The Showdown, but Not Quite the Whole Truth

A short while later, Filch arrived with Vice Principal Professor McGonagall.

She stared blankly at Nearly Headless Nick, who was floating in mid-air, and Justin Finch-Fletchley, who was lying on the ground, before she finally came to her senses.

"Professor, I know you might not believe it, but I really didn't do this," Aaron said helplessly. "Of course, it couldn't have been Harry Potter either."

"Yes, Professor, I swear, this has nothing to do with me," Harry said immediately. "It was like this when I came here."

"I can't handle this," Professor McGonagall shook her head. "You two, come with me."

Professor McGonagall led the two to the front of the Headmaster's Office, gave them a command, and the automatically rotating staircase slowly ascended, taking them up.

Looking at the Winky oak door, Harry couldn't help but swallow hard, feeling anxious and worried about his future.

Aaron shrugged. It wasn't his first time here, so he wasn't particularly nervous.

Professor McGonagall knocked on the door a few times, and the door slowly opened.

"Go inside and wait. Professor Dumbledore will be happy to see you."

"Let's go!" Aaron patted Harry on the shoulder and comforted him with a smile, "Don't worry, trust me, everything will be alright."

The great Headmaster Dumbledore wouldn't expel us just because we happened to be there.

Harry nodded blankly and followed Aaron into the Headmaster's Office.

Aaron wasn't so reserved and simply found a chair to sit down, while Abei couldn't help but glance at Fawkes the Phoenix, forcibly suppressing the urge to turn it into roast chicken.

"It's you." The Sorting Hat, which had been snoring, suddenly opened its eyes and saw Aaron waving at it, which made it furious.

"Hi! It's been over three months, I've missed you so much!"

"I don't want to see you." The Sorting Hat forced an angry expression. "You've been the most embarrassing little Warlock to me in years."

"Be more generous!" Aaron chuckled, took out his Wand, slowly approached, and lifted it up.

"What, what do you want to do? Put me down!" the Sorting Hat shouted frantically. The expression on Aaron's face made it feel suffocated; the last time it felt this way was more than a year ago.

"You're so stupid, even if you cry your throat out, Dumbledore won't come to save you."

"Help! Help me!"

"Potter, quick, please help me, I beg you."

"This..." Harry hesitated for a moment, looking at Aaron with some reluctance, "Let's put it down. After all, this is the Headmaster's Office."

"Wait a moment," Aaron said with a meaningful smile, and with a light wave of his Wand, "Scourgify."

"No..."

Amidst the mournful wails of grief, the dust that had accumulated on the Sorting Hat vanished completely.

"That feels much better."

"If you had behaved yourself, I wouldn't have done anything to you, but why did you have to stick your neck out!"

The Sorting Hat glared angrily at Aaron, wishing the four Founders had given it two hands, otherwise it would have slapped him.

Although they might not be able to win, they could at least put up a symbolic resistance.

Suddenly, a strange sound came from the desk. Fawkes groaned in pain, and crimson flames burst into flames on his body.

Incendio roared, engulfing Fawkes in a fireball. The screams grew clearer, but grew fainter.

"Water, where is the water?"

Harry said in a panic, his eyes scanning his surroundings, trying to find anything he could use to put out the fire.

But before it could find the fireball, it turned into a clump of unburnt ashes and landed on the desk.

"This is terrible! That's Dumbledore's bird!" Harry grabbed his hair, his face full of bitterness.

He was already suspected of being a serial killer and on the verge of expulsion. Now, he's in the Headmaster's Office, Dumbledore's pet has been inexplicably cremated, and all that's left here besides the bird is himself...

"Aaron, tell me honestly, did you do this?"

"Hey, hey, hey, there are consequences for wrongly accusing someone."

This bird was bound to end up like this sooner or later; we just happened to catch a glimpse of it.

Harry was breathing rapidly, and the anger in his eyes was almost uncontrollable.

𣗙, 𣗙, 𣗙 again.

What's not right is that the person he trusts the least right now is Hehe. He's certain that someone is trying to frame him, and it's obvious who that person is.

"Mr. Gaius is right." Dumbledore suddenly came down the stairs and smiled. "It's about time. I've been wanting Fawkes to hurry up."

"Professor, your bird," Harry said anxiously, "I couldn't save it."

"Fawkes is not a bird, he is a Phoenix."

When Phoenix is about to die, it spontaneously combusts and is reborn from the ashes; it's rare for ordinary people to witness this.

