Chapter 143 142: Death will not be merciful
Ian originally thought that he needed to communicate with Phoenix Fox about raising a little phoenix in the principal's office. After waiting for a long time, he could meet the old principal who had cleaned up the finishing work. .
He never expected it.
I even used the Dark Phoenix to apparate, but Albus Dumbledore was still one step ahead of me - or could it be that the principal had been waiting here for a long time?
Ian noticed what Albus Dumbledore was wearing. Although he was also wearing the standard purple robe, now Albus Dumbledore had a dark red robe around his neck. scarf.
In addition, there was also some difference in the cleanliness of appearance. The Albus Dumbledore in the underground room was obviously unkempt, while the Albus Dumbledore in front of him was neatly dressed.
You can’t run faster than the little wizard, and you still have time to clean up, right? Ian, who felt a little weird, suddenly thought and asked tentatively.
"Mr. Aberforth?"
He thought this might be the best explanation.
"If my information is correct, at this moment, Aberforth is closing his shop because of some of my rude behaviors. He is counting my treasures in Ariana's cemetery in our hometown. Guilty." Albus Dumbledore shook his head slightly and made a seated gesture to Ian.
"Well, I remember you told me just now that you had to deal with Voldemort's funeral affairs with Professor Nick Flamel, and it would take some time before you could meet with me..."
Ian seemed to Suddenly realizing something, he suddenly took out his Marauder's Map. However, he only saw an icon of Albus Dumbledore on the Marauder's Map.
The icon is still dealing with a group of people from the Ministry of Magic at this moment. Even several other deans gathered in Snape's office to investigate the cause of Quirrell's death.
"Very keen insight. I think the Sorting Hat is right. You have the qualities that many founders value. Including your strategies and coping methods when dealing with Voldemort, as well as It also shows that you are far more outstanding than your peers and... cunning "Albus Dumbledore glanced at the map in Ian's hand with a smile, "However, in the wizarding world, sometimes you can't even trust your own eyes, so you'd better not trust your map too much."
His words made Ian's expression change one after another.
"What a hell..."
Ian stared at the empty principal's office on the map with a depressed expression, "You did it on my map, no, I should say you did it on Hogwarts itself. Did you do some tricks?”
He was really speechless.
After all, there are probably not many people who can do this in the entire wizarding world, and among these few people, he has met quite a few.
Do you think this is a coincidence?
"Yes, I played some tricks." Albus Dumbledore did not deny it, but nodded and said it bluntly with a smile.
"After all, you have sold this kind of map to many young wizards. We are not sure whether Quirrell will get one of them to monitor the actions of me and other professors."< br>
A very reasonable explanation.
It also made Ian dare not refute at all.
The map he sold was itself contraband, so it was good enough that he was not held accountable. How could he come back and accuse Albus Dumbledore of deceiving his map?
"Actually, my original intention is just to help those poor classmates who can't find their way and have road-crazy attributes. They are disadvantaged groups in need of help in this cold and huge castle." Ian defended himself in a loud voice. , but no matter how I listen to it, there is always a hidden guilty conscience.
No.
Albus Dumbledore indeed knew everything about him, "Selling a map for more than a dozen gold galleons, I think the real disadvantaged groups do not have the ability to buy it." Although the old man The principal's voice was still soft, and the embarrassed expression on Ian's face still couldn't be concealed.
"There will be a way, and they will find a way to use it."
The little wizard touched his nose to hide his guilt.
He actually opened the [Ian Loan] service to less affluent students after the market was saturated.
There is no such thing as a nine-year plan, and there is no annual interest rate of tens of percent. It only requires an extra five percent service fee. This is obviously not the behavior of a profiteer.
He is much kinder than the Muggle banks!
"Your business in school is not a big deal, as long as you don't think about getting Nick's illegal machine." Albus Dumbledore did not continue to mention this, after all The little wizard didn't force others to buy anything. What he was worried about now was Ian's enthusiasm for the money printing press.
“Yes, Professor.”
Ian quickly made a promise.
"It's not even possible to learn how to make that machine." Albus Dumbledore seemed to see through the little wizard's heart, his tone full of uneasy vigilance.
“…”
Ian’s expression suddenly froze.
Obviously.
Albus Dumbledore was indeed a very experienced person. He had predicted in advance his idea of saving the country through curves, so that he didn't know how to respond for a moment.
