31

Tom stared at me thoughtfully, trying to figure out what was on my mind, but my poker face was the envy of a seasoned poker player. The only thing you could read there was a brick you wanted to throw at me. I know, I believe, I practice. Heh.

- If you think it's okay to tell me, I don't mind," he sighed.

- The first thing you need to know is that Dumbledore is dead. A misfortune has befallen him. He was killed by an Angel of Order. An accident, well...

- What an accident! - Tom's eyes widened. - May I ask why you put it down as such an accident?

- Probably because meeting the Angel of Order is tantamount to meeting a train, with your forehead. Useless and blood and guts all over the place. And it's not going to give the soul any peace. Or rather, they will give it ... posthumously, making it a servant and turning it into something outwardly beautiful, but acting only according to an algorithm and having no free will, no dreams, no luck. Nothing...

Tom, clearly imagining this fate, shuddered.

- That's what that old goat should do... he thinks he is the master of destiny. Old bastard...

- Don't talk about him like that. If it wasn't for him, someone else would have done it. That's politics. It's a lie skillfully intertwined with the truth. Such people turn into a monster once they get a taste of power and big money. After all, people are inherently vain. In their pride, they sometimes cannot admit that they cannot rule, because they are too full of themselves, weak and stop thinking about those who let them rule. Such people live well, but their perishable being always ends badly. Frankly speaking, fanatics like Dumbledore are the worst representatives of such people, for they simply believe in what they are mistaken in. But it is not for us to judge them...

- And to whom? - Tom asked, as he sat down on the bench I had made of stone.

- To the gods," I shrugged.

- But it's not always the gods that intervene.

- I meant the wrong people, - I smiled and he looked surprised and shocked after a while. - You?!

- You could say that, but not exactly. I am but a fragment of a god, lost in the intertwining of the Worlds. There are many of us, and we are connected, but individual.

- I... prayed so many times when I was little..." Tom suddenly lowered his gaze. - No parents, no relatives. No one - just the shuddering walls of an orphanage or a bunker. But I was tired of praying, tired of believing in something that didn't get rid of anything. And our teacher's phrases about trials were perceived as mockery. And at some point I stopped believing. Because if God wants us to be strong, then those who are strong don't need him.

- You're partly right. Except that there are different gods. Absolutely. So don't just put everyone on the same page.

- I see," Tom nodded his thoughts. - But why do you want me?

- Because I have to be," I shrugged and looked at the boy's stretched out face. - And you thought I was like Dumbledore or some other manipulator? No, you're free to do whatever you want. You can study here or go to the Academy. You can live wherever and however you want. I'm not forcing you.

- But what's in it for you?! - he shouted.

- The point is that you are. Just the fact that you live and in your mind already fulfills my plans. But you yourself can do whatever you want.

- But... I thought..." the boy was confused.

- That I needed you? Yes, you do. And I've already told you how. Just be and live. That's all that matters. And what path you take... it's up to you. I'm not going to take over, I've already got it in my hands. I hold all goblins, all housesmen and dragons in my hands. I hold the Academy of High Sorcery, and that's enough. I will train and produce apprentices. More skilled, more powerful, more powerful and more knowledgeable. The magic will accumulate and expand, and then... The statute will be complete.

- Eh? - confused Tom. - What do you mean, complete?

- In the sense that the Statute is more than just protection against Muggles. It was, as I understood it, an enormous spell, the knowledge of which many wished to erase, because they didn't want to lose their power. They deliberately undermined it, combining the magical world with the Muggle world and weakening the knowledge of mages for generations. However, I will bring all the lost knowledge back to this world. And even greatly expand it. And soon the Statute will gain enough power that a new world, separate from the world of ordinary people, will be born. Magic will finally be gone from the Muggle world, and wizards will no longer be born in it. And in the new world, those who do not possess the gift will disappear. Everyone will possess it, just in slightly different ways. And that world will be truly Magical. But until then, it will take time for the spell to absorb as much energy as possible.

- Unbelievable..." Riddle exhaled, looking at me with wild and round eyes. - Are you sure that's true?

- Yes," I smiled calmly at him and held out my hand. - I can show you.

And Tom, as if mesmerized, took my hand so that we were almost instantly at the Heart of Hogwarts. And I pointed the young man to the obelisks.

- This is the Statute. A spell carved into the Heart of Hogwarts. One of the most powerful sources of Magic on the planet.

- Unbelievable..." the former Dark Lord exhaled. He tried to step toward the obelisks, but they flickered, and then he froze, unable to move.

