The Hogwarts Emerald

Chapter 568 Dumbledore's True Face
The rain stopped, but the wind continued, and the group walked towards Hogwarts against the wind.

The castle was shrouded in darkness in the distance, looking like a sleeping dragon or a giant lying on the top of a mountain.

They had lived here for seven years, and were the masters of this place, but also the transient visitors. Now they came to pick a fight, and they might even confront the professor who had taught them.

As they approached Hogwarts, the school's corner buildings and towers became clearer, and the lighted windows shone softly. Occasionally, everyone would happily chat about which was the Gryffindor tower and which was the Astronomy Tower.

But as they walked, everyone fell silent. They no longer belonged here, and after today, they might not be welcome here anymore. Even Fred and George, who were lively and active by nature, fell silent.

Cedric frowned and looked around. He felt that there was something unusual on this road. The road leading to Hogwarts was too quiet.

"Ada, have you seen any guards along the way?" Cedric asked, "This road should be patrolled by someone."

In the 93-94 school year, Sirius Black, who was wrongfully imprisoned, escaped from prison. At that time, the Ministry of Magic stationed a large number of Dementors in Hogsmeade, which could both "protect" Hogwarts and capture the fugitive Sirius.

Now that everyone knows that Voldemort has returned, the Ministry of Magic will naturally send people to protect Hogwarts. Even though the Dementors have collectively defected, the Aurors in the Ministry are not all kept there for free.

Just now in Hogsmeade, Cedric saw patrolling Aurors, but when he arrived on the road leading to Hogwarts, Cedric didn't see anyone.

"You're not mistaken, there is really no one on this road." Ada said, she also noticed this problem.

In Ada's opinion, there are three possibilities. Either the people patrolling this road have skipped work collectively; or someone has driven them away because of something; the last possibility is also the worst one, that is, they are dead, so they are not patrolling.

But this is Hogwarts, Dumbledore's territory, and the third possibility is very low. Ada herself is more inclined to the second possibility, that Dumbledore temporarily drove away the patrolling guards.

"When we get to school, we'll know where the patrolmen have gone." Ada continued, "There's nothing to worry about."

After saying that, the group of people continued to move forward, but the atmosphere in the team became more and more solemn. For the sake of loyalty and affection in their hearts, they gathered here to seek justice for Katie, but the closer they got to the school, the more uncertain they became.

Finally, the gate of Hogwarts appeared in everyone's sight. The winged boar sculptures on both sides of the gate were still the same. In the open space in front of the gate, Albus Dumbledore stood there, motionless like a statue.

Seeing Dumbledore in front of the door, everyone reacted differently. Some were surprised, some were disappointed, and some were angry.

Ada didn't have much of a reaction, as long as she didn't see Professor McGonagall. Cedric was similar to her, except that the person Cedric didn't want to see was Professor Sprout.

Looking at the graduates and dropouts standing in a row, Dumbledore was also a little surprised. He did not expect so many people to come today. He thought he would only see Ada, and at most the Weasley twins.

Except for Lini who had not graduated, all the members of Dawn came. This scene was beyond Dumbledore's expectations.

"Professor Dumbledore, since you are waiting here, you must know why we are here." Ada walked towards Dumbledore alone, and the others stopped not far away and listened carefully to their conversation.

"I didn't expect Katie Bell to be so important to you." Dumbledore said. He looked tired, as if he had walked for a long time and was rushing back from afar.

"Friendship is precious." Ida said with a smile, "If I were really heartless and heartless, would the professor still tolerate me until now?"

Ada, who was hiding in the office of the ministry as a stay-at-home girl, thought a lot. Ada believed that the reason why Dumbledore wanted to clear her name was because she was more loyal and righteous than Voldemort, and was not likely to go down the wrong path, so she was still worth saving.

At the same time, this is also forcing Ada. Now she is full of stains, and it is easy to break the jar and do whatever she wants. After washing away the stains on her body, she will naturally cherish her own white feathers, so that Ada will be more cautious when she is willful. Just like when she was in school before, if she has some scruples in her heart, she will not act too radically.

"I am so happy and sad to see you tonight," said Dumbledore. "I am happy that you have many people you care about, but I am sad that you have never learned what 'forgiveness' means."

The distance between them was quite far, and Ada could not see the expression on Dumbledore's face, so she had no way of judging whether he was more happy or sad. As for forgiveness, there was no such word in Ada's dictionary, and her heart was only slightly bigger than a needle's nose.

"So you forgive the person who hurt Katie on her behalf?" Ada asked, "You don't seem to have the qualifications, and neither do I. Only Katie, who was hurt, has the qualifications. And we are here to send him to see Katie."

Dumbledore sighed and said, "Some people and some things can be forgiven, while some people and things cannot be forgiven. I will not forgive Malfoy on behalf of Katie, I just think he should not fall into your hands now."

Not knowing what he was thinking of, Dumbledore raised his charred right hand and looked at it intently for a few seconds.

"Do you think that brat is worth saving?" Ada asked, and then she thought of Aberforth's words, and a somewhat cold idea came to her mind.

Dumbledore was using Draco Malfoy!

Before achieving Dumbledore's goal, the headmaster must ensure Malfoy's safety and allow Malfoy's plan to proceed smoothly.

If Malfoy still has the possibility of turning back, then give him a hand and give him a chance to start a new life. If Malfoy is stubborn, then there is nothing to say.

When it comes to taking ruthless action, Dumbledore will not show mercy, just like Tom Riddle when he was a student.

As for Katie Bell, she was just unlucky because she was chosen by Draco Malfoy.

If the opal necklace was successfully delivered, Katie would be Malfoy's scapegoat; if Katie's express delivery failed to be delivered successfully, Malfoy would only lose 1,500 gold Galleons.

But Malfoy miscalculated. He didn't expect Katie to argue with Lini over the package he prepared, and during the argument she touched the opal necklace and was cursed.

In Dumbledore's plan to use Malfoy, Katie's intrusion was an unexpected situation and was not part of the plan. Dumbledore would not change his plan because of Katie's appearance. Katie did not have that weight.

"It seems you have figured it out." Dumbledore said, "I can see disappointment on your face, Ada."

"It's not disappointment, it's the lips and teeth that are in danger." Ada's face was unhappy. If she had not shown her amazing talent back then, would she have ended up like Katie?

For the greater good.

Dumbledore demonstrated this sentence to Ada in person. To achieve the goal, nothing can be abandoned. Katie Bell just happened to be there. In order to ensure that the plan could be implemented, Katie was equivalent to being abandoned by Dumbledore.

"No wonder Aberforth asked me to be prepared when I came." Ada continued, "I see."

Dumbledore was visibly stunned for a moment, and after a while he said, "Aberforth has been blaming me for what I did when I was young. For this, I have blamed myself for many years."

Ida smiled and said, "If one day, killing Harry can kill Tom Riddle, will you give him up like you gave up Katie?"

(End of this chapter)