Chapter 299: "Lockhart Reading Club" (Part 2)
"Actually, no one hates Dumbledore; on the contrary, everyone is very grateful."
Audrey Lemay's expression became somewhat peculiar. "Grateful for the decades of battle between Dumbledore and Voldemort. The so-called 'Sacred Twenty-Eight' pure-blood families, with the 'British Alliance Wizarding Council' as their core, have vanished one by one into the long river of history."
"Many ancient pure-blood families, even if they still exist, are left only with fools who have no way to participate in the competition."
"This has won too much living space for everyone...at least giving them a chance to catch their breath."
"Of course, overall, it was still desperate."
"Until a vast, neglected expanse appeared before everyone."
She pushed the gold-rimmed glasses up the bridge of her nose, tucked a fallen strand of hair behind her ear, and asked in a playful tone, "Can you guess where it is?"
A vast, neglected expanse?
The New World?
Lockhart's expression shifted. "The American Wizarding World?"
"Yes!" Audrey looked at him with such admiration, full of wonder. "You truly are a wise man."
Lockhart chuckled and picked up a dried raspberry from the fruit plate, popping it into his mouth.
"The American Wizarding World has always been an overlooked existence. Even though the International Confederation of Wizards places such importance on the Statute of Secrecy, and even knowing that anti-wizard Muggle organizations like the 'Scourers' exist there, the Confederation still couldn't drum up any respect for the place. They merely sent a few Aurors to assist in the investigation and called it a day."
"The Dumbledore Era similarly continued this arrogance."
"The British Wizarding World always treats itself as the center of the wizarding world. In their eyes, even the jurisdiction of the Belgian Ministry of Magic can be considered the edge of the world, let alone paying attention to the even more peripheral Magical Congress of the United States."
"In contrast, the other magic master, Gellert Grindelwald, focused his attention here very early on."
"Everyone knows that Grindelwald's first arrest was credited to the American Congress."
PS: Actually, it was Newt's credit, but the Magical Congress of the United States obviously won't promote a Brit's achievements in public; various statements claimed it was a victory for the Magical Congress.
"The interesting part is here: after Grindelwald was arrested, he was quickly taken away by the International Confederation of Wizards, as if that place were some backward, remote mountain village."
"Thus, this became the space for all pure-blood families of the 'French Alliance Wizarding Council' to survive and develop."
"Now, the influence of the Magical Congress of the United States is growing larger and larger; it seems like a powerful new force, but in reality, all the internal sources are right here with us."
"There, all the important, key positions...the Ministry, magic schools, hospitals, newspapers, companies...everything, yes, everything...is still controlled by European pure-blood wizarding families."
"All wizards who do not originate from European pure-blood families are excluded from the core. That place has been successfully occupied by us."
"It became our new way out."
Miss Audrey's tone suddenly became heavy. "Now, changes have occurred there once again...Gellert Grindelwald has been released from prison!"
"At first, the Dark Lord..."
She suddenly turned her head toward Voldemort, who was currently looking at the magical items in the corner of the office with great interest. Seeing the reassuring look Lockhart sent her, she continued her narration.
"At first, the news of Voldemort being active there terrified many people. No one reacted in time, and they could only watch as the American Wizarding World became a place of global focus."
"It wasn't until Voldemort was imprisoned by Dumbledore at Hogwarts and Grindelwald suddenly acted against Beauxbatons that everyone finally realized..."
"Grindelwald is out of prison!"
"Grindelwald, who knows the value of the American Wizarding World, is out!"
"He is the one who set his sights on this territory where the International Confederation of Wizards has little influence due to neglect!"
So...
Old Gellert is stirring up trouble at Beauxbatons, but the target is the American Wizarding World?
Lockhart was amazed; this was an angle he had not anticipated.
"Grindelwald pushed for the expansion of student power at Beauxbatons, guiding them to rebel against the old classical men in the school. The students absolutely love this kind of change and rebellion."
"But in reality, the students have no idea that they are destroying the bond between Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
Sometimes it was hard for Lockhart to view a school as having such an important position.
Just as netizens in his previous life complained...compared to Grindelwald's style, Voldemort focusing all his attention on a single school was simply "low" to the point of exploding.
But in fact, the significance of a magic school to the wizarding world is even greater than that of a Ministry of Magic.
The British Ministry of Magic can only influence affairs within its jurisdiction on British soil.
Yet the range of influence of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is almost the entire territory of the modern Commonwealth, involving jurisdictions of 56 Ministries of Magic!
