https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1033-The-Old-Fraud-with-Explosive-Combat-Power/12527806/
Chapter 1032: A Secret Revealed
Chapter 1032: A Secret Revealed
After returning from Hagrid's place, Hermione went to look for Albert, but couldn't find him. She learned from Fred and George Weasley, who were having a snowball fight outside the castle, that Albert might have gone on a date.
That night, Hermione tossed and turned, her mind filled with thoughts of Hagrid and the giants.
She was truly worried about Hagrid hiding the giant in the Forbidden Forest, and even more concerned that he would get into trouble because of it.
The next day, Hermione, with dark circles under her eyes, found Albert.
"You don't look like you slept well last night," Albert noted Hermione's dark circles kindly. "Insomnia is a girl's worst enemy. If you're having trouble sleeping, you might want to try a sleeping draught."
"Thanks, but I need to talk to you about something important," Hermione said, ignoring the curious looks from Fred, George, and Lee Jordan as she pulled Albert towards a secluded corner.
"What is it?" Albert asked gently, pulling out a potion bottle from his pocket and pouring a pill into Hermione's hand. "This is a potion to energize and restore your vitality."
"Thanks," Hermione said, swallowing the pill and taking a moment to gather herself. "I saw the letter you wrote to Hagrid."
Albert remained silent, prompting Hermione to continue.
"Hagrid is hiding something in the Forbidden Forest, and his injuries..." Hermione's shoulders trembled slightly. "You must know what he's hiding there."
Albert withdrew his wand and cast a simple spell to ensure their privacy. "That's Hagrid's personal business. If he doesn't want to tell you or anyone else, I won't disclose any information."
"It's a giant, isn't it?" Hermione persisted, her voice shaking as she lifted her head to look at Albert, hoping for a denial. "His injuries could only have come from fighting a troll or a giant, and Hagrid just happened to go looking for giants."
"If Hagrid doesn't want to talk about it, it's best we respect his privacy as friends and pretend we don't know anything to spare him embarrassment," Albert said, a little surprised that Hermione had guessed correctly. It seemed that not only Harry but also Hermione was growing up fast—perhaps due to the butterfly effect of his presence?
"But... why would he do that? Hagrid must know how dangerous giants are," Hermione said, her voice heavy with worry. "He's already in a difficult situation."
To be honest, Albert was a little skeptical that Hagrid fully understood the danger giants posed.
"You knew about it, which is why you said in your letter that you couldn't help him," Hermione slumped against the corridor wall, repeating softly, "You knew Hagrid would be fired by Dumbledore."
Albert remained silent, looking at Hermione as her emotions threatened to overwhelm her.
"Hagrid always assumes everything will be fine," Hermione said, a bitter smile on her face. "But will it really be fine?"
"When he's forced to leave Hogwarts, he might—no, he definitely will..." Hermione couldn't bear to imagine what would happen then.
Giants were a threat to most wizards. They might not have malicious intentions, but their sheer size and strength could easily kill a person with a light touch or a squeeze.
Hermione had already seen this tendency in Hagrid, and these giants were nothing like him. They didn't even realize how fragile wizards were.
"It's not your fault," Albert said softly, offering Hermione a handkerchief.
"But why does he have to make his life so difficult?" Hermione asked, her voice thick with unshed tears.
"Hagrid has his reasons," Albert said.
"You know why, don't you?" Hermione looked at Albert intently.
"Those are Hagrid's personal matters, and I can't disclose any more information," Albert said calmly. "If Hagrid ever asks you for help, you can refuse him directly. There's a limit to how much friends can help each other. If it's beyond your ability, refusing is the best choice, and you shouldn't feel guilty about it. I also refused him directly."
"But..."
"There are no buts. We are all responsible for our actions, and no one can help us forever, not even our parents, let alone friends," Albert said matter-of-factly. "Doing your best is enough to honor this friendship."
In truth, Albert could understand why Hermione was feeling so overwhelmed.
Regarding Hagrid bringing his half-brother to Hogwarts to take care of him, Albert didn't want to pass judgment, but he knew he wouldn't do the same.
As for Hagrid worrying that his brother might die in the giants' camp, that was even more laughable.
Hagrid was probably only a few years older than Grawp, and Grawp had already lived among giants for decades. How could he possibly not know how to survive?
