Chapter 278: Back in Azkaban?
Lockhart spent a very pleasant afternoon at the Malfoy resort manor. His conversation with Professor Aurélie LeMay eventually touched upon Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. She mentioned that most of the students at Beauxbatons were Lockhart fans.
Elegant, handsome, charming, knowledgeable, incredibly powerful, brave enough to embrace reform and struggle, and a victor over the Dark Lord—Lockhart possessed every shining quality that would attract Beauxbatons students.
Speaking of which, she had to mention Beauxbatons' unique student reading groups. Professor LeMay said there were at least six 'Lockhart Reading Clubs' at the school, all dedicated to studying and promoting his books and statements in the media.
Naturally, the conversation moved to Headmistress Madame Maxime. Contrary to Lucius's understanding, the faction represented by Professor LeMay was not in direct confrontation with Headmistress Maxime.
"In the early era of the Wizards' Council, almost all wizards were pure-bloods, so there was no so-called blood purity debate," Professor LeMay said, a topic that even drew Lucius's attention.
"The drawbacks of pure-blood intermarriage were already being noticed, and the mainstream opinion in the wizarding society at the time was supportive of half-bloods." This was an issue that even Magical History wouldn't actively address; only experts like Professor LeMay, who studied 'Wizard Classical Culture,' would be privy to this.
"The fiercest debate and division in society at the time was whether 'Demon Bloodlines should be diluted.'"
Lockhart was astonished. "Demon Bloodlines?"
"That is what we now consider magical bloodlines. Wizards at the time generally believed that the source of a wizard's power came from demons. They thought the convergence of the demonic power passed down by different families would lead to the demon's resurrection in the bloodline, which is what people commonly referred to as the 'Demon will eventually claim the wizard's soul.'"
Professor LeMay pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses, tucking her black hair behind her ear, and spoke fluently. "The reason why such a statement became mainstream was that the magical bloodlines converged by excessive intermarriage often gave birth to unique abilities, such as Parseltongue, the companionship of a Phoenix, innate Legilimency, innate Metamorphmagus abilities, affinity with magical creatures, and other extraordinary powers."
"Some believed this was the path to a wizard's destruction; others believed it was the path to a wizard's strength."
"The Destruction Faction tended to actively dilute the bloodline ability, thus believing wizards should interbreed with Muggles."
"The Strength Faction tended to enhance the bloodline ability, thus believing wizards should interbreed with magical creatures."
"Evidently, the Strength Faction eventually achieved the final victory."
"They pushed for the establishment of organizations like the International Confederation of Wizards and the Ministries of Magic in various countries, fundamentally relying on the Statute of Secrecy to forcefully isolate wizards and Muggles."
"Looking back, this decision didn't achieve good results. Wizards didn't manage to create a complete and independent new race by interbreeding with magical creatures, and interbreeding between wizards and Muggles continued to happen frequently."
"Most terrifyingly, a brand new poison that magic couldn't cure began to appear in the wizarding community: Werewolf Poison, with endless consequences!"
This was a social secret unknown even to Lockhart and Lucius: the true origin of the Statute of Secrecy, the emergence of the Werewolf Poison, and why the so-called pure-blood wizards today were so hostile to Muggles and Muggle-born wizards, even derisively calling them "Mudbloods"—which was practically a form of pride for the losers.
"After almost three hundred years of attempts, wizards still found some suitable magical creatures to interbreed with: Giants, Veela, Goblins, and so on."
"But times have changed. With the perfection and establishment of the modern magical system, wizards have completely achieved absolute dominance over magical creatures. Even the former absolute king of the magical world, the 'Fire Dragon,' is now kept and bred in dragon reserves."
"The social climate has also changed. Now, no matter how much conflict there is between the pure-blood faction and the pro-Muggle faction, the consensus that 'everyone is human' has long been established."
Professor LeMay spread her hands somewhat helplessly. "The brave pioneers became the cannon fodder of the era; they became the outcasts who needed to be excluded in the current version of the times."
Talking about this naturally led to the conclusion that Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, an open-minded, classical magical school, was actually inclusive of Headmistress Maxime's bloodline.
Perhaps it didn't fit the mainstream narrative of "Wizards and Muggles are all human," but it was still one answer in the wizards' exploration of the world. No one could say it was absolutely wrong.
