Hogwarts: Harry Returns from Water Margin

Chapter 119 Idealism: Harry's Assistance in Liberation

Chapter 120 Idealism: Harry's Assistance in Liberation

Picking up where we left off, Dumbledore brought up the old story of his enrollment. Harry pondered for a moment and asked, "Is the professor referring to the matter of balancing the students of the four houses?"

"That's right, I think you've probably noticed that after Voldemort was... turned into a magical object, there was almost no communication between Slytherin and the other three houses."

"The last time something like this happened at Hogwarts was in the 1970s or 80s, when Voldemort was wreaking havoc in the wizarding world, and everyone believed that Slytherin students would become Death Eaters after graduation."

The old headmaster, fearing that Harry might be betrayed by dozens of Slytherin students, no longer trusted him and said earnestly:

"Harry, you need to understand that almost no underage wizards can resist Voldemort's influence, and this has nothing to do with the school."

"Slytherin has also produced many excellent and righteous wizards."

Harry nodded and said, "I understand what you mean, Professor. Although Slytherin is mostly a bunch of sycophantic bullies, I have also seen some upright and honest men when I was teaching in the Chamber of Secrets."

"If we indiscriminately condemn them all, wouldn't we be unjustly taking innocent lives?"

"It's good that you think that way, Harry." Dumbledore breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "I originally thought you would have a great prejudice against Slytherin."

"Huh! Professor, you've been keeping us in suspense all this time, so you want me to act as a mediator and resolve the conflict between Slytherin and the other three houses?"

Dumbledore nodded and said, "That's part of the reason."

"But the most fundamental goal is to get Hogwarts back on track."

As the old saying goes, "If you can't agree on something, even half a sentence is too much; if you can't get along, go your separate ways." Harry broke the rules by choosing his own house earlier, and Colin and the others followed suit, choosing their houses based solely on their personal preferences, without caring whether their birth charts were compatible or their personalities matched.

However, within a month or two, all sorts of drawbacks began to emerge like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. The freshmen from Gryphon House complained that they were too impulsive, the freshmen from Slytherin House said they were too sinister, and the freshmen from Houndhouse and Badger House were also mostly talking past each other, all saying that they were not to their liking.

Many students sighed and lamented under the dormitory corridors, while some with weaker hearts hid in the washrooms, weeping like babyheads. The mail carriers were ten times more frequent than in previous years, carrying mostly tearful complaints home. It was truly a case of: throwing hats at the sorting ceremony feeling exhilarating, but regretting it to the core in the dormitory.

Dumbledore sighed, "The Sorting Hat only suggests, it doesn't force, you could say it's Hogwarts' unspoken rule—but now everyone knows it."

"Oh dear, Professor, please don't be offended. When I was assigned to a branch, that guy in the felt hat only spouted some incoherent nonsense. I had no interest in trying to outsmart him."

"The Sorting Hat wanted you to choose your own house because it could tell you were a very special little wizard," Dumbledore said with a wry smile. "But it didn't expect you to be this special."

Harry waved his hand. "Professor, let's skip the small talk and get straight to the point. Tell me what you want me to do."

"Oh, this isn't urgent, we can talk about it later."

Dumbledore ignored this and instead looked at Harry's knife, saying in a complicated tone, "May I see your knife, Harry?"

Harry handed over the knife. "Professor, please."

Dumbledore took the knife and examined it closely, touching the invisible blade all over, before finally saying in a daze:

"I didn't expect you to be willing to cut off the Invisibility Cloak. Jaime treasured it back then... But this little Legnark certainly lives up to his ancestor's name."

Harry laughed and said, "This invisibility cloak is usually made of wide fabric, enough to cover three or four men. Cutting off a foot or two won't be a problem."

"Besides, this knife has a concealed blade. If I were to encounter that scoundrel Voldemort possessing my body again, I would feign close combat, then, taking him by surprise, I would cleave him in two from head to crotch!"

Dumbledore shook his head softly and said, "Harry, you should know that the Invisibility Cloak is a magical artifact."

"Or rather... it's a Deathly Hallows."

Having said that, Dumbledore suddenly stretched his arm inside and placed the knife against his own neck. With a gentle push, the knife passed over his neck, and the old headmaster's head remained perfectly intact, without a trace of separation.

Harry's blue eyes widened, and he exclaimed, "Damn it! The professor clearly flicked the knife just now, making a clanging sound, so how come it passed by without causing any damage?"

"Oh, that's simple. When I feel it doesn't exist, then it doesn't exist."

Instead of sheathing the knife, Dumbledore pressed the hilt against the sheath, and Harry instantly felt a greater weight at his waist.

"When I believe it exists, then it truly exists."

"Ah... let me think, what's the Muggle word again?"

"Oh, idealism."

Listen carefully: In the magical world, although there are countless schools of spellcasting, most of them rely on a foundation of "mindset".

Just like the Death Curse, which requires a surge of evil energy in the chest and a sudden rise of murderous intent to unleash its full power; similarly, this Guardian Deity Curse, if not filled with joy and filled with happy thoughts, how can it summon the Guardian Deity?

Dumbledore, a seasoned expert in studying the Deathly Hallows, immediately discerned the hidden secrets within the Invisibility Cloak when he saw it enchanted into the blade; it was far more than just a simple act of concealment.

"Muggles firmly believe in materialism because they have never seen magic. Wizards, however, are different; magic accompanies us throughout our lives."

Dumbledore winked at Harry and smiled, "You can trust only your eyes, or only your beliefs, or something else entirely."

"In short, Harry, don't be so rigid; you're a wizard, after all."

Harry pondered for a moment, then immediately brushed his hair, bowed, and said solemnly, "Nothing exists outside the mind, no principle exists outside the mind. Harry has learned his lesson!"

Dumbledore paused, pondering the words for a long moment, then asked in surprise, "You understood that so quickly?"

"Most wizards need more than ten years, or even decades, to fully understand..."

Although Dumbledore was full of praise, Harry wasn't buying it and crossed his arms, saying:

"Professor, stop with the flattery. What's the big deal? Just say it, it doesn't matter!"

Upon hearing this, Dumbledore extended his arm and said, "You must have used Apparition with Felix, right? We need to go to Godric's Hollow."

Harry asked doubtfully, "What are we going there for?"

"I'm meeting a friend."

"She has been tormented for far too long, Harry. Only you can free her."

The White Lord, with his witty remarks, left Scarface unsatisfied. Apparating, he went to the valley to see his old friend, who was afflicted by calamity. But who was this friend, and why could only Harry offer him salvation? We'll find out in the next chapter.

(End of this chapter)