allendalepharm Chapter 13 I'll Set the Stage, You Perform
Chapter 13 I'll Set the Stage, You Perform
Chapter 90 I'll Set the Stage, You Perform
"This place is strange." Draco Malfoy adjusted the wood in the fireplace with tongs, his brow furrowed slightly. "In your description, there's too much magical element."
Lockhart listened as he rummaged through the house, finally finding a framed photo deep inside a cupboard. In the photo, he was standing behind an old woman with his arm around Hermione's shoulder. There should have been another person beside them, but they had been cut off.
"There are werewolves in the town, who are said to attack at night, but we all know that werewolves only transform on the night of a full moon, so it's possible that someone is up to no good in the dark."
"There are said to be evil witches in the wild and wild beasts living in castles," Draco, who had grown noticeably, analyzed logically. "But I don't think we should approach this witch at this time. Who knows what might happen if we encounter a dark wizard?"
Young Master Malfoy was well protected by Lucius and Narcissa, and rarely had the opportunity to come into contact with dark wizards, but he was also taught from a young age about the destructiveness and unpredictable cruelty of dark wizards.
This cruelty might even involve practicing dark magic beyond one's control, causing one's heart to be corrupted by dark forces and become twisted, resulting in unpredictable behavior. Even the Malfoy family tries their best to avoid dealing with such people.
"I asked the hunters who came to the blacksmith's shop to buy weapons, and they said that the wild beasts in the castle can't run too far and are enemies of the werewolves."
"The last force is the hunters of the town, who make a living by hunting and are skilled in various traps and hunting methods."
They often gathered in taverns to drink or at the Red Bauhinia Ballroom, two entertainment venues where they were powerful but ignorant and easily swayed by certain individuals.
Lockhart found a can of black tea, poured some into a pot, added some water, and placed it on the fireplace mantle to heat it. He then lay down on the sofa in front of the fireplace, letting his shoulders and back sink in.
He had experienced too much today and was already feeling quite tired.
He spent the whole night teaching Lyle Lupin, then led a team on a journey, only to be imprisoned again, and his magical state changed as well.
"Hunter, werewolf, witch, beast." He tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest. "It seems a balance has been established, and perhaps an external force will emerge to break this balance."
Draco asked, puzzled, "You mean us?"
Lockhart shrugged. "Uncertain. It could also be the force that the city you mentioned might get involved in next."
He turned to look at Draco, who seemed to have matured overnight, and suddenly realized that the young wizard had also experienced a lot during this time.
Two close friends are petrified beside him, while he narrowly escapes death. He may then discover that Voldemort is purging traitors, including his father and his friends' fathers, and then the adventure begins.
Perhaps for Draco, this is not just an adventure, but an important mission to save his two friends.
That's how the world is. From different perspectives, everyone has their own story, and everyone is the protagonist of their own story.
Lockhart observed Draco's condition, nodded, and gestured for him to continue.
"I was planning to talk to Ron and Hermione and persuade Ron to put up some money so we could all leave here and go to the city to avoid danger. I even had a reason in mind: to go find Ron's twin brothers."
Life is tough, Malfoy sighed, shrugging and gesturing to Ron, who was fast asleep beside him. "I never thought Hermione would run away and Ron would end up like this."
For a second-grade wizard to think of something like this is good enough; he deserves praise for being excellent.
But after learning about their situation, Lockhart was filled with anticipation for Hermione.
He smiled slightly. "I know about Hermione's situation; she has already set off on her adventure."
"Set off? Where to go on an adventure?" Draco seemed a little confused. "She didn't say?"
"Or perhaps it's better to say this—" Lockhart poured the brewed black tea into a cup, set down the teapot, and then, with a meaningful expression, said, "She has broken free from the 'definitions and positions given to her by the environment and society,' and is forging her own path."
This is the adventure!
Professor Lockhart often tells stories of magical adventures!
Draco became excited. He knew that with Hermione gone, Ron couldn't possibly leave, and that he, the poor little blacksmith, really had no way to leave the town on his own.
But that's clearly no longer the point.
Professor Lockhart's words reminded him that he should consider exploring his own magical path in this adventure, something the professor had repeatedly mentioned before the trip.
"What should I do?" he asked anxiously.
Lockhart shrugged. "You shouldn't be asking me that question; ask yourself."
"I—." Draco opened his mouth, then suddenly realized, and just stared blankly at the flames in the fireplace.
Lockhart has taught them everything he needed to, and there's no point in saying more. In the past six months of teaching, he has explained things thoroughly enough and guided them through practical exercises. But teaching doesn't mean they know how to do it, doing it doesn't mean they can use it, and being able to use it doesn't mean it suits their talents.
