Chapter 118: Erred Again
Professor McGonagall's announcement cast a pall over the gathered professors, their expressions mirroring varying degrees of concern. Dumbledore, however, exuded an air of quiet confidence as he addressed the room.
"Minerva, there's no need to panic," Dumbledore began, his voice steady and reassuring. "While I can't guarantee much, I am confident that the protections surrounding the Philosopher's Stone will buy us time. With Voldemort's current state, it will take considerable effort to breach them."
Dumbledore's unwavering confidence stemmed from the intricate layers of magical safeguards he had woven around the Stone. Despite Voldemort's lingering presence, Dumbledore knew that extracting the Stone would prove no easy task.
Except, perhaps, for one individual.
In his heart, Dumbledore pondered Saruman's formidable abilities in transfiguration. If anyone could unravel the protective enchantments surrounding the Stone, it would be him.
However, Dumbledore's greatest concern lay with the potential defection of former Death Eaters. He feared that upon learning of Voldemort's resurgence, they would flock to his side, hastening the Stone's extraction.
Snape, intimately familiar with the inner workings of the Death Eater ranks, shared Dumbledore's apprehension. His past affiliation with the Dark Lord's followers left him resentful and wary of their potential influence.
Despite Snape's misgivings, Dumbledore remained resolute in his resolve. He emphasized the need for discretion, knowing that the Ministry's involvement would only sow chaos. Dumbledore reassured his colleagues that Voldemort's victory would not come easily.
With a calming smile, Dumbledore assigned tasks to his trusted allies. McGonagall and Snape were tasked with searching Quirrell's office for clues, while Flitwick was instructed to bolster the castle's defenses with the aid of its spectral inhabitants.
As the professors set about their assigned duties, Dumbledore's reassuring presence imbued them with a sense of calm amidst the storm of uncertainty. With his guidance, Hogwarts would weather this latest crisis.
"Sprout, could you accompany me to the school doctor's office? Please ask Ms. Nagini to join us; I have a matter to discuss with her. Professor Binns, you may return to rest for now."
"Understood, let's proceed," Dumbledore instructed, prompting the professors to spring into action. Snape cast a lingering gaze at Dumbledore, adjusted his robes, and hurriedly departed.
Alone after their departure, Dumbledore sighed, his gaze shifting to Fawkes nearby. Since being bathed in the light's chant, Fawkes's vitality had surged despite lacking true rebirth.
"Old friend... Have I erred again? But Harry..." Dumbledore pondered, his thoughts drifting to the prophecy before he shook his head in self-deprecation.
"I'm still prone to doubt my decisions... Though I'm uncertain how Quirrell discovered the Philosopher's Stone, Voldemort's resurrection won't be that simple."
Dumbledore retrieved a box from a drawer, its contents magically sealed—a grotesque, shriveled soul. He regarded it with a mix of resignation and determination.
"A Horcrux... It's never that easy, Tom... Everything exacts a price..."
In Quirrell's office, Snape wrinkled his nose at the lingering scent of garlic, opening the window for fresh air. From there, he glimpsed Artel and Hermione walking near the Black Lake.
"Professor McGonagall, had you supported my concerns earlier and acted against Quirrell promptly, today's events might have been avoided," Snape remarked, frustration evident.
"I trust Dumbledore," McGonagall responded, softening as she glanced at Artel and Hermione. "No one is infallible. Dumbledore has done his best. If he insists Quirrell didn't obtain the Stone easily, I'm inclined to believe him."
As McGonagall initiated a thorough search of Quirrell's office with magic, Snape silently scoured the bookshelf. Upon completion, McGonagall noticed something amiss, scrutinizing a particular wall before deciding to consult Dumbledore.
Upon Dumbledore's arrival with Nagini, he examined the wall, detecting traces of Transfiguration. With a wave of his wand, a glimmering light swept across the surface.
With a click, a crack appeared where Dumbledore's wand was pointing, and then, as if something had shattered, a dark red wooden board suddenly materialized on the wall.
"This enchantment," Dumbledore muttered, his expression tinged with suspicion. This magical barrier didn't seem like something Quirrell could conjure.
But he set aside his doubts for the moment and gently opened the red wooden board, revealing its contents.
McGonagall and Snape exchanged surprised glances as they recognized the familiar parchment inside.
"Gandalf's Diary..." McGonagall whispered in disbelief.
Dumbledore carefully extracted the parchment, his surprise growing as he examined it closely.
"If this belongs to Quirrell... could Voldemort have obtained it from the spider in the Forbidden Forest?" Dumbledore wondered aloud.
As Dumbledore delved into the contents of the parchment, he found detailed records of Shelob's origin and history. While Dumbledore had learned a bit about Shelob from Artel's conversation in the Forbidden Forest, this parchment provided a comprehensive account.
"Fortunately, when Frodo departed Rivendell, the elves bestowed upon him a short knife and a crystal bottle of starlight..."
"Starlight crystal bottle..." Dumbledore's gaze drifted to Nagini, recalling her mention of a woman holding a bottle of sparkling stars while healing her curse.
Could this be the same object?
And what about Gandalf's mention of a potion that transforms people into animals...
The betrayer...
Was it Saruman? Or someone else entirely?
Dumbledore pondered these questions deeply before passing the parchment to Snape and McGonagall. Both browsed its contents, their expressions reflecting different emotions.
"For now, it's unclear how this parchment ties to Quirrell... While his abilities may not suffice to create such a secretive magical enchantment, with Voldemort's assistance, it's not beyond the realm of possibility," Snape remarked thoughtfully.
"The spider creature in the Forbidden Forest, Shelob... it had connections to Saruman. If Voldemort brought this parchment, what could his intentions be?" McGonagall added, her tone reflecting concern.
Dumbledore sighed, feeling a headache coming on. His Pensieve was already overflowing with unanswered questions, and now new ones had emerged.
"Let's discuss this further at the next meeting of the Phoenix Society," Dumbledore suggested, hoping to table the matter for now.
Deciding to leave the conundrum aside for the time being, Dumbledore turned to Snape and instructed, "Seal off Quirrell's office. Don't allow any students access. I must address the Board of Governors about the sudden disappearance of a professor. We owe them an explanation."
Taking the parchment from Snape, Dumbledore left the office, accompanied by Nagini and McGonagall. Nagini planned to seek McGonagall's guidance, as she had no other students to teach.
Snape surveyed the cluttered office before sealing it with a spell and departing without a backward glance.
.....
"Why won't Hagrid believe me?! It's clearly Snape..." Harry's frustration was evident.
"Let's not dwell on it... let the professors handle it, Harry. Let's discuss our Defence Against the Dark Arts class on Friday. I'm excited..." Ron suggested optimistically.
Seeing Artel Ron abruptly halted his conversation with Harry, flashing a sheepish smile.
Harry approached Artel, his expression hesitant, before finally mustering the courage to speak.
"Artel, I need your help with something..."
"No problem, as long as it's not against school rules," Artel responded, willing to assist Harry loose more points.
Harry's embarrassment was palpable as he struggled to voice his request, eventually managing to articulate it.
"I need you to help me open Snape's office door..."
"Are you out of your mind?" Hermione interjected before Artel could respond, her tone incredulous.
She glared at Harry as though he were behaving recklessly.
"Harry Potter, you've already cost Gryffindor a hundred and fifty points! Look at the trouble you've caused lately! It's absurd! Idiotic!" Hermione scolded Harry.
.....
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