Chapter 372: Omniscience is Omnipotence
"Based on much the same reasoning as yours, I expect. In 1811, a definition was finally reached that most members of the magical community found acceptable.
The then-Minister for Magic, Grogan Stump, issued a decree: a 'Being' is 'any creature that has sufficient intelligence to understand the laws of the magical community and to bear part of the responsibility in shaping those laws.'"
Master Newt did not wait for a wide-eyed Hermione or a completely bewildered Neville to catch up with the implications. He simply pressed on with his lecture.
"Troll representatives were questioned without Goblins present and were found to be incapable of understanding a word said to them; they were subsequently re-classified as 'Beasts,' despite their two legs. Merpeople were invited for the first time—via translators—to become 'Beings.' Fairies and Gnomes, despite their humanoid appearance, were firmly relegated to the category of 'Beasts.'"
Sean's quill scratched away across his parchment. He knew that because wizards were such highly individualistic and varied beings, there would always be a need for great minds to step forward and drag magical history into its next era.
"Of course, the matter did not end there. We are all familiar with extremists who campaigned for Muggles to be classified as 'Beasts.' And as we all know, the Centaurs eventually rejected 'Being' status, requesting to remain 'Beasts' so as not to share a classification with Hags and Vampires. Meanwhile, werewolves have been shunted between the Beast and Being Divisions for centuries. For a time, there was an office in the Being Division for the Werewolf Support Services, while the Werewolf Registry and the Werewolf Capture Unit were both housed under the Beast Division..."
Newt's voice was momentarily drowned out by the crisp sound of snow sliding off the roof outside. Having finished his explanation, he turned a clear, expectant gaze toward Sean.
Sean didn't speak. Instead, after finishing his transcription, he added a line of his own—a magical philosophy that would have been considered scandalous by most:
[OMNISCIENCE IS OMNIPOTENCE]
If a wizard could choose human emotion and moral boundaries as their anchor—such as a belief in Love or a conviction in Cruelty—then it stood to reason that one could also choose pure Rationality. His experiences in the Lands Between had already taught him the truth: Knowledge and Emotion carried equal magical weight.
"I understand. Thank you, Mr. Scamander," Sean said, letting out a long breath.
"I believe it is time for me to take my leave," Newt said with a smile, picking up his battered case.
"Oh—but—sir—" Hermione stammered, unsure of the silent understanding that had passed between the two, or why the Great Master was departing so abruptly.
"Goodbye, Miss Granger, Mr. Longbottom. And to you, my dear young Green."
Newt stepped out into the Alley. He had experienced a most entertaining week between Ilvermorny and Diagon Alley. He could already imagine how delighted Tina would be when he shared his haul of magical biscuits and the stories that went with them.
That left Sean, Hermione, and Neville in the back of the shop. And, of course, the silent Professor Quirrell.
"Even if Pukwudgies are technically 'Beings'... how exactly are you getting back to the castle?" Hermione asked, narrowing her eyes at Sean. She harbored a healthy suspicion that Sean was about to use a method that was perfectly logical but highly illegal.
The good news was that Sean always followed the rules. The bad news was that they were usually his own rules.
"I'm traveling with Professor Terra," Sean replied.
"Very well. I'll see you at Hogwarts, then."
Hermione let out a sigh of relief. She cast one last, longing look at the fascinating displays of Fairy Tale Biscuits before heading for the door.
"Have you finished opening your Christmas gifts?" Sean asked suddenly.
"I... I saved a few for the end of the break. Why?" Hermione asked, her tone defensive.
"I only meant that Christmas was a week ago," Sean noted.
"I know that!" Hermione huffed, before marching out of the shop.
After seeing Neville off, Sean settled into his chair and began to reflect on magical theory. He opened his Tome and wrote the opening line for a new chapter:
[Wizards must reach a deeper understanding of their own intellect and the ultimate form of magic born from it: Ritual Magic. It is the only true advantage they possess when facing a magical world teeming with peril...]
At sunset, the clouds acted as a veil for the descending sun. The light was soft and diffused, casting a wet, peaceful glow over the world.
Diagon Alley looked exactly as it always had. The shop windows were filled with a kaleidoscopic array of spellbooks, potion ingredients, and copper cauldrons. Outside the most famous shop in the district, the enchanted noticeboard shimmered with a fresh update:
[COMING SOON: THE WAMPUS SERIES]
The notice was bound to cause a sensation. Inside, Sean was holding more than just his notebook. He had retrieved his Pensieve from the Tome, the silver threads within swirling like smoke.
"You look troubled, sir," Professor Quirrell noted. His voice was perfectly timed, arriving just as Sean emerged from his thoughts.
"I have forgotten something, Professor," Sean admitted.
"If the Pensieve is proving insufficient, perhaps you might consider the study of Occlumency," Quirrell suggested. "I happen to have... some modest experience in the field."
Sean's head snapped up. How could I have forgotten?
Dumbledore and Snape were both masters of Legilimency. To remain undetected under their gaze, a wizard had to be an accomplished Occlumens. And Professor Quirrell was undoubtedly an expert—regardless of whether his skill had been self-taught or forced upon him by Voldemort, the technical knowledge remained.
"You mean... you would teach me?" Sean asked cautiously.
"Before I traveled to the forests of Albania, I had achieved a certain level of proficiency," Quirrell said. His expression froze for a fleeting second, a shadow of old pain crossing his face before his features smoothed out. "Later... He forced me to perfect it."
It was a staggering stroke of luck. The answer he had been searching for had been right beside him all along.
"Occlumency," Quirrell began, his voice taking on a lecture-like cadence. "It is the art of preventing the mind from being invaded or influenced by magic. I have used it—deeply—in my moments of resistance, though back then my will was still too fragile.
"Some call it 'mind-reading,' but the mind is not a book to be opened and paged through at will. Thoughts are not etched into the skull for all to see. The mind is a complex, multi-layered thing, Mr. Green—at least, most minds are.
"But magic can still exert influence. The Memory Charm, the Confusion Charm, and Legilimency can all bypass a wizard's natural guard. To defend oneself, a wizard must minimize the fluctuations of their own thoughts. If you are willing to trust me, sir, we can begin by letting you experience what a magical intrusion feels like.
"It is, after all, a far cry from simply daydreaming."
[End of Chapter 372]
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