Whether it can truly guide them onto the magical path of self-discovery remains to be seen.
Needless to say, many people in the Ministry of Magic can't even cast a single Ironclad Charm these days; that's truly a case of returning all knowledge to the professors at magic schools.
This is their own path.
No one has the right to interfere.
Lockhart is not a babysitter; he is a professor, a professor who is willing to provide opportunities for everyone to improve themselves and who needs everyone as his assistants, nothing more.
On his way from the deformed werewolf castle to this town, he had been familiarizing himself with his magical powers, and finally felt that original magic again because of his jubilant state.
It wasn't difficult, it just took a little time.
And so, he once again felt his wand and his group of dark magic creatures.
As he sat on the sofa, he felt as if his whole body was sinking rapidly, like water falling out of a bottle and then falling back into it to fill the bottle, gradually fitting back into his body.
His five senses quickly contracted from their stretched-to-the-limit state, and he was back at the Crabbe family's colorful ball fish farm in the Białowieza Forest.
He could see himself holding up his wand, maintaining the "telepathic spell," and a burst of emerald green light erupted from the tip of the wand, painting a distorted and bizarre world around him.
Harry, Draco, and the other young wizards all stood around him, while Snape stood guard to the side, motionless like statues.
Little Golden Retriever, the Wrongfully Killed Fairy, Boggart, and the Winged Demon—these companions faithfully guarded their surroundings.
This is the true state of everyone.
Everyone's minds, guided by his magic, extended to the unknown, establishing a spiritual connection with the dark magic creature, the "Sack Sheath."
Then a wondrous state occurred: the spiritual power of everyone participating in the adventure merged with the phenomena of the dark magic creatures, resulting in such an interesting scene—everyone entered a bizarre and fantastical fairy tale world.
This state cannot be accurately described as entering a dream together, because the world exists in a state that is real to them but unreal to others in the world outside of them.
This is what is often referred to as "non-existence" in the field of Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Perhaps it can be described this way: all their memories and even souls, including those of the dark magic creature "Sack Sheath," were extracted and placed into a meditation basin, where their thoughts collided and sparked wondrous ideas.
These sparks of thought radiate magical power.
Maintaining the "mind communication" state for a long time didn't seem difficult; it was like turning on a switch and the machine started running on its own. Lockhart sensed his own state and then looked at the others around him.
Several members of the adventure team have already begun to unleash their mental power, spreading it out and adding their own color to the scene surrounded by emerald green light.
Among them, Snape was the most dazzling, followed by Hermione, and then Luna, George, and Fred.
Harry.
ha~
Lockhart observed the scene with great interest.
Old Si seems to have changed because of him. He said that the "original work" is no longer the "original work". Otherwise, he would have wasted his time traveling. He should bring something to this world.
Hermione is also good. Although she lacks a bit of inspiration, after being taught, she really dares to think and act, and does things in a down-to-earth manner.
Luna and the Weasley twins are the kind of people who are particularly spiritual, which may be the most suitable for what he proposed!
"A fairytale adventure" on the path to finding magical powers.
As for Harry—..
Lockhart had no idea what Harry was going through; all he could sense was the intense joy and happiness emanating from Harry.
The power emanating from the Patronus Charm was visibly increasing as he observed it, showing signs of surpassing Snape's.
Amazing!
The savior truly deserves the title of savior.
perfect!
Lockhart was satisfied with this state, certain that he could "kick" everyone out of this "spiritual communication" connection at any time, and then let his thoughts enter an extended state along the wand once again.
Soon, his consciousness reappeared in that world.
The firewood in the fireplace crackled and popped.
Ron's snoring and the chirping of insects outside the window rose and fell in waves.
Draco stared silently at the fire, lost in thought. He clearly had some ideas, his expression shifting.
Not bad, young man.
Looks like you've gotten into the swing of things too.
I'll set the stage, you'll perform, go find your own magical path, unleash the power of your hearts and fight together against the influence of the dark magic creature "Sack Sheath".
Lockhart didn't say anything more, letting Draco figure it out himself. He had to walk his own path, and he had his own things to do.
He needs to familiarize himself with the werewolf power within him as soon as possible.
Only by possessing power can we fulfill the forest's request as soon as possible.
He did not resist the task of the forest, because this unique natural force was always shrouded in mystery and was never sinister; on the contrary, it was full of inclusive maternal radiance.
Earth, forests, moonlight, ocean, sky—the power of nature always guides living beings to coexist more harmoniously in the world.
Perhaps this is actually the forest guiding itself?