The Return to Hogwarts

“Perhaps I am more open-minded than you think, Amosta.”

A smile finally appeared on Dumbledore's aged face as he looked calmly at Amostella.

"Your method did indeed help this poor Muggle prolong his life and alleviate his suffering. I won't blame you for doing so, but I must admit, I'm quite surprised—"

Dumbledore looked at Amostella with a strange gaze, his silver beard and hair fluttering slightly.

“I didn’t expect this. Even though you’ve been in my sight most of the time, Amosta, I still didn’t realize that your magic has reached this level. Being able to strip away the dark magic that has corrupted the surface of a soul, I can’t guarantee that I could do that myself, even for a Muggle’s soul.”

“Ha, you’re still as modest as ever, Headmaster Dumbledore,” Amostella chuckled.

“Oh, that’s not entirely modesty, Amosta,”

Dumbledore said,

"Your mastery of the soul, which is the most profound category of magic even among all the schools of magic, is beyond my expectations. So far, the only magic I know that can directly affect the soul is the Killing Curse and Horcruxes."

"Your office bookshelf contains no fewer than twenty ancient magical texts on this subject, Headmaster Dumbledore."

Amosta shook his head.

"The Killing Curse and Horcruxes are highly targeted at the soul, and it's impossible to apply the principles of these two spells to other things. It's the Blood Curse, this ancient curse, that can be used to analyze the structure of the soul to some extent, and through studying it, I can also barely use deeper levels of soul power."

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"The despicable Blood Curse of Halbo?"

Amosta nodded slightly.

"Just like the night I returned to Hogwarts two years ago, I shared my views on the Dark Arts with you, and even within the Dark Arts, there are aspects worth learning and drawing upon."

“Your point is thought-provoking, Amosta.” Dumbledore’s smile brightened considerably. “But since you are already able to use the power of your soul, it means you are close to seeing that barrier, isn’t it?”

That barrier!

Amosta's eyes suddenly brightened, and his tone unusually earnest, even pleading!

"When did you see that barrier, Headmaster Dumbledore, and what happened afterward?"

"Oh, that's a long story."

Dumbledore winked mischievously, a smile playing on his lips.

What Amosta might crave so much is this kind of magical knowledge, after all, in the contemporary magical world, and even going back several centuries, no one has ever reached this level.

“I don’t have your exceptional magical talent, Amosta. To have such profound magical attainments at such a young age, I only saw that barrier after I was forty. I lingered in front of that barrier for many years before finally breaking it before that duel.”

That duel

Amosta frowned slightly, and then he knew the answer.

Dumbledore looked at Amostella with an expression he had never seen before.

“The fact that you can see that barrier at your age, Amosta, I guess your innate soul ‘strength’ must be far beyond that of ordinary people.”

Amostah felt a chill run down his spine. This was indeed his guess about the reason for his obviously limited and abnormal magical talent. The strength of the soul and the level of magic power are different. At the beginning, the difference between individuals is not much. However, his soul 'capacity' must be more abundant than that of ordinary people because when he was born into this world, his soul was 'doubled'.

"You mentioned the 'strength' of the soul, Headmaster Dumbledore. Is this the key to breaking down the barrier? And what exactly is this so-called barrier?"

Amosta neither explained nor could explain his unusual behavior, but continued to ask questions.

"Oh, I'm afraid I can only give you a general description; the relevant lineage has almost been severed—"

Dumbledore said,

"You know, there is a wonderful connection between our soul and body. The soul dwells within the body and is the fundamental force that drives the body. However, the soul is also fragile and cannot do without the protection of the body. The so-called barrier is the body's protection of the soul."

"what do you mean--"

Amosta frowned slightly.

"Breaking down the barrier means breaking down the body's protection of the soul, allowing the soul to exist independently of the body in the world?"

"It exists independently, but it is not a ghost-like remnant of a soul in the world."

Dumbledore nodded and said solemnly.

"You can do it?" Amosta was clearly taken aback.

"About this."

Dumbledore's smile looked somewhat complicated.

"Only once. That was the time I crossed the barrier. Oh, it was such a wonderful experience. Even now, when I think about it, it still feels incredible."

Even though Amostella showed a surprised expression, and even Dumbledore couldn't help but feel a hint of pride, a bitter smile quickly crept onto his calm face.

