In the Apocalypse, I Can Enter Hogwarts

Chapter 98 The Uses of the Philosopher's Stone

Hearing Ian's answer, Dumbledore was somewhat pleased, even though it was different from the reply he had hoped for.

"Well, perhaps you are right. Tom's problem will be completely resolved before my portrait hangs in the headmaster's office," Dumbledore said with a hint of determination.

Then, in a helpless tone, he said:

"I really haven't found any so-called curse... If there really were a curse, I wouldn't have let innocent people come to Hogwarts and suffer these misfortunes. It might all be a coincidence, but I can't provide any evidence, so many things are hard to explain."

Ian nodded in agreement, his reasoning being simple: Dumbledore would never knowingly allow innocent people to suffer such misfortune when it was a curse.

Quirrell and Lockhart may have deserved their fate, but Lupin was innocent. Perhaps, as Dumbledore said, it was all just a coincidence.

He didn't say much about it, but changed the subject: "By the way, speaking of Defense Against the Dark Arts, are you planning to invite that conman again next year?"

"Yes, let Lockhart stay for a few months. It'll be a lesson for Harry, to teach him not to be complacent with fame. Besides, I've already gathered evidence against Lockhart through my friends. When the time is right, I'll apply directly to the Department of Justice for Lockhart's arrest."

Upon hearing this, Ian suddenly interjected, "In that case, there's no need for him to sell books when school starts, and none of those books are cheap anyway."

Dumbledore said casually, "Haha, don't worry, after he signs the contract, I'll tell him that professors don't have the right to change textbooks arbitrarily unless he gets the vice-principal's and my signatures. I don't think Minerva will agree to that at all..."

"Okay, he really got screwed over by you, but he deserved it."

Dumbledore nodded, his tone somewhat wistful:

"Yes, he deserved it. His specialization in the Oblivion Curse brought him to where he is today. But it was also because of this specialization that many innocent people suffered irreversible harm. I've examined the victims; I'm helpless against that level of Oblivion Curse."

Ian knew that if Dumbledore said there was nothing more that could be done, then it might truly be irreversible. He said, "What's done is done. Perhaps the only way to compensate the victims is with the wealth Lockhart illegally acquired."

Dumbledore nodded and said, "Don't worry, I will raise this with the Ministry of Magic."

Feeling that the topic was almost over, Ian asked Dumbledore, "Professor, I'd like to know how the Philosopher's Stone extends lifespan? What are its specific methods of use?"

"Oh?" Dumbledore looked at Ian with some surprise. "The method is simple: collect dew at night, making sure it's dew that hasn't seen the sun before sunrise, then put the Philosopher's Stone in it and let it soak overnight."

"The next day you will find that the dew has turned bright red, about 50 milliliters, which is enough to make up for ten years of lost life."

At this point, Dumbledore suddenly looked at Ian very seriously and said, "You can only drink it once every ten years, and no more than 50 milliliters. Remember that. Otherwise, while it will replenish your life, it will also accelerate your aging. It's a pity that Nico and Perenel found out too late..."

Suddenly, Dumbledore seemed to remember something and continued, "I also have a lot of Nico's books, as well as manuscripts about the Philosopher's Stone. I thought you might need them."

After Dumbledore finished speaking, he winked at Ian in a subtle way.

At this moment, Ian truly felt that the saying "old man is wise and shrewd" was not an exaggeration. Dumbledore had clearly guessed something, but he didn't say anything.

Perhaps all these years of life had long since made him contemplate suicide, and he was only struggling to keep going because his responsibilities were not yet fulfilled...

……

In this abandoned classroom on the sixth floor of the castle, an old man and a young boy sat on the floor, chatting freely and without any inhibitions...

After a long while, Ian stretched his stiff shoulders and said, "I'm going to take photos later; I need to finish compiling a whole album before Christmas. By the way, Professor, if possible, let's take a picture together."

He looked around and suddenly realized that the only thing he could use was the Mirror of Eris, so he said, "Let's use this mirror as a backdrop."

"Haha, of course, no problem." Dumbledore said, waving his wand and turning an abandoned bench into a middle-aged man with a somewhat blank expression.

After Ian found the right angle, he handed the camera to it and stood with Dumbledore. Behind them was an abandoned classroom and an exceptionally ornate mirror...

"Click"

The camera shutter clicked, and time seemed to stand still...

"Thank you. If there's nothing else, I should be going now. I've stayed long enough."

……

After saying goodbye to Dumbledore, he continued to wander around with his camera, looking for beautiful or interesting places to take pictures.

Over the next few days, Ian completely transformed into a photography enthusiast, photographing the castle, then the towers, then the Forbidden Forest. With the phoenix present, he wasn't worried about the long journey at all.

Christmas is approaching day by day, and the weather is getting colder and colder, with snowflakes falling from the sky from time to time.

Ian, dressed in a thick robe, sat atop the astronomy tower, a magical flame burning behind him to keep warm, gazing at the snow-covered Hogwarts.

The sudden heavy snowfall lasted for a full day and night, accumulating to an unprecedented depth of over two feet. Even Professor Kettleburn had to move his Magical Creatures Protection class indoors into the castle.

While some rejoiced, others suffered. He encountered Filch, who was cursing and swearing, more than once in the castle. Filch was either complaining about the weather or berating the students. In short, the snow had suddenly increased Filch's workload.

The happiest ones are the Gryffindors, whose energetic little lions can always find fun in anything.

For example... the latest news his roommate Andre told him was that the Gryffindor Weasley twins, while Professor Quirrell wasn't looking, chased him around with enchanted snowballs, and one snowball even hit him hard on the back of the head, knocking him unconscious on the spot.

In return, they received a one-month internment pass from Professor McGonagall after the Christmas holidays.

Fortunately, not many points were deducted. Perhaps the upright vice-principal had long been fed up with Quirrell's perfunctory teaching, or perhaps Professor McGonagall did not want to break the tradition of deducting points on Christmas.

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(P.S.: New book, please add to your favorites, recommend, invest in, and vote with monthly tickets.)

A heartfelt thank you to all the readers! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

The seedlings need your help and support!

(End of this chapter)