Hogwarts was going to be closed.
Even if it was only for half a year, the news left Dumbledore with mixed emotions, and he stood there in silence.
McGonagall, however, had no intention of giving him more time to brood. Having calmed down after venting her anger, she spoke again.
"By the way, Albus. Madam Pomfrey just informed me that Fred... or rather, Dawn... has finally woken up. Would you like to come with me?"
"Dawn?"
Dumbledore returned to his senses.
Although he doubted the visit would accomplish much—the boy probably wouldn't say anything anyway—he nodded after a moment's thought.
As they began walking, however, hearing Dawn's name reminded him of the dream world, which in turn brought another matter to mind.
"Minerva," he asked, "is Ron still at school?"
"Ron?" McGonagall looked puzzled. "Why? Has something happened?"
After thinking for a moment, she answered, "At this hour, he should be in Herbology."
"I see..."
Dumbledore stroked his beard thoughtfully.
He made up his mind to catch Ron's pet rat, Scabbers, afterward.
If the story in Harry Potter was truly real, then that rat was none other than Peter Pettigrew—the man who had betrayed James and Lily Potter and framed Sirius Black.
Dumbledore's expression slowly turned grave.
Seeing that look, McGonagall immediately became suspicious.
"Albus! What are you planning now?"
Remembering the chaos caused by Dumbledore's secrecy, she pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration.
"Listen to me, Albus. The school simply can't afford any more surprises from you.
Before you make another decision, could you please discuss it with the rest of us first?"
Dumbledore froze beneath her distrustful gaze.
He wanted to explain that this truly was important.
Unfortunately... He lacked the confidence to do so. All he could manage was a helpless smile.
Silence settled between them.
McGonagall was clearly still angry.
Without another word, she marched ahead while Dumbledore followed behind with a resigned sigh.
The two quickly descended the staircase.
They arrived at the hospital wing.
Madam Pomfrey was already waiting outside. She looked visibly surprised to see Dumbledore, but said nothing.
Instead, she led them to the boy who had only just awakened.
"Professor... why am I here?"
The red-haired Fred looked around in confusion.
Seeing the solemn expressions on both professors' faces, he clearly had no idea what was happening.
That bewildered look made Dumbledore pause.
He exchanged a glance with McGonagall before cautiously asking,
"Fred?"
"Uh... yes? It's me. Is something wrong?"
Fred swallowed nervously.
His mind raced.
Had one of his pranks finally caught up with him?
Watching his reaction, Dumbledore slowly narrowed his eyes.
He still wasn't entirely convinced.
After several subtle tests, he finally confirmed that the person before him truly was Fred Weasley.
Yet that only deepened his frown.
Could it be...
Had the Resurrection Stone already reappeared? And had Dawn successfully returned to his own body?
Dumbledore took a slow breath.
Although Dawn's consciousness leaving the student's body was unquestionably good news, he hadn't forgotten something else.
From their earlier conversations, he knew Dawn wanted to return to his own body.
Which meant...
Dawn had probably already found a way to remove the bracelet that kept him asleep.
If so...
He might also have escaped from beyond the Veil of Death.
The thought struck Dumbledore like lightning.
He was just about to summon Fawkes and have the phoenix carry him to the Department of Mysteries, hoping he might still prevent something...
When suddenly—
"Ahem..."
A familiar yet unfamiliar cough echoed through the hospital wing.
Dumbledore instinctively turned toward the sound.
A pale, emaciated ghost drifted through the wall.
Half-transparent, with a deeply apologetic expression, the spirit let out a quiet sigh.
"Albus..."
"I'm back."
Dumbledore stared blankly for a moment.
Then realization dawned.
"...Nicolas?"
He looked at his old friend in astonishment.
"What happened to you?"
"I'm only a ghost now," Flamel replied calmly. "But that's not important."
Half of his body remained inside the wall as he beckoned gently.
"Would you come with me for a moment, Albus? There are some things I need to tell you."
"Of course."
Dumbledore agreed without hesitation.
There were simply too many questions he needed answered after everything that had happened while he slept.
