## Chapter 190: The Prophecy and the Path
Mihail circled the black lake, spitting fire occasionally or diving into the water before flying back out.
But after many repetitions, only shallow ripples resonated on the lake's surface, quickly subsiding.
"Looks like all the Inferi have been eliminated… or their stiff brains have finally learned to avoid danger."
Lupin said, glancing back.
Of Voldemort's Inferi guards, only Regulus remained, still struggling weakly and ineffectually.
"Sirius, Regulus, he..."
"Burn him."
Sirius dropped his arm, not approaching his brother, and said coldly, "I'll take his ashes to my crazy mother."
Lupin looked at his face, as pale as an Inferius, and sighed helplessly:
"Sirius, don't be so childish."
"The war was over a decade ago. Regulus clearly realized his mistakes, even if he didn't get a chance to turn back..."
"If you dispose of his body so carelessly, you'll regret it someday."
"It's not shameful to admit you're grieving for your own brother's death, Sirius."
Sirius's lips trembled slightly. He quickly glanced at the struggling Inferius on the ground, then pulled his gaze away as if burned.
Although Sirius was seen as a traitor and disgrace by his family, and he scorned the Black Family members, he had to admit that he and his brother once had a very close bond.
Before Sirius entered Gryffindor, Regulus had greatly admired his older brother, a clingy shadow that annoyed Sirius.
"Dumbledore—"
The forced indifference on Sirius's face softened. He lowered his head, fingers involuntarily clenching, and pleaded in a low voice:
"I remember there's a type of magic... that can dispel Necromancy from Inferi, allowing the dead to rest in peace..."
It was a profound and obscure White Magic that required immense magical power, and among the few present, only Dumbledore knew how to cast it.
During the past war, they had only learned how to expel or even destroy dangerous creatures like Inferi. They didn't consider them their own kind, nor would they expend their own power to give the dead a dignified end.
This was also because Voldemort's Inferi were mostly created from murdered Muggles, and people hardly considered the possibility that their own relatives might appear among the Inferi.
However, now, this was happening to Regulus.
Watching his once obedient younger brother still being driven by the enemy even after death, even though they barely spoke a word afterward, Sirius still felt extreme pain.
Facing Sirius like this, Dumbledore naturally wouldn't refuse his request.
"Once things here are settled, I will dispel the Necromancy for him."
Dumbledore said gently, "Sirius, accepting the passing of a loved one is a long and painful process. You can be vulnerable; you can cry. There's nothing wrong with that, and we are willing to offer you any help."
"But I want to tell you that Regulus must be in a better place now, without pain or worries. When you meet again in another world someday, I believe he will welcome you with a smile."
...
Wade walked slowly along the narrow path by the lake. In normal vision, there was nothing here. But he saw green magic slowly flowing, like a group of neatly lined up small snakes.
Then, Lupin saw Wade grasp something invisible in the air and pull hard. He then heard the clinking sound of metal chains colliding.
Suddenly, a thick green copper chain shot out of the water, striking at Wade like a venomous snake. Lupin raised his Wand and waved it, and an invisible barrier once again blocked Wade.
The chain hit with a thud but still didn't give up. It stood upright, retreated a little, and then immediately attacked the two again.
*"CLANG!"*
From the side, a Spell landed on the copper chain. The chain seemed to suddenly lose its strength, falling to the ground, coiling, and dragging a small boat out of the lake.
The boat glowed with a faint green light, silently sailing towards the shore, like a ghost in the dead of night.
"Professor Dumbledore!" Lupin said.
Dumbledore nodded and said, "I've made Regulus a little quieter... Sirius is with him."
Wade turned to look.
Sirius wasn't using a Lumos spell, so Wade could only see a black silhouette. He seemed to be kneeling, or squatting, or rather, like a quiet, squatting large black dog.
Lupin had once mentioned that after returning from Azkaban, Sirius had become somewhat afraid of the dark. Although he always pretended to be unaffected, he couldn't hide it from a keen Werewolf.
Wade turned his head away.
Though he couldn't see the person's expression, he could understand the feeling of losing loved ones again and again.
With a "thump," the small boat hit the bank.
It was a very narrow boat, pointed at both ends, and appeared to only accommodate one or two people.
"Wade, it looks like you'll have to wait for us here."
Lupin turned to his student and said:
"I just found that Apparition isn't possible here. I'm afraid we can only reach the center of the lake by taking this small boat."
"Dumbledore and I will go first. You'd best stay with Sirius."
Wade hadn't spoken yet when Dumbledore interjected.
"No, Remus, I think perhaps you need to stay here."
"Dumbledore," Lupin frowned, "I admit Wade is exceptionally talented, but he's still only a twelve-year-old child. I think I'm better suited to face unknown dangers than he is..."
"It's not about who is more qualified to face danger, Remus, nor is it about ability."
Dumbledore spoke calmly, cutting off whatever Lupin had been about to say.
"It's simply that Voldemort places more importance on how much magical power crosses this lake. I believe this boat has been enchanted to carry only one wizard at a time."
"Then Wade also—"
"He won't be counted. After all—as you said, he's only twelve. Compared to my magic, his power is negligible."
"Of course—"
Dumbledore seemed to realize that such words might discourage a proud youth and immediately added, "Voldemort certainly didn't expect anyone to be more gifted than he was in his youth—he always makes such foolish mistakes."
"You flatter me, Professor."
Wade didn't mind; his magical power was indeed vastly different from Dumbledore's, and there was no shame in admitting the truth.
As the saying goes, Dumbledore had eaten more salt than Wade had eaten rice. He was brilliant, exceptionally talented, and had studied magic his entire life.
