LRAB Chapter 143, Section 142: Death Has No Mercy
Chapter 143, Section 142: Death Has No Mercy
Chapter 143, Section 142: Death Has No Mercy
Ian thought he would need to exchange tips on raising phoenix chicks with Phoenix Fox in the principal's office and wait a long time before meeting the old principal who had finished cleaning up the last bit of work.
He never expected this.
Even though he had used the Dark Phoenix to Apparate, Albus Dumbledore was still one step ahead of him—or perhaps the headmaster had been waiting here for a long time?
Ian noticed Albus Dumbledore's attire; although he was still wearing the same standard purple robe, this time Albus Dumbledore was wearing a deep red scarf around his neck.
In addition, there was a difference in their grooming. The Albus Dumbledore in the underground room was obviously unkempt, while the Albus Dumbledore in front of them was neatly groomed.
Surely he couldn't possibly run faster than a little wizard and still have time to fix his clothes? Feeling a bit uneasy, Ian thought for a moment and tentatively asked.
"Mr. Aberforth?"
He felt that this was perhaps the best explanation.
"If my information is correct, at this very moment, Aberforth is closing his shop because of some of my rudeness. Let's recount my sins in Ariana's grave in our hometown." Albus Dumbledore shook his head slightly and gestured for Ian to sit down.
"Um, I remember you just told me that you needed to deal with Voldemort's affairs with Professor Nicolas Flamel and that you would need to meet with me later..."
As if suddenly realizing something, Ian abruptly pulled out his Marauder's Map, but all he saw on it was an icon of Albus Dumbledore.
At this very moment, the icon was still dealing with a group of people from the Ministry of Magic, and even the other heads of the department had gathered in Snape's office to investigate Quirrell's death.
"A very keen insight. I think the Sorting Hat wasn't wrong. You possess many of the qualities that the founders valued. Your strategies and methods in dealing with Voldemort also demonstrate your excellence far beyond your peers, as well as... cunning." Albus Dumbledore smiled and glanced at the map in Ian's hand. "However, in the wizarding world, sometimes you can't even trust your own eyes. You'd better not trust your map too much either."
His words caused Ian's expression to change in a series of ways.
"This is unbelievable..."
Ian stared at the empty headmaster's office on the map, his expression somewhat stifled. "You've tampered with my map—no, I should say you've tampered with Hogwarts itself?"
He was truly speechless.
After all, there are probably only a handful of people in the entire wizarding world who can do this, and he just happened to encounter quite a few of these few.
Isn't that a coincidence?
"Yes, I used a few tricks." Albus Dumbledore did not deny it, but nodded and smiled frankly.
"After all, you've already sold these maps to many junior wizards, and we can't be sure if Quirrell will get his hands on one to monitor my and the other professors' actions."
A perfectly reasonable explanation.
This left Ian with no room to argue.
The map he sold was a contraband item, and it's already a good thing he wasn't held accountable. How can he turn around and accuse Albus Dumbledore of deceiving him with the map?
"Actually, my original intention was just to help those poor students who couldn't find their way and had terrible sense of direction. They belong to the vulnerable group that needs help in this cold and huge castle." Ian's voice was not quiet in his defense, but no matter how you listened to it, there was a sense of guilt that was trying to cover up his true feelings.
This is not.
Albus Dumbledore was indeed well-informed about his affairs. "Selling a map for a dozen Galleons, I don't think the truly disadvantaged can afford it." Although the old headmaster's voice was still soft and gentle, Ian's embarrassed expression was hard to hide.
"There will be a way, they will find a way to use it."
The little wizard touched his nose to hide his guilt.
He had actually started offering the "Ian Loan" service to his less affluent classmates after the market became saturated.
There's no "nine out, thirteen back" scheme, nor is there any annual interest rate of several tens of percent. It only requires an extra 5% service fee, which is clearly not the behavior of a profiteer.
He is much, much kinder than the banks of Muggles!
"Your business at school isn't a big deal, as long as you don't try to get your hands on Nick's illegal machine." Albus Dumbledore didn't bring up the matter further, after all, the young wizard wasn't forcing anyone to buy anything. What he was worried about now was Ian's enthusiasm for the printing press.
"Okay, Professor."
Ian quickly made a guarantee.
"You can't even learn how to build that machine." Albus Dumbledore seemed to see right through the young wizard, his tone filled with uneasy vigilance.
"..."
Ian's expression froze instantly.
obviously.
