Archaeologists at Hogwarts

Chapter 7 Dumbledore
Dumbledore was silent.

Toby has already silently planned dozens of evasion plans in his heart.No matter which direction "Ancient Magic" is thrown from, he is confident that he can dodge it smoothly.

This is the pride of being an archaeologist!
"Fortunately, I didn't make this book too thick."

Toby secretly rejoiced in his heart.

Fortunately, Principal Dumbledore maintained enough demeanor. He did not personally teach Toby, a mischievous student, but sighed deeply: "When I say 'bring', I mean that there is no record The information in the book. You're going to surprise me, Toby."

"So you've met Hagrid already?"

Al didn't dare to move, trying to pretend to be a pendant.

Toby also tried to pretend that nothing happened: "Um, yes, I have seen Hagrid, and Harry, Harry Potter, Lily and James' children, I have also seen him, just He hasn't looked very well over the years and is totally unworthy of his savior status."

Toby blamed Dumbledore intentionally or unintentionally, but Dumbledore just shook his head and said, "This matter is not as simple as you think, Toby. If possible, I also hope that Harry can live a happy life, but--"

Toby was listening carefully to every word Dumbledore said, but Dumbledore didn't continue, scratching Toby's heart.

"Let's change the subject."

Dumbledore raised his head and said, looking into Toby's eyes: "Only a few people know that since Voldemort's power died out, you have submitted applications to me for many years in a row. Can you tell me why?"

Toby sat across from Dumbledore, he suddenly became interested in a silver spinning top, fiddled with his fingers and said: "If you have read those job applications, you should understand, I said in the letter It's pretty clear - it's only since I left Hogwarts that I've finally realized how much of a fortune I've lost, and it's pretty much the only old building that's survived, even compared to other wizarding schools , Hogwarts is also the oldest."

"Together with its great founders - Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Helga Hufflepuff, and Rowena Ravenclaw, in four Under the influence of a legendary wizard, Hogwarts also keeps countless secrets."

"I dare say that until now, no headmaster has been able to know all the secrets in the school, not even you, Headmaster Dumbledore. Not to mention the professors and students, and these secrets are very important to a professional archaeologist. Attraction is deadly enough."

"I have been to many countries and explored many ancient magical relics - pyramids in Egypt, palaces in the Himalayas, cities under distant lakes, but I can't ignore the existence of Hogwarts."

"One day, I'll be back, sooner or later."

Toby said these words calmly, he did not meet Dumbledore's eyes, Dumbledore was still watching him.

"You're playing with Hogwarts."

Dumbledore said: "It's really not a wise decision to reveal your true inner thoughts in front of a headmaster. You should know that I will stop you so as to avoid bad influence on the students in the school." .eg. Cursed Vault, that's already happened once."

The Cursed Vault was a special event that lasted for a long time, starting in 1984 and ending in 1991.During this period, several students discovered the Ice Treasure, Fear Treasure, Cursed Treasure, and Forest Treasure. (From the plot of the game Hogwarts Mystery)

The opening of each vault brings big trouble to Hogwarts.

Although Toby was not involved in this series of disputes, the treasure house incident undoubtedly greatly reduced his chances of successfully becoming a professor—archaeologist?Sounds like it's made for trouble.

Toby spread his hands helplessly: "But I really think so, and I also know that I can't hide this idea from you at all. It would be better to say it in advance."

Dumbledore shook his head and retorted: "But you and I both know that this is not all your thoughts. What you are saying now is not as much as our correspondence."

After a pause, Dumbledore added: "It also didn't include the reasons for our quarrel many years ago."

When the conversation reached the most critical moment, the topic inevitably led to the quarrel.

It was because of that quarrel that Toby decided to leave England.

On the one hand, it was to avoid Voldemort's solicitation, and on the other hand, it was also related to his reluctance to join the Order of the Phoenix.

Speaking of which, the reason why Voldemort recruited him was somewhat related to that quarrel.

Toby was silent for a while.

"You know me, Headmaster," he whispered.

"It is impossible for me to give up the pursuit of ancient magic, and I have never given up exploring the reasons for the decline of ancient magic - the level of magic in the magic world is gradually decreasing, and I have too many examples to prove this - from wandless magic to There are wand-magic transformations, giant-sized Patronuses, those ancient Greek wizards like never before."

