Chapter 1720: The Continuation of the War

“A true, everlasting beacon of hope!” Evan repeated softly.

As he met Dumbledore’s gentle, smiling gaze, he suddenly began to understand what the old headmaster meant.

The Patronus Charm, born of joyful emotions, could defeat creations of evil gods such as Dementors. Similarly, positive energy could fight and defeat evil gods. The secret treasure left behind by the Four Founders referred to such energies.

They were not merely simple joyful emotions, but things far more complex, more enduring, and far more deeply rooted in the human heart.

Given concrete form, they were courage, protection, sacrifice, compassion, justice, and so on!

These precious spiritual qualities, passed down at Hogwarts since the time of the Four Founders, were what Dumbledore had always called love: love for friends, love for family, love for one’s beloved, love for Hogwarts, love for light and all that is good… These were Hogwarts’ true secret treasure, the nemesis of all evil and darkness, the true, everlasting beacon of hope.

No matter how times might change, no matter how long the darkness might last, as long as these qualities could be passed down, there would always be hope.

“I think I understand what you mean, Professor. The qualities the school has always emphasized, and the love you’ve always spoken of, are actually a very powerful form of magical energy,” Evan said thoughtfully. “The treasure the Four Founders left beneath Hogwarts is a magic formed from these spiritual qualities, emotions, and love. If I just open it, I can fight the evil god and defeat Voldemort?”

“They have always been within us, my dear child,” Dumbledore said kindly. “What can defeat the evil gods is the love that springs forth from the depths of our hearts, not the magic left behind by ancient wizards. Do not understand this power too narrowly. The primary purpose of love is not destruction or the defeat of an enemy, but healing.”

“Healing?”

“Look at all this before you. What do you see?” Dumbledore’s gaze passed over Evan and towards the distant horizon.

Following his gaze, Evan looked beyond the magical vortex into the space outside.

He remained silent for a long moment before answering uncertainly, “A world that’s being destroyed?”

“Yes, a world that’s being destroyed,” Dumbledore said. “In truth, everything you are seeing, experiencing, and about to face is merely the continuation of a war that began thousands of years ago.”

“I understand what you’re saying, Professor!” Evan said, even as his confusion deepened.

“The ancient spellcasters once made grave mistakes. Their unbridled use of magic attracted the attention of powerful Dark beings from the Void. The descent of evil gods left indelible wounds on this land, wounds that remain unhealed to this day. Even with countless hidden methods and tricks, the unforgivable sins could not be erased.

“Our world is humanity’s last refuge. Though those monsters have retreated, they still lurk within the Void. For thousands of years, they have sought ways to return, influencing and infiltrating through countless means — tempting those filled with hatred and greed to gain power, conquer death, and sacrifice their souls, inflicting ceaseless harm upon our home.

“Only when kindness that reveres all things with compassion, the courage to strive ever upwards, the wisdom to admit one’s mistakes without evasion, and the love that is willing to sacrifice itself to save others are all fully present, can the one and only beacon of hope be found. It is this beacon that guides humanity out of darkness, brings this war to an end, and heals the scars upon the land. These are the true purpose of Hogwarts’ creation, and the real trial left behind by the Four Founders!”

Evan tried to digest the information. He had previously known some clues; the Four Founders had more or less revealed some things about the previous magical era and the origin of the evil gods, but they had not explicitly stated it. Dumbledore had now connected all the dots.

“So if Voldemort succeeds, our world will become like what we’re seeing now,” Evan said. “Love can defeat Voldemort and also heal the damage he’s done to the world. All of this is just a continuation of a war that began thousands of years ago?”

“That’s right. This war has been going on for thousands of years and it will continue,” Dumbledore said. “Great power and the secrets of death are nothing more than bait cast by those Dark beings for fools to chase… In truth, I too was once such a fool. I once tried to seek a way to conquer death myself — and in that, I was no better than Voldemort.”

“You mean the Deathly Hallows?” Evan pressed. The secret of the Hallows was something he had long wanted to understand, as well as Dumbledore’s intentions and the special fragment of soul — Tom Riddle — that Voldemort had left within the Resurrection Stone.

“Yes… the Hallows,” Dumbledore murmured. “The dream of a desperate man!”

To Evan’s astonishment, tears suddenly welled up in Dumbledore’s bright blue eyes.

“Professor…”

“You saw it with your own eyes, that night, in the abandoned Gaunt house. When I saw the Resurrection Stone, I was beside myself with joy. I forgot that the ring must have been cursed, and I picked it up and put it on. In that moment, I truly believed that I could atone for the sins of my past,” Dumbledore said, his eyes still glistening with tears.

“Actually, I know a little about those things too. After you left, I learned more about your past. I think the one who truly needed to atone was Grindelwald, not you. You had no reason to blame yourself.”

“You do not know the whole truth, my dear child. I am guilty,” Dumbledore said. “You know the secret of my sister’s frail health. You know what those Muggles did to her, and what she became. You know how my poor father sought revenge for her and paid the price, dying miserably in Azkaban. You know how my mother gave her life to care for Ariana. But what you do not know is that at the time, I truly, deeply resented all of it!”

Dumbledore’s account was frank and chillingly detached. Evan did not know how to comfort him.

“I was gifted. I was brilliant. I wanted to escape. I wanted to stand above others. I wanted to shine,” Dumbledore said, pain surfacing on his face and making him seem suddenly older. “Do not misunderstand me — I loved them. I loved my parents. I loved my brother and my sister. But I was selfish… far more selfish than you imagine.”

“We are all selfish; it’s human nature,”

Dumbledore shook his head and continued, “After my mother’s death, I was left to care for a disabled sister and a willful brother. Filled with resentment and pain, I returned to the village, feeling trapped and that my life was being wasted! Then, needless to say, he came…”