Chapter 106: Tom the Servant (Bonus chapter for the contribution by From Heaven to Hell, I Passed Through the Human World)

"Tom, the person you are confiding in has changed. Unlike Ginny Weasley, if I don't get anything useful, I will simply destroy you."

Kahn picked up a quill and wrote this on the diary. Before long, a reply appeared on the pages, though one could sense a hint of resentment in the tone.

'I will help you. It is my duty. A mission was bestowed upon me the moment I was created: to assist whoever possesses me.'

"What is the principle behind memory magic? What kind of dark curses exist? What is the incantation that allows a wizard to fly..."

Kahn did not beat around the bush. He wrote down a list of magical topics he currently didn't understand, many of which were counter-curses to dark magic. However, the one he valued most was the flying magic frequently used by Death Eaters.

Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix seemed capable of it as well, but Lupin had not taught him, so Kahn had no choice but to set his sights on Tom.

The flying magic used by Death Eaters could keep pace with a Firebolt, reaching speeds of roughly 240 kilometers per hour. It was incredibly convenient and seemed to have no drawbacks.

After Kahn scribbled a list of questions, the diary slowly began to produce answers, which he quickly committed to memory.

"Tom, you treacherous fellow, how dare you lie to me!"

Suspecting that a cunning creature like Tom might have some hidden agenda, once Kahn finished noting down the answers, he flicked a small spark of Fiendfyre from his fingertip, holding it beneath the diary to scorch it.

'No, I did not lie to you! These answers are all true. Please, stop! Do not burn me again!'

"Stop? You are clearly lying to me. I must make you realize the cost of deceit. I’ll teach you to lie..."

After writing this, Kahn conjured a second cluster of Fiendfyre, intensifying the heat. Tom was genuinely panicked now; the diary was by no means a divine artifact, and the Fiendfyre was more than enough to cause him real harm. Had he not placed protective enchantments on the book, it would have already been reduced to ash.

'I have never lied to you. Please, believe me. I am merely a servant-like existence.'

"I'll believe you for now. Tomorrow, I will find a dark wizard to verify this. If there is even a hint of falsehood... prepare to spend your existence inside a dungbomb ignited by Fiendfyre."

Seeing that the burning had been sufficient, Kahn withdrew the flames. He would test the flying magic when he had the time, and then return to burn the diary again.

The fact that Tom still had the power to tempt others meant he retained a significant amount of strength. When the replies eventually became intermittent, Kahn would consider sparing him for a few days, provided that Tom still possessed magical knowledge unknown to him.

After putting the diary away, Kahn headed toward the Restricted Section.

He had no classes tomorrow morning, so he could spend the night studying magic. Upon reaching this decision, Kahn himself felt a bit surprised; in his previous life, he had detested studying, yet here he was, driven to such lengths for the sake of learning.

...

"When facing a dark wizard, your priority is to strike faster than they do. Because dark wizards have no bottom line and are not constrained by the Ministry of Magic. If you cannot do this, the only outcome is having your wand blasted away or being tortured by the Cruciatus Curse!"

While teaching the senior students, Kahn consistently imparted his philosophy on mindset and combat. He spent the remaining half of the time letting them practice defensive spells against various dark creatures. Much of this he had gleaned from Lupin, though Kahn mostly used his own mastery of magic to advise them on how to cast spells more effectively.

However, since Kahn’s spellcasting was nearly instinctive, he struggled to explain it in great detail, making him less effective in that regard than more experienced professors.

If it were Snape or Lupin, the instruction might have been better, but Kahn’s teaching style was novel. He was likely the first professor to encourage students to strike first.

During class, after Kahn finished speaking, a fifth-year girl raised her hand and asked, "Professor, why must we be so vigilant against dark wizards? Shouldn't we also learn about those dangerous creatures?"

Kahn nodded. "A good question. In your opinion, which department in the Ministry of Magic has the largest number of employees?"

"The Department of Magical Law Enforcement!"

A student raised their hand to answer. It was a simple question; the Ministry existed to protect the British wizarding world, either from dark wizards or dangerous magical creatures. The former were clearly more dangerous than the latter, and the difference in scale was significant.

Only a small number of wizards enjoyed traveling and encountering magical creatures personally—otherwise, Lockhart’s books wouldn't have sold so well. Most wizards lacked the experience of travel and could only seek a sense of vicarious thrill through Lockhart’s writings.

"Wizards have fought several large-scale battles against magical creatures, and wizards won every time. Since then, wizards have not only tamed these dangerous creatures but have also mastered their weaknesses and documented them in books.

But it is not the same with dark wizards; every dark wizard has different methods... Franco, your strike was still too obvious. If you could hide behind Katie, it would be much more concealed."

