Hogwarts: This professor is too Muggle

The tone was not serious, and the headmaster's expression was not deep. Dumbledore was indeed asking questions out of curiosity, not forcing or interrogating.

"Why do you guess it's me?" Melvin was also curious.

Dumbledore chuckled. "A club was caught up in the Chamber of Secrets incident. A bunch of untrained students faced a basilisk, with a despicable memory-stealing writer lurking nearby. Thirty-plus students, and yet no one was killed... I don't believe in goddess luck."

He paused. "Also, Hagrid told me some time ago that Harry and the others were investigating Myrtle because they saw a video from fifty years ago in the mirror."

"Okay..." Melvin put down his teacup. "Actually, I also think that the suggestion in that video is too strong, but I can't think of a better way."

"Now it's your turn to answer my question. How did you find the secret room?"

"It's simple, because of the Horcrux."

Chapter 150: The Secret Chamber

"Horcruxes are dark magic creations invented by the despicable Hercule. They place the split soul on the device. As long as the device is not destroyed, the soul will not disperse and the person will be immortal." Melvin put the horrifying answer directly in front of the principal.

"You already know?"

Dumbledore was shocked by his bluntness.

"Horcruxes not only hold souls, but also the memories of their hosts," Melvin said slowly. "Tom Riddle's soul fragments contain his memories and these unspeakable secrets."

"You mean to say that you found a Horcrux and obtained these secrets from it?" Dumbledore spoke a little quickly.

"Yes, an ordinary Muggle diary." Melvin nodded slightly. "Tom Riddle must have made more than one Horcrux. I suspect this one might be the first one he made. It contains his memories before the age of 16."

"Sixteen...sixteen years old, sixth year, earlier than I expected," Dumbledore said softly.

Melvin paused for a moment and began to tell the story he had prepared long ago: "It all started with the Ravenclaw Diadem. Last year, the Diadem was found in the Room of Requirement. You seemed to value it very much. Influenced by this, I also became interested in other relics of the founders, such as the Hufflepuff cup and Slytherin locket you mentioned. I happen to know a friend who runs a second-hand shop..."

"Borgin and Burke's in Knockturn Alley, where he worked after graduation."

Melvin picked up his teacup and took a sip to moisten his throat. "The manager in charge of the store back then was Mr. Bock, now Mr. Borgin. Due to some business dealings, Mr. Borgin and I have established a close relationship. One day, by chance, we talked about the founder's relics."

"According to Mr. Borgin, his partner, Mr. Burke, once bought Slytherin's locket from a witch from the Gaunt family at a low price, and then resold it to another witch, Hokey's master, Hepzibah Smith, a descendant of Hufflepuff, at a high price.

"There was another clerk in the store at the time, Tom Riddle."

"What a wonderful coincidence..." Dumbledore couldn't help but sigh.

"I just came back from New York this summer, a few days before school started. That time happened to coincide with the Ministry of Magic's crackdown. Mr. Borgin and I had some business to discuss, and while chatting in the store, we met Mr. Malfoy who was there to deal with some contraband."

Melvin paused. "Those contraband items being sold at low prices aren't all Dark Magic artifacts. There are also some strange and bizarre items, like smuggled flying carpets, protected animal furs, and even a diary."

"Diary?" Dumbledore repeated softly.

Melvin nodded. "A Muggle-made diary, the kind you buy at newsagents. It's completely blank, with only Tom Riddle's name written on the title page."

Dumbledore's blue eyes shone brightly, and he said in a surprised tone, "That diary is the Horcrux."

"Yes. At that time, I didn't know about Horcruxes. I just felt that this diary was full of doubts. Why would a pure-blood wizard like Mr. Malfoy have a Muggle diary? Why did he put it among the contraband? What is Tom Riddle's connection with him? Why are all the pages blank?"

Melvin paused, met the principal’s gaze, and said, “So I bought it.

Dumbledore listened with great interest. He had actually guessed that Melvin had a Horcrux, which was why he had made that test. Now that he had gotten a positive answer, he was very relieved.

"After some research, I discovered that this diary, like the magical portrait, possesses its own consciousness and memories, and can communicate with the outside world through text. The owner of this memory and consciousness belongs to 16-year-old Tom Riddle."

This part is all true, and Melvin was very confident when he told it, without feeling guilty at all.