Wizards who interbred with Giants were born with powerful magical resistance—they were practically invincible. Wizards who interbred with Goblins were born with powerful magical combat abilities. Wizards who interbred with Veela produced descendants with universally stunning looks.
How could this not be a possibility for the future?
"In the French Ministry of Magic jurisdiction, which is heavily influenced by Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, werewolves generally have a good living environment. People pity the descendants of failed interbreeding and those infected, and are more willing to offer help."
Hearing these words, Lockhart was deeply touched. "No one knows what the future holds. Such help indeed preserves a certain possibility for the future."
Immediately, Professor LeMay became even closer. "Yes, Gilderoy. Many of us at Beauxbatons see the great concept of inclusiveness in your books and know that you are with us."
Back in Azkaban
This conversation lasted until night. After enjoying a delicious dinner, Professor LeMay left in her luxurious Abraxan horse-drawn carriage. Lucius then came over to ask Lockhart if he wanted to meet another person.
"Who?" Lockhart was a bit confused; he was actually ready to go back and rest.
Lucius's expression became strange. "Sirius Black."
"Who?"
"Yes, Your Excellency Lockhart, you heard correctly. Sirius Black."
The world was so surreal. Lockhart couldn't imagine that Sirius Black, who had been on a blind date just two days ago, was now in Azkaban.
He was locked up! Locked up again?
What?
Lockhart was momentarily speechless. But, yes, it was that magical.
As he and Lucius got into the flying car and headed toward the Azkaban prison deep in the North Sea, Lucius handed him a newspaper. The front-page headline was a magical photograph of Sirius, riding a broom with a woman in his arms, soaring up from between Muggle high-rise buildings.
Lucius explained, trying to keep his composure, "It was the time we ran into Sirius at the restaurant. He went to chase that Muggle woman."
"It wasn't easy because the Muggle woman was in a car—well, a very fast one."
"In order to catch up with her, Sirius impulsively used his broomstick and chased her all the way..."
"...Many Muggles saw it!"
"Yes. On the busiest intersection in London, everyone was waiting at the traffic light. Sirius picked up that Muggle woman onto his broomstick and flew off between the Muggle office and residential buildings. After circling the city a few times, he flew into the sky..."
Lucius complained, "That idiot must have thought he looked very cool doing that."
Lockhart burst out laughing. "Oh, Lucius, don't say that. I bet that lady thought it was incredibly romantic!"
Lucius shrugged and sneered, "And then he was romantically sent to Azkaban?"
Seriously violating the Statute of Secrecy, ignoring the Ministry of Magic headquarters a few streets away, and creating god knows how much extra work for the Aurors—even Dumbledore couldn't speak up for him to avoid a six-month sentence in Azkaban.
Ah, but here was the interesting part. Dumbledore couldn't, but Lucius could. This was what Lockhart found most surreal.
The Pure-Blood Rules
Deep in the North Sea, Azkaban, short-term cells.
Even a short-term cell wasn't much easier than the perpetual imprisonment cells. Although the Dementors came less frequently, the terrifying cold, dark atmosphere still seeped into the soul through the bone joints.
Sirius was curled up in a corner, shivering, occasionally shaking his head, trying to stop himself from instinctively performing the Animagus transformation. He wasn't resisting the magic; on the contrary, he was trying to control it. It was a contest between self-will and self-instinct. It was difficult. Fortunately, he was long used to such hardship.
Just then, an Auror walked over, looking coldly at him through the bars. He spat on the ground in annoyance and muttered, "You damn jerk! You caused all of us Aurors so much extra work! Damn it, I haven't slept in two days."
And what was even more damned was... he now had to take out the key and open the cell door. Because someone had used their power to bail this damned person out!
Clang! The iron door slammed open, venting the Auror's dissatisfaction.
"You damned bastard, you can get out now."
Sirius raised his head in confusion, opened his mouth to speak, but his body involuntarily twitched and shivered. His teeth chattered rapidly. After a while, he finally found the strength to ask, "Didn't they say six months?"
The Auror rolled his eyes, speaking sarcastically. "The Sacred Twenty-Eight Pure-Blood Families would never have to be locked up for that long, right?"
Sirius was somewhat confused, but the Auror was too lazy to talk to him and roughly escorted him out.
At the release registration area, Sirius finally learned who was helping him.
"Professor Lockhart, are you the one who got me out?" Sirius was a little excited.
