Harry Potter and the Way of Reason

Fox's singing gradually became lighter and finally disappeared.

Harry sat up from the withered winter lawn, Fawkes still perched on his shoulders.

There are gasps all around.

"Harry," Seamus asked in a trembling voice, "are you all right?"

The peace of the phoenix still remained in his heart, and the warmth, coming from where Fox had left.The warmth that spreads all over the body, the song that still lingers in the memory when Fenghuang is still around.He had just had some terrible things happen, had some terrible thoughts.He regained a memory that could never have existed, even though the Dementor had desecrated it.A strange word kept echoing in his mind.And all of this can be put aside temporarily, as long as the phoenix is ​​still shining golden-red in the setting sun.

Fox called out to him.

"Is there something I have to do?" Harry asked Fox. "What is it?"

Fox nodded in the direction of the dementor.

Harry glanced at the cage, the unseen horror still inside, and looked back at Phoenix with a puzzled expression.

"Mr. Potter?" said Professor McGonagall's voice behind him. "Are you all right?"

Harry got up and turned around.

Minerva McGonagall was looking at him, looking very worried; beside her, Albus Dumbledore was scrutinizing him; Filius Flitwick looked relieved; all the students just stared blankly. stared at him blankly.

"I think so, Professor McGonagall," said Harry quietly.He almost blurted out Minerva, but stopped just in time.At least Harry felt fine when Fawkes was on his shoulder.Maybe he'll break down shortly after Fox leaves, but for some reason, the idea doesn't seem to matter. "I think I'm fine."

Someone should cheer, or breathe a sigh of relief, or whatever, but no one seemed to know what to say, not one.

The peace brought by the phoenix still haunted him.

Harry turned back. "Hermione?" he said.

Anyone with even the tiniest bit of romance in their hearts held their breath.

"I don't know how to thank you gracefully," said Harry quietly, "and I don't know how to apologize. All I can say is that if you're wondering if it's the right thing to do, you're doing the right thing." .”

Boy and girl staring into each other's eyes.

"I'm sorry for the impact this has had on," Harry said. "If there's anything I can do—"

"No," replied Hermione, "you can't do anything. But, that's all right." Then she turned her back on Harry and walked away down the road to the gates of Hogwarts Castle.

A group of girls looked at Harry inexplicably, and followed her.Before they took a few steps, some people started to ask questions excitedly.

Harry watched them go, then turned to look at the other students.They saw him on the ground screaming, and...

Fox nuzzled his cheek.

…they know now that the Boy Who Lived hurts and suffers too, and it will be good for them someday.In this way, when they themselves are hurt and painful, they will remember Harry Potter rolling on the ground, so that they can understand that pain and difficulty do not mean that they will achieve nothing.Did the principal take this into account when he asked the other students to stay and watch?

Harry's gaze returned to the tattered tall cloak almost absent-mindedly, and subconsciously said, "It shouldn't exist."

"Ah," said a flat voice tersely, "I expected you to say that. I'm sorry to tell you, Mr. Potter, that Dementors can't be killed. Many have tried."

"Really?" Harry asked, still absent-mindedly, "what have they tried?"

"There is a very dangerous and destructive spell," said Professor Quirrell, "I won't mention the name here. It can create cursed fire, which can be used to destroy ancient magical treasures like the Sorting Hat, But it doesn't work at all against dementors. They're immortal."

"They're not immortal," said the Headmaster, his words soft but his eyes piercing. "They have no eternal life. They are the wounds of the world, and attacking a wound only makes it bigger."

"Well," said Harry, "what about throwing it into the sun? Would that kill it?"

"Throw it into the sun?" Professor Flitwick said sharply, sounding like he was about to faint.

"Not likely, Mr. Potter," said Professor Quirrell dryly. "The sun is very big after all. I guess the dementors wouldn't have much effect on it. But just in case, Mr. Potter, I don't will do such an experiment.”

"I see," Harry said.

Fawkes gave a final cry, hugged Harry's head with his wings, and flew away.It charged directly at the dementor, letting out a defiant cry that echoed across the playground.Before anyone could react, there was a flash of fire, and Fox disappeared.

The tranquility ebbed a little.

The warmth faded a little.

