The Butcher of Hogsmeade

"Do you also think Scrimgeour's plan is feasible, Professor? This plan not only puts us in danger, but also puts all the Order of the Phoenix members involved, those whom Scrimgeour calls volunteers, in danger," Gideon asked.

"I know, and I certainly don't think much of Scrimgeour's plan," Dumbledore said. "There are too many unpredictable factors and too much wishful thinking; I don't see much rationality in this plan, but rather a sense of helplessness and anxiety."

Gideon was increasingly puzzled: "Then why did you agree, and even actively get involved?"

"Because Scrimgeour agreed to issue special passes and building permits to more Muggle-born wizards, allowing them to move into Hogsmeade; and the Minister also agreed to treat these forced-to-relocate wizards as war refugees, providing them with some financial assistance. It's better to concentrate more potential victims in Hogsmeade than to scatter resources across various places to protect them."

Gideon suddenly realized, then smiled wryly, "It seems that Scrimgeour isn't the only one who's feeling anxious about the Minister's willingness to invest so much."

What outsiders don't know is that the Order of the Phoenix—or what outsiders call "Dumbledore's inner circle"—was not originally founded to wage a decisive and brutal war against terror; their initial purpose was simply to protect Muggle-born wizards.

Due to limitations in manpower, systems, and other factors, the problems of law enforcement agencies worldwide are largely similar; the Auror Office's actions are also severely delayed, with far more emphasis on post-incident prosecution than on pre-incident protection. To put it more bluntly: the Aurors always arrive at the crime scene after the Dark Mark has already been raised.

The establishment of the Order of the Phoenix, to some extent, compensated for the lack of prior protection, providing protection for wizards from Muggle families who were renowned and influential in the wizarding world and were considered priority targets by Death Eaters. As time went on, although the boundaries of the conflict between the two sides have long since expanded, the original intention of protecting Muggle wizards has not been forgotten by the Order of the Phoenix.

The terms of cooperation offered by the Minister of Magic are indeed something that Dumbledore and most members of the Order of the Phoenix cannot refuse.

Dumbledore sighed slightly: "Don't underestimate the potential danger. The so-called hidden gathering point of the Infernal army may not attract Death Eaters, but the presence of a 'Death Eater Killer' whom Voldemort hates may. My concern is that Scrimgeour might be thinking the same thing."

"Ha, so you're still worried about Shen's safety; what's the big deal? If you're really worried, we can just leave all three door keys on him... uh, hehehe, I was just kidding... never mind." Fabian's nonchalant attitude immediately drew death stares from the old professor and his brother, and he chickened out on the spot.

Dumbledore withdrew his gaze and began to explain the details: "The specific plan is as follows: Starting tomorrow, the Auror Office will deliberately strengthen the protection of the tainted witnesses; this information will be known to most of the staff in the Department of Law Enforcement, including some who are considered 'unreliable.' Within a day at most, the news will spread, making the Death Eaters realize that those tainted witnesses have provided crucial clues. Next, if anyone discovers that they are inquiring about information within the Auror Office, then your whereabouts and mission will be 'accidentally' leaked. The whole process will take no more than two days, and the news will gradually spread."

"So, in as little as two days, we could encounter Death Eaters trying to stop us—if they really care about this stretch of coastline?" Gideon asked.

Dumbledore nodded silently.

Fabian expressed his distrust of Scrimgeour: "Isn't this leak plan too simplistic?"

"Perhaps you're overthinking it," Dumbledore said. "In the Ministry of Magic, keeping secrets may not be easy, but leaking secrets is not difficult at all."

After the Prewitt brothers left, Dumbledore remained seated.

"Is there anything else you want to say to me?" Shen Hou asked, "or is it something that Gideon and Fabian don't want to know?"

"I just received some information from that source you know," Dumbledore said.

"I'm sorry, apart from knowing that you have a source, I know nothing else about that source." Shen Hou's words sounded like a complaint, but in reality, they also carried a hint of disclaiming responsibility.

If that spy gets into any trouble in the future, it will have absolutely nothing to do with me.

"Whatever! That's irrelevant to the rest of the conversation. I just wanted to tell you that I roughly know why Voldemort has been quiet lately."

"Because of me?" Shen Hou could guess without even thinking.

"At least that's the reason it came out," Dumbledore said. "After Sirius's identity as the Secretkeeper was 'leaked,' the Death Eaters all believed that, regardless of whether his identity was true or false, he was undoubtedly yet another bait, just like you."

"You say this is the reason for making it public, but there must be another reason that isn't public?"

"The reason for not disclosing it is that Voldemort may already know that Sirius is a human spyglass, and he doesn't want to cause trouble for Sirius until he comes up with a more reliable method, because that would render the known information useless."

Shen Hou's eyes flashed: "I remember that the only secret I 'leaked' to Little Barty was the identity of the person in charge of keeping the secret, not the contents of the human-shaped spyglass."

"But Voldemort guessed it; he's always been very clever."

"Oh... I thought you had someone else leak it to him!" Shen Hou said casually, "But why are you telling me all this on purpose?"

The old wizard calmly gazed at the young man: "Do you remember Professor Kroc?"

"The one who studies time in the Department of Mysteries, of course I remember him. I haven't seen him for over two months since I left the Department of Mysteries. That place isn't easily accessible, not even to Ministry of Magic employees. Why are you bringing him up now?"

"He once judged your existence, believing that you had become an indispensable part of our time and space... or rather, of history."

Shen Hou nodded: "I remember that too, what's wrong?"

"Haven't you noticed yet that your existence, and the things you've done, are increasingly influencing Voldemort and the Death Eaters' judgment?"

Compared to Dumbledore's solemnity, Shen Hou seemed indifferent, casually saying something only he understood: "Things are universally interconnected! I killed their people, and they designated me as their enemy. Cause and effect are cyclical, and this influence will only deepen. It's not surprising."

"Have you ever considered that the deeper your influence on him, the more he will care about what the Sphinx told him?"

Shen Hou's expression faltered slightly as he asked, "Haven't you found the Sphinx yet?"

"No," Dumbledore said. "My old friend, who is an expert on magical creatures, has replied to me, assuring me with his more than half a century of experience studying magical creatures that he has never heard of a winged Sphinx. He is even excited about it and wants to come and see for himself that memory, because he hasn't encountered any unfamiliar magical creatures in a long time."