After climbing the stairs that could exhaust a person half to death and reaching the top floor, where Dumbledore's office stood behind a wooden door, Kayson deliberately paused and took two deep breaths to steady himself.
Creak... The door opened.
"Dumbledore, don't be afraid of what I'm about to tell you," Kayson said as he sat across from Dumbledore.
"I am the Headmaster of Hogwarts. I won't be afraid. Go on," Dumbledore said, putting on the glasses he had just cleaned.
"Quirinus Quirrell has a problem."
Dumbledore nodded. "Mm... You're very perceptive."
"Of course. Back when I was in school, the teachers always said I was... Hm?"
Kayson suddenly spotted the flaw.
"I'm perceptive? That means you already knew Quirrell had a problem, so why are you keeping him around?"
Dumbledore poured a cup of black tea and pushed it toward him.
"Do you remember when I asked you to make a fake Philosopher's Stone? I wanted to fish, and he is the fish."
"Then do you know Quirrell's true identity?" Kayson asked tentatively. He had already decided that if Dumbledore said he didn't know, he would have plenty to say.
That would surely lead to another bloody storm, but Dumbledore merely nodded. "His name is Tom Riddle. Of course, his other name is even more famous: Voldemort."
Kayson slumped back against his chair in frustration.
"You know. You know everything. You just don't know what this place is. This is Hogwarts, and it's full of little wizards."
Satisfaction from Dumbledore +10 Trust from Dumbledore +10 Affection from Dumbledore +10
"Forgive me, Kayson, but please trust me. Everything is going according to plan," Dumbledore said gently.
"It's not that I don't trust you. Perhaps you are very powerful," Kayson said earnestly.
After coming to Hogwarts and reading many books, he was no longer the person who thought Dumbledore was just an old man who liked playing with lighters.
Dumbledore was the genuine strongest wizard in the world.
"But I still don't think you can keep watch over his every move."
"Actually, I can. Every portrait in Hogwarts Castle is my informant, along with the House-elves and the professors."
"Sure, whatever you say."
"Trust me. Since you know about this now, Kayson, would you mind doing me a small favor?"
"Mm-hm."
"Please help the person behind Professor Quirrell unconditionally."
"In what regard?"
"Anything within the limits of what your conscience can accept."
"...I'll only accept requests involving alchemy that I'm capable of doing."
"Deal."
"Damn the Skylight Effect. I have one more question. What about Quirinus Quirrell himself?"
"In pursuit of power, he willingly accepted Tom's possession. Unfortunately, he chose the wrong path. He has become a Dark Wizard through and through."
"Fine, I was just asking." Kayson curled his lip.
"Don't think me too heartless. Even if a remnant soul had boundless magical power when alive, it could not control a complete wizard. Quirrell has reached this point only because he brought it upon himself," Dumbledore explained.
"He went looking for him himself? I thought it was supposed to be a secret that a great Dark Lord like that wasn't dead."
"Because I never believed he was dead, I occasionally spoke of it openly."
"Fine." Kayson nodded and left the Headmaster's Office without much enthusiasm.
It was no wonder he felt that way. No one would be too happy after learning that one of their colleagues was an utterly wicked person.
After returning to his office, he continued cramming basic alchemy.
Although he could accomplish most so-called material transformations out of thin air, as long as he understood the knowledge and could explain it verbally, he could teach it to the students.
However, things like magical rune engraving and energy application were still very useful.
Paired with Redstone, perhaps he could make something interesting.
Knock, knock, knock...
"Who is it?"
"It... it's me, Quirrell."
"Speak of the devil." Kayson sighed and opened his office door.
Quirrell entered with a smile, carrying a fruit basket.
After setting the fruit basket on the desk, he noticed the basic alchemy book lying there.
"You... you're still reading, reading books of this level?"
"Though after enough time, these methods become like instincts carved into your bones, turning them into words and explaining them isn't easy." Kayson took some tea leaves from the cabinet and brewed Quirrell a pot of tea.
"Ah, it's like this. I... I came today because I have something I... I want to ask of you." Quirrell picked up his teacup and took a sip.
"Please, go ahead."
"I... I would like you to make a Philosopher's Stone for me."
Kayson's hand holding the teacup suddenly trembled.
"What exactly... makes you think I can make a Philosopher's Stone?" he asked with a strange look in his eyes.
"A fake... a fake one is fine. This is Dumbledore's... Dumbledore's intention," Quirrell hurriedly explained.
"Mm-hm. Tell me."
