Chapter 696: Fabrication
Chapter 696: Fabrication
Wizard is preparing to land on the moon!
Wizard claims there are ancient Wizard ruins on the moon!
Wizard is preparing to search for these ruins!
These three explosive pieces of news spread like a whirlwind, leaving everyone dazed and confused.
The Wizard community was skeptical, but The Quibbler was the first to praise the idea. As the editor-in-chief, Xenophilius Lovegood had long published similar articles, one of which described a Wizard claiming to have flown to the moon on a Six-Star Sweep and returned with a bag of moon frogs as evidence.
At the time, nobody believed this news, but now he was using it as proof. Perhaps in the coming days, Muggle newspapers would also feature descriptions of moon frogs, thanks to Luna’s unique writing style and her devoted readers.
Unlike the Wizard newspapers, which were abuzz with the news, the non-magical world responded with a rare collective silence. There was no ridicule—after all, Wizards were attempting to reach the moon on their own, and they believed it had already been done!
Come on, how much effort did scientists put into landing on the moon? An entire generation’s sweat, plus the final straw that broke a superpower’s back.
If this outlandish idea had been proposed two days ago, it would have been met with countless protests and jeers, seen as proof of Wizards' backwardness and overreaching.
But things were different now. The impact of Wizard’s first visit to the British Parliament was gradually spreading.
News articles and television broadcasts constantly reminded everyone: it wasn’t a dream. The conversation naturally shifted to: if Wizards can change a country’s weather in an instant, why can’t they reach the moon?
The collective Luminos spell cast by thousands of Wizards was a breathtaking spectacle.
Ordinary people were still amazed and stunned by the grandeur of the scene, but the organizations and government agencies that considered Wizards a threat couldn’t sleep at all.
Wizards had demonstrated their ability to control the weather, but the government’s advisors and think tanks didn’t believe that was all they could do. They felt a strong sense of threat. Today, it was just a giant light bulb above their heads; tomorrow, if negotiations broke down, what else might it become?
This concern wasn’t groundless, as Wizards indeed had a class of spells called Weather Charms.
Just two weeks ago, some politicians and public figures had raised objections, expressing their concerns about Wizards operating outside the law, either directly or subtly. Now, those voices had vanished. Politicians who had hoped to gain support from their constituents by hyping up the Wizard threat were sternly warned by their parties: shut your mouth, or go back to your hometown!
In this climate, Rita Skeeter, who had obtained insider information, published an article titled “Magic is the Science of Wizards.” Her self-interview style was surprising, but it didn’t stop the article from attracting attention. Many media outlets reprinted and excerpted parts of it, with several key passages being repeatedly cited:
“I had the opportunity that every journalist dreams of, dancing with Mr. Felix Hep at the Queen’s social ball,” Skeeter said with a smile. “He was an excellent dancer, a truly delightful experience. I’m sure he must have practiced hard in secret.”
Thus, countless people, either with patience or great interest, read through her lengthy and ambiguous descriptions of the ball before getting to the main point.
“Yes, I certainly asked him questions, a seasoned journalist’s instinct. There wasn’t much time to refine my approach, and the opportunity was rare—I asked a broad yet fundamental question: what is the biggest difference between the environments in which Wizards and ordinary people grow up? I’m not talking about magic…”
“As the only professor at Britain’s sole magical school, Mr. Hep was quite authoritative on this topic, and he used science as an example.”
“While we danced in the ballroom, in the hazy atmosphere, he leaned close to my ear and gave his answer: the importance of imagination. He further explained that many great Wizards created practical spells through instinct alone, driven by a long-term need or a sudden flash of inspiration on a pleasant afternoon. Throughout the process, their intuition about magic played a significant role.”
Rita Skeeter was more outspoken and bolder. Her suggestive and provocative language sparked endless speculation, but when other journalists asked for details, she clammed up. She was afraid that Hep might show up at her door in the middle of the night and turn her to ashes. She continued to share her insights—
“Magic turns the impossible into the possible, combining imagination with magic.”
“Hogwarts Headmasters have generally adhered to one principle: never stifle the imagination and creativity of young Wizards. One Headmaster unknowingly made this mistake, imposing strict laws and over a thousand prohibitions, making him the most unpopular Headmaster in history.”
“Of course, I’m not suggesting that Wizards are a bunch of mad, incoherent, and illogical people. Everyone has a different personality, but I’m referring to their attitude towards magic. Just as mathematics and logic are the crown jewels of science, many scientists have quirks…”
“Scientists build a comprehensive and vast system in their minds through learning and use this system to achieve astonishing results. For Wizards, the process of learning and digesting knowledge is also a process of unlocking their potential. They are, in a sense, shaped by magical knowledge.”
