Chapter 252: Flesh and Blood Magic Again

The next day was indeed a sunny day. The sun on Sunday shone brightly on the white snow, the distant mountaintops reflected golden light, and the whole world was bright.

The Daily Prophet finally published a report about Peter Pettigrew, and Crouch's photo from that year was also uncovered. His serious and sad face was placed next to the tearful Peter's mug shot.

"Surprisingly, the person who decided to award Peter Pettigrew the Order of Merlin First Class was none other than Barty Crouch, the former Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. He has always regarded himself as rigorous and upright, but according to a Insiders recall that he was often very forceful in throwing defendants into Azkaban, regardless of whether there was evidence that the other party was a Death Eater. The author is unwilling to mention Barty Crouch Jr., Mr. Crouch's son, here. Another Death Eater, but..."

"Barty Crouch Jr.?" Anthony asked in surprise. He never thought that the other party actually had a son.

"Yes, he was also sentenced to life in Azkaban." Professor McGonagall said.

Professor Sprout whispered to Anthony: "If it hadn't been for this matter, no one dares to say who the minister would be now."

Anthony glanced toward the nearby student table. Most of the people were not in the auditorium, but the few students closest to them were watching attentively as one of them demonstrated how to drink a glass of pumpkin juice in one go. The "Daily Prophet" was casually placed next to it, spread out in an article. Herbicide ads.

The professors all fell silent and looked at the report. It vaguely mentions that the Ministry of Magic has recently arrested an important You-Know-Who supporter, expresses its surprise at the reappearance of Peter Pettigrew in a rather inflammatory manner, and provides very detailed information to readers who do not know who Peter Pettigrew is. Introducing James Potter's good friend and recipient of the Order of Merlin, First Class, Sirius Black was mentioned in a few short paragraphs, and then quickly focused on how the Ministry of Magic immediately (in Fudge's case) led, of course) to realize that this means they may have been deceived, and methodically track down the truth.

"Nothing of note," Professor Flitwick said sharply.

While Anthony was still savoring the subtle praise of the current Ministry of Magic in one paragraph ("We can look forward to..."), Professor Flitwick had already read ten lines at a glance and started to read another page about the French Ministry of Magic's announcement to restrict large-scale large-scale projects. Snail export news.

"In a few days, the Ministry of Magic will have to be resourceful and brave to find that man's wand again." Professor McGonagall said disgustedly.

"Tuesday or Wednesday," a voice said cheerfully behind them. "Connelly is very interested in this matter."

After so long, Dumbledore finally appeared next to the staff table. Everyone was surprised.

"Albus!" Professor Sprout turned around and said reproachfully, "You scared me!"

"I'm sorry, Pomona, I thought I would receive a warmer welcome." Dumbledore said cheerfully, pulling out his chair and sitting in his own seat, "What's on offer this morning? Plum pudding? Hmm... trouble Pass me the toast over there, Minerva? And the raspberry jam?"

Professor McGonagall handed the toast to Dumbledore and put the jam bottle in his hand.

"Albus, tell me—" she said.

Professor McGonagall's words were interrupted by a "click". Dumbledore unscrewed the cap, raised the bottle and looked inside to see the remaining jam.

"There's still some left," Dumbledore said with satisfaction, then raised his eyes to look at Professor McGonagall, and asked gently, "What happened, Minerva?"

Professor McGonagall whispered: "Caredi said that Peter Pettigrew's sentence was commuted from the Dementor's Kiss to life imprisonment in Azkaban. Is this true?"

"Ah, about that..." Dumbledore said, then stopped. He looked around. Not only Professor McGonagall, but Professor Sprout, Professor Flitwick and Anthony were all looking at him.

Dumbledore nodded: "From what I've heard, I'd say it's true."

Professor Sprout sighed and began to spread layers of butter on his bread. Professor McGonagall had a straight face and said nothing for a moment.

Professor Flitwick piped up: "The announcement will be made on Tuesday or Wednesday, won't it? Along with the wand?"

"Yes," Dumbledore said easily, "I don't think Voldemort will be particularly happy."

Like a gust of wind blowing through the staff table, Voldemort's name caused all movement to pause. Professor McGonagall agreed: "He won't."

"Will he go to trouble with the Ministry of Magic, Albus?" Professor Sprout asked worriedly.

"I don't think he's that powerful yet," Dumbledore said. "Anyway, I warned Cornelius, but he didn't seem to care."

"Well..." Anthony said hesitantly, "I guess You-Know-Who might not order the Daily Prophet."

"That makes sense." Dumbledore laughed softly, "By the way, Henry, do you have any plans today?"

Anthony was stunned for a moment: "No, sir. It's nothing particularly important." He pushed back in his mind the spell learning and lesson preparation he had arranged for himself. Since the Wraith Chicken came to Hogwarts, Dumbledore has not specifically looked for him.

Dumbledore nodded and lowered his eyes intently to spread raspberry jam on the toast: "That's great. Would you mind going to my office after breakfast for a cup of tea or pumpkin juice? Or hot cocoa?"

"Pumpkin juice sounds great," said Anthony.

...

Dumbledore's office hadn't changed much since Anthony's last visit. There were still humming instruments on the table, portraits of past headmasters on the wall, and sunlight still shone into the room through the tall windows... except for one thing.

Dumbledore sat behind the table, and seemed to understand what Anthony was looking for with just a glance.

"Fawkes isn't here now," Dumbledore explained, "Nicholas borrowed Fawkes again. He's been exploring around England lately, and the phoenix has always been an adventurer's favorite companion. It can deliver letters immediately, its tears can heal wounds, and it can fly with heavy objects..."

"Oh, okay," Anthony said, taking the pumpkin juice that Dumbledore pushed over, "What do you want to talk to me about, sir?"

