[Dark Magic Creator Snape (SR)]: Few sixth-year students can independently create a spell before reaching adulthood, let alone a complex dark magic spell.
Skill: Enlightenment--Destroy ear this card, and for the next 24 hours, your inspiration will flow endlessly. —Felix Felicis? That potion relies on luck. I trust in everything I've accumulated instead.]
[Master of Occlumency Snape (SR)]: Magic targeting memories is the most terrifying sorcery, and Occlumency serves as the strongest shield.
Skill: Imprint (Passive)--Whenever memory-related magic takes effect, this card will be automatically destroyed and, for the next 24 hours, protect against all memory-targeting spells. —The Imperius Curse? As long as you remember who you are, it's just someone else's muttering.]
The last card was another duplicate Death Eater card.
Without a doubt, the first card was discarded. If the second card didn't have an automatic activation feature, William might have gambled on the effects of the first. However, a self-activating defensive card against one of the most difficult-to-resist dark magic types; memory magic, was far too tempting to pass up.
Researching dark magic was dangerous work. The books alone posed immense risks, most texts on dark magic carried extremely malevolent effects.
Some books caused readers to unconsciously forget who they were while reading. Others attracted the souls of those with weak wills. Some drained the reader's blood, while others altered their memories. Only the most accomplished dark magic masters could even begin to guarantee they wouldn't fall victim to such traps.
For most risks, one could prepare in advance. But against memory-targeting spells, no amount of preparation sufficed. Otherwise, insanity awaited.
Seizing the opportunity, William went ahead and opened the other two chests as well.
[Herbology Expert: Healer Adams (SR)]: Herbology produces some of the most miraculous resources in the wizarding world. While herbs may not match the immediacy of spells in combat, nothing surpasses them in reliability when it comes to healing.
Skill: Lifesaver--Destroy this card, and for the next hour, you will gain a unique perception that allows you to identify the most effective herbs to counteract current injuries, curses, poisons, and other negative states from a sufficient collection of herbs. —I reckon this one, this one, and this one should work.]
[Escape Artist Adams (R)]: During his school years, Adams always found the safest hiding spots whenever students engaged in secret duels.
Skill: Evasion--Destroy this card, and for the next half hour, you will be able to find a concealed location in the shortest time possible. —If you can't win, just run.]
[Herbology Professor Adams (R)]: The world is full of herbs, far more than we could ever recognize in a lifetime. But in most cases, extrapolating the unknown from the known proves effective.
Skill: Knowledgeable--Destroy this card, and for the next hour, you can deduce the effects of unknown herbs in the shortest time possible. —I've never seen it before, but it should work like this.]
Without a doubt, the first card, despite its casual tone, was clearly the best among the options.
[Alchemy Expert: Forging Singed (SR)]: Alchemy, with the Philosopher's Stone as its pinnacle achievement, has always been a field of fascination. Among its practitioners, Singed stands as one of the finest.
Skill: Creation--With sufficient materials and a good working environment, destroy this card to conduct a successful alchemical experiment. —In alchemy, success is the greatest triumph of all.]
[Poison Maker Singed (R)]: Compared to pure herbal concoctions or brewed potions, poisons derived from alchemical reactions are far more terrifying due to their unpredictability.
Skill: Chaos--Destroy this card, and the target potion will undoubtedly succeed, but its effects will undergo severe mutation.]
***
William reviewed his options carefully, knowing that each card could significantly shape his strategy moving forward.
Then came a [Meal Voucher] card.
The second card looked perfect for assassinations; but the effect was too uncertain.
In the time it would take, it was better to cast an Avada Kedavra while under the protection of the Shield Charm.
Thus, the first card was chosen.
Unknowingly, I've accumulated so many cards already, haven't I?
William tapped on his storage and realized that the cards now filled more than a single page. Even [Meal Vouchers], which allowed cards to be reused, had started to pile up.
Since most of the cards had one-time effects, he was reluctant to use them; even wasting a [Meal Voucher] on a low-tier card felt far too extravagant.
Next time, just next time. Once I get another Meal Voucher, no matter how extravagant, I'll experiment with a card's effect. If something goes wrong during the first real use, the risk would be too high.
In the library, while opening a box over a book, William silently set a deadline for himself.
The incident at lunch had passed; no matter how angry Professor Snape might have been; he couldn't publicly bring it up. After all, could you really put a student in detention just for wearing a hat?
"Wait, detention?" William suddenly realized something unpleasant.
If he remembered correctly, at the Hog's Head Inn, he had personally announced that two students would serve detention—on the weekend, no less.
"Is this their detention or mine? I had plans for the weekend!"
If there were no scheduling conflicts, William had intended to visit Hagrid on Saturday, then the two of them could head to the Leaky Cauldron for a drink, giving him a chance to catch up with Tom.
On Sunday, he had planned to buy some supplies. Although he had packed quite a lot before coming to Hogwarts, it still wasn't enough after settling in. He had to stock up; he planned to stay in the professor position for the full term, and making do with what he had just wouldn't cut it.
But now, all those plans were ruined.
The detentions he had handed out outside the Hog's Head were now his responsibility to enforce, even if it made him want to cry. This was his first time overseeing a detention, and if he canceled it easily, how would he maintain authority over the students later?
I just hope those two students don't cause any trouble. Copying the History of Magic is tiring enough—having to stay on campus for the weekend is already exhausting.
William, who had been enjoying his reading, now felt no joy in acquiring knowledge. He could barely focus on the book anymore.
"Forget it. It's almost dinnertime anyway. I'll head to the dining hall and skip borrowing more books for today."
***
However, when William settled down at the dining table, Professor McGonagall unexpectedly appeared.
"Ah, good evening, Professor McGonagall."
"Good evening, Professor William."
Professor McGonagall wore a conflicted expression. This wasn't the first time William had seen such a look on her face.
As the Deputy Headmistress in charge of day-to-day operations, she must be under a lot of pressure; William thought.
So, he took the initiative to offer a way out.
"Professor McGonagall, is there anything I can help you with?"
Professor McGonagall's face showed a rare hint of awkwardness. "I'm sorry, Professor William. About the detention for the Weasley twins; Can we have a discussion about it?"
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