บท 307: Chapter 306 "Discussing With Dumbledore"

When Wentworth followed Dumbledore back to the Headmaster's office at Hogwarts, he immediately began searching the room. Observing his actions, Dumbledore couldn't help but ask, "Wentworth, what exactly are you searching for?"

Wentworth pointed to a weathered hat nestled in a corner of the office and replied, "That's what I'm looking for!"

Perplexed, Dumbledore inquired further, "The Sorting Hat? But why do you need it?"

Wentworth strode over and, with an impatient huff, plunged his hand into the hat. Finding nothing, he lifted it and shook it vigorously.

Amused by Wentworth's actions, Dumbledore chuckled, "I understand your intentions, but only a true Gryffindor can wield the Gryffindor sword! So, what's your plan?"

Realizing his slim chances of drawing the sword, Wentworth obediently followed Dumbledore's suggestion, placing the Sorting Hat back down. He turned to Dumbledore and confessed, "I intend to use it for... lethal purposes. I need to kill someone with it Professor..."

Dumbledore's expression froze momentarily, caught off guard by Wentworth's startling admission, "Please explain what do you mean by that. I don't beli---"

Before Dumbledore could utter another word, Wentworth interjected, "Headmaster, I know who unleashed the basilisk from the Chamber of Secrets!"

Dumbledore, taken aback by Wentworth's assertion, exclaimed, "You know who it is?"

Wentworth nodded resolutely and declared, "Yes, it was your former student, Tom Riddle!"

If anyone other than Wentworth had made such a claim, Dumbledore might have dismissed it outright as implausible. However, given the source, he paused to consider the possibility. Gesturing for Wentworth to take a seat, Dumbledore urged, "Please, enlighten me. Tell me everything you know."

Seated now, Wentworth elaborated, "To be precise, it was a Horcrux left behind by Tom Riddle—a diary containing his youthful memories."

Dumbledore, absorbing Wentworth's explanation, refrained from probing into how Wentworth came by knowledge of Horcruxes. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Wentworth and inquired, "How did you come to possess this knowledge?"

Without hesitation, Wentworth confessed, "Because I once possessed that very diary. I attempted to destroy it using various spells to no avail, so I stashed it away in the Room of Requirement."

With a thoughtful expression, Wentworth paused for a moment, as if recollecting a forgotten detail. Then, he resumed speaking, "However, shortly after I concealed it, there were further incidents of students being petrified. When I returned to retrieve the diary from the Room of Requirement, it had vanished."

As Wentworth concluded, Dumbledore lapsed into a contemplative silence. Eventually, he addressed Wentworth, saying, "The next time you come across such a perilous object, you must immediately bring it to my attention. We don't want this kind of accident to happen again, won't we? Let me call for the others," Before he got the chance to move forward, Wentworth stopped him.

"It's fine, Professor! Let me handle this problem!" Wentworth insisted.

Relieved that Dumbledore didn't press for an explanation regarding his failure to seek assistance with the diary, Wentworth nodded emphatically.

Although unsure if Dumbledore had penetrated his motives, it was evident the Headmaster hadn't probed further.

Dumbledore looked at him in the eyes for a moment before taking a deep breath "Sigh..."

Summoning his resolve, Wentworth clenched his fists and asserted, "Certainly, next time without fail! But this time, I intend to confront the culprit myself!"

Unfazed by Wentworth's declaration, Dumbledore calmly inquired, "What course of action do you propose now?"

Drawing closer to Dumbledore, Wentworth replied earnestly, "Professor, while the memory of Tom encased in the diary is instrumental in unlocking the Chamber of Secrets, it cannot act autonomously. It requires a pawn, likely a Hogwarts student, to carry out its bidding."

Dumbledore nodded encouragingly, urging Wentworth to continue sharing his ideas.

Pressing on, Wentworth proposed, "We could summon each student individually. With Veritaserum or Legilimency, we could ascertain who took the diary."

In response, Dumbledore shook his head with a rueful smile. "Wentworth, Tom is exceedingly cunning. Unless we have a clear suspect from the outset, he'll swiftly detect any anomalies. Once he realizes his pawns are under scrutiny, the bewitched students will be in peril."

"I will surely consider his cunningness by the time I made my plan, Professor. This is not the first time I am facing a tricky situation." Wentworth absorbed Dumbledore's cautionary words, recognizing the impracticality of his initial plan. The process would be protracted, potentially placing more students in jeopardy.

"But, if we are talking about how cunning he is, then all of my plans right now could be easily seen by him..." Realizing the inefficiency of his proposal, Wentworth shook his head in self-rebuke.

However, a spark of inspiration ignited within him, prompting Wentworth to address Dumbledore eagerly. "Professor, there's another approach. We could enlist Professor Snape to brew more Veritaserum and administer it during a Hogwarts feast. Following its ingestion, you could publicly inquire about the diary's whereabouts. Presumably..."

Dumbledore's interruption left Wentworth momentarily stunned, his thoughts abruptly halted.

Dumbledore's gentle wave dismissed the notion of employing Veritaserum on Hogwarts students. "Here at Hogwarts, we uphold the highest standards of wizarding education. We cannot subject innocent students to such invasive measures."

Wentworth couldn't suppress a feeling of frustration. Two students lay in comas, yet Dumbledore remained steadfast in his principles?

Longingly, Wentworth thought of his comrades from the Alliance. In such a situation, they would have swiftly administered Veritaserum without hesitation. But within the confines of Hogwarts, such tactics were evidently unacceptable.

However, Dumbledore elaborated further. "Moreover, Veritaserum may prove ineffective. Memories can be altered easily at his level. You need to approach this problem in another way, Wentworth."

Wentworth nodded in understanding. Dumbledore's insight illuminated the futility of relying on Veritaserum, "Then, is there any suggestion from you, Professor?" Wentworth feels at a loss the time he tries to think further ahead; he turns his head to Dumbledore and asks.

The Veritaserum could potentially yield false or manipulated information, exacerbating the situation rather than resolving it. On top of that, who knows how strong the effect of a Horcrux is on a mere student?

Tom might easily alter their memories once he felt something amiss.

Once again, Wentworth recognized the vast disparity between himself and the seasoned wizard before him. Dumbledore's refusal wasn't mere pedantry but a strategic approach to preserving both integrity and safety.

Perhaps if it was his grandfather, Gellert Grindelwald, then this whole situation could easily be resolved with the way he thinks.

"I have a few that I could suggest, but in the end, I am more interested in how you'll approach this problem as well. Tell me, can you clear this problem in a way like your grandfather would?" Dumbledore asked.

Surprised by the sudden mention of his grandfather, Wentworth's mind went blank, "How could this old man compare me to him?"

As Wentworth was sent into a state of confusion while his head tried their best to think of a solution, the time froze inside the Headmaster's room. With heavy air and tight tension between them, they are trying their best to think of a plan to stop Tom Riddle.