"Even if their influence is excluded, there are many wizards who provided evidence in the duel competition alone. There are records for every match, which is the most complete information."

"You are also aware of this, and I have told you the truth about my purpose - as long as we figure out the reason for the decrease in the level of magic power, and then find a way to gradually increase the strength of magic power, we can have more powerful power, the so-called wizard War, and the Mysterious Man, are not worth mentioning in front of this power."

Dumbledore stared at the steadfast Toby, and time seemed to return to that night many years ago, at the same place. In front of his most trusted self, Toby showed great ambition and ambition.

He wants to restore the magic world to its proper level, trying in vain to trace the source of magic.

In the end, he wants to prove to the entire wizarding world——

[Muggle-borns are no different from pure-blood wizards. 】

[Even more superior! 】

"I did read your letter."

Dumbledore sighed and said, "I really didn't know that the comforting words at the beginning would lead you to such an unknown direction."

"But you are right." Toby said immediately: "Even Muggle-borns have the blood of wizards, but it took many generations to re-master magic and awaken the hidden talent in the blood. The so-called Muggles Those who are born are all descendants of wizards."

"Especially in earlier times, Muggle-borns were all called [Muggle], which was more respectful than now. Wizards at that time believed that Muggle-borns were more important than wizards from pure wizarding families. It was not until the implementation of the "International Wizarding Confederation of Secrecy" that wizards began to distrust Muggles. Pure-blood supremacy also began to spread gradually, and the term Mumble was gradually abandoned by people—"

"Toby!" Dumbledore interrupted suddenly: "I understand your thoughts, you know I understand you, but you also know how dangerous these thoughts are, otherwise Voldemort would not have insisted on recruiting you— He wants to master powerful ancient magic, and wants to have even more powerful power."

"Your research was full of too many uncertainties. It was during the war, and you couldn't guarantee that your research results were only beneficial to us. At that time, the entire magical world was occupied by pure-blood supremacy. Once the wizards found themselves With more strength, do you know what they will do?"

"war!"

Dumbledore looked directly into Toby's eyes: "A war that spreads to a wider area! They will think that Muggles are no big deal, so they will declare war on Muggles!"

"Not many people have seen such a war. They don't know what will happen in the future, but I have seen it. During the period when Grindelwald ruled Europe, I witnessed the war that Muggles and wizards participated in together. You can't imagine how tragic that was."

"But you have to know that even if Grindelwald failed to win this war in the end, he is a wizard supremacist, but this does not mean that he will ignore the threat of Muggles, on the contrary, he knows Just how powerful is the enemy you are about to face."

"But Grindelwald still failed."

"I dare say that even among all the wizards, there is no one who understands Muggles better than him. Even if I count myself, I will be mentioned by those Death Eaters who are full of pure-blood supremacy. And so is Voldemort."

"They'll bring wizards to their doom. The Statute of Secrecy was never meant to protect Muggles, it was meant to protect wizards."

"Believe me, Toby, I've seen war firsthand, and that's why I'm stopping you."

"Trust me, I've seen it with my own eyes."

Toby remained silent throughout, and he did not refute.

This was the biggest difference between him and Dumbledore at the beginning, and both of them understood each other.

Dumbledore knew that Toby was so persistent because of his school experience, wanting to prove that Muggle-borns are superior to pure-blood wizards.

And Toby also knew that Dumbledore was worried that his research would lead the war to a more terrifying direction. Not only would his own wizards become stronger, but the Death Eaters would also become stronger, and their ambitions would also follow. Expansion, which was very beneficial to the pure-blood supremacy at the time, would allow more wizards to actively join their camp.

Until finally, the war between wizards and Muggles broke out completely.

But neither Toby nor Dumbledore could give up their ideas.

The saddest part is that it all started with a word of comfort.

"Son, I want you to know that even if you are sorted into Slytherin House, that doesn't mean you are weaker than those pure-blood wizards."

"There is definitely some superior quality in you, that's why the Sorting Hat sorted you into Slytherin House regardless of blood."

"Go find this quality and prove your excellence."

"You are no different."

