Chapter 87 The Hopeless Saviour

In the Forbidden Forest, huge trees covered the sky.

A milky-white ball of light floated in the gloomy woods, which emitted a dazzling light that illuminated the surrounding ground.

The black dirt was illuminated by the ball of light, and a row of golden footprints emerged.

Dumbledore stepped forward to inspect them slightly.

"...It is indeed Quirinus Quirrell!"

Dumbledore held his wand and pointed it around.

A row of footprints floated across the ground in turn, starting with the initial footprints.

The ball of light floated ahead, and Dumbledore followed, walking slowly forward along the footprints.

After about ten minutes of walking, Dumbledore walked out of the Forbidden Forest.

"To the castle?" Dumbledore looked serious.

The footprints started from the place where Down was attacked and spread over towards the castle.

From these clues alone, there was no doubt that Quirrell had taken the opportunity to sneak back to the castle.

But Dumbledore didn't think so.

Just as Snape knew Voldemort well, Dumbledore knew Voldemort equally well. Dumbledore had been studying Voldemort since his initial rise to power.

His personality, his habits, his magic, and the secret about him being undying.

It could even be said that Dumbledore knew Voldemort better than Voldemort himself.

If Voldemort had led this operation, then there was no way Voldemort would sneak back into the castle at this time.

Because doing so would be tantamount to a sheep entering a tiger's mouth.

Even if Voldemort had regained some of his power, he would only be able to stay in Quirrell's body. Until the critical moment, Voldemort would never waste his power.

Meanwhile, at this moment, the professors in the castle were more vigilant than ever.

Voldemort didn't stand a chance.

"So...what are you planning to do, Tom?"

Dumbledore's eyes flickered slightly under his lenses.

How will Tom Riddle, the best student at Hogwarts in a hundred years, deal with him, the Headmaster, this time?

Although he knew that it was all a trick, Dumbledore continued to walk forward along the footprints.

The castle was getting closer and closer.

Under the illumination of the milky white light mass, the golden footprints spread all the way and went through the gate of the castle.

"Looks like you're about to lose your patience!"

Dumbledore lost his smile and shook his head, he had some idea.

Many people thought that Voldemort was synonymous with cruelty, coldness, as well as killing.

But few people knew that Voldemort was not only handsome and gentle during his student days, but he was also good at reading people's hearts and recruiting followers.

It was during his student days that he formed the original team of Death Eaters.

If you compare Voldemort during his student days with him in the future, no one would think they were the same person.

What kind of dark magic can change a person so radically?

This time observing Voldemort up close, Dumbledore finally had some clues.

It was true that dark magic could affect a person's personality and habits, but some things were not affected by dark magic.

Once upon a time, Tom Riddle was so patient that his disguise even fooled all the professors at Hogwarts - except Dumbledore.

Voldemort, on the other hand, was extremely impatient, and even the slightest little thing was enough to rile him up.

Dumbledore didn't think that dark magic could affect a person to that extent.

Unless...Voldemort had used dark magic to transform his soul.

And right now, he needed one more piece of decisive evidence!   

Dumbledore waved his wand and the milky white mass of light went out of its own accord and the golden footprints on the ground disappeared.

Glancing back in the direction of the Forbidden Forest, Dumbledore walked quickly into the castle.

***

Great Hall.

When Dumbledore appeared, all the young wizards fell silent, and the original buzzing seemed to have been snuffed out in an instant.

Dumbledore walked briskly up to the raised platform and turned to face the crowd of young wizards.

"Very unfortunately, our Professor Tony Down has had a bit of trouble in the Forbidden Forest while searching for materials for his classes..."

Dumbledore quickly set the tone for the evening.

Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts has been defeated by a Dark creature!

Wow...

The great hall was once again abuzz with chatter, the vast majority of the young wizards believed Dumbledore's bullshit, except a few others.

The magical world had been at peace for ten years, even those adult wizards who had experienced the war had forgotten the pain of the war, not to mention these young wizards who had not experienced the war.

They hadn't seen the darkness of the magical world, and couldn't imagine that Voldemort had been hiding in the shadows, and could make a comeback at any time.

They didn't even think dark wizards were that scary.

The professor encountered danger in the Forbidden Forest...

It was an explanation they could accept.

"Quiet-"

After letting the young wizards discuss freely for a moment, Dumbledore stopped the clamour of the crowd.

"Now, the Prefects will lead the students of each house back to their dormitories, we may have to go to bed early tonight, so I wish you all a good night's sleep." Dumbledore finished and winked at the crowd.

"Albus..." Professor McGonagall looked a little anxious.

Down had been tortured to the point of insanity by the Cruciatus Curse, and it was clear that some dark wizard had tried to get to Hogwarts through the Forbidden Forest.

While Professor McGonagall didn't think anyone could have infiltrated the castle, she also didn't think it was a good idea to send the students back to their dormitories to sleep.

By leaving the students in the Great Hall, the professors could still protect them. However, once they were allowed to return to their dormitories, it would be difficult for the professors to protect the students in time.

"Don't worry, Minerva."

Dumbledore said in a calm tone, "At least tonight, we'll get a good night's sleep."

Snape spoke in a mean tone, "I don't think Down will be able to get a good night's sleep tonight, maybe...he'll feel better dead now."

Dumbledore fell silent at this, it was indeed an oversight on his part.

It was true that Professor Down had gone to the Forbidden Forest to gather materials for his classes, and the encounter with Quirrell may have been an accident. But what happened afterwards suggested that Voldemort had temporarily changed his plans.

Originally, Dumbledore could have waited patiently for a while, guiding Harry from some small things up, so that Harry could face Voldemort head-on.

However, Harry's last trip to the Forbidden Forest had slapped Dumbledore in the face.

This was the second time!

Harry wandered into the third-floor corridor by mistake on his night tour of the castle, only to be caught red-handed by Filch because he couldn't cast the Unlocking Charm.

Harry explored the forbidden forest at night, but because he did not recognize the magic herbs, he stepped on poisonous mushrooms and was stunned by the poisonous fumes that were spewed out.

How hopeless can one be?

Dumbledore realized that if Harry Potter, the saviour, did not have brilliant and capable people around him to assist him, the only way for him to defeat Voldemort was to deliver him to Voldemort.

Because on Harry's own, he might die halfway through the journey due to various accidents before he even meets Voldemort.

"I think we should go to the school's hospital wing and check on Down."

Dumbledore spoke slowly, "Minerva, how is Down now?"

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