Chapter 453: Auditing
Chapter 453: Auditing
The next day, Felix woke up yawning.
He hadn't slept well the previous night, tossing and turning for half the night. Suddenly, he realized an issue: his responsibilities had grown too large, and many that didn't belong to him seemed to have come rushing in. He felt helpless about it, and deep down, he wasn't entirely opposed.
When did it start? Felix wondered as he brushed his teeth in front of the mirror. His mind flashed with images of people and events. In just over two years, he had experienced a lot.
Felix knew very well that Dumbledore had never rejected his puzzle-solving behavior and had even voluntarily shared many secrets with him—secrets that Dumbledore might never have revealed to anyone else before.
At least, Felix had tested this with Severus, who knew nothing about the Horcrux secret. The few who did know—Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Sirius—were under a binding vow, and even Remus was unaware of the truth.
Why would a wise man, who had kept secrets and weathered many storms, so easily share these with him? The only explanation Felix could think of was that Dumbledore wanted him to join the fight against Voldemort.
There was nothing wrong with that.
Felix didn't mind. Before Onboarding, he believed he was already powerful enough. The only ones who could truly pressure him were Dumbledore and the wraith-like Voldemort. Even if Voldemort were to be resurrected, Hogwarts would be safe with Dumbledore there. Felix didn't mind contributing his share of effort under the protection of the school, and if he discovered that Voldemort wasn't as formidable as everyone thought, he would be happy to deal with the problem personally.
However, over the past two years, his strength and mindset had changed significantly. Before Onboarding, he relied more on his talent, using high-level spells to overwhelm opponents. Essentially, he wasn't much different from those elite Aurors. Besides Dobby and a few others, he had a few Ancient Magic spells and Level 6 spells, as well as some hidden cards. But they had decades more combat experience, and Felix knew a few Stunning Spells could still knock him out.
Felix estimated that at the time, he might have been able to defeat a fully healthy Mad-Eye Moody in a one-on-one duel (information he learned during treatment). However, if Moody had a well-trained Auror squad, the outcome would be uncertain. He could use his immature mind acceleration to execute Instant Kill Tactics, which had worked in the United States, but once his hidden cards were revealed, the trouble would be significant.
Now, the situation was entirely different. He had perfected Instant Kill Tactics and could move freely. The Mind Chamber Spell had become a formidable combat tool, and he was no longer afraid of group attacks. His Memory Magic was nearly at its peak, and he was using it in creative ways. The Patronus Cloak was useful for saving the trouble of a broomstick, and the human-form Ironclad Charm protected him from arrows but not powerful spells. Additionally, his Runic Script skills were deep and extensive.
To be honest, Felix found it hard to feel any psychological pressure. Even when he learned that there was a new level of power above him—be it a Magical Creature or a Legend—he remained calm.
He could always run. In the records of the last war, although rare, there were instances of people successfully escaping Voldemort's pursuit. One such case involved the Longbottoms. During the summer of his third year, Felix had been invited to visit the Longbottoms, where he learned in detail from both of them—not just their memories but also their analytical thoughts as Aurors.
He came to a conclusion: in terms of escape skills, he was far superior to the Longbottoms.
Considering the worst-case scenario, if Dumbledore were to be defeated by the resurrected Voldemort, and if he himself were still lacking in power, he would withdraw and wait for the right opportunity, as well as the moment when he could cross that critical threshold.
Felix had the patience and the confidence to believe that he could advance further in the path of magic than anyone else, but he needed time.
He had always been calm, rational, and disciplined, meeting his own high standards. However, when Felix stood on the podium of the Ancient Runes classroom, timing his appearance, and saw the familiar faces, he wasn't quite as sure.
'If one day, I need to take on Dumbledore's burden and face what he once faced, what should I do?' Felix pondered this heavy question, his gaze sweeping across the classroom. His eyes lingered slightly on the back row, and a small smile played on his lips as he said:
"Today, we have two additional guests in our class. The first is Professor Griselda Machi Ban from the Wizarding Examination Authority—"
The young wizards clapped enthusiastically, turning their heads to look at the small, hunched witch at the back of the room. The witch, whose face was so wrinkled that ants could get lost in it, waved to the class:
"We have a lot to discuss, but I think the lesson comes first!" the diminutive Machi Ban shouted with surprising vigor.
Ron clapped while craning his neck to look at the back: "Is she going to be our examiner next year? Is she, is she?"
Harry also stared at Professor Machi Ban, but he also glanced at the half-bald old man sitting beside her. Although not as extreme, the old man's build did bear a resemblance to Uncle Vernon's. Especially when the old man was silent and staring with bulging eyes, the two were almost identical.
Harry was afraid that this man might suddenly jump up, muttering incomprehensibly, just like Uncle Vernon when he was extremely angry and couldn't form a complete sentence.
Hermione seemed to want to make a good impression, sitting upright and composed, though her eyes were practically bulging out of her head. Beside her, Neville sat red-faced, still reeling from the shock before class—Professor Machi Ban and Neville's grandmother were friends, and she naturally knew him. Before the class, she had loudly inquired about Neville's grandmother and his parents, repeatedly telling Neville to "speak up!" As a result, her voice grew louder, while Neville's grew softer.
"The second guest is Mr. Vera, the vice president of the Ancient Runes Association", Felix continued after the applause died down. The old man grunted through his nose, which counted as a greeting.
This time, the applause was much sparser, and the students exchanged puzzled glances—
"What is the Ancient Runes Association?"
"Is it an organization?"
"Why have we never heard of it?"
"Maybe it's a private club, something like a group of Ancient Runes enthusiasts... similar to the Gobstones Club at school."
"Is there such a club at school?"
"I can assure you, there absolutely is!"
...
Felix took out the textbook at a leisurely pace and said cheerfully, "Today, we will continue our study. This knowledge might appear in the O.W.L.s exam..."
(End of Chapter)
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