In essence, scientists are the carriers of scientific knowledge, while Wizards are the products of magical knowledge.
From birth, Wizards hold the most fundamental power of the magic world—Magic. Throughout their lives, they merely learn to harness this Magic. In theory, every Wizard has the potential to become Felix Hep, Dumbledore, Grindelwald...
...
The moon, partially obscured by floating clouds, was not yet full. A group of Wizards stood in the courtyard, their eyes fixed on Felix at the center.
"Are you sure?" Madam Bones asked again, "The Muggle government provided data on the simulated space environment..."
"Don't worry, I've made thorough preparations", Felix said calmly. "If anyone in the wizarding world can do this, I have the best chance." As he spoke, intricate Runic Script patterns began to form on his face.
Hermione, Harry, and Ron, standing nearby, couldn't help but think back to the night Voldemort returned, when Professor Hep first demonstrated his ability to transform into Runic Script. This gave them a newfound confidence.
However, this ability was incredibly draining, and Felix would only use it when absolutely necessary.
Dumbledore was skilled in many forms of magic, but his greatest expertise lay in Transfiguration. He could even transform human bodies to grant them the abilities of various magical creatures, a feat that seemed impossible to other Wizards but was merely a 'trick' to him. Dumbledore's mastery of Transfiguration allowed him to reach his peak strength, and even minor transformations could significantly enhance his combat power.
Felix had heard from Harry about Dumbledore's capabilities, but he still didn't feel confident enough to face him in that state.
Felix's greatest strength was undoubtedly in Ancient Runic Script.
His ability to 'transform into Runic Script' was the pinnacle of his expertise in this field. Even just converting his skin into Ancient Runic Script allowed him to survive in space longer than most Wizards, not to mention his other magical abilities.
The Mind Chamber, Ancient Runic Script, and a seventh-level Shield Charm all activated simultaneously, making Felix appear like a colorful butterfly in the eyes of the others.
He handed the silver pocket watch to Hermione. Since this was his first attempt, he couldn't bring Walen, and traveling alone was easier. Once he had a clear understanding of the space and lunar environment's effects on Wizards, he could develop a series of targeted spells—just as he had done by converting different emotions into Patronuses.
"Fifteen minutes", Madam Bones said, a hint of nervousness in her voice. "Fifteen minutes from now, we'll activate your Portkey. If you successfully land on the moon, you can deactivate it. The Portkey is bidirectional."
Felix nodded. The atmosphere grew serious, and everyone knew the moment had arrived. Felix glanced at the others, turned, and vanished from their sight. They all understood that a significant magical experiment had begun.
All they could do was wait in the Hogwarts courtyard for the results.
"This isn't Professor's style", Hermione sniffed. "If he was truly prepared, he would have already gone to the moon multiple times before announcing the results. But clearly, this is his first attempt."
"Muggle and Wizard negotiations are imminent", Madam Bones said hesitantly.
"We must trust Felix; he has created many miracles", Professor Mcgonagall whispered, offering comfort.
...
High in the sky.
Felix drifted, glancing back at the thick clouds that obscured his view. He performed a final check of his magical protections and then took a deep breath, leaping forward. When he opened his eyes, he found himself in the vast, infinite expanse of space.
"How do you feel?" A voice echoed in his mind, though the surrounding area was empty.
Felix wasn't surprised; he had expected this. He tested his limbs and carefully assessed his condition. "It's very cold, and the wind is strong. There are other factors eroding the magical barrier, likely cosmic rays... but it's not a major issue; they haven't reached my skin."
This was another trump card, one of Felix's sources of confidence.
His Cloning Magic.
The magic he learned from the creatures in the Arctic was different from the illusions created by other Wizards. Felix could split himself into two, and as long as the magic was active, both forms could be considered real. He transformed one of these forms into a shadow in the Mind Chamber, similar to how he once transformed a Mandrake pot and soil in the school greenhouse into simple lines.
If something went wrong and conventional magic failed to help him survive in space, even Ancient Runic Script wouldn't be enough. In such a situation, he could 'waste' one of his bodies, traveling through space without reservation. As long as he revealed the shadow hidden in the Mind Chamber and canceled the Cloning Magic in the last second, he could swap places.
The magical world never ceased to amaze.
