Chapter 481: The Mind Realm

Chapter 481: The Mind Realm

"What if we give Mebel the Felix Felicis?" Wade asked. "Wouldn't that help?"

Remus and Steven exchanged glances and sighed simultaneously.

"Wade", Remus said with a tone of indulgence and tolerance, speaking gently, "Mebel's body hosts an Inferi. If she drinks the Felix Felicis, the Inferi will drink it too—it doesn't distinguish between its host and itself."

Steven comforted him, "Don't worry. Mr. Scamander, though he just arrived, has been preparing for months after receiving Dumbledore's letter. He will succeed."

He was comforting Wade, but also himself.

The thick walls and sturdy doors could not completely block the magical fluctuations. From outside, the three of them occasionally heard howling winds, saw bright flashes of light, and sometimes heard popping sounds, which made them uneasy.

After a while, there was a sudden clattering noise from inside, followed by Madam Pomfrey's exclamation, "How could this happen?"

Remus immediately stood up, but hesitated at the door, worried that entering might interfere with their treatment.

Wade also approached the door, gently knocking and asking, "Professor, what's happening inside? Do you need any help?"

After a moment, the door suddenly opened.

Wade and the others tentatively walked in. Dumbledore was sitting in an armchair, having taken off his glasses and pinching the bridge of his nose, looking silent and weary.

Scamander was flipping through various documents he had compiled, muttering to himself, his brow furrowed.

Only Madam Pomfrey remained by Mebel's side, waving her wand and casting healing spells, but the light seemed to sink into the void, bringing no visible improvement.

Mebel, who had been talking and laughing just a short while ago, now lay pale and unconscious on the bed, her eyes tightly closed.

"Did the treatment... fail?" Remus's face turned white, his voice trembling.

During this time, he had been acting as Mebel's guardian, and in their daily interactions, he had come to regard this strong and unfortunate girl as family. Seeing her lying there, her fate uncertain, his heart felt like it was being squeezed.

"I... I'm very sorry", Scamander looked at him, then averted his gaze, unable to bear it. "The separation failed... and her condition is rapidly deteriorating."

"How... how could this happen?"

Remus asked in disbelief, his gaze seeking help from Dumbledore.

Madam Pomfrey put down her wand and sighed, "At first, it was going well. The Inferi was almost separated from her, but..."

Dumbledore put on his glasses and looked at the sleeping girl through the lenses.

He asked, "Remus, did you explain to Mebel why it was necessary to separate the Inferi?"

Remus was puzzled, "Of course."

"What was her reaction?" Dumbledore asked.

"What reaction? Naturally, she agreed..." Remus paused halfway through, recalling for a moment before saying, "She hesitated for a long time, then finally said... that she would follow our arrangements."

To Remus and the others, separating the dangerous dark creature from her soul and restoring it to a whole and pure state seemed like something Mebel would agree to without hesitation.

The Inferi not only devoured the host's life and soul but also made Mebel a wanted criminal by the Ministry of Magic, forcing her to hide and run, risking execution if caught.

Moreover, if it went out of control, it could cause significant damage and harm many innocent people.

Mebel was a kind child. After Remus explained the consequences to her, she naturally agreed and showed no resistance.

Only the night before, Mebel had tossed and turned, unable to sleep. In the morning, she told Remus, "Remus, if I die, could you take care of Haley? It doesn't have to be much, just check on her occasionally."

Remus naturally agreed and then comforted her, "Dumbledore said that if the separation doesn't go well, we would temporarily halt it and wait for a better solution—don't worry, the worst-case scenario is that you wake up, and everything remains the same."

Remus briefly recounted their conversation and then asked, "Could the failure be because... Mebel was resistant? She was too afraid, so the separation failed?"

"Perhaps", Dumbledore said slowly, "Her soul and the Inferi are intertwined. If she doesn't want it, no one can separate them—forcing it would kill Mebel as well."

"But now, the separation magic has exacerbated the Inferi. We've managed to suppress it from erupting, but it... it's devouring her faster", Scamander said, his gaunt face filled with unease.

Remus didn't speak. He walked to the bedside and saw the girl's face as pale as paper, her lips devoid of color.

It had only been an hour since he last saw her, but the child who had been fine was now visibly on the brink of death.

He couldn't bring himself to blame Dumbledore or Scamander, knowing that he wouldn't have done any better in their place.

