Chapter 452: The Strength of Voldemort

Chapter 452: The Strength of Voldemort

Behind the lenses, Dumbledore's blue eyes blinked.

"A very intriguing question, Felix. Few have asked me so directly," he said.

"I mean... Voldemort showed no inclination to attack Hogwarts during the war. He seemed... well... quite wary of someone within the school. Yet, in the eyes of the public, these two individuals have no record of ever facing each other," Felix carefully articulated.

"Perhaps that's the truth," Dumbledore smiled.

"Or it could be only part of the truth," Felix interjected. "Some people perceive only fragments of the truth—they see results or a few moments in the process but can't grasp the whole picture."

Dumbledore furrowed his brow slightly, his mouth slightly ajar, seemingly selecting the right words.

Felix knew he had to do or say something. Otherwise, he'd have to await the old man's decision. So, clearing his throat, he spoke, "Albus, we're aware that Voldemort and Barty Crouch Jr. were hiding while the Ministry dispatched many Aurors and hit wizards but found nothing. We might need to consider the possibility of his successful return, and I need to understand his strength."

After a moment of silence, Dumbledore seemed convinced.

"I can assure you, Felix, although I've never seen him perish in my presence, I have indeed vanquished and damaged his body on more than one occasion, leaving wounds that normal means couldn't heal," Dumbledore calmly revealed, unearthing a long-held secret.

"Unhealable wounds?" Felix keenly asked.

"I remember telling you... I once interviewed him?" Dumbledore spoke softly, leaning back, gazing at the ceiling.

"...Yes," Felix slowly, suppressing his excitement, responded.

"That was his appearance at the time," Dumbledore declared, and with a swift wand movement, a somewhat ethereal figure began taking shape. His face seemed scorched, features blurred, with almost no recognizable contours, the skin resembling hardened white wax, grotesquely twisted. Eyes permanently bloodshot, black pupils flickering with an indifferent gleam.

Felix scrutinized Dumbledore's memory of Voldemort. He wasn't unfamiliar with this image—having glimpsed it once when discovering the locket box, but Voldemort now seemed even less human than before.

"This suggests Voldemort had already created the locket Horcrux before that interview," Felix thought. Considering Dumbledore's earlier words, he cautiously inquired, "Was it the effect of Dark Magic or the impact of the Horcrux?"

"Yet... the diary should be special?" he pondered aloud.

"Indeed," Dumbledore nodded. "When Ginny Weasley first wrote in the diary, she received a response, falling into Voldemort's meticulously crafted trap... I can almost affirm Voldemort didn't regard it as a life-saving Horcrux but rather as a key to open the Chamber, hence granting many privileges to the diary, including his memories up to the age of 16, sufficient activity... and naturally, the knowledge he inherited from Slytherin's ancestor within the Chamber."

"But all of this is conjecture," Felix wrinkled his brow, feeling a bit frustrated. Dumbledore sounded so certain, how was he so sure?

He roughly outlined the information. Dumbledore had clandestinely faced Voldemort several times during the war, inflicting severe damage, yet Voldemort quickly bounced back. Dumbledore seemed to be investigating the reason behind this. He attributed it to Dark Magic and Blood Magic, citing evidence from Salazar Slytherin's ability to draw life force for healing and Ginny's experience. But there was another possibility that Felix couldn't help but consider—why not?

So, he voiced it out, "Why couldn't it be that he resurrected using a Horcrux?"

Dumbledore's sharp gaze darted towards him, appearing highly vigilant. "Why do you think so?"

"Just a guess," Felix shrugged. "Maybe he indeed altered his body using Dark Magic, but there should be limits, right? For instance, he might have delayed death, found a loyal servant afterward, and performed a resurrection ritual... then used a Memory Charm or a Forgetfulness Charm to erase the aftermath? Or perhaps discarded it outright..."

Dumbledore lowered his head, silent.

"It's indeed a possibility, Felix," he said. "But no matter what, the information we have is quite limited." He looked at the desk leg thoughtfully, speaking almost inaudibly, "

And whatever his method, it must have been unorthodox, for he managed to return stronger than before."

Felix mulled over Dumbledore's words. Perhaps they weren't close to uncovering Voldemort's secrets, but they were taking significant steps in the right direction. It was like finding pieces of a puzzle and trying to fit them together, though there was still no clear picture.

As he pondered, Dumbledore raised his gaze. "Felix, remember, knowledge is not always a straightforward path. Sometimes, it's a labyrinth, twisting and turning. And occasionally, you have to backtrack to find the right way forward."

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