Albus Dumbledore, that old fox, was indeed cunning enough to anticipate Dumbledore's indirect approach to achieving his goals, leaving Dumbledore momentarily at a loss for how to respond.
"Looks like I was right." Albus Dumbledore gave a wry smile, then sighed heavily. "The agreement we wizards and goblins made cannot be broken, or it will cause a huge mess. Nick Fury almost destroyed the hard-won peace we have today because of his momentary impulse."
The old headmaster's intention was clearly to warn Ian.
but.
"The agreement with the fairies, huh...?"
The little wizard muttered to himself, seemingly lost in thought.
The expression on his face made Albus Dumbledore feel uneasy, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Fearing that Ian might say something shocking again, the old headmaster quickly changed the subject.
"You must be a little tired. Would you like some snacks?" Albus Dumbledore added hastily after finishing his sentence.
"I mean some desserts, not something like steak." He clearly remembered some of the little incidents that had happened when he had spoken with Ian in this office before.
"How about roasting a whole lamb? With extra chili peppers?" Ian expressed his understanding and then responded in this way. He didn't like to make things difficult for people, so he chose a dish that had nothing to do with beef.
"????"
Albus Dumbledore looked somewhat helpless. "Don't you want something more normal? Like honey tarts, for example. The Earl of Honey's honey tarts have the sting of Billy Wiggles in them, making them much tastier than candies from other stores. I think you'll love them after just one try."
The old headmaster's strong recommendation failed to pique the young wizard's interest.
"Thank you, but I'd rather not. I'm afraid of getting cavities; young wizards my age are most prone to cavities." Ian's polite refusal once again silenced Albus Dumbledore.
A guy who took down Voldemort.
I was actually talking to him about cavities in a very serious manner?
"There are also sugar-free desserts," Albus Dumbledore said again. He hadn't expected that the wizarding world would have sugar substitutes. He wondered if they were using magic to make food taste sweet.
"Let's have some roasted whole lamb first, then dessert. That will help cut through the richness." Ian blinked at the old man in front of him, his words impeccable and impossible to refute.
"..."
Albus Dumbledore touched his forehead, thinking to himself that he could never again habitually ask Ian what he wanted to eat; the requests were getting more and more outrageous.
"Eating too much greasy food isn't good either." Although Albus Dumbledore said this, he still waved his wand and fulfilled Ian's wish.
next moment.
A whole roasted lamb, golden brown and crispy, appeared on the desk, topped with plenty of raw chili peppers. There were even some thoughtful touches of corn chips and lemonade next to the whole roasted lamb to cut through the richness.
This treatment was significantly better than when Ian first wanted steak—what could Albus Dumbledore do? He only knew that he had to cater to this little tyrant.
"Transfiguration?"
Ian, however, dared not make a move.
Albus Dumbledore only felt a toothache.
"It's the work of the little elves."
He explained in an extremely helpless tone.
Seeing that Ian had immediately started to eat heartily after feeling relieved, Albus Dumbledore adjusted his expression and pondered before speaking to Ian.
"Isn't there anything you want to ask?"
He felt that Ian was more composed than he had thought.
Ian devoured a lamb leg and asked with a hint of curiosity, "It's a time-travel converter, isn't it? That's why you can appear in so many places at the same time."
The young wizard already had a guess in his mind, but he was not sure yet.
"That's right, I am indeed using the Time Converter." Albus Dumbledore didn't hide it, pulling out a strangely shaped pendant from the lining of his robe.
"In order to deceive Tom, I need to make him believe that I am indeed entangled in some of his little tricks and cannot get away, so that he will have the courage to go and find what he wants."
The old headmaster explained his actions to Ian, saying that the old fisherman's fishing skills were truly terrifying. Voldemort, smugly believing he had outmaneuvered Albus Dumbledore, probably never imagined that he had always been under the watchful eye of his former professor, and that he, the Dark Lord, had been the one being manipulated.
"That magic stone?"
Ian was somewhat regretful about the damage to the Philosopher's Stone. Although he had guessed that the stone probably didn't have much magic left, what alchemist could resist studying it?
Ugh!
Professor Nicolas Flamel wasn't sure if he could make a second piece. The new professor had previously said everything could be left to Ian, and the young wizard felt that Voldemort, now dead, owed him a great deal. Fortunately, Voldemort had other fragments of his soul, which made Ian feel slightly better.
"It seems you do know a lot of things." Albus Dumbledore gave Ian a deep look, but did not press Ian on why he knew so much.
Some things.
