The true circumstances of this momentous event—the convergence of the magical and Muggle worlds that would later be endlessly discussed by generations to come—remained known to only a handful of people.
As a result, it sparked countless speculations and was adapted into films and stage plays, some featuring flights of fancy so wild that even Hodge Blackthorn, the one who had lived through it all, could only marvel in astonishment.
Back when the duel had taken place in the golden autumn, things had not yet spiraled into such mystique.
"I left Him inside the mind-space," Hodge told Dumbledore. "That's the only reason the place still exists. On my own power alone, I could never have kept it stable for long."
"And what does that make you now?"
"A gatekeeper, perhaps? Or the only living person inside that mind-space?" Hodge mused. "I used magic to splinter the Sacred Silencio into more than a thousand fragments and anchor the entire realm with them. So, technically, He is still the master of that space."
"Then what are you?" Dumbledore asked, genuinely curious. Few could have resisted such temptation.
"I want to create a mind-space that belongs entirely to me," Hodge replied. "If Death ever truly existed, this must have been the level he operated on. There are no gods—everything is tied to magic. Though… maybe Death was simply a supremely skilled alchemist… I'm not certain yet."
He only had a vague sense that, by borrowing the power of the mind-space, he could carve out a realm suspended between reality and fantasy. There, he would never lack for magic; he would be nearly omnipotent, able to do almost anything he wished. He could even imbue objects with his own power. That was where his suspicions about Death's true identity came from.
"In the future, I'll be able to craft things like an 'Elder Wand' that can see into men's hearts, an 'Invisibility Cloak' that lets one slip between the cracks of time, and a Resurrection Stone that warns of danger in advance."
If he ever reached that point, a thousand years from now, there would be little difference between Hodge Blackthorn and the Death of legend.
"But that's a matter for ten or twenty years down the line," Hodge admitted frankly. "Until then, I'll observe how the mind-space evolves and gather experience. That's why I say the Sacred Silencio accomplished something truly remarkable. He might have been right after all—He really was a sacred being. A man-made god, albeit a rather feeble one."
Dumbledore couldn't help but smile.
"That's hardly fair. For years, no one managed to catch him."
The Sacred Silencio had caused chaos far beyond Britain; he had roamed the world. True, his range was still tied to the vicinity of churches, so he appeared mostly in the West, but the number of wizards he had assaulted ran into the thousands, and the traps and defenses laid specifically for him were beyond counting. In the end, every single plan had failed.
Hodge merely shrugged.
"I have Sebastian Sallow to thank for removing my biggest problem." He was, of course, referring to the mutual sensitivity between himself and the Sacred Silencio. "Silencio was born from the dark power of wizards to begin with. On top of that, he absorbed vast amounts of wizarding magic and Muggle spiritual energy, making him even harder to deal with. But I happened to be his perfect counter—our magical paths are similar, the spells we command nearly identical. The only advantages I have are a slight mastery over time and the gift of prophecy…"
Hodge felt a quiet relief. Originally he had planned to wait another two years; once he failed, his opponent could easily develop countermeasures—by plundering a few diviners or studying the gifts of the Silent Ones who commanded time. Fortunately, both were exceedingly rare and seldom appeared in public. Moreover, according to Hodge's understanding, the Sacred Silencio had probably been wary of devouring both magic and memories together, afraid that something like Sebastian Sallow would happen again. In any case, he no longer had a second chance.
"So Sebastian Sallow truly died long ago," Dumbledore said with a trace of regret.
"Yes," Hodge acknowledged, sharing the sentiment. "He was imprisoned in the Church's magical field. After so many years, his body had long since rotted away. But his magic and a few fragments of memory lingered inside Silencio's body. When Silencio was shattered, those last scraps of memory scattered like smoke."
"Still… he didn't leave this world empty-handed."
Speaking of the man who had altered the course of his life, Hodge's expression grew complicated. "At the very end, I received a set of coordinates. That was probably his final obsession—"
"It can't be…?" Dumbledore held his breath, hope flickering in his eyes.
Hodge nodded. "Exactly. The place where he hid his sister, Anne Sallow."
The two men fell silent for a moment, gazing at the amber liquid bubbling steadily in the small cauldron. At last Hodge spoke softly, "I'll find a way to cure her. I hope Professor McGonagall will agree to let her enroll."
Another long silence followed. Then Dumbledore said,
"A noble deed, Hodge."
"What will you do next?" he asked after a pause.
"Oh, plenty…" Hodge answered. "Meet with Amelia Bones, see Harry and the others… Probably give a few interviews, at least so the world knows the Sacred Silencio is gone for good. As for what they choose to believe—whether he died or returned to his own realm…" Hodge frowned slightly. "Let it remain a mystery for now. The mind-space still needs to evolve. I intend to turn those thousands of fragments of Silencio into emissaries of dreams."
Seeing the disapproval on Dumbledore's face, Hodge knew exactly what worried him, yet he stood by his decision.
"Just think about it. Ever since the Sacred Silencio appeared, the wizarding population worldwide has exploded. Professor McGonagall herself complained to me that Hogwarts first-years have increased by fifty percent. We don't know how long the phenomenon will last, but it's undeniable that he awakened ancient magical bloodlines in countless people. One more layer of oversight can only be a good thing. And in the future, I have no intention of keeping that mind-space to myself. As the ages pass, perhaps I'll open it to the world…"
Dumbledore gave a soft sigh.
"Perhaps I really am getting old. Faced with this brand-new world, my advice feels out of date—nothing more than the self-important grumbling of an old man… Do as you think best, Hodge. My only wish is that, at every stage of your life, you never lose the qualities that matter most—love and hope."
"Ahem. I'll do my best," Hodge replied, a touch embarrassed, then cracked a joke. "I'm not even thirty yet. You're not going to object if I actually enjoy life a little, are you?"
Dumbledore laughed as well.
"Talking with you always makes one forget about age. So—you already have plans?"
"Of course," Hodge said, instantly brightening. "The most urgent thing right now is to hurry up and write a job application." He pretended to grumble, "It's been ages since I had a proper job. I hear Muggles call this a 'career gap.' I wonder if the interviewers will give me a hard time…"
Dumbledore blinked, momentarily thrown by the sudden whimsy.
"Well… would you like me to write you a letter of recommendation?"
Amidst the laughter, the two men turned to look out at the world beyond the window. The sun was setting; the sky was ablaze with crimson clouds, painting the horizon a brilliant red. Night was about to fall, yet a new day would always come.
END