Chapter 228: For Whom?
The elevator fireplace before them was not created by Muggles; they couldn't produce such a thing any more than fish could grow from the ground. They simply didn't possess the necessary foundation.
This was a product of natural evolution.
Because the International Statute of Secrecy forced a separation between the two communities of humans, yet its execution was flawed, the resulting conflict and misalignment formed this unique magical space.
Obscurials were also a product of this unique background.
Lockhart was particularly skilled in this area of exploration. His research into the field of Dark Creatures delves deep into the relationship between society, nature, and individuals. He was already on a completely different level than the so-called Dark Creature experts present.
"Let's go."
Lockhart beckoned his two apprentices directly into the flames, and their figures vanished instantly.
The others exchanged glances, then decided to trust Professor Lockhart's authority. Seeing how casually and relaxed he entered the flames, they followed suit.
Soon, they were enveloped in a feeling that was deeply unsettling. It was like falling into a lake of some viscous liquid; though they could breathe without difficulty, they felt as if their breath was about to disappear. Although their limbs seemed unaffected, they felt as if they were being dragged into an endless abyss.
This was not the feeling of weightlessness from an elevator.
"Amniotic fluid?" the expert from the French Ministry of Magic exclaimed in surprise. "No, no, it's the complete opposite of amniotic fluid—it's not breeding life, it's breeding death!"
He was clearly sensitive to the nature of magic, but even as he carefully considered his words, he still couldn't articulate his true feeling of this fall into death.
Just then, a voice rang out next to them. "It's the sensation of your soul trying to break free from the constraints of your body."
Everyone turned their heads at once, and there stood Professor Lockhart, gesturing to the open elevator door behind them. "We've arrived."
Outside the elevator door, it was pitch black; they couldn't see anything.
Lockhart gently drew his wand and waved it forward. A long serpent of fire surged and writhed forward, illuminating everything in its path with a flame that seemed capable of burning anything to ash.
"Fiendfyre?!!!" the French Minister of Magic exclaimed, then awkwardly shut his mouth. Fiendfyre was a form of Dark Magic, forbidden by the Ministry. Pointing out that fact now wasn't a good idea. Were they supposed to uphold their principles and arrest Professor Lockhart? Well, considering how effortlessly and elegantly Lockhart was controlling the fiery monster born from the curse, it was doubtful they could even win a fight against him, let alone arrest him.
Lockhart's reputation as a Magical Master wasn't limited to the British wizarding community.
Thankfully, a series of gasps drew everyone's attention, saving the minister from his embarrassment.
"Isn't this our Ministry of Magic?"
An Auror carefully dodged the twisting fiery serpent in the air and hurried out, looking around. "This is our Ministry of Magic's Archives!"
Lockhart raised an eyebrow and followed everyone out of the elevator, looking around as well. The first thing that came into view was a high dome made of green steel and glass, with murals of many magical creatures painted on it. Below the dome, towering rows of huge cabinets, like trees, stacked with one drawer upon another, reached high into the air.
Lockhart knew this place. Newt Scamander had once escaped an attack by the Matagots here with the Zouwu.
Just as he thought this, a sudden chorus of meows rang out, and a group of Matagots in their magical form had silently surrounded the area.
"Ms. Ashley Hernandez, it's me!" the Minister of Magic shouted. "Make these blasted cats move!"
After the Archives' manager, Ms. Hernandez, came over to confirm their identities, everyone collectively breathed a sigh of relief.
A huge question then arose. How had that Muggle elevator arrived directly at the Ministry's Archives? Had Muggles secretly come here using this method?
This… was this what they meant by "heading to the Magical World?"
The French Minister of Magic's face grew dark. He turned to Lockhart. "Professor Lockhart, can you be certain whether any Muggles have ever used this to come here?"
Lockhart shrugged. "I've only analyzed what this elevator's properties can be used for. Whether Muggles know about it or can use it, that I don't know."
Similar spells and magical objects for spatial travel were quite common; Apparition and the Vanishing Cabinet at Hogwarts were nothing rare. What was rare was that the archives before them were the most heavily guarded area of the French Ministry of Magic. Countless magical constructs and spells secretly guarded the place, yet this elevator had pierced through them all to arrive without any hindrance.
The Minister's eyes sharpened as he looked at the Aurors' office staff. "Go and investigate! Don't spare a single person who has ever funded that company, whether they're wizards or Muggles!"
The investigation was their concern, but it had nothing to do with Lockhart. He wasn't skilled in politics or conspiracy theories and had no idea what was involved. Just as Fudge had once warned him, the water was very deep here, so it was best to leave it for Dumbledore to solve.
Lockhart had to interrupt the minister's attempts to make a statement, and he said sincerely, "The research on this elevator isn't over yet. Can I borrow some of your Ministry's Matagots?"
The Minister was taken aback. "What could those blasted cats...?" He stopped mid-sentence as if he had realized something. "The boundary between wizarding and Muggle society? A gate between the two worlds?"
The French Ministry of Magic had a long history of using Matagots as guards. They were extremely familiar with the characteristics of these magical creatures and instantly realized the implications. The most magical thing about these creatures was their ability to distinguish the boundary between Muggle and wizarding society on their own. The boundaries of society were something that many wizarding politicians who had spent their entire lives in the field couldn't grasp, yet a cat could solve it with ease.