He already had a conclusion in his mind, based on solid evidence.
"Actually, I thought you were just using the Philosopher's Stone to fish, but I didn't expect Tom, who had no nose, to actually come back to life. I was quite startled when I entered that room."
Ian's doubts came from the bottom of his heart. He really did not expect Voldemort to be resurrected. Fortunately, he had made a lot of preparations in advance and had a nearly 90% chance of winning when he faced Voldemort.
Although it was still very dangerous, the result was ultimately gratifying.
"Only in this way can we see his weaknesses more clearly... Of course, there is also a little selfishness on my part, but Tom is as disappointing as ever." Albus Dumbledore sighed again, some of his goals had clearly not been achieved, so much so that a sense of helplessness appeared on his face.
"I took a huge risk this time, you should at least give me a contribution award, the kind that's presented to me in public." Ian made a face that looked like he was still scared.
"You certainly deserve that award. Without a doubt, you have fulfilled your promise to Hogwarts." Albus Dumbledore did not refuse but nodded slightly.
"From which time are you now?" Ian, completely satisfied, buried his head in his lamb leg again. He had to admit that the house-elves at Hogwarts were indeed very skilled.
The lamb has a golden and crispy outer layer, while the meat inside remains incredibly tender. The seasonings have completely permeated the meat, leaving no gamey taste.
The spiciness of the chili peppers is just right; you can eat a few bites without feeling dizzy.
"Due to certain rules governing time travel, and for the sake of caution, this is something I cannot tell you." Albus Dumbledore looked down at the time converter on his chest. This was not the one he had asked Nick Flamel to repair; it was a modern time converter specially granted to young wizards by the Ministry of Magic.
As the headmaster of Hogwarts, applying for or obtaining a position is not particularly difficult.
"It must be from the future, because you already know what happened in the underground room," Ian deduced based on the information he already had.
Albus Dumbledore nodded noncommittally.
"I never imagined that three of you could exist at the same time in such a small place as Hogwarts... My old senior is really pitiful." Ian clicked his tongue in amazement and picked up a glass of lemonade to cleanse his palate.
however.
But he saw Albus Dumbledore smile.
"????"
Ian was always very good at reading people's expressions, and he immediately read other information from Albus Dumbledore's smile. His not-so-small eyes widened even more.
"More than three!?"
Ian gasped.
Albus Dumbledore's continued silent smile was a powerful and eloquent response.
The little wizard's curiosity was immediately piqued.
"Five? Six? Seven or eight?"
His voice was surprised, increasingly filled with doubt and uncertainty.
Albus Dumbledore's gaze at that moment was somewhat unfathomable to Ian.
"I'm writing a paper on time travel, so I'll be trying some extreme experiments to gain insights into the deeper rules governing time travel."
The old headmaster's evasive response only fueled Ian's speculations.
"But we all know that the use of time converters comes at a price. The more time is interfered with, the more serious the price will be. Throughout history, many people have lost their way in time travel."
"No one knows how they disappeared, nor what they tried to do. Countless facts tell us that the Time Converter cannot change anything." Ian knew that Albus Dumbledore certainly knew more than he did, but he still couldn't help but remind the old headmaster.
Albus Dumbledore simply nodded. "Of course I am aware of the taboos of time travel. The more versions of myself that exist at the same time, the more likely it is to cause unpredictable disasters... However, I don't think I will be the unlucky one who gets lost in time. I know what I should and shouldn't do."
"Someone always needs to explore this field, and I am now a pioneer. I firmly believe that I can thoroughly understand those things that have not been understood by others."
Albus Dumbledore's voice was calm and gentle, yet carried an undeniable and strong confidence. Of course, someone who has reached such a pinnacle position is never short of confidence.
"I hope you really know what you're doing..." Ian slapped away the hand that was trying to get his hands on the last leg of lamb, tore off the lamb's rump in one piece, and stuffed it into Albus Dumbledore's hand.
His possessiveness of food made Albus Dumbledore chuckle.
"Of course, your concerns are not unfounded. I cannot guarantee that nothing unexpected will happen to me, which is why I had to put you in front of Voldemort today."
Albus Dumbledore put down the lamb's rear end, which was probably only liked by Aberforth.
"Let's see if I can handle the noseless creature without you?" Ian gulped down another mouthful of lemonade. The chili peppers he had the fairies find were getting spicier and spicier with each bite.
"No."
Albus Dumbledore gently shook his head. Behind his crescent-shaped glasses, his eyes were deep and unfathomable. He gazed at the young wizard before him and slowly began to speak.
