Chapter 89: I Set the Stage, You Play the Part
"It's very strange here," Draco Malfoy said, adjusting the logs in the fireplace with tongs, his brow furrowed. "To use your description, there's an excess of magical elements."
Lockhart listened, rummaging through the house. Finally, deep in a cupboard, he found a photo frame. In the frame, he stood with his arm around Hermione's shoulders behind an old woman. There should have been another person beside them, but they were cut out.
"There are werewolves in town, said to attack frequently at midnight, but we all know werewolves only transform on the full moon, so
someone might be secretly causing trouble," Draco continued, his analysis surprisingly structured, a testament to his noticeable growth.
"They say there's an evil witch and a beast living in the castle out in the wilderness. But I don't think we should approach the witch right now. If we run into a Dark wizard, no one knows what might happen."
Young Master Malfoy had been well-protected by Lucius and Narcissa, rarely having contact with Dark wizards. Yet, he'd been taught since childhood about the destructive and unpredictably cruel nature of Dark wizards. This cruelty could even stem from practicing Dark magic beyond one's control, leading to a twisted, unpredictable mind, a type of individual even the Malfoy family tried to avoid.
"I've asked the hunters who come to the blacksmith's shop for weapons. They say the beast in the castle can't venture too far and is an enemy of the werewolves."
"The last force is the town's hunters, who live by hunting and are skilled in various traps and hunting methods. They often gather to drink at the tavern or the Red Bauhinia Music Hall. These two entertainment venues gather strong but ignorant people, easily incited by certain individuals."
Lockhart found a can of black tea, poured some into a pot, added water, and placed it directly on the rack in the fireplace to boil. He then settled comfortably into the armchair in front of the fireplace, letting his shoulders and back sink deep into it.
He had experienced too much today and felt a bit fatigued. Teaching Lyle Lupin all night, then leading the expedition, getting locked in a cell, and his magical state changing...
"Hunters, werewolves, witches, beasts." His fingers gently tapped the armrest.
"This seems to have established a balance. If this balance were to be broken, perhaps an external force would emerge."
Draco looked puzzled. "Are you talking about us?"
Lockhart shrugged. "Uncertain. It could also be the force from the city you might have mentioned next."
He turned to look at Draco, who seemed to have matured overnight, suddenly realizing this young wizard had also experienced a lot recently.
His two close friends were petrified beside him while he narrowly escaped, and then he might have realized Voldemort was purging traitors, including his father and his friends' fathers. This was followed by this adventure. Perhaps for Draco, this wasn't just an adventure, but a crucial mission to save his two friends.
This world was like that; from different perspectives, everyone had their own story, everyone was the protagonist of their own story. Lockhart assessed Draco's state, nodded, and motioned for him to continue.
"I was originally planning to discuss with Ron and Hermione, to persuade Ron to put up some money so we could all leave here and hide in the city. I even had the excuse ready: to find Ron's twin brothers."
Life was hard, and Young Master Malfoy sighed, spreading his hands to indicate the snoring Ron beside them. "I didn't expect Hermione to run off, and Ron to become like this."
For a second-year wizard to think to this extent was enough; it deserved praise. But understanding their situation, Lockhart felt even more anticipation for Hermione. He smiled faintly. "I know Hermione's situation. She has already set off on an adventure."
"Set off? Where to?" Draco seemed confused. "She didn't say?"
"Or rather," Lockhart poured the boiled tea into a cup, put down the teapot, and then said meaningfully, "she has already broken free from the 'definitions and positions given by the environment and society' and is walking her own path."
That's the adventure! Professor Lockhart often talked about it: magical adventure! Draco immediately grew excited. He knew that with Hermione gone, Ron wouldn't leave, which meant he, the poor little blacksmith, truly couldn't leave the town on his own.
But that was clearly no longer the main point. Professor Lockhart's words reminded him: Yes, he should be thinking about exploring his own magical path in this adventure! This was what the professor had repeatedly emphasized before they set off.
"What should I do?" he asked, a little anxiously.
Lockhart spread his hands. "You shouldn't ask me that. Ask yourself."
"I—" Draco opened his mouth, finally enlightened, just staring blankly at the flames in the fireplace.
Lockhart had taught everything he needed to. There was no point in saying more.
Over the past six months of teaching, he had explained things thoroughly and had them practice, but teaching didn't mean they'd learn, learning didn't mean they'd use it, and using it didn't mean it suited their talent.
