Chapter 597: Clearing Doubts
The atmosphere in the graveyard was eerie and terrifying. The dim lights of the distant Hogsade town did little to add vitality; instead, they resembled ghostly flickers in the background of Voldemort and Bellatrix's conversation, serving as a terrifying elent commonly found in horror stories.
Voldemort draped in a loose black robe, his exposed skin reflecting the pale moonlight, spoke in hushed tones. Bellatrix's head lowered as her eyes glead in the desolate graveyard.
"Yes, master—I have been anticipating this mont," Bellatrix said, striving to sound flattering. "They would never expect it!"
Tonight was destined to be anything but calm.
"Dumbledore, there's sothing wrong with your body," Felix stated solemnly, his eyes turning into a night-sky gray without pupils as he unabashedly assessed the old man sitting behind the long table.
Dumbledore smiled, lowering his head to gaze at the peculiar silverware in front of him.
Felix speculated that Dumbledore had personally crafted these silverware pieces, much like the extinguisher he had demonstrated before. At least, Felix believed their function wasn't rely to playfully emit clouds of smoke. Silence lingered between them. After a while, Dumbledore removed the glove from his right hand, carefully examining it. He then placed the withered, charred hand into the smoke. The blackness on his palm ceased to be pure, resembling the peeling and fading of so old, mottled paint.
After about ten minutes, the hand in the smoke ceased changing, but it didn't fully return to normal. Upon closer inspection, one could see tiny, stubborn black entities entwined on the palm's lines, eerily distorting them.
"That Horcrux—the Gaunt ring," Dumbledore whispered. "It carries a particularly powerful curse, secretive and potent. Moreover—perhaps even Voldemort himself didn't realize—the material of this ring holds great allure for . He stumbled onto sothing fortuitous, but in any case, I was thoroughly bewitched—"
"Perhaps it was fate; I've been carrying the Christmas gift you gave
during that ti," he smiled again, praising, "The design was quite clever, irresistibly intriguing..."
"Just a detector," Felix smirked.
"More magical than any detector I've seen," Dumbledore corrected. "It doesn't probe external dangers but scrutinizes internal anomalies. I must emphasize, the design is quite ingenious."
"I brought the ring back and spent so ti studying the curse on it, successfully extracting a portion of it." Dumbledore showed Felix his hand, seemingly flaunting his achievent.
"So, your research resulted in subjecting yourself to the curse again?" Felix incredulously remarked.
Dumbledore chuckled, "Oh, despite my repeated claims about Voldemort's ignorance, it's because he dedicated all his efforts to the wrong path. I've pondered more than once—would these tragedies have occurred if he chose the right path...?"
"Felix, when facing him, we better not harbor unrealistic illusions, especially in areas related to his field of study. Trying to deceive him is not easy; it's a necessary cost."
"Cost..." Felix repeated.
"Yes, so you should understand why I didn't tell you the duel location. Voldemort holds the initiative in the duel; he can leave at any ti and open a battlefield elsewhere. That would put us at a disadvantage."
A mont of silence followed.
"Is that all?" Felix asked.
Pointing to his eyes, he said, "If the curse is the necessary cost, I understand. I believe you can trap it. What I want to say is another matter—in my eyes, your soul is like a flickering torch. It's complete but unnaturally flickering, or did the curse affect your soul? It's unlikely. If Voldemort had the capability, he would have hidden away to heal his grotesque soul on the brink of collapse... Do you know what I'm thinking, Dumbledore? It seems you're brewing a dreadful plan. I even doubt if you can now defeat Voldemort, contrary to what we initially discussed!"
He unconsciously raised his voice, portraits on the walls opened their eyes, and Phineas Nigellus Black spoke sarcastically, "Very rude. In my ti, such things would never happen. I particularly favor order—"
Felix waved his hand back, and Phineas's mouth imdiately stuck shut, making distressed "mmm" sounds.
"No, Felix," Dumbledore said. "We've always been on the right path. I never considered starting from scratch; I'm only filling potential gaps in the plan. I have full confidence in this duel. Don't forget, I've told you about my temporary power-boosting technique."
Felix furrowed his brow.
"Since you ntioned it," he adopted a casual tone, "that technique... I can't figure out how it's done. It doesn't seem like enhancing strength; it's more like restoration or tracing back... You have this power inherently, not now, but in the peak state of your life..."
At this point, Felix himself seed surprised.
Since becoming a "magical creature," his strength had been continuously growing, not suddenly becoming strong in a certain aspect, but a comprehensive improvent. Of course, the fundantal change was still in magical power, but it wasn't just magical power. The intensity and control of spells he rarely used also increased with it.
He had proposed a conjecture in the Magical Creatures Club, "The process of studying magic is actually the process of reclaiming one's innate spellcasting instincts." His own experience seed to validate this point.
"Is it Transfiguration? Blood magic? Dark magic? Or maybe—related to ti?"
"Why do you say that?"
Dumbledore interlocked his hands, propping his chin with interest, looking at Felix.
"Ti?" Felix repeated. "Many clues indicate that you are no stranger to Ti-Turners. Of course, all Ti-Turners went through your hands to Mila, and Mila handed them to those eager students... You had ample opportunities to study Ti-Turners. Even—"
Felix paused, his gaze strange. He suddenly thought of a thought-provoking question—whether Dumbledore had ever visited the Departnt of Mysteries. However, this couldn't be verified now, as even if he had, Dumbledore wouldn't have been as blatant as him, stealing the majority of the ti energy.
Perhaps a different phrasing would work. Did Dumbledore have an interest in studying ti magic?
Yes, who could resist the temptation of 'ti'? Felix certainly couldn't, even without the involvent of 'Madam' that ti. He would find opportunities to study on his own. He hadn't forgotten that he had given tasks to Mondonks after inheriting Nick's notes.
But after inheriting Nick's notes, he had no hope for Mondonks' lucky approach.
It could only be said that for wizards like Felix and Dumbledore, with sufficient preparation ti, there was no foolproof defensive stronghold in this world. Voldemort certainly counted, which was why Mrs. Bones did not try to reclaim that portion of ti energy.
Even Grindelwald was the sa, but now he was locked in Nurngard.
Dumbledore didn't answer the question, nor did he address the previous one. He just sighed sentintally, "Ti, oh ti, throughout the ages, how many have yearned for your favor?"
He waved his hand, letting Phineas's sealed mouth reopen.
As soon as the restraint was lifted, Phineas Nigellus Black began to mutter angrily. Felix raised his eyebrows threateningly, and the wizard imdiately hid behind a green flag in the portrait.
"Damn, evil, bullying the Slytherin ghost! I am your headmaster!"
"Oh," Felix responded expressionlessly.
"Hmph! I'll find my great-grandson—"
"Uh, Headmaster Black? Did I ntion to you that I personally caught Sirius, right at the Black Manor. He was wanted at the ti..."
Felix kindly reminded this ancestor of the Black family.
The Phineas in the portrait exclaid in a distressed tone, "He will have children! The Black family bloodline is noble and pure, sothing you can't compare to!" He said triumphantly, "I've heard that he and that female minister—uh—gave birth to a child with extraordinary talents."
"You wait, little rascal!"
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