Chapter 123: "Dumbledore's Plans"

While Harry was having serious conversations with the Centaur tribe, a different kind of activity was unfolding in the Hogwarts headmaster's office.

Seated behind his grand desk, Dumbledore was immersed in deep thought. He had cleverly set in motion a series of events aimed at confirming his suspicions about Voldemort's continued existence.

He had always known that Voldemort, or Tom as he knew him, had somehow survived, and now he needed to reveal this truth not just to himself, but also to calm the restless suspicions of his followers.

To achieve this, Dumbledore had taken advantage of Professor Quirrel's known vulnerabilities and ambitions.

He had subtly manipulated Quirrel, guiding the insecure man on a dangerous journey that Dumbledore hoped would lead him to Voldemort.

Utilizing Snape's dark mark, Dumbledore had been able to make an educated guess about where Voldemort might be hiding. He then strategically leaked potential locations to Quirrel, wrapped in layers of rumors and half-truths.

Dumbledore wasn't completely certain that Quirrel would manage to find Voldemort, but he felt it was a risk worth taking. In his heart, Dumbledore sensed that it was time for Voldemort to resurface.

When Dumbledore received confirmation that Quirrel had indeed encountered Voldemort, his reaction was a mix of relief and satisfaction. He had cleverly placed tracking spells on Quirrel, which allowed him to gather all the necessary information remotely.

Dumbledore learned that Voldemort was now residing within Quirrel, effectively possessing him. Although he was aware of the grim fate that awaited Quirrel, Dumbledore accepted that some sacrifices were necessary for the greater good.

He felt a profound sadness for the young professor's doomed fate, but he was resolute in his belief that such sacrifices were essential to overcome great evil.

Recognizing the imminent threat, Dumbledore reached out to his longtime friend, Nicholas Flamel. He explained the dire situation and the risk Voldemort posed to the Philosopher's Stone. Dumbledore assured Flamel that he would take every precaution to protect the stone. Moved by years of trust and respect, Flamel agreed to lend the stone to Dumbledore.

However, Dumbledore's intentions extended beyond merely safeguarding the stone. He planned to use the Philosopher's Stone as a lure to draw Voldemort back to Britain.

With this strategy in mind, he placed the stone in a specific vault at Gringotts and then deliberately leaked information about its location, ensuring that the news would eventually reach Voldemort.

Originally, Dumbledore had a plan to capture Voldemort during an attempt to steal the Philosopher's Stone from the Gringotts vault. He knew it would be a temporary capture but hoped it would be enough to show everyone that Voldemort was indeed still alive.

Dumbledore didn't attempt to destroy Voldemort, as he believed that effort would be futile. According to prophecy, only Charles could truly defeat him.

As the plan unfolded, Dumbledore realized an adjustment was necessary. When he first encountered Quirrel that year, he saw that Voldemort was exceedingly weak, so much so that he couldn't use much of his powerful dark magic. This unexpected turn made Dumbledore rethink his strategy.

Seeing how feeble Voldemort had become, Dumbledore recognized a chance for Charles, his young protégé, to face a real challenge. Although Charles had been trained by both his parents and Dumbledore, he still lacked a serious understanding of the threats they faced. He was somewhat naive and hadn't fully committed to his training sessions, still behaving like a typical young boy.

Dumbledore therefore decided to shift his plan to include a direct confrontation between Charles and Voldemort. This encounter would take place in a controlled setting within Hogwarts, where he could keep a close eye on things and step in if things got out of hand.

If Charles managed to defeat Voldemort during their encounter, possibly by some lucky chance with the "power the Dark Lord knows not" mentioned in the prophecy, it would be the perfect result for everyone involved. If things didn't go as planned, Dumbledore was ready to intervene and rescue Charles.

This setup wasn't just about the confrontation; it was also a test to uncover more about the mysterious "power" mentioned in the prophecy.

Additionally, Dumbledore needed to make sure Voldemort was aware that the stone was hidden within Hogwarts. This part of the plan was straightforward to implement.

Dumbledore's updated strategy consisted of several carefully planned actions. He intended to subtly inform Charles about the significance of the Philosopher's Stone and invoke Charles's innate Gryffindor courage to protect the stone and the school from Voldemort. This challenge would not only test Charles's mettle but also encourage his personal growth.

To safeguard the stone and set the stage for the final showdown between Charles and Voldemort, Dumbledore had equipped the third-floor corridor with various obstacles.

While these obstacles were designed to be challenging, they were designed keeping Charles in mind. Obstacles Charles could cross with some help from friends. Those obstacles would never stop someone like Voldemort.

The ultimate safeguard of the stone was the Mirror of Erised, which Dumbledore was confident Voldemort could not manipulate to obtain the stone.

Everything had gone according to plan so far. Voldemort was now inside Hogwarts, and all Dumbledore needed to do was delay him until the right moment for Charles to step in.

As Dumbledore thought through the details of his plan, an alert caught his attention. He glanced at his magical instruments, which showed him that Charles and Ron were on their way to his office.

Dumbledore prepared himself to greet the duo, intrigued by what could have brought them to visit him so soon.

Considering it was only the first day of the new school term, it seemed the young boy was already finding himself in some kind of trouble.

This reminded Dumbledore of Charles's father, James, and his group called the marauders, who were known for their mischievous exploits during their own school days.

Despite the dark times that loomed outside the school walls during those years, their group managed to bring some light-heartedness and joy to Hogwarts.