Hogwarts: I'm Harry's older cousin

Chapter 364, Chapter 358: Marvolo Gaunt's Ring

"What professor? You mean Snape?"

Ron didn't think straight; his first thought was to have Snape take over as their Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.

He had always wanted this position.

Harry looked at Ron without saying anything, just sighed, patted him on the shoulder, and then turned to the others, saying, "Anyone who wants to study with us can come over."

"Harry, what do you mean by that?"

Ron was completely bewildered.

Inside the House of Request, a group of fifth-grade wizards began practicing Defense Against the Dark Arts under the remote guidance of a Den Den Mushi (a type of telephone mushi).

Principal's Office.

One thin and one strong, one old and one young, sat facing each other, staring at each other with wide eyes.

Above, the headmasters of Hogwarts from generation to generation were gathered together, whispering about something, while Fawkes was preening his feathers in his nest. After he had preened all his feathers, the two of them remained in their original positions.

"Professor Dumbledore, this thing is dangerous. I think you should give it to me."

Dudley finally broke the silence, but his words caused Dumbledore's expression to change slightly.

Dumbledore: "."

It feels like I should be the one saying this.

Am I the headmaster of Hogwarts?

On Dumbledore's desk sat a ring.

A ring set with a jet-black gemstone, with a surname engraved on the band—Gunter.

"Leave it to me, Professor Dumbledore."

Dudley stared intently at the elderly headmaster. He had recently noticed something was off about Dumbledore, and that's when he discovered the ring.

"Dullie." Dumbledore's deep blue eyes gleamed as he struggled with a fierce internal conflict.

This was the first time in the decades of his later life that he had the thought of wanting to possess something.

"You should know that it cannot fulfill your wish."

Dudley emphasized.

"I know, of course I know," Dumbledore murmured, trying to look away from the ring.

"But even if it's just a phantom, I want to see it. Even just once."

Dumbledore could take everything in stride, but he couldn't let go of what happened to his sister.

The ring on the table seemed to exude an irresistible allure, as if someone were whispering in its ear.

Wear it, and you can see anyone you want to see.

If it weren't for Dumbledore's incredible perseverance, someone else would probably have worn it long ago.

"So annoying!"

Dudley glared at the ring with great impatience.

It's not as if someone is whispering, but that the ring is truly whispering in your ear.

"If you keep babbling, I'll smash it."

Dudley, his face contorted with menace, stared intently at the ring.

However, the ring completely ignored Dudley, and the ever-seductive voice continued to linger in his ears.

then

Dudley silently took a pendant box out of his pocket.

With a slight squeeze in my hand, several cracks immediately appeared on the golden pendant box, and countless wisps of black smoke once again overflowed from the box, which also emitted a shrill scream.

Whether they actually listened to Dudley or not, this time, the mysterious whisper really disappeared.

Dali nodded in satisfaction and put the pendant box into his pocket.

"How did you get it?"

Dudley turned his gaze to Dumbledore.

Without that seductive voice, Dumbledore's condition improved considerably; at least he no longer kept glancing at the ring: "It's strange. One day it inexplicably appeared on my usual route, and I just happened to find it."

"Hogwarts?"

"No, it's in the Ministry of Magic."

Upon hearing this, Dali breathed a slight sigh of relief, then exclaimed.

"To deal with you, Senior Tom really went to great lengths."

It must be said that Voldemort truly discovered Dumbledore's weakness and threw out a bait that Dumbledore absolutely could not refuse.

Resurrection Stone.

One of the legendary Three Holy Relics of the Dead, it is said to be able to defy the rules of death, summon the souls of deceased relatives, and allow them to live on in an alternative form.

In reality, it can only summon a phantom resembling a relative; the so-called soul is nothing but a false illusion.

"This ring really can't be left with you. All other Horcruxes are fine, but this one is not."

"You don't believe me?"

"Dumbledore asked."

Dudley answered very decisively, "Yes, I don't believe you can resist using it."

Dumbledore: "."

This was the first time he had been rejected so decisively.

This is the first time I've heard someone say they don't believe in Dumbledore.

"If I were Tom, I would definitely tamper with this ring, that's for sure."

Dumbledore understood that there was definitely something wrong with the ring, and Voldemort was making it very clear that he had tampered with it.

But can you, Dumbledore, resist wearing it? Can you?

Even if others found out, could they stop Dumbledore? Could they?

This is an open conspiracy.

Often, a well-intentioned, overt strategy is more effective than any covert one.

Just then, the sound of the passageway being opened was heard outside, followed by a knock on the principal's office door.

"Albus, you're looking for us?"

Professors McGonagall and Snape walked in from outside, and when they saw Dudley inside, they did not show any surprise.

"No, not Professor Dumbledore, but me."

"Dali said."

Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape were the professors Dudley trusted most in the entire Hogwarts, second only to Dumbledore. While Professors Flitwick and Sprout were also trustworthy, having too many people talking and knowing too much was not a good thing.

"Professors, I need you to supervise Professor Dumbledore for a while."

"What happened?"

The two professors were puzzled.

"Professor Dumbledore has been targeted by that Dark Lord, and his only weakness has been discovered."

Now that Voldemort has discovered Dumbledore's weakness, he certainly won't let it go.

Dudley concealed the part about the Resurrection Stone, but told the two professors the truth about the rest. Then, without making a sound, he wiped the ring containing the Resurrection Stone on the table, and it disappeared.

It's best not to talk about the Resurrection Stone. Few people can resist using it, whether it's Professor McGonagall or Professor Snape, they both have deceased loved ones they miss dearly.

The two professors didn't notice the subtle movement, but Dumbledore did, though he opened his lips slightly but didn't say anything.

"Really? Dumbledore!"

Although they didn't know exactly what Dumbledore's weakness was, the two of them clearly became tense.

After a pause, Dumbledore finally nodded.

Dumbledore is the only one who can deal with the Dark Lord.

If his weaknesses are exploited by the other party, the consequences will be unimaginable.

"We will keep a close eye on him during this period."

The two professors spoke with serious expressions.

(End of this chapter)