Harry took a deep breath and let it out again.

"Oh," said Harry, "alive."

There was still silence, there was still no cheering, no one seemed to know how to respond—

"I'm glad you're fully recovered, Mr. Potter," said Professor Quirrell firmly, as if denying any other possibility. "So, I remember Miss Ransom next?"

This statement sparked some debate.Professor Quirrell was right, everyone else was wrong.The defense professor pointed out that while everyone was understandably concerned, the chances of similar misfortunes happening to other students were almost infinitesimally small, especially since they now knew to avoid wand accidents.At the same time, there are other students who need this excellent opportunity to display the physical guardian spirit. Even if they fail, they can experience what it feels like to be close to a dementor, and know how much they can endure, so that they can escape in time in the future...

In the end, only Dean Thomas and Ron Weasley of Gryffindor were willing to approach the dementors, so the problem was simple.

Harry glanced in the direction of the dementor.That word echoed in his mind again.

Well, thought Harry, if the Dementor was a riddle, what would be its answer?

That's it, everything is obvious.

Harry looked at the dim, slightly rusted cage.

He saw what lay beneath the tattered tall cloak.

It turned out to be the case.

Professor McGonagall came over and talked to Harry for a while.She didn't see the scariest part, so there were only a little tears in her eyes.Harry told her that he wanted to talk to her later, that he had a question to ask her that had been on the back burner for a while, but that she didn't need to ask it right away if she was busy.From her appearance, she seemed to leave an important matter behind and rush here.Harry pointed this out to her, telling her that she really didn't have to feel guilty about needing to leave.The remark caused Professor McGonagall to give him a somewhat stern look, but she hurried away, promising to speak to him afterwards.

Even in the face of the Dementors, Dean Thomas cast his White Bear; Ron Weasley unleashed a cloud of mist that was shining enough to act as a barrier.And so, for everyone else, the day was over and Professor Flitwick started taking the students back to Hogwarts.When it became clear that Harry intended to stay, Professor Flitwick looked at him questioningly, and Harry responded with a meaningful look at Dumbledore.Harry didn't know how Professor Flitwick interpreted the wink, but his Headmaster gave him a sharp warning look before leaving.

So the only people left were Harry, Professor Quirrell, Principal Dumbledore and the Auror trio.

It would have been nice to distract the Auror trio, but Harry couldn't think of a good excuse.

"Okay," said the Komodo Auror, "let's take it back."

"I'm sorry," said Harry, "I wanted to try again with the dementors."

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Harry's request was met with some resistance, and everyone used various euphemisms to say that you are completely crazy, but only the Patnaru Auror actually said it.

"Fawkes sent me," said Harry.

The words brought shock to Dumbledore's face, but still failed to suppress all objections.The continuation of the argument made the peace of the phoenix subside a little, irritating Harry a little, but only a little.

"You see," said Harry, "I'm pretty sure I know where I went wrong before. There's a class of people who have to use different ideas of warmth and happiness. Just let me try, okay?"

Obviously this is not convincing enough.

"I think," said Professor Quirrell, finally narrowing his eyes and staring at Harry, "that if we don't let him try under our supervision, sooner or later he'll sneak off and go find the dementors himself. I have You have not been wronged, Mr Potter?"

Pause in shock.This seems like a good time to pull out the trump card.

"I don't mind the Headmaster keeping his Patronus," said Harry.Because with or without a Patronus, I'm equally exposed to dementors.

There was a moment of bewilderment at this statement, and even Professor Quirrell looked bewildered.But the Headmaster finally agreed, as it seemed unlikely that Harry would be injured under the protection of the four Patronus Charms.

If the dementors couldn't somehow see through your Patronus Charm, Albus Dumbledore, you wouldn't see a painful looking naked man...  

For obvious reasons, Harry didn't say that.

They started walking towards the dementors.

"Headmaster," said Harry, "suppose the gates of Ravenclaw asked you the riddle: What is hidden in the heart of the dementors? How would you answer it?"

"Fear," replied the principal. [1]

Pretty simple mistake.Dementors approach and terror overwhelms you.Fear is painful, you feel it is sapping you, and you want to get rid of that fear.

