Chapter 43 Dumbledore

Fred strode forward, knocked on the knocker, and the oak door opened silently.

Dumbledore's office is very strange. The walls are covered with portraits of old headmasters. Some are sleeping, some are looking at them with interest, and some have only an empty frame. The long-legged table, covered with curious silverware, whirled and puffed out small puffs of smoke. The Sorting Hat was placed on a board and seemed to be asleep, making a slight snoring sound.

Behind the door, on a tall gilded perch, stood an extremely beautiful bird. Its feathers are golden and red, and although they are a little sparse, they are still dazzlingly beautiful, and its eyes look down at everyone with very smart eyes.

"Oh my God!" Hermione whispered: "It's actually a phoenix! I read in a book that Professor Dumbledore has a real phoenix——"

Albus Dumbledore sat behind the table, wearing a pair of half-moon glasses on his aquiline nose and wearing a dark purple robe printed with fleur-de-lis. He sat on a high-backed chair and looked at everyone gently with light blue eyes.

"Welcome, kids. I hope you're not bored in my office."

"How so? This place is so interesting, Professor!" Fred said boldly and lively.

Dumbledore chuckled softly and said, "You said in your letter that you have something very important to tell me? You can tell me now."

Everyone looked at each other and urged with their eyes. Hermione also chickened out at this point, as she too had been forced to violate the ban and was reluctant to surrender.

In the end, Wade had no choice but to stand up and repeat the conversation he had heard before. Others added to their guesses.

Michael's face gradually turned pale. He didn't expect that they were going to the principal's office to talk about such a serious matter. He looked from this to that, feeling as if he was the only shocked person at the scene.

Dumbledore didn't show any surprise after listening patiently. His eyes that seemed to be able to see through people's hearts turned to Wade and asked: "When you heard this conversation, are you sure he didn't notice it?"

"I had used the fire spell before that. I don't know if he noticed any traces of the spell. But as soon as Professor Quirrell entered the door, I hid. I couldn't be seen from the angle of the window."

Wade said carefully: "Before he left, I made sure that I made no noise, did not use magic, and had no obvious smell on my body. I waited outside the window until early morning before going back, and on the way out I met Griffith's portrait. And Professor Murray. In the subsequent Defense Against the Dark Arts class, Professor Quirrell did not pay special attention to me, and his attitude did not change significantly. "

Dumbledore nodded slightly and added: "For the time being, it seems that he has not noticed it. But I want you to remember one thing - from today on, try not to think about this matter, and don't look at Professor Quirrell. Do you understand? ?”

Wade nodded silently.

"Professor!" Ryan couldn't help but ask: "Why don't you catch him? Before he knows he has been exposed!"

"It's not yet time, Mr. Carrow." Dumbledore said patiently: "Actually, at the beginning of this semester, I found that some heartbreaking changes seemed to have happened in our Professor Quirrell. The information I brought also confirmed my worst suspicions—but it’s not time to expose him yet. But don’t worry, I asked a very reliable person to monitor him and ensure the safety of the students.”

"So Professor...is he really..." George asked softly.

"I think so." Dumbledore confirmed their guess: "Voldemort has returned to this school again, in a state that no one can imagine. But he probably didn't expect that his wonderful disguise would be used by a few of you. A child discovered that - he always has a habit of looking down on those who are not as powerful as himself - oh, in fact, your performance is very good."

"But - didn't everyone say that Voldemort was killed by Harry Potter when he was still a baby?" Fred asked.

"He was indeed severely wounded and disappeared from sight on the night he tried to kill Harry. But he was not really dead, I have always been sure of that." Dumbledore said: "Voldemort is now in a state of In a rare state, even the Death Curse cannot easily kill him."

Fred looked confused, but Dumbledore had no intention of explaining in detail.

"Professor, can I tell Harry this?" Hermione asked carefully.

"I don't think so, Miss Granger," Dumbledore said politely and unquestioningly.

"But--"

"Since Voldemort killed Harry's parents, I don't think it's a good idea to let him know that his enemy is right in front of him." Dumbledore said, "I'm afraid Harry won't be able to deal with it calmly and rationally like you. This will give him It's a huge risk, so I need you to keep it secret, especially to Harry - can you do that?"

Everyone nodded together.

Fred muttered: "But the mysterious man wants to kill him! In order to ensure safety, do we have to let Harry leave the team?"

"Wood will cry." George forced a smile: "He said that Harry was the best seeker he had ever seen - he pinned all his hopes of winning the championship on Harry."

"Oh, about that-"

Dumbledore crossed his arms and smiled and said: "I don't think you should give up the joy of Quidditch just for the eyes of the dark. So, yes, Harry does not have to leave the team, I will ensure his safety."

After getting his assurance, the Gryffindors were relieved immediately - in the hearts of the little lions, who could be more reliable than Dumbledore?

Several people happily prepared to say goodbye, and when they were about to leave, Ryan hesitated and stopped.

"Professor Dumbledore -"

"What?"

"One more thing -" Ryan hesitated and hesitated.

"Just say it, Mr. Carrow."

"Professor Quirrell -" Ryan mustered up his courage and looked up and asked: "After you drive away the mysterious man, what will happen to Professor Quirrell?"

"- Will he be okay?" Ryan asked.

Faced with this question, Dumbledore, who had always been calm, finally changed his expression.

He looked deeply into Ryan's eyes, and his eyes were slightly moist.

"I'm afraid not, child."

Ryan opened his eyes wide.

"In order to be able to attach to him, Voldemort did terrible things to him - very terrible - they formed an evil symbiotic relationship. When Voldemort leaves, Quirrell will inevitably die."

Everyone fell silent.

For these eleven-year-old children, watching someone around them irreversibly heading towards death - even if he is a bad guy - they began to feel sad in their hearts.

"Children, you sympathize with him and even want to save him. This is a very noble character."

Dumbledore lowered his eyes and said kindly but coldly -

"But when Quirrell sold his soul to Voldemort because of greed and ambition, this was already a doomed result."

Leaving the principal's office, several people had mixed feelings.

"Dumbledore really knows everything." Fred said: "Did you see? He is not surprised at all."

"It's hard to imagine." Ryan said: "We are only in the first grade, and we have to experience this kind of thing - war, mysterious people, death, I thought these things should be far away from us. And Professor Quirrell - well, I heard that he used to be very good."

They stood at the corridor, outside was covered with snow, and some little wizards were shouting and playing snowball fights in the yard, including Harry Potter and Ron Weasley.

"Dumbledore is right." Hermione said suddenly.

Wade was puzzled: "Huh?"

"Harry shouldn't be told the truth." Hermione looked at Harry with a pitying, motherly look: "Otherwise, the heavy reality and hatred will overwhelm him."

"--Don't talk about this." Wade reminded: "Remember what Dumbledore said, we should try not to think about it, and don't look at that person... It's better to stay away from him."

Hermione nodded silently.

Michael looked at Wade, hesitant to speak. Wade asked him with his eyes, but he shook his head and said nothing.

After returning to the lounge in the evening, Michael avoided everyone and whispered: "I thought you would resent Dumbledore-he knew everything, but let the students face danger-you almost died, Wade."