The Bard of Hogwarts

Chapter 349 Snape's Entrustment, the Mysterious Number Seven

A dormitory room piled high with gifts.

As Boggart disappeared into the shadows, Ino's brow relaxed.

The package wasn't cursed with dark magic as one might imagine. In fact, it was merely tainted with a trace of dark magic.

After putting my concerns at ease, I casually opened the package.

As the last layer of parchment was peeled away, a book with a black cover was revealed inside—"The Secrets of Cutting-Edge Black Magic."

……

"This is interesting!"

Looking at the book in his hand, Ino suddenly became interested.

Receiving such a gift for Christmas is clearly a level above anything else, like a love potion.

However, just as he was wondering who was so courageous, a magically enchanted envelope slowly appeared on the book cover.

The combination of a profound black magic book and a letter imbued with concealment magic essentially eliminates more than 95% of wizards.

Of all the people he knew, only two could easily do this: Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel.

But it's clear that, given their personalities and styles, these two are unlikely to do such a thing.

But since he had received the letter, he didn't bother guessing anymore.

But as soon as I picked up the envelope, I sensed something was wrong.

Of course, it wasn't magic, but rather the thickness of the envelope; it was estimated that there were at least five pages of letter paper inside.

……

Fifteen minutes later.

Ino put down the last page of the letter.

The expression on his face changed from the initial natural relaxation to the current seriousness and caution.

"They actually abandoned Harry and chose Barty Crouch instead..."

The letter was written by Snape; it was rather long, but there wasn't a single superfluous word in its contents.

First, Voldemort was resurrected, but he didn't choose Harry's blood as in the original story. Second, the resurrected Voldemort didn't summon the Death Eaters, nor did he attempt to break out of Azkaban; instead, he chose to lie low, contrary to his usual behavior.

This point, in particular, is in stark contrast to the original story.

Similarly, Ino was also deeply puzzled by this.

……

Looking at Voldemort's life throughout the story.

His excellence in his youth, his ambition in his young adulthood, and the transformation he underwent after ten years of travel after graduation...

This includes the madness before death and the neuroticism after resurrection.

Unconsciously, Ino drew himself into this story's rhythm and began to try to deduce Voldemort's mindset.

To be honest, receiving this news so suddenly made him somewhat uneasy.

It's hard to imagine whether Dumbledore could easily deal with Voldemort, who knew how to lie low and endure. That's a real question mark.

Dumbledore's greatest weakness is that he has a bottom line when it comes to doing things. And this weakness was actually discovered by Voldemort half a century ago.

In this respect, the death of Myrtle in the original story is a good illustration.

……

Myrtle died in the castle.

It's impossible for Dumbledore not to have someone he suspects.

But in fact, it was something that could have been solved simply by capturing the mind and focusing thoughts.

The old headmaster stubbornly stuck to his principles, preferring to watch Hagrid's wand be broken rather than break through his inner convictions and refuse to use magic or power to easily solve the problem.

Whether Dumbledore's actions were right or wrong is impossible to judge.

To Muggles, this might seem like pedantry and stubbornness. But for wizards, letting down their mental defenses can be quite troublesome.

Sometimes, even a single needle prick can have immeasurable consequences later on.

Thinking about it this way, if he had really used Legilimency, Dumbledore might not be Dumbledore anymore.

……

But soon, Ino thought of Voldemort again.

If he could manipulate Dumbledore within the rules during his student days, there's no reason why he would be schemed against to death later, or even exhibit neurotic behavior.

Admittedly, the corrupting influence of dark magic on the mind is one aspect.

However, he speculated that this was more likely due to something Voldemort encountered during his travels as an adult, which led to a change in his personality.

Gradually, Ino began to immerse herself in the process, while simultaneously simulating the changes as much as possible.

a long time.

A still portrait suddenly floated past his eyes.

……

A portrait of Isaac Newton, the great Muggle scientist.

Upon closer reflection, Newton's life does bear some resemblance to Voldemort's.

As a renowned scholar in England and the world, Newton made outstanding contributions in mathematics, physics, astronomy, and the natural sciences.

Unfortunately, Newton also became eccentric and even neurotic in his later years.

There are many theories about why Newton went mad, including overworking his brain, losing loved ones, mercury poisoning, and his theological beliefs.

……

However, Ino did not quite agree with the various speculations.

In fact, he is more inclined to believe that Newton, after reaching the pinnacle of science, discovered some secrets, even secrets that overturned the research results of the first half of his life.

One can speculate that a person with exceptional talent might start working hard from their youth or even adolescence, dedicating their entire life to it, only to find in their later years that it all has been meaningless.

Under such extreme joy and sorrow, it would be strange if they didn't go mad.

Similarly, after being immersed in Newton's life, Ino gradually discovered clues about Voldemort.

Equally outstanding, equally gifted, and even ultimately equally insane and neurotic.

……

"What was Voldemort pursuing...?"

In the quiet dormitory, Ino sat on the floor, resting her chin on her hand, quietly pondering the original story.

Pureblood, power, domination, glory... these words flashed through his mind, but were then rejected one by one.

Inadvertently.

When he saw the book "The Secrets of Advanced Dark Magic" that Snape had sent him, an idea suddenly popped into his head.

"Hornets... Immortality! Those involved are truly blinded by their own perspective..."

After confirming Voldemort's pursuit, Ino naturally thought of another immortal being—Nico Flamel.

When we last met in France, Nico said he had lived to be 665 years old. Although it was a pity I didn't get to meet Nico's wife, I imagine the age difference between them isn't that great.

Based on his condition when they met, Nico probably didn't have much time left.

……

However, when comparing the two, a very interesting phenomenon emerges.

The Nicos were unlikely to live past seven hundred years old, and Voldemort also only had seven Horcruxes.

One path to immortality was achieved through the Philosopher's Stone, while the other attempted to achieve it through Horcruxes.

But neither of them managed to break the number seven.

The difference is that Nico lived to be over six hundred years old, and seemed to have achieved a state of equanimity in the face of death.

Voldemort, however, at the height of his ambition, suddenly realized that his lifelong pursuit was an unattainable dream.

Perhaps it was this blow that turned the promising, intelligent, and erudite Tom into the fearsome and ruthless Voldemort.

……

"Even if you're resurrected, you should continue to give up and act recklessly..."

Ino rubbed her temples in confusion.

He couldn't understand how someone who should have been mad and unpredictable could suddenly become rational.

Even if they are resurrected, but there is no hope of immortality, they should still be treated as they were in the original story.

A foolish and insane dark monster who only knows revenge and killing.

moment.

He considered one possibility, but then chuckled and shook his head in disbelief.

Seven, as the most mysterious number in the magical world, seems to be alluding to a certain rule.

Even a legendary wizard like Voldemort probably couldn't break this rule. After all, there have been far too many brilliant figures in the long history of magic.

Rowena Ravenclaw alone is an insurmountable iceberg.

(End of this chapter)