Dumbledore's expression grew slightly more serious.

"At first, I thought it was a portrait of a wizard or something like that, so I tried to talk to him with caution. He probably hadn't communicated with the outside world for many years. In order to continue to obtain information from me, he disguised himself as an ordinary wizard to communicate with me.

"I have gained a lot of knowledge about magic from Tom. I have to admit that Tom is very knowledgeable, especially in the field of dark magic. This two-way communication is very pleasant."

Melvin looked at the headmaster's portrait on the wall. Headmaster Dippet and Headmaster Black were also listening attentively, saying nothing, and staying quietly in the frame, worried that Dumbledore would turn them over.

"After spending several months together, I learned about the Chamber of Secrets and the Horcruxes, and realized that he was the former Voldemort."

"..."

The portraits on the wall were stunned, bewildered.

Weren't we just talking about obtaining information and exchanging dark magic? How come they jumped to Horcruxes in the blink of an eye? What did they miss?

Dumbledore's eyes flickered slightly, revealing a thoughtful expression.

This story is relatively logical. The process of investigating the founder's relics and obtaining the Horcrux is very similar. However, the subsequent communication content is vague and has obvious loopholes. It is obvious that they are trying to cover up something.

If you can talk openly about Horcruxes and the Dark Arts, why omit the content of the communication and dialogue?

Dumbledore lowered his head in thought. The silver ornaments on the table emitted white mist, and time passed in the swirling steam.

Tom Riddle would not write his secrets in his diary, nor would he tell his secrets to his pen pal whom he had just known for a few months. If the information about the Chamber of Secrets was leaked, it might be because Voldemort wanted to use Melvin to disrupt the school and achieve his own goals. But no matter what, Voldemort would never reveal any clues about the Horcruxes.

You know, the crown has been in his hands for almost two years, and he hasn't found any valuable clues yet.

Is 16-year-old Tom Riddle easier to deceive?

Dumbledore glanced calmly at the portrait of Headmaster Armando Dippet, then looked at Melvin who was sipping tea, his eyes deep.

The young professor was obviously hiding something, but he didn't intend to press the issue.

"Horcruxes are very important clues and are also key to dealing with Voldemort." Dumbledore said carefully, "Melvin, I would like to purchase the diary you have and conduct some research on it."

"Shouldn't it be destroyed directly?"

"I will, after I do my research."

"Okay, the diary is in my office, I'll give it to you later." Melvin agreed without much hesitation.

After all, it is just Tom Riddle's memory before he was 16 years old. Almost all the value that could be squeezed out of it has been squeezed out. Now handing it over to the headmaster can be regarded as a waste utilization.

This decisiveness actually made Dumbledore stunned for a moment: "If you think the price is not suitable, I can try to compensate in other ways."

"Sounds like Santa Claus..."

Melvin was about to politely refuse, but suddenly remembered something and changed his tone, becoming more upright. "I am also a professor at Hogwarts now. It is my duty to help the headmaster deal with Voldemort and protect the students. I believe that if I need the headmaster's help in the future, the headmaster will do the same to me."

During the summer vacation in Budapest, I promised the remnants of the Witch Party to release the man from Nurmengard. Although I can do it myself, considering many factors, it is safer to let the principal do it.

But that was two years later.

Dumbledore looked at the young professor's face and felt that the latter half of his words was full of profound meaning, as if a trap had been dug for him. However, he nodded. "Melvin, thank you very much."

"If you want to destroy the Horcrux, remember to ask me to watch." Melvin said casually.

Dumbledore couldn't help but laugh: "Of course."

……

Dinner time, auditorium, guest of honor seats.

The four headmasters were scattered on both sides, while Headmaster Dumbledore sat in the main seat, enjoying his dinner casually, his eyes mainly focused on his hand, where there was an old diary.

Professor McGonagall was worried. "This is the first time in fifty years that so many students have been injured on campus. More than a dozen parents have written to inquire about the situation. If it weren't for the reputation of Hogwarts, they would have even sent us shouting letters."

"Don't say that, Minerva..."

"No one could have predicted this kind of accident."

Professors Flitwick and Sprout rushed to offer comfort.

