I was searching for a reason why Voldy would be at Hogwarts, especially since it's the place where one of the people he fears the most resides.
As I pondered, I made my way to the charming classroom.
I'm not sure why, but my eyes lingered on the forbidden corridor, and suddenly, it felt like all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place.
The trio had mentioned that this place was connected to Nicolas Flamel, and looking back, Voldy drinks unicorn blood to survive.
This means he's in a desperate and near-death state, too preoccupied to do much else. But if he had eternal life, he could slowly rebuild a physical body, no matter how long it takes, without having to be on the brink of death each time he tried something.
And if he's putting himself in such a dangerous situation, it's because Hogwarts holds something he desperately wants.
And if this forbidden corridor contained the greatest creation of Nicolas Flamel, the Philosopher's Stone?
With that, it would only be a matter of time before Voldy's return.
Now, the question is whether he's receiving help from the outside.
Is he acting alone, but taking too many risks?
Or has he used the Imperius Curse on a wizard to help him?
Or is someone helping him of their own free will?
It's likely that the broom incident in Harry's first Quidditch match was the work of his servant, or even Voldy himself.
After class, I went to Dumbledore's office to share my theory.
Now that I know the trick to get past the gargoyle, I no longer have to worry about not knowing the password.
Once I arrived, I explained everything I knew to Dumbledore while stroking Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix.
"In reality, I'm trying to kill Voldemort, to kill him once and for all."
"But could it work? I mean, he survived the Killing Curse, and unlike Harry, he didn't have the protection of someone helping him survive. There's a good chance he might survive again."
"Indeed, but it's also a chance to weaken him even further, and perhaps we can capture him until we find a way to kill him."
It was a plan I hadn't considered, but I remained sceptical.
Additionally, I don't understand why Voldemort is so obsessed with the Philosopher's Stone. He won't die of old age, but if he's hit by a Killing Curse or tortured, the stone won't stop that suffering. This stone could end up being one of the worst curses for him.
I know what it's like to live long—thanks to my parallel thoughts, it feels like I've already lived more than 1,000 years, and it doesn't make me want to live any longer.
"In any case, you need not worry, Miss Longbottom. The stone is well protected, and even if he manages to get past all the traps, he still won't be able to take it. I won't reveal the final protection, but I can guarantee you that Voldemort will not get his hands on it."
"Okay, I understand. I also want to warn you that I think someone in the school is helping him."
"I already have a suspicion, but I'm not certain yet. I need to gather more evidence before you can prove that person's guilt."
After this discussion, I left the office, promising Fawkes that I would come back to visit him with some food.
Of course, I didn't explain my absence to Marie because I know she would want to catch Voldy before Dumbledore.
Sigh Sometimes, I wonder if she shouldn't have been placed in Gryffindor instead of Ravenclaw.