It even touches upon the Indian and African wizarding worlds.
The same goes for Beauxbatons Academy of Magic.
The new generations from all these Ministry jurisdictions must enroll in such a school.
This was clearly the realistic foundation for Grindelwald's "Magic School Centric System" to replace the "Ministry Centric System."
No matter how the internal forces and territories are divided in the American wizarding world, all young wizards must attend a single school like Ilvermorny.
Thus, all sorts of bonds exist between Beauxbatons and Ilvermorny.
Now, Grindelwald is plotting to have Beauxbatons self-destruct, letting student power personally sever certain bonds.
"The professors of Beauxbatons have written me a joint letter of distress."
Lockhart suddenly felt a kind of pressure.
It was as if, after knowing this, the intimate relationship of "you're good, I'm good, everyone's good" between him, Grindelwald, and Dumbledore no longer existed; he was starting to step into a state of competitive gaming.
Of course, he could still maintain such an intimate state and let everything before him go ignored.
But that would be a shameful retreat!
To hand over and discard the possibility of a future "three-way standoff balance."
And then only be able to look up, in the pitiful state of a junior, at the confrontation between the two giants, Dumbledore and Grindelwald.
He would not allow this.
"I want to ask, have you written to Dumbledore?"
"Of course we have!" Audrey nodded. "But sometimes that's just how it is; some things aren't suitable to be brought out into the open. Moreover, in Dumbledore's eyes, Grindelwald is currently helping you clear out opponents so that the 'Triwizard Tournament' can be better promoted next."
"Because he has always neglected the American Wizarding World, it's impossible for Dumbledore to get into a conflict with Grindelwald over that place."
Or rather...
Since both giants recommended Lockhart to serve as the Headmaster of Beauxbatons, then in Dumbledore's eyes, this matter is actually Lockhart's business.
As the Headmaster of Hogwarts, it is not appropriate for Dumbledore to interfere in such affairs.
Lockhart understood, frowning slightly as he looked out the window at the school castle not far away. "If that's the case, why are you trying to dissuade me from getting involved?"
"Because that's Grindelwald!"
Audrey was somewhat anxious. "I know you are very powerful, but Grindelwald has deeply influenced this world. His 'Saints' are now scattered all over the world, many having become great figures. His power is immense; I do not believe it would be an easy thing for you to stand in opposition to him."
"Besides, the Headmaster of Beauxbatons is not that easy to be. This place is influenced by too many pure-blood families, various national Ministries, and international forces, all intertwined with the power of the American wizarding world."
"If Grindelwald doesn't clear out these forces, you might find it difficult to make any progress here."
"For instance, the 'Fairy Tale Adventure' you promoted at Hogwarts...I'm afraid it would be very difficult to launch here."
"Force sometimes cannot solve problems at all, unless you kill all the opponents, but that would only make everyone here resist you more."
"But now, Grindelwald is essentially helping you clear away these potential opposing forces."
So what is the price?
The price would be his interests in the American wizarding world in the future.
And then the influence of Beauxbatons would be like an island in the ocean, huddled within the sea of Hogwarts' influence.
Lockhart felt a unique emotion in his heart.
Very strange.
Extremely strange.
He suddenly felt that his life had stepped onto a brand-new path.
This was a field that the ordinary him in his previous life could not have touched.
"No!"
"I will get involved!"
Lockhart suddenly stood up, walked to the French window, and gazed at this school that was about to become his territory, slowly opening his arms.
As if embracing a new life.
I have already experienced a dull and uninteresting life.
I have also already experienced death.
I only crave intensity!
I want to tell the whole world...I came, I saw, I am about to conquer!
The Dumbledore Era? The Grindelwald Era?
No!
The future is the Lockhart Era!
He elegantly flicked his fingers, and his slender wand appeared in his hand at some point, glowing slightly.
To him, the wand was a scale...the scale between the wizard and the world, between the individual and the world...and now, he was sensing the scale between himself and this school.
A very subtle scale.
He keenly sensed a certain possibility.
"Tom..."
Lockhart called out softly and turned back, his eyes burning as he looked at Voldemort, who was sitting on the piano playing with a magical item. "Teach me a spell? The one you used to curse the position of the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts. I know it comes from an extension of Blood Relative Magic."
Voldemort let out a cold laugh and casually tossed the magical item back onto the shelf. "What's in it for me?"
"The benefit is that I will expand the scope of the Blood Relative Magic's influence on us; this is an extension of the magical domain of 'home.' If successful, you will be able to exist in any corner of Beauxbatons!"