Kahn then deflected a Petrification Curse. This effortless movement surprised the students below; few had noticed Franco's casting, and among the senior students, Franco was one of the few who had mastered non-verbal spellcasting.

Yet, Professor Pente had blocked it, even though he hadn't been looking in Franco's direction at all.

After class, Kahn was the first to exit the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, heading straight for the Forbidden Forest to practice his magic. Had he lingered, he would likely have been delayed by the female students.

Unfortunately, the magical creatures in the Forbidden Forest were quite docile and showed no tendency to cause trouble, so Kahn had to stick to practicing the Flying Charm and Fiendfyre. As for Legilimency, it was difficult to practice without a target.

At the very top of the Astronomy Tower.

Dumbledore stood there, watching from a distance as a streak of red fire danced among the clouds above the Forbidden Forest.

"The Flying Charm. That book shouldn't be in the Restricted Section. It seems our Professor Pente learned this magic from someone else... Severus, does that look like Fawkes to you?"

Dumbledore pointed toward the direction, asking Snape, who had just walked up.

"Only Death Eaters and the Order of the Phoenix know that magic. If you didn't teach him, then the Death Eaters did... And the Governor has practically been living in the Restricted Section lately, Dumbledore. Do you not have any thoughts on this?"

Snape’s tone was flat, but he remained resentful that a stranger had been appointed as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.

"It seems Professor Pente is not only talented in ordinary magic but also exceptionally gifted in dark magic."

Dumbledore chuckled softly. He had been to the Forbidden Forest and knew Kahn was practicing Fiendfyre. Associating this with the man's potential abilities derived from a phoenix, he felt little more than mild surprise.

"And he’s an Animagus. Although he is very discreet, the scent of Mandrake is hard to mask..."

"Is that so? Much like... my apologies, Severus. I only heard his Transfiguration was average; I didn't realize he had learned to become an Animagus."

Snape pursed his lips, listening to Dumbledore’s flimsy explanation. Did he really think Snape didn't know what he was talking about?

"Since you already know, there is no need for me to say more!"

Having said this, Snape left the Astronomy Tower. Quirrell had been possessed by Voldemort last year, and now they had a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor who knew the Flying Charm.

It was natural for Snape to be worried, but Dumbledore trusted Scamander. He had interacted with Kahn and knew the man was simply interested in magic, with no leanings toward pure-blood or half-blood ideologies.

Kahn’s own goddaughter was even a Muggle-born witch; such a person could never align with the Death Eaters. It was precisely because of this that Dumbledore hadn't intervened when Kahn spent night after night in the Restricted Section. Though it had startled him at first, Dumbledore hadn't expected Kahn to be practicing Fiendfyre there, yet he had demonstrated masterful control over it.

Snape was overthinking things, which was why he hadn't realized this. Dumbledore hoped he would eventually figure it out for himself.

...

"Godfather, these were given to me by some senior students to pass on to you."

Hermione entered Kahn’s office, arms full of gift boxes. She set them on his desk and asked, "Ron asked me to inquire if Ginny is all right? Does she need to be checked on?"

"She is fine. Her poor mental state lately was just her overthinking. You can suggest she read a collection of jokes... Who sent these? Why are they all garlic and onions?"

After opening the boxes, Kahn was immediately hit by the pungent smell of raw garlic. The onions had even been sliced open. Was this a gift, or a prank?

"I... I don't know. There were quite a few students giving gifts at the time..."

Hermione’s brown eyes darted around. Fortunately, Kahn was busy frowning while dealing with the garlic and onions; otherwise, he would have easily spotted the guilty look on her face.

"By the way, Hermione, when I have fewer classes, I may often leave Hogwarts via the Vanishing Cabinet. If you come to my office, don't let anyone know about this. The other end leads to my home in Diagon Alley, and only you and I can use it."

Kahn gestured toward the Vanishing Cabinet hidden behind a curtain in the corner. "However, you are not to skip classes."

Once the greenhouse expansion was complete, Professor Sprout would be making up for the missed Herbology lessons. By then, his schedule would be light, and he could use the cabinet to return to Diagon Alley to negotiate business.

Kettel had recently had his talent unlocked by Kahn and had signed high-penalty procurement contracts with several herbal sources, making Kahn’s monopoly on magical materials increasingly smooth.

Consequently, many European families had written to Kettel, hoping to sign supply contracts with Kahn’s Magical Material Shop; the Delacour and De Miller families, for instance, relied heavily on dragon parts and other materials.

"I understand, Godfather. I will definitely let you know before I use it."

Hermione’s eyes brightened as she answered quickly; she hadn't expected such a convenient tool to exist.

"Godfather, if the senior students want to give you more gifts..."

Kahn responded firmly, "Tell them such behavior is forbidden. Students should focus on their studies while at school!"