If a student like Wade, who had been exposed to magic for less than two years, could easily surpass him, it would be underestimating the greatest wizard of this century.
The two boarded the boat one after another.
The small boat had some kind of magic cast on it, so it didn't sway due to uneven weight distribution. However, the space was too cramped to sit down, so Wade simply stood, just like Dumbledore.
A warm hand rested on his shoulder.
Dumbledore seemed worried he might accidentally fall off the boat. Wade shifted his neck, a little unaccustomed to the touch, but he didn't refuse the old man's kindness.
"Be careful," Lupin cautioned. "I'll be waiting here. If anything changes, I'll find a way to get to you immediately!"
"Yes..." Wade replied, "but merely riding in a small boat shouldn't be dangerous. Voldemort also needs safe passage."
"Alright..." Lupin took a deep breath. "If there's any uncertain danger, just come back, and we'll figure it out together, okay? We don't necessarily have to solve all the problems today."
Wade nodded and said, "Understood."
Dumbledore smiled gently.
Although Lupin's words were directed at Wade, Dumbledore knew he was actually protesting to him.
This struck the old headmaster as somewhat novel.
This was the first time someone had doubted his ability to protect those around him.
He could tell that Lupin didn't distrust him, but rather saw Wade as someone he had a responsibility to protect.
Even though Dumbledore was far more powerful than Lupin, Lupin still felt uneasy and worried when Wade followed Dumbledore, disappearing from his sight to embark on an adventure.
It was like parents with their beloved child, or a miser clutching precious jewels, careful and utterly cherishing.
...
The small boat had already set off on its own.
It didn't need steering, moving in a straight line towards the green light in the middle of the lake, leaving fan-shaped ripples in its wake.
The murky, dark lake bottom was invisible; only the light from the tip of Dumbledore's Wand reflected on the water, like scattered starlight.
Mihail landed on the bow, looking left and right, occasionally spreading its wings and spitting two streams of fire into the lake, as if still hoping for any missed Inferius to emerge.
Wade almost hallucinated a mischievous child spitting everywhere.
Dumbledore watched Mihail, the golden light from the firebird reflecting in his eyes.
"A very unique life form," Dumbledore casually asked. "Where did you find it?"
"In the Gaunt Family's Old House," Wade said. "I didn't 'find' it—I 'created' it."
Dumbledore was silent for a few seconds. "...Created?"
"Life Alchemy, it involves forbidden magic, but it can also be said to be an accidental product."
Wade didn't think there was anything he could hide from Dumbledore's eyes, and besides, being caught in a lie would be even more awkward.
So, he briefly recounted his and Lupin's actions that day to Dumbledore, focusing on the figure struggling in the Fiendfyre and even trying to attack them, only omitting the part where Mihail found the Resurrection Stone.
Wade didn't know if the current Dumbledore could resist the temptation of the Resurrection Stone, but the fate of the Peverell Brothers who obtained the Resurrection Stone constantly reminded him.
Dumbledore was indeed very interested in that figure. After asking a few more questions about the situation at the time, he fell into contemplation.
The small boat gently glided through the lake water, making soft splashing sounds.
They were already far from the shore, but Lupin continued to hold up his brightly glowing Wand, his figure, standing tall like a green pine, distinctly visible from any direction.
Magic was a power connected to the mind; perhaps that's why those Wade had helped always repaid him in different ways.
But this wasn't a cold exchange of benefits.
Wade looked at the increasingly small figure and suddenly said, "Professor..."
"Wade?" Dumbledore looked down.
"Why didn't you ask?" Wade said.
"Ask what?"
"How I know all this… and why I'm doing it…"
It was so quiet around them that they could hear each other breathing.
Dumbledore didn't seem surprised, nor did he have that smug look of someone who had everything under control. Instead, he simply sighed softly.
"You know, there are always some wizards with the gift of foresight. For example, our Divination Class professor, Sybill Trelawney—her great-grandmother was the legendary seer, Cassandra Trelawney."
"Sybill inherited some of her great-grandmother's talent, though she doesn't seem to be able to fully utilize it."
"And in our time, the most powerful Seer I knew was Gellert Grindelwald. He could see fragments of the future."
"Prophecy made him, making it easier for him to succeed; but prophecy also ruined him, causing him to overlook many things… things more important than life and death."
"Before you, I always thought Sybill was just a diviner who occasionally displayed her talent, and that Grindelwald was the only Seer of our time."
Wade looked over in surprise, and Dumbledore's gaze, as he watched him, held a subtle hint of pity within its gentleness.
"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 fatalism. Prophecy gives us guidance for our destiny, but only you can decide the direction of your future."
...
The small boat gently bumped against the shore and stopped. Ahead was a smooth, rocky island, only about the size of a room, with a stone pillar in the center and a stone basin atop it.
The stone basin glowed with a faint green light.
Dumbledore was the first to step out of the boat. Standing on the black rock, he observed for a moment before turning back and saying, "Wade?"
Wade snapped out of his contemplation and quickly disembarked.
Looking at the Headmaster's robes, adorned with stars and moons, he felt both surprised and not entirely surprised.
No wonder Dumbledore had never questioned him… it turned out he had already drawn his own conclusions.
Prophecy…
Then again, what difference was there between everything he knew and prophecy, in the eyes of this world?
Hmm… there was a difference—
The future seen by a Seer changes with the observer's actions; but the plot he knew was a story with a fixed ending.
The development of that story had already been completely messed up by him, and he intended to change even more.
When a person comes into the world, they always want to leave something behind.
This world had given him a second life, so peace was the best gift he could give in return.
Wade thought this as he walked towards the stone basin in the center.
Thank you, brothers and sisters, for your support! Your Leaf finally got the second badge!!!
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