Archaeologists at Hogwarts

Chapter 333 Invitation

Slughorn just thought he was wrong.

He welcomed the two visitors into the house.

It can be seen that he welcomed the arrival of Toby, a student, but when the person he faced was Dumbledore, his attitude was not so friendly.

"Don't think I don't know."

After Slughorn brought over the cup filled with mead, he placed Dumbledore's cup heavily on the coffee table, making a loud noise.

"I have read the report that was first published in "The Quibbler." Although it seems to be written by Toby himself, your shadow is everywhere - you asked him to do this, why do you have to write it?

Is my proud student involved in this trouble?"

Slughorn was actually speaking for Toby.

Dumbledore glanced sideways, and Toby calmly picked up the cup in front of him and took a sip, then praised: "It tastes good. Is this the bottle I gave you?"

"Yes, it's your gift." Slughorn turned around and said with a smile: "I have been keeping them, and will only take them out to entertain important guests when they come - of course, this does not include you.

, Albus, your glass is just ordinary mead, I can't bear to give you such a good thing to drink."

It seems that Slughorn has a deep misunderstanding of both Dumbledore and Toby, and he has an attitude of launching an attack to accuse them.

"Perhaps there is some misunderstanding between us." Dumbledore put down the cup gently and said: "But it seems like you don't want to support my explanation. So - where is the bathroom?"

Slughorn hummed and pointed in the direction of the corner of the stairs. After Dumbledore stood up and walked away, he gradually relaxed and let out a long sigh of relief.

"I can't understand this old friend more and more."

Slughorn shook his head and said: "How did he think of leaving Hogwarts, and actually planned to run for the next Minister of Magic - is he completely confused?"

"Who knows." Toby said with a natural expression. He didn't seem to know the secret at all, and he didn't regard himself as the culprit at all.

Slughorn sighed, and after a short moment of silence he asked: "What happened to Severus? Why did he resign suddenly?"

This was the result announced by the school to the public. Only a few people knew about Snape's defection to Haierbo.

"And judging from your tone just now, it sounds like he has provoked you. What's going on? I remember that you had a good relationship when you were in school, and you would often attend Slug Club gatherings together - did I

Shouldn’t this question be asked?”

Toby's face gradually turned gloomy, and Slughorn stared at him for a while.

"It seems so." He said regretfully: "What a pity. Do you know where he went? No idea? Well, don't make yourself too uncomfortable, kid. This kind of thing happens from time to time, and there's nothing anyone can do about it.

avoid."

He probably imagined a lot of scenes, all related to the reason why Toby and Snape fell out.

"I can't forgive him."

Toby said abruptly: "He has done something very excessive. It is impossible to forgive him. Sooner or later, I have to find him again and make him suffer all the time."

Slughorn was startled by Toby's gloomy tone. He quickly advised: "Don't be impulsive. It's not worth it. You are now the vice principal of Hogwarts - although I haven't had time to congratulate you yet."

You, but--you really don't have to ruin your great future. Think about it, you are so young now, and you will have many uses in the future."

But Toby didn't feel better because of these words. He even planned to find out Snape at all costs, and at worst, let Al teach the students in the next semester.

Slughorn saw something was wrong with Toby's state, and he couldn't imagine what kind of conflict the two people had.

"As much as I hate to mention it, but—look at me, Toby."

Toby looked around at the layout of the room, including soft chairs, footstools, drinks and books, as well as boxes of chocolates and a pile of bulging cushions, plus a noble piano in the corner.

Slughorn's life wasn't as bad as his tone suggested.

"It's not these." Slughorn waved his hand and said: "It's useless to just look at these. I mean compared to the time when I taught at Hogwarts. Although my retirement life was very good.

, but compared with that time, it is still far behind - can you understand what I mean?"

Toby didn't quite understand.

"I remember that you resigned on your own initiative." He asked curiously: "It's not like you were fired. Is there any hidden secret here?"

Slughorn seemed to panic for a moment, and he quickly said: "No, this has nothing to do with what I want to express. What I want to say is - don't be too hard on yourself, there is no need to

.”