Felix began his journey through the vast starry sky, repeatedly using apparition. Unlike in battle, where he could nearly vanish and reappear instantly, traveling required a bit more time with each use—only a few seconds at most. However, after two or three hundred uses, the time added up.
About ten minutes had passed. Felix sat in space, the distant Earth now a tiny sphere, like a black glass ball with intricate patterns, floating in a nebula that emitted a soft white light. Looking back, the Moon was already close.
Another half a minute later, Felix stood on the lunar surface.
"It feels like a Levitation Charm", Felix muttered to himself. He didn't rush to explore but instead tested some basic spells, which worked just as they did on Earth. Then, the blue pin on his chest glowed.
Madam Bones had activated the Portkey.
Felix casually extinguished the Portkey's light and fell into thought. If he removed the time spent testing, he had spent about twelve minutes, and with practice, he could reduce it to around seven or eight minutes.
If his apparition range were wider, it might only take three or four minutes... This was undoubtedly good news. Felix began casting a spell—a massive Bubble-Head Charm.
The Bubble-Head Charm, resembling an inverted fishbowl, shattered upon appearance.
"Tch, I knew it wouldn't be smooth sailing", Felix said, unsurprised. He pulled out the Book of Runic Script and quickly created a Runic Script version of the Bubble-Head Charm. It had been two years since his transformation, and Felix felt significant progress every few months. Most importantly, Ancient Runic Script showed remarkable adaptability.
"Perhaps Grindelwald could do it too", Felix pondered. Even among great wizards, research areas varied. Grindelwald was particularly skilled at handling the subtle nuances of magic, combining the properties of the Bubble-Head Charm with other spells to create a livable environment in space.
After some time, a hemispherical magical barrier was complete. He added various protective charms, adjusting the temperature, light, and pressure. Finally, Felix extracted a large amount of air from the emerald ring, and a temporary shelter was built.
Felix dispelled the magic from his body and took a deep breath. The light from the Lumos spell cast a gentle glow.
He slowly closed his eyes, imagining himself as a Wizard from centuries ago. This was easy; he had visited many famous Wizard sites, and the pace of Wizard life was always slow, with many buildings still retaining their ancient appearances, some dating back to the time of Herpo the Foul.
The light-colored lunar soil was churned up, dark soil and various small glass particles and rock fragments coalescing into various shapes. Porous, light yellow rocks were burned, melted, and reshaped in the fire. A few minutes later, Felix realized the oxygen was running low.
"...That's normal; ancient Wizards couldn't bring everything with them."
Felix carefully examined the loosely constructed ruins before him, gaining insights into building on the Moon. He then took out some vegetables from his ring, crushed them, and mixed them with the lunar soil.
In his hand, he now held a mixture of soil and vegetable leaves and two newly formed containers—one resembling a flower pot and the other a bowl, both adorned with ancient patterns.
"The next step is the most crucial."
Felix's expression turned solemn. A ball of time energy floated out of the ring, wrapping around the floating lunar soil and containers. This time energy came from the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic, leftover after solving the long-distance time travel issues for Hermione Granger. It seemed to be prepared for this very moment.
The soil and containers gradually darkened, taking on an ancient, rustic hue. Felix smiled in satisfaction.
"What is false, and what is true? I stand here, and that is the truth."
Reflecting on the grand lies he had recently told, using Grindelwald's special status was one, and using Lumos to light up Britain due to favorable conditions was only half a lie. But this was undoubtedly a complete fabrication. His boldness was immense, aiming to create a history out of thin air.
Felix didn't intend to forcefully separate Wizards from non-Wizards; it was neither practical nor necessary. His goal was to direct Wizards (and non-Wizards) to gaze at the vast expanse of the cosmos. If Wizards had once lived on the Moon, what about farther places, like Mars?
At least Felix wouldn't stop exploring.
At Hogwarts, everyone waited anxiously. Two hours had passed, and their expressions had cycled through calm, worry, solemnity, agitation, and despair, leaving only a sliver of hope.
Harry was grateful for Hermione's presence, constantly reassuring the students around him who were just as uneasy.
A soft sound suddenly filled the air.
Felix appeared unharmed, his smile spreading as he looked around, brushing off the dust from his clothes. He spoke calmly, "The landing point was off, so I had to—"
A figure rushed towards him. He was about to dodge but hesitated upon recognizing who it was and stayed in place.
It was Hermione. She leaned against his shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Next time, please take me with you", she said, her voice trembling.
Felix's expression froze.
(End of Chapter)
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