Chapter 569 Who Would Refuse Ginger Cookies?

In the evening, dark clouds covered the sky, and misty rain fell on the green grounds. Hogwarts Castle spent the first day of the new school year, and the bustling castle gradually became quiet.

After dinner, a warm yellow light shines through the window. The professors return to their offices to review the students' summer homework and prepare for tomorrow's teaching content. At the same time, in the principal's office, students are huddled on the bookshelves. Phoenix Fox, who was rubbing a book to scratch his itch, suddenly stopped.

Most of the books displayed on Dumbledore's bookshelf are Christmas gifts from others, professors who have worked in the school, students who graduate on time every year, and friends who have had exchanges at home and abroad. It seems that everyone thinks that this old man The professor is a person who loves to read.

Every Christmas morning, Fox would always see his office piled with books, but only a few people knew that Dumbledore would only read a few things that interested him, such as fairy tales, Muggle studies, and a collection of cold jokes. Books like "Magic Transformation Trends", "The Development of Alchemy in the Past Ten Years", and "Major Research Breakthroughs in the Magic World" will only be transferred to Mrs. Pince and become part of the library's collection.

The books that can be stored on the bookshelf of the principal's office are extremely rare, and each one has unique characteristics.

This phoenix, which had passed through nirvana countless times and was particularly sensitive to magic, retracted its wings and opened its eyes wide. It clearly sensed that the medium-sized but thick book in front of it was emitting some kind of fluctuation, which was strong and obvious.

The outer sheepskin cover of the book buzzed and vibrated, as if it could not wait to be opened. Fox quickly took a few steps back and called twice to the white-bearded old wizard who was bending over the desk not far away and looking through documents.

"Oh, don't worry Fawkes, it's just a..." Dumbledore put down his quill and stood up slowly, walked around the desk and chair to the bookshelf, first reached out and stroked Phoenix's head, and then calmly He took out the book and said, "In Muggle terms, this is just a phone call... Well, it's just a book talk..."

The trembling book fell into Dumbledore's hands and suddenly became quiet. A red bookmark rope stretched out as dexterously as a tentacle. He searched for it in the pages for a while, then reached into a certain page in the book and gently plucked it. Opening it, a rough voice immediately sounded from the book: "Albus, if you move any slower, I will cut off the contact!"

Dumbledore watched the portraits on the pages of the book gradually come to life, and the colors gradually became brighter and more vivid. He held the book and slowly walked back to the desk and sat down. He waved his wand and turned over the portraits of the previous principals in the office, and chuckled: "Oh, Alastor, please be considerate of my old bones. I can't run around to open the book..."

The portrait of Mad Eye Moody on the page became lifelike, the blue evil eye kept turning, the beard and scars on his face seemed to have come to life, and squirmed slightly as he spoke: "Why don't you understand me, a cripple! I have a lame leg and I have to run everywhere for you, from Diagon Alley to Knockturn Alley, from Knockturn Alley to Ben Nevis, from Ben Nevis to Nurmengard in Austria, and finally to Germany... Merlin, no one with normal legs would travel so many places in such a short time, this is simply abusing a cripple!"

"Oh, we discussed it, didn't we? You don't have to do this alone. Remus and Sirius are willing to run a few places for you."

Dumbledore listened to the complaints of his old friend, always with a gentle smile on his face, but his eyes dimmed for a moment when he heard the name of a familiar place.

"Those reckless young people are not reliable, and they are not even as good as students who have not yet graduated!" The portrait on the page waved his hand impatiently, and Moody muttered, "I won't gossip with you anymore, I'm in a hurry. , tell me what I learned.”

"It's an honor to be in this audience."

"The little guy you selected is a good one. He found the three smartest brothers and sisters in the giant tribe, and drew some weird things on one of them. I can't understand it, but it's alchemy stuff anyway. The result is that the giant tribe has completely changed..." Mad-Eye Moody chuckled and shook his terrifying head, "If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, no one would believe that those giants who were similar to giant monsters were actually running schools. It’s incredible, when I went there I just happened to..."