"I have a question that needs your opinion," Dumbledore said, "Henry, what is a corpse?"

"What?"

"What is a corpse?" Dumbledore repeated patiently, "I remember you told me that you can control skeletons, wraiths, or corpses, and Remus also mentioned that you said you controlled not the Inferi but the Inferi. It's a corpse. In the context of necromancy, what is a corpse? "

"A corpse is... uh... Generally speaking, I would say that a corpse is an unprocessed skeleton that still has flesh and blood." Anthony said, "Skeletons have no flesh and blood, vengeful spirits are just a collection of wishes, and inferi - according to the descriptions in the books I read - are probably corpses that have been processed by black magic, and are byproducts of necromancy research on resurrection. Roasted chickens are corpses, but those that are too burnt are not... and so on." He suddenly remembered that when he faced Quirrell, he condensed the ashes of the troll into a corpse again, "but the corpses of magical creatures seem to be different." Dumbledore leaned forward a little, looking at him intently and with interest.

"Necromancy is better at controlling the bodies of magical creatures...bones, skeletons, postmortem remains, whatever we call it." Anthony recalled the Bloody Baron's notes and took a sip of pumpkin juice. "There is a theory that this is because the bodies of these creatures are more suitable for carrying magic, so necromancy also flows more smoothly among them."

"More suitable for carrying magic..." Dumbledore said thoughtfully, "Do you think wizards are magical creatures, Henry?"

Anthony had no idea where this conversation would lead, but this question sounded too much like a belated interview for a Muggle Studies position.

He chose his words very carefully: "I think wizards do meet the broad definition of magical creatures, but they are still human in nature, no different from Muggles. Compared with narrow magical creatures that are born with magic, such as, uh... unicorns or phoenixes, wizards still need to learn magic. Squibs and Muggle-born wizards have proved that the distance between Muggles and wizards is not far..."

Dumbledore laughed and raised a hand to stop Anthony's introduction to Muggle Studies: "I apologize, Henry, that's not a good question, just my personal curiosity. Let's get back to the real question: First of all, the body is dead, right?"

"I can't find anything wrong with this statement." Anthony said. "Things that die need to have life first?"

"I guess so."

"It is easier for necromancy to control a body suitable for carrying magic?"

"I think so."

Dumbledore asked: "So, Henry, if someone creates a body through magic, will it be a body more suitable for magic? Will it be a body that can die - or live?"

"It's possible." Anthony said, "Isn't this the pursuit of flesh and blood magic, sir? To achieve what life can do through magic - even better than life?"

"But, Henry, what if it's not through flesh and blood magic?" Dumbledore asked.

Anthony said: "Then I doubt whether this person can really create a body. No, as far as I know, there is no better way to get a body blessed by magic and life except flesh magic."

Dumbledore pondered: "Hmm..."

Anthony took the initiative to ask: "What's wrong, sir? Why are you asking this?"

"I'm trying to reverse life through death." Dumbledore said softly, "Henry, do you remember your last conversation with Severus?"

Anthony tried to recall what Dumbledore was referring to.

"Severus must have forgotten to tell you that it was a very important discussion." Dumbledore said, "He was worried about how to simulate unicorn blood..."

Anthony remembered: "The discussion that he interrupted halfway? The discussion that he suddenly left? I don't understand what happened at the time."

"I apologize for him." Dumbledore said.

Anthony shook his head, indicating that he didn't care: "You know, sir, I think I'm getting used to Snape." Especially during the time when he and Snape didn't talk much, Snape became much more tolerable.

Dumbledore chuckled and said, "In short, Henry, Severus believes that a mixture of unicorn blood and snake venom can create a body large enough to contain Voldemort."

"Huh?" was the first question that popped into Anthony's mouth. He swallowed the question and replaced it with: "Why?"

He didn't think this question was much better than an interjection, because Dumbledore soon tried to explain to him in simple language a certain inference derived from a principle of potions ("Suppose we regard unicorn blood as golden water and mix it with conflicting potion materials"), and when he realized that he had never heard of this principle, he began to explain it with examples and analogies. In the end, Anthony had to admit that he really knew nothing about potions.

"It's okay, sir, I'm not questioning it." He said before Dumbledore changed to a simpler example, "I'm just... a little surprised."

"I know." Dumbledore's blue eyes flashed happily, "But I personally think it's always a good idea to be more prepared for what you are about to face, Henry."

"About to face?" Anthony said, "Just to confirm, sir, Fawkes won't fly back with Voldemort in his mouth?"

"I'm sorry, I'm afraid I won't." Dumbledore said, "I ask you to do me a favor, Henry."

Anthony watched Dumbledore stand up from his chair, walk to the tall bookshelf, and pull out a book.

"Voldemort will not be satisfied with a body made of unicorn blood and snake venom," Dumbledore said. "As you just told me, it will not be a body suitable for using magic. I hope you can continue your research on flesh and blood magic - at the same time, Severus has been trying various ratios and brewing methods. The more we understand the enemy, the stronger we are. We can try our best to prevent him from creating a suitable body for himself."

Anthony took the book. It looked like an ancient manuscript, with "The Secret of Advanced Black Magic (Volume 3)" written in cursive on the old parchment. He flipped through it hastily, and it seemed to be detailed information on flesh and blood magic from beginning to end.

"I found it among the things sent by Flourish and Blotts." Dumbledore looked at Anthony, his eyes seemed to be able to see through his heart, "This is a very dangerous book. Even if it is an excerpt, don't underestimate its danger. I sincerely hope that this day will not come, but one day, we may use flesh and blood magic. Use it well, Henry, use it carefully."

"I will." Anthony promised. Somehow, he felt a familiar tremor - similar to receiving an important essay topic or test paper when studying - he felt that he was facing an important exam.

Wake up and write.