Hogwarts' Golden Glory

When Harry woke up in the white hospital bed in the medical wing, the last rays of the setting sun were streaming through the high window and onto the sheets.

He blinked and saw Dumbledore sitting on the edge of the bed, toying with a blood-red stone in his hand.

"The Philosopher's Stone..." Harry's voice was hoarse and didn't sound like his own.

Dumbledore held the stone up to the setting sun; the gem shimmered with a honey-like luster within. "A beautiful creation, isn't it?"

Madam Pomfrey rushed over and handed Harry a cup of potion emitting a purple mist.

The potion tasted like boiled beetles, but after drinking it, Harry immediately felt much clearer-headed.

"Professor," Harry began hesitantly, "why did I encounter Quirrell and..."

"Harry, your mother died to save you." Dumbledore's blue eyes gleamed behind his half-moon lenses. "It's a very powerful spell, one that Voldemort never understood: love."

Outside the window, a phoenix soars across the twilight sky.

Dumbledore gazed at the golden-red trail: "Love, especially sacrificial love, leaves an eternal mark. When someone like Quirrell, filled with hatred and a thirst for blood, touches you, it's like throwing darkness into pure fire—you're bound to be burned."

Harry looked down at his palm, where the charred feel of Quirrell's skin still lingered: "That Voldemort..."

"As long as you stay true to yourself, his remnant soul is not much of a threat."

Professor Old's voice came from the doorway.

Dumbledore nodded and placed the Philosopher's Stone into a silver box inlaid with runes: "Nick and I have decided to destroy it."

"Destroy it?" Harry's eyes widened in surprise. "But the elixir of immortality..."

"Nick has lived long enough to be 666 years old," Dumbledore said softly.

"He and Perenaar believed it was time to face death like 'normal people'."

The silver box clicked pleasantly in his hands. "Some things, Harry, are more precious than immortality."

Harry said, "There's one more thing I want to ask you, sir. Do you know who gave me that Invisibility Cloak?"

"Your father just happened to leave it to me, and I think you should like what your father left you."

Dumbledore blinked.

"This is very useful. Back when your father was in school, he used it to sneak into the kitchen and steal food."

"Actually, there's one more thing..."

Harry was somewhat annoyed, after all, he had already asked quite a few questions.

"Ask away, child."

Dumbledore could also see Harry's embarrassment.

"Quirk said Snape hates me..."

Harry hadn't forgotten what Quirrell had said.

"Harry, you should say Professor Snape."

"Yes, Professor. I'd like to know why Professor Snape hates me. After all, I feel like he's been targeting me ever since I came to the school."

"That's right, it's all because of your father. Your father and Professor Snape had some conflicts."

Harry didn't react immediately. "My father?"

"Yes, your father and Professor Snape didn't get along, but humans are wondrous creatures, and your father saved Professor Snape's life."

"So the professor couldn't bear owing your father a favor, so I believe that the reason he went to such lengths to protect you this past year was to settle things with your father and at the same time express his hatred for him in class."

Harry's head started to ache again after receiving so much information.

So he stopped thinking about it.

"There's one more question, sir."

"Is this the last one?"

Dumbledore sensed that this child was not so easy to fool.

Harry didn't answer the question either.

"Who is the other Professor Quirrell?"

"Oh? I thought you'd ask something else. I don't know who the other Professor Quirrell is either, but I'm sure he's someone you know; at least every time he appears, he's protecting you."

Dumbledore blinked.

Then he took a candy from his pocket and popped it into his mouth.

A few voices could be heard outside the door.

The door to the medical wing opened again, and Kane walked in silently.

Behind him followed Ron, whose face was covered in freckles, and Hermione, who was carrying a huge stack of books.

"You're awake!" Hermione exclaimed, tears welling up in her eyes. "We were so worried!"

Ron pulled out a handful of Chocolate Frogs and shoved them into Harry's hand: "Madam Pomfrey said you can eat solid food today. These are the new Dumbledore cards; I already have six..."

Dumbledore smiled and stood up: "I think young people need their own space."

He winked at Professor Old, "We still have some things to take care of."

"Sir, I have another question."

Harry, like a curious child, had finally caught someone to tell him the truth, and naturally wouldn't let them go easily.

"I believe Kane can help you answer these questions."

Dumbledore smiled and winked, then left with Professor Ald.

After the two professors left, Kane took a crystal bottle from the inner pocket of his robe.

It contained a silvery-blue liquid: "Zoz's Tears. They are incredibly effective against wounds inflicted by dark magic."

As Harry took the bottle, he noticed the bandage on Kane's right hand: "Your hand..."

"The cost of using the spell," Kane said casually, "is more serious than expected."

Harry had always firmly believed in the effectiveness of Kane's potions.

He took the potion, drank it all in one gulp, and then asked a question.

"Kane, do you know that Dumbledore and Professor All are behind the mirror?"

Kane nodded.

"That's right. At first, the professor wanted people who wanted to find the Philosopher's Stone but didn't use it to obtain it."

"The others can only see how they use the magic stone."

"But Professor Alder also wanted to join the protection plan, so I suggested that we connect directly to his office through the Magic Mirror, since it would be safest to have them guarding the Philosopher's Stone."

Harry, Hermione, and even Ron all nodded at the same time.

They felt this method was absolutely brilliant.

But why set up any more obstacles? Wouldn't it be better to just let Professor Dumbledore have the Philosopher's Stone?

Harry wanted to ask something else.

But Ron, seeing an opportunity to speak, quickly asked for a chance.

"Harry, we all thought you were going to die. The whole school is talking about it now."

"According to Penelope of Ravenclaw," Ron gestured animatedly.

"Quirok is actually a vampire. He wanted to drink Gandraco's blood to resurrect the Mystic! But you barged in and knocked him out with garlic-scented shampoo!"

Harry nearly choked on his saliva: "What shampoo?!"

"The Slytherin version is much better." Hermione rolled her eyes and pulled out a special edition of The Witches' Weekly.