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 themon room or dormitory, eagerly sharing their opinions and spections. But the professors did not forget that Sirius ck, 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 ughter. 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 usations.


    "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 sses.


    "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."


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


    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.


    <em>''This heartless old man.''</em>


    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.


    Seeing Bryan put the bottle of sealed Dementors back into the dark bag, Dumbledore hesitated for a moment, but did not stop him, like all the teachers, he also detested the Ministry of Magic''s arrangement of these dreadful creatures around the school.


    "By the way, Bryan-" Bryan said goodbye and stood up to leave, but Dumbledore suddenly stopped him. "While I''m away from Hogwarts, if ck-"


    "Don''t worry, Headmaster Dumbledore, I won''t let him harm anyone in this school, not even a rat." Bryan said, his voice cold and confident.


    "Of course, I trust your ability, Bryan, but"


    "But?" Bryan asked, sensing that Dumbledore had something else to say.


    "It''s like this, before we took Harry to the real Chamber of Secrets built by Slytherin, your words inspired me, Bryan, so-" Dumbledore hesitated and said, "So, I hope, if you find any trace of ck, in the matter of capturing ck, I hope you can let Harry and his friends participate to some extent of course, the premise is to ensure their safety."


    Bryan raised his eyebrows, let the three kids participate in the capture of ck? But after a little thought, Bryan agreed, as long as it did not affect his own reward, it was not bad to have some fun with these little ones.


    "I will take care of it, Headmaster Dumbledore." He said, nodding his head.


    Bryan pushed open the polished oak door of Dumbledore''s office, feeling the smooth wood under his hand. He nced at the two stone gargoyles that nked the entrance, guarding the secrets of the headmaster. They were snoring softly, pretending to be asleep, but he knew they were watching him with their beady eyes. He ignored their fake attempts to open their eyes as he came out, knowing they would report his actions to Dumbledoreter. He stepped out into the night, feeling the cool breeze that hit his face and cleared his somewhat muddled thoughts.


    Bryan suddenly remembered that he had forgotten to ask Dumbledore about the knowledge of the ''soul perspective'' he had mentioned, and the clue rted to the Horcrux.


    "Tsk, Voldemort''s Horcrux, one worth eight thousand." Bryan turned and walked down the spiral staircase that led to the tower, sighing and thinking that if he encountered Voldemort''s Horcrux again, he would sell it to Dumbledore at that price and if he could find a hundred or eighty of them.


    <em>''Tsk, retire on the spot, reach the peak of life, think about it, it really makes one a little excited!''</em>


    He chuckled to himself, shaking his head at his own greed.


    Dumbledore''s office was on a separate small tower, isted from the rest of the castle. It was the highest point of Hogwarts, and from there, one could see the whole grounds, theke, the forest, and the mountains. Walking down the spiral staircase, Bryan walked to the hall, ready to return to his post.


    He had installed many surveince alchemy tools in his office, which allowed him to monitor the movements and activities of anyone within the castle and its surroundings. He was especially vignt these days, because if Sirius ck was still lurking near the castle, then he would have noticed that the Dementors guarding the gate had disappeared. He knew that normal people would not think that Hogwarts had lost its protection, but for a madman who had been tormented by the Dementors in Azkaban for twelve years, maybe he would consider tonight as a golden opportunity to act.


    "Liar!"


    Bryan was pondering his own thoughts, when he heard a furious roar from the hall, far away. It echoed through the empty corridors, breaking the silence of the night. Listening to the voice, it was Bryan''s only decent subordinate Argus Filch,… Hagrid was Dumbledore''s loyal "Hawk".


    Bryan wondered what had riled him up so much, and decided to go and check.


    "What''s the matter, Argus?" Bryan walked into the light from the shadows and asked.


    He saw Filch standing in the hall, holding antern in one hand and arge 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 ck 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 d 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 regtions and sneak out of the castle. We caught him red-handed, Bryan. Do you want to hear his pathetic andughable 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 ck. 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 exnation, 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 rxed imperceptibly, and saidzily.


    "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, toin. 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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