Chapter 506: The Lost Sirius

Master of dreams and mist, bridge between life and death, symbol of eternal fortune—

As you can see, these are the titles mortals have bestowed upon the divine.

As a wizard of luck, I have traveled with Him through magical realms unknown and untrodden by any, and now I shall tell you the tale.

Wizard Sean gently turned to the next page of the book:

{Before I recount my story, if you have read “Dream Tales,” all the better.

After all, I once intended to name this book “Dream Tales: Revised Edition,” but reality fell short—this publisher refused to grant me copyright, because I once damaged their bookstore, though that was merely an accident while retrieving magical creatures…}

Wizard Sean faintly smiled and read more closely.

{The divine is a cat—that is what I am certain of.

Or perhaps a powerful magical creature? I cannot say.

But great magic always leaves traces; if you are fortunate enough to see Him, this book will gain meaning and purpose.

A wizard always holds conflicting beliefs; remember this when you enter the divine’s domain, for it will offer necessary aid.

Positive belief guides the wizard, and I believe only a pure wizard may earn the divine’s favor—if a butcher or murderer intrudes, it may become a cruel punishment.}

Why?

Wizard Sean grew curious.

But he suddenly froze—he remembered Voldemort’s soul fragment, and the fate of that fragment when he summoned Harry into the dream…

Wizard Sean snapped his head up, staring at the Hufflepuff senior surrounded by Hermione and others, then looked carefully behind him.

Though he did not know the senior’s basis, it was undeniably correct.

{If angels exist, then every wizard’s soul contains a reflection of the angelic.

Conversely, the soul is not singular.

Among these facets lies a demonic counterpart, often linked to devils in magical history.

This is one concrete manifestation of the shadow soul.

According to fragmentary records in magical history, the shadow soul is either the devil itself or one of its most loyal defenders.

When exposed, revealed, or restrained, it typically flees through a window, shrieks outward, then takes flight.

This scene recurs in the legends of Morusina: when the “ghost or demoness (such as Morusina) is discovered, she vanishes or escapes through the roof.”}

Wizard Sean stared, stunned.

Magical history was simply too long, and Mr. Scamander’s words had been verified.

The original text contained an identical scene.

Its description read:

Harry and Hermione were trapped by snakes, and Voldemort stood nearby—

“Harry, ignoring shards of glass cutting his cheek, dragged Hermione from the bed to the dresser and leapt through the broken window into empty air; her scream echoed through the night as they spun midair…”

At that moment, Harry’s scar split open—he felt himself become Voldemort, striding through the stinking bedroom, long pale fingers gripping the windowsill.

He saw the man and the little woman spinning away; he roared in fury, his cry merging with the girl’s, echoing through the dark garden, drowning out the Christmas bells from the church…

His cry was Harry’s cry; his pain was Harry’s pain…”

At that moment, Harry and Voldemort were each other’s shadow souls; Wizard Sean had also learned a term: shadow double.

{When a wizard enters the divine’s domain, we are certain he is naked.

Only his soul is exposed, so angel and demon must battle for supremacy.

And unpleasantly, the angel does not easily prevail—when time stretches, the angel’s retreat is inevitable.

Thus, a wizard finds it hard to enter the divine’s domain; even if he is lucky enough to do so, he cannot remain long.

Unless… the divine.

Now, I shall tell you the story of the divine…}

“Wizard Sean!”

Hermione and Jia Jia Siting ran up with signed books, staring at Wizard Sean, then at the book’s cover.

Hermione’s suspicion was about to spill over.

Jia Jia Siting hesitated, wanting to ask but unable to find words.

“This is…”

Hermione puffed out her cheeks.

“Black cat.”

Wizard Sean showed no annoyance at the interruption and answered her directly.

“Thank you. My eyes haven’t gone blind yet.”

Hermione snapped back.

Then she scrutinized the young wizard carefully.

Wizard Sean gently closed the book—he had decided to buy a copy.

“Alright, then…”

Wizard Sean asked.

“Hmph… never mind.”

Hermione swallowed her suspicion.

Fine—Wizard Sean was like this; if he thought they should know, he would tell them.

But that didn’t mean she’d give up investigating.

She knew who had had such a dream—Ginny and Hannah.

She would find the answer herself.

…

Diagon Alley, this long cobbled street, was lined with the most enchanting wizarding shops in the world.

Wizards could step into any backyard, pull out their wands, tap the third brick from the left on the trash bin, step back, and watch the alley’s entrance open in the wall.

Among them, one particularly striking shop sold broomsticks.

Today was no different.

Quidditch Supplies was once again surrounded by a crowd.

Harry and Ron, curious about what drew so many, squeezed their way inside.

Wizard Sean did not join them—he held his book and read.

The others swiftly pushed through the excited male and female wizards.

Finally, they saw a newly erected platform, upon which rested the most magnificent broomstick any of them had ever seen.

“Just released… prototype…”

A man with a square jaw told his companion.

“It’s the fastest broom in the world, isn’t it, Dad?”

A boy younger than Harry tugged his father’s arm, squealing.

“The Irish International Club just ordered seven of these!”

The shopkeeper announced to all:

“They’re the hottest item for this year’s World Cup!”

The large witch in front of Harry moved aside; Harry finally saw the sign beside the broom:

“The Firebolt: this latest high-speed flying broom features a streamlined design, a premium ash wood handle, diamond-polished finish, and hand-engraved registration number.

Each carefully selected birch twig at the broom’s tail is shaped into a streamline, granting unmatched balance and exquisite precision.

The Firebolt accelerates from zero to one hundred and fifty miles per hour in ten seconds and exhibits magical braking capability. Price upon request.”

Price upon request… Harry began imagining how much the Firebolt might cost.

As Harry stared at it with longing, he paid no attention to the surrounding wizards—or to the black dog that had appeared again.

And today, on the day Sirius Black resolved to buy a broomstick, on the day Sirius Black held “Dreams and the Divine” and gazed eagerly at the wizard he followed—

He never imagined.

In the very dream he longed for, he might easily become lost.

For a wizard’s soul holds not only the light, but also the shadow.

{When a wizard enters the divine’s domain, we are certain he is naked.

Only his soul is exposed, so angel and demon must battle for supremacy…}