Hogwarts: Dumbledore reigned over the wizarding world

Chapter 82 Watching the Show and Tacit Understanding

Why Voldemort went to Albania is a question that is difficult for book fans to understand, even in Vaughan's previous life.

Although in Vaughan's view, the truth is simple.

It is hidden in what Helena said later - it's a lonely place!
Voldemort, who grew up in an orphanage, was accompanied by loneliness all his life. He had no relatives and no friends. Perhaps it was because he had heard Helena talk about the "Lonely Land" that he subconsciously hid there after his death.

The specific cause is not important, what is important is the events that lead to the cause.

Voldemort knew about Albania because Helena told him, and he also found the Ravenclaw Diadem hidden by Helena there.

Vaughn has always wanted to find this Horcrux that was thrown into the Room of Requirement, but because there is too much garbage in the Room of Requirement, he returns empty-handed again and again.

Since the end of last year, when he focused on the research and development of wolfsbane potion, Vaughan completely gave up looking for it.

Anyway, Dumbledore must be more anxious than him!

Even Snape didn't know that Dumbledore was tracking Quirrell down in order to find the Horcrux!

Vaughn said calmly, "Now that we've traced it to Albania, with this destination, I think you could try to investigate whether Tom has been there before, when he went there, and then determine why he went based on the time period."

Dumbledore pondered and nodded: "There is some truth to that, but it is so long ago that an investigation may be difficult."

Vaughn spread his hands: "That's no use. If you can't find the Horcrux, you'll never be able to kill Tom... Think about it carefully, what's the difficulty of finding the Horcrux? You'll have to arrange for Tom's resurrection before you can kill him again. Doesn't that feel even more uncomfortable?"

"..."

Dumbledore's old face wrinkled into a chrysanthemum.

In this world, the dead cannot be killed again. If you want to kill Voldemort, you have to resurrect him!
After being depressed for a while, Dumbledore put his arm around Vaughn's shoulders and said, "Okay, let's stop talking about these unhappy things. Come on, Vaughn, come with me to see Harry."

"Why, what drama have you prepared for Mr. Savior?"

"Don't say that, kid. I'm just giving him some guidance, a gentle push on his way to the stage!"

Vaughn scoffed, "Be careful to push him off the stage... Who's the villain this time?"

Dumbledore did not answer and left Slytherin with Vaughan invisibly.

As they passed the common room, they saw Malfoy.

For some reason, he was staring at the door of the lounge in a daze.

So, when Dumbledore and Vaughan opened the door, they saw the door of the common room suddenly opened, but there was no one in sight. Malfoy's face suddenly turned pale and he ran away screaming.

"Oh, sorry, I seemed to have scared him when I came here earlier."

"Your apology is insincere. Shouldn't you at least compensate him for his emotional distress? I don't mind passing it on for you, Albus!"

"No money!"

In total, Dumbledore, who had been ripped off of more than 10,000 gold galleons by Vaughan, became shameless.

This time, Dumbledore's stage was not set in the castle.

The two of them walked out of the castle invisibly, along the cobblestone path, and around the deserted Quidditch pitch.

Finally arrived at the Forbidden Forest.

From a distance, Vaughn saw Harry riding a flying broom, hiding in the air with the help of the dense treetops.

Below where he was standing, next to a huge oak tree, Snape grabbed Quirrell's collar and said something to him.

With that ferocious look, it's obvious that he's a villain!
Vaughan found it no surprise at all:

"Yes, Professor Snape, there's no one in all of Hogwarts who's more of a villain than him!"

……

"Snape...he really is the bad guy!"

Harry's hands were shaking with excitement.

He felt as if he was kissed by the goddess of luck today.

Just this afternoon, he caught the Golden Snitch and helped the team defeat Hufflepuff.

This was a long-awaited victory, and because of this victory, Gryffindor temporarily ranked second in the House Cup, with only Slytherin above it.

