Hogwarts: Even Voldemort Can't Stop Me From Studying

Chapter 876 - 247: Meeting Someone

"No matter which possibility..."

Dumbledore’s voice sounded unusually clear: "It means that we may be facing a threat more terrifying than Voldemort or Grindelwald."

Vid’s heart sank. The midsummer sunlight streamed through the window, bathing him, but it did nothing to dispel the chill spreading from his heart.

He thought of Harry in the original story.

The Savior, under the headmaster’s arrangements, walked forward in confusion, always complaining that Dumbledore told him nothing, keeping him in the dark until he was forced to face the storm to learn the truth, muddle-headedly dealing with the opponent.

Now it seems, knowing everything is not as good as it seemed...

At least when Harry was unaware, he still had the mood for romance, Quidditch, arguing with friends, worrying about homework and exams... and getting annoyed at Dumbledore for keeping the truth from him.

The price of obtaining intelligence is knowing the storm is coming, without knowing when, neither able to detachedly witness the unfolding story like a reader nor simply enjoy and fret like Harry.

His choices could affect the future fate of many, and the differences between this real world and the original work were growing too vast for him to see through all the moves. But even with blind eyes, he still needed to move forward.

Dumbledore collected the Time Particles back into the kettle, lightly tapped the kettle body with his fingers, producing a clear, low hum.

"When trouble is destined to happen, sitting at home worrying doesn’t help." Dumbledore said: "Besides these, there’s another matter to handle."

"Another matter?" Vid thought for a moment and said: "The poppets told me they didn’t kill Barty Crouch Jr."

This he thought was the matter Dumbledore might want to talk to him alone about.

"Oh, I know, someone else killed Crouch." Dumbledore said: "Now we need to see someone."

Vid wondered, "Who?"

"I think you should remember, when we were at the monastery, there was another person present." Dumbledore said: "A person locked in the Confession Room."

Vid immediately remembered.

Behind the wooden door, the strange groaning, the blood-red eyes, and the strong smell of blood...

Any of these images was enough to give someone nightmares.

"Who is that?" Vid asked.

"An old friend of mine." Dumbledore sighed: "As you saw, he went through... unimaginable torment. To this day, fear still clings to him, trapping him in nightmares... unable to awaken."

The headmaster’s gaze fell on Vid and said: "You and your poppets saved him, Vid. I hope you can accompany me to see him, give him some courage, and of course, Harry - for him, young people like you might be more effective than Calming Potions."

"I understand." Vid naturally wouldn’t refuse such a small matter. He nodded and said: "Shall we set out now?"

As soon as he finished speaking, his stomach suddenly issued a loud protest, the sound appearing particularly abrupt in the quiet office, making a painted lady headmistress on the wall chuckle and Phineas laugh snidely.

The heavy atmosphere in the office was swept away, leaving Vid clearly embarrassed. He regretted not eating the sandwich his mother had prepared when he left home.

"I think," Dumbledore’s eyes flashed with a gentle smile, and he said: "We should go after lunch. Remember to bring Harry to see me... By the way, the chocolate cauldron cakes at lunch today are quite good. I suggest you try them."

...

Vid headed towards the Great Hall.

When leaving the infirmary earlier, because Dumbledore was beside him, students who saw them from afar avoided them or stood on the side of the corridor to politely greet them.

At this moment, Vid felt like he was plunged into a boiling vortex, and as he passed by, everyone turned to look at him. Countless gazes followed his movement, and as he went, a buzzing murmur of whispers erupted behind him.

Some people waved excitedly, eagerly hoping for a response from him. Even when Vid walked by without looking, they became even more excited and chatted incessantly with those next to them.

Others showed signs of fear, instinctively avoiding eye contact with him, nervously whispering to friends: "I think he’s scary... the way the poppets treated the other champions was so cruel..."

Vid ignored all the various reactions, quickening his steps through the corridor. Suddenly, a commotion erupted ahead of him. Before he could react, two red-haired figures appeared in front of him.

"Silence! Silence!" George exaggeratedly waved his arms and said loudly: "Make way, the King of Poppet is coming!"

"Everyone salute!" Fred followed closely, raising his wand and shouted: "If you want to live, hand over all the Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts from your pockets, and the Dark Lord Vid might spare you..."

Vid felt his ears burn, and unable to tolerate it any longer, he raised his hand and flicked the both of them on the head.

"Ouch!" Fred, holding his head, staggered backward, collapsing into George: "I... I’m dead..."

He tilted his head, sticking out his tongue. George, with exaggerated emotion, shouted loudly: "No—Fred—no—"

"Hahaha..." Fred, pretending to be dead, couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter, setting off a round of laughter in the corridor.

In the Great Hall, the familiar faces were almost all there. Harry had just stepped in, and he wasn’t spared from being observed and questioned.

A Gryffindor student tugged at Harry’s sleeve, refusing to let go, persistently asking about the scene where he "came back to life," and Harry’s face was full of embarrassment.

As he struggled, a sharp voice suddenly erupted:

"Let go! Harry Potter isn’t a clown in a circus for you to watch perform!" Ginny snapped: "Keep pestering him with questions, and I’ll turn your tongue into a slug!"

The entire hall went silent, the Gryffindor student was intimidated by her presence and involuntarily stepped back a few paces. Harry seized the chance to pull back his sleeve, discreetly sighing in relief, and quickly sat down beside Vid.

"By Merlin!" Ginny, sitting on the other side of Harry, couldn’t help but grumble: "Harry, you dare to face the Mysterious Man in battle, why can’t you be tougher with those annoying pests?"

Harry seemed to be meeting a new Ginny for the first time, mumbling, unable to respond.

Ginny suddenly realized whom she was talking to, blushing furiously, quickly stood up, and hurriedly rushed to the other side of the Gryffindor long table.

Fred slung an arm around Harry’s shoulders and said: "Congratulations, you’ve re-encountered our little sister."

"That’s right, this is Ginny Weasley." George nodded in agreement: "The scariest person in the Weasley Family!"

Harry: "..."