"--That day, with the help of Newt and a few friends, we thwarted Gellert's plot to take control of the International Wizarding Federation. You may have heard that Gellert and I were friends when we were young, and to ensure our friendship, we even made a blood pact, promising not to become each other's enemies."

The blood pact broke down that day for some mysterious reason. After Gellert fled, I returned to my home in Godric's Hollow that day. I had been standing before that barrier for a long time, and some complex emotions helped me shatter it. My soul left my body, driven by an irresistible, powerful instinct, my consciousness tried to drift towards the stars, my soul seemed to be searching for something.”

Amosta's heart skipped a beat.

"What are you looking for?"

Dumbledore shook his head regretfully.

“I don’t know, Amosta, this is not a cover-up.”

I don't know what that powerful instinct was driving me to search for, but before that, a sense of weakness in my soul reminded me that if my soul didn't return to my body soon, it would dissipate. Clearly, although my soul had broken free of the shackles of the flesh, it hadn't been 'nourished' strong enough by magic; it didn't possess the ability to completely detach itself from the body.

Chapter 812 Cage

2024-03-19

"Incredible—"

After listening to Dumbledore's account, Amosta frowned and said softly.

The idea that the soul can leave the protection of the body and act independently sounds quite magical, even in the world of magic.

"You just said—"

After recalling Dumbledore's words, Amosta pressed on,

"Only this once?"

"That feeling was beyond my capacity to bear, Amosta—"

Dumbledore closed his eyes, recalling the terror he had felt many years ago on the day he reached the summit. A moment later, he opened his eyes and gazed solemnly at Amos Tower.

"That experience cannot be simply described as fear. It must be admitted that the feeling was also wonderful. The soul was separated from the body, and the feeling of freedom was indescribable. But that is why I want to warn you, Amosta, when you finally push open that door, do not become addicted to that freedom, because your soul will have nowhere to rest and you will not be able to truly break free from the shackles of the body. You may very well die because of your addiction to that 'freedom'."

Amostella's expression was uncertain; Dumbledore's words undoubtedly confirmed his previous speculation about the 'jellyfish world'.

"Thank you for reminding me, Headmaster Dumbledore. I will keep that in mind."

Amosta nodded solemnly.

"In the years that followed, I could have let my soul leave my body briefly at any time, but I didn't dare to do it. As I said, I was afraid of the temptation. That 'freedom' that seemed so real, that nothing could bind me."

Dumbledore said,

"Until later, I mean, as my body began to age noticeably and my magic began to decline, I found that I had lost this ability."

Dumbledore smiled frankly.

“Nothing can withstand the great passage of time, and everything will eventually die. Of course, you are wiser than I am, Amosta, and you will obviously understand that death is not something to fear; it is merely the beginning of another great adventure.”

Amosta nodded slightly. He knew Dumbledore's words were a warning, but they were indeed insightful. Someone like him, who had already 'died' once, understood better than anyone else that death was never the end.

"IMHO--"

After a moment of contemplation, Amosta squinted at Dumbledore, his sharp gaze piercing through Dumbledore's aged body to its core.

“I see no sign of your magic declining, Headmaster Dumbledore. If I were to make an assessment, among all the wizards I have ever seen, including myself, none possess such powerful magic as you.”

"Ah, yes, I think so too—"

Dumbledore showed no displeasure at being spied on; he simply looked at Amostella with admiration and said in a slightly self-deprecating tone,

"But you must understand, Amosta, possessing this magic does not mean that I can fully utilize it now. On the contrary, you can fully harness the active magic stored in your eyes."

Click!

A thunderous roar seemed to echo from the void; Dumbledore's words, like lightning, shattered the fog in Amostella's heart. His handsome features relaxed, and his eyebrows rose high.

“So that’s how it is,” Amosta said softly.

"That's exactly right--"

Dumbledore smiled and said,

“A significant portion of the magic within me has become uncontrollable; it is intertwined with my flesh and blood. This does make me more energetic than the average elderly person, but I can no longer use it.”

"if--"

Amosta's eyes flashed with thoughts. This was a rare opportunity. Dumbledore had almost taken the initiative to talk to him about these things. In this day and age, with the magical gap so severe, Dumbledore, who could be considered the only pioneer, was willing to share himself. Such an opportunity was extremely rare.

"What if you forcefully use those inactive magic powers?"

Amosta asked curiously.

"Oh, then I'm afraid I'll have to write a will before I can do that."

Dumbledore chuckled.