“It seems that I guessed it right.” Albus Dumbledore smiled bitterly, and then he sighed heavily, “The agreement that we wizards and goblins have signed cannot be broken. , This will cause a big mess, and Nick almost destroyed the hard-won peace because of his impulse. "
The old principal's original intention was obviously to warn Ian.
However.
"An agreement with the fairies..."
The little wizard murmured thoughtfully.
The expression on his face made Albus Dumbledore feel something was wrong, and he couldn't tell what was wrong. The old headmaster, who was afraid that Ian would say something shocking again, quickly changed the topic.
"You must be a little tired too, would you like some snacks?" Albus Dumbledore had just finished speaking, and added hurriedly.
“I mean some desserts, not steak or something like that.” He obviously still remembered some of the episodes that happened when he and Ian communicated in this office before.
"Then roast the whole lamb? Put a little more chili pepper?" Ian expressed understanding, and then responded like this. He didn't like to embarrass others, so he chose a food that had nothing to do with beef.
"????"
Albus Dumbledore looked a little helpless, "Don't you want to eat some normal desserts? For example, Zizi Honey Candy, the Honey Earl's Zizi Honey Candy is added It contains the sting of the Billywig bug and is much more delicious than the candies in other stores. I think you will fall in love with it once you try it.”
The old principal’s strong recommendation did not attract the children. Wizard's interest.
"Thank you, but no need. I'm afraid of getting cavities. Little wizards my age love getting cavities most." Ian's polite refusal caused Albus Dumbledore to remain silent again.
A guy who killed Voldemort.
Are you actually talking to him about the problem of tooth decay in a serious manner?
“There are also sugar-free desserts.” Albus Dumbledore spoke again. Unexpectedly, the wizarding world also had sugar substitutes. He didn’t know if there was magic on food that could make people feel sweet. .
“Let’s eat some roasted whole lamb first, and then have dessert, just enough to relieve our tiredness.” Ian blinked and looked at the old man in front of him. His impeccable speech was hard to refute.
"..."
Albus Dumbledore touched his forehead and thought to himself that he would no longer be able to habitually ask Ian what he wanted to eat again. This request was simply too much. It just gets more outrageous each time.
"It's not good to eat too much greasy food." Even though Albus Dumbledore said so, he still waved his wand to fulfill Ian's wish.
The next moment.
A whole roasted golden and crispy lamb appeared on the desk, with a lot of raw chili peppers on it. There were even some corn chips and lemonade next to the roasted whole lamb. .
This treatment is obviously much better than when Ian first wanted to eat steak - what can Albus Dumbledore do? He only knows that he has to provide for the little ancestor in front of him.
"Transfiguration?"
Ian did not dare to take action.
Albus Dumbledore only felt toothache.
"It's the craftsmanship of elves."
He explained in an extremely helpless tone.
Seeing Ian who was relieved and immediately began to feast, Albus Dumbledore adjusted his expression and spoke to Ian in a deep voice.
"Don't you have anything to ask?"
He felt that Ian was more calm than he thought.
Ian gnawed on a leg of lamb and said in a curious tone, "It's a time turner, right? The reason why you can appear in so many places at the same time."
In the heart of the little wizard There have been speculations for a long time, but it is still not certain yet.
"Yes, I am indeed using a time converter." Albus Dumbledore did not shy away from it and took out a strange-looking pendant from the lining of his robe.
"In order to deceive our Tom, I need to make him think that I am really entangled in some of his little tricks, so that he can have the courage to find what he wants to find."
Old Principal After explaining his behavior to Ian, I can only say that it is really scary for the old fisherman to catch fish. Voldemort, who was so complacent that he thought he had played a trick on Albus Dumbledore, would never have imagined that he had actually been under the watchful eye of his former professor, and it was he, the Dark Lord, who was being played with.
“The Philosopher’s Stone?”
Ian felt a little sorry for the damage to the Philosopher’s Stone. Although he had guessed that the magic power of the Philosopher’s Stone might not be much anymore, but which alchemist could refuse? It’s time to study the magic stone.
Alas!
Professor Nick Flamel doesn't know if he can make a second piece. The new professor said before that he could leave everything to Ian, and the little wizard felt that the dead Voldemort owed him a lot. Fortunately, Voldemort still had other soul fragments, and Ian felt a little better when he thought of this.
"It seems that you do know a lot of things." Albus Dumbledore took a deep look at Ian, but did not ask why Ian knew so many things.
Something.
He already had a conclusive conclusion in his mind.
