In the magnificent hall, wizards dressed in elegant and gorgeous ceremonial robes were enjoying this unexpected banquet.
The invitation to the dinner was only sent out in the afternoon. At this time, the upper-class wizards of the British Ministry of Magic had already made other arrangements for tonight, but no matter who they were, as long as they received the invitation, they all turned it down.
All the activities were prepared in advance and I was invited to attend this gathering.
Just because this dinner was initiated by that great gentleman, receiving his invitation would only make people feel scared and honored, and no one would have the slightest idea of refusing.
The dinner started at 7 o'clock, and it has been two hours now, but the great gentleman is still sitting in the main seat at the front of the banquet hall, with a faint smile on his handsome and charming face, and he is listening absentmindedly.
The flattering Minister of Magic beside him, Cornelius Fudge, reported to him on the work of the ministry.
From beginning to end, he never announced the reason for holding this dinner, nor did he have any intention of ending the banquet.
Everything in the British magical world must serve the will of this gentleman. Even if this meaningless dinner continues like this for three days and three nights, as long as this gentleman does not say it is over, then the extremely noble wizards and witches here will
We all should smile and hold the goblet in our hands to maintain the elegance and luxury of this moment forever.
But at this moment, the door of the banquet hall was suddenly pushed open by the waiter outside.
The soft chatter and laughter among the wizards gradually stopped, and all eyes turned to the wizard who seemed to have arrived late.
With long greasy hair, a face as pale as if it had never been illuminated by sunlight, and eyes that seemed empty and emotionless, no one in the entire magical world had such obvious appearance characteristics.
Severus Snape, that gentleman's most trusted subordinate, is currently the Vice-Principal of Hogwarts, Head of the Pure-blood College, Professor of Potions, and concurrently Deputy Captain of the Death Eater Guards.
In the current magical world where blood classes are extremely strict, a person of mixed blood origin has an identity and status that far exceeds that of most pure-blood wizards.
In the banquet hall, someone looked at Snape walking in and couldn't help but frown.
Even though he was favored by his husband, he couldn't be arrogant on such occasions. He didn't come over until two hours after the dinner started.
However, just when some people were about to stand up and accuse Professor Snape, someone finally noticed the figure who walked in behind him and let out a burst of exclamations.
"Yuan, dean!"
Slughorn still had that harmless smile, and he had put on a brand new emerald green robe. He nodded slightly towards the witch who called him Dean, and responded.
The huge banquet hall instantly became silent.
Everyone present knew exactly who Slughorn was now. Although the Ministry of Magic had never included him on the list of wanted criminals, he was still on the same side as Dumbledore, the wizard sinner.
So what does it mean that he was brought here by Snape tonight?
The thoughtful wizard turned his attention to the man sitting on the main seat.
The greatest gentleman had already stood up from his seat when Slughorn entered the banquet hall.
He walked down the steps step by step, with a hint of enthusiasm evident in the faint smile on his face. When he came to Slughorn, he opened his arms.
Slughorn's face also had a blush that seemed to be caused by excitement. He also opened his arms and hugged the once most promising student in front of him.
"Welcome back, teacher."
The next moment, the warmest applause erupted in the banquet hall. No one knew why Slughorn, who had been hanging out with Dumbledore for the past two years, appeared here.
But these are not important. What is important is the attitude of the great gentleman towards their former dean. The attitude of the gentleman is the attitude of noble purebloods like them.
…
"Professor, I don't understand why the Dark Lord wants to get the Philosopher's Stone so much? Also, does he really believe that the teacher has betrayed us?"
In the old principal's office, Jon expressed his doubts.
An inexplicable smile appeared on Dumbledore's face, and he opened his mouth to answer Jon's doubts.
"It is true that the Philosopher's Stone has little appeal to him. The entire British magical world belongs to him. So what if the stone can create more wealth? As for the elixir of life, he has always been interested in relying on external objects to obtain immortality.
He would never give his trust in life to anyone else, even if it was a dead object. The only thing that attracted him was the alchemical value of the magic stone itself, but this attraction
Certainly not enough for him to work so hard to get it."
"The Philosopher's Stone is not the key to him. Whether I have this stone in my hand is the crux of the matter."
Jon said thoughtfully.
"He doesn't want Hogwarts to rely on this stone to continue to survive in the wizarding world?"
Dumbledore shook his head, with a slightly sarcastic smile on his face.
"He doesn't want me to drink the elixir of life."
Jon's face was stunned, and something suddenly clicked in his mind.
Now Voldemort has completely controlled the wizarding world, but Dumbledore is still alive!
The reason why Hogwarts in exile can survive is only because Dumbledore is still there.
These students and professors on the carriage, as well as the rebellious wizards in the Order of the Phoenix, Voldemort had never taken him seriously. Only Dumbledore, only he, could make the Dark Lord who had successfully taken power take him so seriously.
thing.
And if Dumbledore owns the Philosopher's Stone, it means that he has the capital to live without limit!
"But he obviously underestimated me." Dumbledore said softly, "He doesn't even look down on that false immortality, so how can I use it?"
"As for how I can be sure that he will trust that Horace really betrayed me and joined him, I don't need to be sure at all."
"He has never given anyone trust. For him, it doesn't matter whether they are loyal to those he is loyal to. What matters is whether the people under him can create due value for him. Of course, sometimes,
Absolute loyalty is also a value. And before it is confirmed that Horace really has absolute loyalty to him, the fact that Horace rebelled is already a very valuable thing."
Jon wasn't sure.
"Help him unite people's hearts?"
Dumbledore smiled approvingly.
"We have been wanted for seven years. During this period, he has made almost no big gains. Even if his absolute authority in the magic world has not wavered at all, after all, he has more people under his command, and he needs to give some to those who are wavering.