20demayo Is Chapter 28 the end? Far from it.
Is Chapter 28 the end? Far from it.
Finally, this tiring day is over.
The first-year wizards underwent a unique and unforgettable Sorting Ceremony in their hospital room. Afterward, the school distributed a batch of easy-to-eat food to them.
Most of the new and returning students who were deemed unharmed were allowed to return to their dormitories for the night, and most of the healers at St. Mungo's also evacuated, with only a few remaining as assistants to Madam Pomfrey.
The faculty and staff were equally exhausted, and after a brief exchange of pleasantries with Ares, they all went back to rest.
Although the night was deep and the full moon high in the sky heralded the arrival of a new day, Dumbledore still did not fall asleep.
He took off his purple robe with gold trim and put on a snow-white nightgown and cap.
Unlike his usual late nights, Dumbledore would gather by candlelight, either examining various documents and books or writing replies to letters from students' parents, academic organizations, and official or unofficial wizarding alliances.
He didn't even discuss anything with the row of past principals behind his desk; instead, a trace of worry etched on his brow, he paced back and forth across his desk.
"I sent him away."
With his black wizard robe billowing behind him like a cloak, Severus walked into the headmaster's office and lazily spoke to Dumbledore.
"Thank you, Severus—"
Dumbledore stopped pacing, concealing his worry.
He looked at Severus calmly, full of energy.
Did our minister give any final instructions?
He seemed to be in high spirits—
Snape said in a tone that suggested he was watching a spectacle,
"He asked me to tell you that if time permits, he will personally come to preside over an awarding ceremony when Ares Delfino receives the Order of Merlin, First Class... He may bring a few reporters with him."
"yes-"
Dumbledore showed no surprise, simply nodding calmly.
"We all know that Connelly is very enthusiastic about this kind of thing."
From Dumbledore's tone, Snape knew he wanted to end the conversation there. However, he didn't leave; he merely tilted his head, scrutinizing Dumbledore, still maintaining his languid demeanor.
"How do you explain that?"
"What do you mean?"
"Keep an eye on Delfino—"
Severus's eyes flashed with a hint of amusement.
"Do you expect me to continue, Headmaster Dumbledore, after he risked his life to save a busload of students?"
A chill suddenly permeated the principal's office, which was bathed in the warm summer air. It wasn't cold, but it made people uneasy.
"Yes."
Dumbledore's blue eyes, behind his half-moon lenses, were fixed on Severus. His voice was not loud, but very clear.
"Severus, I hope you will continue."
"Oh God, oh God—"
The answer to this question was by no means surprising. Yet Severus still wore a slightly exaggerated smile, the corners of his mouth twitching.
"I'm confused, Dumbledore. In your eyes, are there any good people left in this world?"
"Oh, my view on 'good' and 'bad' has always been that the line between them is very blurry."
Describing someone as either a "good person" or a "bad person" is always biased, so we need to be constantly vigilant to avoid falling into the "evil" side.
Dumbledore understood Snape's sarcasm, but he remained unmoved, his tone still calm.
"Of course, if you have a more insightful argument, I'd love to hear it, Severus."
哼—
Under Dumbledore's penetrating gaze, Snape's expression turned sinister. He understood that these words were also a warning to him.
"I see."
Snape turned and left, his voice becoming muffled.
"I'll keep an eye on him for you."
"Be careful, Severus... If Ares Delfino truly has some ulterior motive in accepting my employment to enter the school, he will be a wizard a hundred times more dangerous than Quirrell."
Dumbledore's voice came from behind, and Snape paused for a moment beside the golden branch where the phoenix perched.
"Also, don't forget to find out the ingredients and effects of that potion."
Dumbledore said.
...............
Most of the young wizards have returned to their dormitories, including Hermione; only Ares remains in this ward.
He gazed out the window, his eyes following the crescent moon hanging high in the sky, until it was obscured by the Ravenclaw towers and disappeared from his view.
In the stillness of midnight, the forbidden forest swayed, and the sound of the waves crashing in the forest was just as I remembered.
Ares looked away and pointed to the dragon-skin travel trunk on the bedside table.
In the dim light, he extended his middle and index fingers together, and the air at his fingertips swirled, giving rise to a 'glass dagger'.
hum!
Nothing in this world, no matter how rigid, can withstand the cutting of space. But when Ares' glass dagger touched the dragon-skin briefcase, a mysterious magical energy emanated from the mottled dragon skin, turning Ares' glass dagger into a wisp of breeze.
Ares withdrew his finger, his expression showing no sign of disappointment.
He had already tried it on the train; almost no spell could work on the suitcase...
But subtly, the box did not obstruct Ares's penetrating vision; he could see the gold inside—seven hundred pounds.
Knowing he couldn't open the box, he deliberately stayed behind to provoke him, hoping to get him to agree to help.
A suffocating silence fell over Ares as he mentally rejected the idea.
If that's the case, then why make this box unacceptable?
This will only attract Dumbledore's attention...
Dumbledore would definitely notice that the chest was filled with a large number of gold bars, and he would certainly guess that the chest did not belong to him.
Ares' breathing became slightly heavy, and his eyelids trembled slightly in the darkness.
Thinking about it this way, it's as if that person deliberately used this box of gold to deepen Dumbledore's suspicion of him.
La Ri Gaspar.
This wizard could never be a follower of Voldemort.
Moreover, he seems to know himself very well.
He stopped Quirrell from robbing Gringotts—but that was unlikely to be an accidental encounter.
So, does that mean he already knew Quirrell was going to rob Gringotts?
How did he know?
Leaving a map in the office is foolish enough; Quirrell and Voldemort wouldn't be so stupid as to boast about their plan everywhere.
He said he was ordered by a big shot to sneak into Hogwarts to get something.
who is it?
What do I want? — It seems like only the Philosopher's Stone remains.
So, does this mean he's planning to replace Quirrell?
He said: "You see things that are happening in the world, or things that are about to happen, more clearly than anyone else?"
Many chaotic thoughts tangled and pulled at Ares's mind, yet he was unable to regain his composure.
Ares was absolutely certain that Gaspar would come knocking again.
"Ho—"
Amidst the rising and falling breaths, the exhausted Ares lay down and closed his eyes.
"Could we have run into a charlatan?"
Ares murmured and fell asleep.