On the fourth floor of the Castle, Howl quickly found Dumbledore standing in the right corridor, just waiting quietly by the window.
"Why come to the fourth floor? I don't want to die for no reason," Howl said with a smile.
Dumbledore turned around, "I want to ask for your help."
"Speak," Howl nodded. He knew the value of the knowledge in Hogwarts' Restricted Section, which indeed contained many good things. As long as Dumbledore didn't make excessive demands, he had no reason to refuse.
"Is it related to Quirrell and today's Troll?" Howl asked.
"Exactly," Dumbledore nodded, turning and walking deeper into the corridor.
Dumbledore pondered for a moment, then said, "Lord Voldemort, no, Riddle isn't dead yet."
His eyes flickered, "My friend mentioned Riddle, right?"
"Yes," Howl nodded, walking further inside with Dumbledore.
It seemed Grindelwald's letter was indeed sent to Dumbledore.
One good piece of news was that Dumbledore did read his letters.
The bad news was that Dumbledore did not intend to reply.
These thoughts quickly ran through Howl's mind, and then he slowly focused his attention on Dumbledore's last sentence.
"So he's not dead? Is Quirrell a follower of Lord Voldemort?"
Dumbledore showed a look of unsurprised realization, as if he had expected Howl not to be too astonished by this.
"I always believed he wasn't dead. At his level, there are many ways to avoid the Killing Curse. But it wasn't until this year that I confirmed his survival."
"Is it related to Quirrell?"
"Yes and no. At least the former Quirrell had no connection to Lord Voldemort. But now, it's highly probable he has become a Death Eater," Dumbledore said. By now, they had reached the end of the fourth-floor corridor and stopped in front of a large door.
"At least I wouldn't allow a Death Eater to teach in the school, so it's safe to say Quirrell's change is related to his experiences in Albania last year. Perhaps Lord Voldemort was hiding there."
Howl looked at the door. He could smell the scent of a beast from the cracks in the wooden door, and even faintly hear snoring from inside.
"It seems a Troll is nothing. Who would have thought there's something scarier than a Troll in here?" Howl sighed.
"You deliberately said those words at the start-of-term feast. Aren't you really afraid that some children might become curious and seek it out, causing unnecessary trouble?
For example, our Weasley Brothers. I imagine they must have visited this place one night."
"Perhaps... they couldn't even open the door," Dumbledore said, then slowly pushed the door open. The sound of chains clanking immediately rang out, and a three-headed dog stood up, watching them warily.
"This is Fluffy, one of Hagrid's friends. I asked him to help me guard the Philosopher's Stone," Dumbledore introduced, then added, "I heard you are quite accomplished in music."
"I just listen," Howl said awkwardly, looking at him. "So, some music?"
"Couldn't be better," Dumbledore nodded.
Howl raised his hand, and a small wand appeared, waving in the air like a conductor.
Clear piano music appeared out of nowhere, slowly drifting.
However, the music was not so beautiful; on the contrary, it was quite eerie, even making one feel inexplicably uncomfortable.
But Fluffy clearly didn't care much. His eyes began to droop. Slowly, the threatening growl from his nose disappeared, and finally, he swayed unsteadily a few times, then plopped onto the floor, falling into a deep sleep.
Dumbledore shivered a little. This song was really not friendly; it made one feel very uncomfortable.
"Music, ah, always has a unique magic. What is this piece called?"
"Halloween Theme, the soundtrack to a horror movie. I think it fits Halloween perfectly, don't you?" Howl smiled, stopped waving his wand, and then asked,
"So you only largely suspect Quirrell? Haven't you ever used Legilimency on him?"
"Of course, but it was blocked," Dumbledore admitted frankly this time, no longer being evasive. "You know, not many people can block my Legilimency, and Quirrell certainly isn't among them."
Dumbledore led Howl over the trapdoor and jumped down. Several Devil's Snare quickly climbed up, but as soon as they touched him, Howl cut them off one after another.
"Pomona's work?"
Dumbledore nodded.
Howl followed, looking puzzled, "I don't believe she didn't have better options. Biting Cabbages are better than this, and if not, two immature Mandrakes would be even more troublesome."
Dumbledore merely smiled and did not answer directly, instead leading Howl through one room after another until they crossed the flames and entered an empty room at the very end.
"Although Riddle is not dead, I can confirm that his condition is definitely not good. So, to lure him out, I made a bold decision."
As he spoke, a walnut-sized golden stone appeared in his hand.
"Is this the Philosopher's Stone?" Howl asked, puzzled.
Dumbledore nodded, "Yes, it's the item from Vault 713 that I had Hagrid retrieve. I believe it holds immense attraction for Lord Voldemort."
"That's true," Howl agreed, nodding, then changed his tone, his expression displeased: "So, you're using these childish toys to hinder Riddle?! A Devil's Snare, a bunch of winged keys, even equipped with a flying broom. And a game of Wizard's Chess, a Troll, a logic puzzle...
Dumbledore, are you joking with me?
Don't you think this is more like an obstacle course game?"
Saying that, Howl looked at Dumbledore, "An obstacle course game set up for whom? Harry?"
Dumbledore hesitated, then finally nodded.
He brought Howl here because he wanted to reveal everything to express his sincerity.
Otherwise, by the time everything was over, the remaining trust between him and Howl might vanish, and he might even push this suddenly appearing powerful Wizard to the opposing side.
"Why?" Howl suddenly asked. "Is he that important? Do you really consider him the savior who will kill Lord Voldemort?"
"Because of the prophecy," Dumbledore said. "Someone prophesied that the one to kill Lord Voldemort would be a child born at the end of July, which is Harry."
"Prophecy? You're resorting to that too?!" Howl looked at him in surprise. "If that's the case, I might have to change my opinion of you."
"You don't understand," Dumbledore shook his head seriously, uncharacteristically refuting Howl. "Howl, I acknowledge your power, but you haven't noticed the despair of this world."
"Despair..." Howl was stunned.
This was not the first time he had heard this word. Grindelwald had also mentioned it. He no longer made prophecies because the more he prophesied the future, the more he felt a deeper despair.
"The despair... of the world?!" Howl looked at Dumbledore, wanting to extract more information from his eyes.
"Yes, the despair of the world." A kind of fearless acceptance, born from understanding, flashed in his ancient eyes.
"Believe me, no one can ignore prophecy. Perhaps you think it's foolish. But think, why did Gellert and Riddle believe in it so much?"
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