I'm currently reading the error-free version! This is the first time I've published this novel.
"It's about whether you can... shatter fate."
Albus Dumbledore's voice carried a hint of relief, "You have indeed succeeded, tearing a hole in a destiny that had been anchored."
"After verifying this, I think many things will no longer be complicated." He saw that Ian's glass was empty, and then filled the empty glass with a little of his wand.
"And a snake, and a diary, I can kill them all." Ian looked up at the old professor with anticipation, not hiding his true desire for Voldemort's soul.
The runes on his body had gradually faded, and Ian could feel his magic power still increasing. He just didn't know how the so-called path to legend led him to the legendary rank.
"Um?"
Albus Dumbledore glanced at Ian with some surprise. He clearly hadn't expected Ian to know so much; even Grindelwald hadn't been able to see Voldemort's Horcruxes completely.
"You really are... very concerned about your senior." The old headmaster didn't know how to comment on Ian's thorough knowledge of Voldemort; he just understood why Ian was so enthusiastic about Voldemort.
"Not bad, not bad. After all, I've aspired to be a warrior who defeats the Dark Lord since I was a child." Ian's righteous voice was full of passionate emotion.
"..."
Albus Dumbledore found himself even more unsure how to assess the situation. He recalled Ian's battle with Voldemort and couldn't believe it looked like a warrior had defeated the Dark Lord.
It's more like... the new generation has overtaken the legacy of the old era.
"Can you find it? I only know the diary is at Malfoy's house, and I'm not so sure about the other snake." Ian seemed eager to try, as if he was still a little unsatisfied.
Albus Dumbledore's eyes flickered. "That's only six. What about the seventh? I think since you can see it so clearly, you should also know something about the last Horcrux."
He looked at the young wizard who had put down the roasted lamb, his gaze deep.
"I think only you know how to deal with that Horcrux... I can't find a way." Ian's answer made Albus Dumbledore nod slightly.
"It seems you prefer a more pleasant approach, which is good." It must be said that Albus Dumbledore's probing can indeed occur anytime, anywhere.
Neither of them mentioned the details, but they both knew in their hearts what the last Horcrux was and what choices they had to make in dealing with it.
"I still don't understand why Voldemort could be resurrected. Is it really just a sacrifice to Death that can be done?" Ian recalled the flesh-and-blood, powerful Voldemort.
He remembered Voldemort saying that he first resurrected himself using a sacrifice, and then used the Philosopher's Stone to restore his former magic. This was beyond the young wizard's comprehension.
If resurrection could really be achieved by killing a servant, then how could the ritual of the servant's flesh and the father's bones be used in such a complicated way in the normal timeline?
"Sacrificing to Death can indeed grant a short life, but it comes at a price, and a heavy one at that. I think he must have been driven to desperation by your frequent destruction of his Horcruxes."
Albus Dumbledore slowly began to explain to Ian in detail, "In fact, I knew about this spell he cast when I was young."
"But the price of this resurrection far exceeds what any soul can bear. After all, it is the mercy of the Grim Reaper, and the human sacrifice is merely a ritual to begin the deal."
"What we really have to give to Death is the soul of the resurrected... This is magic from Egypt, which has been abandoned in history for many, many years."
To be honest, the old headmaster's answer was somewhat unexpected for Ian. He hadn't realized that the magical rituals used by Voldemort had already been studied by Albus Dumbledore, who was eager to see his sister.
Clearly, it was precisely because this would require sacrificing one's soul that Albus Dumbledore did not take action, since the fate that such a resurrection would bring might be even more miserable than being a dead ghost.
"Perhaps he's relying on his numerous remaining soul fragments, thinking he only needs to pay the price of one of his own? Or maybe he believes he can truly gain immortality and avoid facing death?"
Ian could only try to understand and guess Voldemort's mind, which was no easy task, since only one mental patient could understand what another mental patient was thinking.
"He may indeed be plotting that, but I believe Death is not so easily deceived." Albus Dumbledore seemed to have already foreseen Voldemort's fate. "If he was merely lost before, after casting this spell, he has surely fallen into an abyss."
Ian largely agreed with Albus Dumbledore's assessment.
"He was already beyond saving, so he probably doesn't care how badly he falls in the end." Ian stood up, checked the time, and realized that the potion he was brewing was almost due for new ingredients.
"Is there anything else?"
Albus Dumbledore looked up at the young wizard who had stood up.
