0111 The Talks

Dumbledore gazed deeply at the Mirror of Erised, his expression turning complex.

His eyes sometimes showed a trace of tenderness and nostalgia, sometimes revealed pain and conflict, and sometimes held regret and helplessness.

Sherlock, standing beside him, saw this scene and immediately connected it to Dumbledore's attitude toward the prophecy.

He suddenly said: "I can see that you have quite a complicated relationship with someone from your past."

Dumbledore: "..."

After a moment of confusion, he carefully examined Sherlock, as if trying to confirm whether the other had actually used Legilimency on him.

Even as this thought occurred to him, he found it somewhat absurd.

But Sherlock was simply too perceptive!

He took a deep breath, avoided Sherlock's remark, and turned the conversation to Harry:

"Sherlock, I once told you that Harry is the Boy Who Lived—"

"And personally marked by Voldemort, right?"

Sherlock stared at Dumbledore, speaking word by word: "I don't understand why you have such a pathologically obsessive attachment to this prophecy.

Everyone in Hogwarts, and the entire magical world, believes you care for every student in the school, even including the foolish Quirrell.

But in fact, you have a very cold side in your heart. To achieve your goals, you can sacrifice many things.

If necessary, you could even sacrifice yourself."

At this point, Sherlock suddenly smiled. "Voldemort is called the Dark Lord, but I think compared to you, this White Lord, he falls far short."

Hearing this, Dumbledore, who had been looking stunned, also smiled:

"I must admit that despite repeatedly raising my expectations of you, it's still far from enough—now I'm somewhat worried you might go astray."

Sherlock's smile faded:

"So, you've already experienced something similar?"

Dumbledore's smile immediately stiffened.

Dumbledore could certainly be considered battle-tested and widely experienced.

Often people felt he could see through their hearts.

In reality, that was just the wisdom gained from experiencing too much over the years.

But seeing through people without using Legilimency, purely through observation—that was something he had never encountered before.

He couldn't help but have the illusion that when facing Sherlock, he had no secrets at all.

The longer he spent with him, the more information he revealed.

Dumbledore could imagine that if Sherlock were an adult, someone like him would definitely not be welcomed by others.

Fortunately, Sherlock was currently just a 12-year-old boy, so his peers' rejection of him wouldn't be that severe yet.

"It was Voldemort."

Dumbledore sighed and told Sherlock the truth.

Mainly because he felt that continuing like this, he really couldn't keep it hidden.

"I deeply regret not seeing through his true nature, which led to a great disaster—

However, we can discuss this matter later. Let's go to the office first. I expect Minerva and Severus will arrive soon."

Just as Dumbledore had said, Sherlock and he had barely arrived at the headmaster's office when McGonagall and Snape hurried over.

Professor McGonagall immediately drew her wand upon entering the office and tapped it several times on the desk, her gaze sweeping around the office walls:

"I'd appreciate it if you could leave temporarily. We have some things to discuss."

Some portraits left knowingly, while others muttered under their breath and moved sluggishly.

Like former headmaster Phineas Nigellus Black.

"Always like this—always like this. Are we really that much of an eyesore?"

"Hmm?"

Professor McGonagall gave him a look, and the headmaster immediately quickened his pace and disappeared.

Soon, only empty frames remained on the walls.

"Albus, now we can have a proper talk."

Professor McGonagall sat down first. She used Transfiguration to create four cups, her eyes fixed intently on Dumbledore:

"I need an explanation—why did you let You-Know-Who into the school."

Faced with Professor McGonagall's series of actions that could be called usurping the host's role, Dumbledore not only didn't object but actually showed an approving look.

However, upon hearing McGonagall's words, He calmly corrected her:

"Minerva, someone as understanding as you should be able to call him by his real name, shouldn't you?

What You-Know-Who or mysterious person—it's all nonsense. It's been twenty-two years, and I've been trying to convince everyone to call him by his name: Voldemort."

Professor McGonagall shuddered, and Snape beside her also raised an eyebrow.

Sherlock remained unmoved, appearing somewhat different from the others.

As the only student among the four present, he was already the most out of place.

Dumbledore waved his wand at this moment, filling his cup with lemonade, seemingly not noticing this scene.

"If we keep calling him You-Know-Who, everything will be in chaos. I see no reason to fear calling Voldemort by his name."

"I know you're not afraid. Everyone knows you're different."

Professor McGonagall said, half annoyed and half admiringly: "You-Know-Who—oh, very well, Voldemort—the only person he ever feared was you."

"You flatter me," Dumbledore said calmly. "Voldemort has powers I will never possess."

