Hogwarts: I graduated before the system came

The sunlight gently shines through the stained glass windows, casting a shadow on the ancient books, strange magical instruments and portraits of past headmasters.

Portraits of past principals, some of them sleeping, some of them whispering to each other, occasionally casting a few curious glances.

Dumbledore came down the stairs from his bedroom, his half-moon glasses tilted on his nose, his silver hair slightly disheveled, clearly having just woken up. He wore a dark blue robe loosely draped over him, the hems slightly rolled up, and he exuded a sense of laziness after exhaustion.

After seeing Douglas, she pretended to be angry and complained, "Douglas, you little guy, can't you let my old bones sleep a little longer? I followed you until the early morning last night and just closed my eyes not long ago."

As he spoke, he tidied his appearance and tried to smooth out his messy hair, but those stubborn strands of silver hair still stuck up.

Douglas smiled and handed over a cup of steaming hot tea, his face full of apology:

"I'm so sorry, Professor. Please have some tea to refresh yourself. Dobby will bring lunch here soon. We can talk while we eat."

Not long after, Dobby appeared with a "poof" sound, holding a plate full of delicious dishes in his hands, including sizzling roasted chicken legs, fragrant vegetable soup, golden and crispy pumpkin pie, and freshly baked bread, filling the table with a dazzling array of delicacies.

The two sat opposite each other and began to enjoy their lunch. Dumbledore picked up a chicken leg, took a bite, his eyes full of enjoyment, and said vaguely:

"Honey chicken drumsticks? Douglas, I thought you didn't care about your masterpiece at all. You've turned Tom's soul into a spell.

Also, he actually went to dig up Old Tom's bones. Are novelists really that good?"

As he spoke, he looked deeply at Douglas through his half-moon glasses.

Chapter 322 Doug, I leave Tom to you

Douglas sat leisurely at the table. He did not respond to Dumbledore's question and continued to carefully spread jam all over the bread.

After taking a bite, he said slowly:

"Novels require a variety of characters. If you want readers to feel involved, then you should also feel involved when writing. By putting yourself in Tom's shoes and combining some information, you can naturally infer some of his actions.

But it's just a guesstimate. People's minds are unpredictable, so I also used some tricks. For example, I designed Wormtail as a locator, so I could get more information and make more accurate predictions."

Dumbledore thought about it and felt that what Douglas said made sense. All of Douglas's actions so far were reactions to known information.

But his voice was calm yet carried an undeniable authority.

"Doug, your substitution of Voldemort's perspective is too dangerous. I'm worried that it will cause cracks in your spiritual world, breed multiple personalities, and ultimately lose yourself. Don't think I'm exaggerating. You know, magic is amazing. In the process of substituting yourself for his perspective, you may resonate with his soul, allowing him to glimpse your thoughts."

Douglas. ???. "Professor..."

Douglas picked up the teacup and took a sip. The warm liquid slid down his throat, making him feel a little calmer. For a moment, he didn't know what to say. He couldn't tell the real reason, but what Dumbledore said was also correct. He had seen it in some forbidden magic, called mind assimilation, but that required a high degree of soul synchronization.

Once the souls resonate, the weak can borrow the magic of the strong, and the strong can also occupy the body of the weak. It is not a parasitic possession like Voldemort, but a complete occupation. In the magic of the Church, this is called the Archangel's Advent, so this magic is generally only passed down within the Church.

Dumbledore stood up and walked to the window, overlooking the vast campus of Hogwarts. Students were gathered in groups of two or three, their laughter echoing in the wind, like a beautiful picture.

"Tom's soul is filled with evil and division. He kills and bewitches. His thoughts are a bottomless dark quagmire. Once you fall into it, it is not easy to escape."

Douglas blinked behind Dumbledore, curious about his sudden concern. Was he trying to give him a political lesson? Should he go along with his performance? It wasn't like he was actually empathizing with Voldemort.

Douglas frowned slightly, as if lost in memory:

"When I first tried to empathize with him, I was truly overwhelmed by the chill. His childhood loneliness and the anger after being abandoned bit my heart like a venomous snake. But I held on to my heart. After each calculation, I would wash my soul with the purest kindness and love, just like washing blood-stained hands with clean water."

