Chapter 313: Voldemort was stabbed in the back again

On the evening of September 1, 1996.

At the opening dinner of Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall came to the front of the auditorium holding the clean and tidy Sorting Hat and a round stool as always, preparing to start the annual sorting ceremony.

But the chair in the middle of the professor's seat has always been empty, and no one has been seen.

The newly admitted little wizard standing on one side of the auditorium, as well as the students sitting on the four long tables, all looked at the chair dedicated to the Hogwarts principal with curiosity. They didn't know that Dumbledore, who was always punctual, Why didn't Lido attend today's sorting ceremony?

"What did Dumbledore do today?" Ron turned to Harry and asked, "I remember that he used to come very early. He said he liked to admire the energetic appearance of the new students."

"I don't know." Harry shook his head, "But a few days ago Dumbledore took me to find an old professor to come out with... Did you see the position of the Potions Professor? That is Horace Slug. Professor Horn."

"So he is the professor who came to replace Snape?" Ron nodded suddenly, and then said angrily, "I knew Snape was not a good person, but Dumbledore trusted him so much!"

"I just don't know who the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor is." Harry looked expectantly at the empty chair next to Professor Flitwick and murmured, "Do you think... Will Professor Dracula come back? ?”

"Probably not..." Ron hesitated, "I heard from my father that Professor Dracula is doing something big. Dumbledore seems to be involved, but I don't know what he is doing."

"It probably has something to do with Voldemort..." Harry said uncertainly, "I hope their affairs go smoothly."

"You two, be quiet, the sorting ceremony has begun!" Hermione suddenly lowered her voice and reminded them in a low voice.

Only then did the two realize that Professor McGonagall had already called out the name of the first new student with the parchment in hand.

"..."

It wasn't until the sorting ceremony was over that Dumbledore finally came to the auditorium.

Before he even had time to sit down, he stood in front of the big chair in the center of the professor's seat and began the routine principal's speech.

"Good evening, everybody!"

Dumbledore smiled kindly, opened his arms as if to embrace the entire auditorium, and said the same instructions as in previous years:

"Administrator Filch asked me to tell everyone that students are strictly prohibited from bringing in any joke merchandise purchased from Wesla's Wizarding Wheezes this year."

"Students who want to join the college's Quidditch team should submit their names to the dean as usual. After Mr. Lee Jordan graduates, we are still looking for a new Quidditch commentator. Those who are interested can also go to the dean. Sign up there.”

Then, a look of regret appeared on his face that looked fake at first glance.

"Unfortunately, our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor last year, Professor Dolores Umbridge, will not be able to continue teaching everyone's Defense Against the Dark Arts class this year!"

There were enthusiastic cheers from the audience, and some little wizards threw their hats up in excitement.

Especially Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, the two houses that were most targeted by Umbridge, the students of the two houses were as excited as Wess fireworks about to explode.

Umbridge has been suffering at Hogwarts for a long time!

Dumbledore looked at this scene with a smile and pressed his hands down. The auditorium gradually became quiet.

Then, Dumbledore's face became slightly heavier and he said slowly:

"Also, Professor Severus Snape...for some reasons, will not continue to be the Potions Professor this year. This school year, we are very happy to welcome a new Potions Professor —Professor Slughorn!"

Horace Slughorn stood and bowed.

His bald head shone in the candlelight, and his waistcoat-clad belly cast a large shadow on the table.

"Professor Slughorn is a former colleague of mine. He has agreed to return to his old position as Potions Professor," Dumbledore introduced.

Except for the long table in Slytherin, students from other houses gave out cheers that were no less than when they heard the news of Umbridge's resignation.

The Ministry of Magic has put Snape on the wanted list. All young wizards know that Snape is now a Death Eater and has completely become Voldemort's lackey.

Any student with a righteous mind felt despised by Snape, not to mention that Snape's original reputation at Hogwarts was extremely poor... Only the Slytherin pureblood who admired Voldemort felt regretful. , seemed to want to become a Death Eater along with their Dean.

Harry glanced at the Slytherin table and did not find his usual nemesis Malfoy. He only saw the two huge bodies of Crabbe and Goyle sitting next to Theodore Nott.

Only then did he remember that Draco Malfoy had taken a leave of absence from school and was hiding in a safe house with his father who had taken refuge with Professor Dracula.

Looking at the young wizards cheering enthusiastically, Dumbledore had a hint of confusion in his eyes.

"This year, Slughorn will temporarily serve as the dean of Slytherin College." Dumbledore sighed softly, and then said, "As for the position of Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts..."

He looked around the auditorium, "The position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor is temporarily vacant. The new professor will come to Hogwarts Castle in one week at the latest."

Dumbledore looked at the vacant seat next to Professor Flitwick, his thoughts rarely drifting elsewhere——

If all goes well, Snape's undercover career will be completely over in a few days.

By that time, Voldemort's curse on the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor will also be dissipated, and Dumbledore can satisfy Snape's wish to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and let him change positions.

Amid the noisy discussion, Dumbledore retracted his thoughts and cleared his throat.

He waited a few seconds to make sure everyone was completely quiet before continuing:

"Everyone in this hall knows that Voldemort and his followers are making trouble again, and their power is growing."

While Dumbledore spoke, most of the students in the Great Hall fell into a tense, heart-wrenching silence.

However, Theodore Nott, Crabbe, Goyle and others did not look at Dumbledore at all and were talking to themselves, as if they felt that the principal's words were not worth listening to.

"I need to emphasize that the current situation is very dangerous. Everyone at Hogwarts needs to be extremely cautious to ensure our own safety." Dumbledore did not pay attention to the small actions in the audience and continued to speak.

"The castle's magical defenses were strengthened during the summer vacation, and we have received new and more effective protection. However, each of our teachers and students must still be vigilant at all times and cannot take it lightly."

