Hogwarts: Don't call me the Staff Maker

Chapter 680: The Result and the Truth

Chapter 680: The Result and the Truth

Malfoy did not use the Imperius Curse on Rosmerta, a result that was not too surprising to Siren.

Harry, however, seemed unwilling to believe it, insisting that Malfoy was lying and that he was only saying this to clear himself of suspicion.

Rather than wondering whether Malfoy was lying, Celeste was curious about his plan and why Snape told Malfoy that Crabbe and Goyle were not trustworthy.

Everyone at Hogwarts knows that Crabbe and Goyle are Malfoy's most loyal followers, always together wherever they go, a bond even stronger than that between the Gryffindor trio.

After all, Ron and Hermione would often argue, but Crabbe and Goyle wouldn't; their limited intelligence made it difficult for them to come up with different opinions on a particular matter.

But now, Snape tells Malfoy that Crabbe and Goyle are not trustworthy.

If we rule out deliberate lying and sowing discord, then there's only one possibility: Snape obtained some information from Voldemort that Malfoy was unaware of.

Xilun was a little curious.

Unfortunately, Snape didn't say it just now, and he couldn't possibly tell me.

The two returned to the Gryffindor Tower before curfew. By then, there were not many people in the common room, only a few fifth-year students with slumped shoulders still struggling to finish what seemed like an endless amount of homework.

"It's so lucky we're in sixth grade now," Harry said, seemingly lost in thought.

Fifth year was truly a nightmare for all Hogwarts students—endless homework, endless classes. He was so glad he'd made it through.

Hermione and Ron were also there, probably waiting for them.

"Harry, Siron, where did you go?" Ron asked immediately.

"The Slytherin common room," Harry said. "You remember when we saw Snape going to see Malfoy on our way back from practice?"

"Of course I remember," Ron nodded. "But weren't they in the common room? How did you get in?"

"It wasn't me, it was Sheren. He used a very clever transfiguration and heard it—" Harry told Ron what had just happened.

At this moment, Hermione looked up in confusion, scrutinizing Celeste from head to toe.

Could Transfiguration alone fool Snape and all of Slytherin?

Although Xilun's Transfiguration skills have always been the best among everyone, this is still a bit too exaggerated, unless—

Hermione frowned, then suddenly started shaking her head. This unexpected and strange behavior startled Ron, who wondered if she had eaten one of the sour popping candies that had fallen on the ground.

They talked for a while longer, and soon it was 10:50.

With ten minutes to go before the agreed-upon class time, Siron and Harry left the common room again and headed to the headmaster's office on the same floor.

The new password was "Toffee Finger Biscuit," and the dripping stone beast immediately stood up and jumped to the side upon hearing it.

Dumbledore was already waiting for them there. Just like last time (the previous two times), the Pensieve was there, along with two small crystal bottles containing swirling memories.

Dumbledore first asked Harry about his homework, but Harry had clearly done nothing and stammered that he had tried his best.

"You feel you've done your utmost, haven't you?" Dumbledore stared at Harry through his half-moon spectacles. "You've used all your intelligence and come up with every possible idea?"

Harry was speechless, unsure of what to say.

This disappointed Dumbledore somewhat.

"I thought you knew very well how important this was—I tried everything to make you realize that it was the most crucial memory, without which we would just be wasting time."

Although Harry kept his head down and didn't say a word, Siron could tell that his face must be frighteningly red.

So Xilun silently stepped aside—he knew nothing about it, and it had nothing to do with him.

Fortunately, their conversation was quickly interrupted by Armando Dippert's loud snoring.

"I'm so sorry, Professor Dumbledore," Harry finally mustered his courage and looked up to say. "I should have done more. I should have realized that you wouldn't have asked me to do it if it weren't really important."

"Thank you for saying that," Dumbledore said calmly. "Then may I ask that you bring this matter up a little earlier? Without that memory, our lessons would be meaningless."

"I will, Professor, I'll find a way to get it," Harry said eagerly.

"Harry, sometimes it's a wise choice to enlist the help of your friends," Dumbledore said, looking at Siron.

Siren instinctively took a step back. "I'm not familiar with Professor Slughorn."

"It seems you already know," Dumbledore said kindly. "Actually, this was supposed to be a joint assignment for both of you, but due to some special circumstances, you missed a class. But that's alright, we can make it up today."

Xilun really wanted to refuse.

To be honest, he didn't want to see any memories related to Voldemort, nor did he want to learn about the Dark Lord's upbringing.

Xilun glanced at the dark night sky outside the window.

Dumbledore seemed to immediately realize what he was thinking.

"It is indeed a bit too late today." He glanced out the window as well. "But there's nothing we can do. Rosmerta's situation is a bit tricky, but we don't want to disappoint Slughorn. He desperately wants to know who wants to kill him."

"Then just tell him," Xilun shrugged.

"But we haven't found the culprit yet," Dumbledore said softly. "They're being very cautious, and Alastor needs more time to investigate."

I'm talking about the result, not the truth.

"Oh?" Dumbledore looked at Siren thoughtfully. "Then what do you think the outcome will be?"

"It's definitely Voldemort," Siron said immediately. "He's afraid Slughorn will reveal the secret, so he wants to kill him to silence him—that makes perfect sense, doesn't it?"

After a pause, Dumbledore said softly, "It certainly sounds reasonable. But will Horace believe it?"

"I don't know," Siren said. "After all, I only made a suggestion."

"Then let's not talk about that now." Dumbledore looked at Harry, who looked bewildered.

"Continuing from where we left off last time, do you remember?"

"I remember, sir." Harry snapped out of his reverie. "Voldemort came to Little Hangleton, killed the entire Riddle family, making it seem like his uncle did it, and then he went back to Hogwarts to—to Professor Slughorn inquire about Horcruxes."

Harry remembered the homework Dumbledore had given him, and his voice grew softer and softer.

But Dumbledore seemed genuinely unconcerned.

"Then let's continue." He picked up one of the crystal bottles and poured the memories inside into the Pensieve.

"About Voldemort after he turned seventeen."

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