Chapter 372: Omniscience is Omnipotence

“Likely due to the same considerations as yours.”

In 1811, people arrived at a definition acceptable to most members of the magical world.

The newly appointed Minister for Magic, Grogan Stump, issued an order:

“A person is any being with sufficient intelligence to understand magical society’s laws and to bear partial responsibility in their creation.”

Mr. Scamander did not wait for Hermione’s widened eyes; Neville, utterly baffled and dazed, picked up the thought and continued elaborating,

“Giants, when questioned without goblins present, were deemed incapable of understanding anything said to them, and thus classified as ‘animals,’ despite walking on two legs;

Merpeople were first invited to be recognized as ‘persons’ through translation;

Fairies and goblins, though human in appearance, were firmly placed among ‘animals.’”

Wizard Sean’s quill scribbled softly as he knew: wizards, as individuals of high independence and diversity, always had great wizards rise to propel magical history forward by great leaps.

“Of course, the matter was not yet settled. We are all familiar with extremists who roam about, seeking to classify Muggles as ‘animals.’

We all know that centaurs have rejected ‘person’ status and demanded to remain classified as ‘animals’; meanwhile, werewolves have long been suspended between the Animal and Human registries;

In earlier times, there was an office in the Human Registry for the Werewolf Support Service, while the Werewolf Registration Office and the Werewolf Capture Squad fell under the Animal Registry…”

Mr. Scamander’s voice was buried beneath the crisp sound of snow falling at the door.

After finishing his explanation, he gazed at Wizard Sean with clear, slightly expectant eyes.

Wizard Sean said nothing; after copying down the words, he quietly wrote on his notebook a magical concept that would shock the world—

【Omniscience is Omnipotence】

Since wizards can choose human emotions and moral boundaries as faith—such as cruel trust, or the faith in love—

They can naturally choose pure reason.

The scenes at the Borderlands had already told Wizard Sean—knowledge and emotion possess equal magical power.

“I understand. Thank you, Mr. Scamander.”

Wizard Sean exhaled slowly.

“I think it is time for me to leave.”

Newt regarded Wizard Sean with clear eyes and smiled as he took his leave.

“Ah—you, you…”

Hermione had no idea what unspoken exchange had passed between them, nor why Mr. Scamander was leaving so soon.

“Goodbye, Miss Granger, Mr. Longbottom, and dear little Green.”

Newt picked up his case and stepped out of the shop.

He had experienced wonderfully strange tales in Ilvermorny and Diagon Alley, and he imagined how delighted Witch Tina would be when he shared the magical creature cookies and stories with her.

Thus, the shop was left with only Wizard Sean, Hermione, and Neville.

Of course, there was also Professor Quirrell, who remained silent.

“Even if goblins are people… how will you get back?”

Hermione eyed Wizard Sean suspiciously; she reasonably suspected he would use legal but illegitimate means.

The good news was, Wizard Sean always followed rules;

The bad news was, he followed his own rules.

“I’m going with Professor Tera.”

Wizard Sean said.

“Alright, then, see you at Hogwarts.”

Hermione sighed in relief, then glanced back secretly and unwillingly at the delightful fairy-tale cookies before stepping out of the shop.

“Have you opened your Christmas presents yet?”

Wizard Sean suddenly asked.

“I… I saved some for last. Why?”

Hermione hesitated before speaking with forced bravado.

“I mean, Christmas was a week ago.”

Wizard Sean replied.

“I know!”

Hermione hurried off with quick steps.

After seeing off Neville, Wizard Sean began to carefully ponder magical theory.

He thought for a moment and wrote the first line in the Book of Wizards:

【Wizards must gain deeper understanding of their own wisdom and its ultimate expression: ritual magic, for it is their only advantage when facing a perilous magical world…】

…

At sunset, the sun was hidden behind a curtain of snow.

The light was not harsh at all. The entire world shimmered softly, wrapped in a mask of quiet, damp, gentle radiance.

Diagon Alley was exactly as it had always been. Windows displayed spellbooks, potion ingredients, and cauldrons, colorful and dazzling.

At the most prominent shop entrance in the alley, the notice board had been updated again, reading:

【Coming Soon: Cat Bao Cookies】.

One could imagine the uproar this new notice would cause.

And Wizard Sean did not hold just one notebook; from the Book of Wizards, he also drew out a Pensieve, its silver threads swirling like smoke.

“You are troubled?”

Professor Quirrell spoke, his voice arriving precisely as Wizard Sean emerged from thought, utterly unobtrusive.

“I forgot something, Professor.”

Wizard Sean said.

“If the Pensieve doesn’t help, perhaps you could learn Occlumency… though I only offer modest insights.”

Professor Quirrell said.

Wizard Sean snapped his head up—he had forgotten!

Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor Snape were masters of Legilimency; to remain unseen beneath their gaze, a wizard must be an Occlumens.

And Professor Quirrell was clearly an expert in this field—whether this ability came from Voldemort or from Quirrell’s own achievement, the knowledge itself would not deviate.

“You mean?”

Wizard Sean asked cautiously.

“Before I went to the Albanian Forest, I had only made modest progress; later, ‘he’ forced me to learn…”

Professor Quirrell seemed to recall painful memories; his expression froze for an instant, then quickly returned to normal.

…

It was a delightful discovery—the long-sought answer had been beside him all along.

“Occlumency is a magic that prevents the mind from being invaded or influenced. I have used it—deeply used it—when I resisted, though back then my power was still too weak…

Some call it Legilimency, but the heart is not a book to be flipped through at will. Thoughts are not carved into the skull, to be dug into and read.

The mind is a complex, layered thing, Mr. Green—most minds, at least…

Yet magic can still exert influence: Obliviation, Confundus, and Legilimency.

To defend oneself, a wizard must minimize mental fluctuations, Mr. Green. If you are willing to trust me, you might first try sensing what resistance feels like.

It is vastly different from simply zoning out.”

Professor Quirrell said nervously.