Hogwarts: Voldemort, don't stop me from studying

Chapter 43 Dumbledore
Fred strode forward and knocked on the knocker, and the oak door swung open noiselessly.

Dumbledore's office was very strange. The walls were covered with portraits of former headmasters. Some were sleeping, some were looking at them with interest, and some were just empty frames. The long-legged table was filled with strange silverware, which was rotating and spewing 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 were golden and red, and although they were a little sparse, they were still dazzlingly beautiful, and its eyes were very smart as it looked down at everyone.

"Oh my God!" whispered Hermione. "It's a phoenix! I read that Professor Dumbledore has a real phoenix -"

Albus Dumbledore sat behind the desk, wearing a pair of half-moon glasses on his hooked nose and a dark purple robe with irises printed on it. He sat in a high-backed chair and looked at everyone gently with his light blue eyes.

"Welcome, kids. I hope my office didn't bore you."

"Why? This place is awfully interesting, Professor!" said Fred in a bold and lively voice.

Dumbledore chuckled. "You said in your letter that you had something very important to tell me? Now you can tell me."

Everyone looked at each other and urged them with their eyes. Hermione also backed off at this time, because she was also forced to violate the ban and was not willing to turn herself in.

Finally, Wade had no choice but to stand up and repeat the conversation he had heard before, and the others added their own guesses one by one.

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 at this and that, feeling like he was the only shocked person at the scene.

Dumbledore listened patiently without showing any surprise. He looked at Wade with a gaze that seemed to be able to see through people's hearts and asked, "Are you sure he didn't notice you when you heard this conversation?"

"I used the Fire Charm before that. I don't know if he noticed the spell. But I hid as soon as Professor Quirrell came in, and he couldn't see me from the angle of the window."

Wade said carefully, "Before he left, I made sure that I made no sound, used no magic, and had no noticeable smell on my body. I waited outside the window until early morning before returning. On the way out, I ran into Griffiths' 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 then said, "For the time being, it seems that he has not discovered 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, understand?"

Vader nodded silently.

"Professor!" Ryan couldn't help asking, "Aren't you going to catch him? While he still doesn't know he's been exposed!"

"It's not time yet, Mr. Carrow." Dumbledore said patiently, "In fact, at the beginning of this semester, I found that there seemed to be some distressing changes in our Professor Quirrell, and the information you brought also confirmed my worst guess - but now is not the time to expose him. But don't worry, I have asked a very reliable person to monitor him and ensure the safety of the students."

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

"I think so." Dumbledore confirmed their guess: "Voldemort has returned to this school again, in a state that no one could have imagined. But he probably didn't expect that his wonderful disguise would be discovered by you children - he is always used to despising those who are not as powerful as himself - oh, actually, you have performed very well."

"But - doesn't everyone say that Voldemort was killed by Harry Potter as a baby?" asked Fred.

"He was indeed severely injured on the night he wanted to kill Harry, and disappeared from people's sight. But he was not really dead, I have always been sure of this." Dumbledore said: "Voldemort is now in a rare state, even the Killing Curse can't easily kill him."

Fred looked puzzled, but Dumbledore made no effort to explain.

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

"I think not, Miss Granger," said Dumbledore politely but firmly.

"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 can't deal with it as calmly and rationally as you do, which will bring him great danger. So I need you to keep your mouth shut, especially to Harry - can you do it?"

Everyone nodded together.

Fred muttered, "But the You-Know-Who is going to kill him! To ensure safety, do we have to let Harry leave the team?"

"Wood will cry." George forced a smile. "He said 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, smiled and said, "I don't think we should give up the joy of Quidditch just because of covetous eyes in the dark. So, yes, Harry doesn't have to leave the team. I will ensure his safety." After getting his assurance, the Gryffindors immediately felt relieved - in the hearts of the little lions, who could be more reliable than Dumbledore?
Several people were happily preparing to say goodbye, but before leaving, Ryan hesitated and stopped.

"Professor Dumbledore——"

"what?"

"There's one more thing—" Ryan stammered, hesitant.

"Go ahead, Mr. Carlo."

"Professor Quirrell..." Ryan mustered up his courage and looked up and asked, "What will happen to Professor Quirrell after you drive away the mysterious man?"

"—will he be okay?" Ryan asked.

Faced with this question, Dumbledore, who had always been calm, finally showed a change in expression.

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

"I'm afraid not, kid."

Ryan's eyes widened.

"Voldemort did terrible things to him in order to possess him - very terrible things - and they formed an unholy symbiotic relationship. When Voldemort left, Quirrell would inevitably die."

Everyone fell silent.

For these eleven-year-old children, watching someone around them irreversibly die - even if it was a bad person - they began to feel sad in their hearts.

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

Dumbledore lowered his eyes and said kindly but grimly -

"But when Quirrell sold his soul to Voldemort out of greed and ambition, this was already a foregone conclusion."

After leaving the principal's office, everyone felt mixed emotions.

"Dumbledore really knows everything," said Fred. "Did you see? He wasn't surprised at all."

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

They stood in the corridor. Outside, it was covered with snow. Some little wizards were shouting and playing snowball fights in the yard. Harry Potter and Ron Weasley were among them.

"Dumbledore is right," said Hermione suddenly.

Wade was puzzled: "Huh?"

"Harry shouldn't be told the truth." Hermione looked at Harry with a pitying, motherly look in her eyes: "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 best to stay away from him."

Hermione nodded silently.

Michael looked at Vader, hesitant to speak. Vader looked at him questioningly, but he shook his head and said nothing.

After returning to the common room 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."

(End of this chapter)