Dumbledore turned around, his eyes searching Douglas's face for something. After a long moment, he slowly spoke:

"I hope you will always remember that this is Hogwarts, a place where love and hope converge. Never let darkness take root in your heart. If you ever feel powerless, be sure to come to me."

Douglas nodded solemnly:

"I will, Headmaster. All I do is to weave a stronger protective net for Hogwarts and these children. When Voldemort attacks again, we will have a better chance of winning, and let this laughter and joy echo in the campus forever."

After hearing Douglas's words, Dumbledore's expression changed. He winked at Douglas mischievously and said:

"So you agree? From now on, I'll leave Tom's affairs to you."

Seeing Douglas's shocked expression, Dumbledore scooped a spoonful of honey like a child, put it in his mouth, and said proudly:

"You don't really think I'm worried about you and Tom's soul resonating? Few people can master Occlumency to your level."

Douglas rolled his eyes. It seemed like everyone was just acting. Whether Dumbledore believed his explanation or not was no longer important.

"Okay, I'll take the job. So what are you going to do, Professor?"

Dumbledore shrugged and said, "I am the headmaster of Hogwarts. Since your arrival, Hogwarts has been given new vitality. I think that after my death, my title should include the title of educator. What do you think?"

Douglas nodded, raised his teacup, gestured towards Dumbledore, and said, "Well, as long as you first resolve the relationship between Slytherin and the other houses, then you will be the greatest educator since the founding of Hogwarts."

Dumbledore

A hint of curiosity flashed in his eyes, and he leaned forward slightly and asked:

"But I'm still curious. What do you think Tom will do next? After this shock, will he give up the rebirth potion? Maybe he will choose a new place and hide until I die?"

Douglas looked at Dumbledore, a mischievous smile appeared on his lips, and he said teasingly:

"How about you fake your own death? Like Fox, rise from the ashes and give him another scare?"

Fox, who was eating a special chili sauce on the shelf behind him, burped and blew out a mouthful of fire when he heard Douglas' words.

Dumbledore looked at Douglas quietly, his eyes so deep that it seemed as if he was really thinking seriously about this absurd proposal.

This frightened Douglas greatly. He quickly waved his hands and said:

"I was just joking, Professor. It's just Voldemort, there's no need to be so nervous. Besides, his soul is already unstable. If he gets scared again, he might develop a mental illness, which would be even more troublesome.

At least there is still some rational Tom now, which is safer than him being completely irrational, isn't it?

But I really want to see Senior Tom's reaction after seeing my arrangement. Professor, hurry up and eat. After you're done, I'd like to borrow your Pensieve."

After finishing the meal, Dobby quickly cleared the tableware.

Dumbledore took the Pensieve from the cupboard, drew out the memories of last night, and placed them into the basin.

In the Pensieve, Douglas saw Voldemort in his infant form, and everything that had happened last night. The dim old house, the flickering magical light, and Voldemort's twisted yet unwilling face, as well as his panicked reaction at the tombstone.

(Wormtail: No one cares about me?)

Coming out of the Pensieve, Douglas frowned and said, "He's in better shape than I thought."

Dumbledore nodded and said, "Indeed, although this body makes him unable to move, it is much better than the one he was parasitizing on Quirinus (Professor Quirrell). So, do you want to see where Tom is hiding now?"

After saying that, he looked at Douglas's universal pocket, expecting him to take out the magic radar again. Dumbledore always found Douglas's cautious look on guard against him very interesting.

But he saw Douglas staring at the Pensieve and asked in confusion, "What's wrong? What did you think of?"

Staring at the Pensieve, Douglas suddenly had a flash of inspiration in his mind, like being struck by lightning.

He had thought of how to make movies about the wizarding world, and previously he had only thought of asking Sirius to modify Muggle film and playback equipment into something suitable for use in the wizarding world. But he had never thought that he could start with memory.

Memory magic can not only extract memories, but also modify memories and then implant them into the other person's mind.

