[166] A Thin Veil

Grindelwald rolled his eyes when Hall appeared at Nurmengard. His health had improved — still pale, but not the walking skeleton he'd been.

"You're doing well, teacher. Keep it up and you might live a few more years."

"Don't ask me about that kind of thing," Grindelwald said. "If you want to learn dark magic, I can help. Lumos? Anyone who isn't a Squib can cast that."

"I trust my teacher," Hall said with a grin. "I want to improve it."

Grindelwald's expression shifted. He sat up, tapping his fingers on the table. And then — his vision blurred.

Countless images flashed by. One scene left a deep impression: his eyes were completely blinded.

He knew exactly what Hall was planning.

Hall blinked. "Teacher, I haven't figured it out yet!"

He sat up straight, hands on his knees, blinking innocently.

Grindelwald's gaze twitched. "Tell me your plan first."

Hall laid out his thoughts. Grindelwald's brows rose higher as he listened. How did they go from improving a spell to alchemy?

"Show me the coins you succeeded on."

Hall handed over three silver coins: Stunner, Binding, Expelliarmus. "Hold them carefully, teacher."

Grindelwald examined them. "The silver coin is the vessel. The imprinted spell is the power." He flicked one — it crashed against the wall. A flash of binding light. "The speed's a bit slow."

"I'm not skilled enough yet. More practice — "

Grindelwald shook his head.

"The problem isn't proficiency. It's the spell itself. All spells originate from Latin. If you want to improve one, you need to trace it back to its original form."

Hall's mind cleared. That angle had never occurred to him. The inscription failure wasn't alchemy — it was the spell's foundation.

"That's a lot of work."

Grindelwald smiled approvingly. Hall had talent, a clear goal, and a tremendous capacity for effort. It was just that his goal was always Galleons. The former Dark Lord wondered how he'd ended up with a disciple like this.

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Hall plunged into the Hogwarts library. With Professor Snape's approval, he had access to everything.

"Hall is terrifying!" Ron whispered to Harry, watching Hall devour books. A genius studying like that made Ron want to run.

But he couldn't. This was his twin brother.

Ron glanced at Fred and George, arm in arm.

"Little Ronnie — that look seems envious!"

"Haha! It's because of his relationship with Hall!"

Ron jumped. "I'm good friends with Hall too! I just... I just..."

A tiny bit envious. If only Hall were in Gryffindor.

"Hall's grades are already so good, and he's still this studious?" Hermione's eyes shone. "I'm going to be Minister for Magic! My grades can't be behind!"

She started studying too.

Draco, both forced and willing, joined the frenzy.

After Hall had read enough on the origins of magic, he stopped. He looked at Hermione and Draco — both buried in books, dark circles under their eyes.

"They don't have exams coming up, do they?"

Ron and Harry shot him resentful looks.

"Hall, what do you think?"

"...Maybe it's because of me? I was just looking some things up."

Who would have thought he'd drag everyone into it. Even the Ravenclaws — who usually read in their common room — felt threatened by the intense competition in the library. The Ravenclaw army had joined.

Hall was a sinful man.

After countless failures — forty-nine, eighty-one — Hall finally succeeded.

The enhanced Lumos silver coin was stable, more stable than any of the others. He flipped it between his fingers, wondering: was the stability from practice, or from tracing the spell's Latin roots?

He looked at the other three coins: Stunner, Binding, Expelliarmus. He could cast all three silently now, but they weren't instantaneous yet. His magic level was fine. The answer had to be in the origins.

He pocketed the coins and headed to the Great Hall.

"Missed mealtime?!" Hall stared at the empty tables.

"Thought you'd forgotten you were a Slytherin," Draco said, glancing sideways. "I haven't seen you in the common room except for meals. Now you've even forgotten those. Did you join Hogwarts' secret fifth house?"

Hall raised his hands. "My fault. I was so engrossed in research I forgot to eat."

"What kind of research?"

Draco was satisfied to learn Hall wasn't with the Gryffindors. Those lions held no appeal for Hall.

"I've developed an interesting new product. Want to try?"

Draco's eyes narrowed. "How many Galleons?"

Hall blinked innocently. "Draco, is that really who I am in your eyes?"

Draco felt a twinge of guilt.

Then Hall burst out laughing. "So cute, Draco!"

"You were kidding me?!"

"I felt it necessary to put on a show. I was planning to give you a free trial, but since you doubt me so much — "

Draco's frustration peaked. His emotions were completely controlled by Hall. But the things Hall gave him were never useless.

"It was my fault, Hall." He forced the words out. "You definitely won't hold it against me, right?"

Hall laughed so hard he nearly fell over. Draco's ears went bright red.

Before Draco could explode, Hall flicked his wrist. Three silver coins appeared in his palm.

Draco forgot what he was about to say. "What are these?"

"Handle them gently, or you might trigger them early." Hall explained the three coins — distinguished by their patterns. Stunner, Binding, Expelliarmus. In danger, throw all three at once. Even one hit would buy time.

Draco's eyes lit up. "Sounds interesting!"

"Dementors," Hall said.

Draco went pale. Then he huffed. "I'm telling my father. Get all those Dementors out of here."