McGonagall frowned.
Watching the man and ghost leave together, she found herself unable to relax.
After a moment's hesitation, she followed them.
Soon...
Only Fred and Madam Pomfrey remained behind in the hospital wing, exchanging bewildered looks, neither of them understanding what had just happened.
Meanwhile...
At the Vatican.
At almost the same moment Flamel found Dumbledore, flames blossomed in the middle of a secluded room, revealing a red-eyed boy.
The stale scent of dust filled the air.
Suppressing the lingering dizziness from Apparition, Dawn glanced at the furniture covered in layers of dust before casting Scourgify to clean everything.
Then...
Unable to contain himself any longer, he eagerly emptied several overstuffed enchanted wallets and began organizing his newest acquisitions.
One treasure after another appeared.
He carefully placed them alongside the collection he already possessed.
Looking at the dazzling assortment before him, Dawn felt an indescribable satisfaction.
His collector's instincts had been thoroughly fulfilled.
For a fleeting moment, he even wondered...
If he ever performed a proper Animagus transformation... Would he become a hamster?
Chuckling to himself, he picked up a damp cloth and carefully polished each treasure before putting it away once more.
Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem.
Time-Turners.
Countless priceless books.
The Deathly Hallow known as the Invisibility Cloak.
As Dawn admired his collection, an overwhelming urge suddenly rose within him.
He wanted to hold an exhibition.
To display every single treasure he owned for the entire world to admire.
"I just wonder..."
"Where exactly the Resurrection Stone will reappear."
Muttering to himself, he transformed his special pattern into Grindelwald's form, hoping to divine its location.
Several moments passed.
Nothing.
Without hesitation, he switched the outer pattern again, this time taking on Sybill Trelawney's form.
Closing his eyes, he attempted to enter a state of true sight.
Again...
Nothing.
"So it really isn't that easy."
Clicking his tongue, Dawn picked up the golden vial of Felix Felicis beside him.
He uncorked it, took a small sip, and tried once more.
Cool clarity flooded his mind.
Yet even after the potion's effects faded...
He learned absolutely nothing useful.
"...Forget it."
"I'll deal with it later."
Putting aside the search for the Resurrection Stone, he returned to organizing his collection.
Next, he carefully picked up a crystal vial filled with a colorless liquid.
His movements became exceptionally gentle.
Inside was the remaining portion of the Fountain of Fair Fortune he had used the previous year.
An entire year had passed since then.
He had no idea whether it would still function.
Yet among everything he possessed... He still regarded it as his greatest treasure.
He hid it in the safest place he could think of.
Afterward, he sorted Flamel's books into categories and placed them neatly onto his bookshelves.
Then...
His attention shifted toward the three alchemical creations recovered from the Holy Infant Cemetery.
The first—the wooden door—had already revealed its purpose.
It was essentially a magical Anywhere Door, capable of leading him to any location he had previously visited.
He now owned two of them.
As for the little humanoid figure assembled from wooden blocks...
After extensive examination, Dawn finally determined its purpose.
It was an automatic magical tutor.
It contained an enormous library of magical knowledge, answering questions while expanding upon them with additional instruction instead of merely giving rigid responses.
The discovery delighted him.
Unfortunately...
When he asked how matter could be transformed into magic...
It remained silent.
That alone told him Nicolas Flamel had intentionally withheld the truly dangerous knowledge.
Even so...
Its value remained immeasurable.
After playing with it for a while, Dawn placed it at the front of his desk before turning to the last of the three alchemical artifacts.
The peculiar bronze oil lamp entwined by a serpent.
Judging solely by its magical circuitry, it was easily the most complicated of the three.
After considering it for a moment, Dawn lit the lamp.
He studied it for quite some time.
Nothing happened.
Unable to discover its purpose, he reluctantly set it aside.
Once everything had finally been organized... Dawn leaned back in his chair.
His thoughts drifted.
Should he head to Hogwarts now?
He could trade Voldemort's intelligence to Dumbledore.
