Unsurprisingly, Dumbledore was rather vague on whether he wanted a duel or not. In that, he literally just excused me and had McGonagall escort me back to the Gryffindor tower.
Whether he intended to duel or not however wasn't exactly important- As long as he didn't, I was just going to keep on doing what I did best, and if he did, then I was going to keep on doing what I did best after I won.
Professor McGonagall, in step with me, let out an amused chuckle as she shook her head.
"Do you think he'll teach the Defence class?" I questioned curiously, my gaze still up ahead, ignoring the gaggle of students that passed us by, albeit gawking at me. As if I wouldn't be able to tell as long as they passed me.
"The headmaster has many responsibilities I am afraid," The woman's answer was as vague as the old man's really. "...Does this mean you intend to live up to your word?" She questioned after another beat, curiosity brimming in her tone.
"Why?" I grinned as I turned my gaze towards her. "Interested in taking up the class?"
"Perhaps- I certainly need to keep an eye on what you would consider teachable material." She remarked passively. "Your interest in the Dark Art's does you no favor in the headmaster's eyes."
I rolled my eyes in response. "Dark arts, light arts, blood magic, rune magic, it's all the same you know? Well, not exactly the same- Blood magic works on spite, which is expected really, you can't just tell magic it's not good enough without your own bodily fluid and expect to get a positive result." I paused to take in a breath. "While rune magic is more respecting towards it as you're literally trying to get to the roots of understanding it... It's like someone researching you so that they can help you do... Whatever, together." I finished with a shrug.
"An interesting take," Professor McGonagall's words promptly reminded me the woman was right beside me. I'd practically dozed off speaking about it.
"Magic I suppose certainly qualifies as a living entity, which in a way makes the headmaster's worries about the Dark Art's all the more relevant. The temptations surrounding it are a known danger, even to those who've never felt the need to delve into it..." She trailed off.
I calmly turned towards the woman currently deep in thought, her gaze slowly turning towards me.
"It's a worry I feel that you don't seem to grasp, or rather care about- Even with your knowledge Sirius, the Dark Art's are-"
"Lonely." I interrupted her, watching as she blinked at me. "Magic is alive Professor, and in its own way, has a personality for every facet, every category of what it can provide." I tilted my head, stopping on my feet as the professor did the same. "Even you have to realize that, while the Light is certainly safer, and more accepted- That it's also complacent. Arrogant in a way because of its place- Of its status. It cares not for the severity of the result, so long as the journey is acceptable."
Professor McGonagall's frown told me she knew exactly who I was referring to.
"The Dark Art's are tempting yes, but that does not make them dangerous. It makes them willing to prove themselves, willing to show the world that it is as capable as the Light in its own way. The Dark Arts seek acceptance, seek to be understood, seek to show themselves an equal to a source of magic that they have every right to be superior to, if only for the fact that Darkness has always existed before the Light. That without the Dark Arts, we wouldn't have the Light."
There was a much heavier frown on the woman's face as she stared at me.
"Sirius, that..." She shook her head. "That does make them dangerous. History has always shown that those who steep too far into-"
I quickly shook my head in response.
"No professor, history shows idiots who made no attempt to understand it. Idiots who saw that said Arts were forbidden and figured that made them powerful."
"And? Is that why you consider them to be powerful then?" She questioned, the frown loosening up in favor of what looked like resignation.
"Not at all," I snorted. "Power doesn't come from Magic itself professor, it's only a catalyst towards it- Whether one favors the dark, the light, blood, soul, or runes- None of that equals power. None of that makes a powerful wizard or witch." I turned my gaze back ahead, the sight of the staircases filling my view as I started walking again. "There's only one thing that equates to power professor, regardless of whatever magic one uses, there's only one thing that differs one from their peers."
I took in another breath, blinking once in the process.
"And that's willpower- It's literally in the name. The will to achieve one's goals- That is what makes one powerful." I let out a sigh, the silence from the professor rather telling on how she vied my answer.
"Willpower is the only thing that can change the world professor, for good or bad- The Headmaster, Tom Riddle- All of them are too lost in their biases to understand it. They're all half-assing it, pardon the language, either by digging deeper into whatever art they fancy without a true goal besides survival, or sitting atop a tower waiting and preparing for a storm they could literally end if they chose to risk it and play the odds, which are heavily in their favor mind you and until someone decides enough was enough and actually does what's needed, then everyone else is just going to keep suffering for it."
I shook my head.
"All so two people could play out their little dominant games of chess, all because Tom Riddle and Albus Dumbledore fear each other, enough to keep throwing lives at the other until something sticks."
I turned my gaze towards a thoughtful, albeit troubled professor.
"The magical arts have nothing to do with it, professor. It's all just a literal dick-measuring contest between those two."
That practically broke the professor, as she did a double-take, the snort that came out uncontrolled before a mock-glare filled her face.