“Professor, I apologize for my behavior earlier.”
Bruce didn’t answer directly but instead started by apologizing to Professor Gael.
He shouldn’t have challenged his teacher in class.
Yet, Professor Gael didn’t seem to care about that. He cut straight to the point: “What did Dumbledore say? How did he respond to the Crimson Comet spell?”
Well…
Bruce tried to respond diplomatically, realizing that Kathoom had probably set him up, purposefully stirring conflict between him and the professor.
That insidious owl!
“Dumbledore said it was a very powerful spell,” he offered.
“You’re lying!”
Professor Gael’s gaze darkened. “Dumbledore wouldn’t have said just that. He must have said something else.”
“The Headmaster did mention the spell’s history,” Bruce added. “He told me this was originally used by a Dark Lord to discipline his followers.”
“You’re still holding back!”
Gael saw through Bruce’s half-truths immediately, putting two and two together.
“I understand now!”
A cold smile crept across his face. “Did Dumbledore teach you some spell to counter the Crimson Comet?”
That struck right at the heart of the matter.
Bruce realized there was no point in hiding it any longer.
However, he tried to be as tactful as possible. “Actually, the Headmaster didn’t focus on countering the Crimson Comet specifically. He was speaking more generally about countering most spells…”
“Enough, Wayne.”
Gael’s face turned expressionless.
Inwardly, however, he was seething. If Dumbledore had specifically taught a counter to the Crimson Comet, Gael might have let it go.
But a spell that deflected most offensive spells and just happened to include the Crimson Comet?
Gael could not accept that.
“Very well—”
Drawing out the words, he looked Bruce in the eye. “Why don’t you demonstrate it for me? I’d like to see exactly what kind of advanced magic your Headmaster taught you.”
“Right here?”
Bruce glanced around. The other students had already left, leaving the classroom empty.
He couldn’t help but wonder—if Gael decided to thrash him right now, there’d be no witnesses.
Wait—
Could that rumor be true? Did Gael actually enjoy hexing students, as Kathoom had joked?
“Wayne, what are you waiting for?”
By now, Professor Gael had already drawn his wand. “The duel has already started. Decades ago, no opponent would wait for you to be ready!”
Decades ago again.
Bruce sighed inwardly. This was practically Gael’s catchphrase, always reminiscing about the past.
What was so nostalgic about it anyway?
Did he start a world war or something?
Bruce drew the Elder Wand, feeling he had no choice but to engage.
The moment Bruce readied himself, Professor Gael acted.
Swoosh—
With no preliminary movement, no incantation, Gael barely flicked his wand before the Crimson Comet spell shot forth.
The red beam blazed straight for Bruce.
Professor Gael’s lips curved into a smirk.
This was a spell he’d cast countless times before, never once failing.
He didn’t believe that Dumbledore could neutralize it so easily.
For this demonstration, Gael had dialed down the spell’s power—enough to avoid injuring Bruce, but just enough to humiliate him.
Consider it a lesson.
A spell crafted by Grindelwald was not something Dumbledore could simply dismiss!
Then he saw Bruce lift his wand.
“Spell Rebound!”
As Bruce spoke, a shell-like glow surrounded him. The Crimson Comet collided with the shield.
In Gael’s widened eyes, he watched in shock as his own spell rebounded back at him.
He hadn’t foreseen this outcome at all. He could only watch helplessly as his own magic struck him.
Gael’s body flipped into the air, spinning several times before crashing down.
“Whoo-hoo!” Kathoom soared above, cackling gleefully.
This was exactly what he wanted to see!
“Professor!”
Bruce quickly pocketed his wand and rushed over to help Gael.
As he reached him, he managed to swat at Kathoom, but the owl had anticipated it and swooped higher out of reach.
The old wizard wasn’t injured, just disheveled, his robes a bit rumpled.
He pushed Bruce away brusquely.
“Did Dumbledore teach you that? The Rebound Charm?”
Gael worked to hide his irritation over what had just happened.
“Very well. Impressive!” he said curtly.
“Professor, I didn’t mean to—” Bruce apologized.
“No!”
Gael held up a hand to silence him.
“When I say ‘impressive,’ I mean it. That Rebound Charm took me completely by surprise. It’s…quite effective. Hmph—”
Gael suddenly winced, clutching his lower back.
It seemed he’d strained something.
Seeing this, Bruce moved to help him, but Gael waved him off.
“I’m fine!”
Gael insisted. “I only pretended to be hurt to give Dumbledore a bit of face, that’s all!”
Despite his words, his hand stayed firmly on his back, and his expression remained strained.
“Thank you, Professor,” Bruce said, deciding not to point out the obvious, playing along instead.
After a moment, Gael finally removed his hand, exhaling deeply.
“Now, back to our earlier topic.”
He smoothly moved past the incident. “As I said, that Rebound Charm is impressive, but Grindelwald anticipated it long ago and left a way to counter it.”
“What is it?” Bruce asked curiously.
“How should I know? I’m not Grindelwald!”
Professor Gael snapped. “You’ll have to give me some time to look into it!”
Fair enough.
Bruce nodded, reflecting on how well Dumbledore’s Rebound Charm had worked today.
It had caught Gael off guard, making him lose face.
This incident stays between me and Gael, Bruce thought. Unless Dumbledore asks.
—
Bruce was promptly kicked out of the dueling classroom as Gael muttered something about needing to “check his notes.”
Kathoom was still soaring overhead, hooting with laughter as if he’d just seen the best show of his life.
There was nothing Bruce could do about Kathoom’s sense of humor.
He sighed, heading to the Great Hall for lunch, planning to attend his afternoon classes afterward.
But just as he turned a corner, he heard a sudden scream.
It was a voice he recognized instantly—
Harry Potter!
Bruce and Kathoom exchanged a quick glance, both realizing something was wrong, and dashed toward the sound.
Other students and teachers were also hurrying in the same direction.
By the time they reached the scene, a crowd had already gathered.
On the wall, familiar words were scrawled in dark letters—
The Fool Shall Find No Release.
And there, on the ground, lay a figure cloaked in black. Harry was bent over them, crying out in anguish.
The second victim had appeared.
It was Snape.
—
T/N: Damn, maybe Snape was like a father figure… I hope that’s all he is…
Also now Grindelwald will make a spell counter to that then Bruce will learn then Dumbledore will make a spell yadaydayday
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