Remus only regretted convincing Mebel to undergo the separation magic... He had wanted her to live openly in the world, but he had overlooked the risks involved.

He was being too optimistic.

Remus slowly sat down, hesitant to touch the girl who seemed as fragile as porcelain, his cold fingers trembling slightly.

Wade watched the scene, gently touching the stone necklace in his pocket, suddenly feeling a sense of destiny.

"Wade, it's time to use the Golden Powder", Dumbledore said. "We need to pause Mebel's time temporarily to stabilize her condition, and then we can try other methods."

"I have it here."

Wade took out a crystal vial and placed it on the table. The golden powder inside looked very similar to the sand in a Time-Turner, shining brightly even in the dim light.

"Also, Professor, I think I should try to convince Mebel to let go of the Inferi."

"How do you plan to convince her?" Dumbledore asked calmly. "As you can see, she is unconscious and won't hear anything you say."

"I know, but I mean... to talk to her in her Mind Realm."

Wade took out the stone necklace again, quickly explaining its function, and then said, "Actually, Haley might be the most effective, but she's a Muggle, and I'm worried she won't be able to withstand the magic's effects."

"That's not a concern. Whether Muggle or wizard, souls are equally resilient. And Mebel's condition is deteriorating rapidly; she can't afford repeated attempts."

Dumbledore took the necklace, examined it, and then opened the crystal vial. He gently waved his long fingers, spreading the Golden Powder evenly over Mebel's skin.

Almost instantly, the werewolf's keen senses detected that the girl's breathing and heartbeat had slowed to the point of almost stopping.

"This will buy us more time", Dumbledore said, looking at Wade and Remus. "Remus, Wade, go find Haley, explain the situation to her, and try to convince her to help."

"Understood." The two immediately set off.

"Um..." Steven stood at the door, awkwardly asking, "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Of course", Dumbledore said, twirling the stone necklace in his hand and looking into the big man's innocent eyes. "Steven, can I visit your Mind Realm?"

"Ah?" Steven was puzzled.

"I want to test the necklace's effects", Dumbledore explained. "I don't see any dark magic on it, but to verify its safety, I need to enter the so-called Mind Realm myself."

To enter Mebel's Mind Realm and convince her to let go of the Inferi she was clinging to, it had to be someone she trusted deeply.

Haley, a young girl, was too inexperienced to handle such a critical task. If she got lost in Mebel's Mind Realm, it would be more harmful than helpful.

Someone needed to accompany her.

Although Remus had spent more time with Mebel, Dumbledore believed Wade had a stronger persuasive power.

To Mebel, Remus was a "guardian" and a "trusted elder", but Wade was a "life-and-death friend." He had saved Mebel, and she had also worked hard to save him. The weight of this bond was different.

Wade could safely leave his own Mind Realm, but could he and Haley also return safely from Mebel's Mind Realm?

Would the Inferi in Mebel's Mind Realm attack them?

If they were attacked in that world, could they be pulled out in time?

These questions needed to be tested.

Among those present, Steven had the simplest background. If the entities in his Mind Realm attacked outsiders, it would be the easiest to escape.

Steven didn't think much about it. He was just a bit embarrassed by some of his past embarrassing moments.

But thinking about the purpose of saving someone, Steven hesitated for a moment and then agreed, asking, "What do I need to do?"

"Sit down and give me your hand", Dumbledore said.

He wrapped the necklace around both their wrists like handcuffs and then looked at Scamander, saying, "Watch closely. If anything goes wrong, wake us immediately."

Scamander nodded seriously.

Dumbledore recited the spell Wade had told them. Steven, who had been curiously examining the runes on the stone, suddenly leaned to the side and fell asleep.

Dumbledore's head also lowered, and he began to breathe evenly.

Scamander watched for a while, then set up various protective spells around the room before sitting opposite the two, quietly observing them.

Madam Pomfrey stood by Mebel's side, occasionally giving her a potion and glancing worriedly at the sleeping duo.

...

Dumbledore stood on a gravel path, looking at the suddenly changed scenery, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

Steven, beside him, was also curiously examining the surroundings, exclaiming, "This is my Mind Realm?"

Unlike the endless corridors Wade had described, Steven's Mind Realm was a garden, and upon closer inspection, it resembled the garden at Morrey Manor.

The difference was that the trees here were adorned with fist-sized crystals, and the flower beds were filled with various-sized crystal fruits, creating a dazzling yet tranquil scene.

