"Travel buddies?" Kane looked at Dumbledore's supposedly sincere eyes and shook his head frantically. "I don't think that's necessary.
I've just managed to get away from the professors and Filch; the last thing I want is soone breathing down my neck out in the world."
"Believe , Kane, if you truly intend to walk the Wizarding World alone, you really do need an adult wizard."
Dumbledore pulled out his Elder Wand. "Every wand contains a Trace—a magical pulse used by the Ministry to monitor underage magic.
If there isn't an adult wizard in your vicinity when you cast, the Ministry will be knocking on your door in no ti."
Kane rolled his eyes. Leaving aside that his wand was custom-made, he'd been soaking the thing in Shadow energy for a whole sester.
He couldn't imagine any material surviving that treatnt while retaining its original Ministry-mandated functions.
"Mhm~ Even if the Trace is dealt with, you still need..." Dumbledore trailed off, catching the look on Kane's face that clearly said: I'm just sitting here watching you perform.
"Fine. This is actually a personal favor," Dumbledore admitted, his eyebrows smoothing out. "Since Quirrell... departed, and I have no intention of letting Severus hold the Defense Against the Dark Arts position for the entire next year, I am in desperate need of a candidate for the next term."
"You could have just said that." Kane leaned his DIY broom against the ground, propping himself up against it. "So you want to do so 'pre-interviews' with next year's DADA professor? Is the great Albus Dumbledore really struggling to fill a teaching slot?"
Dumbledore's mouth curved into a shy, sheepish arc. "Regrettably, the late Professor Quirrell was the thirty-second professor to et an unfortunate end since Tom left the school. People are convinced Tom cursed the position."
"Perhaps it's just survivorship bias?" Kane coined a new term in a fraction of a second.
"Of the remaining professors, about half are disabled, and the other half had their reputations severely tarnished."
Dumbledore transfigured a bench and gestured for Kane to sit. "So, Kane, you have no idea how hard I had to work to 'trick'... I an, persuade... this one to take the job."
"I know he's a hollow fraud, a complete incompetent, and has likely engaged in so shady dealings—but I have no better options." Dumbledore pulled a magical business card from his pocket.
"I've already made the arrangents. Gilderoy Lockhart. He's a popular adventure novelist, though the authenticity of his stories is... up for debate.
To lure him in, I had to agree to one request: he believes a sumr spent touring England and Europe with a young wizard would make for excellent book material."
"So?" Kane raised an eyebrow. "What's in it for ?"
"Well, in your second year, you would have the near-infinite favor of your DADA professor. And since he's a best-selling author, put simply—he's very rich."
Dumbledore spoke in the low, tempting tone of a soul-brokering demon.
"Emmm..." Honestly, the mont Kane heard the word "rich," he had already silently agreed. Why go backpacking when you can travel in luxury on soone else's galleons?
He took the card and glanced at the address. "I'll go find him. But honestly, you must be truly desperate to send a relatively unknown student like for this job."
"Actually, Kane, he specifically requested you."
The mont the words left Dumbledore's mouth, Kane's head was filled with question marks. In his world, King Kane chose others; others did not choose him.
Wait... sothing was off.
Kane looked at Dumbledore suspiciously. "Why ? Please don't tell you leaked my involvent in the Quirrell incident to the press."
"I thought you'd like the publicity. You didn't object at the ti."
"Heh. Maybe because I was too poor to afford a newspaper subscription," Kane sneered.
"Mhm. If you dressed a bit more... normally... perhaps other students would have shared the news with you.
Regrettably, I asked a few students—who shall remain naless—and their consensus was that they were afraid you were ntally unstable and might bite them.
They didn't dare approach you," Dumbledore noted helpfully.
"Heh. They should thank you for blurring their nas out." Kane rolled his eyes, secured Little Pumpkin firmly to the back of his broom, and kicked off into the sky. Mid-flight, he shouted back, "Any last instructions?"
"Lockhart is a fraud. Don't let yourself be pushed around. Just watch out for his mory Charms—that's the only thing he's actually good at."
Kane was confused. "I thought you were begging him to be a professor? Why are you being so blunt about him?"
"Simple. He already signed the magical contract." Dumbledore waved goodbye, watching with an amused expression as Kane's broom left a grey-black streak across the sky.
A short while later... high in the clouds...
VROOOM.
Kane gripped the handlebars and jerked the broom to the side. The sudden break in aerodynamics ripped a hole through the clouds as he swerved.
He'd only turned to avoid a flock of swifts, but the cyclone created by his 166-mph speed caused the poor birds to wobble and drop toward the earth.
Kane shook his head at the raw, unrefined power of the broom. It was terrifyingly fast in a straight line, but turning was a gamble with death.
He recalled his upgrade plan. A Walking Cane plus two Orange Gems and Nightmare Fuel could be crafted into The Lazy Explorer—a staff capable of teleportation.
If his broom could teleport, his maneuverability wouldn't just improve; he could pull off sharp-angle turns without the G-force trying to liquefy him.
Teleportation was a pipe dream back at Hogwarts—The Lazy Explorer requires an Ancient Station to craft. But now that he was out in the world, the sea was his to roam and the sky was his to fly.
He could head out to sea, gather so oceanic specialties, and craft a Thoughtcap (a hat that grants the wearer world-shattering wisdom).
Wearing it would give him the knowledge of the Constant—albeit temporarily. With that hat, he wouldn't be limited by a crafting station; he could hand-craft The Lazy Explorer with his own two hands.
"Looks like the holiday itinerary needs a change." Kane pulled his horned hat lower and accelerated again.
anwhile...
In a quaint, English pastoral courtyard in a corner of Godric's Hollow, a blonde man in a vibrant purple robe lay on a fancy lounge chair, scribbling in a notebook.
Fact is, I am currently in my courtyard in Godric's Hollow, awaiting the young wizard Dumbledore spoke of—the one who requires my help during the holidays.
This courtyard was left to by a Hag I once vacationed with. She recently left England for Austria to rejoin her clan, and as the only man she ever truly loved, she naturally left this estate to .
Back to the point: I still have no idea who this 'student in need' is. Perhaps it's Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived? Or the Malfoy heir? Or perhaps the red-headed twins who are so popular lately?
Regardless, Dumbledore chose , Gilderoy Lockhart, to guide them. Only the best for the best.
Wait... I see him. You won't believe it, but I recognize that profile from the Daily Prophet—the lead boy who killed the troll and its master, Quirrell. Kane Heiss. He is riding a broom with a black exhaust-trail... I cannot imagine what such a powerful young wizard would need from , Gilderoy Lockhart.
Lockhart snapped the book shut and scribbled a title on the cover: Holiday Travels with a Young Wizard: Dumbledore's Plea, Vol. 1.
He tucked the notebook into his pocket and waved toward the sky.
Above, Kane looked down at Lockhart while diving. Mhm. Dumbledore said he's a fraud, but at least he looks the part. Wonder if he can handle a trip to the open sea.
Alright. Ti to decelerate, drift, and park this thing!
As Kane jerked the broom into a stop-turn, a hurricane-force wind—the likes of which Godric's Hollow had never seen—descended upon the courtyard Lockhart had just inherited.
BOOM!
As the dust settled, Kane stepped out of the crater, stretching his arms.
"You're Gilderoy Lockhart, right?"
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed. Claim early access on Patreon: Patreon/kazama677
🔓 You hold the keys to bonus chapters:💬 10 reviews ignite 1 bonus chapter🔷 200 Power Stones summon another
🔥 Your power determines how fast the tale unfolds.
User Comments
0 comments from readers