Lockhart smiled at him and shook his head. Although Lucius brought him here to earn this favor, he didn't feel it was necessary. He pointed at Lucius, who was speaking to Scrimgeour, the Head of the Auror Office, in the distance. "Mr. Malfoy helped you."
Sirius froze for a moment, then sneered. "Playing the good guy!"
Lockhart smiled as he brushed some straw off his shoulder. "We can't stop him from trying to become a good person, can we?" Besides, using privilege—does that count as being a good person?
Lucius soon walked over and handed him a parchment full of release precautions and a large bag containing Sirius's wand, broomstick, and some other trinkets.
"According to the rules, we of the Sacred Twenty-Eight can bail you out as a guarantor."
"Also, according to the rules, if you commit the same offense again, not only will the guarantor be implicated, but the remaining six months of your sentence will be doubled to one year and added to the next sentence, Sirius."
"By the way, the leather pouch you used to carry these items has been confiscated according to the rules because of the illegal use of the Undetectable Extension Charm."
"Also, I paid ten thousand Galleons for this. Your sister, Narcissa, asked me to pay it for you."
Sirius was silent for a long time, then took the items from Lucius's hand. "Why did you help me?"
Lucius shrugged. "First, this is on account of Professor Lockhart. I hope you remember that."
"Second, in certain matters, pure-bloods must help pure-bloods unconditionally, even enemies. This is a covenant that everyone has agreed upon for centuries."
As he spoke, he gazed at Sirius. "If you truly want to shoulder the glory of the Black family, you still have a very long road ahead. I just want you to know that the Black family has always been the regulator and maintainer of the pure-blood covenant. Many times, it is the Blacks who step in for matters like this."
"Whether or not you want the Black family to continue being the 'coordinator' among us is your business. None of us will force you; you can decide for yourself."
Lucius had low expectations for the privately discussed topic of the "Return of the Black." He didn't believe Sirius would be a qualified Black. Pure-blood marriages were not that simple; they had an extremely complex mechanism that had been in place for centuries.
The coordinator role played by the Black family required too much wisdom. For example, why did Arthur Weasley, a family branded as "Blood Traitors," intermarry with Molly Prewett from the Prewett family, one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight? There were too many subtle things involved.
Sirius didn't speak. But this silence, in Lucius's eyes, might have been a decent answer.
In what everyone called the "Second Golden Age of Dumbledore," pure-blood families needed to find a path that was more suitable for the times and seek Dumbledore's acceptance. Sirius was actually the coordinator everyone valued most. No one was clearer than Lucius about Sirius's importance. Of course, it wasn't so urgent, as they were already moving closer to Gilderoy Lockhart.
The Flow of Life
On the way back, neither Sirius nor Lucius spoke, and an unspoken awkwardness permeated the air. Lockhart first dropped off Mr. Malfoy at Malfoy Manor and then took Sirius to Grimmauld Place.
"Do you want to come in for a bit?" Sirius suddenly asked as he prepared to get out of the car.
Lockhart shook his head, gesturing out the window. "In fact, I can only see Number 11 and Number 13 right now. I can't see your house, so I can't enter." The headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix was not a place Sirius could simply invite anyone into. The Secret Keeper, Dumbledore, had to voluntarily reveal the address for a wizard to truly enter.
"I see..." Sirius looked back at the house where he grew up, vaguely hearing his father's roaring voice.
He was silent for a long time. His voice was dry and hoarse. "Gilderoy, I feel like I'm bound by invisible chains."
Lockhart smiled. "If you feel the call of adventure..."
Sirius was stunned and instinctively finished the sentence. "...then bravely step into the adventure? I remember, Gilderoy, you explained this principle in your biography of Voldemort."
Lockhart laughed heartily. "It seems my work still helps a lot of people!" Such pride!
Sirius laughed too, muttering, "Bravely step into the adventure... bravely step into the adventure..." He seemed to gain strength, and the confusion in his eyes was largely dispersed. "Harry and I discussed the topic of 'sociality' that you teach. He believes the difference between wizards and Muggles lies in the relationship between people, which is complicated by the effect of magical power."
Lockhart loved discussions like this; it always made him feel that he wasn't alone on his magical path.
"When you just walked out of that cell, I felt a strong aura of the ill-omened emanating from you." He offered a piece of advice. "I think you may have fallen into a misconception. The 'ill-omened' can lead to the erosion of Dark Magic power, but an 'ill-omened' state full of vitality and life force can bring a powerful, positive magical force."
