Mikael circled over the black lake, occasionally spitting flames or diving into the water only to fly out again.
But after repeating this many times, only faint ripples stirred on the surface of the lake, and then quickly settled back into calmness.
"It seems the Inferi have been completely eradicated... or perhaps their stiffened minds have finally learned to avoid danger."
Lupin remarked, glancing back.
Voldemort's Inferi guards were reduced to just Regulus, who was still weakly and futilely struggling.
"Sirius, Regulus, he..."
"Burn him."
Sirius said, and then lowered his arms and could not approach his brother. His tone was cold: "I'll deliver his ashes to my crazy mother."
Lupin sighed helplessly as he looked at Sirius, whose face was almost as pale as an Inferi's.
"Sirius, don't be so childish," he said.
"The war ended over a decade ago. Regulus obviously realized his mistake, even if he never got the chance to turn back..."
"If you deal with his body so rashly, you'll regret it one day."
"It's not shameful to admit you're grieving the death of your younger brother, Sirius."
Sirius's lips twitched slightly. He stole a glance at the struggling Inferi on the ground, then recoiled as though burned.
Despite being cast out as a traitor and disgrace by his family, Sirius had to admit that there was a time when he and Regulus had been very close.
Before Sirius joined Gryffindor, Regulus had idolized his older brother, clinging to him so persistently that Sirius found it annoying.
"Dumbledore—"
The brittle mask of indifference on Sirius's face softened. He lowered his head, his fingers clenched involuntarily as he quietly pleaded:
"I remember there's a spell... one that can banish the necromantic magic within an Inferi and allow the dead to rest in peace..."
It was a rare and advanced form of white magic that required powerful magic power. Of the group, only Dumbledore knew how to cast it.
During the past war, they had only learned how to repel or destroy Inferi, and treated them as dangerous creatures rather than their own kind. They never considered expending their strength to give the dead a dignified rest.
This was largely because Voldemort's Inferi were almost exclusively created from murdered Muggles. Few had ever imagined the possibility of seeing their own kin among the ranks of the Inferi.
However, now such a thing has happened to Regulus.
Seeing his once well-behaved younger brother being controlled by the enemy even after death, Sirius felt an overwhelming pain, despite the fact that, in later years, they had barely exchanged a word.
Faced with Sirius's anguish, Dumbledore naturally did not refuse his request.
"After everything here is resolved, I will banish the necromantic magic from him."
Dumbledore said gently: "Sirius, coming to terms with the loss of a loved one is a long and painful process. It's okay to be vulnerable, to cry—it's nothing to be ashamed of. We are here to support you in any way we can."
"But I want you to know, Regulus is undoubtedly in a better place now, free from pain and strife. One day, when you meet again in another world, I am sure he will welcome you with a smile."
...
Wade walked slowly along the narrow path by the lake. In the normal field of vision, there was nothing there, but he could see streams of green magic moving gently, like a line of orderly little snakes.
Then, Lupin saw Wade grab hold of something invisible in the air and pull it forcefully. A metallic 'clinking' sound followed.
Suddenly, a thick green bronze chain shot out of the water like a venomous snake, lunging at Wade. Lupin raised his wand and waved it, summoning an invisible barrier to shield Wade.
With a thud, the chain struck the barrier but didn't relent. It recoiled slightly and then immediately lunged at the two of them again.
Clang!
From the side, a spell hit the chain. It slackened, as if it had lost all its strength, and fell to the ground and coiled around itself. Then it pulled a small boat out of the lake.
The boat glowed faintly green, and eerily drifted towards the shore like a ghost in the dead of night.
"Professor Dumbledore!" Lupin exclaimed.
Dumbledore nodded and said, "I've quieted Regulus for a while… Sirius is with him."
Wade turned to look back.
Sirius had not used a Lumos charm, so Wade could only make out a black silhouette. He seemed to be kneeling or squatting, or perhaps like a large black dog sitting silently.
Lupin had once mentioned in passing that after returning from Azkaban, Sirius had developed a certain fear of the dark. Although he always acted as if nothing was wrong, the sharp senses of a werewolf saw through his facade.
Wade turned away.
Although he couldn't see the man's expression, he could feel the anguish of losing loved ones again and again.