After comforting Hermione, Albert made his way to the Great Hall for dinner. Ignoring the teasing from Fred and George, he turned his attention to the staff table, noticing that Hagrid's injuries had healed significantly. However, not all the students were happy to have him back.
At the very least, Umbridge's gaze toward Hagrid was cold, and her fake smile was even more insincere. Albert knew that Dumbledore had wanted to find an excuse to get rid of Umbridge for a long time.
"Umbridge doesn't look too pleased," George whispered. "I hope Hagrid will be alright."
"At least he won't be fired before Professor Trelawney," Albert said confidently.
"Oh, right, I almost forgot. Here, this is for you." George pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Albert. "Professor Dumbledore asked me to give this to you."
Albert opened the note, glanced at its contents, and then set it ablaze, turning it into ashes.
"It's always astonishing to see that," Lee Jordan murmured, watching the parchment burn in the air.
"You guys can try practicing it in your free time. Maybe you'll be able to master it too," Albert suggested.
"I think we'll pass. No matter how you look at it, it seems like an incredibly difficult technique. We haven't even mastered the Silencing Charm yet," George said, showing a rare moment of self-awareness.
...
That evening, Albert kept the appointment, arriving at the designated time according to the note.
When he knocked and entered, he found Professor Dumbledore pacing in his office instead of tending to his other duties, deep in thought.
"You don't seem very happy," Albert said, his sharp eyes noticing the old wizard's somber mood.
"No, it's just that a lot has happened recently," Dumbledore said, sitting in the armchair behind his desk and gesturing for Albert to find a seat.
"Indeed, a lot has happened," Albert said ambiguously. "You wanted to see me about..."
"The thing you requested."
Dumbledore placed a bottle of golden potion in front of Albert. This Felix Felicis was not a large amount, probably only enough for two days.
"Your efficiency surpasses my expectations," Albert said, a little surprised. Although he was brewing Felix Felicis himself, it was still necessary to store some in advance before the potion was successfully brewed.
"I got it from an old friend."
"Professor Slughorn?" Albert guessed who Dumbledore was referring to. "I thought he would find a place to hide, given his personality."
"Indeed, Horace has gone into hiding, but I managed to track him down with some effort," Dumbledore said with a smile, not at all surprised that Albert had guessed correctly.
"Hiding in an empty Muggle house?" Albert asked.
"It seems you already know," Dumbledore said.
Albus Dumbledore raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Mr. Slughorn enjoys the finer things in life, and Muggles know how to indulge better than wizards. Given the disdain that Dark wizards hold for Muggles, hiding in an unfamiliar Muggle home would be relatively safe." Albert stared at the golden potion, analyzing carefully, "I assume you want a payment in galleons?"
"One hundred galleons."
"Cheaper than I expected." Albert waved his wand, and a bag of galleons appeared out of thin air, which he placed in front of Dumbledore.
"Horace asked me to tell you that he enjoys the candied pomelos you send him every year. If you could leave him a photo of your dueling championship, that would be even better." Dumbledore relayed the message from his old friend to Albert.
"I will, and he'll be joining Hogwarts next year." Albert deliberately revealed a piece of information, "At that time, please help me deliver it to him. Anyway, you'll probably be visiting Mr. Slughorn then."
"That's certainly surprising news." Dumbledore was a bit taken aback by Albert's revelation, but he soon understood the reason—the old friend probably had some information he wanted to know.
"I thought you had already decided."
"The diviners I know can't see as clearly as you do." Dumbledore was amazed at Albert's divination skills: "You have an idea about the number, I assume? I think you know what I'm talking about."
"I remember we discussed this sensitive topic before." Albert put the Felix Felicis back into his pocket and said to Dumbledore, "Also, you yourself have some guesses, don't you? Given Riddle's personality, what number would he use to create an equal number of Horcruxes."
"So, it is a number?" Dumbledore murmured.
"You have to take unexpected factors into account." Albert hesitated for a moment but still reminded him, lest Dumbledore fall into a pitfall.
"Unexpected factors...you mean..."
Dumbledore knew what Albert meant, and he didn't continue the discussion on this matter. Horcruxes were indeed a sensitive topic.
However, Dumbledore was surprised that Albert seemed to know quite a bit. He seemed to think of something and said, "I've found some clues."