Dumbledore's smile became even thicker. He didn't know what kind of scene was coming to his mind, and his blue eyes were a little dazed: "It seems that in this war, we won't face those big guys with thick skin and flesh."

"But they don't want to join our side!" Moody's muffled voice came from the page, "It seems that except for those two little guys, no one else can convince them."

"This is enough. The war between wizards should not involve other races in the first place." Dumbledore came back to his senses and said gently and calmly, "Tell me about the subsequent investigation and any unusual findings. ?"

"I got some information from Bo Jin Blog and Mundungus. Starting about two weeks ago, a group of unidentified people began to secretly search for a person. The name and identity are not clear. There are almost no clues, only a picture. Photos of when he was young, but the guys who were looking for him said that the person they were looking for was at least a hundred years old, so it would be difficult to find him. "The figure on the page suddenly paused at this point, as if he heard something, and he was cautious. Looking to the side, the portrait's movements suddenly froze, and only the sound of thumping footsteps could be heard.

Dumbledore was not in a hurry, he heard clearly the sound of Alastor's cane hitting the ground.

After a moment, the portrait on the page came to life again. Mad-Eye Moody took out his curved wine bottle and took a sip: "I am currently in a bar in Germany. It is very uneventful here. There are also people looking for the person in the photo. People, the search intensity is even stronger than in Britain... The thing you asked me to investigate is spread everywhere, and there is no need to ask specifically. The wand maker who is as famous as Ollivander has disappeared, causing the new little wizard here to have to Buy wands somewhere else, there will be a lot of noise..."

"I think he has been killed, Alastor..." Dumbledore said softly, "Tell us about the situation in Nurmengard. How is it there?"

"Oh, how should I put it..." Moody's magic eye in the portrait suddenly stopped moving, as if he glanced at Dumbledore through the pages of the book inadvertently, and said in a deep voice, "No one cares about that prison at all, and there is only one regular person left. The staff who delivered the food, as for the famous dark wizard..."

"..."

Dumbledore rubbed his knuckles on the book cover, and his deep eyes were hidden behind the crescent-shaped lenses, flashing with a faint blue light, "I know, Alastor, come back as soon as possible, they are about to press the button." I can’t stand it anymore, the Order of the Phoenix needs you to take charge of the work.”

"knew."

The portrait on the page gradually faded, and the smart magic eye lost its vitality and became fixed, staring straight ahead motionless. The originally vivid portrait became rigid and lifeless.

Dumbledore slowly closed the book and sat behind the desk without moving for a long time. He did not put the book back on the shelf or reopen the documents he had reviewed before.

Loren pushed open the oak door of the principal's office and saw this scene.

Night fell slowly, and the thick and dark night completely covered the dark clouds. The bright candlelight in the office burned quietly. Phoenix Fox curled up and nestled on the bookshelf. His small head faced the desk, and his eyes stared straight at the old principal in a daze. Or rather staring at the magic book in his hand.

Loren closed the door, came to the desk and sat down in a familiar manner. Looking at the unresponsive old principal, he hesitated for two seconds and said tentatively: "Voldemort is attacking Hogwarts!"

"..."

Dumbledore couldn't help laughing. The sadness in his mind was swept away, and a smile appeared on his lips: "That's really good news."

"What were you thinking about, principal? You didn't even respond when I came in."

"Thinking about some difficult philosophical questions."

Loren raised his eyebrows and said, "Who am I? Where do I come from? Where am I going?"

"Um……"

Dumbledore's gray eyebrows slowly wrinkled together, "It sounds simple and straightforward, but if you think about it carefully, you will find that these three questions can trigger countless thoughts and imply countless answers, but no answers can truly answer them. It is really rich. Philosophical questions, I once had similar questions when I just graduated from Hogwarts..."

"hiss……"

Loren took a breath of air and quickly interrupted the old principal's deep thinking: "Philosophical concepts are too broad. Let's focus on the practical issues in front of us."

