Chapter 537: Magic to the Magic
Chapter 537: Magic to the Magic
What is magic?
Magic, spells, gestures, emotions, thoughts, knowledge, wands, beliefs...
As Felix delved deeper into his research, he gradually eliminated unnecessary elements, getting ever closer to the essence of magic. At one point, Felix had the idea that magic is the foundation of all inexplicable phenomena, the source of miracles, and the heart points the direction of these miracles.
When the two combine, they can make one's wishes come true.
The magic outbursts of young wizards are the closest to this description. They haven't mastered advanced spells, but under the guidance of intense emotions—essentially a form of mental power—they can accomplish many feats that even seasoned wizards can't achieve in a lifetime.
Of course, this refers to the complexity of the magic's operation, not the power.
When young wizards enter school, they begin to systematically learn how to control magic, how to harness it, so that it responds to their will. This is a shift from instinct to skill, from wildness to rationality.
Magic is a natural part of a wizard's cognition.
What would happen if this part of their cognition were to be destroyed?
The scene unfolding before him seemed to provide an answer.
Felix gazed at the hysterical Professor Burbage. From his perspective, the magic within her was something he had never seen before—chaotic, like a tangled ball of yarn. But he was certain she was not a Squib.
Hogwarts is home to a real Squib, Argus Filch, the castle's caretaker. Felix's eyes quickly darted to the crowd's edge, where Filch stood at the door of the caretaker's office, next to the entrance hall. The faint sound of a magical gramophone could be heard through the slightly ajar door.
He held a string of keys, looking stunned, with Mrs. Norris winding around his feet.
Felix refocused his gaze, reaffirming that the magic within Filch and Professor Burbage was completely different. Squibs do have magic, but it is almost useless, and due to lack of practice, both the quantity and quality are far below that of a normal young wizard. The magic within them is sluggish, like a tranquil pool of water... more accurately, like a stagnant puddle.
"Professor Mcgonagall, it's best to take Professor Burbage to the Hospital Wing and have Madam Pomfrey examine her. She might have been hit by some obscure curse", Felix suggested. This was, of course, an excuse, but some things didn't need to be publicized.
He couldn't give a definitive conclusion at the moment, and it was better to remain silent than to let the students speculate half-truths.
After all, half-knowledge and hearsay are both breeding grounds for rumors.
In her daze, Professor Burbage heard this and clung to it like a lifeline, saying frantically, "That's right, it's a curse! Those books—books I brought back from the Muggle world—they messed up my mind! Oh, dear! Every word on those pages hides a vicious curse..."
A loud gasp echoed through the entrance hall.
"Muggle books hide curses?" a student whispered.
"It's possible. My mom told me to stay away from everything Muggle", another student said with a serious air.
"Nonsense!" Hermione said imperiously. The student glared at her, but upon seeing the prefect badge on her chest, turned away muttering, "That's what my mom said."
"Ceri, let's go to the Hospital Wing. You will get better", Professor Mcgonagall said gently.
But Professor Burbage only repeated her words, occasionally stopping to sniff loudly. Felix shook his head slightly, his eyes flickering. The near-collapse of Professor Burbage finally caused her to collapse into Professor Mcgonagall's arms, losing consciousness.
The crowd was eerily silent, as if her words still lingered in the air, transforming into terrifying creatures that lunged at them.
Felix had to speak up loudly, "Everyone!" His voice carried far, and the students, who had been in a daze, turned to look at him. Even the professors who had just arrived looked at him, hoping for an explanation.
It was truly because of the astonishing news that Professor Burbage had revealed: a normal wizard turning into a Squib? This had never happened before.
"Professor Burbage's condition is undoubtedly a concern, and the cause is still unclear. Therefore, I need you to remain calm and patient", he said calmly, slowly scanning the room with his eyes, his presence radiating a convincing authority.
"I don't want you to forget my other two roles—Muggle research expert and memory healer. So Professor Burbage's issue falls precisely within my expertise. Instead of speculating, you should ask me, of course, after the consultation."
He exchanged a glance with Professor Mcgonagall, who understood immediately. She used her wand to quickly escort Professor Burbage away, with several professors following. Snape, standing by the wall, rolled his eyes and then strolled toward the Hospital Wing.
The students looked at each other in confusion—
"Oh—oh—" Justin Finch-Fletchley suddenly exclaimed, startling everyone. His companion quickly sidestepped, dramatically patting his chest. "I remember, the Muggle world does have cursed items, but they all come from the magical world. Professor Hup even checked a goblin-made vase for me!"
"Is that true?" his friend Susan Bones asked.
"I can vouch for it", Ernie Macmillan, the Hufflepuff student who had been startled, said earnestly, trying to regain his composure.
