Harry Potter : This Progress Too Much

The achievements had been unlocked.

The gold Galleons had been secured.

The two magical creatures had been claimed.

Now, what was to be done with Dennis, his two accomplices, and the Murtra Rats?

The Imperius Curse was powerful, but it wouldn't last forever. Eventually, its effects would fade, and when it did, these three wizards would regain control over their minds.

If David wanted to keep them under his influence, he would need to reapply the spell periodically.

But was that worth the trouble?

David would be leaving for Hogwarts in a month. He had no intention of dragging these people—or the swarm of Murtra Rats—along with him.

Should he just kill them?

No.

First, he wanted to see their reaction once they woke up.

A Rude Awakening

Before anything else, David confiscated their wands and any magical artifacts they carried.

Only then did he lift the Imperius Curse.

The three men blinked as they snapped back to reality, their faces blank with confusion. For a few seconds, they simply stood there, disoriented.

Then their eyes landed on David.

Immediately, they staggered backward, pale with terror.

David said nothing. He simply watched.

His silence alone was enough to break them.

Dennis was the first to react. He fell to his knees and bowed his head low.

"Please, spare us!"

Berkeley and Don followed suit, dropping to the ground beside him, their voices trembling as they begged for mercy.

They had retained full memory of what had happened under the Imperius Curse—

They had witnessed firsthand how David had taken them down without a wand, how he had effortlessly controlled them, and how he had executed Kipling with a Killing Curse.

They had seen how he tamed the Winged Demon and the strange dark creature, bending them to his will.

And this was just a child.

If he could do all of that now, what would he become in the future?

The very thought sent a chill down their spines.

There was no fight left in them.

They had lost.

A Change in Plans

David's gaze swept over them.

"They're afraid. But fear alone won't keep them in line forever."

Killing them would be cleaner.

But…

If they feared him this much, maybe they could be useful.

David tilted his head slightly. "From now on, you will work for me."

The three men froze, then exchanged quick glances before nodding frantically.

"Yes!" Dennis declared, bowing even lower. "I pledge my loyalty to you, my lord!"

Berkeley and Don echoed him, crawling forward to kiss David's shoes in a desperate display of submission.

David didn't stop them.

He let them humiliate themselves, let them prove their fear.

He noted their names and their skills:

Dennis Garr, Berkeley Andrew, Don Jeff.

They were stronger than the average wizard but far from elite.

They knew the three Unforgivable Curses but were only truly proficient in the Killing Curse.

They had some knowledge of Dark Magic and were familiar with common spells.

"Not the most impressive subordinates, but they'll do."

Strangely enough, while David saw them as temporary pawns, the three men were thinking something entirely different.

To them, following David was an opportunity.

A young wizard, incredibly powerful, feared by even seasoned dark wizards…

In an era where Voldemort had fallen and Dumbledore was aging, who else had the potential to rise?

David could become the next legend of the wizarding world.

Being his first followers might be the greatest decision of their lives.

A Dark Mark of His Own

Suddenly, a new panel appeared before David.

[Foundation]

"Even a great tower begins with a single stone. You have taken your first step—no longer choosing to fight alone."

Achievement Goal: Gain a subordinate (1/1)

Reward: Magic – "Mark of the Demon"

This was the first time David had received a specific spell as a reward instead of a random one.

As soon as he absorbed it, knowledge flooded his mind.

"This spell… it's almost like Voldemort's Dark Mark."

[Mark of the Demon]

Effect: Implants a magical mark on the target.

The mark cannot be removed.

Marked individuals can sense each other's locations and be summoned to gather at any time.

"Perfect."

David raised his wand and pointed it at Dennis's forehead.

Dennis flinched.

He thought for a moment that David was about to kill him.

But then, a cold, eerie magic seeped into his skin, slithering through his body until it settled in his chest.

Berkeley and Don received the same treatment.

When David was done, he stepped back.

"This magic is called the Mark of the Demon. No matter where you are, I can find you—and summon you when needed."

The three men shuddered, instinctively clutching their chests where the mark now resided.

"We would never betray you!" Dennis swore immediately.

"Yes, Boss, we are loyal!" Berkeley added.

David sighed.

"Stop calling me 'Master.' Call me 'Boss.'"

"Yes, Boss!" they chorused.

David narrowed his eyes.

"This mark will keep them in check, but loyalty… that's another matter."

He'd have to test them later.

For now, he had other things to take care of.

Dealing with the Poaching Organization

David questioned them about their poaching network.

Would their disappearance cause problems?

Would their organization come looking for them?

Dennis shook his head.

"We've already thought of that," he explained. "We'll pin everything on Kipling. We'll say he ran off with all the gold and magical creatures while we were out looking for buyers."

David smirked. "Smart."

With the organization already in disarray, no one would have time to investigate properly.

They also asked if David wanted them to leave the organization entirely.

David considered it.

"No," he finally decided.

They could stay for now.

Who knew? They might prove useful later.

Final Arrangements

Before leaving, David tossed them 230 Galleons.

"A small investment," he said.

He kept the remaining 3,500 Galleons for himself.

As for the Murtra Rats, he left them behind. The three could handle disposing of them.

But David did take one thing.

A small, empty box—enchanted with a Traceless Expansion Charm.

"Could be useful later."

With everything settled, David stepped out into the night.

A Shadow in the Dark

The sky had turned pitch-black.

Knockturn Alley was silent.

David melted into the shadows.

[Shadow Stealth – Activated.]

He moved swiftly, unseen, gliding through the darkness like a phantom.

In just thirty seconds, he had slipped out of Knockturn Alley and into a quiet corner of Diagon Alley.

Finally, he emerged near The Leaky Cauldron.

Waiting outside, his driver looked incredibly anxious.

"You're finally back!" the man exclaimed. "You said two or three hours—it's been over five!"

David merely smiled.

"That's because I got a lot more than I planned."

And this…

Was just the beginning.