Bang!
The small boat bumped against the riverbank.
It was a very narrow boat, sharp at both ends, and it appeared to accommodate only one or two people.
"Wade, it seems you'll need to wait here for us," Lupin said as he turned to his student beside him.
"I just noticed that Apparition isn't possible in this area. It seems the only way to reach the center of the lake is by taking this boat."
"I'll go with Dumbledore first. You should stay with Sirius."
Before Wade could reply, Dumbledore spoke.
"No, Remus, I think you might need to stay behind."
"Dumbledore," Lupin said with a frown, "I admit Wade is exceptional, but he's still just a twelve-year-old child. I believe I'm better suited to face any unknown dangers."
"This isn't about who is better suited to face danger, Remus, nor does it have anything to do with capability," Dumbledore said calmly, cutting off whatever Lupin had been about to say.
"It's simply that Voldemort is more concerned with the amount of magical power crossing this lake. I believe the boat has been enchanted to allow only one wizard to ride at a time."
"Then Wade—"
"He won't be counted," Dumbledore explained. "After all—as you yourself mentioned—he's only twelve. Compared to my magical power, his strength is negligible."
"Of course—"
Dumbledore, seemingly aware that his words might hurt the pride of the young boy, immediately added, "Voldemort likely never imagined someone could be more brilliant than he was in his youth. He often makes such foolish oversights."
"You flatter me, Professor."
Wade replied, unaffected. He was well aware of the significant gap between his magical power and Dumbledore's, and admitting the truth was no loss of face.
By the standards of his past life, Dumbledore had lived so long and mastered so much magic that he'd probably "eaten more salt than Wade had eaten rice." A man of unparalleled talent, gifted and dedicated to a lifetime of magical research.
If a student who had been practicing magic for less than two years could easily surpass him, it would grossly underestimate the greatest wizard of the century.
The two boarded the boat one after the other.
The boat, imbued with some kind of magic, didn't wobble despite the imbalance in weight. The space was so cramped that sitting down was impossible, so Wade, like Dumbledore, opted to stand.
A warm hand rested on his shoulder.
Dumbledore seemed worried that Wade might accidentally fall overboard. Wade shifted his neck slightly, and he felt a little awkward but did not reject the elder wizard's goodwill.
"Be careful," Lupin urged. "I'll be waiting here. If anything happens, I'll find a way to reach you as quickly as possible!"
Wade nodded and said, "Understood... but taking the boat alone shouldn't be dangerous. Voldemort also needed a safe way to travel back and forth."
"Alright..." Lupin exhaled deeply.
"If you encounter any uncertainty or danger, return immediately. We can regroup and come up with a solution together. There's no need to resolve everything today."
Wade nodded and said, "Got it."
Dumbledore chuckled softly.
Although Lupin's words were addressed to Wade, Dumbledore knew they were, in truth, a protest directed at him.
This amused the old headmaster, as it was the first time someone doubted his ability to protect those around him.
He could tell that Lupin's concern didn't stem from mistrust in his abilities but rather from his sense of responsibility to protect Wade.
Despite Dumbledore's far superior strength, Lupin still felt uneasy and worried about Wade venturing into danger under Dumbledore's care, outside his own watchful gaze.
It was akin to how a parent might feel about their beloved child or how a miser might guard their precious jewels—cautious, protective, and deeply cherished.
…
The boat had already set off automatically.
It required no navigation, and glided in a straight line toward the green glow at the center of the lake, leaving behind a fan-shaped trail of ripples.
The dark, fathomless lake mirrored nothing but the light from Dumbledore's wand tip, and it scattered across the water like fragments of stars.
Mikael perched at the bow, and it surveyed the surroundings and occasionally spread its wings to spit fire into the lake. It seemed to be hoping some missed Inferi might still emerge.
To Wade, the scene resembled a mischievous child spitting all over the floor.
Dumbledore watched Mikael intently, and his eyes reflected the golden glow of the firebird.
"A truly unique creature," Dumbledore remarked casually. "Where did you find it?"
"In the old Gaunt family house," Wade replied. "Though I didn't find it—I created it."
Dumbledore was silent for a few moments. "…Created?"
