Chapter 10
- What is it like to control two bodies? - The Director's eyes literally sparkled with curiosity, but we didn't have time for that right now.
- Excuse me for what? - we nervously asked through Andromeda.
- Ah, I see I scared you. I beg your pardon. - Dumbledore smiled guiltily, but with the curiosity in his eyes that had not diminished one bit, it was hard to believe in the sincerity of this apology.
- You see, children. - He stood up from the table. - Your case is so unique that for the most part only theories have been built about it, and even that theory only arose in the field of creating magic wands...
When he had already started to explain our case, there was no point in continuing to deny it, and we interrupted him and asked in a slightly offended tone: "How did you find out our secret?"
He seemed to find our expression funny, because he chuckled before answering. "Have you ever heard the phrase, ' The eyes are the mirror of the soul, they reflect everything that seems hidden and, like a mirror, they reflect the person looking into them. '"
- Yes. - We nodded still warily, while thinking about whether it could be that our artifacts weren't working as they should and the director had simply read our thoughts.
- Well, this phrase is quite true. Through eye contact, some particularly skilled mages are able to see the thoughts of defenseless targets, however... - at this point we were almost sure that our good-for-nothing grandfather had slipped us defective artifacts, until we heard the following. - Even if the mind is protected, the eyes are also a direct window into the soul, and if you know what to look for, then just one glance will be enough for confirmation.
- If you had to know what to look for, how did you know about it? - we asked a little cheekily, feeling more and more that the man in front of us was not the phononic Dambigad , but at the same time still different from the one we knew from the canon.
- Your wands, - Dumbledore answered the question with a smile . - Anyone who really understands wands would be suspicious if they saw your twin wands.
- So almost anyone can find out our secret?! - we exclaimed in shock.
"Not quite," Dumbledore shook his head, turning away from us and walking over to the bookshelf with his personal collection.
- In fact, literally only a few people really understand wands. Even among wand makers. - Saying this, he took a rather old, weighty book from the shelf and, opening it to the right page, placed it in front of us.
The first thing that caught our attention was that the original text was written in Old English, and if there had not been a neat, small translation into English under each line, we simply would not have been able to understand what was written. And, in fact, the moment that aroused suspicion in Ollivander and Dumbledore was not even directly addressed on this pathetic page of the book.
If you leave out all the water, then all the information will simply boil down to the fact that making twin sticks does not make sense, since a connection is formed between them and if one of them becomes attached to one owner, then the other will also be automatically attached to him.
- It doesn't even say directly about one soul for two bodies. - We looked at him with slight bewilderment.
- That's why few people will be able to expose you, - the director, who had returned to his place, chuckled.
"We don't understand," we shook our heads. "If you didn't know something like this was possible, then how could you and Ollivander even come up with the idea of testing us? It's weird."
- Tell me child, how do you think why, with so many wizards existing, only a few achieve power or make fundamental discoveries, how are they different? - Dumbledore asked and after a little thought, taking into account the context, we came to our answer.
- Thinking?
- True. - the old man nodded with satisfaction. - Very often geniuses or simply powerful magicians are considered crazy or simply extremely eccentric. Such people think slightly differently, where the average person will not find anything ordinary or will be limited by what is already known, a real genius will come up with something new. He will think about what might seem absurd to others and, if he is lucky, will bring it to life.
- You do know that you just spent almost a minute indirectly praising yourself? - we decided to test the waters a little.
- Hah , perhaps it really could look like that, - Dumbledore chuckled.
- Professor, let me ask you a question, - we called, it was time to understand why he was even talking to us about these topics now, it was too strange.
"I'm listening," he said graciously.
- Why are you telling us all this? We doubt that you communicate with every student like this.
"Before I answer you, I want you to satisfy my curiosity as well," the old man exhaled slowly, the smile leaving his lips and the wrinkles on his face seeming to become more distinct.
"Okay," we nodded.
- What are you striving for? I can see very well that from your first days at Hogwarts, unlike other children and even your friend Miss Granger , you act more purposefully. - Is he really testing us for something now?
- What are we aiming for? - We muttered. This moment really required some time from us to think before answering. Dumbledore did not rush us and after 2 minutes we were finally ready to answer.
"We just want to study magic and have a safe and secure life, and maybe a little fun wouldn't hurt either," we replied, adding the last point as we went along.
- What about the Ministry of Magic? With your potential, you could achieve a high position in the future.
- Not interested, - they answered unequivocally. - Why should we get involved in politics, and especially strive for a leadership position, when instead we could calmly develop magic at home? At the same time, as magicians, we will be able to provide ourselves with everything we need
"What about starting a family?" Dumbledore smiled slightly.
- And um... can we not answer? - when we heard this question, we involuntarily remembered one special book that we saw in the family library. "The Magic of Sex" in this book there were many different spells aimed at both improving the diversity of sexual life and reducing the risks, including unwanted pregnancy, or exactly the opposite. Needless to say, after such memories our faces turned red from embarrassment?
- Ahem . Perhaps it really isn't worth it, - the director cleared his throat.
- Have we answered your questions? - we asked, hoping to leave here as soon as possible, not even particularly interested in the reason why he was being so frank with us.
- One last question and we'll move on to the main topic of our conversation. - We barely managed to refrain from groaning out loud from this answer. After all, if we haven't even gotten to the main topic yet, then we'll have to sit here for a while, and there are many other more attractive options for spending a day off than being in the company of a powerful old man, if only he'd agreed to teach us magic, then that would be a different matter. But not this kind of conversation.
"What question?" we asked, trying not to show our displeasure.
- What do you think about Voldemort ?
- He is a threat to our peaceful life.
- I see . Good. I'm glad you didn't lie to me. - the director nodded gratefully.
"How do you know we weren't lying?" we asked in surprise.
"It's magic, Vega," his answer made irritation flare up inside.
- What else did you want to talk about? - We asked, frowning.
"I wanted to ask you to help, Harry," the old man sighed heavily.
- Excuse me? - Now we were really caught off guard, it was as if he had just admitted that he was manipulating the chosen one.
- Harry has a difficult fate and I'm afraid if we leave things as they are, a tragic end awaits him. Therefore, I hope that you will be able to try to introduce him to knowledge and will not abandon him in difficult times.
- Friendship cannot be built by command. - We answered with slight displeasure, although, to be honest, we were not going to abandon him to be torn apart. After all, because of us, the canonical trio will definitely not exist. And without Hermione, Harry and Ron, it will be extremely difficult.
- That's true, but you're not being entirely honest either. You're not as indifferent to him as you're trying to show.
- … - without answering, we demonstratively pouted.
- Good. What do you want? - Dumbledore sighed, leaning back on his throne.
- When we have questions about magic, we will be free to come to you and ask them, and you will answer honestly. - We immediately answered happily.
"Okay," Dumbledore calmly accepted our demand.
- Can we go?
- Right.
- See you later, Professor! - We jumped up from our seats, trying to leave the office as quickly as possible.
- By the way, you still haven't answered my question, - said Dumbledore, before we had time to open the door?
- Which?
"What is it like to control two bodies?" he repeated the question.
- It must be nice? After all, we never felt lonely. Have we satisfied your curiosity?
- Yes, thank you. - After these words, we finally left the office, leaving Dumbledore alone.
"How quickly children grow up, just think," muttered the old man, who understood perfectly well what a person in their condition might think when they were embarrassed by the question about family.
- It's good that they had protection, otherwise I might have seen things I would have preferred not to see.