Chapter 234: The Lack of Discovery is More Frightening
Chapter 234: The Lack of Discovery is More Frightening
"So, I assume you now realize how foolish your actions were?" Madam Pomfrey said sternly. "You're still young, and there's plenty of room for growth. Don't be in a rush to defeat adult wizards."
"Yes, I understand. I'm very sorry," Vold said.
His attitude was so sincere and pleasant that Madam Pomfrey couldn't find the words to scold him. In the end, the school nurse gave him a light reprimand and hurriedly left the room.
There were still a few young wizards in the hospital wing who hadn't been discharged yet!
As the staircase automatically descended, Dumbledore in the office visibly relaxed.
Vold raised his hand to knock on the door, but before he could, Dumbledore said, "Come in, Vold."
He entered and saw that the Headmaster's office, as always, was filled with an air of mystery. On the shelf beside him, the meditation bowl sat, swirling with silvery mist.
On the wall, the portraits of past headmasters were gently snoring, and it was unclear if they were actually asleep or just pretending.
Vold had read that these headmaster portraits had a mysterious pact with the school. The magic of Hogwarts sustained their existence, and in turn, the portraits, regardless of their personalities in life, were obligated to assist the current headmaster.
Of course, someone like Umbridge, who was not recognized as a legitimate "headmaster," was not included in this pact.
At that moment, Dumbledore removed his glasses and wiped them, looking a bit weary as he said, "Poppy is one of the people I have the least control over, but fortunately, she likes you very much."
A soft, low hum came from the side, and Vold turned his head to see Fawkes, now completely golden-red, flapping its wings on the shelf.
He hadn't noticed the phoenix when he entered, but at some point, it had landed on the perch.
"Oh, right," Dumbledore smiled. "Fawkes likes you too."
"It's probably because of the puppet pets I made, right?" Vold teased, then asked, "Professor Dumbledore, I wanted to ask how much you know about Professor Abigail?"
"I suppose you want to talk about that too," Dumbledore blinked. "I heard you had a very enthusiastic welcome ceremony yesterday."
"Yes," Vold said. "My bones almost broke. I've never met a wizard who's so skilled in combat."
"To be honest, you surprised me as well."
As Dumbledore spoke, he waved his wand, and two boxes of pink strawberry ice cream appeared on the table.
"But while we chat, we can enjoy some delicious treats."
Vold picked up one of the boxes and asked, "Did she receive training in Muggle forces?"
He asked directly to avoid getting sidetracked by Dumbledore's roundabout ways.
"Yes, she did."
Dumbledore took a bite of the ice cream, his eyes narrowing slightly from the cold, before saying, "Professor Abigail has had a colorful life. She's one of the rare wizards who understands Muggles very well—she lived in Muggle society for many years."
The headmaster smiled at the student holding the ice cream and listening attentively, then said, "But I can't reveal someone else's privacy. If you want to know the details, wait until you become more familiar with her, and let Professor Abigail tell you herself."
Vold opened the box, scooped some ice cream, hesitated for a moment, then looked up and asked, "Do you know if she still carries a gun? A Muggle gun?"
"I'm aware of that. It's Professor Abigail's personal habit. Just like how we always carry our wands and feel uneasy without them."
Dumbledore said, "I can assure you that Professor Abigail won't use such weapons on students, and unlike your previous two professors, she's a reliable person."
—Really?
Vold looked at him with skepticism.
"And I think it's not a bad idea for students to learn about Muggle weapons."
Dumbledore continued, "In fact, Professor Abigail once requested to show you the power of Muggle weapons during Defense Against the Dark Arts class."
"Did you agree?"
"Of course."
"But..." Vold paused for a moment and said, "As far as I know, handguns are just one of the most insignificant Muggle weapons..."
"So Professor Abigail also brought some special...um, surprises."
Dumbledore casually said, "You need to learn not only to defend against dark creatures but also to protect yourselves from Muggle means."
Vold was a bit surprised.
In the original story, Dumbledore had never had such an idea. Everyone in that narrative had an invisible arrogance and disregard for Muggles, and the two worlds were almost completely isolated.
Was it Professor Abigail who made him feel the need for this?
Or was it...
"Professor," Vold looked up and asked, "Did you encounter something during your previous investigation?"
Dumbledore looked at him, his expression hidden behind his glasses.
After a long pause, he said, "We didn't find much, child."
"No...discoveries?" Vold's eyebrows twitched slightly.
"Yes...and that's more frightening than finding something."
Dumbledore sighed. "We thought that if magic couldn't track them, there might be some clues among Muggles...but there was nothing."
"No witnesses, no rumors, and even when we asked a Muggle to check the surveillance at the airport, there were no findings."
"Our enemies...they've deeply infiltrated the Muggle world, which is why they could erase all traces. In this regard, we are far behind."
Dumbledore's voice carried an undeniable weariness and concern.
But then, seeing the young boy's innocent face before him, he immediately became aware of his own lapse in vigilance and quickly concealed his emotions.
"It's unusual, you know...most wizards know nothing about Muggles and are even less aware of their technological advancements."
Dumbledore continued in a calm tone, "We need to find a new direction for our investigation or wait for their next move. As long as they've taken action, they will leave traces. As long as it's not too long ago, we will definitely find something."
It had been over a year since the Muggle couple realized the problem, which was why finding a replacement was so difficult.
If it had been just a few days or even weeks, Dumbledore would have had a way to track those subtle traces.
Newt Scamander was also skilled in this area.
Vold didn't doubt this, but after leaving the Headmaster's office, he turned back to look at the gradually fading lights, his heart filled with a layer of worry.
(End of Chapter)
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