Harry Potter: Is It Normal for a Hogwarts Professor to Be a Dark Lord?

As December rolled in, a thick blanket of snow covered everything, transforming the landscape into a wintry white wonderland. The weak winter sun cast a golden hue over the ancient castle, creating a picturesque scene straight out of a storybook.

Early that morning, several young wizards engaged in a spirited snowball fight near the castle gates. From his office window, Tver watched with mild amusement as the Weasley twins, always inventive, used magic to manipulate a snowball, playfully chasing each down with it. This creative adaptation of the game he taught them echoed the principles of the Levitation Charm, which they used to maneuver a light ball detached from the Lumos spell during their classes.

Tver had introduced this concept to the third-year students, expanding on the traditional light ball game, and had even secretly enlarged the area behind the classroom to allow more students to participate. The younger students, however, were still mastering the biweekly light ball games under simpler conditions.

Suddenly, a snowball, thrown with precise magical control, struck Professor Quirrell on the back of the head as he passed by. It was the second time it had happened. Tver noted Quirrell's pained expression and grimaced, knowing that the professor might not let this slide so easily again.

"That fool doesn't have much time left," the ring whispered gleefully, referring to Quirrell.

"And your plan?" it prodded Tver.

"Your main body still needs him for the Philosopher's Stone. You won't let him die that easily," Tver reasoned out loud.

"Life isn't something that can just be extended at will. Unlike you, Quirrell can't just decide to prolong his life," the ring retorted with a hint of disdain.

Tver's gaze drifted towards the Forbidden Forest, its dark depths hiding untold secrets and dangers. "Of course, there's the unicorn. The Forbidden Forest is a treasure trove," he mused aloud.

"Ew, that's too evil. If it were me, I'd rather die than touch unicorn blood," the ring feigned disgust.

"Stop pretending. That's not like you at and you know it," Tver snapped, unamused by the ring's antics.

"Hehe, next time I'll act more convincingly," the ring quipped, attempting to charm its way into Tver's good graces.

Tver dismissed the ring's nonsensical chatter. As a fragment of Voldemort's soul, it incessantly sought to drain his life force and tempt him into dark magic. All its flattery and seeming cordiality were merely façades for its sinister nature. Yet, the Forbidden Forest piqued his curiosity.

This fascination began with Neville.

Upon discovering that Neville's magical power was prone to interruption, Tver faced a puzzling question:

Is magical output more like a kite or a cannonball?

The key difference lies in control; a kite is guided by a controllable thread, whereas a cannonball, once launched, follows its course without influence.

Traditionally, it's understood that charms such as the Levitation Charm can be directed like a kite, while spells like the Disarming Charm behave more like cannonballs.

Without Neville's unique condition, Tver—and indeed, the entire magical world—might have never questioned this. But Neville's magic was different; his kite never lost its string, yet it might unexpectedly plummet. This suggested that another force was at play, tugging at the string.

During this investigation, Trevor achieved a breakthrough in soul research, linking it to his findings and uncovering a hidden layer beneath magic—Will.

Through his studies of Neville, Tver enhanced his grasp of magic and souls, realizing that every spell, even seemingly uncontrollable ones like the Disarming Charm, is driven by a strand of will that connects to its essence.

While Tver couldn't assert he was the sole discoverer of this phenomenon, this insight significantly improved his mastery over magic.

However, exploring the source of will was immensely draining, both magically and mentally.

Nonetheless, fueled by excitement, he had spent the previous night in his office, depleting his magical reserves as he meticulously traced the source of will in every spell.

The Wallet-Extension Charm traced back to his own body; protective spells on books led to an unreachable void; Shield Charm badges from Dervish and Banges traced to a small house in Hogsmeade.

Most intriguingly, the Hogwarts badges he examined pointed deep into the Forbidden Forest.

Theoretically, if the caster had died, the trail should lead to the void, presumably the realm of the deceased. However, the fact that this badge led to the Forbidden Forest suggested that its creator might still be alive and residing there.

This chilling revelation sparked a thought—If the badge could delay death, might its creator possess the secret to evading death altogether?

His body still trembling with excitement, Tver decided after a night of contemplation that he would venture into the Forbidden Forest to unearth its secrets. Fortunately, the upcoming weekend provided him with ample time to explore.

After making necessary preparations and replenishing his magical energy, Tver discreetly made his way to the edge of the Forbidden Forest around noon, careful to avoid the attention of any students.

Although he had been at Hogwarts for three months, this was his first time entering the Forbidden Forest. Standing on its edge, he was immediately struck by its eerie vastness. From the castle, the forest seemed merely a large expanse, about twice the size of an ordinary forest, its boundaries visible. However, on the threshold of the forest itself, Tver sensed an unsettling depth, as if the forest hid more than could be seen from a distance.

This realization made him more cautious. As he stepped forward, he drew his wand and left a magical trace at the edge to help gauge the distance he traveled.

The path he followed appeared to have been cleared by Hagrid for his patrols, a straightforward route that belied the complexities of the forest. Despite the occasional encounter with an Acromantula, the forest seemed typical until the trees began to thicken and the light dimmed to a dappled twilight. Checking his pocket watch, Tver realized it was already six o'clock in the evening; he had been walking for five hours.

Determined to spend two days in the forest, he took a brief rest before continuing. An hour later, the forest transformed. The trees grew denser, no longer allowing space to pitch a tent, and the undergrowth thickened considerably.

This part of the Forbidden Forest felt even more mysterious and foreboding. In most forests, sunlight is essential for photosynthesis, which naturally thins the density of the trees and undergrowth. Typically, even in untouched primeval woods, animal movements create natural clearings.

However, this section of the forest defied those natural laws. The proliferation of plants was overwhelming, and the traces of animal life scarce, contributing to an eerie silence and a sense of an endless, unfathomable wilderness.