"Have you encountered any difficulties in real life, Loren?" Dumbledore blinked, put the magic book on the table, and poured him a cup of hot cocoa with the teapot. "Speaking of which, the past few years In the middle of the year, after every school opening party, we would have a good chat. Last night I specially prepared ginger biscuits, but the guest waiting for me was not you..."

"Your office was too crowded last night, so I'll make room for them." Loren waved his hand and started talking about serious matters, "Now there is a malicious Senior Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic in the school who works part-time in the Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Professor, there are a large number of dark wizards outside the school searching for the whereabouts of the Elder Wand, and Voldemort and Death Eaters are lurking in the dark waiting for opportunities..."

Loren sorted out all the events during this period one by one, focusing on what happened in the first Defense Against Dark Arts class today. He glanced at the simple and dark wand on the table, paused and said: " If this continues, Harry will have a head-on duel with Professor Umbridge in less than two lessons. Headmaster, do you have any plans?"

Dumbledore looked at the little wizard with black hair and black eyes in front of him. Although his face was still childish, he already showed some demeanor that was far beyond that of an adult. Alastor was right...

Putting aside all the thoughts in his mind, he asked pretending to be confused: "Plan...what plan?"

"Of course it's a plan to deal with Voldemort and the Ministry of Magic, otherwise what else could it be?" Loren rolled his eyes: "Save the auditorium and let Professor Umbridge have a duel with Harry..."

"Sounds like a good idea..." Dumbledore frowned, lost in thought, and nodded seriously. He couldn't help laughing until he saw his eyes rolled to the sky, "Actually, , I think your plan is very good..."

Having said this, he took a sip of hot cocoa and squinted his eyes comfortably: "Let Umbridge lead the Aurors from the Ministry of Magic to pursue it. With proper guidance, they can follow the clues and find Voldemort." As long as someone steps forward to ensure safety at the right time, Voldemort's traces will be exposed and the Ministry of Magic will be on our side. Am I right? "

Loren did not deny it, only grinned: "This is a development under ideal conditions."

"I will try my best to create conditions for this plan..." Dumbledore smiled, "As before, I need you to keep an eye on Harry's condition, especially his dreams..."

The brown-black hot cocoa emitted white steam, and the rich aroma spread. The content of the conversation gradually returned to the normal chat between a professor and a student, about the experience of O.W.L.s exams, about the tricks of Transfiguration, about what new products the honey candy store has launched...

When it was about to turn off the lights, Loren drank a shallow layer of the bottom of the cup, his eyes inadvertently swept around the table, and whispered: "There is one more thing..."

Dumbledore's eyes moved slightly, his smooth breathing was slightly disordered for a moment, his peripheral vision swept over the elderberry wand, and he looked at Loren calmly.

"There should be some ginger biscuits left, give me some, I haven't had the opportunity to go to the supermarket during the summer vacation, I only bought a little on the train, and my snack reserves are all gone."

The old principal was obviously stunned for a moment, and then a bright smile broke out on his face.

…

After chatting with the Fat Lady for a few words while chewing ginger biscuits, Loren walked into the portrait hole and saw that the Gryffindor common room was still bustling.

Lee Jordan, George and Fred were sitting among a group of innocent-looking first-year students, constantly taking things out of a large paper bag and stuffing them into the mouths of the little guys. Each of the new students was chewing something in their mouths, with clear stupidity in their eyes, and they were eating with relish.

The newly appointed prefects Parvati and Neville stood by, wanting to say something but hesitant, and wanted to say something again, as if they wanted to go up and persuade them but didn't dare.

In a few seconds, the first-year students were like being hit on the head by an invisible sledgehammer, and they fainted in their seats one by one. Some slid to the ground with their hands and feet too weak to get up, and some just collapsed on the armrests of the chairs, their eyes dull and their tongues hanging out.

The people watching nearby laughed, and George and Fred squatted down with a clipboard with a spring clip, carefully observing the unconscious first-year students writing and drawing with quills.