“Actually, I thought you were just fishing with the magic stone, but I didn’t expect that noseless Tom actually came back to life. I was shocked when I entered that room.”
Ian's doubts came from the bottom of his heart. He really didn't expect that Voldemort would be resurrected. Fortunately, he had made a lot of preparations and had a nearly 90% chance of winning against Voldemort.
Although it is still very dangerous, the result is still gratifying.
"Only in this way can we see his weaknesses more clearly... Of course, there is also a little selfishness on my part, but Tom is still disappointing as always." Albus Dumbledore Sighing again, it was obvious that some of his goals had not been achieved, so that a look of helplessness appeared on his face.
"I took a big risk this time. You have to at least give me a contribution award, the kind that will be awarded to me in public." Ian made a frightened expression.
"Of course you deserve that award. There is no doubt that you have fulfilled your promise to Hogwarts." Albus Dumbledore did not refuse but nodded slightly.
"When did you come from now?" Ian was also satisfied and munched on the leg of lamb. I have to say that the house elves at Hogwarts are indeed very good at craftsmanship.
The surface of the lamb has a golden and crisp texture, but the meat inside is still extremely tender. The flavor of the seasonings has completely penetrated into the meat without any smell.
The spiciness of the chili pepper is just right, so you won’t feel confused after taking a few bites.
“Due to some rules of time travel, for the sake of safety, this is something I cannot tell you.” Albus Dumbledore lowered his head and looked at the time converter on his chest. This was not the one he had repaired by Baitonic Flamel, it was just a modern time converter that the Ministry of Magic would specially grant to young wizards.
It is not that difficult to apply for or get one as the principal of Hogwarts.
"It must be from the future, because you already know what happened in the underground room." Ian made an inference based on the existing information.
Albus Dumbledore nodded noncommittally.
“I didn’t expect that there would be three of you existing in this little Hogwarts at the same time... My old senior is really miserable.” Ian was amazed and picked up the lemonade to drink. greasy.
However.
But he saw Albus Dumbledore smiling.
"????"
Ian has always been very good at observing words and expressions. He immediately read other information in Albus Dumbledore's smile and his not too small eyes. His eyes widened immediately.
“More than three!?”
Ian gasped.
Albus Dumbledore's silent response as he continued to smile was simply more silent than sound.
The little wizard's curiosity was immediately aroused.
"Five? Six? Seven or eight?"
His voice was surprised, becoming more and more confused.
The look in Albus Dumbledore's eyes at this time made Ian a little confused.
“I am writing a thesis, and the topic is the study of time travel, so I will try some extreme operations to gain insight into the deeper rules of time travel.”
The old principal's evasive response made Ian think more and more.
“But we all know that the use of time converters comes at a cost. The more time is interfered with, the more serious the cost. There are many people in history who have been lost in time travel.”
"No one knows how they disappeared, and no one knows what they tried to do. Countless facts tell us that the time turner cannot change anything." Ian knew that Albus Dumbledore understood. There must be more things than him, but he couldn't help but remind the old principal. Albus Dumbledore just nodded at this, "Of course I am aware of the taboo of time travel. The more selves existing at the same time, the more likely it is to lead to unpredictable disasters... However, I think I don't Will become an unlucky guy lost in time, wondering what to do I have a sense of what I shouldn’t do.”
“There is always a need for someone to explore this field. Now that I am a pioneer, I firmly believe that I can completely understand things that have never been understood by others. Something clear.”
Albus Dumbledore's voice was smooth and soft, but it also carried an undeniable strong confidence. The most important thing for people who have reached such a pinnacle position is self-confidence.
"I hope you really know what you are thinking..." Ian slapped away the hand that was trying to get at the last leg of lamb, tore off the whole lamb's butt and stuffed it into Albus Dumbledore's hands. .
His performance of protecting food made Albus Dumbledore laugh a little.
"Of course, your worries are not wrong. I can't guarantee that I won't have any accidents 100%, so that's why today you have to face Voldemort."
Albus Dumbledore put down the lamb's butt that probably only Aberforth liked.
"See if I can handle being without a nose without you?" Ian drank the lemonade in his hand again. The chili he asked the elves to find was getting hotter and hotter.
"No."
Albus Dumbledore shook his head gently. Behind the crescent-shaped mirror frame, his eyes were deep and deep. He just stared at the little boy in front of him. The wizard spoke slowly.
Read the error-free version at 69 Book Bar! 6=9+Book_Bar debuts this novel.