If the technology of memory playback is solved, as long as a person has enough knowledge, he can create false memories, modify and edit the memories, and then play them out.

This way you can save the cost of hiring actors and the cost of various magic props...

Hearing Dumbledore's question, Douglas said excitedly:

"Professor, I think the wizarding world should add a new profession, and it will be very helpful to the teaching at Hogwarts. Professor, would you like to invest in it?"

Dumbledore was taken aback and asked doubtfully, "Aren't we talking about Tom?"

Douglas shrugged. "Is he important?"

Dumbledore blinked.

"Well, it doesn't matter. I've already handed it over to you. I'm actually more interested in the magic item you mentioned. I wonder if it compares to your magic radar? Do you want me to participate? You know, I have some experience in alchemy."

Chapter 323 The Pressure Behind the Idol

Douglas nodded happily and said with a smile, "Of course. Our research team urgently needs a respected professor like you to take charge. Your experience and wisdom will undoubtedly provide a huge boost to our research."

Dumbledore frowned slightly, looking at Douglas's seemingly sincere yet sly expression. He said suspiciously, "Let me tell you in advance, it's going to be difficult to get funding from the directors this time, so I'm afraid we'll have to find a way to fund it ourselves. After all, they haven't seen any significant results from the materials used to make the teleportation array last time. I'm afraid it won't be easy to get approval this time."

Douglas coughed lightly, cleared his throat, and said calmly, "How about this? You'll be the leader of the 'Magical Imaging Technology Research Group.' I need Sirius to join us. He's learned a lot about Muggle technology this year, which will be of great help to our research. I'll be a technical advisor for now. If you need any help, feel free to come to me. You can decide on the other members."

Dumbledore adjusted his glasses, a hint of worry in his eyes, and asked, "How are we going to solve the funding problem? This is not a small amount of money."

Douglas raised an eyebrow, a shrewd look in his eyes. He smiled and said, "Haha, of course, as the team leader, you'll be the one to handle it. Think about it, if this magic imaging technology can be successfully developed, you'll be the biggest contributor. You'll be both the investor and the developer, and you'll also become the magic world's first director and editor. Whether you sell blank image props or finished magic images, you'll get the lion's share of the profits. Isn't that right?"

Dumbledore smiled helplessly, but a hint of anticipation flickered in his eyes. He shook his head and said, "You always have a way to convince me, boy. Okay, okay, I'll find a way to solve the funding problem. I hope this research can go smoothly."

Douglas chuckled, revealing a row of white teeth, and said confidently, "With you, Professor, in charge, there's no problem. I firmly believe that if magical imaging technology succeeds, it will bring about earth-shaking changes to the entire wizarding world. And think about it, if we really succeed, shouldn't the first video work be a history of Hogwarts? That way, everyone can directly see how the four giants worked together to establish the Hogwarts we know today. This will have far-reaching significance for promoting unity and friendship among the four major houses. By then, who in the entire wizarding world will not praise Albus Dumbledore as a great educator?"

Dumbledore coughed lightly and said in a serious tone, "Doug, that's enough. Stop feeding me this honey. I've already promised you. Don't flatter me anymore."

At the Hogwarts Easter holiday homecoming dinner, at the tables of the three deans, participants of this study tour talked incessantly about their experiences in the Muggle world.

Only at the Slytherin table was there a sudden silence. Even a Slytherin prefect was verbally abusing a first-year Slytherin who wanted to get closer to Hufflepuff to listen.

(Seating arrangement of the four major colleges: from left to right, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, Hufflepuff.)

Just when everything was getting lively, a group of owls flew in.

"What happened?"

"It looks like a newspaper."

"Oh my god, my pumpkin pie, I've been missing pumpkin pie all holiday season, damn owl."

"I think your mother should come to Hogwarts kitchens for further training."

The owls accurately threw the updated edition of the Daily Prophet on everyone's heads. A few unruly owls directly snatched food from several plates.

George picked up the newspaper and read aloud:

"On this afternoon when the Godric's Hollow Heroes Memorial Meeting concluded successfully, this newspaper brought you exclusive additional reports, looking back on this event of extraordinary significance.