Whether he could truly guide them towards exploring their own magical paths would always be an unknown. Not to mention, many people in the Ministry of Magic couldn't even cast a Shield Charm; they were the ones who truly returned all their knowledge to the Hogwarts professors.
This was their own path. No one had the right to interfere. Lockhart wasn't a nanny; he was a professor, a professor willing to offer opportunities for self-improvement and needing assistance from his students. That was all.
All the way from that deformed werewolf castle to this town, he had been familiarizing himself with his own magical power. He finally felt that initial burst of magic responding to his joyous state again. This wasn't difficult; it just took a bit of time.
And so, he once more felt his wand, and his Dark magical creature companions.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
He sat on the sofa, yet he felt as if his whole being was sinking rapidly, like water leaving a bottle and then refilling it, slowly reconnecting with his body. His five senses quickly retracted from their stretched-to-the-limit state, and he was back in the Crabbe family's Rainbow Fish farm in the Białowieża Forest.
He could see himself holding his wand, maintaining the "Mind Communication Charm," a vibrant green light pouring from its tip, painting a distorted and strange world around him.
Harry, Draco, and the other young wizards all stood beside him, with Snape guarding them, motionless like statues. The Little Glodie, the Vengeful Fairy, the Boggart, and the Curled-Winged Demon, his companions, faithfully guarded their surroundings.
This was everyone's true state. Everyone's minds, guided by his magic, extended into the unknown, establishing a mental connection with the "Sack Creature," the Dark magical creature.
A wondrous state unfolded: the mental powers of everyone participating in the adventure intertwined within the Dark magical creature's phenomenon, giving rise to such an interesting scene—they had entered a fantastical fairy-tale world.
This state wasn't accurately described as merely entering a dream, because this world was both real to them and unreal to others outside of it. This was what was often referred to as "non-existence" in the field of Dark Arts Defense.
Perhaps it could be described like this: all their memories, including those of the Dark magical creature 'Sack Creature,' and even their souls, were extracted and placed into a Pensieve. Their thoughts collided, sparking wondrous creations. These sparks of thought radiated magical power.
Maintaining the "Mind Communication Charm" state for a long time didn't seem difficult, like flipping a switch and the machine running itself.
Lockhart assessed his own state and then looked at the others around him. Several members of the adventure team had already begun to manifest their own mental power, spreading outwards, coloring the emerald-lit scene with their own hues.
Among them, Snape's was the most dazzling, followed by Hermione, and then Luna, George and Fred, and Harry.
Ha! Lockhart observed this scene with great interest. Old Snape seemed to have changed because of him. He knew it; the "original story" was no longer the "original story." Otherwise, his transmigration would have been pointless; he had to bring something to this world.
Hermione was also good; though a little lacking in spiritual insight, once she was taught, she truly dared to think and act, working diligently. Luna and the Weasley twins were particularly insightful; this might be the most fitting path for them to find magical power, as suggested by his "fairy-tale adventure" theory.
As for Harry... Lockhart didn't know what Harry was currently experiencing. He could only feel that Harry was radiating an intensely beautiful and joyful aura. The power manifested by his Patronus Charm was visibly increasing as Lockhart observed it, seemingly about to surpass Snape's.
Amazing! The Savior truly lives up to his name.
Perfect! Lockhart was very satisfied with this state. Confirming that he could "kick" everyone out of this "mind communication" connection at any time, he once again let his mind extend along his wand. Soon, his consciousness reappeared in that world.
The firewood in the fireplace crackled and popped. Ron's snores and the chirping of crickets outside the window rose and fell. Draco silently stared at the fire, lost in thought, his expression flickering with new ideas.
Not bad, young man. It seems you're getting into it too.
I'll set the stage, and you all perform. Go find your own magical paths, unleash the power of your minds, and together fight against the influence of the Dark magical creature "Sack Creature."
Lockhart said nothing more, letting Draco continue to ponder on his own. The path was one's own to forge, and Lockhart also had his own things to do. He had to familiarize himself with the werewolf power within him as quickly as possible.
Only with power could he fulfill the forest's entrustment promptly. He didn't resist the forest's task, because this unique natural power always carried immense mystery, and was never dark or sinister.
On the contrary, it was full of inclusive maternal radiance. Earth, forest, moonlight, ocean, sky—the forces of nature would always guide living beings to live in greater harmony in the world.
Perhaps, this was truly the forest's guidance for him?