In the dimly lit bathroom, Dumbledore crouched on the cold stone floor, his wand tracing elegant runes across the surface of the box.
He was creating a timing device that would wake Umbridge at precisely the right moment and dispel the enchantments binding her. Casting such spells on-site wouldn't be difficult, but this kind of delayed activation truly tested a wizard's magical mastery.
However, as the world's greatest white wizard, Dumbledore's skill needed no questioning.
Watching Dumbledore's fluid movements, Evans pressed his back against the nearby wall and closed his eyes with a slight grimace.
When it came to magical arrays, he knew absolutely nothing—observing would only give him a headache with no benefit whatsoever.
Better to use this free time to check on the tracking marks he'd placed several days ago.
He recalled that Dumbledore had just mentioned Lockhart, and he'd also noticed that man had been behaving very strangely lately; he was worth keeping an eye on.
But just as he carefully noted the mark's location, Evans's eyes snapped open with sudden intensity.
Regarding Tracking Magic, his research wasn't particularly extensive. Precisely because of this, the mark he'd left on Lockhart's body was the most familiar one he'd used countless times.
However, this version had the friend-or-foe identification function removed and lacked his single-line contact magic—it was merely a simple tracking spell.
But no matter how basic, its fundamental functions remained intact.
For instance, when observing this mark, he could sense the presence of other marks in close proximity.
And right now, in the second-floor corridor, beside Lockhart's mark, Alice's mark was faintly trailing nearby. Not far away, Harry's mark and badge were also flickering in his magical awareness, pinpointing Harry's exact position.
Concentrating harder, Evans's frown deepened.
Curfew had already begun—why would Harry be there?
Various troubling scenarios flashed through his mind. Evans glanced at Dumbledore beside him, still crouched and meticulously drawing the magical array, when a flash of realisation suddenly struck him.
Everything that had transpired these two years cascaded through his thoughts. He first considered Dumbledore's inexplicably protective attitude toward Harry.
In Harry's two years at school, every resource he'd received had been exceptional. Dumbledore's cultivation of Harry had long exceeded treating a promising student with special care.
Although, as the Boy Who Lived who had faced Voldemort directly, he would certainly receive some preferential treatment, but could this treatment really justify Dumbledore nurturing Harry like his own protégé?
He seemed desperately eager to accelerate Harry's growth, even showing concerning signs of forced development.
Thinking of Dumbledore's trial during summer vacation, Evans couldn't suppress his growing unease.
Although that Philosopher's Stone trial had nominally been designed to protect the Stone, obstacles of that difficulty couldn't possibly stop many dark wizards truly intent on seizing it.
Besides Dumbledore's suspicious behaviour, Harry himself presented numerous anomalies.
First, the fact that Harry had killed Voldemort was itself one of the most glaring inconsistencies.
An infant barely over a year old somehow destroying the era's most powerful dark wizard was extraordinarily improbable.
Beyond this, Harry's Parseltongue ability was deeply strange. Obviously, the ability of a Parselmouth should be innate. While controlling serpent hordes might require practice, speaking Parseltongue should present no difficulty whatsoever.
But Harry had practised extensively before progressing from intermittent success to his current fluency. This pattern was deeply abnormal.
As if this wasn't his natural ability—he simply possessed the aptitude to learn it.
Not to mention the current situation, where Harry's tracking mark had materialised beside Lockhart. Although this could theoretically be explained by Harry investigating Lockhart independently, when too many coincidences accumulated, they ceased being coincidental.
Dumbledore's excessive protection, the impossible achievement, peculiar Parseltongue manifestation, appearing in that bathroom without apparent reason, plus that lightning-bolt scar known to everyone yet mysteriously persistent...
Looking at Dumbledore beside him still meticulously drawing the magical array, Evans spoke in a deliberately low voice, "Are you hiding something from me?"
Is there something fundamentally wrong with Harry?
"..."
Hearing Evans's words, Dumbledore's hand movements faltered almost imperceptibly. This minuscule hesitation didn't escape Evans's sharp observation.
Turning his head to meet Evans's penetrating gaze, after an extended silence, Dumbledore released a weary sigh and asked softly, "If I don't tell you, will you find a way to discover it yourself?"
"Absolutely." Evans nodded, his tone carrying absolute conviction. "That's one of my most promising students. If there's something wrong with him, I'll definitely find a way to investigate thoroughly."
"If you're unwilling to tell me, I certainly can't overpower you in combat, but I can employ other methods."
"Hagrid, Snape, Professor McGonagall—if they don't know, I'll comb through Ministry archives or visit where Harry's incident occurred and question the magical creatures in that area."
"What if they don't know either?" Dumbledore's lips curved into a slight smile. "Even I required considerable time to confirm that particular matter."
"Then I'll systematically replicate every method you used." Evans's expression hardened with determination. "The abnormalities surrounding Harry actually have discernible patterns. Your actions likewise can't be completely without evidence."
"I can already roughly deduce it should relate to his defeating Voldemort. As long as you give me sufficient time, I'll eventually uncover the truth myself."
"But during my investigation, how much of your carefully laid plans I'll inadvertently damage isn't something I can control."
Actually, he'd already recalled certain film fragments from his previous life. Combining that knowledge, given a few days of focused analysis, he should be able to piece together the truth.
But if he could persuade Dumbledore to speak directly, he could conserve considerable mental energy and learn far more detailed information.
With this thought, Evans decided to apply additional pressure.
"Or alternatively, after I grow powerful enough to defeat you, I'll capture you and interrogate you systematically." Evans's expression gradually transformed into something decidedly sinister.
"You know, in the Muggle world, there are quite a few remarkably effective interrogation techniques. For instance, I've heard of a punishment called 'death by a thousand cuts'—it requires using over a thousand precise incisions to slowly remove flesh from your body while ensuring you don't expire from shock—"
Watching Evans's sinister expression with absolutely no trace of theatrical exaggeration, Dumbledore involuntarily shuddered.
How had he gotten the distinct impression this young man genuinely could follow through with such methods?
And Evans clearly hadn't finished, continuing to expound upon various interrogation methodologies one after another with disturbing enthusiasm.
Shaking his head in resignation, Dumbledore helplessly raised one hand, interrupting Evans's upcoming torture-extraction tutorial.
"Enough."
Sighing with profound weariness, Dumbledore looked at Evans's expectant expression and suddenly released a soft, rueful laugh.
"Using any means necessary to achieve your objectives—the current you truly does embody a genuine Slytherin now."
Having said this, he paused, as if uncertain where to begin. After prolonged silence, he finally spoke slowly, his voice heavy with old grief.
"All this probably needs to start from twelve years ago—"