Hogwarts: Undercover Death Eater Replaces the Dark Lord

"Really?" Cassandra whispered. "Then how do you explain the bandage on your left forearm?"

Lycos's heart skipped a beat.

Is it true that the Dark Mark is hidden in the bandages? When did this start...

He suddenly thought of the knot that the little blonde witch had tied on his bandages with a binding spell at the start-of-term dinner.

Could it be that... it has already caught her attention since then?

Lykos frowned and met Kassandra's eyes.

fortunately……

"It's just a minor injury, so the bandage stayed on for a few more days... It's healed now." Lycos rolled up the sleeve of his left hand, revealing an uncovered arm.

"You're just making wild guesses, aren't you?"

He laughed and said, "I set the fire to help you calm down the riot. Why are you repaying me with evil?"

"Tsk, I wonder what method you've found to hide again." Cassandra curled her lips.

"But I do need to thank you for setting the fire." She suddenly raised the corner of her mouth with interest. "What reward do you want?"

She leaned forward slightly, bringing the tips of her hair closer to Lycos.

So, Lycos pretended to look casually at the door of the abandoned classroom.

"Ahem... I think the door isn't closed tightly." He walked to the front door and pretended to check the lock. "By the way, forget about the reward. Just tell me what you saw in the mirror just now."

"Is that so..." Cassandra narrowed her eyes and pondered.

……

Chapter 69 Dumbledore's Unexpected Arrival

Cassandra ultimately kept silent about what she had seen in the Mirror of Erised.

Because the door that Lycos had just closed suddenly opened by itself.

An old man with long white hair and a white beard and wearing half-moon glasses walked in from outside.

"Please forgive my uninvited presence, both of you."

When Lycos saw the old man coming in from behind the door, he felt like his internal organs suddenly froze into ice.

This was none other than the headmaster of Hogwarts and the most powerful wizard in the entire wizarding world, Albus Dumbledore.

Lycos almost forgot that the Mirror of Erised belonged to Dumbledore...

He placed the mirror in this abandoned classroom and gave Harry the Invisibility Cloak as a Christmas gift, as if it was for the savior to see.

Therefore, it is actually normal for Dumbledore to pay attention to this place.

Lycos now had no idea why Cassandra had dragged him here, and even said some probing words right under the principal's nose.

For example, he claimed that neither of them were ordinary little wizards; he revealed that Lycos had a bandage on his left arm; and he said that there had been a flame similar to the Fiendfyre that was released in this abandoned classroom.

Was her previous magical outburst fake? Was it all a performance to test her?

Lycos's mind was in a mess.

However, as a dedicated undercover wizard, no matter how panicked he was inside, Lycos appeared to be very steady and calm on the surface.

"Good evening, Headmaster Dumbledore."

His face showed just the right hint of surprise at Dumbledore's arrival.

"Good evening, Mr. Hayden." Dumbledore nodded with a smile, as if he had no doubts about Lecos.

"Oh, and hello to you, too, Miss Worley."

He walked straight into the classroom, nodded to Cassandra again, and then looked with interest at the thick layer of ash on the ground, which was made of burnt tables, chairs, parchment, etc.

“I remember when I placed the Mirror of Erised in this classroom, there were still a few desks left…”

"I didn't expect that you two little guys would make such a big noise."

Lycos clearly saw a hint of mockery in Dumbledore's blue eyes, which made his words seem a little strange...

"...It was an accident, Professor." Lycos frowned, not knowing how to explain.

His left arm was draped inconspicuously behind his back.

Even though he had removed the Dark Mark that represented his Death Eater identity, he still didn't dare show it to the headmaster, and he considered everything he said over and over again.

When facing the most powerful wizard in the entire magical world, you can never be too careful!

"I know, I know..." Dumbledore smiled gently. "No matter who it is, accidents are always likely to happen when facing the Mirror of Erised."

"But it seems that you haven't discovered and indulged in its fun like the thousands of others before you?"

He turned and looked at both Lykos and Kassandra.

"It's just an illusion. I don't think I need to indulge in it," Lycos said softly. "After all, being busy with reality has already consumed most of my energy. I don't have much time for fantasy."

"Is that your understanding?" Dumbledore looked deeply at Lycos through his half-moon glasses. "But I still want to remind you, Mr. Hayden..."

"There's nothing wrong with focusing on reality, but magic is a spiritual art. You should also pay more attention to your own emotions... whether they are happiness, sadness, loneliness, hatred, or love."

He glanced around the classroom, and a hint of nostalgia suddenly flashed across his eyes.

