Chapter 4: Felix's Theory
Chapter 4: Felix's Theory
Felix seemed puzzled and asked, "I don't understand, Headmaster?"
Dumbledore placed his hands in front of him, his gaze scrutinizing, "What I mean is, you have a bright future ahead, yet you are fixated on returning to Hogwarts! I want to know why."
The Headmaster's point was clear: Felix was already well-known. Three years after graduation, he had written three books, each one remarkable. Especially the two on Muggle Studies, though they didn't sell as well as those of the other professor candidate, who was also a writer. The sales difference was stark.
However, the influence of these two books, "The Struggle of Muggles" and "How Muggles Think", was extensive. They had become guiding texts for most departments in the Ministry of Magic that dealt with Muggle issues.
Dumbledore had even discussed some of the content with friends, including the head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office and members of the Wizengamot, who also praised the books highly.
Felix thought for a moment and said, "Headmaster Dumbledore, I have a deep connection to Hogwarts. It feels like home, and it makes me feel at ease! Moreover, I enjoy teaching students; it's a very rewarding experience..."
Dumbledore interrupted him, his piercing blue eyes showing no sign of the age of a centenarian. "We all know that isn't the real reason. I need to understand your true intentions, as it is crucial to whether you will be offered the position."
Felix started to sweat. He instinctively began to use Occlumency but quickly stopped.
That wasn't a wise decision. Occlumency wasn't foolproof, especially when you were of a lower level, and even more so when facing one of the greatest Wizards of the century.
Fortunately, he had a contingency plan in place before coming here. He had made some small preparations—
Like a few drops of Felix Felicis.
After a brief two-second deliberation, he decided to follow his intuition and "speak the truth."
Felix finally spoke, his voice sincere, "To delve deeper into the mysteries of magic."
Dumbledore nodded, adopting a posture of attentive listening.
"Headmaster, from my first day at Hogwarts to my graduation, you have always been my Headmaster, so you must have some understanding of my background. Before my fifth year, I spent a lot of time on practical magic to deal with some troubles, neglecting some theoretical subjects." This was true; he had always felt a sense of urgency to avoid beatings and ambushes.
"At that time, I was chasing power, focusing on the strength of individual spells, but I was wrong. It wasn't until my last two years at school, when I finally had the time to explore the deeper aspects of magic, that I realized what I had missed." This was also true. His golden ability had helped him grow quickly, but it had also led him in the wrong direction—pursuing the power of magic at the expense of theory.
Dumbledore nodded slightly, his tone becoming gentler and tinged with curiosity, "So, your research focus is on Ancient Runes?"
This wasn't hard to guess, given that two of Felix's three books were on Muggle Studies, and the third was "Exploring Ancient Runes." Muggle Studies, after all, didn't qualify as magical research.
"Exactly! The deeper I delve into magic, the more I realize how essential Ancient Runes are, especially when tracing the roots of ancient magic. I only discovered this in my sixth and seventh years, but unfortunately, I only scored an A in my Owls for Ancient Runes, which wasn't enough to continue advanced studies, so I had to rely on self-study." This was true, a mistake he had made in his youth.
Felix continued, his intuition sharpened by the effects of Felix Felicis, and his words flowed more smoothly, “I do have my own selfish reasons. Hogwarts has the largest library in the world, with many books on Ancient Runes.”
“But in the market—”
“I’ve read all the books available in the market. Unfortunately, most of them focus on theory, with very little practical application. They seem to treat Ancient Runes as just another language, used primarily to translate ancient manuscripts. However, during my studies of Muggles, I had a new inspiration. I’ve been trying to combine the two! As you know, Ancient Runes are also essential in Alchemy.”
Dumbledore showed great interest, “So, if I understand correctly, you’re suggesting a combination of alchemy and Muggle items?”
Felix seemed excited and spoke confidently, “Yes, but that’s just the initial stage. It involves modifying Muggle items to turn them into magical artifacts. For example, an air conditioner is a device that cools and maintains a comfortable indoor temperature. Muggles rely on electricity, a form of energy, to power it. However, transforming it into a magical artifact would be simpler. The core would be a Freezing Charm combined with a Detection Charm.”
“Of course, stability is a key concern, and that’s where Ancient Runes come into play.”
“And what I’m working on now goes a step further. I’m combining Muggle ingenuity with Wizard magic. You see, Muggles always come up with new and innovative ideas. Some of their concepts are difficult to realize, but with the addition of magic, they become much simpler!”
Dumbledore nodded in agreement, “The first step is modification, the second is creation. A brilliant idea.”
The two discussed this topic for a long time, and it was only after three hours that Dumbledore suddenly realized the time had passed. He had been so engrossed in the conversation with Felix that he could say, without a doubt, Felix was one of the most outstanding students he had encountered in decades.
Especially after three years of growth, this student had truly blossomed into a brilliant mind!
Despite being a Slytherin.
Unfortunately, he was a Slytherin.
Dumbledore fell silent, hesitating. The moment seemed to transport him back fifty years.
It was too similar, far too similar!
The same Muggle orphanage background, the same Slytherin, the same brilliance and polite demeanor, the same intense drive for power. How should he make his decision?
Time had shown that his choice decades ago might have been a mistake. If he hadn’t forced the young boy to admit his faults with magic fire, if he had shown more concern, or if he had detected the boy’s ambitions earlier, perhaps the terrifying Dark Lord would never have emerged.
So, what now?
It seemed he faced a similar choice, and how should he decide?
The old man’s expression was distant. He looked at the young, handsome, and exceptional student across from him and saw the shadow of another person.
Voldemort!
Felix, on the other hand, looked puzzled. He had been speaking the truth, albeit selectively. They had been having a good conversation, so why did Dumbledore now look so complex and pained?
Had he said something wrong?
Had he hurt him?
What was going on?
Felix was at a loss!
(End of Chapter)
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