Do I have to apologize because my daughter insisted?

Dumbledore took the sword from Blake's hand, his expression thoughtful.

"Then watch carefully," he said.

Blake nodded, watching as Dumbledore examined the weapon closely.

"I only know that after Gryffindor passed away, the goblins wanted this sword back," Dumbledore began. "Then… the sword disappeared into Hogwarts. Many thought the goblins reclaimed it, but I always believed it remained hidden here. Somewhere no one could find it."

His fingers traced the ornate blade, a sudden realization dawning.

"The Sorting Hat," he murmured. "Wait… It seems… The sword wasn't hidden in the hat itself." His blue eyes lit up with understanding. "It's concealed in a secret place, but with special teleportation magic tied to the hat. The hat is merely the medium to summon it. When the sword is summoned, the teleportation magic dissipates."

Blake listened intently, and Dumbledore's gaze fell on him.

"Only someone with the true qualities of a Gryffindor can call the sword and retrieve it from the hat," he concluded. "It's remarkable you sensed this."

Blake gave a small smile. "It was intuition. I've always had this strange sense about things, even as a child."

Dumbledore nodded, seemingly unfazed. Given Blake's many magical quirks, one more was hardly surprising.

"I noticed something peculiar about this sword," Blake added. "It has an unusual metal property."

Dumbledore perked up, knowing Blake studied alchemy under Nicolas Flamel. "Oh? What property?"

Blake retrieved a vial of dark green liquid from his pocket. "It absorbs substances that can strengthen it. Here, watch."

Opening the vial, he allowed a single drop to hover over the blade. As it touched the sword, the liquid vanished.

"What was that?" Dumbledore asked.

"Basilisk venom," Blake replied.

Dumbledore's eyes widened. "Did you quench the sword in poison?"

Blake shook his head. "No. The sword absorbs only what enhances it. Basilisk venom has destructive properties that strengthen the blade. For instance, if it couldn't destroy Horcruxes before, it certainly can now."

Dumbledore appeared impressed. He retrieved a crown from his robes and held up the sword.

"Professor," Blake said quickly, "what are you doing?"

"Testing it on this Horcrux," Dumbledore replied matter-of-factly.

Blake balked. "Wait! That's a cultural relic! Don't destroy it!"

Dumbledore hesitated as Blake placed a hand over the crown. "I can extract the remnant soul without damaging it," Blake explained.

Placing his palm on the artifact, Blake used undead magic to summon a misty black mass. Voldemort's fragment was inert, sealed by Blake's earlier spells.

"The sword can't cut a soul directly," Blake noted, handing it back to Dumbledore.

Dumbledore's Elder Wand glowed as he conjured Gubraithian fire. The orange-red flames consumed the dark mist instantly, proving their destructive power even against a soul.

"You've learned this magic already, haven't you?" Dumbledore asked, raising an eyebrow.

Blake smiled but said nothing. After leaving the office, he used a dimensional gate to send Nagini home. Dumbledore, preoccupied with Hagrid's rehabilitation, left Blake to his own devices.

Blake avoided visiting Hermione, Cassandra, or the Burrow—knowing it would spark complications. Instead, he focused on his personal projects. Using the dimensional gate, he entered the Room of Requirement. As always, it adapted to his needs.

Visualizing his goal, he altered the space to include a new door leading to a pristine laboratory. Once inside, Blake arranged materials from his system warehouse, most acquired through treasure chests. Among the items was a blueprint for a biological petri dish—a reward from the system.

Over the next day, Blake meticulously assembled the device. The petri dish, a large oval structure with a glass casing, stood ready. It could replicate life forms, even extinct species, using DNA samples. Blake's immediate goal: a basilisk.

Pouring basilisk blood into the dish, a screen lit up, displaying a black-green serpent's image. He added samples from other creatures, including dragons and hydras, intending to enhance the basilisk's capabilities. This wouldn't be an ordinary serpent but a controllable, powerful beast.

"If I'm doing this, I'll do it properly," Blake mused. "No defective products."

He chuckled at the thought of a Pandora's box scenario. Unlike in movies, he had measures—his Poké Ball—to contain any creation. Even mythical creatures like the Hydra had been subdued by it.

Satisfied, Blake activated the dish. Though the incubation process would take time, the system ensured safety. Any creation would remain dormant without his input.

With the holidays ending, Blake left the Room of Requirement and returned home to maintain appearances. Pretending to depart for school, he boarded the Hogwarts Express. At King's Cross Station, he was intercepted by Mr. Worley.

Blake forced a smile. "Hello, Mr. Worley."

The older man looked stern but suddenly grasped Blake's hand, shaking it vigorously. "Amazing! Your enchanted sunflowers are a marvel!" he exclaimed, his demeanor shifting.

Blake raised an eyebrow, sensing something amiss. Using Legilimency, he caught fragments of Worley's thoughts: Do I have to apologize because my daughter insisted?

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