Chapter 322: Discussion in Dumbledore's Office

At dusk, everything on the ground was covered in golden yellow.

The setting sun strove to illuminate the last ray of light on the huge Hogwarts castle.

The same was true in Dumbledore's office, where sunlight shone through the rectangular windows, and delicate silverware sat on a thin table, swirling silently and emitting puffs of smoke. Not far away, the glass bowl with Godric Gryffindor's sword glowed dimly.

Fawkes, the phoenix, stood on a huge shelf and made a strange cry.

Other than that, the office was quiet.

Dumbledore, frowning oddly, sat in the huge armchair, staring inquisitively at what was before him with his pale blue eyes.

On the surrounding walls, successive Hogwarts Headmasters, male and female, were all staring at the dark red plaque in front of Dumbledore.

This plaque was the one Ivan had found in the subway ruins, carved with the horrible pattern of monsters, as well as the human souls that were absorbed by it.

"Do you have any thoughts on this?" Dumbledore asked quietly.

"Horrible monster, embodiment of nightmare, immortal existence, feeding on the souls of humans and other living beings." An old man replied lazily, his voice mocking, "Oh, it's terrible, this monster must only exist in mythology! "

It was Phineas Nigellus Black, Sirius' great-great-grandfather, and the most unpopular headmaster at Hogwarts.

"But it appeared around Hogwarts, Phineas!" A sly witch waved her thick wand and said sternly, "Albus just told us everything, this monster appeared in the Forbidden Forest not far away, and the boy named Ivan Mason found him."

"He's lying. The Gryffindor house guys are not to be trusted, a bunch of snobs who love to be in the limelight." Phineas said scornfully, "If he really knew this monster, how could he get out of there? In my opinion, he's a liar in his own right."

"You are a scoundrel. A few months ago, that boy saved your great-grandson's life and proved the Black's innocence," shouted the portrait of Dexter Fortescue, a fat wizard with a red nose. "How can you insult him so much?"

"Now that you've mentioned my useless grandson, I have to...," said Phineas.

"All right, we should get back on topic!" said Dilys Derwent slowly.

She was an old witch with long silver ringlets and the most prestigious headmistress in Hogwarts history. She had her portrait in many important institutions.

"This nameplate and the monster above are obviously the magical creations of ancient witches." Dilys continued, "They are different from today's wizards. We all know how terrible those madmen were. For taboo magic, they could pay any price. It is not impossible for them to create such an abomination."

"But with the changing times, they have all disappeared. For a thousand years, this world has seen none of them, nor one of their creations." Phineas replied, "Now we are not in the senseless Dark Ages, the ancient decrepitudes of a thousand years ago..."

"Not all of them, not all of them, they have not completely disappeared." "A feeble old wizard said slowly. It was Quentin Trimble, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, the author of the must-read textbook "The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection."

"Those ancient sorcerers have studied death, demons and the magic of life beyond the imagination of ordinary people, and some of them may have escaped the judgment of death." Quentin paused for a moment and continued, "There are many known methods, but there is only one method that was passed down. We have discussed this subject many times before."

"It's all just speculation. Don't think I don't know. You've always been against the outstanding students of Slytherin house." Phineas said discontentedly.

"It's not speculation. Last semester's Diary has proven everything, and Ivan's Locket with a powerful magical reaction should be as well." Dumbledore crossed his fingers and said calmly. "Now the problem is the number of them left. He must have made a lot of them. That is beyond doubt."

There was silence in the office and no one spoke.

"Okay, okay, I don't understand why I brought it up again. Now we're talking about this damn badge." Phineas said rudely.

"Certainly. To escape death, the ancient sorcerers and dark wizards had done a lot of research. No one can guarantee that there are other successful methods besides making Horcruxes." Quentin said slowly, "According to the description, the monster is more of a co-creation of Necromancy and demonic Magic. It basically fits all the characteristics. Maybe it was some dark magician who made an evil transformation of its body..."

"Nonsense, this is ridiculous, I've never heard of such magic." Phineas whispered.

There were murmurs in the Office, and the other directors and directors doubted Quentin's reasoning because it sounded horrible.

"I seem to have seen the pattern on this badge somewhere." Suddenly, a dry voice rang out. The owner of the voice was a sad old man wearing a very old black wizard's robe. "In our time, due to the prolonged war in the Muggle world, dark magic was once very popular, and many magic books had not been destroyed. I must have seen this pattern in some magic book. But it's been a long time, I can't remember..."

"Isn't this talking to say nothing?" said Phineas disdainfully. He turned up the volume and eclipsed the voices of the other people. "Whether this monster really exists or not, whatever it is, I don't think it's necessary to worry, because it's been annihilated by the GREAT SALAZAR SLYTHERIN HIMSELF!"

He was elated and very proud of it.

Hearing him mention Salazar Slytherin, the other headmasters and headmistresses could not refute.

They were all very appreciative of the school's Founding Four.

Dumbledore looked calmly at the nameplate in front of him and no one knew what he was thinking.

At that moment, the office door suddenly opened, and Snape, wearing a black robe and a grim face, entered.

On the walls, the portraits of all the headmasters and headmistresses were restored to their usual positions, and they sat solemnly in their chairs as if they had never moved.