Chapter 187: Time to Get On Board!
Traveling through time was a terrifying thing, especially traversing such a long past.
Tonks was very grateful that Lockhart hadn't messed around in the past. The reason the Ministry of Magic controlled Time-Turners so strictly was because too many wizards had gotten into trouble because of them historically.
What impressed her most was a wizard who simply vanished into the river of history, never to return.
Fortunately, they finally returned safely.
The moment they arrived, she felt a terrible discomfort surge wildly from an unknown depth of her soul, rapidly ravaging every corner of her body, her mind reeling in a daze.
"You've picked up a bit of Bellatrix's ill omen," Lockhart said dismissively after examining her for a while. "But it's not a big problem. Cast a few more spells these next two days, get your magic surging, and your magic will resolve the issue itself."
Saying that, he raised his wand, gesturing to Tonks and Madam Mary. "If you don't mind, I can also help you clear the memories of this magical experiment. The influence of traversing Bellatrix's magical bloodline will instantly dissipate."
"No need," Tonks shook her head. "This was an interesting experience; I don't want to forget it."
So Lockhart looked at the other lady present.
Madam Mary also didn't want to forget, but she was somewhat puzzled by Lockhart's judgment. "Can the effects of time truly be resolved with a Memory Charm?"
"Of course!"
Lockhart waved his wand, letting Bellatrix, who was floating mid-air, settle back into the chair, activating the chains on it to bind her. He answered casually, "Initially, a student and I both believed that time relied on memory. Later, I believed time relied on collective memory, which is already a very deep and abstract understanding."
He sighed inexplicably. "But apparently not. Time is time, and memory is memory. But the interesting thing is, memory is the anchor of time."
This was a more complex and abstract concept. To explain it clearly would require a lengthy discourse, and it might not even make sense to the two witches before him, possibly even confusing the distinction between time and memory.
Lockhart said no more, focusing his attention on Bellatrix, pressing his wand to her head, carefully sensing the impact of this magical experiment on her.
With a deeper understanding of magical bloodlines, time, and memory, he became increasingly certain of a past conjecture of his—Voldemort and Tom Riddle in the diary Horcrux were essentially the same person, presented at different times and spaces.
This stripping away of one's own life's actions was probably the drawback of the seemingly powerful and invincible magic of Horcruxes.
This was perhaps fate's greatest joke: the more one resisted the arrival of death, the more one drove one's life to accelerate towards it.
And even more interesting!
Perhaps in the original story, Harry, as another of Voldemort's Horcruxes, destroyed the diary Horcrux with the Basilisk's fang in his second year, and Voldemort later killed Harry to destroy the Horcrux. In essence, this was life's resistance and self-redemption against the magic of Horcruxes…
So, could it be said that Voldemort focused almost all his attention on Harry Potter because his subconscious was engaged in this struggle—to destroy all other self-presenting Horcruxes that might possess the capacity for life?
Lockhart called this the 'Horcrux Paradox.'
When life is extracted from society, nature, and the world to become constant, the soul must embark on a path of self-struggle, until complete destruction.
Thus, Lockhart speculated whether the legendary Nicolas Flamel and his wife, who lived for several hundred years, were using alchemical creations like the Philosopher's Stone to escape death, and whether they were also engaged in another level of struggle.
He rubbed his chin, gazing at Bellatrix before him, and suddenly had a very peculiar idea.
Perhaps he should let Tom and Harry interact more; then he might figure out more things.
Oh, Bellatrix could also join this interesting experiment, further confirming his conjecture about magical bloodlines.
As for how to make them interact…
Heh heh, he already had an idea.
"Does anyone here know how to use Animagus?"
Lockhart looked back at the two ladies thoughtfully.
The two witches were currently standing in the corner, discussing this wonderful adventure. It was an experience rarely encountered by ordinary wizards, and both were quite excited.
Lockhart had to raise his voice and ask again.
Tonks proudly raised her hand and ran it through her hair, shaking her head. Her multicolored hair transformed into voluminous, healthy golden waves. She lifted her chin slightly. "I don't need to learn that dangerous magic; it's something I was born with."
