"In your long absence, Ms. Granger was unable to receive proper feedback for her devotion, nor could she bring herself to harm you. Her ultimate target shifted to your other women. During your absence, she killed them with the Killing Curse."
"This is a development that conforms to normal logic."
"However, a terrible future can be changed starting from now."
"Your system will not be noticed by mere prophecy. The biggest variable lies within you."
"What you need now is to follow my footsteps and measure Gregory's great work—the [World in a Box]. Hmm, let's just call it the World Box."
Hearing this, Basil breathed a sigh of relief, shifting his attention away from the surrounding stands. He wondered what the scenery would be like inside the box Riddle claimed was comparable to Newt's, a box named after the world.
Riddle opened the box, revealing a staircase leading downwards.
The bottom of the box appeared to be the interior of a small wooden cabin.
He waved his wand lightly.
All the items collected over these days lined up and followed him to the bottom of the box.
The wooden cabin had no windows, only a door.
Pushing open the door.
Brilliant sunlight poured in, along with the scent of green grass, soil, and fresh flowers.
Stepping forward.
It was a complete world.
The cabin was surrounded by water on all sides.
In the clear stream were fish, small shrimp, colorful pebbles, and moss-covered square rocks.
Many flowers whose names he couldn't recall were planted around.
Crossing the wooden bridge, ahead lay an endless forest, with high mountains seemingly towering in the distance.
Walking along the stream, there was a vast expanse of reeds. Parting them revealed ducks and swans swimming leisurely on the lake surface.
"Are you satisfied? I searched for a long time to find its whereabouts."
"No charging needed. The stream, flowers, grass, trees, sun, and white clouds before your eyes are the sources of its energy. Energy circulates and increases among them."
"Your entry and exit, the opening and closing of the box, will also increase energy."
Basil was curious: "What principle is this? I recall that the magnetic fields of magical items decay. And I read in a biology book that the US created a closed ecosystem—Biosphere 2. The experiment ended in failure. It was said that with current human technology, the oxygen content in a manufactured closed ecological chamber would become insufficient after operating for a certain time. So for now, humans cannot create a permanent closed ecosystem."
"But according to you, the energy in this box won't decay but increase instead. That's not scientific at all."
"Scientific?" Riddle coughed. "This is magic. The magical magnetic field of this box is constantly interacting with the magical magnetic field of the outside world."
"I remember this is knowledge you already knew. Magical Theory mentioned it. The reason those enchantments on your home in Devon don't need maintenance is that their magical magnetic fields combine with the Earth's magnetic field, promoting each other."
"High-level magical items, magical constructions, and that inextinguishable Gubraithian Fire are all born based on this principle."
"This box is no exception."
"It is not an isolated system. It is not closed like Biosphere 2, so the ecosystem inside can maintain operation indefinitely."
"Gregory's ingenious design and the brilliant Atmospheric Charms inside allow its magical magnetic field to fit perfectly with the external magnetic field. The opening and closing of the box can expand or shrink the degree of interaction with the external magnetic field."
"Therefore, the space and ecosystem inside the box will only tend towards stability with the increase of time."
"The entry and exit of wizards will also make the box's magical magnetic field more complex and stable."
"Atmospheric Charms?" Basil was a bit puzzled; he hadn't studied that far yet.
It wasn't that he was unlearned, but rather this wasn't his area of in-depth study.
After completing the first-year curriculum...
His subsequent research and study direction were related to the mind—spells in the mental domain such as the Confundus Charm, Obliviate, and Occlumency.
He also read those three books from the School of Philosophy recommended by Professor McGonagall.
After all, Grand Wizards and advanced spells were all related to the ethereal progress of the heart. Magic itself, disregarding the magical magnetic field, also originated from belief.
Riddle nodded. "Atmospheric Charms aren't simply casting thunderclouds overhead. 'Atmosphere' refers to all atmospheric physical phenomena occurring in the sky: wind, clouds, rain, snow, frost, dew, rainbows, halos, lightning, thunder, etc."
"And brilliant Atmospheric Charms can simulate a complete climate cycle, spring, summer, autumn, and winter."
"Like Hagrid's Pet Case, the Atmospheric Charms inside are relatively simple. They can only simulate spring and summer, sunny and rainy seasons."
"I see," Basil sighed.
His attention returned to the pitch.
The stands were packed with people.
Ron, Neville, Seamus, and Dean were sitting together, leaning on the railing, talking about something unknown.
Sirius and Hagrid sat in the last row.
Wisps of colorful mist surged from the tip of Sirius's wand, forming clouds overhead with the words "Victory to Gryffindor! Go Draco Malfoy!"
Hagrid, holding binoculars, stared tightly at the pitch.
Others in the stadium were acting very exaggeratedly.
Making Basil truly feel for the first time how unpopular Slytherin was in the school.
He just zoned out for a moment—communicating with Riddle.
But in the blink of an eye, about three-quarters of the crowd had taken out scarlet roses and flags from somewhere.
The flags also bore slogans like "Gryffindor Succeed!" and "Lions Win the Cup!"
The remaining people were Slytherins; they all sat behind the Slytherin goalposts, about two hundred of them.
All wearing green decorations, the silver snake of Slytherin sparkling on their flags.
Snape sat in the front row, wearing green decorations like the others, with a gloomy smile on his face.
And kept making rude gestures provoking Sirius in the back row on the opposite side.
This startled the students behind him, but the next second, they followed their Head of House and started making gestures too.
Sirius didn't notice these.
On the contrary, the Gryffindor students were enraged by these gestures and began to return the favor.
Some Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students on both sides, wearing Gryffindor decorations, also joined in.
But strangely, Professor McGonagall, who should have scolded these rude behaviors, acted as if she saw and heard nothing.
Only Professor Flitwick and Professor Sprout stood up and restrained the students of their houses.
Just as Basil worried that the Slytherin and Gryffindor students would stand up and passionately shoot spells at each other across the pitch, the red and green teams walked out of the changing rooms carrying their brooms.
They came before the referee, Madam Hooch.
Harry and Draco both gripped their broom handles tightly, looking at each other.
The match was about to start.
"Captains, shake hands!" Madam Hooch said.
Flint and Wood walked towards each other, gripping each other's hands forcefully,
As if trying to crush each other's fingers.
"Mount your brooms!" Madam Hooch said. "Three... two... one..."
Fourteen brooms rose into the air, and Hooch's whistle was drowned out by the roar of the crowd.