Chapter 1520: Stone Sentinels Arise
Chapter 1520: Stone Sentinels Arise
Professor McGonagall was momentarily stunned, not expecting Albert to bring up this matter out of the blue.
Everyone present was wracking their brains to help Harry stall Voldemort and buy enough time. They had no heart or energy to spare for other matters, and thus, they had forgotten about something so crucial.
Just as Albert had said, the four founders of Hogwarts had indeed left behind a powerful enchantment. Should Hogwarts ever be in peril, the Headmaster had the authority to use this enchantment to awaken the armor and statues within the castle, transforming them into reliable soldiers to defend the school's boundaries, repel invaders, and protect the safety of the students and staff.
This enchantment was one of the secrets Professor McGonagall had learned from Dumbledore during her tenure as Deputy Headmistress.
Even Severus Snape, who had been the Headmaster just a few hours ago, might not have been privy to this particular secret. After all, his appointment as Headmaster had been irregular, so it stood to reason that he would not have been informed of secrets meant only for the Headmaster.
Without any hesitation, after Albert had disapparated with the house-elf Dobby, Professor McGonagall raised her wand, turned towards the main entrance of the castle behind her, and loudly uttered the enchantment she had learned from Dumbledore.
"Stone sentinels, arise!"
Professor McGonagall's voice echoed through the night, as if reverberating through every corner of Hogwarts Castle.
The onlookers around her couldn't help but cast curious glances, only to witness a startling scene that left them dumbfounded.
A lifeless, immobile statue at the castle gates seemed to be imbued with life by some magical force. It leaped down from its perch, landing on the floor with a dull thud in a half-kneeling position.
However, this was just the beginning. Statues and suits of armor along the castle corridors leaped down from their pedestals and stands, rushing towards the castle gates in a thunderous clamor.
Professor Slughorn approached, his eyes fixed on the statues and armor that were arranged like a well-disciplined army. He muttered in astonishment, "How... how is this possible?"
"I've been wanting to use this enchantment for a long time!" Professor McGonagall actually looked a little excited.
The transformation of Hogwarts Castle soon drew everyone's attention, especially when they saw the usually silent statues and suits of armor marching out of the castle like a well-trained army. Many were left awe-struck by this astonishing sight.
"What's going on?"
"I don't know, but it must be a good thing. Albert has probably done something again."
People whispered among themselves.
"No, I just saw Professor McGonagall use some magic, and all the statues and armor in the castle came to life. Didn't you see them jumping down like a wave of potatoes? It was truly amazing."
After hearing this conversation, Sirius Black, who had just arrived from the castle, exchanged a glance with Professor Flitwick, and they made their way towards the castle entrance. They intended to meet with Professor McGonagall, hoping that she could indeed control these statues and suits of armor. Such an army would be of great use, especially against Voldemort's giants and hordes of Inferi.
However, the result left them rather disappointed.
"I'm afraid not," Professor McGonagall said. "This is a defensive measure left by the four founders of Hogwarts after the school was established. I merely used the enchantment they left behind to awaken these statues and suits of armor. For now, they are acting according to their initial programming." In truth, Professor McGonagall had tried to control them, but unfortunately, she had not succeeded, whether due to their sheer number or some other reason.
"That's truly a pity," Professor Flitwick lamented. "If we could control these statues, it would save us a lot of trouble."
Professor Flitwick felt regret because while skilled wizards could easily control suits of armor in battle, attempting to control such a vast array of statues and armor was almost impossible.
"Do you think Albert could do it? He's far more talented than us," Sirius persisted, unwilling to give up. They desperately needed quality cannon fodder.
"I doubt it," Professor McGonagall replied, unconvinced. "If he could, he probably would have tried it himself by now." In her estimation, the limit was probably controlling a few dozen statues at once, and even then, without fine control.
"Where is that young man, anyway?" Sirius asked curiously. "Why has he disappeared again?"
"He went to find Harry," Professor McGonagall replied. "He should be back soon to give us our final pep talk. For now, let's take a rest in the Great Hall." Professor McGonagall believed Albert when he said Voldemort wouldn't attack the school immediately.
...
"It seems your discussion went well," Albert remarked as he appeared out of thin air in the Headmaster's office.
Harry was talking to Dumbledore's portrait, and his gaze swept over the opened Golden Snitch on the Headmaster's desk. The Resurrection Stone it had contained was now gone, taken by Harry.
"Dumbledore has told me most of it already," Harry said, his eyes reflecting a mix of emotions as he looked at Albert. "Thank you. Things would have been much more difficult without your help."
Harry was indeed grateful to Albert. With his assistance, many things had gone smoothly for Harry. Although he knew that the man before him, like Dumbledore, viewed him as a pawn, Harry also knew that Albert was doing his best to ensure his survival.
"It's good that you talked things through. Now, we've reached the most critical moment, and we can't afford any mistakes. Otherwise, we'll all pay an unbearable price," Albert said, and then he seemed to remember something. He reached into his robe pocket and pulled out a small vial containing a memory.
"This is from Severus Snape. He asked me to give it to you," Albert said, placing the vial on the table in front of Harry. He explained to the curious Harry, "It's his memory, the truth he wanted to tell you."
"Is he going to die?" Harry asked abruptly. "I mean, Snape."
"With all the things he's done, even if he survives, he'll likely face retribution," Albert replied, showing no sympathy for Snape. "If he can take Voldemort down with him, that wouldn't be a bad choice. At least he'll have fulfilled his wish."
"Snape's wish?"
"You don't want to know," Albert said, glancing at Dumbledore's portrait. "If you're curious, you can ask me after this Wizarding War is over."
"Never mind, then," Harry said, and it was unclear if he was declining to view Snape's memory, probe Albert about Snape's wish, or perhaps both.
"Anyway, I'm as good as dead, so what difference does knowing the truth make? We all must die," Harry said, sounding resigned.
Harry had come to understand many things and had adopted a detached attitude towards death. He no longer feared it because he knew he would take Voldemort with him.
That was enough.
"Didn't you tell him that he might not necessarily die?" Albert asked, looking at Dumbledore's portrait. The old wizard had initially refused to see Harry, only relenting after Albert's warning.
In theory, Harry shouldn't die because he was a Horcrux.
If Voldemort used the Killing Curse on Harry, he would likely destroy his own Horcrux first. But since this had never happened before, no one could guarantee that Harry would survive being hit by the Killing Curse. Even Dumbledore couldn't make that promise.
(End of Chapter)
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