"Every kind of dark creature emits a different form of dark magical power. From what we can see at the moment, when enough different types gather together, it may cause partial overlap between parallel worlds. When that happens, people in the overlapping area may see another version of themselves from another world. Of course, judging from what just happened, it might have been the overlap of two worlds, or possibly even three," Wade concluded.
"That really is quite a remarkable discovery..." Dumbledore looked at Grindelwald with a complicated expression. "I imagine that throughout history, apart from you, no one has ever tried gathering so many dark creatures and placing them all in the same location."
"How curious... truly curious..." Grindelwald murmured to himself.
He recalled the brief confrontation he had just had with his counterpart from another world. He had to admit that the Elder Wand's amplification was indeed formidable.
Unfortunately, the Elder Wand was now in Dumbledore's hands. Taking it back again would not be so simple.
Suddenly, Grindelwald's eyes flickered.
"I have a question. Why is it that when parallel worlds overlap, one encounters another version of oneself? Why not someone else instead?"
Wade said, "Because parallel worlds are both similar and different. Since we came here today, there is a high chance that our counterparts in another similar world also appeared here, even if the reasons were different. Of course, if the overlap happened with a parallel world where we ourselves do not exist, then we would not see another version of ourselves."
At that moment, both Dumbledore and Grindelwald recalled that earlier in the day, someone had appeared among the group who did not exist in this world. A member of the Grindelwald faction.
In other words, that person existed in another parallel world, but not in this one.
Suddenly, Grindelwald and Dumbledore both looked up at each other at the same time, each seeing surprise in the other's eyes.
Grindelwald spoke slowly. "Earlier today... several of my friends attacked the centaurs. I believe what they saw were centaurs from another world. And the centaurs in that world were preparing to launch an attack. Those friends of mine vaguely remember having a mutual companion, but now their memory of that person is gradually fading. Yet the others who were present at the time do not remember that they ever had such a mutual friend. Could this mean..."
Wade frowned. "Are you saying that when parallel worlds overlap, people might actually be exchanged? Their counterparts from another parallel world came to ours, while the ones from our world were sent to another?"
"Hmm... could that be possible?" Grindelwald asked hesitantly.
"Are you familiar with those people?" Wade asked.
"Of course! They are all my closest friends, brothers as dear to me as family!" Grindelwald lifted his head and said with a hint of pride.
"Please call them over," Wade said.
Grindelwald beckoned, and before long the four members of the Grindelwald faction from earlier that day walked over.
"When he asks you something, answer honestly," Grindelwald told them.
The four of them all nodded.
"May I ask your names?"
"Gregor Hawkins."
"Godfrey Hill."
"Uli Miller."
"Gottfried Martin."
The four reported their names one by one. Wade then looked at Grindelwald. "Are these their correct names?"
"Of course," Grindelwald replied, puzzled. "Why do you ask?"
"A parallel world is another world similar to ours but also different. Those differences can appear in any aspect. In other words, even if the people themselves are identical, their names might not necessarily be the same," Wade explained.
"I see... then they have not been exchanged," Grindelwald said thoughtfully.
The four men looked at one another, completely confused about what Grindelwald and the others were talking about. However, since he was their leader, none of them dared to ask.
"We still can't draw a final conclusion," Wade said, stroking his chin. "Could you take out your wands and let us have a look?"
The four of them drew their wands and held them out in their palms.
Wade was about to ask another question when Grindelwald suddenly spoke in surprise. "Gottfried, where is your ebony wand?"
"What ebony wand?" Gottfried Martin looked at Grindelwald in confusion. "I've always used a cherry wood wand. You gave it to me yourself."
Grindelwald's eyes widened as he stared at Gottfried Martin, examining him from head to toe with uncertainty.
Wade narrowed his eyes. "Ebony? Cherry wood? Do you still remember the friend you mentioned earlier today?"
The four of them frowned as they tried to recall.
Gottfried Martin hesitated before speaking. "We were just discussing it... this morning we clearly remembered that such a person existed, although we had already forgotten their name and appearance. But now... that familiar feeling from earlier today has completely faded. Perhaps it really was just an illusion."
Grindelwald waved his hand, dismissing the four of them.
After they had walked far enough away, he spoke with a grave expression. "Gottfried's wand was a gift I gave him when I recruited him. It was improved by a wandmaker. But the wand I gave him was ebony, not cherry wood."
"Oh... poor Mr. Martin," Wade said with sympathy.
Then Wade suddenly added, "No, it's probably not only Mr. Martin. The other three are likely from a parallel world as well. The difference for the other three just may not lie in their wands. The reason is that they all share a friend they are gradually forgetting."