"I'm not interested in your holiday adventures." Albert shook his head in refusal, "Perhaps it will be a thrilling tale, but...it's not for me. If I were you, I'd be careful."
"It looks like you've guessed it? Do you know where I will...no, you said I will..." Dumbledore remained calm even when talking about his own death.
"At that time, you can drink some Felix Felicis, maybe your intuition will provide some help." Albert suggested.
"You're right, although it may not be useful." Dumbledore agreed with Albert's point of view. Although he was not afraid of death, no one would want to die if they could help it.
"What about teaching Harry? Won't you reconsider?" Dumbledore suddenly changed the subject.
"No, I don't want to be targeted by Riddle. I know what you're worried about, but it's not pleasant to be watched by that guy." Albert directly refused. Although he had previously received the task of teaching Harry the Shield Charm, as far as he knew, Potter never mastered it in the original story, indicating a lack of talent in that area.
Or maybe it was Snape's fault...
"Of course, there's another reason. I highly doubt Potter can learn the Shield Charm." Albert bluntly stated, "I've taught others before, and I know some things. Potter is a very emotional person, and he has never suppressed his emotions but faced them honestly. Wizards like him usually can't inhibit their memories, and learning the Shield Charm would be much more difficult for them."
If he could complete the task, that would be great. But if he couldn't, it would be a huge waste of time and energy, and he might even attract Voldemort's attention, which would only bring him misery.
So Albert would rather give up this task, no matter how good the reward was.
Don't be fooled by Harry's seemingly calm demeanor; he was just suppressing his emotions with calming potions. Harry Potter now carried a potion bottle with him at all times.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door of the headmaster's office, and Professor McGonagall walked in. Her eyes fell on Albert, and she couldn't help but look surprised to see him there.
"Minerva, what is it?" Dumbledore asked gently.
"That Umbridge has issued another Educational Decree. She has given Harry and the Weasley twins a lifetime ban and confiscated their brooms." McGonagall didn't even want to mention Umbridge's name, she was so disgusted.
"I see."
Dumbledore brushed it off as if it were a trivial matter.
"There's something else. I heard from Nick that she's planning to dismiss a professor soon." McGonagall's tone carried a hint of reproach, "Perhaps you shouldn't have let Hagrid return at this time. You know she's always disliked him."
Dumbledore turned to Albert, as if asking him who would be dismissed.
"Obviously, it's our divination professor. As for Hagrid, whether he can get through this difficult time depends on him." Albert was not surprised.
"In just a few months, she's turned the whole school upside down. I bet she wishes she could kick you out of here." McGonagall gritted her teeth in anger.
"I know. In fact, I also heard that there's an army bearing my name in the school." Dumbledore winked playfully, "That news certainly startled me."
McGonagall didn't plan to stay any longer, so she turned and left. With Albert there, there were some things she couldn't say.
"It seems you don't really care about what happens at the school." Albert spoke softly.
"Some things are more important." Dumbledore said calmly.
"Defeating Riddle?" Albert looked at Dumbledore, and without waiting for his answer, he continued, "I know what you care about is different from others, but people care more about things that are closely related to them, like exams, like...Filius Flitwick is a good choice, but it's not good news for other centaurs. It implies 'slaves of humans.' If you plan to hire Filius, then..."
Albert didn't finish his sentence, believing that Dumbledore should be able to guess what he wanted to say.
However, compared to these things, he felt that Dumbledore didn't really care that much. Defeating Voldemort was the top priority.
As for the antics of Fudge and Umbridge, Dumbledore had never taken them seriously. He knew that once Voldemort fully revealed himself, everything would return to the way it was. Creating unnecessary conflict with Fudge now would only waste time and energy, and it would be meaningless. If he wanted to become the Minister of Magic, that would be a different story, but Dumbledore had never aspired to that position. So, it was better to let the students of Hogwarts see for themselves what Fudge and Umbridge were really like.
Albert didn't think there was a problem with that, but for many people, it meant they would have a terrible term.
This centenarian wizard could sometimes be ruthless, and he was even prepared to make sacrifices for victory.
Just as the members of the Order of the Phoenix often said: Some things are worth dying for.
This was also one of the reasons why Albert ultimately didn't join the Order of the Phoenix.
What's wrong with wanting to live?
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