"Perhaps you can think about it carefully. Even if you achieve your goal in the future, what will happen? Then you will be happy?"

Although Slughorn was obviously trying to change the subject, the scene in front of him was too similar to the scene where Slughorn comforted Toby.

[I don’t understand, sir, I’m just a Muggle-born, why was I sorted into Slytherin? 】

[Oh, come on, Toby, blood is not a big deal. I made a lot of Muggle-born friends when I was in school, and they were all as good as you, or even not as good as you.]

It was precisely because of this conversation that Toby realized the important factor of blood - all because he was more Slytherin than Slytherin, so he was selected into this academy.

So, if you think about it from another perspective, what did the real Salazar Slytherin do when he faced this kind of thing?

History and Toby's past experiences have already given the answer.

Due to the law of conservation of magic, the ideals of Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor gradually became inconsistent.

He refused to trust Muggle-born wizards, believing that sooner or later they would squeeze out the living space of pure-blood wizards.

Salazar Slytherin may have foreseen the impending rupture, but before that, he did not really fall out with the other three founders, but first studied with Rowena Ravenclaw

Soul, and built a secret room under the castle to pass on his will.

Moreover, at the request of the little-known fifth founder, the centaur House, Salazar Slytherin promised to allow Muggle-borns to enter his house one day in the future.

But the premise must be that the other party has great ideals, just like himself.

Fortunately, or rather unfortunately, Toby became this candidate. Regardless of whether his ideals can satisfy Slytherin, his recent experience alone is enough to shock many people - he discovered Ander

The devil that Rose became, Merlin who became the God of Death, and Herbo who has lived for thousands of years.

It is estimated that Slytherin's subsequent adventures combined are not as bizarre as Toby's recent experience.

And all this is far from over.

Even if we don't mention the impact of those dead wizards, just referring to the law of conservation of magic, it is already gradually affecting wizards in the entire magical world.

Many of them were even willing to believe Toby in order to help Dumbledore escape the investigation.

But just like Merlin said to Toby before disappearing.

【All this is far from over.】

Halper is still alive, the Ministry of Magic needs to reform in advance to prepare for possible disasters, Harry's broken soul still exists, and Lily, who is not really alive, is also missing.

Plus the traitor Severus Snape.

As far as Toby knew, apart from James, who never really took refuge, Halper's only remaining subordinate seemed to be Snape.

No one knows what he will do in the next period of time or where he is hiding.

Toby specifically searched for the dilapidated house in Spider End Lane, where Snape's family once lived, but it was empty and there was no clue that Snape had ever returned.

Toby is facing the same situation as the original founder, but the difference is that the person who left is Snape, and the person who stays is himself.

It was difficult for him to enter into the identity of Godric Gryffindor, but he knew what the founder did later-continued to teach in the school, and never dismissed Slytherin House.

I didn't use other means just because of the simple contradiction.

Sometimes Toby even thinks that if it were Slytherin who stayed, he would do the same thing. No matter how deep the conflict is, it will not affect the academy established by each other.

However, Toby is not the founder of Hogwarts after all.

He is destined to be even more Slytherin than Slytherin.

At this time, Dumbledore walked into the room again. The atmosphere was still not good, but he said in a cheerful tone: "It seems that you had a great time chatting. Okay, Toby, I think we should go."

"

"Leave?" Slughorn was surprised: "Are you leaving now? Don't you want to ask me any more about inviting me back to serve?"

"Oh, yes, I forgot." Dumbledore seemed to have just come to his senses and asked, "Then are you willing to accept the invitation?"

"I think I should think about it again," Slughorn said, pretending to be reserved.

"Then think about it slowly." Dumbledore decisively turned around and left.

"Hey! Can't I promise?" Slughorn shouted impatiently, acting as if he was worried that the opportunity was about to slip away: "I promised to go back to Hogwarts, and I didn't say I would refuse. You

Why are you leaving in such a hurry?"

"Because we still have many things to be busy with." Dumbledore opened the door and said without looking back. Slughorn, who was left behind, became increasingly dissatisfied.

After leaving the house, Dumbledore and Toby walked silently along the street for a while.