Melvin felt a little sorry for Professor McGonagall. In fact, the students' parents were easier to deal with, but the board of directors was more troublesome. That group of pure-blood wizards had been trying to interfere with the school system, and this time they would probably make trouble and hold them accountable.

It's useless, but disgusting.

Melvin cleared his throat and said, "If you ask me, this accident also had human factors. It's all Professor Lockhart's fault. He tricked the drama club members into entering the Chamber of Secrets, putting dozens of students in danger."

"That's right, that's right!" Sprout nodded in agreement.

Professor Flitwick felt a little strange, but nodded as well.

"With several students testifying, Lockhart's true identity will be exposed," Melvin whispered. "I happen to have a friend who's an editor at a publishing house. He can publish the truth in the newspaper and let parents and the school board recognize the real murderer!"

Sprout and Flitwick immediately became happy and nodded heavily. Lockhart was really a piece of shit!

"By the way, how's Lockhart?" Melvin asked.

"He's awake, but not in good condition." Professor McGonagall's brows were still slightly furrowed. "Headmaster Derwent went to St. Mungo's to inquire about his condition before dinner. The healer said that Lockhart already had symptoms of memory disorder. After being hit by his own powerful forgetfulness spell, his mind was completely messed up. He can't even remember who he is."

Delise de Winter was a former headmaster, and her portrait is in the headmaster's office. She also served as the director of St. Mungo's Hospital during her lifetime, and her portrait is also there. Traveling back and forth is more convenient than the Floo Network.

The professors had complicated expressions: "This is really..."

"This is not an excuse for him to escape trial." Melvin was very determined. "I will contact my friends at the newspaper to report this matter, and the Ministry of Magic will also initiate a lawsuit after he is discharged from the hospital!"

Professor McGonagall nodded slightly. "There's one last thing. The basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets needs to be dealt with."

"Leave this to me too."

Melvin's tone was serious, showing the responsibility of a professor of Muggle Studies.

Chapter 151 Water Snake Breaks Out of Its Shell

After dinner.

Accompanied by the principal, Melvin went to the girls' bathroom, preparing to enter the secret room to deal with the basilisk, a relic left by the founder.

The copper faucet in the bathroom sink was a Muggle creation two centuries ago when the school renovated its plumbing. Its surface had been polished, and thanks to regular cleaning and magical protection, there were no signs of oxidation on it, only slight water stains, and the snake-shaped carving on the handle was clearly visible.

A few drops of medicine combined with memory, after a hissing sound, the faucet began to rotate rapidly, releasing a soft white light.

In the white light, a pitch-black pipe opening was revealed, emitting the unique fermentation smell of a sealed pipe, which was slightly pungent.

Melvin dispelled the fog of memory. "According to my research, the original entrance to the secret room wasn't here. During the school's plumbing renovations in the 18th century, a student named Corvinus Gaunt participated in the project and remodeled the entrance to the secret room into its current appearance."

Dumbledore's face was full of curiosity, but he did not ask Melvin. After putting on the waterproof and moisture-proof magic, he leaned close to the pipe and sniffed it, then put on a layer of odor-isolating bubble head charm and dived into the wet and greasy pipe.

A cluster of bright blue flames lit up inside the pipe, floating with the air flow inside, following closely behind the two wizards.

After sliding around in twists and turns, it finally landed on the stone platform in front of the tunnel. Blue flames floated out and divided into four or five. The soft flames spread, and the light shone on the stone wall, dispelling the cold and eerie atmosphere.

Melvin glanced down at the floor. There were a mess of footprints, large and small. They were all left by Lockhart and the drama club members. They probably stayed here for a few minutes. Some of the footprints were even printed on the wall. They looked like they were from second or third grade students.

"Hogwarts...there are always surprises waiting for those who come later to discover." The old man's sighing voice echoed in the stone chamber.

Melvin turned around and saw Dumbledore standing by the wall, looking around curiously. His deep blue eyes reflected the firelight, and he even looked eager to try. He didn't look like a centenarian headmaster, but more like a second-year student.

If he hadn't been there, Melvin suspected the principal would have left footprints on the wall as well.

Melvin shook his head and continued walking forward. "Combining school history and legends, this is the Chamber of Secrets that Slytherin and Gryffindor secretly built after a disagreement and a quarrel. They didn't tell the other three founders, and shortly after it was completed, Slytherin left."