He paused and emphasized: "Especially the first three days after school starts - this is the time when all of you are most impetuous."

"I ask that you strictly follow every safety rule your teacher sets, no matter how annoying they may be - especially the rule about not getting up and going out after lights out."

"I implore you, whether inside or outside the school, if you find any abnormal or suspicious situation, you must report it to the faculty immediately. I believe that you will restrain your behavior for the safety of yourself and others!"

Dumbledore's blue eyes swept across all the students, and the serious expression on his face changed back to a faint smile.

"Okay, your bed is waiting for you, as warm and comfortable as you expected. Your top priority now is to get a good rest and prepare for class tomorrow."

"So, let's say 'goodnight'!"

…

Three days later, nearly a hundred miles southwest of London, Stonehenge.

The dawn sun is slowly rising from below the green horizon, illuminating the endless green plain inch by inch. The red-orange light drives away the dark blue night from the sky, bringing bright skylight.

In the distance, ant-sized figures appeared one after another on the edge of the endless grassland.

Although these figures were extremely small compared to the Stonehenge, which could reach up to dozens of feet high, they gradually gathered into a vast ocean, seeming to submerge all the giant stones.

"Who is it! Who is it?

"

In the magic shield in the middle of Stonehenge, Voldemort angrily yelled at the sleepy men around him.

As soon as he woke up from his sleep, he realized something was wrong. He tried to apparate into the distance to explore what was going on, but found that the entire Stonehenge area had been shrouded in an anti-disapparation spell.

Obviously, the other party came prepared.

"Why! Why did Dumbledore know our stronghold?" Voldemort roared incompetently and furiously, "Tell me, how many undercover Dumbledores are there among the Death Eaters?!"

The Death Eaters suddenly woke up from their sleep, with confused and frightened looks on their faces.

They didn't understand why the Dark Lord started to go crazy early in the morning. It wasn't until they heard the iconic "pop" sound of the Apparition getting closer and closer that they realized that the danger was approaching...

The enemy used anti-Apparition spells to restrict the Death Eaters from escaping, but they could come to the battlefield to support them through the corresponding phantom "appearance".

The Death Eaters could not escape and could only watch as the encirclement on the plain became thicker and denser...

Voldemort couldn't understand.

It was clear that after being stabbed in the back several times, he carefully used Legilimency to check all of his men countless times, and he did not find any double-minded Death Eaters at all.

However, he had just driven away a large number of Muggles at Stonehenge, and the carefully established stronghold was easily discovered by Dumbledore again.

Voldemort originally planned to gather all his allies together to raid Hogwarts Castle and catch Dumbledore off guard - now, this plan has basically come to nothing.

He felt like a clown, with every move under Dumbledore's surveillance, but he still couldn't find the undercover agent hiding among the Death Eaters...

"Master, I have investigated, and Dumbledore has brought many people." Snape strode to Voldemort and reported to him, "Aurors from the Ministry of Magic, the Order of the Phoenix, and the International Federation of Wizards , even Dracula’s vampire clan, the werewolves led by Lupine, and a giant..."

"I think they probably want to start a decisive battle with us."

Voldemort glanced at Snape, with a hint of relief in his eyes.

Fortunately, he also has capable and reliable subordinates like Severus, who can make people feel more at ease when doing normal things.

Ever since Bellatrix Lestrange and many of the Death Eaters dispatched in previous operations were captured by the Ministry of Magic, Snape had become Voldemort's most trusted and relied-upon subordinate.

After all, this Death Eater who had been lurking in Hogwarts for more than ten years had already proved his loyalty by personally reciting the Death Curse to Dumbledore! And his excellence is obvious to all!

No matter how loyal a Death Eater is, not everyone has the courage to attack Dumbledore, the great wizard.

"Go ahead and get everyone ready to fight!" Voldemort nodded and said viciously, "The power we have gathered is no worse than the people brought by Dumbledore!"

He looked around at the boulders lying on the vast plain, and a sinister smile appeared on his lips.

If you don't look carefully, maybe no one will notice it.

The large stones lying on the ground in Stonehenge are undulating from time to time... as if they are breathing!

…

Just when the battle near Stonehenge was about to break out, a tall figure with light blond hair also appeared on the top of Mount Olympus.

Grindelwald, who had restored his image to his prime, stood proudly on the mist-shrouded snowy peaks, with a wild smile on his lips, staring at the magic circle hidden in the fog high in the sky.

There is the entrance to the secret realm established by Andros.

Grindelwald stretched out one hand to straighten his long, light-blond hair that was blown by the mountain wind, and played with a simple-looking scepter in the other hand. The amusement on his face was particularly conspicuous.

Suddenly, the mountain wind stopped.

He waved his hand violently, and a powerful spell struck somewhere in the mist.

The next moment, a six-pointed star magic circle surrounded by circular light appeared at the place where Grindelwald's spell was bombarded, spinning constantly.

Grindelwald threw the scepter in his hand and stepped into the magic circle leisurely.

…

While Dumbledore and Grindelwald were in their respective places, Dracula appeared in the Hall of Death in the Department of Mysteries, British Ministry of Magic.

On his pale and slender left index finger was a ring set with a diamond-shaped black gemstone, and in his right hand he held an elder wand with seven raised branches.

Dracula's figure is hidden under an invisibility cloak, and his shadow cannot be seen in the Hall of Death.

With his sight unobstructed through the invisibility cloak, Dracula looked at the dark gray curtain gently swinging in the stone arch in front of him, his expression unprecedentedly serious and solemn, completely different from his usual indifferent and casual appearance.

"There's still half an hour left, Albus, Grindelwald, you two, don't let me down..."

Dracula took out a pocket watch from his pocket, glanced at it, and said softly.

…

…