"Like the spell you just cast to undo Miss Vorely's spell—"

"Everyone thinks it's a dark magic filled with destructive emotions, but few know that when its users cast it, they also have recognition, hope, and aspirations in their hearts."

Lycos's eyes suddenly widened as he listened to Dumbledore's words.

Is the principal...giving him some advice on magic?

Lycos actually knew very well that although he could forcibly cast such a complex and difficult black magic as Fire Shield with his unreasonable black magic talent, he had never truly mastered its essence.

This signature spell, originating from the previous Dark Lord, Gellert Grindelwald, is probably best understood and appreciated by the person who, apart from its creator, is Grindelwald's nemesis and best friend, Albus Dumbledore...

Just now, facing Cassandra's weather spell, Lycos was forced to cast a fire shield to dispel it.

However, he could not make the flames distinguish between friend and foe like Grindelwald, so he had to make Harry stand in the middle circle to prevent contact with the flames.

At this moment, Dumbledore's explanation was like a revelation, opening a new door in Lycos's mind -

In this world, magic is an art of the spirit and the embodiment of emotions: strong hatred and desire for destruction can give rise to destructive black spells, and unparalleled love can create indescribable protective magic.

When Grindelwald cast his fire shield to protect himself, he allowed the flames to distinguish between friend and foe, which was clearly due to some emotion in his heart - the mutual recognition between him and his followers.

When followers agree with his ideals, they will form a bond with Grindelwald, and the powerful flame will treat them as its own, leaving them unharmed;

When his followers began to question him, this bond of mutual recognition would disappear and be burned to dust by the flames.

Lycos stood there in a daze.

He seemed to understand how the magic was to be used.

But he didn't quite understand why Dumbledore not only didn't point out the doubts in him, but instead taught him the true essence of fire shield protection.

Could it be that this wise headmaster had no suspicion at all about the relationship between him and Voldemort?

Lycos's question seemed to have no answer.

Because after Dumbledore finished speaking, he turned his gaze directly to Cassandra, who had been silent on the side, and no longer paid attention to Lycos.

"Miss Vore, you seem lucid and don't appear to be lost in the illusions created by the Mirror of Erised."

Dumbledore stared into the eyes of the little blonde witch and spoke slowly.

"Why do you say that?" Cassandra's voice turned cold again. "I'm clearly out of control."

"If you were truly immersed in beautiful illusions, you wouldn't experience such great emotional fluctuations," said Dumbledore.

"You're more like... rejecting the life you most desire?"

……

Chapter 70 Quirrell's Detention

The abandoned classroom suddenly fell silent.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

After a long moment, Cassandra gently parted her lips and whispered.

"Miss Volley, sometimes it doesn't hurt to open up a little bit." Dumbledore said with a smile, "Mr. Hayden and I will be two good listeners."

The little witch remained silent.

"It seems you're not ready to share your secrets yet." Dumbledore didn't force her. "Of course, that's completely understandable. After all, everyone has their own secrets."

After saying that, he waved his hand casually.

"Since there's no late-night story segment, let's stop here today. It's already late."

The dilapidated door of the abandoned classroom opened automatically.

"Although I have lifted today's curfew, staying up late is never good for young wizards... not to mention that Minerva is already very angry." Dumbledore smiled and winked at the two of them.

"Go back to bed early! By the way, I wish you a Merry Christmas!"

……

Lycos walked out of the abandoned classroom where the Mirror of Erised was placed, full of confusion, wondering what Dumbledore, the Riddler, was doing.

And it's not just Dumbledore, the old riddle man, even Cassandra seems to have turned into a little riddle man, refusing to say anything, and no one knows how many secrets she has hidden in her heart.

Lycos spent most of the remaining days of the Christmas holiday in anxiety.

He didn't dare go to Quirrell's office again, nor did he dare go to the Room of Requirement to meet Voldemort. He could only stay in the dormitory and keep thinking about what Dumbledore was thinking.

"Ah, Riddler, get out of Hogwarts!"

When Draco, Crabbe and Goyle returned to Hogwarts, this was the scene they saw:

Lycos lay on his bed with dark circles under his eyes and lifeless eyes. Beside the bed was a pile of parchment filled with all kinds of incomprehensible analyses.

"What's wrong, Lecos? Didn't your date with that cold-faced girl during Christmas go well?" Draco saw Lecos' distressed look, came over with a gossipy look on his face, and sat down on his bed.

"What date? What nonsense are you talking about?" Lycos glared at him. "How can a date almost endanger one's life?"