Chapter 527: The Plan
Chapter 527: The Plan
"Professor Dumbledore, were you joking just now?" Liam asked Dumbledore loudly, slightly out of composure after hearing that Dumbledore wanted him to do something. "Or did I just hear things wrong, and the place we're going isn't the one you mentioned—"
"Calm down, Liam. I thought you had learned to face everything calmly after returning from behind the Stone Arches." Dumbledore gently pressed his hands down, signaling Liam to quiet down. "You didn't hear wrong. I want you to accompany me to one of the most heavily guarded Vaults in Gringotts, and we'll retrieve something from there."
Liam didn't know how to respond. He truly hadn't expected Dumbledore to ask him to rob a bank. This didn't align at all with his image of the rule-abiding Dumbledore.
"This isn't the kind of bank robbery you're imagining. If everything goes smoothly, no one will be harmed because of this." Dumbledore seemed to know what Liam was thinking and quickly explained. "Because of the Pendant Box and the rings, I realized that Voldemort must have created a significant number of Horcruxes. Considering he gave one to Lucius Malfoy, I believe he likely gave his top lieutenant, Bellatrix Lestrange, a Horcrux as well."
"Why do you think that Horcrux is in Gringotts?" Liam asked. In the original story, Harry and his friends guessed this after Bellatrix's excessive panic when she learned they had been to Gringotts. It was a coincidence due to Harry Potter's protagonist aura. Now, Dumbledore, who hadn't experienced that, had somehow accurately guessed that a Horcrux was in Bellatrix's Vault.
"Because Voldemort trusted Bellatrix and her husband deeply. They were his most loyal servants before his downfall and continued to search for him even after he disappeared. It makes sense that Voldemort would hide one of his Horcruxes with them." Dumbledore interlaced his fingers and looked at Liam.
"Of course, Voldemort never fully trusted anyone. I believe the Horcrux he gave Bellatrix is likely an artifact of the same caliber as Slytherin's Locket or the Resurrection Stone Ring. When he entrusted the Horcrux to Bellatrix, he probably told her it was a reward for her loyalty." Dumbledore looked at Liam with a curious expression. "In that case, what do you think Bellatrix would do?"
"Hide it in Gringotts." Liam immediately understood. As Voldemort's most loyal follower, Bellatrix wouldn't leave such an important item lying around. Before she set out to attack the Longbottoms, she likely placed important items in her Gringotts Vault. She must have anticipated being captured soon after the attack and wouldn't want the item to fall into the wrong hands. Gringotts' independence and strong protections ensured this.
"Very good." Dumbledore nodded slightly. "Now you understand why we need to go to Gringotts. As for safety, you don't need to worry. I can guarantee I can bring you out unharmed. From what I know, Voldemort managed to infiltrate the deepest, most secure Vault in Gringotts during his first year, even with a damaged body, and escape unscathed. I can assure you that my skills in this regard are not far behind his."
Liam nodded after hearing this. The only reason he hadn't retrieved the Golden Cup Horcrux before was that he didn't think he could breach Gringotts' defenses without raising an alarm. The only foolproof method he could think of was using high-yield nuclear bombs from the Radiation World to blast a path, but that would devastate the Wizarding World's economy. He believed it wasn't necessary to use such a destructive tactic unless it was the last resort.
"Alright, since you've agreed to this, you need to prepare when you return. If there's anything you can't buy, write to me, and I'll help you. I have connections that can get me the best materials and magic items. An Alchemy master needs ample resources and materials to perform at their best, so don't hesitate to ask. I'll inform you of the operation time later."
"Alright, I understand", Liam replied. However, after his response, Dumbledore did not dismiss him as he had expected. Instead, the Headmaster looked at Liam for a few seconds before asking in a slow, deliberate tone, "I know some things can't be rushed, but I still want to ask you about your progress with the piece of Voldemort's Horcrux in Harry. How is it going?"
Noticing Liam's hesitation at the question, Dumbledore quickly added, "Of course, this isn't a rush. I understand that this is not something that can be resolved quickly. If you haven't—"
He paused as Liam reached into his Spatial Bag and pulled out a Crown adorned with a blue gem.
"This is Ravenclaw's Diadem. I have successfully removed the Dark Lord's soul fragment and completely erased it, restoring the Crown to its original function. However, it is only a powerful magical item and does not grant wisdom. The true source of extraordinary wisdom is Rowena Ravenclaw herself. Now, I am returning it to Hogwarts."
"You—managed it?" Dumbledore, who had been slouched, sat up straight and took out the Elder Wand to inspect the Crown. After a moment, he looked up with a shocked expression. "So, what about Harry?"
"Sorry, I still can't guarantee it", Liam said, lowering his head. He had brought out the Crown at this moment to ensure Dumbledore was aware of the progress on this particular Horcrux, hoping it would help with the upcoming plans. It also conveniently shifted some of the responsibility to the Headmaster. As for the research on the soul fragment in Harry, he had not yet found a method that would guarantee Harry's safety with absolute certainty.
"At this point, showing you the results will make it easier to obtain resources that are otherwise hard to come by. During my resource gathering, I realized that as a Muggle-born wizard, I am at a disadvantage in the magical world. Many valuable items only circulate among the upper echelons of wizards, and even with money, I can't always acquire them. But Dumbledore has more influence."
"It's fine, I understand", Dumbledore said, waving his hand after hearing Liam's apology. "You don't need to apologize. I have some experience with alchemy and understand that living beings and inanimate objects are entirely different. You don't need to rush. At least, we still have enough time."
It seems that Dumbledore's current state of mind is quite different from the one in the novels. In the books, Dumbledore, at this point, was trapped by Voldemort and had only a year left to live. This made him seem very anxious and even entrust important matters to fate, appearing emotionally low. However, the Dumbledore who has found and destroyed several of Voldemort's Horcruxes is now much more optimistic.
From this, Liam sees that the current Dumbledore is a genuinely good person. In many fan works, Dumbledore is portrayed as someone who manipulates everyone to achieve his goals, even raising Harry just to sacrifice him at the final moment. But after experiencing this world firsthand, Liam realizes that this is far from the truth. In fact, Dumbledore has found the path that offers Harry the highest chance of survival.
Through his research on Horcruxes, Liam discovered that a living Horcrux can be destroyed by killing the host of the soul fragment. Nagini's death in the original story confirms this. If Dumbledore were not truly kind, he could have simply killed Harry to destroy the soul fragment. However, he chose a more complex and risky method. When Dumbledore sent Harry to face Avada Kedavra, it was a dangerous move, but it was the only way to ensure Harry's survival and the destruction of the soul fragment after Dumbledore's death.
The same is true now. Dumbledore is asking Liam to find a way to remove the soul fragment while ensuring Harry's safety because he believes this method offers the best chance for Harry's survival. This approach requires much more effort and carries greater risks, but Dumbledore is still willing to take it.
So, while this world is not perfect, the good aspects still prevail. Everyone has their flaws and shortcomings, and they may have their own agendas, but there are more good people than bad. This is why Liam is willing to participate in this war.
(End of Chapter)
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