Because he was too excited, he stayed in the locker room for a while longer. He was worried that he might miss dinner, but he didn't expect that during this extra time, he discovered that Snape was sneaking into the Forbidden Forest.

Without giving it a second thought, Harry immediately got on his broom and followed.

He didn't consider why Snape, a powerful wizard, didn't discover him. He was just proud of his own wit and excited about the secret he discovered.

He saw Quirrell standing under a huge oak tree, waiting for Snape.

It was dark, and Harry couldn't see Quirrell and Snape's expressions. He could only judge by their conversation, which was so clear:
"S-Severus, why do you want to see me?"

"Don't play dumb, you know what I want to ask, the Philosopher's Stone..."

Hearing this familiar word from Snape's mouth, Harry almost lost control of his broom for a moment. He quickly used his brain to calm down and concentrate on eavesdropping:
"...have you figured out how to subdue Hagrid's monster? Don't try to fool me, Quirrell, none of your little tricks will work on me..."

Harry tightened his grip on the handle.

This conversation is so clear. Poor Professor Quirrell, he is being forced by the evil Snape!

He was so frightened that he stammered and could not utter a word.

Just by listening to his rapid breathing, you can feel his fear!

But Harry knew that he alone could not stand up for Professor Quirrell.

Thinking back to the near-death experience in the corridor on the fourth floor a few months ago, Harry was both angry at Snape's cruelty and a little afraid.

So he tried hard to hide himself and make sure he wasn't discovered.

Only after Snape had finished threatening Quirrell and quickly left in his cloak did Harry quietly fly his broom, gliding quietly through the soft canopy of the jungle and flying back to the Quidditch field.

Before leaving, he once again glanced at Professor Quirrell, who was shivering under the big oak tree.

Eyes full of respect!

What a respectable man he is! He didn't even give in to Snape's threats!

Harry decided to tell his friends this information as soon as possible and discuss how to deal with it.

On the other side, seeing Harry riding away on his broom from afar, Vaughn withdrew his gaze and looked at Quirrell under the big oak tree.

His magical eyes could see that Quirrell's life force was faint and fleeting, like a candle in the wind, as if it would be extinguished at the next flicker.

"He won't live long," Vaughan declared.

"Ugh……"

Dumbledore sighed, "Yes, that's why I decided to move up the plan. It seems Tom has recently woken up again. Without unicorn blood, he can only suck the life force of Quirinus..."

"Speaking of which, why didn't you let Harry know that Quirrell was the man in the black robe?"

"To borrow a phrase you said, prejudice is poison in the human heart. Harry is prejudiced against Severus, and this is what I want to teach him - don't be blinded by prejudice!"

"That makes sense... But honestly, Albus, I think you'd better teach the professor first. His prejudice against Harry is even more outrageous."

"..."

The good atmosphere was immediately ruined by Vaughn's words.

Dumbledore was speechless.

When Harry hurried back to Gryffindor, the entire Lion House was celebrating.

Ever since Charlie graduated, the Gryffindor Quidditch team has been getting worse and worse. They have lost more than they have won, and every victory has been hard-earned.

Harry saw the twins running around in the crowd. To celebrate their victory, they decided to sell Canary Cookies at half price.

Harry suspected they were clearing out stock, though; their product had been slow to sell since the twins' use of Canary Biscuits to bring down a number of small groups late last year.

The two are said to be trying to develop something new.

After politely declining the twins' sales pitch and perfunctorily answering the enthusiastic little lions' greetings, Harry found Hermione and Ron.

The latter had a lion's head and was competing with Seamus and Neville to see who could roar louder.

Seeing Harry, he let out a huge roar of joy, blowing Harry's hair sideways.

"What is this?"

Harry stared at Ron's lion head and wiped the saliva from his face.

Ron shook his head and changed back. "Zonko's Lion's Throat Candy, isn't it cool? Wood went all the way to Hogsmeade to buy it."

"Come on, Harry, accept everyone's cheers. What a happy day! We finally won. Did you see the expressions of those Slytherin guys at the end of the game? They were as black as the bottom of a pot. We will soon catch up with their House Cup points!"

