0213 Guarantee

0213 Guarantee

The storm that had been raging for days with thunder and lightning finally subsided, but the hazy moonlight was still barely visible through the thick stratus clouds that covered the night sky.

Perhaps it was because Bryan had subdued the Dementors guarding the entrance of Hogwarts with his powerful magic, the cold wind that roamed the schoolyard also carried a hint of freshness and relief.

The night was still young, and many young wizards who had not fallen asleep were still discussing the events that had happened during the day in the common room or dormitory, eagerly sharing their opinions and speculations. But the professors did not forget that Sirius Black, the notorious mass murderer and Voldemort's loyal follower, was still lurking in the shadows, eyeing a certain student in the school.

Before entering Dumbledore's office, Bryan had made preparations. He had arranged that tonight, Hagrid and Professor Flitwick would guard the school gate, and Filch and Professor Snape would patrol the castle, always on alert for any surprises.

"Yes, Harry must die-" Dumbledore's calm voice made Bryan's heart sink.

"So, you-" Bryan sneered, "You are raising Harry like a pig for slaughter. It's absurd, I thought you always hoped that Harry would defeat Voldemort someday. Do you want me to help you, I can rush into the hospital wing and end his life right now."

"Please don't misunderstand me-"

Bryan's attitude did not make Dumbledore feel intimidated, but rather he nodded and smiled, as if he was used to such accusations.

"I have some ideas. Of course, they are not very perfect, because there are still some key guarantees missing." He said, his blue eyes twinkling behind his half-moon glasses.

"Guarantees for what?" Bryan asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Guarantees for Harry's 'safe' death." Dumbledore said, "Please forgive me for not being able to share my fanciful ideas with you, Bryan, but I can assure you that the premise of defeating Voldemort is not to sacrifice Harry."

'This is really a paradoxical thing. If everything Dumbledore said was true, Harry was indeed Voldemort's Horcrux, then, if he wanted to kill Voldemort completely, he would have to kill Harry first, but Dumbledore's statement-'

Bryan lowered his eyes, he stared at the cup of tea that was floating on the rippling water surface, already showing a stale brown color, even the tea leaves were old and bitter.

'This heartless old man.'

After a while, Bryan frowned and said, "So, there is actually a way to separate Voldemort's soul from Harry's soul, and this method is to let Harry be 'killed'?"

He tried to make sense of Dumbledore's words, but they seemed contradictory and illogical.

"Just let me keep a little mystery, Bryan." Dumbledore took a deep breath and refused to answer this question.

Since the incident on the Quidditch pitch was resolved during the day, the two of them had entered the headmaster's office, and it had been several hours, and they had been discussing those exhausting issues, so, whether it was Dumbledore or Bryan, they were both very tired.

He saw Filch standing in the hall, holding a lantern in one hand and a large sack in the other. He looked angry and excited, his face red and his hair disheveled. Next to him, there was another figure, dressed in black robes and a cloak. It was Professor Snape with a mocking expression on his face. When he saw Bryan suddenly appear, the gloom that surrounded him dissipated a bit. He seemed to be glad to see him, or rather, to have a witness for what he was about to say.

"We have here the pitiful spectacle of Longbottom, a dim-witted excuse for a wizard, who thought he could defy the school regulations and sneak out of the castle. We caught him red-handed, Bryan. Do you want to hear his pathetic and laughable attempt at justification?"

Snape's lip curled in a sneer as he looked down at the hapless Neville, who was sitting on the floor, looking terrified and miserable.

"Professor Watson!" Filch said happily. "I think the reason why this little wizard wanted to leave the castle might be because he wanted to secretly inform Black. You know, the Dementors have been locked up by you, and the criminal might take advantage of tonight to break into the castle and kill people."

'Are you guys just looking for trouble?'

Bryan rolled his eyes, looking at Filch and Snape and said to Longbottom who was trembling all over. "So, what is your explanation, Mr. Longbottom?"

"He lied that he lost his wand." Snape scrutinized Bryan from head to toe, and stared at his eyes for a while. Then, he relaxed imperceptibly, and said lazily.

"I didn't, professor-" Neville looked like he was surrounded by two hungry wolves, his lips trembled, and he replied with a desperate face.

"That, that's my dad's wand. If I lose it, my grandma will kill me."

"No wizard would be foolish enough to toss his wand around. Professor Watson, look at this little liar. He is still trying to wriggle out of it!"

Filch's voice was very harsh and loud in the empty castle. He looked at Bryan eagerly and said. "My office has torture tools, Professor Watson. If you need them, I can go and get them now. Of course, you can also interrogate him in my office!"

"Lost his own wand?" Bryan sighed and rubbed his forehead. He looked at Neville with pity and disbelief. This little guy was really scatterbrained in his daily life.

"So, you think you dropped your wand on the Quidditch pitch?" Bryan asked, trying to sound calm and reasonable.

"Well-" Looking at the dark night and Neville who had been scratched by his own hinkypunks, Bryan thought for a while and said. "Wait until tomorrow morning. You can go to the pitch with Mr. Argus to look for your wand. But now, Mr. Longbottom, I think you'd better go back to your four-poster bed and rest well."

Filch looked as if the young wizards had just heard that the Christmas feast was cancelled, with a gloomy and ridiculous expression. He opened his mouth, wanting to voice his true thoughts, to complain. But before he could say anything, he heard Bryan's voice again, in a firm and authoritative tone.

"Argus, please take Mr. Longbottom back to his dormitory safely."

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