Headmaster's office.
After spending most of the night tossing and turning, it was already past midnight.
However, neither Dumbledore nor Snape felt like sleeping at the moment.
Tonight's events were too strange, and obviously not something that would make one feel at ease if they couldn't figure it out.
"Severus..."
Dumbledore paced two times in his office before turning sharply to look at Snape and asking in a low voice, "When you rescued Peter, you didn't reveal anything, did you?"
Snape didn't bother answering the question.
"Peter is here for Potter! The Dark Lord may have discovered something and wants to confirm it by contacting Potter."
Snape said indifferently, "He doesn't want me to know about that 'something'."
Dumbledore walked to the window, rested his hands on the windowsill, and gazed at the moonlight outside, mumbling, "Yes.. yes... yes."
Dumbledore had also thought about this.
Recalling the events of the past two years, Dumbledore suddenly remembered something.
The Ravenclaw diadem!
This Horcrux had once fallen into Ron's hands, and Peter Pettigrew had previously been Ron's rat.
Harry and Ron were best friends, after all.
If these events are linked...
No matter how much he didn't want to admit it, Dumbledore had to prepare for the worst—in the event of the diadem, Peter Pettigrew may have discovered some secrets.
He reported this secret to Voldemort!
If Voldemort had any secrets he didn't want Snape to know, they must be the secret of Horcrux.
Because Voldemort would never share immortality with anyone.
So Voldemort could only ask Peter Pettigrew to infiltrate Hogwarts and check on Harry.
Bad move!
Dumbledore was in a sombre mood. If Voldemort had discovered Harry's secret, then Harry would really be in danger.
"What are you thinking?" Snape asked in a low voice.
Since it concerned Harry, Snape had to be cautious.
Dumbledore looked back at Snape sharply. "Severus, you must contact Voldemort as soon as possible and ask him about this."
"I know!"
Snape asked impatiently, "Dumbledore, what exactly does the Dark Lord want from Potter?"
Dumbledore looked back out the window and waved his hand tiredly. After a moment of silence, he said, "Perhaps Voldemort will give us an answer."
Snape was obviously not satisfied with this answer.
He thought Dumbledore had guessed Voldemort's purpose but just didn't want to tell him.
However, Snape knew Dumbledore well. If Dumbledore didn't want to say something, no one could make him.
Snape looked at Dumbledore's back and suddenly said indifferently, "You said you would protect the safety of that child."
"Yes!" Dumbledore's tone was calm.
There was silence in the office for a while.
Snape did not ask any more questions and turned to leave quickly.
It didn't matter if Dumbledore didn't want to say; Snape felt that the boy Andy might have already guessed Voldemort's intentions.
And Andy's mouth could never keep a secret.
After Snape left, Dumbledore sat in his chair, exhausted, closing his eyes and pondering.
The diadem...
Dumbledore carefully recalled the circumstances surrounding the Diadem incident.
This Horcrux had originally fallen into the hands of Percy Weasley, and through it, Voldemort's remnant soul had gained contact with the outside world and learnt the reason why the main soul had failed—Harry Potter.
Ron was Percy's younger brother.
Using this connection, Voldemort's remnant soul took control of Ron and used Ron's identity to contact Harry, trying to find out Harry's secrets.
What is so special about this boy?
The more Dumbledore thought about it, the more he realised that there were many implausible aspects to the events of the Diadem.
For example, the remnant soul of Voldemort needed to absorb life force to regain its strength. If it controlled Ron, why didn't it kill Ron's rat?
Voldemort would not keep a rat as a pet.
And... at that time, although Dumbledore had laid a trap, there were so many young wizards at Hogwarts, and if the fragment of Voldemort's soul had been more cautious, it might have had a chance to escape.
However, the Horcrux only made one attempt.
Or perhaps the fragment of Voldemort's soul didn't want to leave Hogwarts so soon.
It had discovered the abnormality of Scabbers.
And it had discovered Harry's speciality.
Was this possible?
Dumbledore pondered in silence...
The remnant soul in the Horcrux wants to be resurrected. This is the view that everyone has of Horcruxes.
But the diadem is different from the diary!
When Voldemort created the diadem, his research on Horcruxes was already very mature; if he had set some restrictions, the fragment of the soul in the diadem might not want to replace the main soul.
In contrast, it might be more reasonable to find out the secrets of Harry, his archenemy, and help the main soul regain its strength.
Dumbledore opened the drawer and took out the three broken Horcruxes: the diary, the diadem, and the golden ring.
Voldemort might be cruel and inhuman, but no one could deny his talent.
The first Horcrux might have been a bit of a slip-up, but the others... Voldemort would never have given those broken pieces of soul so much freedom.
"Tom... what would you do?" Dumbledore muttered.
Tonight... No, it should be last night. Peter Pettigrew clearly had the chance to kill Harry, but he didn't do it.
This shows that Voldemort is still coveting the power in Harry—he wants to know what exactly is the power that can repel the killing curse.
Thinking about this, Dumbledore suddenly had an idea.
Mind and magic can be fused.
The protective charm on Harry incorporates Lily's love for Harry—Lily's love and Harry's magic are fused together and have been incorporated into Harry's blood.
If Voldemort gains this power...
Perhaps... Harry can use this to influence Voldemort's power.
***
The night passed.
Andy was woken by a loud noise.
He stuck his head out of the tent and, suppressing the urge to 'destroy the world' for the time being, looked at Hermione and asked, "What time is it?"
"Half past six!" Hermione smiled at Andy.
Andy: "..."
"Professor McGonagall was just here. She said that the great hall will be cleared out at seven, so you can sleep for another half hour."
Having said that, Hermione suddenly teased, "By the way, George and Fred are betting with someone, and they are guessing who will be the last one to get up."
"Anthony and Michael have both bet on you."
Andy: "..."
"I'm going to kill them!" Andy said expressionlessly.
Hermione tilted her head and looked at Andy. "Are you going to get up?"
Andy thought about it.
After hesitating between 'social death' and 'sleeping for another half hour', he finally struggled to climb out of the tent.
----
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