"That's because you're too—oh—too noble to use them."

"You seem to have said similar things before? I mean—the last time I feel embarrassed like this was the last time."

"Professor McGonagall, I think meaningless flattery is unnecessary."

Snape suddenly spoke, saying coldly:

"The problem now is that our headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, knowingly allowed Quirrell into the school despite knowing he was the Dark Lord's servant."

Toward Professor McGonagall, Snape was relatively polite, privately using her name to address her.

Sherlock took all of this in.

Obviously, although both McGonagall and Snape were dissatisfied with Dumbledore's decision to let Harry face Voldemort directly, after their brief separation, their attitudes had already shown subtle differences.

Snape remained coldly confrontational, showing no mercy whatsoever.

Though McGonagall had come in aggressively, compared to her earlier appearance as a protective lioness in the underground chamber, she had already changed significantly.

Additionally, this was the first time Sherlock had heard Snape's term for Voldemort: Dark Lord.

This was a different nickname from "You-Know-Who."

It implied respect.

'Was it simply awe toward the strong?

Or were there other reasons?

Even so, it was interesting!'

It seemed Snape had even more secrets than he originally anticipated.

The next moment, he heard McGonagall say: "Albus, I trust you, I always have, so please tell me your reasons!"

This statement was an obvious taking of sides, and her gaze also seemed to glance at Snape.

This time, Snape didn't speak but turned his head away.

Coincidentally, he met Sherlock's mocking gaze.

Sherlock: ←_←

Snape: (－_－)

Fortunately, Dumbledore finally spoke at this moment, interrupting the awkwardness:

"When Voldemort was at Hogwarts, he was an excellent student. He advanced to seventh year with top marks in every subject—

At that time, he appeared polite and quiet, with an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Almost everyone had an excellent impression of him."

"Did that include you, sir?"

Sherlock suddenly interjected.

McGonagall and Snape didn't reproach Sherlock for interrupting Dumbledore but also looked toward him.

Dumbledore understood all three of their thoughts and said with a bitter smile:

"I do bear great responsibility for this matter—before Voldemort entered Hogwarts, I was the one who found him in the orphanage when he was only 11 years old and told him he could attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

Sherlock showed a look of understanding. His deduction had been correct: Voldemort was indeed a psychopath who had lacked family affection since childhood.

"So not only this time, but you were also the one who brought him into Hogwarts back then?"

'A repeat performance, it seemed.'

Dumbledore maintained his bitter smile: "Yes, though he refused my accompaniment and chose to go to Diagon Alley alone, and was sorted into Slytherin during the Sorting Ceremony.

His performance at school was exactly as I had said—almost impeccable.

After graduating, he applied to become a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher—"

Hearing this, Snape's eyelid twitched noticeably.

"However, the headmaster at the time, Armando Dippet, politely declined, saying he was too young and lacked sufficient experience."

"From what I know, Headmaster Dippet actually thought very highly of the Dark Lord," Snape said coldly. "He shouldn't have refused."

Sherlock immediately said: "So this was actually the result of your influence, Professor Dumbledore?"

Dumbledore nodded. "You're right, Sherlock.

In fact, Armando suggested he return in two years, but he didn't appear again until ten years later. Ten years later, when I had become headmaster, I refused him once more.

Since then, the Defense Against the Dark Arts position has been cursed—no professor has ever held the position for more than one year.

Speaking of which—it looks like we'll need to recruit a new professor again next year."

Dumbledore's voice became somewhat melancholy.

"This doesn't seem to have much to do with your allowing Quirrell into the school?"

Snape said coldly.

Dumbledore slowly began:

"First, even after Quirrell entered Hogwarts, I wasn't certain about the relationship between Voldemort and Quirrell.

Allowing Quirrell into Hogwarts actually made it possible to observe his every move and better understand Voldemort's plans and actions.

Second, after the incident in the Forbidden Forest, although our Mr. Sherlock made the correct deduction, there was still no substantial evidence.

So, I decided to create the illusion of temporarily leaving, testing Harry while also exposing Voldemort and Quirrell.

Third, I always believed that even if Quirrell was truly influenced or controlled by Voldemort, he could still be saved."

At this point, he looked deeply at Snape.

Being looked at by Dumbledore with such a loving gaze, Snape felt uncomfortable all over.

He certainly understood the subtext.

No one understood the concept of turning back from the wrong path better than he did.

However, wasn't Dumbledore underestimating him by comparing him to Quirrell?

I, Severus, am a good man—how could I be mentioned in the same breath as such a person?

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