"This is really..."
Cedric stood in silent awe, staring at the shimmering card in his hands. It was a character template—an extremely rare one, and not just any card. This was Severus Snape's template.
A surge of emotion rose in Cedric's chest. He had heard of these high-level templates, of course. But to have one—Snape's of all people—right in front of him? That was something else entirely.
Template Card: Severus Snape
Talents:
Potions
Spells (This talent can be upgraded to S-level)
Occlumency (This talent can be upgraded to SS-level)
Super Master Wizard (Magic +5 points, upper limit: 90 points)
Life Wish List:
Find an heir.(Please become an heir that satisfies him.)
Reward: Upgrade Spells and Potions talents to SS-level
Witness or confirm Voldemort's death.
Reward: Prevent this template from occupying a card slot
Ensure the survival of the child with Lily's eyes.(Protect Harry before Snape's death.)
Reward: Upgrade Occlumency, Spells, and Potions talents to SSS-level
Cedric's eyes widened as he read each condition. The starting point was already incredible: two S-levels and one SS-level. And if he completed all three tasks...
"Double SS after the first life wish... then full SSS stats after the last one?"
He couldn't believe it. No other card he'd seen so far had this level of potential. But then again, no other card had tasks of this magnitude either.
A slow sigh escaped Cedric's lips.
"Ugh! I just don't have enough card slots! How am I supposed to take this legend with me?"
He paced back and forth. He needed a way to unlock more slots. That was the key. But what even constituted a "legend" in this system?
Legend... legend...
"Is it about creating a new legacy within the school?"
His eyes lit up with inspiration. That had to be it. He scribbled a note to himself—Give the first-years a big surprise during the opening ceremony. Perhaps that could earn him legendary status and unlock more template slots.
But even if he managed that, he'd still only unlock two additional slots at most. And there were so many other potential cards worth collecting...
Professor Sybill Trelawney was next on his list.
The famously eccentric Divination professor was seen by many as a joke, but Cedric saw the deeper potential. After all, she had made the original prophecy that changed everything—Harry Potter, the Chosen One. That alone was proof of her immense, if unpredictable, magical power.
"If I could unlock her template... maybe I could gain the power of prophecy. What if I could see the future like Grindelwald?"
He scribbled that down as well.
Then there was Gilderoy Lockhart, the second-year Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. A flashy fraud to most, but Cedric saw value even in that. Lockhart's Obliviate spellwork was powerful—almost frightening. Imagine being able to wipe memories or subtly control minds permanently. A sneaky but powerful tool.
"And that's just the side cards."
Cedric's thoughts turned to the other professors of Hogwarts:
Pomona Sprout, head of Hufflepuff, was a master in Herbology. Her card would undoubtedly come with insanely high herbalism stats.
Filius Flitwick, head of Ravenclaw, was a former Dueling Champion. Imagine the dueling techniques that could be learned from him.
Remus Lupin, the kind but capable werewolf professor, had experience, skill, and wisdom from a hard life.
Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody, the paranoid but brilliant Auror.
Even Firenze, the centaur Divination teacher, was someone Cedric couldn't ignore.
Not to mention Professor Dumbledore himself.
Cedric paused at that thought. The idea of Dumbledore's template made his heart race. The sheer magical knowledge, combat expertise, and wisdom... that would be the ultimate prize.
But there was a problem.
Cedric hadn't mastered Occlumency yet. Without it, he dared not linger near Dumbledore too often, lest the old wizard catch on to his unusual behavior.
Then, of course, there was Harry Potter.
He was curious what kind of stats Harry's card would even have. But to obtain Harry's template, he'd have to get close to him—gain his trust. That could take time, effort... maybe even friendship.
Still, Cedric wasn't ruling anything out.
Even the so-called "average" professors like Cuthbert Binns, the ghostly History of Magic teacher, and Madam Hooch, who taught Flying Lessons, had potential.
Sure, their combat skills weren't noteworthy. But perhaps the conditions on their wish lists were simple. If he could complete them easily and use their cards without occupying a slot, it would be worth it.
Every little advantage helped in the fight against Voldemort.
Even "mosquito legs are still meat," as the old saying went.
At present, Cedric's biggest gain in terms of test experience came from Snape's template. Just from fulfilling part of the Professor's storyline, he had gained a massive 1,000 points.
On the other hand, tasks involving Hagrid and Filch were proving more complex. Their challenges seemed more long-term and less immediately rewarding.
Then there was Professor McGonagall.
He had completed the first wish on her card, yet her overall test hadn't been marked as complete. Something was missing. Something subtle.
"Could it be that spell?" he wondered aloud.
He had been trying for days to master the Patronus Charm, which McGonagall had assigned as a crucial milestone. His magic power had already reached 47 points, a near-expert level for a student. But even so, he could only manage thin wisps of silver mist from the tip of his wand.
These trails of light would drift together in the air but refused to form into a recognizable creature.
"It's alright, Cedric. You've made incredible progress. Far beyond what most can achieve in such a short time."
Professor McGonagall's voice was gentle but firm. She watched Cedric's latest failed attempt without any trace of disappointment.
Cedric, on the other hand, felt frustrated.
To him, not succeeding the first time was a failure. The fact that it had been three days only added to his anxiety.
But he didn't give up. He clenched his wand tighter and said, "It's fine, Professor. Let's keep going!"
That was Cedric. Setbacks didn't break him—they motivated him.
Still, something bothered him.
Why couldn't he conjure a full Patronus?
He had experienced happiness. He had dreamed of defeating Voldemort, of standing victorious. That should be enough, right?
But every time he tried, the mist simply dissipated. No form, no guardian, no Patronus.
Finally, after three more failed attempts, Cedric turned to McGonagall and asked, "Professor... why isn't it working? I've been happy before. I've dreamed of victory, of defeating him... isn't that enough?"
McGonagall gave him a look of deep understanding.
"Maybe that's not what truly makes you happy, Cedric."
Her words hit him harder than any spell.
A silence fell between them, but in that silence, realization dawned.
Happiness. True happiness. It wasn't in the act of killing Voldemort. That wasn't what filled his heart.
It was the world after Voldemort. A world without fear. A world where people lived freely. Where children didn't have to worry about war.
That was his dream.
That was his happiness.
A warmth bloomed in his chest. His mind became clear.
That's it.
He gripped his wand, and a smile crept across his lips.
He lifted it and shouted:
"Expecto Patronum!"
This time, the silver mist didn't just drift or flicker. It swirled, gathering speed and light, until it formed into the shape of a glowing silver animal.
A full-fledged Patronus.
--------
Get membership in patreon to read more chapters
Extra chapters available in patreon
patreon.com/Dragonscribe31