The two old men beneath the swaying willow branches fell silent, and the atmosphere grew stiff.
After destroying Slytherin's Resurrection Stone ring, Voldemort could not have had many Horcruxes left.
But there could be no margin for error in this matter.
Besides Nagini, who stayed at Voldemort's side, and Harry, were there any other Horcruxes?
If there were, exactly one or two?
If there were not—Dumbledore's silvery brows twitched.
Then things would be much simpler. With Amosta's help, he was even confident he could bring an end to all these sins before Christmas!
But the key was that Horace had always refused to reveal this crucial information to them.
With several sighs in his heart, Dumbledore looked at his old colleague. But when he saw Horace's expression, his gaze shifted slightly.
Beneath the crimson, blood-red sunset, Horace's face held traces of sorrow. He was looking across the lawn. From Dumbledore's angle, he seemed to be watching Harry.
Dumbledore's blue eyes behind the half-moon spectacles perched on his crooked nose narrowed slightly.
Horace was not a cold-blooded wizard. He must have felt guilty.
So many people had died at Voldemort's hands, including Harry's mother, Horace's favorite student.
Yet Voldemort had escaped the punishment he deserved because he possessed Horcruxes.
Horace must have been tormented by this.
But Horace was not a brave wizard. He was afraid of facing his mistakes, and afraid of suffering retaliation.
Then perhaps...
Dumbledore, deep in thought, suddenly stirred. He raised his head and looked toward the young figure walking over along the cobblestone path.
"Oh, Amosta—"
"What?"
Pulled from his sorrow and self-reproach, Horace came back to himself. Then he too spotted Amosta, who was smiling as he answered students' questions while making his way over.
"Ha!"
The gloom on Horace's face immediately brightened.
"Look who