It was no exaggeration to say that when the French Ministry was enforcing the Statute of Secrecy, Matagots played a huge role.
Lockhart nodded. "Let the Matagots come back down with us in the elevator. Maybe it can corroborate some of our theories."
So it was that the group returned to the elevator. The archives manager also brought a group of Matagots with her, filling the entire elevator to the brim.
The Auror holding the Floo Powder looked at Lockhart again.
Lockhart prompted him, "Destination: to the Muggle world!"
The Auror immediately threw the powder at his feet, and a sheet of green flame instantly filled the elevator. Soon, that same sensation of impending death returned.
As they rapidly ascended, Lockhart suddenly asked, "Can you still feel the sadness now?"
The people in the elevator looked at each other, their faces filled with shock, and shook their heads.
Just then, the elevator stopped abruptly. With a ding, two Muggles carrying briefcases squeezed in. At that moment, the green flames in the elevator had silently disappeared, and the large Matagots had returned to the size of normal cats. That unique sadness quickly permeated the hearts of all the wizards present.
When they reached the 27th floor, everyone walked out of the elevator. Once the door closed, they all looked at Lockhart.
But Lockhart was simply looking at the elevator in astonishment, muttering as he rubbed his chin, "So, by latching onto a certain emotion, you can temporarily seal the heart?"
He then looked down at the Matagot on the floor, its tail coiled, and his eyebrow twitched slightly. "Of course, it can also be a form that resonates with the current era of society!"
Minister Lorraine of the French Ministry of Magic was confused. "Professor Lockhart, what are you saying?"
Lockhart shrugged. "Nothing, just thinking about some other things."
He gestured to the elevator. "Do you need me to get rid of it, or is there still a use for it?"
Minister Lorraine immediately hesitated. He could clearly feel how valuable this thing was, but its ability to bypass the Ministry's supervision and go straight to the archives—and from there, into other parts of the Ministry—was simply intolerable. His expression changed for a moment before he asked with some hesitation, "Can this thing be replicated?"
Lockhart let out a little laugh. "Are you asking if there's a way to create a Dementor, or to make a Ghoul reproduce and grow its population?"
Minister Lorraine blinked, and it finally dawned on him. This was a Dark Creature. Although it appeared to be a living thing, it was fundamentally a phenomenon.
"Get rid of it!"
He immediately made his decision. Without this valuable research subject, he would still be the Minister of Magic. But with its existence, who knew when something might happen and force him to resign? The decision was made with surprising ease.
Everyone was curious about how Lockhart would deal with this Dark Creature, which had no form and couldn't be seen or touched. They guessed that the most likely thing was to simply dismantle the entire elevator.
But that was clearly not the case.
Lockhart simply took out a snail shell, a snail shell that looked extremely strange and bizarre. Just looking at it for a moment, he felt as if his soul was about to be drawn from his body and sucked inside.
He held the snail shell up in one hand and gently waved his wand at the elevator with the other. No one knew what spell he was casting. The wand shook, and waves of terrifying, invisible magical fluctuations quickly rippled around the area. A few people with lower than average magical resistance due to various reasons were almost made dizzy and lost their balance.
Lockhart turned back to his two apprentices with a smile. "Lend a hand. I need a Soul Bonfire and a Patronus Charm."
Crabbe reacted instantly. He had his wand ready and quickly began casting. Soon, a flame pattern of two colours spread out from his feet in all directions.
Percy also quickly cast a Patronus Charm, releasing a large swath of brilliant, silvery smoke that filled the entire elevator.
This was a test. A test of whether his two apprentices had grasped the characteristics of this Dark Creature that he had just explained, and whether they could flexibly use the corresponding spells to counter it.
Lockhart was overjoyed to find that both Crabbe and Percy had understood! They understood that the Dark Creature in the elevator was not some 'gate between two worlds' that he had just spouted to the French Ministry officials, but a Dark Creature that suppressed the body's bloodline and tried to pull out the soul.
It was the "Evil God" he had spoken of earlier.
Lockhart had once taught young wizards that Dark Creatures should be treated just like wizards casting spells. The spatial movement this Dark Creature created was simply too similar to Memory-anchored Time-River Apparition. More importantly, its attacking state was far too similar to the Imperius Curse.
This thing... Lockhart understood it all too well. No one understood it better than he did!
He had even shut the doors of his Dueling Club to properly teach this very subject. What was the point of Defense Against the Dark Arts if you didn't even understand the Unforgivable Curses and how to defend against them?
So, he had to teach the Imperius Curse.
And so, Lockhart's test for his apprentices turned into the simplest question—how to defend against the Imperius Curse. He had even given them a hint: by using a Soul Bonfire or a Patronus Charm.
Crabbe and Percy gave him a perfect answer!
The entire elevator visually began to shake and jump, as if a bizarre monster was struggling. The French Ministry officials were all gasping in awe, but only Lockhart clearly felt that his snail shell had suddenly acquired something.
Something that could be used as an illegal Floo Network fireplace, a Dark Creature that could suppress the body's bloodline!
This ability was enough to free Lupin from the monthly werewolf transformation, allowing him to live as a normal person from now on. Of course, it could also be used to help Neville's parents, to allow them to return to being normal Muggles and be discharged from the hospital.
Heh heh...
As for who to give it to...
Lockhart planned to hand it over to Dumbledore.
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