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Chapter 1330: The Cardinal Visiting Hogwarts
🕑 Added 2024-12-23 16:51:31 +0000 UTCThere are many different theories about the origin of magic, and it has always been a focus of debate in academia.
Among these theories, one suggests that humans, driven by reverence for nature, demons, deities, or elves, enabled a select group of gifted individuals — later known as wizards — to comprehend or learn magic from these sources.
Another theory proposes that humans interbred with powerful, magical creatures, resulting in offspring that sometimes became Centaurs, Merpeople, goblins, or house-elves. Some of these descendants, with particularly favorable genetic traits, retained human forms while gaining the ability to wield magic.
This group of special descendants is believed to be the origin of pure-blood wizards. This statement is also a theory currently widely adopted by the Wizarding World, because it can prove that pure-blood wizards are special and different from ordinary Muggles, and it can also explain why the emblems of many pure-blood Wizarding families feature animals.
This is because the animal patterns that appear on these family crests are not ordinary creatures, but the ancestors of pure-blood Wizarding families.
Many of these ancestors are legendary, powerful beings known by name and lore. The older and more noble the pure-blood family, the more common this phenomenon seems to be.
In addition, there is another more logical origin theory, but it has never been recognized by wizards.
At least emotionally, not many wizards can accept this statement. That is, the current magic system is inherited from ancient sorcerers of a previous era. This sounds reasonable and logical.
The ancient relics discovered in recent years can also prove this, and there are very classic examples.
For example, Herpo the Foul.
He is the Dark wizard who invented the Basilisk, Horcruxes and thousands of curses. He may have later turned himself into an evil god. As the most famous Dark wizard in history, this guy is the founder of the modern Dark magic theory system.
Furthermore, he is also the last known ancient sorcerer.
This famous case goes a long way toward proving this theory of the origin of magic, but there is a problem here, and the main reason why wizards are generally reluctant to accept this theory is that magic and spellcasters during the Roman Empire were considered the legitimate successors of ancient warlocks.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Eastern and Western Churches spent centuries vying for the title of the rightful heirs to the Roman Empire’s magical legacy. Each claimed to be the true orthodox authority, refusing to acknowledge the legitimacy of the other. They also denied the existence of wizards and magic itself, going so far as to launch countless holy wars and witch hunts to defend their claims to orthodoxy.
Just like Gryffindor said, they didn't know that doing so would not harm real wizards, but their actions achieved their original purpose, which was to deprive wizards of the right to inherit the magical civilization of the Roman Empire.
For most of history, the conflict between wizards and the Church was mainly due to this.
The Vatican's actions were very successful. They defended their own orthodoxy. Even now, no wizard would think that their magic and that of the Vatican had the same origin. Wizards would not accept this emotionally and would rather believe that their magical abilities came from those powerful magical creatures.
Although both wizards and the Church use magic, their perspectives on its origins differ: one views it as divine power, while the other considers it heretical.
Of course, by the time of Evan in later generations, no one cared about this anymore.
Members of the Church who could use magic, like wizards, were all in hiding, or had formed a strict system to manage everything and keep secrets, leaving most of the world to Muggles. The magical creatures were also very low-key and only lived in specific protected areas.
But now, more than a thousand years ago, the situation was completely different, both the Church and the wizards were very active. ...
Although the current situation was not as tense as the witch hunt later, under such circumstances, a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church dared to openly visit Hogwarts. It had to be said that this was a very bold act. It also showed that the power of the Holy See was very strong. The Wizarding community was at a disadvantage compared to them. ...
"Whose important person is that carriage outside? Is it the Peverells? That fellow Clive is always bragging about how rich his family is."
"Don't be silly. Didn't you see those Pegasi? Only the Church has them. Pure-blood Wizarding families can't afford them."
"Really? I'm a Catholic, and so are my father and mother..."
"Don't talk about this in school. You’re a wizard now. Those believers are just Muggle talk."
A few minutes later, an old man in white robes and a red cloak slowly walked into the Great Hall of Hogwarts Castle amidst the discussions. In his hand was a very long staff with a cross on the top.
The old man had a smile on his face. He should be the Cardinal. Evan clearly felt that the atmosphere became tense. No one welcomed his arrival, and no one even stood up. Everyone sat upright in their chairs.
The atmosphere was completely different from before. Almost all the wizards were staring at the Cardinal.
Their eyes were filled with wariness, curiosity and unreserved hostility, and some wizards even pointed their wands at him.
But he seemed not to notice any of this, entirely unaffected by the palpable magical pressure in the air.
He walked slowly to the podium, like an ordinary Muggle old man, and greeted the Four Founders, those older wizards and some important figures from pure-blood Wizarding families in a friendly manner, as if they were old acquaintances.
Evan stared at him for a while, then turned his head and looked for the Malfoy guy in the crowd.
He didn't find him, nor did he know where he was hiding or what his expression was now.
Although many changes had occurred in the process, his conspiracy seemed to be succeeding. As long as the Cardinal could prove that Ravenclaw’s Diadem was a fake...
Evan had to admit that he had thought of this conspiracy a little simplistic before.
Ravenclaw’s Diadem was very important and had become a symbol of wisdom. If it was proven to be lost, especially if it was stolen by her daughter, it would be a complete scandal that would cause an uproar in the Wizarding World and would have the effect of striking a blow to the Ravenclaw family, preventing the bill from being passed.
However, it seemed that the impact was not enough to reshuffle the current power structure of the Wizarding World.
But if the power of the Holy See was involved, then this would not just be a matter of Hogwarts and the Wizarding World!
The Malfoy family, who were able to connect with the Holy See, seemed to have more complicated plans.
And then there was the growing instability within Hogwarts itself.
Earlier, Godric Gryffindor had mentioned that Salazar Slytherin’s magic should not be seen by the Cardinal. Why was that? What was the connection, and why was it so critical to keep it hidden?
The situation seemed to be getting more and more troublesome!
