Chapter 297: Sword
Dumbledore was silent for a moment, then nodded. "A sound insight. I am inclined to agree with your explanation."
Dudley continued, "Then what we need now is to figure out which of the four Hogwarts founders' relics are unaccounted for."
"Ravenclaw's diadem has already been found. That leaves Slytherin, Gryffindor, and Hufflepuff."
"Starting with the founder we know best, Professor Dumbledore, is there any relic of Gryffindor's that fits the bill?"
At Dudley's words, Dumbledore's expression shifted slightly. He glanced toward a corner of his office.
Following his gaze, Dudley found that Dumbledore was looking at the Sorting Hat.
"Er... while the Sorting Hat is indeed a relic of Gryffindor, there is no way Voldemort would ever think to make it into a Horcrux," Dudley said.
If the Sorting Hat had gone missing, it might have been possible for Voldemort to try making it a Horcrux. But the hat sat here in perfect condition, and at the start of every term, it still performed the Sorting as usual. Clearly, it was not a Horcrux.
"I am not looking at the Sorting Hat itself, but at what is inside it," Dumbledore said.
"Inside the Sorting Hat?" Dudley frowned.
Did the Sorting Hat have an independent space inside, like the Mirror of Erised?
"Yes. The Sorting Hat is not merely Godric Gryffindor's hat. He also placed his most important relic inside it."
Dumbledore stood, walked to the shelf, and picked up the Sorting Hat.
"Oh, Dumbledore—oh, and Dudley—good evening," the Sorting Hat said, coming to life.
"Hello," Dudley nodded.
"Dudley, put your hand inside the hat," Dumbledore instructed.
"All right."
Although he already guessed what this was about, Dudley still reached out and slipped his hand into the hat.
"Hmm... that feels odd..." the Sorting Hat muttered, twisting its brim.
"Oh. Gently, gently, my friend..."
Dudley did not touch anything at first, so he applied a bit more force. He had not expected the hat to yelp.
"Er, what am I supposed to be feeling for?" Dudley asked, puzzled, looking at Dumbledore.
"If you possess sufficient courage, you can draw out Godric Gryffindor's relic," Dumbledore said without spelling it out directly.
Dudley frowned. He was just about to use a Beyonder ability to take a proper look when his fingers suddenly brushed something hard, long, and cold.
Shing.
Dudley drew it out in one motion.
It was a silver-bright sword, its edge looking keen, with a large ruby set into the hilt.
"Godric Gryffindor," Dudley read the inscription along the blade and understood that this was the legendary relic of Gryffindor.
"This is Godric Gryffindor's most important relic, the Sword of Gryffindor," Dumbledore said. "Only those who harbor true courage can draw it from the Sorting Hat. As you can see, it has been kept safely here at Hogwarts and was never touched by Voldemort."
"Then we can rule this one out," Dudley said, looking at the longsword in his hand.
He could feel it was a formidable blade, far from a mere weapon. Intricate magical tracery ran along it, not something an ordinary craftsman could forge.
"The sword is goblin-made and possesses properties only goblin-forged swords have," Dumbledore explained. "Once, Voldemort tried to return to Hogwarts to apply for the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, but I refused him. I suspect it was then that he hid Ravenclaw's diadem in the Room of Requirement. At the same time, his purpose in coming to Hogwarts was very likely this sword."
"Thankfully, you did not accept him. Otherwise, the whole of Hogwarts might already have become a Death Eater stronghold," Dudley said.
"Unfortunately, I did not stop him earlier," Dumbledore said with a helpless shake of the head.
"That is not your fault," Dudley said.
Dumbledore shook his head again and chose not to continue that line of thought.
"Leave Ravenclaw's diadem with me for now. I want to see if I can uncover a pattern in how Voldemort made his Horcruxes," Dumbledore said.
"No problem," Dudley nodded.
He already had the diary. Entrusting this Horcrux to Dumbledore was not an issue.
"In addition, I will pursue this line of inquiry. Hufflepuff and Slytherin both have very important relics out in the world. I believe they will certainly have been Voldemort's targets," Dumbledore said.
Dudley nodded, chatted a little longer, then took his leave and returned to Gryffindor Tower.
"Dudley, you are back."
Harry, Hermione, and Ron had not yet gone to bed. They were waiting for Dudley in a corner of the common room.
"How is Dumbledore? Is his arm all right?" Hermione asked.
"Professor Dumbledore's arm has been treated. There should not be any major issues," Dudley said.
"Good. It does feel safer when Dumbledore is in the school," Hermione said.
"Not necessarily. I feel pretty safe when Dudley's in the school, too," Ron said with a grin, then remembered to ask Harry, "Right, Harry?"
"Mm," Harry nodded.
Hermione rolled her eyes at the two of them, helpless.
"It is certainly safer with Dumbledore here. He can absorb a lot of the pressure," Dudley said with a small smile.
Thinking back on the semester so far, if Dumbledore had been at school, the pressure on Dudley would definitely have been less, and they might have found the Chamber even sooner.
"However, Professor Dumbledore seems to have some trouble at the moment," Dudley said, and told them about Lucius pushing the Board of Governors to dismiss Dumbledore.
"What, Lucius wants to sack Dumbledore?" Ron said in disbelief.
"Without Dumbledore, Hogwarts would be in real danger. I truly do not understand what these governors think they are doing," Hermione said angrily.
Lucius aside, the fact that the others followed his lead made it feel like the board had no mind of its own.
"Do not worry. As long as I am here, Dumbledore will not be sacked," Dudley said with an easy smile. "In fact, I may even have the board dismiss Lucius."
Dumbledore had already permitted Dudley to attend the board's deliberations. When the time came, Dudley had more than a few ways to deal with Lucius.