Chapter 559 The Results of Fraud

"After class, Harry come to my office."

The new class was over. In the eyes of the students who wanted to sleep but were reluctant to sleep, William said to Harry, then put away the textbooks and left the classroom.

After all, it is the OWLs year. Even if everyone has reduced their homework, it is still overwhelming for these fifth grade students.

'what happened? Was Hagrid's anomaly discovered by the professor? Or was my sneaking into the library to look for books discovered? ’

Although Dumbledore warned him, Harry still wanted to find out what the Horcrux was that could make Dumbledore so nervous, so he began to find ways to use the resources of the library.

Although his invisibility cloak is currently being held by Dumbledore, his good training has enabled him to skillfully use the Disillusionment Charm and some tricks to sneak into the library.

But these things trained by the professor naturally cannot be hidden from the professor's eyes - will points be deducted again?

Harry was a little ashamed. He was the only one of the three warriors who was punished for excessive disciplinary violations. Last time, it was because he seriously contradicted Snape. This time, was it because he didn't follow Dumbledore's instructions?

With some doubts, he followed William to William's office and sat down on the other side of the table.

"That's it. I discussed it with Professor Lupine and Dumbledore and decided to add an additional course for you."

‘It’s not just a matter of finding someone traveling at night…’

Harry tried not to show his relief, and then he understood what William said, and was suddenly stunned.

The terrible courses in fifth grade, Professor Moody's private training, Dumbledore's special homework, Professor Slughorn's potions tutoring, Quidditch training, the terrifying homework of each subject... He already needs to squeeze in You've made time for a date, but now you actually have to take extra classes?

Professor, is your heart made of stone?

Harry was a little broken, but he couldn't refuse - he couldn't say he gave up class because he had a date, right? If you tell this, you'd be a fool...

Fortunately, he soon heard a voice that could be called salvation.

"Considering time issues and your grades, I have already talked to Professor Slughorn. Your Potions class tutoring has been suspended. If you plan to study on your own, you can go to Neville and take a look at your notes."

"I have a general understanding of your Potions class results. Theoretically speaking, you now have the ability to get an O, and you will get better and better as you continue to study, but our time is really too tight."

William was a little apologetic - but Harry would definitely be able to attend the Potions improvement class. Compared to that, he was more concerned about Harry's safety.

"Next, you will use that time to learn Occlumency from Professor Lupine," William nodded. "Originally, Dumbledore was more interested in Professor Snape, but I refused. After all, you were even asked to do so some time ago. The fact that points are deducted is really unforgettable..."

'It would be great not to be Snape, and it would be great to learn Occlumency with Lupine. ’

Harry felt twice as happy in his heart - he had never thought that going to class would be such a joyful thing.

"Okay, that's it. You go back to the lounge first. You still have to prepare for the next class."

"Yes, Professor!"

Harry stood up happily and left the office, leaving William in the office shaking his head slightly.

"I always feel like it's not a good idea to hide it from him, but there's nothing I can do about it. Professor Slughorn is indeed very keen, and he really needs to learn Occlumency."

The strange signs that Harry showed last year are a bit worrying even if he is definitely cured - there is very little information about Horcruxes, and using living people to make Horcruxes is unheard of, and no one can be sure if there are any other sequelae.

Up to now, Dumbledore and William still have no way to confirm whether Harry is a planned Horcrux or an unplanned Horcrux. He does not belong to the five confirmed Horcruxes. After several discussions, Professor Ha Occlumency was also put on the agenda. This is the most reliable way to protect the soul.

However, this teaching was not only a teaching, but also a fraud - the excuse given to Professor Slughorn was not that Harry wanted to learn Occlumency, but that he wanted to strengthen his skills while learning more self-defense magic. Protective of Harry.

After all, as we all know, Harry was the one who killed the Dark Lord. Since the Death Eaters dared to raid Azkaban, it was perfectly normal for them to attack Harry - they were in class in name, but Lupine was just protecting Harry. He wouldn't be attacked by surprise.

——

"Anyway, it's like this. If the two of you are together, it's too easy to be attacked by surprise." Moody looked at the surrounding protective measures in Slughorn's office, "But we can't show it too obviously. In this regard, after all, Slytherin students have a complicated composition..."

"We will work hard to protect your safety. Before the Death Eaters jump over the wall, the school will protect you."

Moody's face twisted into a smile.

"In addition, we will also send two strikers to your residence. After all, this is what Albus ordered. Especially during the Easter holidays - by the way, what happened, Albus was actually nervous Like this?"

Moody asked with a bit of feigned confusion - he actually didn't quite understand what Dumbledore was up to, but there must be a reason why he was suddenly asked to take care of Slughorn.

"Ah, nothing, nothing."

Slughorn smiled rather uneasily, but still tried to look like I wasn't worried about anything.

"By the way," he asked tentatively in a casual tone, "Isn't it okay if I stay in school?"

"Detention? That's okay..."

Moody looked indifferent, "But if you stay in school, the batter won't be able to come over."

"It doesn't matter, Dumbledore is still here."

"Albus?" Moody stared with his normal eyes, "Didn't Albus leave the school for a business trip after talking to you, and did it mysteriously - you don't know? "

"Dumbledore isn't in school?"

"Of course, otherwise why would he ask me to protect you?"

"That's fine, that's fine..."

Slughorn tried his best to put a smile on his face, but the smile was stiff as if it was forced out.

He couldn't help but think of what happened the day before yesterday.

"Mysterious, my old friend, I have discovered the secret you have been hiding."

Dumbledore, who had forced him to hand over a memory, suddenly visited his office with a cheerful smile that he had seen for the first time in so many years.

"I told you all, Albus!"

He responded pretending to be serious, but was met with a mocking look from Dumbledore, "Okay, okay, let's go to my office and have a look."

