"He is unknowingly harboring a piece of the Dark Lord's soul behind his scar."
Dumbledore froze.
"Indeed. You seem terrifyingly well-versed in our world's most guarded secrets," Dumbledore acknowledged.
A heavy hint of suspicion lingered in the old wizard's voice.
"Let us just say I have not been idle," Ernst replied cryptically.
"Cultivating a few strategic sources within the wizarding economy for acquiring materials and news has proven quite beneficial to my research."
It was a classic, massive understatement from the mutant mastermind.
In truth, Ernst's economic and political influence within the magical world far surpassed Voldemort's entire regime.
He had meticulously built this shadow empire through Borgin.
Yet, Ernst remained entirely shrouded in secrecy, a ghost pulling the economic strings.
Dumbledore, sharply sensing Ernst's guarded, transactional nature, cut straight to the chase.
"Enough pleasantries," Dumbledore said firmly.
"Can you actually perform the extraction without killing the boy?"
The sudden revelation of Ernst's deep knowledge, coupled with his chilling inaction during the war, left a bitter taste in Dumbledore's mouth.
The Headmaster felt like a minor chess piece being casually evaluated by a grandmaster in the shadows.
"I can execute the extraction flawlessly," Ernst assured him.
"Voldemort's ultimate misfortune is that a newborn infant unknowingly crippled him."
"I have studied the mechanics of Horcruxes. I understand the biological and spiritual principles."
"We can permanently cripple Voldemort without harming a single cell of Harry Potter's true soul."
"Removing the parasitic fragment essentially destroys the Horcrux anchor. We can discuss the further surgical actions and their corresponding fees."
Dumbledore pondered the offer for a long moment. A new, heavy concern emerged.
"The prophecy has always hailed Harry as the chosen savior," Dumbledore explained softly.
"He is destined to defeat the Dark Lord."
"However, his current magical strength pales in comparison to Voldemort's decades of dark experience."
"While it may seem like an excessive request, I would highly appreciate your unique... assistance in strengthening his combat abilities."
To Dumbledore's mild surprise, Ernst readily agreed.
"That presents no logistical problem at all," Ernst stated.
"While directly injecting raw magic into his core is highly volatile and off the table, we can employ a different, superior biological approach."
"I have recently perfected a technique I call Bloodline Animagus Transfiguration."
"It seamlessly merges ancient magical theory with highly advanced, extraterrestrial technological advancements."
"It physically integrates powerful, mythical biological genes directly into the human genetic sequence."
"This forcibly facilitates a permanent, highly elevated Animagus transformation."
Ernst leaned back in his chair.
"As luck would have it, I possess an archived potion containing Phoenix genes."
"Injecting Harry with this serum would enable him to physically transform into a Super Phoenix."
"It would grant him the raw, elemental firepower required to face Voldemort in a direct, kinetic assault."
Dumbledore listened in stunned silence.
The blend of science and magic was deeply unsettling, yet the tactical advantage was undeniable.
Ernst's lips curved into a highly satisfied, predatory smile.
"Let us review the invoice," Ernst declared.
"Lifting your necrotic curse. Surgically removing Voldemort's soul fragment from the boy. And biologically enhancing his combat abilities."
"These are three distinct, highly complicated tasks."
"The final price: three Time-Turners."
Dumbledore's brow furrowed slightly at the rigid demand.
"Why must we relocate?" Dumbledore asked.
"Why can we not perform this genetic procedure within the protective wards of Hogwarts?"
"Wouldn't that be significantly more convenient and secure?"
"No," Ernst stated firmly, leaving zero room for debate.
"Harry's initial transformation after receiving the treatment will require a massive influx of magic."
"This ancient castle is the only facility on the planet equipped to provide it."
"I must ensure a smooth, stabilized cellular mutation. The specific engineering mechanics are far beyond your magical purview."
Some things were simply better left unsaid.
Dumbledore, a wise, weary leader, understood the unyielding boundary. He nodded slowly.
"Very well. I accept your terms. I shall return with the boy and the artifacts in seven days."
After Dumbledore's departure, Ernst wasted no time.
He folded space and returned instantly to the subterranean depths of Skull Island.
He delved into a highly secured, climate-controlled underground warehouse.
He methodically rummaged through rows of stasis boxes until he unearthed a dusty, long-forgotten crystal vial.
"Finally, this specific Phoenix gene potion has a practical use," Ernst murmured.
He held the glowing, amber vial up to the harsh laboratory light.
"It will grant the boy the baseline durability required to fight Voldemort. Raw, cosmic power is not essential for a wizarding duel. This will easily suffice."
Ernst scoffed slightly.
"It is a waste of inventory, really."
This specific potion, synthesized years ago, held the bloodline essence of his Phoenix.
It was extracted before the bird had absorbed the Eternal Fire.
Though residing in Skull Island's highly concentrated magical environment had spurred some minor bloodline mutations, the donor phoenix had merely been an impressive creature with a wingspan of thirty meters.
It was not a divine entity.
However, after the beast absorbed the spark of Eternal Fire he got from Odin, the bird had truly ascended.
It had evolved into an apocalyptic, divine beast with a flaming wingspan reaching nearly sixty meters.
This massive biological advancement had prompted Ernst to synthesize an entirely new batch of genetic medicines using the superior, eternal blood.
That upgrade rendered the older, baseline vials completely obsolete.
He now intended to inject Harry with one of these outdated, discarded potions.
In Ernst's highly demanding eyes, the amber liquid was mere biological garbage.
While it was mathematically sufficient to handle a dark wizard like Voldemort, the resulting phoenix transformation would fall drastically short of the true, divine potential Ernst currently commanded.
With the obsolete potion secured in his dimensional pocket, Ernst informed Tina, Chris, and his executive staff that he would be entirely unavailable for the next few days.
He then retreated to the isolated European castle to commence the heavy architectural preparations.
A colossal, circular platform, measuring nearly one hundred meters in diameter, dominated the castle's subterranean heart.
In its exact center, a heavy, metallic altar awaited.
Ernst meticulously inscribed glowing, arcane runes into the metal flooring.
He adhered strictly to a cryptic, mathematical sequence that formed a massively complex geometric pattern.
This intricate, sprawling design ultimately coalesced into a colossal, highly conductive magic circle.
Those possessing the technological clearance to look beneath the heavy altar would have discovered a terrifying network of transmission pipes.
These heavy conduits were actively channeling raw, geothermal energy from deep-seated planetary nodes within the earth's crust.
The magic circle acted as a massive refinery.
It actively transformed this violent, channeled planetary energy into the purest, most stable magical essence.
After completing a final, meticulous diagnostic inspection, Ernst gave himself a highly satisfied nod.
The initial, violent phase of a bloodline transformation was the most biologically critical window.
It demanded a completely full, uninterrupted reservoir of magical power to stabilize the rapidly mutating cells.
Any sudden interruption or power fluctuation could prove instantly disastrous, resulting in cellular collapse.
As a calculated precaution, Ernst activated the heavy energy extraction from the planetary node.
He began converting and storing it as highly condensed backup magic power.
Should Harry's meager, human magical reserves prove insufficient during the agonizing mutation, Ernst could forcefully draw upon this pure source.
He would manually flood the boy's system, ensuring a safe, stabilized transformation without the slightest risk of fatal bodily harm.
Everything was prepared. The boy would survive.