The two of them strolled through the garden for a while and discovered that the crystal balls were filled with random snippets of Steven's memories from childhood to the present.

On the same tree, some hung with memories of his baby days when Tawny the Hound was learning to speak, others held his school days, and still others contained his experiences caring for various magical creatures.

Whenever Steven touched one of the crystal balls, that particular memory would come vividly to mind. He saw himself doing some silly things in his childhood and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Dumbledore's gaze shifted from a crystal ball of baby Steven to him, looking at him gently. After a moment, he said, "Steven, try to feel hostile towards me."

"Huh? ...Oh!" Steven remembered that they were here to conduct an experiment. He stared at Dumbledore with wide eyes, trying to imagine him as the person he hated the most.

A sudden gust of wind swept through the garden.

The crystal balls began to clink against each other, the sound growing more urgent. Dumbledore glanced around and suddenly found himself involuntarily swaying!

When he opened his eyes again, he was back in the previous room. Scamander hurriedly asked, "How do you feel?"

"I was expelled from the mental realm", Dumbledore closed his eyes and felt for a moment before saying, "But I'm unharmed."

"Sorry, Professor Dumbledore", Steven woke up, scratching his head. "I don't know what happened... Was the experiment successful?"

Dumbledore thought for a moment and decided it wasn't a success.

Steven's mental world was too harmonious. Even when he tried to feel hostile, it was lukewarm at best. This level of aggression was clearly no match for a real Inferi.

"I think we need to verify it again", Dumbledore said. "Are Remus and Wade back yet?"

As if on cue, the door opened, and Haley, wrapped in a small cloak, appeared at the doorway, her voice trembling as she asked, "Where is Mebel?"

...

The necklace was once again wrapped around Dumbledore's and Lupin's wrists. Lupin shifted in his seat as if the chair beneath him had suddenly turned into a bed of thorns.

"Sorry, Remus", Dumbledore said suddenly before casting the spell.

Lupin was taken aback but then smiled. "It's for Mebel. I'm happy to help."

Moments later, both of them fell into a deep sleep.

—Is this my mental world?

Lupin looked around, surprised.

It was a labyrinth with crisscrossing paths. Lupin stood at a crossroads, unsure which direction to take.

Dumbledore was nowhere to be seen, probably exploring another part of the labyrinth.

Then, Lupin noticed that the walls of the labyrinth were embedded with mirrors of various sizes. He approached one at random and saw different stages of himself reflected in it.

As he walked through the labyrinth, his steps suddenly paused.

In a mirror with a greenish patina, Lupin saw a younger version of himself lying in bed, his mother leaning over to blow out the candle and kiss his forehead.

"Goodnight, Remus", she said with a smile.

"Goodnight", the child whispered.

His mother left the room with the lamp, and a dark shadow flashed past the window. Then, a rough and grotesque face appeared, pressing against the glass with a cruel smile. It opened its mouth, revealing sharp teeth.

Lupin suddenly understood which memory this was and involuntarily shouted, "No... No!"

He lunged forward, his hand touching the mirror, and he fell into it. But the werewolf broke through the window and passed through his body without hindrance, grabbing the screaming boy and biting into his neck!

"Die!"

Without thinking, Lupin cast a spell. He didn't notice that he had fallen out of the mirror or that the werewolf Greyback had also appeared in the labyrinth's corridor.

The spell's light shot towards "Greyback", and the entire labyrinth seemed to tremble. A massive force swept towards "Greyback", making his figure vanish instantly.

Lupin's hands and feet trembled, and he panted heavily, unable to react further. Suddenly, the mental world of the labyrinth shattered.

He woke up, his whole body shaking violently.

"Relax, Remus, relax", Dumbledore held his shoulder, saying apologetically, "It's all in the past. You're safe now."

Lupin gasped for breath, looking up at Dumbledore, his confused eyes gradually clearing.

"...It's you?"

"It's me", Dumbledore nodded, seeing that Lupin's nearly explosive magic power was slowly calming down. He then released his hand and repeated, "I'm sorry."

This time, Lupin understood why Dumbledore had apologized in advance—

Not because he would see Lupin's buried past, but because Dumbledore had planned to transform into "Greyback" to test whether the mental realm would harm a soul it deemed an enemy.

Lupin sat in the chair, his mind unable to settle. He wanted to curse but didn't know what to say. He touched his neck, and his eyes dimmed.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end