"Well then, we now have a new conclusion."
With this new discovery, Wade looked visibly excited.
"Besides the causes we mentioned earlier that could lead to the appearance of parallel worlds, there is another possibility. The same person from parallel worlds, for certain reasons such as standing in the same position, might be exchanged when the passage between the worlds disappears."
"If there exists a person or thing in another world that does not exist in ours."
"And if the person who was exchanged happened to remember that person or thing beforehand, then after the passage between the parallel worlds closes, the memories in their mind that originally belonged to the other world, concerning that person or thing, will gradually disappear."
"Because, much like different timelines, in our world that person or thing does not exist. So once the passage closes, that part of the memory will slowly fade away."
"Of course, the possibility of those memories returning cannot be ruled out. For example, if the two parallel worlds were to intersect again. At present, however, I cannot confirm that."
Because the same person had appeared, yet the wand had changed, Grindelwald, who had originally doubted Wade's theory of parallel worlds, could not help but begin to believe it.
"I only hope that in the parallel world where Gottfried ended up... the other 'me' is not too suspicious," Grindelwald let out a long sigh.
After all, they were two parallel worlds. Who knew what differences might exist between them?
If the version of himself in that world happened to be a ruthless and paranoid man, then if Gottfried showed even the slightest difference, he might well be treated as an impostor and killed.
"Memory... parallel worlds..." Wade fell into deep thought once again.
Dumbledore looked at the two men before him, each wearing a different expression, and sighed as well.
"No matter what, this matter ends here. Regardless of the truth behind parallel worlds, the appearance of multiple versions of oneself is not a good thing. Grindelwald, separate those dark creatures and store them apart. Do not allow today's situation to happen again. Wade... although this is a very interesting subject, you should not continue researching it either. I have a feeling that if this investigation continues, it will lead to serious trouble."
Dumbledore's words effectively put an end to the matter.
However, both Wade and Grindelwald had to admit that although the decision was somewhat conservative, it was also the safest course of action.
Grindelwald certainly did not want to be accidentally swapped into another parallel world. If that happened, all the effort he had invested for so long might come to nothing.
Wade also had no desire to see another Wade appear before him.
No one understood him better than he understood himself.
So, while Grindelwald remained in the Forbidden Forest to continue directing his followers as they scattered the dark creatures throughout different areas of the forest, Dumbledore and Wade both returned to Hogwarts Castle.
In the castle's entrance hall, Dumbledore told Wade to return to the dormitory and rest. After watching Wade's back disappear around the corner of the corridor, Dumbledore took out the Marauder's Map.
At that moment, in the Forbidden Forest, the names of the Grindelwald faction members were split into several groups, spreading out across different parts of the forest.
Dumbledore focused his attention on the location where the Chamber had once been.
At that moment, the name Slytherin had already disappeared.
Dumbledore frowned. "Could it be... that this ghost of Slytherin also occasionally came from a parallel world? And once the passage between the parallel worlds disappeared, this Slytherin returned to his original world? But... there are no dark creatures left in the Chamber now either."
After thinking for quite some time, Dumbledore finally decided to visit the Chamber.
This matter was just as strange. If he did not see it with his own eyes, he would not feel at ease.
...
When Wade returned to the dormitory, no one was inside.
It was only seven in the evening. Tom was probably in the library, while Henry and Alphard were most likely at their club practicing spells.
Holding his wand, Wade lay down on his bed in exhaustion.
As he stared at the green bed curtains, his mind was filled with thoughts about parallel worlds.
Finally, Wade sat up, and a wisp of white mist emerged from the tip of his wand.
White mist rose and gradually dispersed into the air.
...
The Chamber.
Dumbledore easily opened the path that had previously been sealed.
Before long, he arrived inside the Chamber.
The Chamber was pitch-dark, and not a single soul was in sight.
However, the moment Dumbledore stepped inside, he caught a familiar strange smell.
For a moment, Dumbledore felt uncertain.
Then again, the Chamber was underground and surrounded by many sewer passages. A strange odor was not particularly unusual.
Holding his wand for light, Dumbledore carefully examined the surrounding environment.
Suddenly, he crouched down beside a stone pillar in surprise.
Under the dim white glow of his wand, a fresh pile of chicken droppings lay clearly in view.
So the smell was from chicken droppings? And they were so fresh?
Someone was raising chickens in the Chamber?!
Slytherin... raising chickens... what was he planning to do?
Dumbledore's expression immediately turned serious.
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