Snakes at Hogwarts

Snape left as sullenly as he had come.

This guy with a big hooked nose seems to always have the same bad face, which is empty, mechanical, and emotionless.

This is because he maintains Occlumency almost all the time.

This kind of clever magic can seal one's own thoughts and prevent others from prying through mental magic such as Legilimency.

The caster creates a barrier in his mind by controlling his own mental power, that is, magic, to prevent the intrusion of these spells.

However, the effects of barriers are often reciprocal.

Others can't get in, and similarly, you can't get out.

This in itself is a spell that suppresses one's own emotions and thoughts. The caster needs to abandon feelings and thoughts to prevent others from prying eyes.

Not thinking, not remembering, not feeling, these are the basic requirements for getting started with Occlumency.

Therefore, instead of saying it is a barrier, it is better to change it to a more appropriate term, a wall that forms a circle around your heart.

This will naturally have side effects.

Maintaining Occlumency for an extended period of time can make the caster become overly rational and somewhat inhumane.

Even if Occlumency is maintained for a long time, some more serious conditions may occur, such as the spell caster having an impairment in the recognition of emotions and other sensations.

To put it simply, it means that you can no longer feel what love feels like.

This is a very dangerous curse. If you do not maintain a high degree of self-discipline in your heart and emotions, then if you are not careful, long-term suppressed feelings will rage in your heart like a flood that bursts.

Believe me, even the most determined person will go crazy under that feeling.

Magic has never been a harmless gift from God or the goddess of magic.

On the contrary, like everything in the world, it has two sides.

What all wizards should know before learning magic is that magic is an incredibly dangerous force.

Given the slightest chance, magic will show its wildest side to people.

Occlumency is such a spell.

Powerful, complex, and very dangerous.

If you are not careful, this barrier originally used to protect your soul will turn into a sharp knife, easily tearing a hole in your heart.

It's hard to imagine what it would be like to maintain Occlumency for an extended period of time.

But maybe only in this way can Snape properly place his emotions, hide them in his heart and never think of them, just like his unbearable past.

...

After Snape left, the portraits that had been sleeping soundly came to life.

These are the past principals of Hogwarts. Their portraits are hung here not only as an honor, but also to help the current principal manage the affairs of the castle.

As leaders of their respective eras, even if memory loss inevitably occurs after the portrait is made, they are still a very rare force.

This is the crystallization of wisdom passed down by Hogwarts for nearly a thousand years.

But it is a pity that the portraits of the Big Four are not in these Hogwarts principal's rooms.

In fact, there is not a single painting related to the Big Four in Hogwarts Castle.

What they left behind, apart from legends and colleges corresponding to their names, were only a few stone statues.

Perhaps it was because this technology had not yet been developed at that time.

I have to say that it is a pity that I was not able to experience that magnificent era.

.....

"Albus, you bastard, you're using my masterpiece as a juggling tool.

Do you think this is one of those low-level alchemy toys used to make children happy?"

After Snape left, a wizard with thick black hair and dark glasses yelled angrily at Dumbledore.

His eyebrows are sparse, but the black goatee at the corner of his mouth is extremely thick. Like his hair, it is neatly and smoothly styled by his master.

This is definitely a wizard who loves cleanliness to the point where people think he has a mysophobia.

He was wearing a silver and green Slytherin robe. The style of the robe was somewhat primitive, and it was obviously a style that was popular many years ago.

This is Phineas Nigellus Black, a Hogwarts Headmaster in the late 19th century.

At the same time, he was also elected as the most unpopular principal in the history of Hogwarts by an absolute vote, for reasons we will explain later.

Just like his surname, he comes from the Black family, an ancient family with a history even older than the Malfoy family.

But now, this family has declined.

The only remaining family members are enjoying a luxurious single-room package in Azkaban.

In the long river of history, the rise and fall of several families is nothing more than an inconspicuous wave.

It is not easy to achieve long-term prosperity. From this point of view, the head of the Malfoy family has done a pretty good job.

At least the continuation of the Malfoy family was ensured during the chaotic years that followed.

...

"By your masterpiece, do you mean the surveillance device you used to monitor Muggle students and spy on female students going to the toilet?"

Another portrait not far away said with a mocking look on his face. At the same time, he looked with contempt at the silver instruments that were constantly emitting fog.

He has white hair similar to Dumbledore's, and his seemingly thin body seems to hide huge power.

This is Amundo Dippet, Dumbledore's former Hogwarts principal. He was from Gryffindor House and had a hard time getting along with Black, the principal of the Snake House.

"You fart. If you had used this device more when you were the principal, maybe that girl wouldn't have died."

Black unceremoniously uncovered Principal Dippet's scar.

"Do you want to die? I want to duel you."

"Come on, make it sound like you've defeated me in a one-on-one duel."

"That's enough, you two, please be quiet." Behind Dumbledore, a portrait of a female principal with long silver hair roared angrily.

This is Delys Derwent, the only female headmistress of Hogwarts so far, and an excellent healer who once served as the director of St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.

"Don't get excited, Phineas, I just developed another use for the device you made." Dumbledore waved his hand gently.

"You too, Amundo, don't get excited. There have been too many unnecessary quarrels between us."

Dumbledore waved his hand gently, and the silverware in front of him quickly spun again, and streams of smoke came out of their mouths.

It intertwined into a light curtain composed entirely of mist in the air.

The portraits of the principal soon stopped arguing. They all gathered around a picture frame with a good viewing angle, watching the effects of the flash in the light curtain.

Stealing through the fog, Andros's appearance when he released the Iron Armor Curse in the trophy display room on the fourth floor was clearly displayed in the light curtain. Of course, the color displayed was black and white without any other colors.

It seems that this may be the correct use of this sophisticated alchemical instrument.

With it, the principal of Hogwarts can know what is happening in the castle without leaving the principal's office.

"I never thought that an 11-year-old child could use such an exquisite iron armor spell." Principal Devant praised without concealment.

"Of course, it doesn't matter which college he is a student of."

Principal Black puffed up his chest proudly, his beard curled up and down, and he seemed extremely satisfied with Andros.

"Maybe, but I have to say, Mr. Lobach is a really interesting guy."

Dumbledore blinked playfully.

"I bet there's more to him than you or I could ever imagine."