"The medicine is almost burnt."
Ian did not hide anything.
"Then you should go and take care of your own things. Anyway, thank you for your trust and for everything you've done for Hogwarts and for me."
Albus Dumbledore nodded gently.
"It was just something I did."
Ian gave an OK sign and walked towards the principal's office door. Just as he turned the doorknob, he suddenly remembered that there was still one question he hadn't answered.
"Who reported you to the Ministry of Magic?"
The little wizard turned around and asked curiously.
Albus Dumbledore, who was cleaning up the mess left by Ian's meal, paused slightly, and looked up with a somewhat inscrutable expression in his eyes.
"If I told you I didn't know, I don't think you would believe me." His voice was still gentle, but it had taken on a deeper quality.
"Can I pretend to believe it?"
Ian blinked.
Albus Dumbledore chuckled and shook his head.
"My child, this involves the influence of time and power on people's hearts. I can only tell you that he is someone who once helped me but is now increasingly wary of me."
He did not answer Ian's question directly.
Some parts are ambiguous.
"High position and great power?"
Ian raised an eyebrow.
"of high status".
Albus Dumbledore replied again, but refused to say more. Seeing that he hadn't received a definite answer, the young wizard could only leave the headmaster's office, still filled with curiosity.
And in the corridor on the eighth floor.
"You seem very happy?"
Suddenly, the foolish Banaba outside the door of the house that always grants requests spoke to him.
"Today was truly an exciting and fruitful day. Most importantly, I used my extraordinary abilities to thwart the evil forces' plot. You can't possibly understand how rare my achievement is." Ian loved being asked these kinds of questions, so he immediately began to praise himself at length.
That's not entirely wrong.
He had indeed achieved the rare feat of defeating Voldemort without waking up in the infirmary. Ian had his fill of showing off, and Barnabas started pressing him for details.
You wouldn't understand even if I told you.
The little wizard, however, readily opened the door to the Room of Requirement and went inside.
So, in the corridor, only the silly Barnabas, whose curiosity had been piqued, remained, getting beaten up in the picture frame while cursing the little wizard for deliberately teasing him.
On the other side...
The principal's office fell silent once more.
Albus Dumbledore composed himself, touched the Time Converter on his chest again, and picked up the books that he had been covering on the table.
The Fool's Destiny
The old principal began to study the contents again.
The author's name was clearly visible on the book cover he held up.
Morgan LeFee.
……
A dreamlike illusion.
Beneath the boundless sky, a vast expanse of black sea surges and churns, like the breath of an abyss, carrying an indescribable sense of oppression and profundity. The pitch-black tide, with its ink-like color, crashes violently against the beach of a solitary island time and again, producing a dull yet powerful roar.
The Black Sea seems to be the convergence of all darkness and the unknown. Its color is so deep that it can almost devour all light. Even the brightest moonlight seems to be absorbed when it touches the surface of the sea, leaving only faint ripples that shimmer with a faint light in the endless darkness.
"Splash splash~ Splash splash~"
The sound of the tide is like the whisper of the night.
The echo reverberates at the seemingly forgotten ends of the world.
"Quack quack quack~"
On a deserted island.
A brown chocolate frog is chasing a slug with a hideous face on its head and sewn-up lips that can only utter helpless rage.
It runs.
Chocolate Frog Chase.
It has always been impossible for it to escape.
If the chocolate frog could swallow, this slug would have become its food long ago, since even with all its might, the slug could only crawl slowly.
"Quack quack quack~"
Chocolate Frog stepped on the slug again. Just as Chocolate Frog caught the slug, then playfully released it, preparing to start the next round of the chase...
On the oppressive Black Sea, a black cloak drifted in, as if an invisible body was hidden within it, but there was nothing else inside the cloak except for the deep darkness.
On that desolate island, barely illuminated by moonlight, the appearance of the black cloak was like a sudden storm, instantly bringing everything on the island to a standstill.
It slowly approached.
*Smack*
Only a faint, faint cracking sound remained, sounding particularly jarring in the quiet night, as an invisible figure silently crushed the frozen chocolate frog.
A pale hand emerged from within the cloak, gently picking up the slug from the ground. It floated back towards the Black Sea, as if even the rolling waves of the Black Sea were making way for it.
The figure disappeared on the deserted island.
On the deserted island, things resumed normal operation.
It was as if nothing had happened.
Only the chocolate frog, now a pile of mud, became the sole witness to this brief and bizarre encounter.
(End of this chapter)