- You shouldn't have taken that step. I know what you mean, but I know that Heart does not trust you. So it's defending itself as best it can. And you're incredibly lucky to have me here with you. It trusts me more, and that's why you're still alive. Look at the Sentinel," he pointed to one of the walls, but the boy who looked at it saw nothing. - You're looking at it the wrong way... Never mind. Show yourself.

And the wall swam, revealing a gigantic alcove in which lay a gigantic dragon skeleton, covered from top to bottom in darkness that occasionally revealed the hollow inside the bones, while DracoLeach's bloodshot red eyes stared blankly at us. He had no reason to feel or experience anything, he was dead and incredibly ancient. And that was proved by the sheer colossal crushing energy potential from the monster from the fierce nightmares.

- And just so you lose all hope of somehow touching it or trying to subdue it, watch this. This is a spell that expresses the potential of any human or other creature. It cannot lie or distort the facts. Take a look at yourself first.

Name: Tom Marvolo Riddle.

Race: Human Changed. (You were originally a human mage, but were subjected to considerable influence from various powers and eventually died to be reborn from the shards of your Soul, but someone immeasurably powerful, or Knower, intervened and gave you a path to paths in power and knowledge that you previously never dreamed of.)

Level: 247.

Class: Dark Mage.

Subclass: Ritualist. Beginner Shinobi.

Characteristics:

Strength: 37. You lived as a mage and therefore neglected body development. But you evolved, and now you can weigh more than a human, but not much more... (Maximum weight for lifting: 3 kg per Strength unit).

Dexterity: 178. Some battles require dexterity, and that's the only reason you evolved that way. But now you're not really human, so you can develop your agility enough to dodge Muggle bullets. But not now. However, walking a tightrope while juggling six objects is a breeze.

Stamina: 60. You are a mage and have not evolved as an athlete, compensating for fatigue with magic.

Intelligence: 458. An outstanding score. But not the ultimate.

Wisdom: 54. With this intelligence, you need to know and be able to do a lot more than you know and are able to do now. The higher your wisdom, the more ways you can find to solve any problem.

Luck: 16. Frustrating...

Life Points. (Survivability and Resilience to Aggression Damage.) 5000/5000

Mana Points. The higher the number of these points, the more, stronger and longer you can cast spells. 1 110 000/1 110 000

Chakra Points. 240/240. It's all in your hands, evolve...

- Now look at the Guardian and see what I mean.

And Tom looked, only to round his eyes more and more as he read.

Name: Guardian of the Heart of Hogwarts.

Race: Draco Leach.

Level: 34786.

Class: Dark Guardian.

Subclass: True Monster. Reluctance. The Lost Knowledge. Incarnation of Death and Darkness.

Characteristics:

Strength: 38750. Strength depends on the energy and constructive investment of energy. The parameter grows with the growth of accumulated energy. Can be strengthened energetically as desired by the Monster.

Dexterity: 46217. Dexterity is dependent on the energetic and constructive investment of energy. Increases along with the growth of accumulated energy. Can be increased energy-wise as Monster wishes.

Stamina: Infinite.

Intelligence: 80. Good enough for you.

Wisdom: 80. That's all he needs.

Luck: No. Undead don't have it and can't have it. Only you have it. Heh-heh...

Non-Life Points. (Survivability and Resilience points.) 5,000,000,000 / 5,000,000,000

Mana Points. The more of these points, the more, stronger and longer you are able to use spells and special attacks. And in the case of this creature, that's EVERYTHING. 110 000 000 000 / 110 000 000 000. (Once you run out of Non-Life points, energy points are spent.)

The system strongly advises you not to mess with this Monster.

And then, before the strange spell was over, he glanced at me out of the corner of his eye, thinking I couldn't see. And froze, only to turn rapidly white.

Name: Harry James Potter - Uzumaki.

Race: Divine Shard.

Level: 202

Class: God Emblem. God Dragon.

Subclass: Mage. Dragon.

Characteristics:

Strength: 38. (When converted: 3547)

Dexterity: 417. (8712)

Endurance: 950. (When accessed: 95,000.)

Intelligence: Failed to compute number. Failed to recognize it.

Wisdom: Failed to calculate the number. Failed to recognize it.

Luck: Divine.

Life Points. (Survivability and Resilience to Aggression Damage.) 50,000/50,000 (When transformed: As long as energy is available.)

Mana Points. The more of these points you have, the greater, stronger and longer you are able to use spells. 710 000 000 000 / 710 000 000 000.

The system strongly advises you not to mess with this Monster.

The guy looking at the very real and living God staggered back from the blow to his life's foundations.

- Ehhh, and who asked you to look at me? - sighed, casting some spells on the lad that would cheer him up.

- I'm sorry..." he all but held out to me in response.