Fluid Curse

Perhaps sensing Edmund's unusual attitude, Professor McGonagall stared at him sternly for a moment before looking away.

This Gryffindor vice-principal not only has a personality very different from Professor Slughorn, but also very different from Dumbledore, who is also from Gryffindor.

Professor McGonagall was unusually "normal," so serious and earnest that she hardly seemed like a witch.

She then gave Edmund an extra 10 points and said she would apply to the school board for a consolation payment for him and Pollyanna, who were "frightened".

Having gone this far, Edmund could find no fault with him. He didn't want the money, because this was a matter that money couldn't solve for him; however, Edmund didn't refuse outright, but instead looked at Pollyanna to see how she would react.

Pollyanna suffered a completely undeserved misfortune today. She was peacefully flipping through her textbooks, preparing for her studies, when suddenly, because Edmund was looking at that damned, bizarre book, Mrs. Pince dragged her and her companion out of the library. Not only did she waste her time, but she also got a fright.

Pollyanna bit her lower lip, clearly conflicted. It seemed she wasn't well-off. But the little witch quickly made her decision; she forced a smile and declined Professor McGonagall's offer.

"Soman was startled, Professor. I was engrossed in practicing Transfiguration and didn't even notice anything amiss..."

She lowered her head in "self-reproach," trying to hide the unnatural expression on her face. Professor Slughorn sighed with satisfaction and took the opportunity to add another 5 points to Slytherin's score.

The scene was somewhat amusing; Edmund didn't think Pollyanna's little schemes could escape McGonagall's notice. But the old witch didn't even blink, only letting out a long, silent sigh.

After reminding Edmund again to go to the university hospital for a checkup, the two professors finally released Edmund and Pollyanna. Edmund wanted to stay and hear what else Professor McGonagall had discovered, but that wasn't a practical idea. He silently walked forward, planning to bring a bottle of good wine to his dean's house later to gather information.

After a while, Pollyanna finally composed herself. She immediately realized something was wrong: this was the way back to the Slytherin common room.

"Aren't you going to the school clinic?"

"?"

Edmund paused for a moment, thinking to himself that this was not really up to him... He didn't even know where the school clinic was!

On second thought, I realized I didn't need to go to the school clinic. If something was found wrong, it would only make things worse.

"No, thank you. I don't feel any discomfort, and I don't really like doctors."

"...What if it's one of those delayed curses? If you suddenly feel unwell in the middle of the night, I don't think Travers and Snape would be kind enough to take you to the school hospital."

Edmund blinked in surprise.

"Huh? Uh, they can't be that cold-blooded, can they? If I just die like this, wouldn't they be the ones suffering the bad luck?" No, that's not the point. "Are you a little angry? Huh? Why?"

Pollyanna stopped talking, but quickened her pace.

But as she took larger strides, her sloping leg couldn't keep up, making her appear very clumsy. Edmund quickly quickened his pace and caught up with her.

"Are you worried about me, Pollyanna? You're so kind—"

Pollyanna was clearly even angrier; she quickened her pace again and nearly tripped over Edmund's robes.

"you!"

"sorry!"

Edmund shrugged, adopting that innocent expression that women find appealing. But the more Pollyanna saw him like that, the angrier she became. She finally snapped and blurted out:

"You almost died!"

Pollyanna stared at him, and Edmund noticed then that her face was terrifyingly pale. Previously, Pollyanna had always been expressionless, as if wearing a numb mask. But now, a trace of anger seeped from beneath that pale mask.

"Just because of a prank—an accident—they almost killed you! This, this…"

She was deflated, her voice filled with bitterness.

"This is Hogwarts, after all," the little witch murmured. "It's 'safe' here, the safest place in the whole world...isn't it...?"

That's really interesting. Edmund thought, she sounded like a girl with a story.

"To be fair, the curse in that book didn't actually intend to kill anyone," he said in a strange tone. "If any young wizard other than me had gotten hold of that book without any precautions, or had been dismissive of its content... the curse left by the book's owner would have taught them a lesson."

"First, he'll feel like he can't control his body and will fall flat on his backside. Then, he'll feel dizzy because he's 'melting'."

Pollyanna looked at him with surprise and horror.

"Note that it is only 'melting,' not 'dissolving.' The curse in that book will liquefy a person from the inside out. Of course, this does not turn bones and organs into water, but rather preserves their function while turning them into a fluid. This is a very advanced spell, and the person who created this book deserves the title of genius, not a mediocre and incompetent wizard like Avery."

"What's even more interesting is that, although this curse is vicious, it can be resolved without any aftereffects simply by hiring a highly skilled Transfiguration master."

Edmund shrugged.

"From this perspective, even if the professors discover this level of 'prank,' and manipulate it behind the scenes, the culprit won't even be expelled. After all, it's not fatal—you know, Pollyanna. Every year, quite a few wizards die from falling off brooms. That's how wizards really define 'safety.'"

He was alluding to the fact that he strongly suspected Pollyanna grew up in the Muggle world, where death was more likely and safety was therefore more important.

So the little witch ignored him again.

"Although you're mostly caught up in your own emotions, worried that Hogwarts isn't safe, and not genuinely concerned about me, I still appreciate your kindness, Pollyanna."

Edmund didn't press the issue. He wasn't so oblivious as to treat everyone else like pet dogs, obsessing over whether they were purebred or from where they were born.

"I'll let you know once I've caught the people who made this book."

Pollyanna paused for a moment, then turned to look at Edmund.

The little wizard was smiling happily, as if he had thought of something joyful.

"I'll have a good laugh with them then. What kind of skill is it to bully students like us?"

More importantly, Edmund had hoped the book would offer something new and exciting, but it turned out to be nothing new, giving God the boring role of a creator wizard and banishing Adam and Eve to the dust.

This is so boring.

Edmund thought to himself: Time traveler, alien, higher-dimensional being, cosmic consciousness, God... With this perspective broadened, you have so many identities to imagine, so many conspiracy theories to discuss.

...and the result was the creation of the slogan "Pureblood Supremacy".

You dare to whet my appetite with just this? Aren't you unlucky?