The frozen air in the hall thawed, and the murmurs grew louder. Many young wizards crowded around Justin, eager to hear more.
...
The Hospital Wing was packed.
Almost all the professors had rushed over, and the area below was crowded with students. Professor Mcgonagall had to step outside every few minutes to maintain order, shushing the noisy students and telling them not to cause trouble.
Some students, like Hermione and Ron, were drafted to patrol the corridors. Amid the chaotic atmosphere, Madam Pomfrey completed her examination.
"This is the strangest case I've ever seen. Her body is perfectly normal, except for her magic. Such cases are the most difficult to handle. Even if she had lost an arm, I could heal it", she shook her head, looking puzzled. "I can't determine it, but she's not a Squib. However, these symptoms—"
Another commotion erupted outside, and Professor Mcgonagall stood up abruptly, her chest heaving. "Can't those students see the timing! I'll take points off for sure!" She stormed to the door, opened it, and found a tall, thin wizard standing there.
Professor Mcgonagall breathed a sigh of relief. "You're finally here, Dumbledore. Charity is—"
"I know everything", Dumbledore nodded, first surveying the room. His gaze seemed to have a magical effect, calming the professors' agitation. Then he strode to the bed, bent down to examine Professor Burbage, his silver beard brushing the sheets.
After a long moment, he straightened up, a hint of confusion in his eyes. "I can confirm she hasn't turned into a Squib, and it's certainly not a curse—"
"Headmaster Dumbledore, could it be an Incarcerous? I read about it in a book, and the characteristics match the magic in her body", Madam Pomfrey asked.
"Absolutely not", Dumbledore said firmly.
He looked at the others. Professor Flitwick piped up, "I didn't detect any hidden spells." Snape, standing in the corner with a blank expression, added, "It's not the effect of a potion." Professor Sprout also chimed in, "She hasn't been in contact with sneezewort or scurvy-grass recently."
"Perhaps it's not a magical effect at all", Trelawney, wearing large glasses, poked her head out from behind Professor Sinistra and the Care of Magical Creatures substitute, Professor Grubbly-Plank, and gazed toward the bed.
"Thank you, Sybill", Dumbledore said briefly.
He turned to Felix, who had just opened his eyes and looked bewildered, and asked softly, "How did your conversation with Charity go?" The professors in the room widened their eyes and stared at Felix, trying to read his expression.
Felix hesitated for a moment. "Albus, you'd better see this for yourself."
Dumbledore met his gaze calmly, his blue eyes flickering momentarily behind his half-moon glasses. Suddenly, Dumbledore found himself in a bizarre, colorful world where there was no clear sense of up or down. The ground beneath him was empty, and the surroundings were vast and dark, as if he were in space. Dumbledore looked around with interest, noting the coiled double helix structures forming golden staircases that stretched from near to the farthest reaches of his vision. Then, large blue spheres, like lightning, radiated bright white currents, filling the few remaining gaps. The golden and blue elements intertwined yet remained distinct, creating a vast, ambiguous play of light and shadow at their edges.
"This is..." Dumbledore began slowly.
"Professor Burbage's dream", Felix answered briefly.
As they spoke, a familiar voice echoed from somewhere, belonging to Kettleburn. Her voice was much more ethereal than usual, tinged with an echo, as if coming from a vast wilderness, and it was filled with confusion and fear, resonating from all directions: "Why... why is there no place for magic..."
Dumbledore's expression turned serious as he explained, "Cuthberta had an accident during the summer. She visited over a dozen Muggle biologists, and during her last visit, she was extremely agitated. Her wand issued a warning, but unfortunately, the Muggle professor she was talking to suspected she had a gun and knocked her out before calling the police. When I brought her out, she was completely disoriented..."
"Minerva told me about this", Felix said, his face reflecting a look of reminiscence. "At the international Muggle Studies conference two years ago, Professor Burbage showed a keen interest in biology, but her research at the time was very basic, similar to a first-year Levitation Charm. Her presentation was interrupted by an incident where Ilvermorny students attacked the Bosworth Hotel. Since then, I haven't paid much attention to her research or progress, but it's clear that Professor Burbage didn't give up. Her research has become increasingly in-depth over the past two years."
Dumbledore gazed at Kettleburn's strange dream. "She can't understand the new knowledge?"
"Worse than that—she understands it, but can't integrate it into her existing knowledge", Felix said.
Dumbledore pondered for a moment, ignoring the floating voice of Professor Burbage. "Is it a different system? One that conflicts with magic?"
"Magic and science", Felix said softly. "These two are like two circles, each developing over centuries into distinctly different systems. If we compare them: magic is intuitive and variable; science is rational and rigorous. They have become increasingly distinct, forming two brilliant flowers of civilization..."
"But unfortunately, our Professor Burbage stumbled upon the intersection of these two systems", Dumbledore said with a sigh.
