The air grew tense as Dumbledore's sudden interruption cut through the room.
Fudge's face turned dark, his mood souring visibly. No one liked being interrupted mid-conversation, least of all the Minister of Magic. It was an affront to his authority, and such a breach of decorum was rare. Ordinarily, not even the head of the Auror Office, Scrimgeour, would dare interrupt him unless the matter was of utmost urgency.
But this wasn't just anyone.
It was Dumbledore.
Fudge fumed inwardly, suppressing his resentment. As much as he wanted to demand an explanation, he knew better. This was Albus Dumbledore, the man revered across the wizarding world as its moral compass and its most powerful defender. Resigned, Fudge stepped aside, his demeanor sour as he made room for the headmaster to engage with Lockhart.
Lockhart, for his part, maintained a façade of calm. Yet inwardly, he felt a flicker of unease. Dumbledore's piercing gaze unsettled him, and his unexpected arrival felt ominous. Could Dumbledore have discovered his plans? The thought was absurd—wasn't it? After all, his grand vision involved leveraging the dream world to recruit daring, capable wizards and to reshape magical society itself.
But just as Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak, Lockhart preemptively raised his hand, a disarming smile on his face.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, please, one moment."
He turned smoothly to Fudge, adopting a more formal tone. "Minister Fudge, on behalf of Kamar-Taj, I accept your request."
With a graceful wave of his hand, a glowing green seed appeared, floating gently in the air before Fudge. Its luminescent light cast an eerie glow across the room.
"This," Lockhart continued, "is the dream seed I've refined. With it, you'll be able to cultivate your own dream world. For further details on its operation, you may consult Miss Carter."
Carter, standing nearby, gave an understanding nod and approached Fudge.
Dumbledore, observing this exchange, glanced meaningfully at Professor McGonagall. Their shared look carried a silent understanding. Without hesitation, McGonagall followed Carter, stepping closer with a polite smile. "Ms. Carter," she said lightly, "Hogwarts is also interested in exploring the potential of the dream world. I hope you don't mind if I listen in."
Carter hesitated, her gaze flickering briefly toward Lockhart. A slight nod from him reassured her, and she replied, "Of course, Professor McGonagall, I'd be happy to share."
She raised her hand, summoning a blue, glowing dream seed, which she handed to McGonagall.
"This is a dream seed as well," Carter explained. "When you're ready, I'll walk you through the cultivation process."
While McGonagall busied herself with Carter, Lockhart refocused on Dumbledore. His expression turned lighthearted, as though they were merely old colleagues having a chat. "Headmaster, why don't we step into my private dream space to continue this conversation?"
Dumbledore's expression remained inscrutable as he nodded silently.
With a wave of his hand, Lockhart conjured an intense mental surge, and the room around them shimmered. Moments later, they found themselves in a cozy study. The space radiated warmth—a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere they had just left. A thick, polished wooden desk dominated the center, bookshelves lined the walls, and a crackling fireplace cast flickering light across the room.
The ambiance was serene, yet Dumbledore's sharp eyes noticed something peculiar. The study bore a striking resemblance to his own office at Hogwarts. The detail was unsettling, suggesting that Lockhart had thought deeply about stepping into his role someday.
Dumbledore shook the notion from his mind, focusing instead on the matter at hand.
"Lockhart," he began, his voice heavy with gravitas, "there's one thing I need clarity on. I won't question the origins of the dream world, but I must know what your intentions are for its future."
Lockhart feigned surprise, tilting his head quizzically.
"Why, Dumbledore, whatever do you mean?" he asked, his voice laced with innocence. "The dream world is a wondrous tool, immensely beneficial to wizards everywhere."
But Dumbledore's piercing gaze didn't waver. It bore into Lockhart, as though trying to peel away his outer layers to uncover hidden truths.
Lockhart sighed, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, you win. I'll tell you my plans, but only if you share what's troubling you so much."
Dumbledore remained silent, his face a mask of calm.
Taking this as acquiescence, Lockhart began. "My plan for the dream world is still in its infancy. For now, its primary purpose is to help cultivate students' potential." He paused, as if weighing his next words.
"However, given its unique properties, I aim to expand its reach. My vision is to create a comprehensive platform that can include other wizards, fostering collaboration and innovation."
He shrugged, a tinge of regret crossing his face. "Of course, this is merely an ideal. The dream seed's inherent limitations make it nearly impossible to establish a global network. Even covering an area as small as Britain would be a monumental challenge."
Dumbledore's frown deepened. "So your solution is to scatter dream seeds widely and encourage others to cultivate their own dream worlds?"
Lockhart nodded, undeterred by the sharpness in Dumbledore's tone. "Exactly. The dream world is a gift, Dumbledore. If shared across the wizarding community, it could yield untold benefits."
Dumbledore fell silent, his mind racing. His vast experience as a wizard allowed him to analyze situations from angles others often missed, and this was no exception. One after another, Lockhart's innovations flashed through his thoughts—secret spaces, meditation techniques, advanced runes, combined casting methods, and now the dream world.
Each was groundbreaking, yet together they painted a picture that was both awe-inspiring and deeply concerning.
After a moment, Dumbledore spoke, his voice grave. "Lockhart, I won't speculate about ulterior motives. But the dream world's energy source—the mental power of Muggles—is deeply troubling."
Lockhart's confident demeanor faltered ever so slightly.
"This connection," Dumbledore continued, "creates a direct dependency between wizards and Muggles—a relationship that has never existed before. Historically, Muggles and wizards lived separate lives, with only a handful of magical awakenings bridging the gap. But the dream world changes that dynamic completely."
Dumbledore's tone hardened, his words cutting through the air like a blade. "By tying the dream world's existence to Muggle consciousness, you've introduced a dangerous imbalance. It risks evolving into a system of exploitation, with Muggles becoming unwitting slaves to wizarding ambition."
The weight of Dumbledore's words hung heavy in the room. Lockhart, for all his wit, couldn't deny the truth behind them. Inwardly, he acknowledged his oversight. He had been so focused on squeezing every ounce of potential from the wizarding world that he had barely spared a thought for the implications for Muggles.
Still, he dismissed the concern with a mental shrug. This wasn't the Marvel Universe, where he might have had to consider the moral complexities of Muggle-wizard relations. Here, he was a wizard first and foremost, and Muggles simply weren't his priority.
After all, power belonged to those who wielded it.
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