Chapter 498: The Choice
Chapter 498: The Choice
The young wizards who had been stunned soon woke up, as Liam and Hermione had deliberately reduced the magical power of their spells when attacking. They got up and walked outside the corridor, waiting for the outcome of the battle inside.
The remaining four managed to hold out for only two more minutes. Under Angela's command, they used cross-covering magic, which gave Liam a pleasant surprise. However, even with that, they were no match for Liam and Hermione in terms of spell strength and casting speed. Their combined attack was quickly overwhelmed by Liam and Hermione's relentless assault.
"Is this the difference between us and those real Dark Wizards?" After working together to restore the house to its original state, everyone sat down to debrief, and Angela said with a hint of dejection. During the battle, Liam and the others had not used any magic beyond what the Study Group members knew. They had relied solely on their stronger magical power, faster reaction times, and more extensive experience to defeat them. This was the reason for the Study Group members' profound frustration.
"Yes", Liam nodded, looking at the disheartened Study Group members. "Of course, not all Death Eaters are at this level. We were mimicking Bellatrix, who is among the top-tier Death Eaters."
Hearing this name, Neville clenched his fists tightly. Liam knew that his parents had been driven mad by Bellatrix. Glancing at Neville, whose expression had suddenly become serious, Liam continued, "But combat skills are just one part of the battle. In real fights, evil Death Eaters will use various means to affect your performance. They might use cruel magic, create bloodshed, or even torture your friends right in front of you. These actions can severely impact your will to fight and your performance, and might even make you flee in fear, leaving your allies to the enemy."
"I won't be afraid", Justin said loudly. "I will fight alongside my allies."
"Let's hope so", Liam nodded at him. "But I must tell you, a real battlefield, filled with the scent of blood and the constant sight of familiar faces dying, is something most people find hard to face. Of course, there's no shame in feeling that way. Even the adults outside struggle with it when faced with real war. Look at the Daily Prophet's reports on the current chaos outside; we have been at peace for too long."
"So—" Hermione interjected, "in the upcoming Study Group meetings, we will teach you some techniques and magic used in real combat. These are voluntary, and remember, if you haven't made up your mind to join this war as a warrior, don't sign up for these lessons. We will prepare an alternative set of survival tactics for those who choose not to fight. It's not shameful to be unable to fight; true warriors are always a minority. Forcing yourself into battle when you're not ready will only create more problems on the battlefield."
After Hermione finished speaking, several students wanted to say something, but Liam interrupted them, "These are serious decisions that require careful, independent thought. Don't make them based on a moment of passion. I'll give you a week to consider, and you can share your choices with me or Hermione at the next Study Group meeting."
Seeing the somber mood in the classroom, Liam took out some money from his Spatial Bag and placed it on the table. "Alright, you have a week to think about these things. Let's talk about something more pleasant, like splitting the money. Our magazine, 'Look, This is a Muggle,' has completed its trial phase, and I'll pay everyone their due now."
The amount of money each person received varied. General helpers got about two or three Galleons, but those who had their own columns received much more. For example, Luna received twelve Galleons and six Sickles for her well-received articles on situation analysis. Although most people read these articles as jokes, in the current climate, anything that could bring a smile was invaluable.
Surprisingly, Neville Longbottom received the most money. His article on the cultivation methods of common magical plants was highly popular, making it the most read piece in the second issue of the magazine. As a result, he earned seventeen Galleons in royalties. Neville was visibly excited when he received the gold coins; this was his first time achieving such success, and he had never thought he had an area where he could excel.
"Don’t underestimate yourself. As long as you find the right direction and work hard, you can definitely become an excellent Wizard." Liam whispered to Neville, who looked somewhat excited, as he handed him the money. Neville nodded vigorously.
After paying the last person, it was almost time for Curfew. Due to recent events, the checks inside Hogwarts Castle were very strict, so Liam urged everyone to hurry back to their respective Common Rooms.
As Liam and the Gryffindor students from his Study Group were returning to the Gryffindor Common Room, they happened to meet Harry in the corridor.
Once the others had left, Ron asked Harry, "Harry, what did Professor Dumbledore teach you today? Was it a powerful spell or—"
"None of the above", Harry shook his head and began to recount what he had seen in the Headmaster's Office. "Today, Professor Dumbledore showed me some of Voldemort’s memories—"
A few hours earlier, not long after Liam and Hermione had left the Common Room, Harry had bid Ron farewell and headed to Dumbledore’s Headmaster's Office for his lesson.
"Lemon Drop." As Harry approached the two stone statues, he uttered the password. The Stone Gargoyle leaped aside, and the wall behind it split in two, revealing a moving spiral staircase. Harry stepped onto it and ascended as the stairs rotated, eventually reaching the door of Dumbledore’s office, adorned with a Brass Knocker.
After knocking, the door opened, and Harry saw Dumbledore examining a Glass Jar on his desk. The jar was filled with gray-black ashes, and from the remnants that hadn’t been completely burned, Harry could tell that it had once been a book or something similar.
Noticing Harry’s arrival, Dumbledore placed the jar on a shelf behind him and said, "I imagine you must be curious about why I called you here today, and why we discussed this issue during the holiday with your friends."
"Professor, I—" Harry started to speak hastily, but Dumbledore raised his hand to stop him. "Of course, I am not accusing you. Seeking help from friends when faced with something you don’t understand is not a bad thing. I believe having friends to confide in is actually very fortunate."
"Very well, let’s get to the point. Since you already know what motivated Voldemort to attack you fifteen years ago, I believe it’s time for you to understand some additional information."
"Didn’t you tell me everything you knew about this at the end of last term?" Harry asked, puzzled, not understanding why Dumbledore had more to share.
"I did indeed tell you everything I knew for sure at the end of last term", Dumbledore said calmly. "That was all the confirmed facts I was aware of. However, starting from this lesson, we will leave the solid ground of facts and venture into the murky Memory Marsh, delving into complex and bold speculations. In this, Harry, I cannot guarantee that all my speculations are correct, so I hope you will also share your own insights."
"But at least these pieces of information are confirmed, right?" Harry asked.
"Yes, they are", Dumbledore nodded. "However, you must understand that all my speculations are based on incomplete, and sometimes even incorrect, information. This can lead to my final judgments being wrong as well. Therefore, I hope you will use your intelligence to minimize the errors that might result from my personal biases."
"Sir", Harry ventured, "is what you’re about to tell me related to the Prophecy? Is it to help me… survive?"
"Yes", Dumbledore said calmly, "I certainly hope it will help you survive."
(End of Chapter)
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