Chapter 14 — A True Agent of Chaos
"That's about enough, Professor Dracula," Dumbledore said, declining Dracula's invitation to pet the dog together and awkwardly changing the subject. "Don't you still need to set up a protective challenge for the Philosopher's Stone?"
"You're right." Dracula nodded, as though he had just discovered a new source of entertainment.
"When you have time, you should give Fluffy a bath. He's far too dirty right now—it really affects the texture." As he spoke, he patted the three-headed dog's massive head again and said, "Fluffy, move that fat belly of yours aside. You're blocking the door."
The moment he had entered the room, Dracula had already noticed that Fluffy was standing on top of a trapdoor. It was clearly guarding something.
Fluffy obediently shuffled aside, squeezing itself into the corner of the room and leaving a path for Dracula and Dumbledore to reach the trapdoor.
Dumbledore waved his hand. The ring on the trapdoor was immediately lifted by an invisible force, and the hatch swung open.
Below the opening was pitch-black and very deep. But with a vampire's excellent night vision, Dracula could clearly see what lay beneath.
"Tsk. Laying down a whole patch of Devil's Snare—Professor Sprout must be worried that whoever comes to steal the Stone might get hurt from the fall," Dracula remarked, glancing sideways at Dumbledore with a teasing smile. "Besides, there aren't many wizards who haven't learned a slowing charm, right? Perhaps this challenge is specially designed for younger students?"
Dumbledore merely smiled without responding. He floated down lightly through the trapdoor and landed on the ground below.
Dracula, on the other hand, casually leaned backward and fell through the opening. A moment later, he drifted down and landed on the soft Devil's Snare beneath.
"You've prepared quite thoroughly for the intruders' safety," he commented while lying on the Devil's Snare, which dared not move because of the powerful aura of darkness surrounding him.
Dracula stood up. Together with Dumbledore, he walked along the stone corridor ahead of the Devil's Snare until they reached the end, where a brightly lit chamber came into view.
The room had a high, arched ceiling. Countless jewel-like birds fluttered everywhere, beating their wings and darting through the air. On the opposite side of the room stood a heavy wooden door.
"Setting up a door, but leaving the key behind—and even thoughtfully providing a few flying brooms," Dracula said, glancing at the magical birds overhead and the brooms resting in the corner. "Turning security measures into a puzzle challenge… that's very much like you."
After enduring Dracula's constant sarcasm along the way, Dumbledore finally failed to maintain his calm expression and let out a helpless laugh.
"Professor Dracula, I knew I wouldn't be able to hide it from you," he said. "To be honest, I never intended for these obstacles to truly stop a determined intruder. They're simply trials meant to test and train the students."
"To test whom? And train whom?" Dracula chuckled softly. "If I'm not mistaken, this is all for the Boy Who Lived—Harry Potter, isn't it?"
"As expected, nothing escapes your eyes, Professor Dracula." Dumbledore sighed. "Yes, I do intend to cultivate Harry. He will be an indispensable part of the process of completely defeating Voldemort."
"So I must ask you—please don't make the next challenge too difficult. I'd hate for Harry to lose confidence because of a professor's obstacle before he even has the chance to face Voldemort."
Dracula nodded indifferently. In truth, he also wanted to learn more about the secrets surrounding this so-called savior.
How had a mere one-year-old child defeated the most powerful dark wizard in the world?
Dracula found that question extremely intriguing.
The two of them casually waved their hands, unlocking the heavy wooden door. After passing through a large puzzle chessboard, they entered another chamber that still carried a faint rotten smell.
"There used to be a troll here, but Quirrell moved it away yesterday," Dumbledore explained. "So the smell hasn't completely disappeared yet. Now then, Professor Dracula, please set up your challenge here."
Dracula surveyed the empty room.
"Before I design anything, I have a question," he said bluntly. "What kind of difficulty would allow a young wizard like Harry Potter to pass through successfully? After teaching several classes, I must say I'm not impressed with Hogwarts' spellcasting standards. A first-year student's magical ability probably approaches zero."
Dumbledore concealed his embarrassment with a smile and replied, "I'm sure that under Professor Dracula's guidance, the young wizards will improve quickly."
Dracula shook his head, suddenly losing interest in designing a playful challenge for children.
"Forget it. Just have Quirrell give the troll a bath and put it back here," he said lazily.
With that, Dracula walked straight toward the next door.
Dumbledore shrugged and followed him.
The next room contained nothing but a single table. On it stood seven bottles of different shapes.
The moment the two of them crossed the threshold, flames suddenly burst up behind them, sealing the entrance.
These flames were unusual—they were purple. At the same time, black fire sprang up at the doorway ahead, trapping them between the two.
"Turning Snape's potion trial into a simple logic puzzle—didn't he try to kill you for that?" Dracula said with a faint smile as he looked at the scroll of parchment beside the bottles.
The riddle written on the parchment was not about potions at all. Instead, it posed a logical puzzle, practically handing the correct bottle to the intruder.
Neither Dracula nor Dumbledore cared much about flames of such ordinary temperature. They simply walked straight through the black fire and entered the final chamber.
The last challenge contained nothing except a magnificent mirror.
The Philosopher's Stone was hidden within this mirror by Dumbledore.
At the top of the ancient mirror was engraved a line of text:
"Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi."
It had to be read backward to reveal its true meaning. When reversed and separated properly, it formed the sentence:
"I show not your face but your heart's desire."
Dracula paused when he saw the mirror, and a hint of interest slowly appeared on his face.
"The Mirror of Erised shows a person's deepest desire—usually the fulfillment of a goal or ambition. But just as every person is unique, the image it reveals is different for each viewer," Dumbledore explained with a smile.
"So tell me, Professor Dracula—what did you see?"
Dracula was silent for a moment before letting out a soft laugh.
"I saw endless amusement flying straight toward me," he said quietly, his eyes shifting slightly.
Dracula had not told the truth.
What he had seen in the Mirror of Erised was not himself, nor any concrete object.
What he had seen was a war sweeping across the entire wizarding world—a landscape of complete chaos.
Was that truly what he desired?
Seeking amusement within chaos, stirring up storms amid conflict…
A true instigator of turmoil.
Someone who simply could not bear a peaceful world.
…