"Well..."
Andy suddenly fell silent for a moment.
When Harry realized the point that 'it was because Dumbledore had brought the Philosopher's Stone to Hogwarts that Malfoy had been attacked', it might indeed cause a bit of a trivial crisis of trust between the two.
But all that presupposed was...that Harry could realize it.
Thinking about Harry and Ron's intelligence, Andy didn't hold out much hope for that.
Reckless people couldn't understand words, in a roundabout way.
But if the words were spoken bluntly, the intent would be too obvious.
'But... actually, this is good!' Andy thought darkly in his heart.
Andy did not want to go against Dumbledore, and it was also true that Dumbledore and Harry would be fighting against Voldemort.
Andy couldn't really create a crisis of trust between the two.
This was just a warning!
Andy didn't like being set up.
Although this was all just Andy's guess, Andy dared to swear that he had been set up by Dumbledore.
Andy had carefully recalled, Dumbledore's means of tricking himself into the game, and the means of tricking Harry into the game were so similar!
Both were so silky and subtle.
First, he utilized Harry's sense of justice and courage.
Then he used his own caution (fear of death?) And resourcefulness (scheming?).
Snape had warned Andy to beware of Quirrell earlier, and Andy had thought he had a human touch to him.
But when Harry and Ron came to Andy together to ask for news of Nicolas Flamel, Andy realized something was wrong.
Now that he thought about it, he was still too naive.
Imagine if Andy was just a normal young wizard, wouldn't Andy have been scared and terrified when he realized that someone was trying to retaliate against him?
When Harry and Ron brought information about the Philosopher's Stone, Andy would surely try to help the two to protect himself.
This is clearly a pitfall for honest people!
Dumbledore didn't even leave any evidence, it all seemed so natural.
Harry could even be said to have entered the game voluntarily!
If Andy was really bent on self-preservation, then Andy would have 'voluntarily' entered the game to help Harry fight against Quirrell and Voldemort.
People have grown wise in their old age!
Andy sighed and wondered if Dumbledore had ever pitted anyone else before.
"Ron, Harry, I'm going to the library to read, are you guys coming?" Andy invited.
"Please spare us!"
Ron surrendered immediately, "I get a headache when I see those books, I don't know how you managed to read through them."
Harry gave an apologetic look as well, "I have Quidditch practice later."
Andy mentally made a 'V' sign.
The best way to separate yourself from someone without hurting their feelings is to invite them to do something they don't like doing.
"I'll go first then." Andy waved his hand.
***
Owls didn't fly very fast, but it didn't really take much time to fly from the Owlery at Hogwarts to the Headmaster's office.
Inside the Headmaster's office, Snape was reporting on his work.
"I've checked Malfoy, there's no problem."
Both Snape and Dumbledore had suspected that Quirrell would return to Hogwarts through Malfoy.
On Malfoy's first day back at school, Snape covertly checked Malfoy's luggage and even called Malfoy into his office for a talk.
Only, unfortunately, he found nothing.
"It seems that after what happened last time, Voldemort has become much more cautious as well," Dumbledore spoke in a calm tone, seemingly not taking this matter to heart.
This tone again!
Snape considered himself to be fairly calm, but calmness depended on the situation.
Every time he talked to Dumbledore, Snape had to take a few sips of Elixir to Induce Euphoria to calm down.
"The Dark Lord has disappeared from the castle!"
Snape felt the need to remind Dumbledore just how bad the situation they were in was, "We've completely lost track of the Dark Lord, and he could attack the young wizards at the school at any time."
"Severus, to deal with Voldemort, we have to figure out his current state of mind."
Dumbledore's tone remained calm as he looked at Snape and said, "I should have told you, he was very good at figuring out people's minds when he was in school, he had a good relationship with many of his professors, and solicited a lot of students, and those people were the antecedents of the Death Eaters."
Snape frowned slightly at that.
Dumbledore continued, "But when Voldemort went deeper and deeper into the path of dark magic and gained some power, he became arrogant."
"After ten years of meticulous living, coupled with his last defeat, Voldemort must have become more cautious, and at the same time...he would never accept a second defeat."
As he said this, Dumbledore's eyes became much deeper under his lenses.
"You mean..." Snape grimaced.
"Yes!"
Dumbledore said, "Once Voldemort fails again, he'll go mad and get back at us. But until then, he'll just hide himself more carefully."
Snape glared hard at Dumbledore, "You should have killed Quirrell last time."
"We both know that killing Quirrell wouldn't solve the problem."
Dumbledore's eyes met Snape's calmly, "What Voldemort needs now is to regain his power. Hagrid told me that there has been some unrest in the Forbidden Forest in recent times."
Snape looked at Dumbledore with an odd look in his eyes, "And then you let that stupid half-blood giant investigate the Forbidden Forest?"
If you wanted to kill Hagrid, you could have just said so, why bother using others' knives to kill him?
Dumbledore didn't say anything, and his heart at the moment wasn't as calm as he appeared to be.
Being in Dumbledore's position, many of his decisions would cause pain in his heart, but he had to choose to do so.
This is actually the same reasoning, as mercy is not in the hands of soldiers.
Dumbledore of course could have directly attacked, but as long as Voldemort did not fight him to the death, Dumbledore could do nothing against Voldemort.
So he could only choose to utilize that prophecy.
Furthermore, Dumbledore also believed that prophecy since ten years ago; Voldemort's killing curse had bounced off Harry, and Harry had become a piece of Voldemort's trouble.
Thump!
A few soft thumps suddenly sounded in the silent office.
Dumbledore and Snape turned their heads to see three owls flapping their wings outside the window, each with a letter in its beak.
Dumbledore waved his hand gently and the window opened automatically.
The three owls flew around the office before landing on the desk.
Placing the letter in their beaks in front of Dumbledore, they then stared at Dumbledore with unblinking eyes.
Feed! Human, it's time to feed.
Don't think you can ignore the rules just because you're the Headmaster of Hogwarts, believe it or not, we'll swarm you and peck you to death.
Dumbledore took out some cookies and fed them to the owls, then picked up the envelope and glanced at the signature.
Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Andy Collins.
Dumbledore suddenly had a bad feeling.
----
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