“It’s to see if you can... break destiny.”
There was a bit of relief in Albus Dumbledore's voice, "The facts have proved that you did it, tearing a hole in the already anchored destiny."
"Verifying After understanding this, I think many things will no longer be complicated." He saw that Ian's glass was empty, and then filled the empty water glass with a wand.
"There is also a snake and a diary that I can kill." Ian looked up at the old professor with hope, not hiding that he was really greedy for Voldemort's soul.
The magic text on his body has gradually extinguished. Ian can feel that his magic power can still grow, but he just doesn't know how the so-called legendary road leads to the status of a legend.
“Huh?”
Albus Dumbledore glanced at Ian in surprise. He obviously didn't expect Ian to know so clearly. Even Grindelwald couldn't fully see Voldemort's Horcrux.
"You really... care about your senior." The old principal didn't know how to evaluate Ian's knowledge of Voldemort. He just understood why Ian was so passionate about Voldemort.
"It's okay, it's okay. After all, I have been inspired to become a warrior who defeated the Dark Lord since I was a child." Ian's righteous voice was full of impassioned emotions.
“…”
Albus Dumbledore felt that he was even more critical. He recalled the battle between Ian and Voldemort, and he really didn't think it looked like a warrior defeating the Dark Lord.
On the contrary, it seems like...the new generation has overwhelmed the remnants of the old era.
"Can you find it? I only know that the diary is at Malfoy's house, but I don't know much about the other snake." Ian looked eager to try, as if he still had some unfinished business.
Albus Dumbledore's eyes flickered, "That's only six, where's the seventh? I think since you can see it so clearly, you should also know something about the last Horcrux."
He looked at the little wizard who put down the roast lamb with a deep look.
"I think only you can know how to deal with that Horcrux...I can't find a way." Ian's answer made Albus Dumbledore nodded slightly.
"It seems that you are more inclined to a better way, which is good." I have to say that Albus Dumbledore's temptation may appear anytime and anywhere.
The two people did not mention the details, but they both knew in their hearts what the last Horcrux was and what options they had to deal with it.
“I still don’t understand why Voldemort can be resurrected. Is it really just a sacrifice to the God of Death?” Ian thought about Voldemort, who was flesh and blood and had powerful magical powers.
He remembered that Voldemort said that he first used sacrifice to resurrect, and then used the magic stone to restore his former magic power. This situation is beyond the scope of the little wizard's cognition.
If resurrection can really be achieved by killing a servant, then how can the ritual of the servant's flesh and father's bones be used in a normal timeline with great effort?
"It is true that you can gain a short life by sacrificing yourself to the God of Death, but this is not without cost, and the cost is heavy. I think he must have been driven into panic by your frequent destruction of his Horcruxes."
Abu Si. Dumbledore spoke slowly and gave a detailed explanation to Ian, "In fact, I have known about the magic he cast when I was young."
"But this resurrected The price is far beyond what any soul can bear. After all, it comes from the mercy of the God of Death. The living sacrifice is just a ritual to start the transaction."
"The real thing to pay to the God of Death is the soul of the resurrected person. ...This is magic from Egypt, which has been abandoned in history for many, many years."
After talking about it, the old principal's answer was somewhat beyond Ian's expectation. He did not expect that the magical rituals used by Voldemort had actually been studied by Albus Dumbledore, who was eager to miss his sister.
Obviously, it was because of the cost of his soul that Albus Dumbledore did not take action. After all, the fate that this kind of resurrection would bring may be even more miserable than being a dead soul.
“Perhaps the reason for not having a nose is because he has so many souls left, and he feels that he only has to pay the price of one soul? Or maybe it’s because he feels that he can really gain eternal life and will not meet the God of Death?”
< br>Ian can only figure out and guess Voldemort's psychology, which is not an easy task. After all, only a psychopath can understand what another psychopath is thinking.
"He may indeed be planning this, but I believe that Death will not be so easily deceived." Albus Dumbledore seemed to have seen the end of Voldemort, "If he was the one before He just went astray, but after using this magic, he must have completely fallen into the abyss."
Ian quite agrees with Albus Dumbledore's view.
"He was already hopeless, and he didn't care how badly he fell in the end." Ian stood up and looked at the time. It was almost time to add new ingredients to the potion he was brewing.
“Do you have anything else to do?”
Albus Dumbledore looked up at the little wizard who stood up.
“The medicine is almost gone.”
Ian didn’t hide it either.