It is natural to assume that fear is the problem.

So they concluded that dementors are creatures of pure terror, and that the only thing to fear is fear itself.Dementors can't hurt you if you're not afraid...

but……

What lurks at the heart of the dementors?

fear.

What is so terrible that the brain refuses to face it?

fear.

What can't be killed?

fear.

...if you think about it, you can see something is wrong.

However, the reasons for the reluctance to seek other answers are clear.

Everyone understands fear.

We all know how to overcome fear.

So, in the face of dementors, the following question can only be disturbing: "What if fear is a side effect, rather than the main problem?"

They walked near the dementor's cage under the protection of four Patronus charms, when the three Aurors and Professor Quirrell gasped at the same time.Everyone's faces turned to the Dementor, seemingly listening.A look of terror appeared on the Goyanov Auror's face.

Then Professor Quirrell raised his head lividly and spat at the Dementor.

"He doesn't like to see his prey taken from him, I suppose," said Dumbledore quietly. "Well, if necessary, Quirinus, Hogwarts will always offer you a safe haven." .”

"What did it say?" Harry asked.

Everyone turned to stare at him.

"Didn't you hear...?" asked Dumbledore.

Harry shook his head.

"It told me," said Professor Quirrell, "that it knows me, and that no matter where I hide, it will catch me one day." His face was tense, showing no sign of fear.

"Ah," said Harry, "don't worry about that, Professor Quirrell." Dementors don't actually speak, and they don't think; their structure is borrowed from your own thoughts and imagination...

Now everyone is looking at him very strangely.The Aurors exchanged nervous glances, from the Dementor to Harry.

They were standing right in front of the Dementor's cage.

"They're the wounds of the world," said Harry. "I'm just taking a random guess. It's Godric Gryffindor who said that."

"Yes..." said Dumbledore, "how do you know?"

A lot of people misunderstood Ravenclaw, Harry thought, thinking that all the Rationalists would be sorted there and none of them would be reserved for the other houses.not like this.Being sorted into Ravenclaw means that your strongest virtue is curiosity, the curiosity and hunger for real answers.But this is not the only virtue a rationalist needs.Sometimes you have to work on a problem long enough.Sometimes it takes clever planning to find the answer.Sometimes, in order to see the answer, what you need most is the courage to face it...

Harry turned his gaze to what was beneath the cloak, which was far more terrifying than a rotting mummy.Rowena Ravenclaw probably knew it too, because if you take it as a riddle, the answer is obvious.

The reason why patron saints are animals is also obvious.Animals don't understand, so they don't feel fear.

But Harry knew it, always knew it, and could never forget it.He's been trying to learn to face reality and never back down.Harry hadn't quite mastered the art yet, but the training had left an imprint on his brain, forming a conditioned reflex to face pain head-on without avoiding it.Harry would never forget its existence among other thoughts of warmth and happiness, which is why he couldn't cast the spell.

So Harry needed to think of something warm and happy, nothing else but about itself.

Harry drew the wand that Professor Flitwick had given him back, and put his feet in the starting position for the Patronus Charm.

Harry threw away the last bit of peace the Phoenix had left in him, put the peaceful, dreamlike state aside, recalled Fox's high-pitched cry, and put himself into battle mode.Awakening every part of the body, mustering all the powers available to cast the Patronus Charm, and preparing the mind for that last thought of warmth and happiness.Think back to all those bright things.

The books his father bought him.

Mom's smile at Harry's handmade Mother's Day card for her, a complex contraption that used half a pound of electronic parts in his garage to light up and beep a melody that cost him three It takes days to do it.

Professor McGonagall told him that his parents had died bravely to protect him.that's the truth.

Realizing that Hermione was keeping pace with him, even outrunning him, they could become true rivals and friends.

Draw Draco out of the darkness and watch him walk slowly into the light.

Neville, Seamus, Lavender, Dean, everyone who admired him; everyone he would fight to protect if Hogwarts were ever threatened.

All the things that make life worthwhile.

He raised his wand and placed it in the starting position of the Patronus Charm.

