Chapter 115 Dumbledore's Thoughts

"...Mr. McLean, the specific situation is like this," Celine said. "To be honest, my mother only fainted for a while and woke up soon. So, we didn't pay much attention to it."

"But later, my mother's body became weaker and weaker... We also went to St. Mungo's to see it many times, but we couldn't find out why."

Maca nodded, and suddenly asked again: "Then, is there nothing else in that swamp?"

Celine shook her head and said, "No... Or, we couldn't see anything. After all, the poisonous fog there is too thick, and there is no way to go deep."

"Manchak Swamp..." Maca pondered carefully, "Ghost Swamp...voodoo..."

Words popped out of his mouth one by one, which were some information he knew.

But after a while, Maca finally shook his head.

"There must be a field investigation in the United States... Send your mother back to the bedroom first, and I will think of a way... At least get rid of the things attached to the soul first." Ma Ka said so.

"...In the state of your mother's mother, it has reached a critical point, and it will definitely not last us back from the United States."

The problem this time is really troublesome. As far as Maca is concerned, he is not sure that Celine's mother can fully recover.

Can the soul that has been devoured be made to spit out those things again?

"It seems that I have to trouble Principal Dumbledore this time..." Maca rubbed his frowning brows, thinking to himself.

To be honest, although it was all a matter of the soul, the situation of Celine's mother had nothing to do with his own emotional closure. This matter could already be confirmed.

But judging from a rational point of view, it was a matter of course to stay away from such obvious troubles—in fact, Snape was probably doing just that.

But Maca, who has been denying this way of judging and trying to find her emotions, did not choose to evade.

Besides, he is really interested in that thing that can only devour souls.

When I came out of the "Snow Witch", it was already snowing heavily outside, and it seemed that it would not stop for a while.

Maca tightened the robe on her body, stared at Fengxue and walked towards the secret passage...

Hogwarts Castle is still empty, and the students are still enjoying their happy holidays, so it will be empty for a while.

But Dumbledore never had much time for vacation.

At the moment, he is still sorting out various materials in the principal's office, and by the way, he has to prepare the documents for the Ministry of Magic to keep on file. To be honest, throughout the year, Dumbledore had few days when he was really free.

Just as he was immersed in various affairs, he seemed to have noticed something, and suddenly raised his head to look at the door.

At the same time, after several regular knocks on the door, a voice came in.

"...Professor Dumbledore, I'm Maca McClain, and I need your help with something."

Hearing this voice, the wrinkles on Dumbledore's face seemed to stretch out.

He'd been waiting, waiting for the kid McLean to come to him for help—even if it was a little favor.

The kid was indeed quite intelligent and very assertive. Judging from the way he interacts with people and handles things, it seems that there is no need to worry too much.

He is not like the original Tom Riddle, he is better and more capable than Tom. But what Dumbledore valued was his sincere heart that was hidden deeply.

As a wizard, a wizard who will eventually become stronger, this is especially important.

But right now, the kid McLean is walking on the old path he once gave up on. That road was too bumpy and difficult, and the burdens to bear were pressed one after another,

Even Dumbledore himself couldn't go on.

He was really worried about whether this child would be crushed, crushed, and go the wrong way in confusion.

As a teacher who has taught students like Voldemort, Dumbledore chose to wait this time.

He will no longer rashly encourage the students he values, but he will also not interfere casually or forcibly correct them. All he's doing is trusting a smart kid and giving him advice when he asks for help, that's all.

"Come in," Dumbledore said loudly.

The door opened automatically, and Maca walked in quickly without hesitation.

"Professor," Maca said, "You must have heard about the witch yesterday—"

Dumbledore nodded, motioning for him to continue.

"When I went to visit her mother today, I found some strange conditions." Maca continued, "From my judgment, St. Mungo's therapist misdiagnosed her mother's disease, so I personally made a medical treatment for her mother. an examination."

He emphasized his tone and said seriously: "I found something strange on her mother's soul—it was a smoky thing, they were constantly gnawing and devouring the soul..."

"And now, her mother's soul is incomplete."

Dumbledore couldn't help sullen when he heard this.