The sun shone on the tranquil Godric's Hollow, where the statues of Mr. and Mrs. Potter stood, becoming the focal point for remembrance and respect. The memorial attracted wizards from all over the wizarding world. They wore black robes and looked solemn, mourning the heroes who sacrificed their lives for justice in those dark years.

Minister of Magic Fudge was present and delivered an important speech...

The much-anticipated "Boy-Who-Lived," Harry Potter (I'd almost forgotten, Harry is the Boy-Who-Lived), this legendary Hogwarts student (Oh, Harry, you've become a legend), also took the podium. He was a bit thin, but exuded a strong determination, and his green eyes were exactly like his mother Lily's...

Not only will the Daily Prophet be adding new chapters, but so will The Quibbler, which is now well-funded and keeps up with current affairs.

Luna recited the contents of the latest "The Quibbler" in her unique elven voice.

"Hey, fellow wizards who love to uncover the truth! Today, let's talk about the memorial service held beneath the statue of Mr. and Mrs. Potter in Godric's Hollow. Behind what you think is a solemn and dignified scene, there may be a lot of puzzling things hidden!

First, let's take a look at our Minister of Magic, Fudge. He strode onto the stage, his robes swaying so brightly that it made people dizzy. The look of forced grief on his face was quite comical. With a wave of his wand, he activated a loudspeaker spell, and his voice carried far away: "Dear fellow wizards, we are gathered here today in this place full of history. Many years ago, in that great war, many brave comrades lost their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Potter were particularly conspicuous. In order to fight against You-Know-Who, they gave up everything, just to protect this magical world for us..."

Oh, listen to that tone, it sounds like it came from some third-rate play. The tears glistening in his eyes, he couldn't tell if it was genuine nostalgia or fear of losing his job, after all, the wizarding world has been quite turbulent lately. The applause from the audience was loud, but who knew how many were truly moved and how many were just joining in the fun, putting on a show.

Turning our attention to the "Boy Who Lived," Harry Potter, this child was indeed somewhat unique. He was thin, but the energy and spirit he exuded as he stood on the stage revealed his stubbornness and determination. His green eyes twinkled as he began to speak:

"As I stand here, my heart is filled with longing for my parents and the fallen heroes. Although I didn't experience the tragedy firsthand, the courage they left behind has accompanied me throughout my growth. Going to school at Hogwarts, I understand even more the power of knowledge and unity, just like our ancestors did when they fought against the darkness..."

He spoke very realistically, without any fancy words. The eyes of the young wizards in the audience lit up and they nodded their heads like woodpeckers. They regarded Harry as their idol, but how many of them knew the pressure behind being an idol?

Rumors are spreading like wildfire; internal Ministry documents are being stolen one after another. Those confidential files, hinting at You-Know-Who's rise to power and his connections to mysterious forces, are all gone. Could this memorial service be a cover-up for some dark force to exploit? Are they trying to bring back the nightmares of the past, or are they plotting a new, earth-shattering conspiracy to turn the wizarding world upside down? The Ministry has Aurors patrolling, and Fudge has promised a thorough investigation, but can they truly uncover the truth? We'll see!

Anyway, the magic world is a complex place, don't just take the surface for granted. We at The Quibbler love to pierce that window paper and reveal the truth to everyone. If there are any new developments, we will be sure to inform you immediately!

Hearing Luna talking about Harry, the Weasley twins asked loudly:

"Hi, Idol Harry."

"Tell me about the pressure behind you."

"I guess it's endless homework."

"Or, afraid of failing the test?"

Harry laughed while chewing a chicken drumstick. He was now immune to such words.

Hermione flipped through the Daily Prophet and said to Percy who was not far away:

"Our research is such an important matter, yet there's not a single mention of it in the newspaper? Isn't this project supported by the Ministry of Magic?"

Percy cleared his throat and said:

"You'll understand the politicians' tricks later."

Then he turned to Penelope at the Ravenclaw table behind him and said:

"Penelope, are you finished eating? I have some issues regarding the student council that I need to discuss with you."

Ron glanced at Percy and whispered to Hermione:

"I bet Percy is definitely with..."

"Quiet!"