George and Fred looked surprised and felt that their lives were once again full of hope.
However, the two brothers pinch their fingers to count, and then together they look up at Dumbledore ... Can't you add back the remaining ten points for us as well?
Professor McGonagall looked displeased, "Albus, if they don't get a lesson out of this, they might make a worse mistake next time."
George and Fred hurriedly assured, "Professor, we already know we're wrong."
Dumbledore smiled and said slowly, "I think they have already realized their mistakes. Minerva, punishing students, is never the goal. We teach our students to help them grow better."
Snape: yuck!
No wonder, one of you two is the Headmaster and the other is the Deputy Headmistress.
When you're a leader, you have to be shameless ... right?
Besides, McGonagall! If you really don't want Dumbledore to give you Gryffindors extra points, then interrupt him!
He's done adding points, so what are you complaining about?
Dumbledore continued, "George, Fred, you two go back to your dormitories first! We have some things to discuss."
George stammered, "Professor, that ..."
"How's Justin doing?" Fred finished his sentence.
"This is none of your business!"
Professor McGonagall glared and said sternly, "Now, both of you return to your dormitory at once! Otherwise, I'll turn you two into cats, and you will never be changed back."
"Yes!" The twins retreated with a straight defeat.
After the twins left, Professor McGonagall looked at Dumbledore and said in a grave tone, "Albus, since Argus did have a reason to be absent from the Great Hall, did ... the attack happen before the dinner started?"
All of them except Justin Finch-Fletchley and Filch were in the Great Hall after the dinner had started.
And Filch is a Squib, so he's obviously not capable of using such dark magic.
All that was certain, then, was that the attack had occurred before the dinner had begun.
Dumbledore frowned.
This reasoning might not seem faulty on the surface, but he had come out of the Headmaster's office just before the dinner began.
Not that Dumbledore was being arrogant, but he really hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary.
Snape shrank back into the shadows and didn't participate in the discussion.
The dark magic of robbing others of their life force ... was very much like Voldemort's methods.
It's just that ... Snape was secretly analysing in his mind, how on Earth did Voldemort do it?
Wasn't he hiding in the Albanian forest?
Or did Voldemort find another person to do his bidding?
Snape gazed vaguely at Joseph Leddy.
The only outsider in the castle at the moment was this new professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Moreover, he had only just arrived at Hogwarts a few days ago, and there was an attack on the castle.
It was hard not to be suspicious.
Leddy likewise didn't say anything.
For one thing, he was a newcomer, and for another, it was because this matter was so bizarre that he couldn't find any useful clues at all.
"Albus!" Professor McGonagall was a bit anxious.
"Minerva, don't be anxious."
Dumbledore made a reassuring comment, and then said, "Poppy, Pomona, please take the child to the school's Hospital Wing first."
Professor Sprout nodded with red eyes.
Madam Pomfrey said seriously, "Dumbledore, the best way to save this child is to find the spell caster and have him return those life forces that were taken away."
"I understand!" Dumbledore nodded.
Once Professor Sprout and Madame Pomfrey had left with Justin, Dumbledore dismissed the other professors.
After only Dumbledore, Flitwick, Snape, and McGonagall were left in the office, Dumbledore spoke up and asked, "Severus, what do you think?"
Snape shook his head.
He knew what Dumbledore meant, but Snape couldn't trust anyone other than Dumbledore.
Oh, there was also Andy to exception.
That Collins boy was annoying, but he knew too much. Sometimes knowing too much can lead to being trusted in addition to being killed off.
Dumbledore didn't press the issue any further.
Snape shook his head, which meant he knew nothing about it.
In fact, Dumbledore didn't believe that Voldemort could infiltrate Hogwarts again. Last year he was given the chance, but this year there was no longer that chance.
Seventh Floor ...
Dumbledore frowned.
Things had come to this point, and it seemed that no useful clues could be found anymore.
From the evidence on the surface, the attack seemed to have happened before the dinner banquet began.
But with all the people coming and going in the castle at that time, it was hard to determine who had been on the seventh floor. Moreover, it was still Sunday, and all the young wizards did not have classes.
Flitwick suddenly said, "Albus, that dark magic ... is not something that a young wizard can use out of the blue."
Not even Andy!
Because Andy didn't have that high level of attainment in dark magic.
"Absorbing life force ..."
Flitwick continued to analyse, "If it's not a special dark magic, then it means that the other party needs life force."
"Are you saying that the other party will attack again?" Professor McGonagall said with some impatience.
Flitwick nodded, "Yes, I do."
Dumbledore said slowly, "Minerva, let Filius continue."
Flitwick gave a bitter smile, "To be honest, I don't know who the culprit is either. But analysing from the perspective of the magic spell, the other party needs life force ... definitely not to heal."
"Maybe ... I mean, maybe, maybe someone brought dark magic items into Hogwarts."
Dumbledore and Snape looked at each other.
A Horcrux!
This possibility existed.
Dumbledore's eyes lit up as he remembered Voldemort's second visit to seek employment.
Excessively performing dark magic transfiguration had disfigured the handsome young man of that year. It was also at that time that he openly used the title 'Voldemort'.
Dumbledore murmured in his heart, 'Could it be that he had hidden a Horcrux in Hogwarts back then?'
Back then ... Voldemort had the time to commit the crime!
And he also had a motive.
Dumbledore knew Voldemort, he was a man full of rituals and nostalgia.
Hogwarts was clearly a special place for Voldemort.
Moreover, no one would have thought that Voldemort would dare to hide his Horcrux at Hogwarts.
So now the only question is ...
Who found the Horcrux?
Or rather, where did Voldemort hide the Horcrux?
"Looks like we're going to have to search the entire castle tonight."
Dumbledore murmured, "I'll have the ghosts join us to help."
"Minerva, Filius, you go inform the other professors. Severus, you and I will take charge of the search on the seventh floor!"
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