Chapter 457 Harry Is A Horcrux
When Sirius' words reached Evan's ears, a faint memory stirred within him.
During his research on malevolent spirits in the library last term, he vaguely recalled encountering something related to this topic.
Due to his particular interest in Chinese magical schools, he had taken it back as leisurely reading material before sleep.
Judging by the clues available, Sirius mentioned that the mobile school of magic was likely the oldest and most mysterious in the world. Its history dated back over 2,000 years, a millennium before Hogwarts.
Unsurprisingly, the school must have been founded by a powerful wizard during the Qin Dynasty or earlier.
Therefore, this magical institution should also belong to China.
Naturally, its specific location had been shifting, beyond the reach of the outside world to pinpoint.
Evan pondered on what kind of magic could be potent enough to float a magical school in the ocean.
This was simply unfathomable, transcending his understanding.
Incidentally, the School of Magic had been able to drift with ocean currents for more than two thousand years.
Even if explained by magic, it remained a miraculous feat.
If possible, Evan hoped to visit and witness it for himself; surely, there would be much to learn from observing such distinctive magic.
Furthermore, Evan had also speculated on the specific location of the School of Magic in Chinese Tibet, as Sirius had mentioned to them.
According to relevant materials and Lockhart's book, the snowy mountain he described could be Mount Kunlun.
Mount Kunlun is one of the holiest sites in the provinces of Qinghai, Sichuan, Xinjiang, and Tibet in China.
Naturally, the whereabouts of all magical schools were kept secret, unknown to the outside world.
Evan also speculated that the mysterious Eastern Academy of Magic might be located elsewhere in Tibet.
Indeed, apart from these eleven magical schools, there existed many ancient magical traditions passed down in a more clandestine manner.
In China, Northern Africa, and South America, this secretive form of heritage was particularly prevalent. Many unique spells remained undiscovered and poorly understood by the world.
This included a myriad of ancient artifacts, countless magical creatures, the splendor of ancient sorcerers, and even dreadful malevolent deities, among others.
In essence, the world of magic was far more thrilling and captivating than Evan had envisioned while reading Harry Potter before.
It had always been Evan's dream to unravel these secrets and unearth these hidden gems.
"I never thought there were so many wizards and magical schools in the world. It's incredible!" Harry exclaimed after hearing Sirius's revelation, "I always thought there was only one magical school, Hogwarts..."
"The exploration of magic knows no bounds," Sirius remarked, patting Harry's shoulder. "Dumbledore is in contact with the International Confederation of Wizards and the International Magical Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Magic, aiming to restore the long-suspended student exchange program. You might have the chance to study in other magical schools through that!"
Harry and Ron were thrilled at Sirius's words.
Evan, however, was not as excited; he knew it was possible only if he defeated Voldemort promptly.
Otherwise, when the second Wizarding War broke out, no exchange program would be feasible. At that point, many young wizards would have to leave Hogwarts and even flee the country.
"Dumbledore is already working on this, and although some countries might pose challenges, exchanging with the United States, India, and the other two schools in Europe, all closely tied to Hogwarts, should not be problematic," Sirius conveyed. "The major project set for this year is a promising beginning."
"What is it?" Harry inquired eagerly.
"It's a secret, and you'll be surprised when you find out!" Sirius replied with a smile.
"They are all the same. They are keeping something from us. Percy was boasting during the holidays," Ron whispered to Evan and Harry, "Ever since he started working, he's been baiting us to ask him about the project; but he refused to disclose it every time we did. Let me tell you; it's probably a Thick Cauldron Exhibit."
Harry laughed and awaited eagerly the grand project of which Sirius spoke.
Unlike the two of them, Evan knew that it was the Triwizard Tournament, the traditional exchange program among the three finest European schools.
This year, each school at Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang would select a "champion" to compete in the event. The victor would receive a great reward and bring great honor to their school.
With Evan's current strength, if he were to place his name into the Goblet of Fire, it would not be surprising if he became Hogwarts' champion.
However, he had not yet decided whether to partake in the Triwizard Tournament.
The event itself and the final reward held little benefit for him.
Especially considering that Voldemort was likely scheming behind the scenes, Evan was even less interested in participating.
He had not yet gained enough strength to confront Voldemort directly. The right course was to continue accumulating power and undermining Voldemort's plans in secret.
Before the summer break, Evan had resolved to try to delay Voldemort's return for as long as possible.
He aimed to capture Barty Crouch Jr. in advance and make Voldemort lose his most loyal servant, thus complicating the odds of his resurrection.
There was no issue with that plan, but the current situation had changed, and the plan needed adjusting.
Now, Voldemort was no longer alone, as in the past, weak and impotently hidden in the shadows of the Albanian forests. He had received help from vampires and acquired a statue of the evil god.
With this, his return seemed inevitable, and there was even a possibility of his strengthening.
As Professor Trelawney said, Voldemort would gain unimaginable power and become stronger than ever.
For those opposed to Voldemort, this was not good news.
Evan knew it was necessary to make a swift decision and obliterate Voldemort completely before he could amass more power.
To destroy Voldemort, he first had to eliminate the Horcruxes.
The others, though a bit problematic, were not the issue. The real problem was Harry.
Fourteen years ago, Harry's mother used her own life to cast a powerful protective spell over him.
It was a blood bond spell, one of the most potent from ancient times, inherited from the ancient sorcerers.
Hence, Voldemort failed when he tried to kill Harry. He personally marked the enemy of his fate.
When his own killing curse rebounded, it left a fragment of his soul in Harry's body.
In other words, Harry was now one of Voldemort's Horcruxes.
To completely eradicate Voldemort, Harry must die first. This was an indispensable step.