The card draw starts in Azkaban

Hogwarts, a night of horror.

At dawn, the order on campus finally returned to a certain normality.

Snape did not speak out about what he saw. Even if he saw the information inside the Death Eater's mind, he was deeply shocked.

In the memory of the batter named Turner, he saw Peter Pettigrew who was supposed to be dead.

Those Death Eater organizations were re-established, but they did not win over Snape.

In their eyes, Snape was a traitor and Dumbledore's lackey. People like him were not worthy of trust.

Even the brainless Bella thinks so.

Not to mention the other Death Eaters.

Snape said nothing about it.

Because he knew that these Death Eaters were on guard, and he was a traitor to begin with.

What he cared about was that Peter Pettigrew was not dead.

Doesn't this mean that one of the reasons why the Ministry of Magic arrested Sirius Black was not valid?

Snape felt very uncomfortable, and what was even more strange to him was that Peter Pettigrew, a coward, not only survived, but also had the courage to do such a thing in Hogwarts.

This is not his character.

If Sirius or James Potter were Death Eaters, it wouldn't be unusual for them to do such things at Hogwarts.

But Peter Pettigrew?

He shouldn't have the guts.

Unless, unless the Dark Lord is really resurrected.

Snape was startled when he thought of this possibility.

Yes, yes, this is the most likely scenario. Snape stood in the hunting ground, letting the cold wind blow on him, and his brain was running rapidly.

He remembered clearly that the Dark Lord had a way of punishing his subordinates. When his Death Eaters did something stupid, the Dark Lord asked them to do some impossible tasks. This task itself was punishment.

If the Death Eater can complete this task, his punishment will be canceled and he will be rewarded by the Dark Lord.

If he fails to complete it, his status among the Death Eaters will be completely marginalized.

This impossible task is like setting off fireworks at Hogwarts.

When Snape thought of this, he felt that his mind was a little confused. He narrowed his eyes and was silent for a long time.

At this point, the matter was no longer something he could handle.

He needs to find Dumbledore.

…

Devon, village of Badley Barberton.

Dumbledore apparated here and looked at the buildings here with great interest. There were Muggle buildings and wizard's residences. The wizard's residence was enchanted to ensure that those who should not see it would

Turn a blind eye to it.

It's just that this building now has too many enchantments attached to it that shouldn't be attached. It looks like it's not just trying to make Muggles invisible, but more like it's guarding against someone.

Dumbledore knocked politely, and a face appeared on the door. When he saw Dumbledore, he had no intention of opening the door.

He asked a very tricky question.

"Albus Dumbledore? What's your favorite jam?"

This person asked with a serious face.

Albus Dumbledore looked at that face like a fool.

"Raspberry jam, Professor Horns, with all due respect, if someone were to pretend to be me, do you think this simple question would stump them?

I feel like the Death Eater pretending to be me will understand myself better than I know myself."

Dumbledore knew what Horns was afraid of.

He was afraid that someone would look like an adult and sneak up on him.

The door is open.

A bald, oily-skinned man with a white beard and purple pajamas greeted Dumbledore.

"Don't underestimate this pre-measure. It's better to know something than to open the door without knowing anything."

He muttered and hugged Dumbledore.

"Oh, you're fat."

Dumbledore said.

Horns ignored Dumbledore. He took another cup, poured mead into it, and handed it to Dumbledore.

"That's enough, Horns, you know I don't drink this stuff."

Dumbledore said, "This thing tastes like sweet and sour vinegar wine, and it also tastes like diabetic urine. I remember what I told you."

Horns chuckled.

He was very satisfied with what Dumbledore said.

"Okay, I'm sure you are Dumbledore," the bald old professor said, "but before you talk to me, I need to reiterate my position.

I, Horns Slughorn, will never be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts.

Okay, now that I have reiterated my position, Dumbledore, what do you want from me?"

After saying this, he poured a cocktail for Dumbledore and handed it to him.

"Try my new craft. It contains fire dragon blood and some forgetwort grass."

he said.

It seems that after retiring, this professor organically combined bartending and potion research, which can be regarded as developing his hobbies without forgetting his major.

Dumbledore took the cocktail and put it aside. He crossed his hands and said, "Don't worry, Horns, I'm not here to ask you to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts.

We already have an excellent teacher, and I came to you for something else."

Hearing what Dumbledore said, Horns relaxed a little. He collapsed on the sofa, looking very relaxed.

Then hearing Dumbledore's question, he played.

"I want to know something about Tom."

Dumbledore said.

Horns opened his eyes wide and looked at Dumbledore in surprise.

"I don't know anything. No, Albus, why do you think I know anything about Tom?"

He said stiffly.

Dumbledore didn't take it seriously. He looked at his old friend with a smile, and sweat began to appear on his head.

"Dumbledore, you shouldn't have come to me. You are forcing me into a desperate situation."

Horns stuttered again.

"Okay, stop pretending, we have been old friends for so many years."

Dumbledore exposed his old friend's disguise and said, "I can still tell if you are really scared.

You are a little nervous, but you are not afraid, Horns. Are you confident that you can escape from Tom? That’s what you did more than ten years ago, and even Tom didn’t catch you.

The traces were escaped by you."

Horns smiled dryly.

"He is dead. He will not come to me again. The little troubles he has now are just some sediment."

Horns said.

Then looking at Dumbledore's serious face, he added guiltily: "Really?"

Dumbledore shook his head repeatedly.

"No, Horns, don't use this set of words to deceive others, let alone use lies to deceive yourself.

You and I both understand that it is difficult for a person like Tom to truly die. This is why I came to you. Tell me, Horns, what did Tom ask you back then?

I suspect he is not really dead."

Dumbledore asked.