The conversation finally reached the point of no return, and Toby finally stopped playing with the top. He stood up, his long hair drooping in front of his eyes, and he couldn't see the expression on his face clearly.

"So it seems that I should go."

Toby's tone was extremely calm: "I will come back again, principal."

"You'd better live longer. The Sorcerer's Stone is indeed a good solution."

He turned and strode toward the oak door.

"Toby."

Just then, Dumbledore's voice came from behind him:

"I have no intention of breaking my promise. This is what we agreed in the letter in advance. You are still the new professor at Hogwarts, in charge of the ancient magic course."

It was as if a gust of wind had blown, and in the blink of an eye from Dumbledore, Toby had already returned to his original position.

He said with a serious face: "Then let's talk about salary, principal. I used to be the ace spellbreaker of Gringotts, and the salary is not low at all-by the way, I still want Slug Professor Horne's office, I've been envious of that room for a long time, the dean never treats me badly, so it's better not to be asked to leave, of course, if the person who occupies it is Severus, I will Have a good talk with him, I believe he will not refuse the opportunity to show his office to a newcomer."

Dumbledore suddenly felt a headache. He rubbed his forehead and said, "We can discuss the issue of salary again, and Horace's office can also be given to you. You must never go to Severus. They haven't completely calmed down."

"His air is really small."

Toby said leisurely, completely out of the frustration just now, and he even had the mood to ask one more question: "Is there any lemonade, principal? I'm almost dying of thirst after talking so much."

Dumbledore snapped his fingers wearily, he had already begun to miss that serious Toby.

Toby lifted the lemonade to his shoulders first, and let Al drink it up. Then he bit the straw, glanced at the portraits of the previous principals, and waved hello to each of them.

After finally enjoying his drink, Toby let out a comfortable breath: "To be honest, Principal, I really planned to leave just now, and I even thought about how to find a new job. I definitely can't go back to Egypt." , Larry was rejected by me not long ago, and I didn't give him any good looks."

Dumbledore watched Toby calmly, and Toby's voice gradually became quieter, and he coughed twice in embarrassment.

"Have you finished your drink?" Dumbledore asked calmly, his tone not angry and pretentious.

Toby nodded quickly: "The lemonade in the principal's office is always the most delicious."

Dumbledore's mouth twitched.

He picked up the Philosopher's Stone on the table, stood up, and walked outside the house.

"Come with me when you're done drinking."

Toby clapped hands with Al silently, followed closely behind Dumbledore, and asked curiously, "Where are we going, Headmaster?"

Dumbledore did not answer this question, but answered another doubt in Toby's mind: "You must be wondering why I agreed to your entry request?"

Toby nodded.

Judging from the conversation just now, the differences between the two people have not changed.In other words, Dumbledore could have promised Toby tomorrow.

"One of the reasons is that you really listened to me."

Dumbledore said calmly: "You didn't write all the ideas in "Ancient Magic", that's why this book reads so badly, with no beginning and no end. But on the other hand, this also reduces the magic world. the threat implied in it.”

"What threat?" Toby asked immediately.

The two stopped in front of a room on the far right on the fourth floor. Toby had never entered this classroom, and he wasn't even sure if it was a professor.

Dumbledore finally said: "The threat to take the Sorcerer's Stone in vain."

The door of the house was pushed open, and Toby noticed that it did not impose any powerful protective magic, just an unlocking spell was enough.

Inside was a dark hall with nothing in it. Dumbledore opened a trapdoor on the floor and jumped in with Toby.

Then they passed through several rooms one after another. Toby's deepest impression was the chessboard room. He had never seen such a huge wizard's chess set. It must be very shocking to play.

Finally, Toby and Dumbledore stopped in the last room, which was empty and, like many other rooms, not yet fully furnished.

These houses gave Toby a strong sense of déjà vu. He has explored many ancient ruins, some of which need to go through one level after another, and finally reach the end of victory—it may be an unknown treasure, or it may be Just an empty room with nothing to gain.

"You asked me why I agreed to you."

Dumbledore turned around, his eyes behind the glasses were extremely complicated, full of inexplicable meaning.

But there was no doubt that Toby saw guilt in it.

deep guilt.

Dumbledore uttered a name that Toby had only met a while ago.

"Harry Potter."

(End of this chapter)