"Wait, let's go out."

Harry had to interrupt Ron as he led his two friends out of the common room and into a secluded room.

Hermione asked doubtfully, "Harry, what's wrong? I was just about to ask where you were. We only realized you weren't there when we returned to Gryffindor."

Harry took a few deep breaths to calm his excited heartbeat and stayed on the Quidditch field. As a result, he unexpectedly discovered that Snape and Quirrell were meeting in the Forbidden Forest and forced Quirrell to tell the story.

He concluded, "It's clear that Snape is the man in black robes from Halloween. He wants the Philosopher's Stone and is threatening Professor Quirrell to help him deal with Fluffy."

"Are you sure?" Hermione's expression was conflicted. Although she thought about it and felt that among all the professors, only Snape looked the most like a villain, it didn't make sense. "Snape... He taught Vaughan a lot of things, how could he be the man in the black robe?"

Ron looked as if he had discovered the truth: "Maybe this is how Snape disguised himself. You see, because of your misleading intelligence, we have been deliberately avoiding his suspicion for the past few months. As a result, the facts have proved that we have wasted several months because of this, Hermione!"

"..." Hermione puffed up her cheeks. "What have you investigated, Ronald? Spending the whole day in the common room playing wizard chess is investigating?"

Seeing that the two friends were about to quarrel again, Harry hurriedly tried to stop them:
"Anyway, we have to report this to Hagrid and Dumbledore. We can't let Snape's conspiracy succeed."

But Ron was worried about his suggestion: "Have you forgotten, Harry? We mentioned Snape's suspicion to Hagrid before, but Hagrid believed Snape because Dumbledore also trusted Snape!"

“…Oh right!” Harry was a little annoyed. Why were these adults so unsuspecting?
The trio discussed for a while and found that they had reached a dead end.

There's nothing they can do except warn the adults, who probably won't believe them.

After hesitating for a moment, Ron hesitantly suggested, "How about... we look for Vaughn?"

Hermione agreed. She was also surprised by Ron's reaction: "Ronald, you actually offered to ask your brother for help?"

Ron blushed.

Not paying attention to his embarrassment, Harry also thought he could find Vaughn, but the problem was...

He sighed. "Vaughn isn't at Hogwarts. He's still busy with the werewolf issue. Besides, a month has passed since I asked him to help investigate Snape, and he hasn't given me any news. I think he, like Hagrid and Dumbledore, feels that Snape is trustworthy!"

Hermione frowned: "Maybe Snape is really trustworthy... Honestly, Harry, I always feel that what happened to you today is strange. Don't you think it's strange?"

"Huh? What's strange?" Harry wondered.

"Everything is weird!" Hermione said. "First of all, after the game, Ron, Percy, Fred, and George, none of us noticed you were still in the dressing room. This would never happen under normal circumstances."

"Secondly, there are many ways to get to the Forbidden Forest. Why did Snape choose the route to the Quidditch pitch? Moreover, you were able to follow Snape on a flying broom. He is an adult wizard and a professor, Harry. He should have a hundred ways to find you."

"Finally, when you recounted Snape's threats to Quirrell, I always felt... like he was saying them deliberately for you?"

The little witch's analysis left Harry dumbfounded.

Only Ron said nonchalantly: "Maybe Harry is just lucky!"

"Luck can't explain everything, Ronald. Do you also rely on luck for your exams?"

"...Merlin, why do you always end up bringing everything up with studying?"

Corner of the room.

The seemingly empty place was filled with the power of the invisibility spell, and here stood Vaughan and Dumbledore.

Vaughn glanced at Hermione, who was arguing with Ron, and then looked at Dumbledore with a smile: "See, your plan is full of loopholes. It can only fool those two fools, Harry and Ron."

"Miss Granger is such a clever witch..."

