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“Master Aurelian, what was that explosion?
You caused it, did you not?
And you were hit by that man’s Cruciatus Curse.
How are you already moving as if nothing happened?”
After cleaning away the traces of battle, Aurelian and Catherine left Gringotts.
Along the way, Catherine questioned him nonstop about what had happened during the fight.
“Do you really think those screams were pretend?”
Aurelian tapped Catherine lightly on the forehead, exasperated.
His face still held a faint trace of pallor.
“Do you know why, out of all the Dark spells in existence, and out of all the curses more destructive than the Imperius or Cruciatus Curses, only three are called Unforgivable?”
He asked the question in return.
Catherine shook her head.
“The Killing Curse needs little explanation.
It takes a person’s life outright.
Without question, it is one of the most evil spells in the wizarding world.
Aside from Harry Potter, I have never heard of anyone surviving it.
And Harry Potter survived because of very particular circumstances.”
Aurelian began explaining.
“The Imperius Curse controls a person’s mind and actions.
If you are placed under it and fail to resist, the caster can force you to do anything, including killing everyone close to you.
Its horror lies in control.”
Catherine shuddered.
She could imagine the collapse she would feel if she were forced to kill Aurelian, Elaine, or Miles.
“Is there no way to resist it?”
“The Imperius Curse can only be resisted with your own will.
Once your will is broken, you obey the caster completely.”
Aurelian told her the method, and Catherine quietly made a decision.
If she were ever struck by the Imperius Curse, she would rather die than be controlled into hurting Aurelian.
“And the Cruciatus Curse?”
“The Killing Curse takes life.
The Imperius Curse controls the mind.
The Cruciatus Curse stands beside them not merely because it inflicts terrible physical and mental pain.
Its true terror is that the damage increases as the torture continues.
That is why no one can endure prolonged interrogation under it.
Mrs.
Catherine drew in a sharp breath.
She had never experienced the Cruciatus Curse herself, but even from the description, she could understand how much suffering it caused, and the thought that the pain could intensify without limit chilled her.
“It cannot truly be blocked,” Aurelian said before she could ask.
“Only the degree of pain differs from person to person.”
“The reason I recovered so quickly was that the black-robed man underestimated me.
His aim was probably to take me away, not kill me, so he did not cast the curse at full strength.
That gave me a chance.”
“As for the explosion, that was one of the results of my research over the years.
In a sense, it is a failed spell.”
Aurelian moved on to explain the blast that had covered their escape.
“A failed spell?”
Catherine did not understand.
“Yes.
Apart from silent casting, the process of releasing a spell cannot afford carelessness in posture, wand movement, or pronunciation.
A mistake can create unpredictable consequences.
And once those steps are completed, the spell releases almost immediately.”
Catherine nodded.
She had learned this while studying with Aurelian.
“Later, I wondered whether a spell could be completed but held back, then released at a specific moment.
In battle, that would let you catch an opponent off guard.”
Catherine’s eyes lit up at once.
She immediately grasped the value of such a technique.
“But after repeated experiments, I discovered that once a spell is completed, it releases on its own.
There is no way to hold it back, even with my control over magic.”
“But earlier, Master Aurelian…”
“Wait, Catherine.
Let me finish.”
Aurelian knew what she wanted to ask and interrupted gently.
“During one experiment, I made a mistake in my wrist movement while casting.
The spell failed and began to destabilize.
I tried to control that failed spell, and to my surprise, I succeeded.
I held the unstable magic together and released it, which caused an explosion.”
“So your Incendio earlier did not actually succeed?”
“Exactly.
Did you not notice that the flame was nowhere near as strong as my usual Fire-Making Spell?”
Aurelian looked rather pleased as he explained.
That made the spell fail and weakened the flame.
Just before the magic exploded, I caught it and held it.
When the black-robed man stepped onto it, I detonated it.”
“Master Aurelian, you are amazing!”
Catherine looked at him with sparkling eyes, completely absorbed in how impressive he seemed.
Unfortunately, Aurelian did not notice.
“I have not mastered the technique yet.
Success just now involved some luck.
Once I can use it reliably, I will teach it to you.”
“Eh?
I can learn it too?”
Catherine was surprised.
“You need to trust yourself, Catherine.”
“Then thank you, Master Aurelian.
I will not disappoint you!”
With Aurelian’s approval, Catherine became visibly excited.
“Good.
Now that you have your answers, can we shop in peace?”
Aurelian smiled at her.
Catherine nodded, and the two of them went to Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions to buy their school uniforms.
They had only just reached the door when an arrogant voice drifted out from inside.
“I know I will be in Slytherin.
Our whole family has been.
If I ended up in Hufflepuff, I think I would leave.
What do you think?”
“Draco, if Uncle Lucius heard you talking about leaving school, I suspect he would be furious.”
Aurelian and Catherine exchanged a look, then stepped into Madam Malkin’s.
Aurelian addressed the person who had just spoken.
“Aurelian!
What a coincidence.
Are you here to buy your school things too?”
The pale, thin boy with short platinum-blond hair brightened at the sight of them and hurried over.
“Draco.
It has been a while.”
The boy and Aurelian embraced in greeting.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter.