Chapter 351: Adaption of True Experiences
Felix Harp nodded slightly. He was aware that Dumbledore had a wide circle of acquaintances, with friends spread across the world. If you added the number of admirers, even ten Lockharts combined wouldn't be a match.
Sometimes, he couldn't help but speculate whether the reason Dumbledore appeared so busy was because he was hiding in his office, writing letters to pen pals all around the world...
Ahem! One shouldn't think that way. The headmaster should be doing important things, like analyzing Tom Riddle's childhood or writing a paper titled "The Influence of Childhood Environment on Key Life Choices of Wizards: A Brief Analysis of Three Points."
Felix took the basin from the ring and both of them entered the inner space. Here was a vast white world, surrounded by mist.
Dumbledore looked around with interest, sighing, "Only you in the world possess this ability, judging from the magical traces left behind. It's quite exquisite, yes...exquisite."
Felix asked, "Can't others do it?" He didn't feel much about it. When he thought of something, he could bring it into reality. He even thought this was a shoddy version, not as good as the original Pensieve, so he hadn't paid much attention to it.
It was only later that he gradually developed its use.
Dumbledore said, "Let me tell you what I can discern. Ancient runes, alchemy, the Fidelius Charm, the Undetectable Extension Charm, Transfiguration, Memory Charms...very special. I seem to see stable magical nodes..."
He extended his hand, and his long fingers pointed into the air, causing the surrounding clouds to churn.
"What is this?" he curiously asked.
"Memory nodes, also the magical nodes of this place," Felix explained briefly.
Dumbledore nodded slightly, "Seems like you've made improvements. It's getting further from the Pensieve's function and closer to the Room of Requirement."
His gaze swept around sharply, causing a slight discomfort in Felix, as if his skin were tingling. The headmaster had a keen eye.
Though the Thought Basin looked similar to the Pensieve, its principle was closer to the Room of Requirement. With the application of the Undetectable Extension Charm, the space inside was expanded to the size of five or six basketball courts. It was filled with various fragments of blank memories, sealed with magical runes to prevent leakage. He also incorporated memory nodes to create a more stable structure.
The advantage of this approach was that real people and illusory visions could interact. As the owner of the basin, Felix could also utilize the omnipresent memory energy to showcase his abilities within the Thought Chamber.
Felix took a few steps, causing the clouds to surge, revealing a path. An ancient pyramid appeared before them. He smiled and extended an invitation, "Headmaster, this is a level adapted from my real experiences during summer vacation... well, adapted from real experiences. Would you like to try?"
Dumbledore shifted his gaze from the memory nodes, carefully observing the pyramid amidst the mist. He knew everything here was illusory, probably just a manifestation of memories, yet it looked quite real.
Could Felix really grasp the principles of the Room of Requirement? He became intrigued and walked toward the open golden gate. At the top of the pyramid, he seemed to catch sight of Felix lazily sitting there, waiting for him.
Dumbledore smiled faintly, put away his wand, and climbed the only path upwards. Various strange creatures appeared in his way, but they were blocked by suddenly emerging vines, chains, and resilient barriers. After a few minutes, he pushed open a door, and Felix was sitting right outside, gazing at the sea of clouds.
"Aberforth, how do you find it?" Dumbledore teased.
"I must praise your imagination, Felix. The giant spiders and snakes are traceable, but what about those clattering, shape-shifting cars? Was it inspired by Arthur's car, perhaps? As far as I know, it's been behaving itself in the Forbidden Forest and hasn't developed any peculiar abilities.
And those creatures with insect-like exoskeletons, spewing acid..." Felix casually said, "Some are made up, and some were seen in movies, borrowed for a bit." His two legs dangled outside, swaying continuously.
"It's quite marvelous, but unfortunately, I haven't delved deeply into it," Dumbledore replied, pondering for a moment before commenting, "Our ideas are indeed similar. Your...eccentric creatures are good for training students' adaptability, yet it's evident you haven't put too much thought into it, and there's minimal connection to reality."
Felix admitted to this, "The more you know, the more real the memories become. That's the downside of constructing virtual memories. I can't help it. Rather than conjuring something inexplicable and confusing the students, it's better to deliberately make it artificial and easily understood."
The advantage of this approach was that real people and illusory images could interact. As the owner of the Pensieve, Felix could leverage the pervasive energy of memories, showcasing his abilities within the Mind Palace.
Felix took a few steps, causing the clouds to churn and revealing a path. An ancient pyramid appeared before them. He smiled and extended an invitation, "Headmaster, this is a challenge based on my real experiences during summer vacation... well, an adapted version of them. Would you like to give it a try?"
Dumbledore shifted his gaze from the memory nodes, carefully examining the pyramid within the mist. He knew everything here was illusory, likely a manifestation of memories, yet it appeared quite real.
Could Felix truly grasp the principles of the Room of Requirement? He became intrigued, walking toward the open golden door. He could see Felix lazily perched on top of the pyramid, waiting for him.
Dumbledore smiled slightly, sheathing his wand. He began to climb the steps along the only path available. Various peculiar creatures appeared before him, but were suddenly blocked by vines, chains, and resilient barriers that had sprung up. A few minutes later, he pushed open a door and found Felix seated outside, gazing at the sea of clouds.
"Aberforth, what do you think?" Dumbledore playfully inquired.
Dumbledore responded, "I must commend your imagination, Felix. The Blast-Ended Skrewts and Cornish Pixies are distinguishable, but those loud, shape-shifting carswhat's the story behind them? Could it be Arthur's car that inspired you? Although, as far as I know, it has been well-behaved in the Forbidden Forest and hasn't developed any strange abilities."
"Also, those creatures with insect-like exoskeletons and acid-spewing mouths..."
Felix casually mentioned, "Some are fabrications, while others are drawn from movies and adapted. My legs are hanging outside the platform, swaying constantly."
"That's quite fascinating, but unfortunately, I haven't deeply delved into it," Dumbledore remarked, thoughtfully pondering before continuing, "Our ideas do bear similarities. Your peculiar creatures could indeed test students' adaptability, but I can tell you haven't put too much effort into it, and it lacks a strong connection to reality."
Felix admitted as much, "The more you understand, the more real the memories become. That's the drawback of constructing virtual memories. I couldn't help it. Instead of creating something unconvincing, leading students astray, I thought it better to intentionally craft illusions that are immediately apparent."
If he intended to create a Sphinx, he would need to be extremely knowledgeable about the magical creature. Otherwise, making careless changes might lead students to believe it's accurate. If they were to encounter a real Sphinx in the wild, they could make fatal mistakes.
Dumbledore nodded slightly, agreeing with his perspective. Every time he conversed with Felix about magic, he gained novel insights. He followed this line of thought and quickly arrived at a refinement method. He thought of someone, someone who could vividly recreate these magical creatures
The most distinguished Magizoologist of the age, Newt Scamander.
His only concern was whether this was necessary. Dumbledore made a mental note of the idea and decided to observe further.
"I've also noticed something, which might not be a problem but is worth noting," Dumbledore said. "The protective measures in this place are somewhat one-dimensional. Anyone with a decent understanding of Memory Charms could utilize the power here."
He gestured, causing the pyramid beneath them to collapse instantly. They stood rather abruptly in a courtyard. Felix's expression was peculiar as he watched the rain, and the wind howled. "Aren't we going to drown on the way?" Harry asked.
"Think about Hagrid," Ron replied without hesitation, "He has to ferry first-year students across the river in a boat. In this weather, that's quite the adventure."
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