The days of hanging out at Hogwarts

Even the famous Dumbledore, after all, is not an employee of the Ministry of Magic. He had an unknown connection with Grindelwald decades ago, not to mention that he suddenly went to Nurmengard to release this man a year ago. Prisoner, although the Austrian Ministry of Magic did not express any clear objection, there are rumors that he has a tough attitude.

For the British Ministry of Magic, the most powerful wizard today has always been shrouded in a veil of mystery and weirdness. He has repeatedly resigned from the position of Minister of Magic and has been dormant in the principal's office at Hogwarts for a long time. He has a strong influence. But the power continued to seep out through the narrow window, hovering over the entire magical world.

He was the first to announce Voldemort's return from resurrection, he was the one who defeated Voldemort head-on many times, and he was the one who could protect the safety of students...

In this special period, the majority of wizards are even more willing to believe in a school than a magical government.

There are members of the Order of the Phoenix in the Ministry of Magic, there are members of the Order of the Phoenix in the Wizengamot, and there are members of the Order of the Phoenix in the International Federation of Wizards. Judging from the information currently found, Dumbledore has mastered the biggest secret of Voldemort's resurrection, which means Even the Death Eaters have members of the Order of the Phoenix.

Following this line of thinking, there are too many doubts.

Why did Dumbledore always believe that Voldemort was still alive when everyone was celebrating his downfall?

Why did he insist on defending Severus Snape?

Why did we start investigating related incidents so early?

Why does he know the hidden secrets of Crouch and his son, and Voldemort's plan?

During the last battle of the Department of Mysteries, he wasn't surprised to see Voldemort escape?

For the newly appointed Minister Scrimgeour, the elusive Dumbledore cannot make him let down his guard. He knows that he should trust Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix, but the seemingly non-existent deterrent influence of the Order of the Phoenix disturbs him. With his nerves, he couldn't help but guess whether there were members of the Order of the Phoenix around him, what their identities were, and what their purpose was...

Fortunately, he was not an idiot like Fudge. His clear mind and reason allowed him to understand who his biggest enemy was now, so before Operation Halloween, he invited Dumbledore to talk in person. Some of his long-standing doubts were answered, but it was not enough. Let the Ministry of Magic lower its guard against the Order of the Phoenix. .

The result was not satisfactory and even somewhat unpleasant.

The secret of Voldemort's resurrection from the dead remains unanswered, the whereabouts of the former Death Eater and Potions Master remain unknown, and the Order of the Phoenix remains mysterious, with unknown personnel, elusive whereabouts, and unknown purposes.

The most important thing is that Dumbledore disapproved of the Halloween siege and believed that the information obtained by the Ministry of Magic was problematic and that this operation was another trap.

The two sides eventually broke up, but Scrimgeour listened to some of Dumbledore's opinions and decided to set aside some combat forces to guard the Ministry of Magic, move and hide the imprisoned Death Eaters, and only let a few senior officials know where they were being held. .

"Rufus is a competent minister..."

Dumbledore looked at the drifting steam, his deep blue eyes hidden behind the lenses, "But I can't reveal the information about the Horcrux to him. If he knows, it means that other people in the Ministry of Magic can also know. People's hearts are like The abyss under the Black Lake, and the Horcrux is the hidden Pandora's Box."

Hermione asked with some worry: "In this conflict, will the Aurors of the Ministry of Magic...will suffer heavy casualties?"

"Indeed, they will prevail..."

Dumbledore rubbed the tea cup in his hand and said slowly, "Even if there are werewolves and dementors assisting them, those dark wizards are far inferior to real Death Eaters. Some of them are controlled by the Imperius Curse, and others are controlled by the Imperius Curse. Part of it was the gathering of Galleons out of fear and greed... Rufus has made full preparations for this battle, and as long as Voldemort does not show up, the Aurors will not lose."

Hermione was a little confused: "But professor, didn't you say this was a trap?"

"It's a trap left for the Ministry of Magic, and it's also a trap for dark wizards. Voldemort's purpose is to rescue his old servant."

Loren raised his eyebrows: "Can he succeed?"

Dumbledore did not answer, but just picked up the tea cup and took a sip: "I don't know Voldemort's specific plan. Maybe he has obtained a new place where Death Eaters are kept..."

Hermione stopped talking, lowered her head and sipped the pumpkin juice, thinking about all the possible changes.

Loren opened his mouth and was about to say something when he saw Dumbledore lowering his head to open the drawer and taking out an exquisite crown. The silver metal was shaped into the shape of an eagle. He spread his wings and looked sideways. Blue gems were dotted on the wing feathers. On the feathers, it is elegant and luxurious.

"These are not things you should worry about..."

Dumbledore placed the crown on the table, making a crisp knocking sound. The portraits of the principals in the paintings behind him froze for a moment, as if the crown touched their hearts, "I'm disturbing you to watch this wonderful Quidditch." The purpose of the Qi competition is to destroy this crown, or to destroy the soul fragments attached to the crown."

Hermione was stunned for a moment, her eyes subconsciously fell on the crown, and something that Loren mentioned a few years ago came to mind.

Ravenclaw's diadem, the Gray Lady, Nagini and... Voldemort's Horcruxes.

Hermione looked at the white-bearded principal strangely, and her voice was filled with confusion: "Destroying the Horcruxes... shouldn't Harry be allowed to watch?"

Dumbledore pushed the crown in front of her and smiled gently: "Facing Voldemort and defeating him is indeed a duty that Harry cannot escape, but he must rely on you, a group of reliable friends, to complete such a difficult task, so I hope you can also touch the Horcrux... If possible, I hope you can destroy such a Horcrux."

Loren's eyes widened, and confusion was clearly written on his face: Shouldn't it be me?

"Me?"

Hermione was stunned for a moment, and subconsciously asked, "What should I do?"

Dumbledore expected that the little witch would need some time to digest this matter, but he did not expect Hermione to be a little surprised but not panicked. She did not shirk but sought a way. He smiled with some surprise: "Didn't you destroy a Horcrux last time?"

"Slytherin's locket..." Hermione looked at the crown shining with blue and silver, recalling the situation at that time, "I haven't mastered the Fiendish Fire Curse yet, that is the Basilisk Fang, Gryffindor's sword."

Dumbledore stretched out his hand and the Sorting Hat on the shelf flew over immediately. When he handed it to Hermione, the ruby-inlaid hilt had already been exposed.

As if sensing the approaching danger from the outside world, the moment Hermione drew out the sword, the crown trembled slightly, as if something wanted to break free.

The cold light of the blade passed by.

The crown trembled even more violently.