Harry thought of the stars.This image almost blocked the intrusion of the dementors without the Patronus.Only this time, Harry filled in the missing parts.He hadn't seen it in person, but he had seen photos and videos.Earth, shining brilliant blue and white, reflecting the sun's rays, hangs in space, between a dark vacuum and countless bright points of light.It belongs here, it belongs to this image, because it is what gives meaning to everything else.It is the Earth that makes the stars matter, not just uncontrollable fusion reactions, because Earth's inhabitants will one day colonize the entire galaxy, fulfilling the promise of the night sky.

Will the distant descendants of man, the children of their children and their children, be haunted by dementors as they stride from one planet to the next?No.of course not.The dementors were a minor annoyance, barely worth mentioning in the light of that promise.It's not unkillable, it's not invincible, far from it.If you are one of those lucky and unlucky few who were born on Earth—or, as they say someday, on an ancient Earth—you have to live with this little annoyance.If you are one of the very few intelligent beings who were born at the beginning of everything, before intelligent beings gained full power, then such troubles are part of being alive.And at this time, here, in this first dawn, with so much darkness to fight and temporary troubles like dementors, what you do now will determine the greater future.

Mum and Dad, Hermione's friendship and Draco's journey, Neville, Seamus, Lavender and Dean, the blue sky and the sun and all things bright, the earth, the stars, the promises, all the past and future of humanity... …

On the wand, Harry placed his finger where the spell began.Now, he was ready to think the right warm and happy thoughts.

Harry's eyes were fixed on what was under the tattered cloak, on the thing called the Dementor.It is nothingness, a void, a gap in the universe, a place without color and space, an open vent from which all warmth can drain from the world.

The horror it exudes will steal all happy thoughts, its approach will drain your strength and energy, and its kiss will destroy all your existence.

I know what you are, thought Harry, and with a turn of the wand once, twice, three times, four times, the fingers gliding the precise distance, I understand your essence, you are the symbol of death, death through some The shadow cast by this magical rule on this world.

And death is something I will never accept.

It's just the helplessness of youth, and human beings just haven't fully grown up yet.

one day……

we'll get rid of it...

We will never have to say goodbye to each other...

The wand was raised, pointing directly at the dementor.

"Call God Guard!"

The thought gushed out like a bursting flood, down the arm to his wand, and the tip burst into a blinding white light...the light took shape, gave shape and matter.

A figure with two arms, two legs, and a head, standing upright.This is an animal called Homo sapiens, which is the image of a human being.

Harry poured all his strength into the spell, the Patronus became brighter and brighter, emitting a blazing light, brighter than the setting sun in the west, the Aurors and Professor Quirrell covered their eyes in surprise——

One day, the descendants of human beings will spread all over the planets. At that time, they will not tell them the history of the ancient earth until the children grow up and have enough endurance; and when they hear about it, they will To weep with grief that such a thing as death ever existed!

The human figure became more dazzling than the midday sun, and the light from it warmed Harry's skin.Harry poured out all his contempt on the shadow of death, opened all the floodgates in his heart, made this bright image brighter and brighter and brighter.

You are not invincible, and one day humanity will end you.

If I could, I would end you, with wisdom and the power of magic and science.

I will not tremble with the fear of death so long as I have a chance of victory.

I will not let death touch me, I will not let death touch the people I love.

Even if you do end me before I end you,

Someone else will take my place, and then someone else will take their place,

Until the world's wounds are finally healed...

Harry lowered his wand, and the bright human figure slowly disappeared.

Slowly, he let out a breath.

Like just waking up from a dream, like opening his eyes after sleep, Harry looked away from the cage, turned his head, and found that everyone was staring at him.

Albus Dumbledore was staring at him.

Professor Quirrell was staring at him.

The Auror trio was staring at him.

They looked at him like they'd seen him kill a dementor.

All that was left in the cage was a tattered cloak.

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1. At the center of the dementor is fear: here is the author's second hypothesis.In the original book, the magical creature that symbolizes fear is a boggart, and the essence of a dementor is melancholia.The following is translated from a passage in harrypotter.wikia/wiki/Dementor: "J.K. Rowling revealed that she suffered from severe depression before her extraordinary success, and that the dementors were inspired by this. Her The description of the feeling is 'I can't imagine being happy again. There's no hope. That feeling of dying is so different from being sad.'"