"As you know, I will become the Headmaster of this school, and I happen to be the only one who doesn't mind your existence."
Lockhart described the effects of the magic, and was also making some promises.
Of course, conversely, it was a threat. If he didn't cooperate at such a necessary moment, then Voldemort shouldn't expect to pop out of his wand for some air...stay honestly in that stone house prison at Hogwarts!
The corner of Voldemort's mouth curled up slightly. "Deal!"
He slowly floated over, but despite the visual lightness, the actual effect was that he arrived in front of him almost instantly...something a normal ghost could not do.
Even though he was so restricted right now, he could still maintain spellcasting abilities in a ghostly state; this scene was clearly Flight.
This was something Lockhart would also find difficult to do; he could also transform into a ghost, but this state where it was difficult to cast spells was currently like a "chicken rib" [something of little value] to him.
"This magic is named the 'Dark Mark'."
Ever since Voldemort merged with the soul of Young Tom, his originally light voice had become deep and full, as if he had instead become mature because of youth...a particularly interesting state.
"In fact, it is not just a single spell. The 'Dark Mark Curse' I taught the Death Eaters is only the simplest application." (The magic that puts the skull icon in the sky)
"Inscribing this soul-deep Dark Mark on the arms of the Death Eaters allows me to communicate with them and determine their positions regardless of distance; this is a step further in application."
"A deeper application is the curse on my own name, allowing me to determine the location and listen to all those who utter my name, regardless of distance."
Voldemort stood beside Lockhart, likewise looking at the school outside the window, having some expectations for the living space to come. "Gilderoy, can you understand the hierarchical difference between these three?"
Lockhart pondered, seemingly having realized something. "The manifestation of self-will?"
Voldemort was surprised and looked back at him, the corner of his mouth twitching; this clearly wasn't his answer. "Explain in more detail?"
"The three levels of Me, Me...this individual...and the collective of social individuals, and Me and the world."
Lockhart answered, then lamented, "In this regard, I am heavily influenced by Dumbledore; clearly, this is not your answer."
"Dumbledore..." Voldemort murmured the name, his expression complex. "Is that how he understands the world of magic?"
He slowly raised a pale, translucent finger and lightly tapped it on the glass window in front of him.
Soon, a red light spot appeared on it.
Then, the red spot extended into lines of light, connecting more spots.
After that, the red light spot bled out a patch of red radiance, covering the entire glass pane.
His finger tapped the red light spot in the center. "This is not me."
As he spoke, he pointed to himself. "I am here."
Then he pointed back to the red light spot. "It is my magic."
His finger waved, signaling the glass, the lines, and the bleeding red light. "It is magic."
Terrifying.
Watching the scene before him, Lockhart only felt a prickling in his heart, as if he were peeking into a mysterious, unknown world.
So, the world of magic actually has such a way?
He had indeed accepted too much of Dumbledore's influence; it could even be said that the entire Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was influenced by Dumbledore's magical philosophy.
Magic is the extension of self-will...this was Dumbledore's fundamental spellcasting philosophy.
But Voldemort clearly did not view magic this way.
He was himself, magic was magic, and his magic was distinct from the two.
The three existed together, with inseparable links to each other, yet were individuals with clear boundaries.
And mystery emerged between these inseparable yet clearly bounded relationships.
Lockhart suddenly understood why Dumbledore could never catch Voldemort...every time Old Dumbledore sensed magic, he thought it was an extension of Voldemort's will and would always follow the thread of magic all the way to explore in Voldemort's direction.
Yet the three-layer separation between Voldemort and magic made such exploration useless.
It was just as Voldemort could easily sense and contact the Death Eaters through the Dark Mark, yet the Death Eaters could not sense Voldemort in return, nor could others follow the "thread" through the Death Eaters to find him.
This was not a difference in the method of spellcasting.
It was a difference in the philosophy of spellcasting.
Oh~
Understood.
Many fragments of memory surged in Lockhart's head, one of which was the reading notes Voldemort had written on The Complete Guide to Pensieve Techniques during his school days. It dawned on him: "Horcruxes!"
He exclaimed in wonder, "This is the thinking behind Horcruxes!"
Now it was Voldemort's turn to feel a sense of terror rising in his heart. He seemed to fall into a kind of self-reflection and thought for a good while before looking at Lockhart in shock, sighing, "Yes, I am clearly deeply influenced by the magic of Horcruxes."