"Life alchemy," Wade explained, "a practice involving forbidden magic. You could also call it an accidental outcome."
Wade didn't believe he could hide much from Dumbledore's sharp insight, and being caught in a lie would only be more awkward.
So he briefly recounted his and Lupin's activities that day, focusing on the shadowy figure struggling in the Fiendfyre and even attempting to attack them, while omitting the part about Mikael finding the Resurrection Stone.
Wade wasn't sure if Dumbledore, at this stage, could resist the stone's allure. However, the fate of the one of the Peverell brothers who possessed the Resurrection Stone constantly served as a warning to him.
Dumbledore, as expected, was intrigued by the shadowy figure. After asking a few detailed questions about the situation, he fell into a contemplative silence.
The boat continued to gently part the lake's surface, and the sound of water was faint and soft.
By now, they were far from the shore, yet Lupin remained standing tall with his wand glowing brightly. His figure, upright like a pine tree, stood out clearly no matter the angle.
Magic is a power tied to the heart, and perhaps because of this, the people Wade had helped always found different ways to repay him.
But it was never a cold, calculated exchange of interests.
Watching the figure on the shore grow smaller and smaller, Wade suddenly spoke. "Professor…"
"Yes, Wade?" Dumbledore lowered his gaze to him.
"Why haven't you asked?" Wade said.
"Asked what?"
"How I know all of this… and why I'm doing it…"
The surroundings were silent, so still that the sound of breathing could be heard.
Dumbledore didn't seem surprised, nor did he exude an air of smugness as if he had everything under control. Instead, he sighed softly.
"You know, among wizards, there have always been a few gifted with the talent to glimpse the future. Take our Divination professor, Sybill Trelawney, for example. Her great-grandmother was the legendary prophet Cassandra Trelawney."
"Sybill inherited a portion of her great-grandmother's gift, though she struggles to fully utilize it."
"In our time, the most powerful seer I've known is Gellert Grindelwald. He could glimpse fragments of the future."
"Prophecy paved his path to success, making his rise easier. But prophecy also ruined him, as he overlooked many things… things far more important than life or death."
"Before you, I always thought Sybill was merely an occasional practitioner of her gift and that Grindelwald was the only true seer of our time."
Wade stared at Dumbledore in surprise, but the old headmaster's gaze was both warm and tinged with subtle compassion.
"Wade, I don't know how much you've seen, but I want to remind you… don't overestimate the power of prophecy, and don't fall into the trap of fatalism.
Prophecy offers guidance on destiny, but only you can determine the direction of your future."
…
The small boat bumped gently against the shore and came to a stop. Ahead was a smooth rocky island, no larger than a single room. At its center stood a stone pedestal, and atop it rested a stone basin.
The basin emitted a glowing green light.
Dumbledore stepped off the boat first. Standing on the black rock, he studied the scene for a moment before turning back. "Wade?"
Wade snapped out of his thoughts and hurried off the boat.
Looking at the star-and-moon-patterned robes of the old headmaster, he felt both surprised and unsurprised.
No wonder Dumbledore has never questioned me—it seemed he had already come to his own conclusions.
Prophecy…
Come to think of it, how is my knowledge of this world any different from a prophecy?
Well… there is a difference—
A prophet's vision of the future could shift with the actions of the observer. But what he knew was the script of a story with a fixed ending.
That story had already been thoroughly disrupted by his meddling, and he intended to change even more.
After all, people always wish to leave something behind in the world.
This world had given him a second life, and peace was the best gift he could offer in return.
As he walked toward the stone basin at the center, Wade thought of this.
--------------------------------
🙏🙏Please consider supporting this translation project by becoming a P@treon member!!!
Your support is greatly appreciated!
Available on my P@treon page for just $4!!
Early access to the following translations:-
⭐Harry Potter: Becoming a Study God (HP:BSG)- +174 Chapters & 2 Chapters/Day
⭐MCU: Druid's Adventures (MCUDA)(⭐COMPLETE⭐) - Total Chapter 460
⭐Famous Police Detective in Detective World (FPDDW)- +165 advance chapters
⭐Marvel: Little Genius (MLG) (⭐COMPLETE⭐) - Total Chapter 450
p@treon.com/Lightreaper457
--------------------------------