"In fact, I think that is the truly ill-omened."
This principle was not something he was just making up. It came from his understanding of the event where the Dark Wizards created the Dementors and, more importantly, the magical knowledge confirmed for him by Bellatrix, Sirius's cousin, who was currently constantly conducting 'fairytale adventure' simulations in his storybook.
"Your free spirit is precisely the state I believe is best for integrating the ill-omened," Lockhart gave a relatively positive assessment of Sirius's future magical path. "Sometimes we try to control our lives, but in the end, we find that life is simply uncontrollable."
Yes, Sirius understood that statement perfectly.
"Perhaps, from another perspective, life isn't supposed to be controlled?" Lockhart offered his own conjecture.
"It shouldn't be controlled?"
"Yes. It's like an unstoppable river torrent. Whether you go with the flow and travel a thousand miles a day or go against the current and be recklessly defiant—that is what should be controlled, because that represents our self-will."
Sirius looked at Lockhart. "What about you? What would you choose?"
Lockhart laughed heartily. "Sometimes I go with the flow, and sometimes I go against the current, because..." He pointed his thumb at himself. "I want to!"
Because I want to!As long as I want to! It was that simple.
Sirius got out of the car and gave a respectful, standard wizard's bow. "Thank you for your guidance."
Lockhart waved his hand out the car window, and the flying car shot into the sky. The wind howled and the clouds swirled. In an instant, the flying car had completely disappeared into the sky.
Sirius walked toward the ancestral home, adjusting his collar and sleeves as he walked. A hearty smile returned to his face, and he shouted, "Kreacher! Kreacher! You damn thing! Your master is back, hurry up and come here!"
"Ha ha ha! Master! Master! You're finally back! I knew Mr. Malfoy would handle it! He was definitely going to beg Mr. Lockhart!"
The front door opened, and Kreacher excitedly scurried out. His feet caught on the weathered cobblestones of the street, making him stumble a few steps before he pattered over to Sirius.
Sirius laughed as he steadied the old thing and asked, "What did Malfoy demand in return for helping us?"
"He should do it! It's the pure-blood rules!" Kreacher said.
Sirius asked again, "If it's the pure-blood rules, why did Malfoy have to go beg Gilderoy?"
Kreacher rolled his eyes with a look of disdain. "My foolish master ran away from home in rebellion as a child and didn't receive a proper upbringing. He doesn't even know things like this..."
Before he could finish, Sirius gently nudged him with his foot. "You damn thing, answer my question."
Kreacher was nudged but laughed instead. Perhaps it was because the old Sirius genuinely wanted to kick him to death, but the current Sirius was just expressing an intimate, gentle touch because he didn't know how to express it otherwise.
Perhaps it was because this foolish, rebellious master was finally starting to care about such matters. He was incredibly excited. This was a good opportunity to cultivate a Black. He quickly said, "Of course, he needs to get the permission and protection of a powerful person! Without Professor Lockhart's nod, Mr. Malfoy wouldn't dare to bail you out."
"He's terrified of Dumbledore now. He doesn't want to do anything that might even slightly displease Dumbledore."
"You know, Dumbledore hates privilege."
"Dumbledore's father was locked up in Azkaban and eventually died there. No one dares to gamble on his attitude toward this matter."
Sirius nodded, crouched down, and looked seriously at Kreacher. "I have two pieces of good news for you. The first is that I plan to marry Miss Phillips. You are going to have a mistress."
Kreacher immediately became excited, falling to his knees and weeping. Sirius looked at him, feeling a little sad. He sighed softly, hesitated, and reached out to pat the house-elf's thin, frail shoulder. "There, there, don't cry. You should be happy. Smile brightly."
Kreacher looked up at Sirius, wiped his tears, and nodded seriously, forcing a very ugly smile. "Yes, I should be happy."
Then he looked confused. "You said there were two pieces of good news?"
"Yes, and the second piece of good news is..." Sirius grinned at the old thing. "I'm going to ask Gilderoy for help. I'm going to ask him to find you a mate at the Ministry of Magic's 'House-Elf Relocation Office,' Kreacher! You're going to have a wife!"
"Gah?" Kreacher's expression froze.
"Smile, Kreacher," Sirius said gleefully. "You should be happy."
Kreacher's smile became even uglier.