Devouring the soul, anything that involves this kind of situation is generally not a trivial matter.

Immediately afterwards, Maca briefly talked about the Manchak Swamp, but Dumbledore shook his head immediately.

"I know that place," he said calmly, "I must not go there unless it is absolutely necessary."

After all, he said to Maca: "Bring her mother here... Or, do you want me to help you with something else?"

Maca shook his head and said, "No, it's just this matter. It's a bit beyond my ability. As for the soul, I've only learned some fur."

"For the time being, it's completely impossible to start, and her mother can't wait anymore."

Dumbledore stared at Maca with piercing eyes for a while, and then said: "That's it, McLean, bring her to me."

After Maca thanked him, he left in a hurry.

"The mind is very firm, and the goal is very clear..." Dumbledore looked at the closed door, nodded secretly, "I lost my feelings, but I didn't immerse myself in this efficient and clear mind, and I still affirmed the past. The self...this is the most precious."

...

After New Year's Day, everyone was back at school, and Scabbers was unexpectedly back in Ron's bed, which made him a little happier - but he looked even more listless.

The next day, school started.

Two hours in the playground on a cold January morning was the last thing anyone wanted to do; but Hagrid had a big fire full of fire monsters for fun, and the students had a It was an uncharacteristically good lesson—they gathered dead leaves to keep the fire going, and the fire-loving lizards hopped on the splintered, red-hot logs.

The first divination class of the new semester was much worse than this.

Professor Trelawney, who was now teaching them palmistry, lost no time in telling Harry that he had the shortest lifeline she had ever seen.

Soon, the morning class was over.

"He's still looking sickly, isn't he?" Ron was referring to Professor Lupine, who had the last class of the morning.

They were walking down the corridor, going to lunch.

"What do you think happened to him?" Ron asked curiously.

Just then, there was a loud, impatient beep behind them. That was Hermione, who had been sitting under a suit of armor, arranging her schoolbag. There are too many books, and the schoolbag can't close.

"What are you mumbling to us?" Ron asked her impatiently.

"That's the sound of a car horn..." Harry explained, fearing that Ron would not understand.

"It's nothing." Hermione said haughtily, putting her schoolbag back on her shoulders.

"No, there's something," said Ron, "I said I didn't know there was anything wrong with Lupine, and you just—"

"Oh, isn't that obvious?" said Hermione, with a maddening sense of superiority.

"If you don't want to tell us, then don't!" Ron exclaimed.

"Okay," said Hermione haughtily, and left.

"She doesn't know," said Ron, glaring at Hermione angrily. "She just wants us to talk to her again."

Harry shrugged and said, "You should be more polite, didn't Hermione specially find Professor McGonagall for Scabbers...Although Scabbers disappeared at the time..."

"Yeah yeah," Ron sighed, "well, I guess I should...but I can't help it when I see her like that!"

"She refrained from telling Professor McGonagall about the Firebolt, so bear with it!" Harry is really in a good mood now, and he is about to ride the best broom on the field!

And recently, his Patronus Charm has become more and more proficient, which is also an exciting thing.

"Let's continue talking about Professor Lupine..."

A week into term, Ravenclaw and Slytherin had a first match.

Slytherin won, but it was close.

According to Wood, this is good news for the Gryffindor team. Because, if Gryffindor wins Ravenclaw, it can still occupy second place.

So Wood increased his training sessions to five times a week - meaning Harry only had two evenings a week to spend on homework.

Even so, Harry didn't look as tired as Hermione.

Hermione had taken too many classes, and the burden of the courses was finally showing on her.

Every night, Hermione always appeared in a corner of the common room, with various textbooks spread out on the tables in front of her: arithmetic charts, various magic dictionaries, illustrations of Muggles lifting heavy objects, and various ranges. Extensive notes... She rarely talks to others, and when she is disturbed, she speaks in a nasty voice.

"How did she cope?"

Ron grumbled to Harry one night as Harry was finishing a thesis Snape had assigned on various undetectable poisons.

Harry looked up, and Hermione was almost out of sight, sitting behind a pile of precarious books.

"She's been looking like Maca lately..." Harry said, "Um... what to do?"