Chapter 64: Dumbledore's Test 

Lucius turned to leave, but Dobby, the house elf behind him, was acting very strangely.

His two giant eyes were looking at Harry, pointing at the diary on Dumbledore's desk, at Malfoy, and then banging his fist on his head.

Harry then understood what Dobby was trying to tell him.

He nodded to Dobby, and Dobby backed into a corner, now twisting his ears in punishment.

"Mr. Malfoy, don't you want to know how Ron got the diary?" asked Harry.

"Hmph!" Lucius looked at Harry in disgust, "My time is too valuable to be interested in how a stupid twelve year old, got hold of a ridiculous diary."

Harry raised his voice, "Ron said he got it in Ginny's Transfigurations book, and I remember at Flourish and Blotts you picked up Ginny's book, and he must have hidden the diary in Ginny's cauldron when he was handing the book to Ginny, am I right?"

When Mr. Weasley heard this, he jumped up and looked at Lucius angrily. He would have pounced on him if Mrs. Weasley hadn't stopped him.

Ivan noticed Lucius clench his hands into fists and then loosen them.

"Where's your evidence?" Lucius said hoarsely.

"Oh, there is no way to provide evidence!" Dumbledore smiled and said, "Riddle has disappeared from this book, but Lucius, I would like to give you some advice. Don't hand over any more of Voldemort's stuff, and if you ever find a way to get it into innocent hands again, at least Arthur will be sure to identify it as coming from you!"

Lucius paused for a moment, his right hand trembled, as if he was about to draw his wand, but he restrained himself.

"I will remember your advice, Dumbledore." He turned to the house elf and said, "Come on, Dobby!"

He opened the door and as Dobby hurried, Lucius kicked Dobby through the door and Dobby's cries of pain were heard fading down the hall.

As Ivan looked at Lucius' back, he felt a little bad for him, for when the dark lord returns in a few years he will have a very hard time.

Harry, however, stared at the paper, frowning for a moment, thoughtfully.

"Professor Dumbledore!" said Harry hurriedly, "May I return this diary to Mr. Malfoy?"

"Of course you can, Harry," said Dumbledore calmly, "But after that, you need to go to the school hospital so that Madam Pomfrey can treat your wounds."

Harry grabbed the paper and ran out of the office. Ivan thought for a moment, then whispered something in Hermione's ear, she nodded and ran after him, Ron, Hagrid and the Weasleys looked worried, so they followed.

In the blink of an eye, only Dumbledore and Ivan were left in the office.

"Sit down, Ivan!", Dumbledore gestured to a chair, "It seems you have something to tell me."

Ivan nodded and sat down as he had caught Dumbledore's attention, it would be better to listen to him than to take the initiative.

"Relax, do you want Cockroach Cuckoos? I hear you like them." Dumbledore took a jar of candy and offered it to Ivan.

"No thanks, Professor!" Ivan shook his head hurriedly, he had only once advertised the sweets in the paper, and somehow word had gotten out that he liked them.

"In fact, I have something I'd like to tell you. First, I must thank you for helping Harry in the Chamber of Secrets." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, "I haven't seen a young wizard as excellent as you in a long time, excluding Riddle, of course. Seeing you reminds me of an old friend."

Ivan was still secretly wary even though Dumbledore told him to relax.

He knew Dumbledore's history and knew who his old friend was. He's probably thinking of the dark lord before Voldemort, so it wasn't a good comment.

"You flatter me, Professor! I only know a little more than others in the same year," Ivan said modestly, "But in Hermione's words, I'm just a bookworm."

However, Dumbledore shook his head and said, "However, you are not just a bookworm, I have read your articles and they are brilliant. I've subscribed to almost every issue of 'Hogwarts Magic.

Ivan shook his head and said, "Professor, if you're talking about the articles in the academic research section, I'm sorry, but I got them from Riddle before I knew he was Voldemort."

"Yes, those studies were really in-depth, and as I said, Riddle was the best student Hogwarts has ever had." Dumbledore looked at Ivan, "You're like him in some ways, but you're different and you have friends."

Ivan sighed in relief when he heard Dumbledore's comment.

He knew it was Dumbledore's approval of him, that his relationship with Harry, his attitude towards power and his Muggle background had finally made him let his guard down.

Otherwise, with Dumbledore paying attention to him, he wouldn't be able to keep a single secret at Hogwarts.

I fear that the slightest hint of danger would be nipped in the bud without hesitation.

After all, Dumbledore would not let a third dark lord rise to power.

But then again, Ivan had no interest in power, immortality or anything like that. Dumbledore cared too much.

As Ivan was preparing to leave to fetch Harry, Dumbledore suddenly asked, "Ivan, do you know what this diary is?"

"That's simple, it's a Horcrux!" said Ivan without thinking.

'Damn it, I had intended to hide it, it's not wise to expose what I know prematurely, even though I intend to fight Voldemort, I don't want to become a disposable pawn,' Ivan thought.

He didn't know why he said it, but Dumbledore's voice seemed to have magic in it. He seemed to be able to make people unconsciously say what they were thinking.

Dumbledore was surprised when he heard Ivan's words. He didn't think the boy had guessed what it was. He was sure he was going to reveal some information, but he didn't think Ivan knew that much.

"Yes, it is a Horcrux, but can you tell me how you know?" said Dumbledore kindly.

Ivan said directly, "Rowena Ravenclaw told me, she said it was an evil spell, capable of splitting a person's soul."

"What?!" At Ivan's mention of Rowena Ravenclaw, Dumbledore froze.

Now that the words had been spoken, there was no turning back, and to avoid unnecessary suspicion, Ivan hurriedly told him what had happened, including the discussions between the four founders and the secret treasures they had left behind.

"The Ravenclaw time-turner is wonderful!" Dumbledore soon regained his composure, "I hope you can find the hidden treasure through the ordeal of the four founders."

Ivan nodded his head, Dumbledore seemed to believe him.

"Now that we're talking about the four founders of Hogwarts." Dumbledore said nonchalantly, "Then you should know that Voldemort is the last heir of Salazar Slytherin, he should be the last to know how to speak Parseltongue, but Harry can speak Parseltongue. If I'm not mistaken, he gave a part of his being to Harry the night he gave him that scar."

Ivan shrugged, he wondered what Dumbledore meant. Of course, he knew what the other was saying and even knew that Harry was a Horcrux.

Dumbledore stared at Ivan and said slowly, "I mean, no matter the circumstances, no matter the incident, you will certainly be on Harry's side, won't you?"

"Yes," Ivan replied hastily, "He is my friend and I will help him in the face of Voldemort and everyone else."