When Albert used the Imperius Curse to let Ginny Weasley return to the dormitory by herself, Professor McGonagall had just woken up Madam Pomfrey who had fallen asleep.
The head nurse only put on a jacket over her pajamas and hurried out with Professor McGonagall. When she saw the boy lying stiffly on the bed, she couldn't help but gasp.
"What's going on?" Madam Pomfrey asked Dumbledore in a low voice.
She walked to the bedside and leaned over to check the boy's condition. This symptom was very strange and she had never seen it before. The boy's body was as stiff as a stone, and she couldn't help but connect it to the rumors she had heard a while ago.
To be honest, if there was no precedent, Madam Pomfrey would have even suspected that the stiff boy in front of her was already dead.
"Another attack," Dumbledore said calmly, "McGonagall found him on the stairs."
The three of them looked at Colin intently, trying to find some clues about the attacker from him.
"I heard Mr. Creevey's cry and came out to check the situation, and found that he had been attacked." Professor McGonagall lowered her voice and said, "You should also notice Mr. Creevey's wide eyes and stunned expression.
Yes, he must have seen the attacker, and the attacker was probably an unexpected guy.
"What should we do, I mean how to treat him." Madam Pomfrey asked softly.
"The powerful restorative agent made from mandrake roots can lift the petrification curse." Dumbledore comforted: "Mrs. Sprout happens to have a batch of mandrake roots. When they mature, Severus can
Create an antidote."
"Petrified?" Madam Pomfrey frowned slightly and began to search for similar symptoms in her mind.
"Yes." Professor McGonagall's tone was full of uneasiness, "I have never heard of any black magic that can turn people into stone... I actually wanted to catch up with you before, but now I shudder when I think about it... If
If I hadn't met Albus, who knows what would have happened..."
"The Chamber of Secrets has been opened again." Dumbledore said softly.
"But Albus... you must know... who?" Professor McGonagall looked at Dumbledore blankly, hoping to get the answer from the other person's mouth.
"The question is not who," Dumbledore took out the camera from Colin's stiff fingers, "the question is, how did the other party do it."
Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey looked blank, obviously not understanding what Dumbledore said.
"Did he take a picture of the attacker?" Professor McGonagall looked at the camera and asked eagerly.
Dumbledore didn't answer, and reached out to pry open the back cover of the camera. A pungent smell of burning plastic came out of the camera.
Madam Pomfrey said in surprise, "It actually melted..."
Dumbledore replaced the back cover of the camera, placed it on the bedside table next to the hospital bed, and said to Madam Pomfrey, "Take care of Mr. Creevey until the preparation of the powerful recovery agent is completed."
"I will."
"This is very unusual Albus." Professor McGonagall followed Dumbledore out of the school hospital. "I noticed that Mr. Creevey was carrying a bunch of grapes. I guess he wanted to sneak here to see Albus.
The attacker was able to seize the opportunity accurately and quickly disappeared after using black magic to petrify Mr. Creevey."
"I will look into this matter."
Professor McGonagall stopped and looked at Dumbledore with an oppressive gaze: "You know what I mean, my student was attacked, and I can't turn a blind eye to this."
"Well, according to my sources, he is currently hiding in the forests of Albania."
"he?"
"Voldemort."
Professor McGonagall couldn't help but shudder when Dumbledore said this name.
"As far as I know, Voldemort is the last Slytherin heir." Dumbledore said calmly: "Although there is no evidence, I believe it was him who did it back then."
"Did he sneak into the school again?" Professor McGonagall thought of what happened last year, when Voldemort possessed Quirrell and invaded Hogwarts to steal the Philosopher's Stone.
"So, I just can't figure it out." Dumbledore continued walking forward, "How on earth did he do this."
Yes, Dumbledore couldn't figure this out.
In fact, Dumbledore went through the Albanian forest long after the Halloween attack.
In that forest, traces of Voldemort's use of dark magic remained everywhere, and various signs showed that his old student was still hiding deep in the forest.
Since Voldemort was in the Albanian forest, how did he do it?
Horcrux?
Last time, Albert found the diadem, confirming that Voldemort had created a Horcrux.
Based on his knowledge of Voldemort, the other party should have created more than one Horcrux.
However, Dumbledore was also unfamiliar with evil black magic items like Horcruxes.
Dumbledore took a cup of hot chocolate from the kitchen and returned to the principal's office. He looked at the old bird standing on the branch and murmured: "Fox, you need to act quickly. I will need your help soon."
Dumbledore had actually already made guesses about the Chamber of Secrets and the monsters in it.
Fifty years ago, when Myrtle was killed by the monster in the secret room, he had investigated the matter, although there was no evidence to prove the murderer at the time.
At that time, he could only remain silent and monitor the other party silently.
Dumbledore knew very well that even if he did extra things, nothing would change. He could only help Hagrid as much as possible.
After the attack on the night of the Halloween party, Dumbledore once again put the dusty memories into the Pensieve to look at them, trying to sort out valuable intelligence.
He was not in a hurry to catch the monster in the Chamber of Secrets. It was more important to find out how Voldemort did it.
As for the attack.
Dumbledore believed that professors' patrols would minimize the incident in the future, and Harry, who was involved in this incident, would continue to investigate.
Harry will face a new challenge again.
Dumbledore knew what risks he had to take, but he had to give Harry adequate training while he was still strong enough.
Only by giving Harry enough training can he grow up quickly and gradually get closer to the truth.
If he fails to get enough training, what should Harry do to cope with the difficulties he will face in the future?
Although sometimes, Dumbledore felt that he should have told Harry the truth, but Harry was too young, and twelve years old was really not much better than eleven years old.
He preferred to let Harry gradually understand the truth as he grew up. This was more useful than telling Harry the truth all at once. It would keep Harry's mind at peace and allow him to face everything bravely.