Chapter 137: Department of Mysteries
Dumbledore was a busy man and quickly departed.
In fact, Lockhart, upon carefully reviewing the original book's information from his memories, realized that even Harry Potter, the "Boy Who Lived" on whom the Order of the Phoenix had placed so much hope, didn't actually have much interaction with the headmaster.
Even upon discovering the "telepathic" connection between Voldemort and Harry, Dumbledore didn't consider teaching Harry himself, but instead instructed Snape to do so.
Many people perhaps didn't realize how much Dumbledore had done for the entire wizarding world after defeating Grindelwald and taking on the mantle of reform.
When problems arose with students at the school, once he confirmed that the Ministry of Magic's Department of Mysteries had a way to treat them, and that there were school professors overseeing the situation, he no longer intervened.
Next, it was Undersecretary Umbridge who received Lockhart.
Her attitude was surprisingly good, with a subtle undertone of flattery and obsequiousness that made Lockhart feel, at times, like he was the Minister for Magic.
She was so enthusiastic.
On the way to the Department of Mysteries, she chattered incessantly beside Lockhart.
However, she actually knew nothing about the Department of Mysteries, so she had very little to say and kept making awkward conversation.
This was normal. Most people in the Ministry of Magic weren't even allowed near the Department of Mysteries' floor. Kingsley, who was initially accompanying them, was informed he didn't have clearance.
"Undersecretary Umbridge, you—"
Lockhart wanted to tell her to shut up quickly. He had no desire to listen to her flattery; he didn't like it.
"You can just call me by my name, Professor Lockhart," Dolores Umbridge tried her best to appear less subservient. She knew her value lay in her authority as Undersecretary, and being too humble would only diminish that value, but she clearly didn't know how to act appropriately.
Lockhart smiled and shook his head. "Alright, Undersecretary Umbridge, I think you've misunderstood a few things. For example, the title 'Department of Mysteries' isn't because the work here is top secret and mysterious to the public. Its true meaning, I believe, should be interpreted in relation to magic itself."
Umbridge paused, looking a bit bewildered.
"Mystery is magic's most interesting feature. Only when magic is in a mysterious state is it at its most powerful," Lockhart steered the conversation into the academic realm, successfully silencing Umbridge, who had returned all her knowledge to her professors after starting work.
"Oh, you are truly learned," she said dryly, not knowing how to continue the conversation.
Lockhart was actually filled with curiosity about this place, and also felt a bit strange—he was actually allowed inside?
Could Umbridge have brought him in in violation of the rules?
A sense of caution stirred within him.
Entry to the Department of Mysteries was only through a dedicated elevator, which first led into a circular room.
Inside the room were twelve doors, completely unmarked and indistinguishable from each other. Even when Lockhart tried to carefully differentiate them, he had the illusion that the circular room was spinning rapidly.
"The Department of Mysteries has twelve chambers, but I've found that many of them haven't had Unspeakables working in them for a long time; they're all vacant and sealed," Umbridge finally couldn't help but whisper, "You know, Gellert Grindelwald's reform war against the Statute of Secrecy, and the first wizarding war brought by the Dark Lord, caused a severe shortage of high-level talent in British wizardry."
Just like that, they passed through one of the doors and entered the Brain Room.
The Brain Room was an extremely spacious and brightly lit chamber. In the room was a massive table, on which sat a large tank filled with murky green liquid, containing many brains covered in tentacles.
Lockhart was immediately drawn to this "sky fish tank" upon entering.
To him, this object was incredibly astonishing. It emanated a magical fluctuation completely opposite to that of a Pensieve. It could even be said to have taken a path to the opposite extreme of Pensieve craftsmanship.
If a Pensieve simulated a human skull to contain memories, with the concept being "containment," then this object before him was entirely simulating "society," allowing thoughts, stripped of all biological instincts, to be completely exposed within "society." The concept was "blooming."
And so, interestingly, the thoughts didn't turn into silvery liquid. Instead, they themselves developed biological characteristics, transforming into brains, which then sprouted numerous "thought tentacles."
These tentacles, like human nerve pathways, swayed in the water, with a few even taking on human-like contours.
Could it be—
The mere existence of thought could entirely forge a complete human being, encompassing all innate bloodlines, ailments, talents, and the influences of the external environment?
This was a connection Lockhart drew based on some of Tom Riddle's theories on resurrection spells.
He suddenly had too many ideas.
For example, if he himself were to strip away all magical memories, relying only on his pre-transmigration thoughts, could he forge a physical body of his past self, possessing all the characteristics of his previous life's bloodline and so on?
For example, Tom always longed to strip away the Muggle bloodline of the Riddle family, retaining only the Gaunt family bloodline, which stemmed from Slytherin. Was he also following this path?
Thinking more deeply, when Voldemort eventually developed bestial features, like a snake face, could it be that he was conducting some magical experiments on himself at that time, and that the Basilisk was involved in some parts of it?
