SWDnovel Chapter 73 Vulnerability
Chapter 73 Vulnerability
Chapter 73 Vulnerability
What made the little elf become a house-elf?
Was it because they were defeated?
No.
Defeat was merely the spark that ignited the fuse.
What truly shaped them into what they are today, and imprisoned their souls, was the domestication and enslavement that followed over the next thousand years.
But they are born with magical power that even ordinary wizards can only dream of.
Did they never harbor the will to resist during their long years of enslavement?
I'm afraid that's not the case.
Lynch looked up, his gaze distant, piercing through the gray ceiling and landing on a place deep in his memory: "In the history of house-raised elves being enslaved, there must have been some elves who awakened a will to freedom, but they were powerless to resist..."
He turned his gaze to the old man before him: "Headmaster Dumbledore, what extinguished their will to resist?"
"Magic Contract..."
Dumbledore spoke in a low, somber voice, uttering those words with a heavy tone.
"That's right, a powerful magical contract." Lynch nodded. "From the moment the defeated elves signed it, it seeped into their very bones, blood, and flesh, and has been passed down from generation to generation."
Until today.
This contract still deprives them of their right to choose freely, forcing them to obey their master's orders and permanently binding them to serve in the wizard's family.
So I realized that wizards wouldn't use such a powerful and long-lasting contract on a sprite only once...:
Therefore, I speculate that the power that Hogwarts has inherited for thousands of years is this kind of magical contract!
Of course, the same contract can be used for completely different purposes: one is a tool for enslavement, and the other is a cornerstone for protection.
But strip away their noble or base exteriors, the core magical mechanisms that drive them all originate from the same source.
The power of contracts not only binds the signatories, but is also imprinted in their bloodline or inheritance, becoming a lock or responsibility that future generations or successors cannot escape.
In this situation, it is also a source of strength.
All the principals who came before signed this contract with the school, gaining the ability to protect the school's teachers and students during turbulent times.
"A very brilliant deduction, Mr. Lynch." Dumbledore's blue eyes behind his glasses narrowed slightly, a sharp glint in them. "But much of it is built on unverified sand. Have you gone this far on your own based on that?"
Didn't you ever consider that your inference might be wrong?
If you are wrong, then all your preparation and effort will be in vain.
"Of course I've considered that my guess might be wrong." Lynch's lips curled into a cold smile. "But we're sitting here now, aren't we?"
From the very beginning, you presented me with the evidence I needed most.
The stone house that imprisoned me, those indestructible white stone bricks—they come from the oldest magical foundations of Hogwarts, don't they?
The four founders created those stone bricks imbued with powerful magic, and then built Hogwarts School on them.
Those stone bricks are one of the important foundations of Hogwarts' existence.
Am I right?
His words were resolute and carried an unquestionable tone.
Dumbledore was silent for a moment, his steady voice tinged with a hint of regret: "Time is of the essence. Before I found you, I received news that Voldemort might have gone to Godric's Hollow. I need to subdue you as soon as possible."
Using the stone foundation of Hogwarts to build the stone hut to imprison you was the safest and most powerful magic I could think of at the time.
Lynch's smile deepened: "It is your 'prudence' that has made me who I am."
Only when those stone bricks were brought to me did I have the opportunity to examine and study them.
You unintentionally delivered a slice of Hogwarts' "heart" to me.
As you know, my magic is naturally much stronger than others, and according to my years of self-research, this is because my soul is naturally powerful.
A naturally powerful soul brings benefits beyond just strong magic.
A keen insight into magic is another powerful innate talent.
It is thanks to it that I have been able to reach this level in my exploration of magic—I can see the subtle details of magic more clearly than anyone else!
Those stone bricks are the material manifestation of the source of Hogwarts' magic.
Naturally, I can also deduce some aspects of Hogwarts' origins from the stone bricks.
This is a very time-consuming task, requiring careful exploration of each stone brick and discerning the subtle differences between them.
Fortunately, I am in a state of confinement, so I have plenty of time, since I am not in a hurry to go anywhere.
I spent nine months examining every single stone brick that makes up the stone house, and another two years figuring out every secret within them.
From this, I not only verified my previous conjecture.
They received an even more surprising piece of news—an ancient flaw existed in Hogwarts's fundamental protective magic!
Dumbledore's deep blue eyes, visible behind his half-moon spectacles, suddenly sharpened.
Lin Qi met his suddenly tense gaze and said calmly but with every word carrying immense weight: "That's right, just as you thought at the beginning, there is indeed a loophole."
At first, I was happy, thinking I could escape through the gap in the stone house that the hole was reflected in.
Later, I discovered that the hole was too small, and something else had been placed in the gap, blocking my way to the outside world.
Fortunately, the repair wasn't perfect; there were still some gaps.
I myself couldn't get through that loophole, but some magically enhanced items with less magic power could.
My yew wood desk was brought in through this loophole.
It was because of that desk that I had a secret channel to communicate with the outside world, which allowed me to get to where I am today.
I racked my brains and pondered over this loophole, and I devised a plan to create a power that would make you invincible at Hogwarts.
But ultimately, the starting point for all my plans was that I had to leave that stone house.
Fortunately, Voldemort is a man who refuses to accept defeat. Taking advantage of his rebirth, I persuaded you and we successfully left the stone house.
On my first day of freedom, I walked around the border of Hogwarts.
It wasn't just to measure the lock brought by the unbreakable oath, but also to find the precise mapping of that loophole on the border of Hogwarts in order to verify my conjecture.
When I found it, I smiled happily.
Because I know I'm right.
On the land of Hogwarts, I will eventually have the right to stand against you.