After a night's rest at home, Ethan made his way to Knockturn Alley the next day. His parents were away on business, promising to return before Christmas, leaving him free to move as he pleased. No restrictions, no one to stop him.
Perhaps it was the holiday season, or maybe the desperation of dark wizards looking to make a quick profit, but the atmosphere in Knockturn Alley felt more chaotic than usual. It reminded Ethan of how thieves in China became particularly rampant before the Lunar New Year.
He had just stepped into the alley, intending to find a quiet corner to activate Shadow Stealth, when he realized he had already been targeted.
"Well, guess it's my turn to make some extra gold."
Ethan deliberately steered away from the bustling crowd, luring his stalkers into a more isolated alleyway. The moment they stepped into the secluded corner, the attack came.
"Crucio!"
A harsh, hoarse voice rang out behind him, and the Unforgivable Curse shot toward him. But before it could reach Ethan, a blur of motion burst from beneath his cloak—his winged demon. Moving at an incredible speed, it intercepted the curse head-on.
The demon's wings slashed through the air, its razor-sharp spines slicing through the attacker's wrist before he even realized what was happening.
Blood sprayed into the air. The wizard let out a shriek as his wand—and the severed hand that held it—was sent flying. He staggered back in shock, eyes wide with terror.
"Ahhh!"
His scream echoed through the alley, finally grasping the reality of what had just occurred.
"Curly-winged demon!"
His accomplice, who had been trailing ten meters behind as a lookout, turned pale with fear at the sight of Ethan's magical creature.
An adult winged demon was no easy opponent. Small, fast, highly resistant to magic, and armed with venomous attacks, they were notorious even among experienced wizards. Many would rather take their chances against a fire dragon than face one of these creatures. Worse still, they had a particularly horrifying diet—they ate brains.
Ethan wasn't entirely sure if his winged demon had reached full adulthood. When he first acquired it, it was still young. He had no idea how long it took for one to mature, but after consuming energy cubes and the brains of fire dragons for so long, it had grown larger and stronger than the recorded data in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
Typically, a winged demon's attacks were devastating but not quite lethal in one blow. They could break bones, sure, but Ethan's demon had developed exceptionally sharp wing spines—sharp enough to sever a hand clean off.
"I surrender!"
The second wizard abruptly dropped his wand and raised his hands, surrendering on the spot.
Ethan stared at the man, slightly speechless. This guy must be from France next door! He surrendered way too quickly.
"Bruno, kill him!" the first wizard hissed through clenched teeth, still clutching his bleeding stump. "What's the point of surrendering? He's just a brat relying on a magical creature. Kill him, and we take control!"
Ethan snorted in amusement.
But Bruno, the second wizard, was having none of it. He cast a sidelong glance at his injured comrade before turning back to Ethan.
"I really surrender. You can do whatever you want," he said, his voice steady.
"You coward!" the injured man spat. His last shred of hope had been betrayed. He had already lost his dominant hand, his wand, and his ability to fight. Worst of all, he had used an Unforgivable Curse—there was no way out now.
As realization dawned, his fear twisted into hatred. He shot his former partner a venomous glare just as green light began to glow in Ethan's hand.
The Killing Curse hit him square in the chest, ending him instantly.
Bruno barely had time to process what had happened. He had instinctively thrown himself into a dodge roll, thinking the curse was aimed at him, only to realize it had been intended for his now-dead companion.
His body tensed as he turned his gaze toward Ethan.
"This kid... didn't even use a wand..."
Bruno swallowed hard. Whoever this young wizard was, he was beyond ordinary.
Ethan's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"What country are you from?"
Bruno hesitated before answering. "France. Brittany. Muggle-born."
"Called it. He surrendered way too skillfully."
Ethan continued his interrogation. "What can you do? Do you have any valuable skills?"
Bruno's mind raced. If he wanted to live, he had to make himself useful.
"I... I know potions! I can brew most common potions, and I guarantee their quality is top-notch!"
Ethan wasn't too impressed. Many Hogwarts graduates could brew standard potions if they had passed their N.E.W.T.s.
Still, he decided to hear him out. "What specific potions?"
"Polyjuice Potion, Draught of Living Death, Amortentia, Calming Draught, Wolfsbane Potion, various hallucinogens, Love Potions—"
Ethan's interest piqued. These were valuable potions. But there was one in particular he wanted.
"Do you know how to brew Felix Felicis?"
Bruno's face stiffened. "N-No..."
Ethan frowned, disappointed. But Bruno quickly followed up.
"However! I do know how to make a different potion—a Magic Enhancement Potion!"
Ethan's eyes narrowed. "Go on."
Bruno took a deep breath. "My teacher, Willard Buniel, was a former Potions professor at Beauxbatons. When he resigned, he took three apprentices—including me—under his wing. We spent nearly ten years researching a way to enhance magical power."
Ethan crossed his arms, listening intently.
"But after he succeeded, he turned on us. He tried to kill us to keep the formula secret, but we fought back and killed him instead. My two companions fled to America and Northern Europe, while I came to Great Britain."
"You remember the formula?"
"Yes," Bruno admitted. "I was responsible for recording data, though I've never brewed it myself."
Ethan smirked. Good enough.
He cast the Imperius Curse on Bruno, ensuring complete control over him.
Then, after letting his winged demon and stomping bat finish devouring the corpse, he set off for his hideout.
Upon arrival, he triggered the ghost mark and had his underling, Dennis, open the door.
"Boss, you're here!" Dennis greeted him with a mixture of respect and nervousness.
Ethan wasted no time. "What's the situation?"
Dennis gave him a rundown. Their group, Thres, had been revived, though they operated more discreetly than before. Higher-ups weren't investigating the missing winged demons and stolen gold, since similar losses had occurred in multiple regions.
"What shipments do we have now?"
"Fire crabs, bowtruckles, billywigs, fox charmers... and a fire dragon egg," Dennis listed.
Ethan's brow arched. "Dragon egg? Where did that come from?"
Dennis explained. A wizard at the Hog's Head had offered a high price for one.
"Smelled like garlic, wore a purple scarf?" Ethan asked, suddenly recalling something.
"Yeah," Dennis confirmed.
Ethan smirked. Quirrell.
But the egg wasn't a Norwegian Ridgeback. It was a Hesperidian Black Dragon egg.
Ethan sighed. The butterfly effect, huh?
"When's the trade?"
"Three days after Christmas, outside Hogsmeade."
Ethan grinned. "I'm coming with you."
He turned to Bruno. "You stay here and brew that Magic Enhancement Potion."
Bruno gulped, nodding quickly.
Ethan planted a ghost mark on him, ensuring he wouldn't run.
The game was just getting started.
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