"The relevant departments of the Wizarding World have actually conducted extensive research and excavations concerning the so-called gods of antiquity.
Groups like the Unspeakables came into being precisely because of these things.
The Wizarding World has made many discoveries that cannot be made public, because they would profoundly challenge ordinary wizards' beliefs."
Nicolas Flamel truly deserved his reputation as a living fossil of the Wizarding World. His calm account spanned centuries of upheaval.
Unknown histories and secrets unfolded in his measured telling.
Dumbledore seemed delighted that Nicolas could fill these gaps in Zhang Xiao's knowledge. In the eyes of the old headmaster, who wanted nothing more than to retire,
Zhang would eventually take his place watching over the Wizarding World. The East apparently needed him too, but with great power came great responsibility.
Five years had passed, long enough for Dumbledore to judge a person's character. He could rest easy leaving things to Zhang.
Zhang Xiao nodded. The Department of Mysteries was every bit as mysterious as its name suggested. Outsiders thought it studied all sorts of arcane subjects.
Love, time, prophecy, and things like that.
But according to Nicolas Flamel, much of the Department of Mysteries' work concerned artifacts, records, and documents left behind by the ancients. They analyzed these things to support theoretical research into magic.
Much of the Standard Book of Spells Committee's material came from the Department of Mysteries.
"Our research found that those gods acquired certain extraordinary abilities through faith, to varying degrees. But polytheistic faith was divided, far less powerful than the unified faith of monotheism.
You understand that concept, don't you, Zhang?"
Zhang Xiao nodded. Of course he understood. In fact, without China, Buddhism might well have died out... it certainly would not have become one of the world's three major religions.
Wait.