Dumbledore wiped the sweat from his forehead exaggeratedly, but immediately laughed again: "...Fortunately, she and Harry are good friends. What's even more interesting is that she and our respected new Potions Master seem to be ready to establish a romantic relationship. Ah, what a touching youth -"

Vaughan: "..."

Tsk, I'm so disgusted!
Too lazy to pay attention to Old Dumbledore, who was wiping his tears again, Vaughn looked at the trio who were still arguing and discussing countermeasures, shrugged and said, "Now it seems that I am not suitable to appear in front of Harry."

"...Yes!" Dumbledore also had a headache. "I'm sorry, I have somewhat overlooked your role in this whole thing. You are their age and have powerful magical powers. They will inevitably rely on you... This is not in line with our original intention."

"And what about Harry's Occlumency?"

Dumbledore rubbed his brow and said, "Let me think about it."

Vaughn smiled: "Actually, I have a solution..."

Seeing his smile, Dumbledore knew that he was up to no good, but he was still curious: "What is the solution?"

"Harry's current progress in Occlumency is actually quite fast. The reason it hasn't been fully completed is because he doesn't have a strong enough sense of urgency. Even if I use some tricks, I can't make him truly feel the danger."

Vaughn's smile grew even brighter. "It just so happens that Harry has discovered the true identity of the villain Snape. Why not let the professor teach him the last step? I'm sure Harry will be filled with fear!"

“…You are truly a genius…”

The trio ultimately couldn't come to any conclusion.

Harry and Ron were certain that Snape was the man in black. Although Hermione felt there were many doubts, there was no strong evidence to prove that Professor Snape was a good person.

This also made Harry and Ron feel that Snape's disguise was very powerful, and he even fooled Hermione!
Therefore, they did not dare to tell the adults casually for fear of alerting the enemy.

"We can observe for the time being. I hope Professor Quirrell can withstand Snape's pressure while we investigate secretly and collect evidence!"

In the end, this is the only way.

Fortunately, the trio met Professor Quirrell in the Defense Against the Dark Arts class the next day. Although he looked pale and frail, as if he might die at any moment, he did not seem to have any signs of mental breakdown.

This made Harry and Ron respect him.

Ron said in awe, "What a strong person! I can't imagine how someone could attend class and assign us homework despite being threatened by Snape!"

Harry stared blankly at the eight-foot-long paper format and began to doubt his life.

Even Hermione, although she thought that the view that Snape = the man in black robes was not very reasonable, never doubted Professor Quirrell. She just felt that the professor was pitiful.

"Whatever Snape wants to do, he shouldn't force Professor Quirrell. He looks so miserable."

The compassionate girl stopped the twins from playing a prank on Professor Quirrell that night - they tried to stuff a toad into Quirrell's turban.

Harry and Ron also changed their attitude towards Quirrell.

They even persuaded the Gryffindor students to stop laughing at Quirrell's stuttering and to stop acting up in class, so as to give the respectable professor less trouble.

Unfortunately, not many people listened. Everyone thought that Harry's strange magical side effects had occurred again, and this time he turned into a saint.

That night, Malfoy, who heard the rumor, ran to the Gryffindor table and made faces at Harry:
"Everyone, come and see Saint Potter! Is anyone in need of money? Come and borrow some, Saint Potter will definitely be generous - he even sympathizes with stinky Quirrell!"

Then Harry and Ron had a fight with Malfoy and his minions.

There was no doubt that Harry and Ron were no match for Crabbe and Goyle, not to mention Malfoy's various sneak attacks. The two were beaten black and blue.

But they didn't suffer any loss. In the end, the two of them took the beating and pinned Malfoy down and beat him up.

At night, Ron came out of the school hospital with two dark circles under his eyes that had not yet completely disappeared, and he was very proud:
"Malfoy didn't have any strength at all. I mean, I could just sit him down on his butt, and he could only scream for mommy in a shrill voice, his resistance was weak and powerless... Oh, I was stunned by the beating, I should have let him call daddy!"

Harry laughed so hard that his bruised cheek hurt and he almost cried.