Perhaps he could also inspect the enchanted room capable of drawing people into dreams.
After careful consideration, however...
He abandoned the idea.
He had no desire to fall asleep inside that magic through another careless mistake.
The last thing he wanted was for Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel to work together and do something unpleasant to him again.
Besides...
For reasons he couldn't quite explain...
He simply didn't feel like seeing the old alchemist right now.
Instead, Dawn decided to sleep.
He wanted to see whether Castle Consciousness had truly worked as he'd hoped.
Having made up his mind, he lay down on the bed fully clothed and closed his eyes.
Exhaustion from everything that had happened soon overwhelmed him.
His breathing gradually slowed.
His thoughts drifted.
Light faded away.
Behind his eyelids, only faint white specks remained.
Then...
From somewhere within the darkness, he suddenly heard whispers.
Soft.
Indistinct.
Almost impossible to catch.
Instinctively, Dawn tried to focus on them.
The voices were too faint. No matter how hard he concentrated, he couldn't make them out.
Just as frustration began to build... The whispers gradually grew louder.
Bit by bit, they became clearer.
Then—
At one particular moment... A joyful shout echoed from the depths of the darkness.
"It's born! It's a boy! Ha ha! Darling, look! Our son is beautiful!"
Dawn's eyes flew open.
He was only dazed for an instant before becoming completely alert.
His expression turned solemn as he replayed those words over and over in his mind.
That...
Had that been the voices surrounding his own birth?
Frowning, Dawn believed it probably had been.
Unfortunately...
Although countless dreams had matured his mind far beyond his age, he still possessed no memories from the moment he was born.
He couldn't compare what he had just heard with his own memories to determine whether anything had been altered.
Nor could he be completely certain that the man's voice had truly belonged to Mr. Richter.
Still...
Disappointing as that was...
It was undoubtedly an excellent beginning.
At the very least, Dawn had confirmed that his plan involving Castle Consciousness had succeeded.
Although hearing only vague voices was far from perfect...
The whispers had clearly grown louder over time.
Which meant...
Perhaps one day...
He would truly witness the genuine past with his own eyes.
"No matter what... I finally have a way to investigate the truth behind World Correction."
Sitting upright, Dawn rubbed his temples.
Remembering the mysterious days that had vanished during last year's Christmas holiday, he finally felt reassured.
The hidden anxiety lingering within him gradually faded.
Still...
Collective consciousness really is useful.
Until he discovered how to control natural magic with his own will...
Having an entire collective consciousness working for him would make countless forms of research dramatically easier.
Then...
"Should I try controlling an entire Muggle city?"
The thought suddenly appeared.
An instant later, Dawn shook his head vigorously and threw the idea away.
I already decided.
Research magic.
Stay out of trouble.
Taking over an entire Muggle city? That would only bury him beneath endless complications.
"No need to rush."
He reminded himself.
With the traits of a phoenix, he had all the time in the world.
Then...
His eyes suddenly brightened.
Perhaps...
There was another way.
He rose from the bed and returned to his desk.
Automatically pulling out a sheet of parchment, he lowered his head in thought.
His primary focus would still be researching the transformation of matter into magic.
But...
Where should he begin?
Alchemy?
Certainly.
That was an obvious route.
After all, Nicolas Flamel himself had reached that achievement through alchemy.
For Dawn, however...
It wasn't the best answer.
After all, there were many roads leading to the same destination. His understanding of alchemy was hardly impressive.
In truth...
Most of it consisted of endlessly copying magical circuits.
Could he eventually become another Nicolas Flamel?
Certainly.
But it would require an enormous amount of time.
Therefore...
When facing the mystery of transforming matter into magic... His first instinct was to begin with something uniquely his own.
The special patterns.
Long ago, Dawn had realized those abstract symbols represented the defining characteristics of every object and every phenomenon in the world.
He firmly believed...
The secret to transforming matter into magic was hidden within those patterns as well.
Everything...
Ultimately returned to understanding them.
And during the process of studying and categorizing those symbols... He was certain he would uncover countless valuable discoveries.