Then—
Could it be inferred that Voldemort's desire to return to Hogwarts was also due to the Chamber of Secrets, hoping to continue experimenting with the Basilisk?
Lockhart vaguely realized that the Basilisk, which he had always treated as experimental auxiliary material, might not be so simple in Voldemort's eyes.
Old Voldemort might have been too weak, so much so that he could only watch helplessly as his diary-Horcrux self gradually exposed itself to Dumbledore using that Basilisk.
If that was the case—
Lockhart strongly suspected that the Tom in the diary-Horcrux might not be the complete Tom Riddle.
Young Tom, resurrected through the Basilisk, might just be preparing a body for the wandering spirit of Voldemort.
Pfft, calculating against oneself, truly amusing.
"Oh, we can't stay here for too long," Umbridge urged nervously. "It's said that even Unspeakables cannot observe them for too long, as thoughts can connect, and then these brains will leap out and wrap around people with those disgusting tentacles, turning us into imbeciles."
Lockhart raised an eyebrow, lost in thought.
As a master of memory, having undergone extensive practical experience and referring to Tom Riddle's more advanced methods regarding Ginny Weasley's soul, he was incredibly sensitive to information in this area.
"Yes, if you keep thinking about it, it will appear," Lockhart smiled slightly, retracted his gaze, and allowed Umbridge to lead the way.
It was a shame. This "fish tank" could definitely broaden his exploration of the Obliviate Charm, or rather, the deeper understanding of memory and soul.
They continued walking, again entering one of the indistinguishable doors, finally arriving at a room with a shallow pool of water.
This place looked very familiar to him.
Because that pool was a gigantic Pensieve.
Compared to the overly bright main hall outside, this place was rather dim, so dim that it gave off an extremely strange sticky and fishy smell.
"Have we entered the skull of a giant?" Lockhart whispered in awe.
Umbridge quickly signaled him with her eyes, anxiously gesturing that talking was not allowed here.
Not far away, by the pool, a wizard dressed in a black hooded robe was holding a wand and gesturing towards the pool. Hearing Lockhart's remark, he couldn't help but look up at Lockhart, a hint of surprise in the eyes behind his ancient wooden mask.
He met Lockhart's gentle smile and nodded slightly, his voice a bit hoarse. "It's a Dragon-Lizard, not a giant."
The Dragon-Lizard was a magical creature that only existed in ancient wizarding society, said to be a magical beast bred from fire dragons and lizards, with an enormous body, like a small mountain.
The appetite of such a behemoth was terrifying, and it eventually vanished from history because wizards found its upkeep unsustainable.
Wow! Lockhart's eyes lit up. He approached the somewhat arched wall and looked closer. Under the dim, deep blue flame light,
he faintly discovered that its material resembled turbid crystal.
This place actually used the skull of a Dragon-Lizard directly, crafted using the artistry of crystal skulls.
He wanted to discuss this information with the wizard by the pool, but unfortunately, Unspeakables were not allowed to discuss anything within their scope of work with others.
That last response was actually a violation already.
A violation committed right in front of the Undersecretary of Magic, Umbridge.
Of course, this person was clearly not afraid of Umbridge. Over a hundred years ago, the then Minister for Magic, Radolphus Lestrange, had tried to close the Department of Mysteries, but his orders were completely ignored. After a while, he himself resigned, citing poor health.
Vincent Crabbe was soon brought in.
After a few Aurors brought him over, they quickly left this eerie place, leaving only Lockhart, Umbridge, and Scrimgeour.
The Unspeakable took the severed arm with the Dark Mark from Scrimgeour, looked at the mark with some apprehension for a moment, then placed it in a smaller connected pool next to the large floor pool.
He poured a large amount of potion into this small pool. A strong burning smell and sulfurous odor rose from the pool, with rolling yellow smoke accompanied by tiny, murky green electrical currents, causing him to exclaim "Werewolf!" and step back repeatedly.
He cast a spell to disperse the smoke, then had them lay Crabbe flat in the large pool. He pulled out a snakeskin drum, tied it to his waist, held one hand up, shaking it, and used the other to pat the drum, chanting and dancing around the pool.
He seemed to be reciting some kind of African tribal incantation.
The tone was full of desolation and vastness.
Soon, Crabbe's pool began to bubble profusely. A pale, blurry shadow quickly emerged from the severed arm in the small pool, passed through the sluice gate in the connecting channel, and plunged into Crabbe's body.
"Kang-ya-ya-NN~"
The Unspeakable hummed. After an unknown period, he suddenly cast a spell on Crabbe.
"~~~"
Crabbe in the pool suddenly gasped, sat up forcefully, and breathed heavily.
"Professor Lockhart!" He looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings and the strange old man who was still chanting and dancing, his face filled with terror. He quickly scanned the area, finally spotting Lockhart, and only then did he relax.
....
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