"Congratulations on your new success, Cedric!" Professor McGonagall congratulated him warmly, her eyes twinkling with approval.
Then, she turned her gaze toward the Patronus that Cedric had just conjured. Its form was somewhat unusual—a creature resembling an elegant ape-man with large, dark eyes, partially obscured by silky, silver fur. Despite its tranquil demeanor, a trace of sadness seemed to emanate from the creature, visible through the gaps in its hair.
Professor McGonagall studied the Patronus carefully, a thoughtful look on her face. After a moment, she spoke, recognizing the creature.
"The Demiguise," she said. "A gentle-tempered, herbivorous magical creature that seeks peace. Its fur is highly prized because it can be used to create invisibility cloaks."
She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly. "This is a gentle and sensitive Patronus. But why is it like this?"
Her confusion was palpable. Given Cedric's intense hatred for evil and his unwavering determination to rid the world of Voldemort, Professor McGonagall had expected a more imposing or perhaps fiercer Patronus. Yet this was different. It was calm, serene, and peaceful—almost the opposite of the fire and fury Cedric's heart seemed to burn with.
Cedric smiled softly, his heart light with understanding. "I didn't expect this either," he confessed. "I always imagined my Patronus would be something more majestic, more imposing. Perhaps a lion or a wolf, something fierce."
But as he thought back to the happiness he had recently visualized, it all became clear to him. "What I really wanted... what I longed for was a simple moment of peace."
Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow in understanding. "Afternoon tea, a warm book, maybe a cat or a dog beside you... and the gentle warmth of the sun, I suppose?"
Cedric smiled and stretched out his hand toward the creature. The Demiguise, in response, closed its eyes, nuzzling his hand affectionately, its fur soft and silky like that of a contented cat.
Professor McGonagall's eyes sparkled with realization. She understood now. Cedric's Patronus reflected his inner desire for tranquility—a life without the constant weight of war, where he could simply enjoy life in peace.
Her heart sank with a pang of guilt. It dawned on her how the wizarding world had failed him. "We adults have failed to provide a safe, peaceful world for children like you," she thought bitterly. She knew Cedric's childhood had been consumed by the need to fight, to battle against the darkness. Even a peaceful childhood had been denied to him.
Despite these conflicting feelings, McGonagall could not prevent Cedric from his path. She couldn't bring herself to dissuade him from his mission, not when his belief was so firm. To do so might shatter his resolve, and she knew how dangerous that could be. His entire sense of purpose could collapse.
"Congratulations again, Cedric. That's all for today," McGonagall said, hurriedly covering her face to hide the emotions threatening to spill out.
As she left, Cedric found himself enveloped in a rare moment of calm. He sat there, facing his Patronus, simply watching as it glowed softly in the air. For the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to feel at peace.
However, this moment of serenity was soon interrupted by the familiar beep of a system notification:
[Congratulations on passing Professor McGonagall's test! You have gained 1,000 experience points.]
[Congratulations on passing Principal Dumbledore's preliminary test! You have gained 2,000 experience points.]
"Preliminary test?" Cedric repeated aloud, confused. Why had McGonagall been involved with Dumbledore in this test? What was going on? His mind raced as he tried to piece together the mystery.
The idea that Dumbledore had already set up tests for him made Cedric uneasy. The thought that the Headmaster had been watching him so closely from the very beginning unsettled him deeply.
It seemed as though the old wizard was always several steps ahead, orchestrating events with precision. His reputation as one of the most cunning and powerful wizards was well-deserved.
But Cedric didn't fear Dumbledore; in fact, he admired his intellect. It was just that the pressure of always being observed was unsettling. He didn't want to simply follow the path Dumbledore had laid out for him. Cedric wanted to break free, to prove that he could carve his own destiny, even if it meant challenging the future.
With a grim sense of determination, Cedric thought to himself, "I will prove my strength, and I will defeat Voldemort, even if I have to do it alone."
Suddenly, he shuddered, the weight of his thoughts pulling him deeper into a dark resolve. His Patronus flickered in front of him, shattering into countless specks of starlight before disappearing entirely. It was as if the magic was also affected by his emotions—dissolving into nothingness.
"Patronus Charm," Cedric muttered. He had to admit that Dumbledore's influence was everywhere. Had McGonagall's lessons simply been a subtle form of testing him? Had she been instructed by Dumbledore to gauge his true character?
The idea made Cedric break out in a cold sweat. "I thought I hadn't been noticed by Dumbledore, but he's been watching me from the start. He's one of the best strategists in the entire wizarding world!"
The pressure was intense, but Cedric couldn't afford to dwell on it. He had his own path to follow. Dumbledore's plans might be intricate, but Cedric had his own mission: to defeat Voldemort and break free from the constraints of fate. He was determined to find a way to destroy all seven Horcruxes, and he would not let anyone—be it Dumbledore or Voldemort—control his destiny.
With a new resolve, Cedric set his plans into motion. The next day, he would seek out Snape.
"It can't be delayed any longer," Cedric murmured to himself as he prepared for the next steps in his journey. His 3,000 experience points were already earned, and now he needed to upgrade his Occlumency skills. He was determined to learn Occlumency—though he couldn't let Snape know how much he truly cared about mastering it.
"It'll be difficult," Cedric thought, "but I'll make it work. I have to make Snape believe I'm just another student, indifferent to these matters."
After his magical energy had been drained by hours of practice, Cedric finally climbed into bed, his thoughts spinning. But exhaustion soon overtook him, and he fell asleep, knowing that tomorrow would bring new challenges.
The next morning, Cedric met with Snape, who, surprisingly, agreed to teach him and even increased their lessons to three hours a day. Snape's meticulous tests challenged Cedric, pushing his learning abilities to their limits. But Cedric didn't mind. Every challenge was another step toward his ultimate goal.
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