Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 446, Section 444: A Difficult Practical Lesson

Now, the first obstacle has been overcome.

But Sheen did not relax at all.

Before Will opened the box with magic, and before Professor Quirrell destroyed the ring with Fiendfire, Sheehan intently observed the outside of the house.

"Professor, if possible, please try to preserve the Resurrection Stone."

Sheen said.

"Ah... I will obey your will."

Quirrell answered without hesitation.

For him, the value of the Resurrection Stone was irrelevant, but Mr. Green's will had to be carried out.

Sheen looked outside again.

He was slightly puzzled... Had he misunderstood?
His thoughts then returned to the Resurrection Stone.

There is a fact in the wizarding world that is easily noticed but little known: Salazar Slytherin is very likely a descendant of the three brothers, Cadmus Peverell.

The story of the three brothers predates the founding of Hogwarts, and the Gaunt family are descendants of both Slytherin and the three brothers.

From this, it is not difficult to deduce that Slytherin may have possessed the Resurrection Stone.

The Ravenclaw memories in Sheen's mind also confirm this.

Ravenclaw once studied Slytherin.

It's not just his parsnip-like voice, but also his resurrection stone ring.

The Resurrection Stone is a legendary stone from the god of death that is said to be able to bring people back to life.

Although in reality it cannot truly resurrect the dead, it merely summons a substance that is more real than the soul and more illusory than the physical body, just like Riddle who came out of the diary.

But it clearly involves the mysteries of the wizard's soul.

From Ravenclaw's research, Sheehan easily made a deduction.

The resurrection stone can indeed interfere with a wizard's soul, but its interference is more like a terrible, brutal ancient magic.

This powerful alchemical creation can break through the veil and summon souls that should have perished.

But that's all; the soul it summons is an empty shell, lacking the most important thing.

Without it linking the wizard's soul, the resurrection stone can only summon a wizard who has "no magic".

—It has neither the wisdom nor the emotions of a wizard.

It was supposed to be an item that Death used to mock the greedy, but now it seems to have taken an unexpected turn.

It can summon the spirit of a wizard.

In the dream world, this is the ability that Sheen desperately needs.

On the other side, Quirrell had already begun cautiously. He shouted, and a rolling, surging sound came from the room.

It started as a small smoldering flame, but it quickly began to grow larger, and soon it began to transform into a large group of beasts made of fire:
Salamanders, chimeras, and fire dragons—they rose up, fell down, and rose up again.

The accumulated junk and rubbish in the house were thrown into the air, falling into their fanged mouths, landing on their clawed feet, and finally being swallowed up by the hellish flames.

The fire beasts surrounded the ring in the box, getting closer and closer, their claws, tentacles, and tails slapping and thrashing, and heat waves enveloping it like a wall.

Sheen was extra careful at this moment, because Fiendfire was extremely difficult to control, and Professor Quirrell obviously could not be disturbed at this time.

Sheen looked outside again; it was quiet, dark, with only the occasional startled chirping of birds.

It seems he guessed wrong.

Headmaster Dumbledore wasn't particularly fond of following a junior wizard.

Soon, the smoke and heat became so dense it was suffocating. In front of Sheen, the evil fire devoured the old Gaunt mansion, the filthy walls, and all the secrets within the room.

As all the monsters roared in unison, a heart-wrenching scream rang out.

"Damn it—"

The roar was so painful that it made Sheehan and Professor Quirrell's eardrums buzz.

Professor Quirrell was clearly familiar with this thing; he was shaking uncontrollably, his whole body trembling like a sieve.

As the pitch-black, distorted-faced thing lunged at him, Quirrell's veins bulged, and he roared as flames erupted from the tip of his wand.

The flames visibly intensified, and the creature's screams grew louder.

If Sheen hadn't cast the Silence Charm long beforehand, the entire village of Little Hangleton would probably have been awakened.

Sheehan didn't want to be discovered, didn't want to be summoned by the Ministry of Magic, and also knew that the more corrupt the institution, the more it liked to flaunt its power.

Quirrell was still trembling, his eyes bloodshot, but he stared intently at the head-shaped black mist.

"Come on, damn it!"

He unleashed a torrent of curses, as if a release had been granted. The confrontation lasted for several minutes, until finally, the flames of passion were extinguished.

A ring fell to the ground.

Quirrell trembled with exhaustion and was supported by a pair of hands.

"Professor, thank you for your hard work."

The voice in his ear said.

"what……"

His voice was hoarse, and he couldn't speak.

His body wasn't severely damaged, but his mind had undoubtedly undergone a trial.

Voldemort, that's Voldemort...

"Oh, I've arrived just in time?"

An unexpected sound rang out.

Sheen instinctively flicked his finger and put the resurrection stone into the Wizard's Book.

"Headmaster Dumbledore."

Sheen looked up.

An old wizard with a long, white beard stood at the door, gazing kindly at Sheen.

Sheehan sighed. It seemed that Headmaster Dumbledore really did enjoy following young wizards.

They destroyed the Horcruxes, but that doesn't mean they destroyed the curse.

Sheen had thought he had plenty of time to crack it, and if he failed, they could destroy the resurrection stone. But now it seems that time always likes to play tricks on people.

"Professor, do you remember what we talked about?"

Sheehan asked Professor Quirrell in a low voice.

"of course."

Once he recovered, Quirrell stood beside Sheehan without hesitation, and together with Butler Pukki, they kept a watchful eye on Dumbledore.

"This would be very dangerous."

Sheen said.

"For your will."

Quirrell spoke slowly and deliberately.

At the doorway, the aged voice rang out again:

"We need to talk?"

Dumbledore's smile vanished, and he seemed to have aged considerably in an instant.

"Ah."

Sheen gripped his wand tightly.

Admittedly, he had learned a lot of magic, including some quite powerful spells, but he was unsure of himself when facing Dumbledore.

“I’ve been searching for it for so long… I had to learn to live with guilt and deep sorrow, that was the price of my shame… But now, is there any hope for the future?”

"Dumbledore said in a hoarse voice."

Sheehan saw that the light of wisdom had disappeared from Dumbledore's eyes, and he knew that there was a chance that the greatest wizard had been swayed by the overwhelming emotions.

Even if it's dangerous?

Sheen asked.

Even if it's dangerous.

Dumbledore's deep eyes were like a boundless ocean.

"Child, I want you to understand that this is my choice."

Love and death are forever intertwined; the will to love is also the willingness to die.

He said.

"Headmaster Dumbledore, would you be willing to give me a practical lesson?"

Sheen suddenly asked.

"of course."

Dumbledore smiled.

(End of this chapter)