Theoretically, he should refuse - after giving Dumbledore a false memory, he carried the antidote to Veritaserum with him and used Occlumency to seal his own memory on a daily basis, but in the end He still couldn't help being fooled.

Then, he was really shocked.

"Aren't they just four Horcruxes, or Horcruxes made using the items of the founders? You actually deceived me about this information until now."

"I didn't, I really didn't know, I scolded him seriously!"

"Okay, okay, that's enough, come to my office and have a look."

Slughorn wanted to strangle himself at the moment - why couldn't he resist going to Dumbledore's office?

"This, Slytherin's locket - from your house, has been destroyed. You should recognize it, right?"

Dumbledore dropped the bombshell on him first, Slytherin's locket.

As the former Dean of Slytherin and a well-informed person, Slughorn naturally knew about this so-called lost item. It was originally in the hands of the Gaunt family, but was later lost when the Gaunt family was imprisoned. .

"It's genuine, and the protective magic of the Horcrux does still remain on it..."

After a simple identification, he recognized the thing and accidentally exposed the fact that he understood Horcruxes.

But Dumbledore just smiled and showed him a second item.

"Hufflepuff's golden cup was also stolen by Tom. It took me a while to get it. I'm currently thinking of ways to destroy it. It won't take long."

"Ravenclaw's diadem, the legendary lost item, was also found by him, but I'm not bad either."

This crown caused Slughorn to inhale. Everyone had dreamed about this crown when they were studying, but he didn't expect that he would actually meet this being made into a Horcrux at this time.

"The power here has been almost worn away. I haven't found a suitable method, so I can only slowly wear away the soul fragments inside - after all, it now has its own master."

"Who is it? This thing should belong to Hogwarts."

"Professor William."

Dumbledore smiled, and then showed the last hidden object - a severely damaged fake Horcrux that was eight points disguised.

"Gryffindor's relics. It's a pity that the situation was urgent and the items were destroyed together."

Slughorn watched Dumbledore introduce the things from the founders of each house with a smile, and he almost suspected that his memory at the time was wrong.

The valuable belongings of the founders of the four colleges are no easier to find than the Horcruxes, especially the crown. People have been peeking at it for many years - Dumbledore actually found them all!

'Could my memory be false, Tom? Did the Mysterious Man really just create four Horcruxes, each corresponding to a precious artifact? ’

"So rest assured, old man, just like discovering Neville, we will train more outstanding students. It's time for me to find trouble with those Death Eaters who escaped from prison."

This was all the memory he had of meeting Dumbledore the day before yesterday.

But now - who are you kidding me? Since when did Dumbledore become so action-oriented?

You just said you were going to find trouble with the Death Eaters, and now you're going?

Are you really not planning to ask me again?

There were obviously more than four Horcruxes. What the mysterious man said was seven. Seven is a mysterious number!

He remembered it very clearly, which meant that Dumbledore had obtained a piece of false information from the Death Eaters. If he were bolder, he would have fallen into their trap!

'It's over, it's over, if Dumbledore is fooled, if Dumbledore dies...then...'

He didn't dare to think about it - Dumbledore had destroyed four Horcruxes. Even if the mysterious man really had six Horcruxes, it would be a huge loss. He, a professor, was a professor in name only, but There is so much to actually know, so much!

Once he knows that the secret of his immortality has been destroyed, he will definitely kill everyone in anger. Everyone who knows about it, everyone who knows about Horcruxes, can he, the professor, run away?

'But, saying so is equivalent to directly confronting Voldemort...'

‘Don’t you think you’ll be hostile if you don’t tell me? As long as he discovers something is wrong with the Horcrux, something will happen to me...'

'And Dumbledore can indeed find it... He has already killed four, does he still care about two? ’

'That's it. If the mysterious man wins, I will definitely die, but if Dumbledore wins, I can continue to enjoy life and teach Neville...'

This debt was too easy to settle. At this point, he had no other choice.

He shouldn't have come to Hogwarts. Once the Horcrux was destroyed, he, the insider, would have nothing to do with it!

‘Schemed by Dumbledore! ’

Such thoughts appeared in front of him.

——

"I want to see Dumbledore."

Professor McGonagall looked at Slughorn in confusion - hadn't this guy been hiding from Dumbledore all this time?

"He's on a business trip. What's the matter?"

"It's a very urgent matter. I'll give him what he wants."

Slughorn looked at Professor McGonagall and shook his head.

"He wants it?" Professor McGonagall glanced at him doubtfully, and then began to use her own method to contact Dumbledore - a method she had used with great proficiency over the years.

——

"Another fake interception?"

"It's inappropriate...the standards for actors are too high, and Professor Slughorn will see that."

"Create more rumors about the Death Eaters causing trouble?"

"It's also inappropriate."

"Okay, let's create some pressure and ask the Ministry of Magic to cooperate. Just publish a front-page article on the study of commonly used self-defense magic in the Daily Prophet. Anyway, it will be used in the future. You might as well learn it now. .”

"In this way, the people are prepared and the atmosphere of tension is rising. It's perfect. We just want to ensure the operation of the Diagon Alley shops - this shouldn't be a big problem..."

"Just do it like this, I still don't believe it, I can't lie to you anymore!"

William sorted it out for a while, and then roughly summarized this opinion - the greater the pressure, the easier it would be for Slughorn to explain.

"Dun, dun, dun."

There was a knock on his office - after about five minutes of identity verification and impersonation testing, Dumbledore walked in with a bit of helplessness.

"Why are you back, principal?"

William looked at Dumbledore curiously, thinking about passing the report to the Ministry of Magic through Dumbledore's hand.

However, Dumbledore looked at William with a strange look, "Professor Slughorn gave me the memory..."

Um? I haven't started yet!