HP: Alchemy? Nah, It's Crafting

o(*￣▽￣*)ブMany thanks to Sumit Pal, Sable, and Chase Kirby for becoming new members!♥♥

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It had been some time since the alchemy gala, and nearly all of Hogwarts was still buzzing with admiration for the seventh-year alchemy students who had stolen the spotlight.

However, amidst the excitement, there were those who noticed subtler things—like Harry.

He couldn't help but observe that ever since their visit to Professor Kasenhis's office, where they learned the truth about the hidden dark wizard in Hogwarts being none other than the timid and stuttering Professor Quirrell, the atmosphere had shifted. 

Whenever Professor Kasenhis and Professor Quirrell were in the same vicinity, there was a peculiar tension—a powder keg just waiting for a spark.

Maybe it was just his imagination, but...

"I just feel like Professor Kasenhis is constantly picking on Quirrell, every single time they're in the same space," Harry whispered to his four companions in the library.

"Of course he is! A strong wizard like Professor Kasenhis, who despises evil, is naturally going to act that way toward a dark wizard. It's only normal," Neville chimed in.

"Yes, we all understand that," Hermione responded while scribbling notes for her essay. "But what worries me is that if Professor Kasenhis keeps targeting Quirrell like this, what if one day Quirrell can't take it anymore and tries to assassinate him?"

"Professor Kasenhis is incredibly powerful! Did you forget? He blew up that troll with just one move. You didn't see the mess that day? Troll bits everywhere!" Neville countered immediately, defensive of Kasenhis's abilities.

"Of course, I'm not saying Professor Kasenhis isn't strong. But what if Quirrell uses some sort of sinister curse or dark magic?" Hermione argued back.

"Uh, actually, Professor Kasenhis knows dark magic too. I remember when he saved Hagrid from some dark wizards in Knockturn Alley. He used some kind of skull spell to kill those three dark wizards," Harry added.

"That's not dark magic. How could Professor Kasenhis possibly use dark magic?" Neville protested.

"But it was a skull," Harry countered.

"That still doesn't mean it's dark magic."

Harry sighed, defeated by Neville's stubbornness. He wasn't sure how to argue further.

"Uh… weren't we originally talking about Professor Kasenhis always picking on Quirrell? How did we end up on dark magic?" Ron suddenly joined the conversation, looking utterly baffled.

"..."

"...."

"..."

Meanwhile, Kasenhis remained blissfully unaware of the whispered debates about him in the library.

However, their questions were soon to be answered—though not in the way they might have expected.

During lunch in the Great Hall, just as Professor Quirrell was finishing his meal and preparing to leave, Kasenhis also stood up simultaneously.

The two collided head-on.

Kasenhis, of course, remained perfectly composed. Quirrell, on the other hand, toppled over and landed flat on his backside with an audible thud.

For a brief moment, Quirrell's facade cracked. Not long ago, the same impeccably dressed Professor Kasenhis had been quite cordial toward him in the professors' lounge. 

Why, since that fateful Halloween night, had Kasenhis suddenly started behaving like a completely different person?

Well, not entirely different.

He was still kind and friendly toward other professors, the students, even Hagrid and Filch. But toward Quirrell?

It was an entirely different story.

The animosity was clear: Kasenhis treated everyone with kindness and respect, except for Quirrell.

Burning with anger, Quirrell pulled a handkerchief from his pocket so quickly that even the Voldemort on the back of his head didn't have time to react.

"I challenge you to a duel!"

Kasenhis tilted his head, nonchalantly catching the handkerchief as it floated lazily toward him. 

"Name a time."

"Tonight, in the Great Hall! In front of everyone, I'll defeat you!"

Quirrell shouted, his fury making him momentarily lose his usual stammer.

The Voldemort behind him remained silent, seemingly curious to use this opportunity to gauge the skill of this rising alchemy professor.

"Oh, no stuttering this time? Sure, your call. Set up the stage and send someone to fetch me," Kasenhis replied, casually tucking the handkerchief into his pocket.

"Hmph! Dumbledore, I… I would like to… to request you as the arbiter of this duel!" Quirrell quickly reverted to his usual stammer, casting a pleading look at Dumbledore, who was calmly sipping a glass of lemonade.

"Oh… well, if that's the case, of course, I'd be happy to oblige," Dumbledore responded with an easy smile, readily agreeing.

"Tonight, in the Great Hall, before dinner! I'll be there waiting for you!" Quirrell glared at Kasenhis, his bloodshot eyes filled with rage.

"Uh-huh," Kasenhis replied with a shrug, as if utterly unbothered by Quirrell's theatrics. 

Inwardly, however, he was already deliberating whether to give Quirrell a little "educational talk", he had learned while playing online games, during the duel.

But in the end, Kasenhis decided against saying anything, knowing that with so many young witches and wizards around, setting a bad example wouldn't be ideal.

Still, while he didn't speak, his actions conveyed everything he needed to express.

In a motion as swift as lightning and as imposing as the sudden rise of Mount Everest, Kasenhis raised a single, sharp middle finger into the air.

The gesture spoke volumes!

Satisfied with his silent retort, Kasenhis turned and strode out of the Great Hall.

The commotion quickly died down, leaving Quirrell seething as he stormed back to his Defense Against the Dark Arts office in a rage.

"I mean… I knew this day might come, but I didn't expect it to arrive so soon," Neville mumbled through a mouthful of bread, his words barely intelligible.

"I can't take this! I'm going to Professor Kasen' office!" Harry declared after a mere two and a half seconds of contemplation, bolting out of his seat and toward the staircase by the side of the hall.

"Wait for us!"

Neville hurriedly dropped his half-eaten bread. Hermione sighed, picking up Neville's forgotten Remembrall and the homework he needed to submit that afternoon.

Trailing behind them was Ron, clutching two chicken drumsticks in his hands. He claimed they were meant as a snack for Professor Kasenhis, just in case he was still hungry. 

Of course, that excuse might have held more weight if Ron hadn't already taken two bites out of each drumstick.

…

When the four young wizards arrived at Kasenhis' office, they found themselves confronted with an unexpected problem: the office was already packed to the brim with students. 

Even the hallway outside was crowded, filled with third-year and older students jostling for space.

The four houses' students had never been so unified in their determination to cram into a single space.

Ron, ever observant, spotted his twin brothers near the doorway.

"Professor Kasenhis! Professor! Just say the word, and we promise Quirrell won't step out of his office!" one of the twins shouted enthusiastically.

"Professor! The twins are useless! Look at me! I can cast dark magic!" another voice chimed in.

"Professor Kasenhis! I—I crafted an amazing alchemical artifact by hand! Guaranteed to give Quirrell an unforgettable alchemy shock!"

"Professor Kasenhis, he dared to stand against you! I have a potion which'll make sure his thing never stands again!—"

"Professor Kasenhis!!!"

"...Uh... Are we even going to fit in there?" Ron muttered, wiping his grease-slicked mouth, his eye twitching uncontrollably at the chaotic scene.

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