For example...
He could deepen his understanding of the body.
The soul.
The mind.
With that thought, another idea slowly formed.
Could he publish magical theories?
Invent new spells?
Walk a path similar to Dumbledore's and become a universally respected authority?
If he built enough prestige in that way...
Perhaps he could influence the collective consciousness of the wizarding world itself.
That would make many of his future experiments vastly easier.
Of course...
Any discoveries of overwhelming importance or dangerous power would remain secret forever.
Those he would never reveal.
The more he thought about it... The more appealing the idea became.
And perhaps most importantly...
It wouldn't interfere with his magical research. Instead, the two goals would strengthen each other.
Excitement steadily filled his heart.
Dawn couldn't help grinning.
Truthfully...
Ever since the Jerusalem incident, he'd been irritated that among the three people responsible for everything...
He alone had been almost completely ignored.
He wanted greater fame.
After pondering for a while, he picked up his quill. On the parchment, he wrote a single name.
Then he circled it heavily.
Cornelius Oswald Fudge.
Minister for Magic.
And the next target destined to receive Dawn's full attention.
He had a feeling...
That man would play an extremely important role in achieving his ambitions.
Time passed quickly.
Since Dumbledore's return to Hogwarts, every day seemed to accelerate beneath the weight of endless responsibilities.
A full week slipped by.
During that time, the wizarding world continued to reel from the Jerusalem incident.
Ministries of Magic across the globe met with their respective Muggle governments, offering explanations.
Whatever agreements had been reached remained unknown.
Judging by the outcome alone, however...
Muggle governments continued cooperating with the magical world and helped conceal the truth behind Jerusalem.
Meanwhile...
Another significant event unfolded within Britain.
For the first time in nearly a thousand years... Hogwarts was forced to close for half a school term.
Although the issue had been debated for quite some time...
The final blow came when Dumbledore personally informed the families of the eight missing students that their children were dead.
He had known exactly what consequences such an announcement would bring.
But after learning the truth from Flamel... He simply couldn't bring himself to keep lying to the grieving parents.
The result...
Was exactly what he had expected.
Nine students had died within a single school year. Nearly a quarter of the number of new first-years admitted each year.
Such a horrifying death toll shook even Dumbledore's strongest supporters.
In the end... The decision to close Hogwarts for half a year became inevitable.
As for how long it would take to repair that shattered trust...
Only time could answer.
Naturally... Dumbledore's workload during those days became almost unimaginable.
There was simply too much that required his attention.
Yet...
One person's sorrow was another's delight.
British Ministry of Magic.
Minister's Office.
Fudge sat behind his desk reading a letter delivered by phoenix. As he read, a smile spread across his face.
Half mocking.
Half delighted.
Every so often, he slapped the desk and burst into laughter.
"Ha!
Just look at this letter from Dumbledore!
He says I'm in grave danger. Apparently Dawn Richter could attack me at any moment.
He actually wants me to move into Hogwarts and accept his protection?"
Fudge snorted.
He crumpled the letter into a ball and tossed it into the fireplace, making his opinion perfectly clear.
To him...
This was nothing more than Dumbledore's desperate attempt to repair their relationship.
Or perhaps another one of his veiled threats.
To be fair...
Fudge really had been terrified not long ago.
Not because of Dawn.
But because the International Confederation of Wizards had informed him that Voldemort had returned.
Fudge's fear of Voldemort was hardly a secret.
However...
As time passed and Voldemort failed to reappear, Fudge gradually convinced himself that Flamel had already killed him.
After all...
If Voldemort could once be defeated by a baby...
Then surely dying at the hands of history's greatest alchemist was perfectly reasonable.
That explanation satisfied him.
As for Dumbledore's warning about Dawn...
"Hmph.
He couldn't even invent a believable excuse.
The boy was thrown through the Veil while unconscious. How could he possibly come back?
And now Dumbledore is claiming Sirius Black is innocent...
He says they've caught Peter Pettigrew and wants me to release Sirius so the case can be reopened.
What complete nonsense!"
___________
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