She was once very proud of her innate Metamorphmagus ability, which allowed her to transform into anything she desired with no difficulty at all.
This ability allowed her to easily handle many Auror undercover and disguise missions, completing them excellently.
But clearly, this experience had given her some pause. After speaking, she suddenly fell silent, seemingly realizing that this too was an ability bestowed by a magical bloodline. She had just asked Madam Mary, with a sarcastic tone, 'Is pure-blood really that important?'
Everyone apparently didn't notice her contemplation. Lockhart looked at Madam Mary, who merely shook her head.
"This is advanced knowledge that one only has the opportunity to encounter in a magical school. In fact, not every wizard has the chance to enter a good school like Hogwarts. I learned from the previous leader in the Haitian community; there was simply no opportunity to learn such advanced content…"
Tonks was stunned. She found it hard to believe that there were wizards in this world who didn't get the chance to attend a magical school, and who would refer to it as a 'precious opportunity.'
Recalling her own school days, she hadn't actually performed very well, immersing herself in the fun of pranks with her good friends, arguably the predecessors of the Weasley twins.
"Is that so…"
Lockhart nodded, thinking about who might be able to help.
As he delved deeper into magic, he began to feel a sense of reverence for it. He didn't intend to simply read some magical texts and assume he had truly mastered a spell; he still preferred to ask those who already understood.
A while ago, he had even seen a witch in the same ward as Neville's parents who had botched an Animagus transformation and was stuck with a dog's head for life.
Quite a few people in the current world knew this magic.
Professor McGonagall, who was officially registered, was one, but she was clearly not suitable to get involved in this matter.
Peter Pettigrew was another; he was almost ready to play a role.
Of course, Lockhart had better options.
Rita Skeeter was one.
And then there was the large black dog he saw when they arrived at Azkaban Prison during this time and space travel. Clearly, Sirius Black had also begun his escape, and he could undoubtedly help.
Lockhart's eyebrow twitched slightly, and he made a decision regarding Professor McGonagall's invitation to teach Care of Magical Creatures.
It seemed he would have to stay at Hogwarts for another year.
"Pack up, today's research is over," Lockhart instructed his assistant. He walked to the side to record his notes from this magical experiment, and along the way, opened Voldemort's diary Horcrux to communicate with Tom.
Tonks curiously approached. Seeing that Lockhart didn't avoid her gaze, she lowered her head and looked at the recorded text with interest.
But she clearly couldn't understand it.
She recognized every letter on it, but put together, it became a blur.
—"I used to believe that the soul was the master of all bodily functions, but experiments show that soul and body interact…"
—"…the Obscurus state, Apparition magic, Lycanthropic transformation, and all other states where the body no longer maintains human form, all indicate that the magical bloodline existing within the body inversely affects the state of the soul…"
—"This twisted state, at a specific node, the soul and body appear distinctly disjointed, connected by magic… Thus, I can conclude that the permanent damage caused by the Cruciatus Curse interrupts this interaction at this node. The operating mechanisms of the Killing Curse and the Imperius Curse are also based on this principle…"
—"…So we see that the Killing Curse brings powerful life magic, which is actually the magical bloodline within the body being ignited or intensely stimulated…"
—"…"
Tonks felt dizzy reading it and finally fled the knowledge research she detested. She went to check the restraints on Bellatrix, then helped Madam Mary organize things. The two academic underachievers finally found common ground, chattering away, becoming a bright spot in this mysterious laboratory.
Lockhart looked up and gazed deeply at them, his expression shifting. He then lowered his head to the diary Horcrux and wrote, "Perhaps social activity, such a life activity, is the answer to all of this. Tom, are you interested in trying to communicate with more people, opening your heart, and trying to walk a different path?"
Tom remained silent in the diary for a long time, finally asking, "Professor, what should I do?"
"Wait. Once I figure out Animagus, I will create opportunities for you."
Lockhart smiled as he watched the words on the diary slowly fade, the corners of his mouth curving slightly.
This was going to be an interesting adventure.
Tom…
Time to get on board!
(End of Chapter)
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