"Then it's time for you to go about your own business. Anyway, thank you for your trust and for everything you have done for Hogwarts and me."
Albus Dun Bullido nodded gently.
“It’s a convenient thing.”
Ian made an OK gesture and walked towards the door of the principal’s office. Just as he was twisting the door handle, he suddenly thought of another question that remained unsolved.
“Who reported you to the Ministry of Magic?”
The little wizard turned around and asked curiously.
Albus Dumbledore, who was cleaning up the mess made by Ian after eating and drinking, hesitated slightly in his hand movements, and his eyes when he raised his head were somewhat incomprehensible.
"If I told you that I didn't know, I don't think you would believe it." His voice was still gentle, but it had a deeper feeling.
“Can I pretend to believe it?”
Ian blinked.
Albus Dumbledore laughed and shook his head.
"Child, this involves the influence of time and power on people's hearts. I can only tell you that that is a person who once helped me but is now more and more afraid of me."
He did not directly answer Ian's inquiry.
Somewhat ambiguous.
“High position and weight?”
Ian raised his eyebrows.
"Respected status."
Albus Dumbledore also replied again, unwilling to say more. Seeing that he could not get a definite answer, the little wizard could only leave the principal's office out of curiosity.
And in the corridor on the eighth floor.
“You look happy?”
Silly Barnabas outside the door of the Room of Requirement suddenly spoke to him.
"Today is really an exciting and rewarding day. The most important thing is that I showed my magical powers and defeated the conspiracy of the evil forces. You must not understand how rare my achievement is." Ian's favorite When others asked him such questions, he immediately began to praise himself effusively.
That's right.
He indeed achieved the rare achievement of defeating Voldemort without waking up in the school doctor's office. Ian got addicted to pretending, and Silly Barnabas began to ask him what exactly happened.
“You don’t understand even if I tell you.”
The little wizard opened the door to the Room of Requirement and walked in with satisfaction.
So, there was only a stupid Barnabas left in the corridor whose curiosity was aroused. He was being beaten in the picture frame while scolding the little wizard. This was deliberately to titillate.
And on the other side.
The principal's office fell into silence again. .
Albus Dumbledore collected his emotions, touched the time converter on his chest again, and picked up the books that he had covered on the table again.
"Foolish Play with Destiny"
The old principal began to delve into the content again.
On the cover of the book he held up, the author's name was clearly visible.
Morgan Le Fay.
……
A blurry fantasy.
Under the boundless sky, a vast black sea surges wantonly, like the breath of the abyss, with indescribable oppression and depth. The dark tide, with its ink-like color, violently lapped at the beach of an isolated island again and again, making a dull and powerful roar.
This Black Sea seems to be the gathering place of all darkness and unknown. Its color is so deep that it can swallow up almost all light. Even the brightest moonlight seems to be absorbed when it touches the sea surface, leaving only The next circle of weak ripples shimmered faintly in the endless darkness.
"Wow, wow, wow~"
The sound of the tide is like the whisper of the night.
Echoing at the end of the seemingly forgotten world.
“Quack gua gua~”
Isolated island.
The brown chocolate frog is chasing a slug. The slug has a ferocious face on its head, and its sewn lips can only express impotent rage.
It runs.
Chocolate Frog Chase.
It has always been unable to fly.
If the chocolate frog had not been able to swallow, this slug must have become food for the chocolate frog. After all, the slug crawled slowly even if it tried its best to feed.
“Quick quack quack~”
The chocolate frog stepped on the slug again. And just when the chocolate frog caught the slug and playfully let go of the slug, ready to start the next round of catching up game.
On the oppressive black sea, a black cloak floated, as if there was an invisible body hidden in it, but there was nothing else except the deep darkness in the cloak.
On the isolated island barely illuminated by the moonlight, the appearance of the black cloak was like a sudden storm, instantly stopping the movement of everything on the entire island.
It approaches slowly.
"Bah~"
Only a subtle and weak cracking sound was left, which was particularly harsh in this silent night. The invisible figure silently crushed the frozen chocolate. frog.
There was a pale hand deep in the cloak, and he gently picked up the slug on the ground. It floated towards the Black Sea again, as if even the rolling waves in the Black Sea were making way for it.
When the figure disappears on the island.
Things are functioning normally again on the deserted island.
As if nothing happened.
Only the chocolate frog, which had become a puddle of mud, became the only witness to this short and strange encounter.
(End of this chapter)