"I have no idea."

Horns answered straightforwardly, "If you don't believe it, you can use Legilimency to observe my brain. You can see if there is any memory about this part of my brain.

I really forgot about it."

He opened his arms and looked at Dumbledore candidly, with a "Look, I told you to look" look, which made Dumbledore shrug his shoulders. Dumbledore seemed to have no intention of drawing out his wand.

"Okay, Horns, let's not go round in circles.

You give me your hidden memories, and I will make you a promise.

If Tom really comes back, I will give you all the help I can. You can come to Hogwarts to take refuge, or you can choose to leave the UK and take refuge in any other country with my help. I will do what I say.

"

Dumbledore gave Horns an oath of protection.

Horns suddenly retracted his arms.

"Tell me to think about it."

Horns' expression immediately changed.

One good thing about Dumbledore is that the promises he made did not need to be reinforced by magic at all. What he said was more reliable than an unbreakable oath. This was the charm of his personality.

Even Death Eaters were willing to believe Dumbledore's oath. After he promised to protect him, Horns really remembered something.

"Oh, I remembered something trivial.

I do have a little memory, which I kept in a memory bottle."

As if he suddenly remembered this matter, he stood up, tapped his wand a few times in front of himself, and then reached out and pulled out a bottle from the air.

"Very clever magic."

Dumbledore's eyes lit up. He was very interested in this magic. Horns threw the memory bottle to Dumbledore. Dumbledore carefully put it away, stuffed it into his pocket, and prepared to leave.

He has other things to deal with.

Can't stay here too long.

But before leaving, Horns asked behind him: "Dumbledore, the Dark Lord's mark that appeared recently is him coming back, isn't it?"

Dumbledore turned around and looked at him over his glasses.

"I'm afraid it's possible, Horns. Remember my promise, my promise is valid at all times."

He said, then waved his hands to leave.

"Wait, Dumbledore."

Horns, who was wearing purple pajamas, thought about it carefully, took a sip of the unknown drink in his hand, stopped Dumbledore and said: "There is one more thing, well, this time it really happened to me. I suddenly remembered it.

matter.

I just don't know if this news will be helpful to you.

It's also about that person.

During the time when he graduated and left Hogwarts to go to Borgin Bock's Shop, he and I also communicated through owls.

At that time, he mentioned something."

Horns mentioned a name, and Dumbledore nodded when he heard the name.

"Thank you, Horns, your news is very important to me."

After he finished speaking, he apparated and disappeared.

Horns looked at Dumbledore leaving with a sad face.

He knew he had to move again.

Wand in hand, he sighed.

Tom Riddle, what a good boy he was when he was a child, why did he grow up like this?

…

London.

Dumbledore appeared outside London, and the anti-Apparition spell set up by the Ministry of Magic in London was like a joke to him.

Fortunately, Dumbledore was not going to slap the Ministry of Magic in the face, so he chose another method to enter London.

In the bustling street, no one saw a white-bearded wizard beside him. Dumbledore looked curiously at the various Muggle technologies, subways, high-rise buildings, cars, and all kinds of gadgets. He came to the dilapidated telephone booth at the Ministry of Magic's Guest House in London.

In this dilapidated phone booth, he told his purpose.

"Guests, items, Albus Dumbledore, wants to meet Bob Ogden."

The female voice from the Guest Department rang out and sent Dumbledore to the main hall of the Ministry of Magic. Although the Ministry of Magic was already in a mess, I have to say that the building of the Ministry of Magic still looks beautiful.

Spotless dark wooden floors, peacock blue ceilings, double-sided fireplaces with people constantly leaving and coming back, and a fountain not far away.

It's also pretty impressive.

The famous "Magic is Power" sculpture and the "Stone Statue of the Magic Brothers" were still spraying water. When Dumbledore walked over, he also threw a few silver Sickles into the statue of the Magic Brothers and donated them to St. Mungo's. Magic hospital.

When the surrounding wizards saw Dumbledore, they all began to whisper. There had been some discordant voices in the Ministry of Magic recently.

What these voices mean is that Fudge is not suitable to be the Minister of Magic - this is an obvious thing. What they mean is that Dumbledore is the perfect Minister of Magic.

Maybe that Death Eater was right.

Dumbledore is the savior of the wizarding world.

Fudge was very angry about this.

Why did Dumbledore come to the Ministry of Magic at this time?

Are you really here to force Gong Fuji?

If so, that would be great!

Everyone was curious, but Dumbledore went straight to the second floor of the Ministry of Magic, which is the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

Fudge's office is on the first floor.

Dumbledore had no intention of meeting Fudge, and not everyone wanted to be a boy's mother.

Especially when Fudge is unable to help himself.

Dumbledore met many old friends on the road. He said hello to these old friends and then came to Ms. Burnsch's door.

Without knocking, he heard someone roaring inside.

The voice is still very familiar.

Like Mad-Eye Moody.

"Who disapproved my retirement order? Fudge, or you?"

Mad-Eye Moody asked loudly. Dumbledore raised his eyebrows and opened the door.

All three people looked at him. After realizing that the person coming was Dumbledore, Ms. Burnsch and Scrimgeour both stood up.

"Ah, it's you. Why did you come to the Ministry of Magic?"

Mad-Eye Moody said, visible to the naked eye, his attitude towards Dumbledore was much better, but before that, he and Dumbledore still exchanged gestures secretly, Dumbledore understood very well the shameful purpose neurotic.

"What's wrong?"

Dumbledore curiously asked the three people who were at war with each other. Mad-Eye Moody said very unkindly: "Nothing happened, Dumbledore."

He shook his cane hard and said, "It's just a small matter, the Ministry of Magic won't allow me to retire!"