After a long time, Dumbledore said: "I thought you couldn't help but ask me why Horace accepted the invitation so easily."

"Because it's so obvious." Toby said, a little distracted: "The dean doesn't like you, but when you decide to leave Hogwarts, even if we don't come to him, the dean will probably ask for it."

Back to Hogwarts."

"Furthermore, I can also see that the reason why you brought me with you this time is not to ensure that the invitation goes smoothly, but because you intend to ask the dean to help me to calm down and stop me from thinking about those bad problems - like

I was like that when I was in school."

Dumbledore did not shy away from this purpose at all. He said: "From some perspectives, Horace is indeed a very good professor. He is better at solving some of the students' troubles, although many of them are related to

Fame and fortune are related, but it has indeed brought him a lot of benefits. In my opinion, the Slug Club will probably be re-established."

He turned his head as he spoke, looked at Toby with his light blue eyes and asked, "So, I want to know if this will help you?"

Along with Dumbledore's questions, Toby gradually focused his attention and came to the result of his own thinking.

"Yes." He said in a slight voice: "It is indeed helpful. I have figured out that I really shouldn't be so entangled in Snape. He is irrelevant and not the source of the problem."

Dumbledore stopped, and he could tell from Toby's tone that the development of things seemed to be deviating from his original intention a little bit.

"But Mason Gate."

Toby's eyes were shining and he said: "One thing I did was extremely right. Even I admire myself - I named this magic item very correctly. Death showed his true face inside the Mason Gate.

, that is, Merlin. Moreover, I found the Mason Gate from the burial place of Antioch and Cadmus, and none of them were left alive. This may be what Merlin deliberately left for them."

"One more thing, I wonder if you remember - the water of Avalon is the magical liquid I used to cure the Longbottoms. I found it from the city under Loch Ness."

"Now we can probably guess that those lakes were probably used to heal the wizards who turned into devils. But, maybe, it was also left by Merlin for them?"

"At the very beginning, and at the beginning of everything, Merlin, who was probably the founder of the city of Loch Ness, became the first wizard to be sacrificed, and was eventually captured and turned into the unique God of Death - although this was different from ordinary wizards.

The devil he becomes is different, but very reasonable."

"Because according to legend, Merlin is the child of a wizard and a demon. People like him will also be regarded as enemies by pure-blood wizards because his bloodline is not pure enough."

"After he failed, the residents of Loch Ness decided to change their plan. Some people would live there forever, and then send an extra small group of wizards - such as the three brothers of death, so that they could inherit the desire for revenge."

"What a legendary story." Dumbledore had to interrupt: "But what exactly do you want to say?"

"The things Merlin left me." Toby said with quick thinking: "He left the magical lake to Loch Ness City, and also left the Mason Gate to the three brothers of the Peverell family - since I have seen it too

I passed him and saw him when he was awake with my own eyes, so will he also leave something to me?"

"Things related to the God of Death can be completely ignored by anyone's betrayal."

It is indeed more Slytherin than Slytherin.

Rather than dwell on the betrayal that has already occurred, Toby simply plans to prevent the possibility of another betrayal in advance.

Even if it cannot be prevented, the possibility of adverse effects must be completely prevented.

Just when Dumbledore was silently glad that this kind of thing might not be so easy to find, Toby suddenly said excitedly: "I thought of it!"

"The magic ball and the scepter, they were both brought out by me from Mason's Gate, and one has Merlin's brain in it, and the other has been used by him."

"This time, he left not just one creation, but two, and both of them were left to me."

"God of Death. Merlin"

Toby suddenly looked at Dumbledore, ignoring the shocked look in his eyes and said: "The magic ball and the scepter correspond to Merlin's dual identities respectively. He left me not only power, but the curse he gave me is definitely not that simple.

"

"That's a key, a key related to Merlin."

"Perhaps, this is the real way to control the God of Death. What Haierbo wants -"

"It's all already in my hands."

Dumbledore never expected that on the way to inviting Slughorn, he would accidentally find another invitation.

And this invitation only belongs between Toby and Death.