The source of everything had clues with the Young Tom in the diary Horcrux.
But the period when such a spellcasting philosophy matured was already the later era when Horcruxes were manufactured one after another.
Coincidentally, that time spent collecting various items to manufacture Horcruxes was precisely the period when Voldemort's magic moved toward the realm of a magic master.
Voldemort himself had not realized it: it wasn't the sense of security brought by the Horcruxes that made his mind perfect and improved his magical strength, but rather that he was deeply influenced by the magical philosophy of Horcruxes, which perfected and matured his own magical philosophy.
Then, at only 29 years old, he placed a curse on the position of the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts...a curse that Dumbledore had to face every moment while at Hogwarts for his entire life, yet could do nothing about.
Voldemort did not feel any pride.
At least not right now.
After being reminded by Lockhart, he strangely realized...at 29, he was already at the peak of his life's strength; thereafter, his life was wasted, and he seemingly made no more progress.
Even in the end, he only knew how to use the Killing Curse every day, shouting "Avada Kedavra"...such a stupid method of attack.
He relied on nothing more than his own magical power, which was stronger than almost everyone else's.
But such a stupid method, when encountering a scenario where it is countered, undoubtedly faces destruction.
Successful because of the philosophy of Horcrux magic, yet also trapped by the magic of Horcruxes.
"If only I had met you earlier." The 69-year-old Voldemort murmured bitter words that no one else could hear, sounding somewhat weary.
During this period, his life had entered an unprecedented failure; his emotions were actually trapped in a kind of terrible low, otherwise, with his character, he would rather stay alone in the stone house prison waiting for an opportunity than appear beside Lockhart as a ghost like a useless person.
And at this moment, he finally understood the source of his predicament.
"I'll continue." His voice strangely became light, no longer expressing himself in that profound and inscrutable way but instead breaking down the "Dark Mark"...the magical system that ran through his entire magical life...in detail for Lockhart.
Yes, a system constructed by a single spell.
This was a magical achievement that no modern wizard could accomplish.
The root of this magic was not even "Blood Relative Magic," but his life, his soul, all his emotions...emotions that had stopped before the age of 29.
Lockhart was clearly someone who understood him well, easily comprehending the things he spoke of, sometimes even clearly pointing out which belonged to "Horcruxes" and which belonged to his "self-will."
At times, he even brought forth many interesting viewpoints through innovation.
Exchanging ideas like this, Voldemort actually felt that he too had gained a great deal.
Meanwhile, Audrey Lemay, standing on the side, looked completely bewildered.
She was very excited at first, listening with excitement to the discussion between the two magic masters...since they hadn't asked her to leave, nor had they cast spells to prevent her from hearing, this didn't count as eavesdropping.
However, she soon became dazed; the increasingly deep magical exchange was no longer content she could understand.
Some even conflicted with the spellcasting philosophy of the "Modern Occultism" she was skilled in; as she listened, dizzy circles almost appeared in her eyes.
Sunlight spilled in from outside the window, bleeding onto Lockhart, making it seem as if his entire person were glowing.
Well.
Miss Audrey's mind wandered; she just stared blankly at Lockhart, who seemed to be glowing.
It wasn't until a series of footsteps and shouts suddenly came from outside the window that Audrey, coming back to her senses, realized with a start that it was already pitch black outside, and a bright moon was hanging high in a corner of the window at some point.
Lockhart and Voldemort also stopped their discussion and looked far off in the direction from which the sound was coming.
"It's those students from the Lockhart Reading Club!"
Audrey waved her wand and pressed it against her ear; after listening for a moment, she looked at Lockhart with some anxiety. "The students are about to take action!"
From the tip of her wand, the shouts of the distant students emerged faintly.
"Drive out Olympe Maxime!"
"Drive out those professors abandoned by the new era!"
These restless cries made Audrey increasingly anxious; she was anxious for the Lockhart in front of her, worried that if he got involved, he would thus stand in opposition to Grindelwald and those pure-blood families of the Wizarding Council.
"Rest assured."
Lockhart's smile was so charming and confident.
"I have already found a solution. You heard it too...I just learned a magic that can be called great!"
"Of course, no one understands the use of 'Blood Relative Magic' better than I do. Following the thinking behind the 'Depending on Each Other for Life' contract magic I invented, I have too many ideas I want to realize."
"The students' actions have come at just the right time!"
Ah?
Audrey looked bewildered.
Is such a situation something that magic can solve?
Yes, Lockhart would say, magic can solve all problems, even politics.
..........
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