Chapter 430: Schrödinger's Headmaster
Chapter 430: Schrödinger's Headmaster
After they all returned to the Castle, everyone split up.
The Professors followed Dumbledore's instructions to notify the students, while Ivan and the others headed towards the Headmaster's Office.
To prevent any panic, Sirius had already transformed into a Big Black Dog.
Although a Big Black Dog walking through the Castle seemed a bit strange, with Lupin and Ivan by its side, the Young Wizards they encountered along the way did not stop to ask questions, so they arrived at the door of the Headmaster's Office without any trouble.
"Professor Lupin, do you know the password to enter?" Ivan turned to Lupin and asked.
"I do know one, but Dumbledore hasn't been back for a while, so I'm not sure if the old password still works", Lupin hesitated for a moment before trying.
"Cockroach Cluster!"
Click.
The heavy Guardian Statue slowly turned and rose, revealing the entrance.
Lupin let out a sigh of relief, it seemed Dumbledore hadn't changed the password.
Ivan led the way, carrying the Rat into the Headmaster's Office. The room was much more spacious and minimalist compared to the last time they were here.
The most eye-catching thing was a thick Envelope on the central table, with a shiny Time-Turner resting on top of it.
A wall in the back was covered by a curtain, and Fawkes, with its beautiful feathers, was perched on the Olive Branch, half-closed eyes dozing off.
Dumbledore was sitting behind the desk, his half-moon glasses gazing at the two items before him, seemingly lost in thought, and didn't notice their arrival.
"Professor Dumbledore!" Ivan called out.
The white-bearded wizard nodded slightly, his eyes scanning the group. He gestured with his hand, indicating they could speak now.
Ivan nodded and began his explanation, starting with how he discovered Peter Pettigrew's name on the Marauder's Map last year and how he pieced together the evidence to uncover the truth.
Ivan had rehearsed this explanation countless times, ensuring there were no loopholes. Anything he couldn't clearly explain, he blamed on Peter, who couldn't speak due to his memory loss.
Sirius transformed back into his human form and occasionally added details to Ivan's explanation.
Harry, Lupin, and others also chimed in to vouch for them.
Dumbledore listened quietly, nodding occasionally, his expression unchanged, as if he had expected this. There was even a hint of impatience.
Ivan noticed Dumbledore's unusual demeanor and felt a twinge of doubt. Could it be that the old Headmaster had been monitoring the school all along?
Moreover, this meeting with Dumbledore felt different from previous encounters. Instead of the usual sense of urgency, Ivan felt a sense of familiarity and warmth.
Ivan furrowed his brow, unsure if this was just his imagination. With Fawkes present and the old Wand in Dumbledore's hand, he couldn't be sure.
These thoughts flashed through Ivan's mind, but outwardly, he continued his explanation, quickly clarifying the situation.
After listening, Dumbledore's face showed a hint of sadness. He looked at Sirius and spoke in a solemn tone.
"Sirius, I apologize. This is my mistake. If I had trusted you more and visited you in Azkaban after the incident, perhaps this misunderstanding wouldn't have continued until today."
"Never say that, Professor, this is not your fault!" Sirius Black had no intention of blaming Dumbledore.
It was his own decision to have James replace the Secret-Keeper without telling anyone, which indirectly led to the deaths of James and Lily. The current situation was entirely his own doing.
"Thank you for your understanding", Dumbledore sighed, stood up, and addressed the group.
"Then, I believe it is time to clear up this misunderstanding. Let's go to the Great Hall together!"
"That's great, Sirius! You won't have to hide anymore!" Harry turned his head sharply towards Sirius, his face full of joy.
Sirius was equally delighted. Being pursued by the Ministry of Magic, living in constant fear, was no easy task.
More importantly, once he was cleared of his fugitive status, he could meet Harry openly!
He had heard from Ivan that the Uncle who had taken in Harry did not treat him well. Perhaps he could even have Harry move in with him.
The only one who was not happy was Peter, who, despite still being in the form of a Rat, had gone limp. The Rat looked completely dejected, realizing that he was completely finished.
Then, Dumbledore led everyone to the Great Hall. Just as they were about to leave, he suddenly looked at Ivan.
"Hals, stay here. The Letters and items on the table are for you. Once you've read the Letters, come to the Great Hall."
"I think you'll understand what's going on!" Dumbledore winked at him before leaving.
Ivan watched as everyone's figures disappeared, feeling utterly confused.
He looked at the Letters and the Time-Turner on the table, thought for a moment, and decided to put the Time-Turner in his wizard's robe pocket first. Then, he opened the Envelope.
Inside the Envelope, there was a List, several Letters, and a small bottle containing a tuft of White Hair.
Ivan became even more puzzled. As he checked each item, the List contained several names with their titles noted below, all of whom were high-ranking officials in the Wizengamot and the Ministry of Magic who were close to Dumbledore.
The few Letters were blank except for Dumbledore's signature at the end. Only one Letter had content.
Ivan read the Letter carefully, and his face grew increasingly grim. He was almost ready to slam the table in anger!
In the Letter, Dumbledore explained that he had already learned about the events here through the Time-Turner, but he was currently handling something important and couldn't leave.
Given that Ivan had done a great job so far, Dumbledore was very pleased and entrusted him with handling school matters temporarily. He believed that Ivan could manage things well.
If necessary, Ivan could act in his name.
The remaining Letters were enchanted by the Old Professor. Placing his Wand on the blank Envelope would transfer the content of his thoughts into writing, and he had already signed them in advance.
During this time, Fawkes would follow his commands and could be used to send messages to old friends for assistance.
At the end, Dumbledore stated that he would return for the trial and bring a surprise for Ivan.
Ivan sighed deeply, wishing for peace and an end to the pandemic. China, fight! The world, fight!
(End of Chapter)
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