Chapter 248: Time Is the Most Dangerous Power
"Haha... Can't do it!" Michael let out a dry chuckle. "Muggles can't even find us, let alone know wizards exist."
Liam stared at him in silence.
Michael’s smile faded.
"My grandmother, your mother, Wade’s parents, Harry’s aunt and uncle, and Hermione’s parents—all non-magical," Liam said calmly, cutting straight to the point. "Do Muggles really have no idea wizards exist?"
After a long pause, Hermione murmured, "Now I finally understand why the Confidentiality Act even exists..."
"Even Dumbledore," Harry whispered.
No one answered.
They couldn’t help but wonder—could Dumbledore withstand those terrifying weapons? Or would even he, in the face of a Muggle attack, be forced to choose only escape and evasion?
"Wade," Harry asked, "if Hogwarts were discovered... do you think we’d have any chance of defending ourselves against a Muggle assault?"
For some reason, Theo had placed more trust in Wade’s letters than in any of the school’s professors—second only to Dumbledore.
After a few seconds, Wade spoke slowly: "There is a way... but it’s incredibly difficult."
For example, Imperius Curse combined with Dementor’s Kiss, paired with Transfiguration or Polyjuice Potion, could allow a wizard to control or even replace high-ranking Muggle officials. They could spark wars between nations while keeping the wizarding world hidden.
But Muggle society wasn’t as simple as just saying “Good morning.” Even a slight twitch of the eyebrow between familiar people could reveal deception. And high-ranking officials were constantly under scrutiny—on camera every day, exposed to endless public eyes. Any tiny anomaly would be magnified into suspicion.
So only someone with iron will, unwavering belief, years of patient observation, and extreme endurance could possibly succeed in such a role.
For some reason, Wade suddenly remembered a popular internet myth from his previous life—the legend of the reptilian beings.
What if someone inside had the same idea? What if someone had spent decades, even a lifetime, quietly carrying it out?
Would Muggle leaders ever realize they’d been replaced?
Or was he just overthinking it?
He thought back to the original story—after everything ended, nineteen years passed. Harry’s children were already starting school. At least until that point, the world remained at peace.
...
Knock knock knock!
A sharp, urgent knock echoed through the office. Dumbledore put on his glasses, raised a finger—and the oak door swung open.
"Albus!" Professor McGonagall rushed in, breathless. Only when she saw him did she slow her pace.
"You... you know what Professor Abigail told the students today, don’t you?"
"Of course," Dumbledore replied calmly. "She discussed it with me before the preparation class."
"Then... Muggle weapons... are really at this level?"
Professor McGonagall asked, disbelief thick in her voice.
"Unfortunately, yes," Dumbledore said. "You know, I have a few Muggle friends. For instance, Jacob—the one I love like family. He fought in the First World War, served with the American Expeditionary Force..."
"Albus!" McGonagall had met Jacob. But that wasn’t what she wanted to hear right now.
"Alright," Dumbledore said gently. "I understand your concern, Minerva. But there’s no need to panic. For now, the Confidentiality Act is still holding."
"So..." McGonagall hesitated. "You’re saying we don’t have to worry about Muggle cannonballs raining down on us?"
"Exactly," Dumbledore confirmed. "Even if someone inside targeted what they think is Hogwarts with a missile, it would explode somewhere else—nowhere near us."
McGonagall exhaled in relief.
"You’d already thought of this?" she said, smiling slightly. "Of course you did. You always see danger before anyone else."
"I’m not a seer, Minerva," Dumbledore said. "I’ve just... seen the real power of those weapons firsthand."
After seeing the deputy headmistress off—flustered from her own exaggerated alarm—Dumbledore’s calm expression vanished. He gently stirred the Pensieve. Silver mist swirled into motion.
A phantom image appeared in midair—
Explosions. Death. War.
Bodies littered the ground like crows in the sky. Landscapes twisted beyond recognition after bombardment.
A figure slowly turned, shouting into emptiness:
"Who is the Confidentiality Act protecting? Us... or them?
Who forced us into hiding? Who are the true murderers of war?
Face the truth, Dumbledore! Running away solves nothing!
We seek freedom. Truth. And above all—love!"
The silver figure dissolved.
Dumbledore sat in his chair, pressing his fingers to his temples, exhausted.
...
For most teenagers, worries about the future couldn’t linger long. The idea of Muggle attacks felt like distant fantasy—something that might happen in some far-off future. But the final exams were less than a month away. And the long-awaited Maze Challenge was just around the corner.
Even more pressing? Being late for class, unfinished essays, getting tricked by Peeves on the way, or being rejected in a confession.
These matters weighed far heavier than hypothetical Muggle weapons.
So the heated discussion faded quickly. The most immediate effect? Many Muggle-born students unconsciously lifted their chins a little higher.
They were eager to talk about Professor Abigail’s demonstrations—the weapons, and the half-remembered stories they’d heard from their parents.
Students from other years began arriving for the science class. By the time Professor Abigail gave her second lesson, nearly every professor had come to observe—even Professor Mor had canceled a banquet.
Wade, guided by help, stood behind the first-years as they practiced simple weapon handling under Professor Abigail’s direction.
"Looks like Dumbledore found you a good professor this time," Professor Mor said, amid the sporadic crackle of gunfire.
"I’ve long thought the children needed to learn more about Muggle progress. Many still see them through the lens of the Middle Ages."
"Professor Abigail has taught us a great deal," Wade said. "Her knowledge of Muggles surpasses most of them."
Professor Mor glanced at him. "I heard you’re taking Muggle Studies?"
"Yes."
"Actually, I’ve taken all the courses."
Professor Mor raised an eyebrow. "Keridy Bubagi is a good woman, but her Muggle Studies class? Just listen to it and move on. She knows less about Muggles than my radio."
"I just find it interesting," Wade said, "to study Muggles from a wizard’s perspective."
"Oh?" Professor Mor muttered skeptically. "I have a feeling you heard something... and that’s why you took every course, even though you don’t need to."
"What?" Wade turned to him, eyes wide and innocent—as if a bird freshly preening its feathers in a tree.
Professor Mor sighed. "Never mind. Just... don’t abuse it. And don’t try to uncover its secrets. Time is the most terrifying, most dangerous power in existence."
Wade remained silent for a moment, then stopped pretending. Softly, he said:
"...I understand, Professor."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