"Are you very proud? Gryffindor was deducted 30 points!" Hermione, who picked up the two from the hospital, scolded them angrily.

Harry and Ron didn't care at all, Hermione would earn it back anyway!
They just know that they are happy.

This happiness lasted until Professor McGonagall appeared in front of them.

The serious vice-principal lady has the ability to quiet any student, especially when she has a stern face.

"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, you have truly honored Gryffindor tonight!"

Ron was surprised: "Really?"

Then Professor McGonagall glared at him with a sword-like gaze, scaring him so much that he quickly shut up, and Harry also elbowed him hard.

Professor McGonagall took a few deep breaths, and her thin face became even more terrifying. However, to their surprise, she did not continue to scold them. Instead, she said, "Mr. Potter, please follow me. Dumbledore wants to see you..."

She looked at the dazed Ron again and took a few deep breaths. "...Weasley, go back and rest. Come to my office for detention tomorrow...Miss Granger, you should go back too. It's late and curfew is almost here."

After saying goodbye to his two friends, Harry nervously followed Professor McGonagall to the eighth floor.

All the way he was thinking, why did Dumbledore want to see him? In addition, could he take this opportunity to report the truth about Snape to Dumbledore?
But when he really walked into the principal's office, Harry immediately killed the latter plan -

There was not only Dumbledore in the office, there was also another figure in a black robe, looking gloomy and indifferent.

Snape!
He seemed to be arguing with Dumbledore about something. When Harry came in, he heard him angrily say, "...What kind of tricks are you playing, Dumbledore!"

Seeing someone come in, he stopped talking.

But Harry found that Snape was staring at him intently, and that look made Harry suspect that if Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore were not around, he would rush up and chew him up and eat him!

"Did he find out I was following him?"

Harry, who was harboring ulterior motives, was thinking wildly and subconsciously shrank behind Professor McGonagall to avoid Snape's fierce gaze.

All he wanted now was to finish what Dumbledore wanted to say quickly and let him leave.

Too scary!

Professor McGonagall put her arm around Harry's shoulders and led him to the desk, "Albus, Mr. Potter is here."

"Oh, Harry—"

Dumbledore smiled, "I was just speaking to Severus about you. We have something to ask you."

"..."

Harry suddenly had a bad feeling. He tried to force a smile, but found his cheeks were as stiff as stone. "Uh, Headmaster Dumbledore, what's the matter?"

"Just a little thing. Here, have some candy... Oh, no appetite? Okay."

After a few pleasantries, Dumbledore said with a smile, despite Harry's increasingly bad premonition and Snape's murderous look:
"It's like this, Harry. Vaughan has been very busy recently. It's foreseeable that with the establishment of the Werewolf Affairs Committee, he will be even busier. So, he has entrusted the task of teaching you Occlumency to me again..."

Harry, who was feeling uneasy, suddenly felt relieved.

However, before he could even curl his lips into a smile, he saw Dumbledore behind the desk, smiling brightly and saying, "...But unfortunately, I have some personal matters to attend to recently, so I plan to let Severus teach you!"

boom!
Harry felt his mind go blank, and a huge fear suddenly overwhelmed him. He subconsciously wanted to stop Dumbledore's outrageous decision:

"headmaster--"

"Oh, child, don't worry. Your Potions Professor is a master of Occlumency and very experienced. He will surely teach you quickly and effectively."

"I'm not worried, I'm—"

"That's even better. It's happily decided. Minerva, take Harry back... By the way, the lessons start tomorrow, at the same place, Harry!"

"Dumbledore——"

Professor McGonagall put his arm around Harry's shoulders and he desperately reached out to Dumbledore. Then he heard Snape on the other side gritting his teeth and yelling, "Dumbledore!"

Their shouts overlapped, and Dumbledore clapped his hands and laughed:

"Great! I'm already looking forward to your chemistry!"

Harry & Snape: "..."

Today is such a bad day!
(End of this chapter)