"You... you know the Dark Lord?"
Kayson nodded.
"Dumbledore has always... always believed that the Dark Lord isn't dead. So this year, at Hogwarts, he set a... a trap here."
"The bait for this trap is the Philosopher's Stone. Of course, that is what Dumbledore has announced publicly. As for me, Dumbledore told me that he needs a... a counterfeit Philosopher's Stone. He wants to use fake bait to... to lure out the Dark Lord."
Kayson nodded and calmly took a sip of black tea.
"Oh... So that's how it is... Why didn't he tell me himself?"
"He wants as few... as few people as possible to know about this. Among the professors, only we know that this Philosopher's Stone is... is fake. So... so if you see Dumbledore later, don't... don't mention this to him..."
"That is his instruction. Let it rot... rot in your stomach," Quirrell stammered, while Kayson patiently watched his performance.
As for a fake Philosopher's Stone that he was not supposed to mention to Dumbledore, it was easy enough to understand. It was nothing more than a switcheroo.
They wanted to use a fake Philosopher's Stone to exchange for the real one.
Unfortunately, that so-called real Philosopher's Stone was also fake.
And the manufacturer behind both fakes was the same person.
What Kayson could not understand was why Quirrell, or Voldemort behind him, could make up a lie and accidentally confirm that Dumbledore was using a fake as bait for his trap.
Why had they not considered that Dumbledore really was using a so-called fake for the trap?
After thinking it over, Kayson could only conclude that those two were not very smart.
That had to be it.
Otherwise, there was simply no explaining behavior as idiotic as farting after taking off your pants.
"So... so how is it? Can you do it?" Quirrell asked eagerly.
"Mm... I can. It's just a fake, after all. As long as I have a rough shape and magical fluctuations. But I've never seen a real Philosopher's Stone, so how would I know how to imitate one? Based on the picture in a book?" Kayson said, pointing at the introductory alchemy book in the corner of his desk.
"That isn't a problem. Look at this." Quirrell took out his wand and gave it a wave.
The next moment, he conjured a life-sized illusion of the Philosopher's Stone.
"This is the shape?" Kayson asked.
"Yes. How... how long will it take?"
"This size... Not long."
He held the illusion of the Philosopher's Stone in his hand. This was even easier than when he had made the fake for Dumbledore.
Dumbledore had provided the real object, and Kayson had copied it.
Quirrell, however, had given him a template. He only needed to fill it with tiny Redstone blocks.
Very soon, Kayson's imitation Philosopher's Stone 2.0 was freshly completed.
"Truly... truly incredible alchemy. You may perhaps be no less capable than the real Nicolas Flamel," Quirrell said in shock as he accepted the Philosopher's Stone with both hands.
"There's no need to exaggerate. Would you like another cup of tea?"
"No... no. I still need to return and prepare my lessons."
"Take care. I won't see you out."
After sending Professor Quirrell out of his office, Kayson waited five minutes before heading straight to Dumbledore's office again.
"That's what happened. He may be trying to pull a switcheroo."
Dumbledore nodded. "I'm glad you came to tell me this."
"Uh... Shouldn't I have? This is for the safety of the students, the safety of Hogwarts... and mine as well."
"That is exactly why, Kayson. You are a qualified professor." Dumbledore's gaze remained gentle.
"Say whatever you like. I still need to figure out how to teach the fourth-years... Honestly, have you ever considered giving me a different position?"
"Absolutely not." Dumbledore shook his head.
"I wish you would."
The next day...
"Take a deep breath, Kayson. You can do this. Today, you're going to explain alchemy to a group of little wizards who have just started learning it. Believe in yourself. You'll have them wrapped around your finger!"
Kayson stood before the fitting mirror in his office and began psyching himself up.
After all, unlike yesterday's adorable new students, his two months of alchemy knowledge might not even equal that of these fourth-years, who had already studied for a year.
And his goal for the first fourth-year class was simple: as long as he did not get exposed, it would be fine.
"As long as I don't get exposed." Kayson took another deep breath, then exhaled sharply.
About ten minutes later...
"Getting up three hours early is still pushing myself too hard. I should sleep a little longer first... Besides, getting exposed isn't that serious..."
Kayson lay on his side on the bed, straddling his blanket, while the sky outside the window remained as black as ink.
There will be another chapter during the day. Forgive me, I stayed up all night yesterday and didn't build up any drafts.
If you think this book is good, please remember to add it to your bookshelf so you don't lose it next time.
Before you continue