"Exactly", Felix said. "Her understanding is too Wizard-centric. As a Wizard, she is undoubtedly competent, but her scientific literacy is woefully inadequate. Yet, she tried to use the wisdom she accumulated from everyday life to understand a vast and logically rigorous system. That's bound to cause problems."
"I see", Dumbledore exhaled softly, gazing at the dream before him. "Now that we know the cause, solving Cuthberta's problem should be simpler—there may be more than one method. We'll let her choose which one to use after we leave."
Felix nodded, having thought the same.
The most direct solution would be to make Kettleburn forget this memory and treat her like a new young Wizard, guiding her to relearn magic. The process wouldn't be difficult, but she might not be willing to go along with it.
The other method would be more challenging. Without erasing her memory, she would need to re-learn magic in a state of interference, stabilizing her understanding.
Regardless, Dumbledore would likely warn her against delving into such 'dangerous' knowledge in the near future.
Felix felt a twinge of regret; he hadn't given her his Christmas gift yet, and now he was hesitant to give her anything related to the Muggle world, unsure if it might trigger her. This incident also made him realize that his efforts to bridge the gap between Wizards and the ordinary world still had a long way to go.
Perhaps a buffer zone should be established between the two, a cautious middle ground between openness and closure...
Limited openness? Felix mused.
Dumbledore sighed. "She must be one of the few Wizards in centuries to have delved so deeply into this field."
"Indeed, she is a pioneer", Felix agreed.
"And what about you?"
"Me?"
"Your work in Muggle studies is equally impressive", Dumbledore said softly. "I've read your books, and they contain a great deal of... scientific knowledge. And as far as I know, what a person can express in words is only a small fraction of their wisdom."
"Are you suggesting that my research is more profound than Professor Burbage's?"
"That's the most puzzling part. You seem to have no such qualms, and you've even applied this philosophy to your company—Future World Company, I believe, spends a significant portion of its budget on purchasing Muggle items. But these employees haven't suffered the same fate as Burbage... The only difference I can think of is the field of study." Dumbledore spoke with the tone of someone exploring a problem.
"Indeed, that's part of the reason", Felix said. "The development strategy I set for the company—especially in the early stages—was to draw inspiration from Muggle technology and its applications, then try to replicate it with magic. I didn't require them to understand the principles, and a crucial point is—" he counted on his fingers, "mechanical structures, physics, chemistry... these concepts either already exist in the Wizarding world or are entirely new, without conflicting with their existing knowledge. Professor Burbage, on the other hand, delved into the most fundamental and intense aspects of the subject."
"As for my own lack of conflict, I think it has to do with my background, which instilled in me a deep respect for both magic and science. I don't believe that I can easily master both with just my own strength", Felix explained.
Dumbledore smiled. "Ah, I have a wonderful association. Just like the recruitment ad you published in the newspaper—'The wisdom of Muggles combined with magic, what sparks will it ignite?'"
"Exactly, I'm eager to see the results."
"You're too modest, Felix. If I had to describe your work with one word, I would say: remarkable", Dumbledore said. In the dream, Burbage's voice fluctuated, as if she were wandering through the dream, repeatedly seeking answers.
"Genes... information... evolution... why is there no place for magic here?"
"Have you thought about how to address this issue?" Dumbledore asked thoughtfully.
Felix understood what Dumbledore meant: he wasn't asking for a definitive answer, which would be unrealistic and impossible to provide immediately. He simply wanted to know how to handle the ideological and conceptual conflicts if Wizards and Muggles were destined to merge.
"I haven't thought about it before", Felix said frankly.
"And now?"
"I have some ideas!"
Dumbledore smiled at Felix. Felix felt as if he were back three years ago, sitting in the circular Headmaster's Office, undergoing a serious interview rather than discussing problems in a professor's strange dream.
"In the short term, magic remains in its domain, and science in its own. We need to establish a buffer zone, giving both sides enough time to adapt", he said earnestly.
The voice in the dream suddenly fell silent, as if Professor Burbage's subconscious was also listening intently. The surroundings were eerily quiet, and the blue light sphere and the golden double helix structure slowly separated, revealing a large black area in between.
"Limiting communication to a certain extent?" Dumbledore nodded. "That's a good idea. But who will serve as the bridge?"
Felix hesitated for a moment before voicing his thoughts. "In the past, the Ministry of Magic did this unintentionally. Now, Future World Company is actively promoting it, and in the future, it will be the collective effort of all young Wizards from Muggle families..."
Dumbledore remained noncommittal. "Let's go out now. The others must be getting worried... Speaking of which, I wonder if Burbage will ever appear on a Chocolate Frog card? What would her description be?"
"That would be quite something to look forward to."
(End of Chapter)
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