Dumbledore up to the ashes, and a small red bird, about the size of a pigeon, emerged from the ashes, making the same chirping sound as before, but this time filled with ease and joy.

"The Phoenix is a magical creature, with extraordinary strength and the ability to heal through its tears." Dumbledore looked at the Phoenix reborn from the ashes with great satisfaction. "It was very beautiful when it was born, with golden and red feathers, and it was also exceptionally loyal."

Abei suddenly jumped onto the desk, standing tall and proud in front of the young Fawkes. The bright and beautiful Holy Dragon and the ugly Phoenix in the ashes immediately formed a stark contrast.

Aaron, feeling embarrassed, brought it up again. "The scene of your birth was far more sacred than being reborn from the ashes. There's no need to compare it to that. You are unique."

Hearing this, Abei beamed and snuggled against Aaron.

Harry quickly recovered from the Phoenix Rebirth incident. He stared into Dumbledore's blue eyes, wanting to explain what had happened that day, but the words stuck in his throat.

"Principal, I think you should know about Nearly Headless Nick and Justin's affair."

"Of course I know. Filch is determined to get justice for Mrs. Norris and has no intention of hiding anything from her."

"Some news always travels very fast at Hogwarts," Dumbledore said meaningfully. "But if everyone were to vote for the heir, you'd only get one vote out of ten."

"Because I don't Parseltongue," Aaron said speechlessly. "Not exactly good news, but it makes things a little easier for me."

However, I still envy those who are born with a foreign language, unlike me, who has to learn it later in life.

Just then, the office door suddenly opened, and Hagrid rushed in, carrying a dead rooster.

"Professor Dumbledore, not Harry," Hagrid said urgently, waving his arm frantically at the dead rooster, scattering chicken droppings all over the floor.

"I can swear to the Ministry of Ministry of Magic."

"Sir, you've arrested the wrong person."

"Ahem!" Aaron reminded him, "Hagrid, have you forgotten something?"

"Yes, it couldn't be Aaron either, I believe him."

"Hagrid," Dumbledore drawled, "I never said I didn't believe them."

"Okay, oh..." Hagrid's face showed a hint of embarrassment. "Then I'll wait for you outside."

"Wait, Hagrid." Aaron stopped him, looking at the dead rooster. "What's this?"

"This is the fourth one to die in this period of time." Hagrid sighed regretfully. "There aren't many chickens left in the coop. I guess they're either foxes or vampires."

I plan to cast a spell on the chicken coop when I get back, but that requires Headmaster Dumbledore's permission.

"Do as you please, Hagrid," Dumbledore smile.

Aaron felt a little heavy-hearted as he watched Hagrid leave the office.

Besides the two roosters he stole—no, the two he was protecting—two others were killed.

This means that the Slytherin heir has begun to eliminate threats, and he may soon order the Basilisk to attack again. We must be on guard!

"You don't think it's me, Professor?" Harry asked expectantly.

Dumbledore nodded. "I don't think it's you."

"Thanks."

Harry was flattered. When everyone around him doubted him, Headmaster Dumbledore actually chose to believe him. What could be more encouraging than that?

"However, I still have to ask you," Dumbledore said gravely, "Is there anything you want to tell me?"

Harry's heart leaped into his throat as he recalled his suspicions about Aaron.

He had many guesses, but no evidence whatsoever. He couldn't very well tell Dumbledore about the Polyjuice Potion, could he?

Besides, Aaron is standing right here; there's no better way to blatantly alert someone than to make a move like this.

"No, sir, there is nothing."

Dumbledore nodded, then looked at Aaron. "Mr. Gaius, what about you? Is there anything you want to tell me?"

"Um... this..." Aaron hesitated for a while before a smile finally appeared on his lips. "The principal truly has a discerning eye!"

"I do have something I'm hiding from you."

Harry looked at Aaron in surprise. Even if you are the heir of Slytherin, isn't this a bit too arrogant?

The person sitting in front of you is the most powerful mage of the 2nd century. Unless Salazar is resurrected, no one can protect you.

Dumbledore narrowed his eyes slightly. "Is it important?"

"It's very important, Headmaster Dumbledore." Aaron emphasized the word "Headmaster." "I'm willing to give you some respect, not because of your status, but because of your strength."

I'm still very sorry, but I can't tell you what I did for the time being, because if it gets found out, it might implicate Slytherin and get a deduction of ten or so points.

But you can rest assured, what I'm doing will absolutely benefit Hogwarts.