Chapter 578: What Harry Doesn't Know
Chapter 578: What Harry Doesn't Know
As Albert cast the Imperius Curse on Ginny Weasley, forcing her to return to her dormitory, Professor McGonagall had just awakened the sleeping Madam Pomfrey.
The matron, with only a jacket thrown over her pajamas, hurriedly followed Professor McGonagall out and couldn't help but gasp at the sight of the rigid boy lying on the bed.
"What happened?" Madam Pomfrey asked Dumbledore in a lowered voice.
She approached the bed, leaning over to examine the boy's condition. The symptoms were peculiar, something she had never encountered before. The boy was stiff as a rock, prompting her to connect this incident with the rumors she had heard recently.
To be honest, if not for the precedent, Madam Pomfrey would have suspected that the rigid boy before her was already dead.
"Another attack," Dumbledore said calmly. "Professor McGonagall found him on the stairs."
All three of them stared intently at Colin, trying to find some clues about the attacker on him.
"I heard Mr. Creevey's cry and came out to check the situation, only to find that he had been attacked." Professor McGonagall lowered her voice. "You must have also noticed Mr. Creevey's wide eyes and stunned expression. He must have seen the attacker, and the attacker was probably an unexpected person.
"What should we do?" Madam Pomfrey asked softly. "I mean, how should we treat him?"
"A strong restorative potion made from Mandrake root can lift the petrification curse," Dumbledore reassured her. "Sprout has a batch of Mandrake roots, and when they mature, Severus will be able to make the antidote."
"Petrified?" Madam Pomfrey frowned slightly, her mind searching for similar symptoms.
"Yes." There was a hint of anxiety in Professor McGonagall's tone as she said, "I've never heard of any dark magic that can turn someone into stone... I actually wanted to chase after them just now. Now that I think about it, it's chilling... Who knows what would have happened if it hadn't been for Albus..."
"The Chamber of Secrets has been opened again," Dumbledore said quietly.
"But Albus...you must know...who?" Professor McGonagall stared blankly at Dumbledore, hoping for an answer from him.
"The question is not who," Dumbledore said as he took the camera from Colin's stiff fingers, "but how they did it."
Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey looked bewildered, clearly not understanding Dumbledore's words.
"Do you think he might have taken a picture of the attacker?" Professor McGonagall asked eagerly, looking at the camera.
Dumbledore did not answer. Instead, he pried open the back cover of the camera, and a pungent smell of burning plastic wafted out.
"It's actually melted..." Madam Pomfrey said in surprise.
Dumbledore closed the camera's back cover and placed it on the nightstand next to the bed. "Take care of Mr. Creevey until the restorative potion is ready," he said to Madam Pomfrey.
"I will."
"This is unusual, Albus," Professor McGonagall said as she followed Dumbledore out of the hospital wing. "I noticed that Mr. Creevey was carrying a bunch of grapes, and I guess he was trying to sneak in here to see Potter. The attacker must have seized the opportunity and quickly disappeared after petrifying Mr. Creevey."
"I will look into this matter," Dumbledore replied.
Professor McGonagall stopped in her tracks and looked at Dumbledore with an intense gaze. "You know what I mean, Albus. My student has been attacked, and I can't just turn a blind eye to this."
"Well, according to my sources, he's currently hiding in the forests of Albania," Dumbledore said.
"He?"
"Voldemort."
Hearing the name spoken by Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall shuddered.
"As far as I know, Voldemort is the last heir of Slytherin," Dumbledore said calmly. "Although there is no evidence, I believe he was the one responsible back then."
"Do you mean he has infiltrated the school again?" Professor McGonagall thought of the events of last year when Voldemort possessed Quirrell and invaded Hogwarts to steal the Philosopher's Stone.
"That's why I'm puzzled," Dumbledore continued walking forward. "I can't understand how he's doing it this time."
Yes, Dumbledore was puzzled.
In fact, soon after the Halloween attack, Dumbledore had traveled to the forests of Albania.
The forest was filled with traces of Voldemort's use of dark magic, and all signs indicated that his former student was still hiding deep within those woods.
If Voldemort was in the Albanian forest, how was he able to orchestrate these attacks?
A Horcrux?
Previously, Albert had found the crown, confirming that Voldemort had indeed created Horcruxes.
Given his understanding of Voldemort, he likely didn't stop at just one Horcrux.
However, Dumbledore was equally unfamiliar with Horcruxes, these vile dark magic objects.
Dumbledore returned to his office with a cup of hot chocolate from the kitchen, gazing at the aged bird perched on a branch, and murmured, "Fawkes, you need to act soon. I'll be needing your help very shortly."
Regarding the Chamber of Secrets and the monster within, Dumbledore had his suspicions.
Fifty years ago, when Myrtle was killed by the monster, he had investigated the incident, although there had been no evidence to point to the culprit at the time.
Back then, he could only remain silent and quietly monitor the situation.
Dumbledore was well aware that even if he did more, it wouldn't change much. He could only provide as much help to Hagrid as possible.
After the attack on the Halloween feast, Dumbledore once again placed his sealed memories into the Pensieve to review them, hoping to unravel some valuable information.
He was in no rush to capture the monster within the Chamber of Secrets. It was more important to figure out how Voldemort was orchestrating these attacks.
As for the attacks themselves, Dumbledore believed that the professors' patrols would minimize the incidents, and Harry, who had been drawn into this matter, would continue his investigations.
Harry would once again face new challenges.
Dumbledore knew the risks he had to take, but he had to give Harry sufficient training while he was still strong enough.
Only by giving Harry enough practice could he grow rapidly and gradually get closer to the truth.
If Harry wasn't adequately prepared, how would he face the difficulties that lay ahead? Although there were times when Dumbledore thought he should have told Harry the truth earlier, Harry was still too young. Twelve years old wasn't much of an improvement over eleven.
He preferred to let Harry gradually learn the truth as he grew up. This was more useful than dumping all the facts on him at once, and it would help keep Harry's mind at peace and give him the courage to face everything.
(End of Chapter)
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