Rules

A soft knock sounded on the Headmaster's Office.

The door opened, and Professor McGonagall walked in. After glancing at the mirror on her desk, she handed a document to Dumbledore.

She said, "The application for the Time-Turner by Mr. Albert Mr. Anderson and Ms. Katrina Miss McDougal has been approved."

The Ministry of Magic has very strict regulations on the Time-Turner. It is generally not lent out except to students of Hogwarts. The final step of the strict review process requires Dumbledore's signature for approval.

Well, this has nothing to do with the headmaster; it's because Dumbledore is in charge of it now, and for that reason, it's easier for Hogwarts students to apply to borrow the Time-Turner to complete their studies.

Dumbledore picked up the Quill, signed his name on it, handed the application back to Professor McGonagall, and asked, "Is there anything else?"

"Are you really going to leave the Philosopher's Stone at Hogwarts School?" Professor McGonagall asked, frowning.

A few days ago, Dumbledore invited several professors from the school to help design a mechanism to Protect the Philosopher's Stone, to ensure that it was under the most secure protection and that no one could steal it.

"Besides Gringotts, I'm afraid only Hogwarts can be considered safe, although that sounds a bit boastful," Dumbledore, feigning embarrassment.

"You don't need to be modest. Everyone knows that the only Lord Voldemort is afraid of is you!" Professor McGonagall said with a hint of helplessness.

Although Dumbledore didn't say who had their eyes on the Philosopher's Stone, Professor McGonagall still keenly sensed something.

The Lord Voldemort may still be alive and has his eye on the Philosopher's Stone.

Although Professor McGonagall found the idea ridiculous, the one eyeing the Philosopher's Stone was undoubtedly a very powerful Dark wizard.

Almost no one can break into Hogwarts without warning, let alone steal something under Dumbledore's nose, but Professor McGonagall still didn't want to bring unnecessary danger to the students of Hogwarts because of the Philosopher's Stone.

After all, the guy who managed to break into Gringotts and escape the Goblin ' pursuit must be someone you can't easily deal with.

"I still don't think this is a good idea, and Harry Potter will be attending Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said softly.

Dumbledore entrusted Harry to his Muggle relatives to raise in order to keep him away from danger.

"It's safe here," Dumbledore said calmly. "Believe me, if Hogwarts isn't safe, then there's probably nowhere else in all of Britain that's safe."

Just then, there was another knock on the Headmaster's Office door. Snape walked in, glanced at Professor McGonagall, and said to Dumbledore, "I've set up the trap. Although most wizards have mediocre logical abilities, I doubt it will be able to stop those skilled Dark wizard from spying on the Philosopher's Stone."

"It's alright, I don't expect those mechanisms to completely stop others from eyeing the Philosopher's Stone." Snape clearly didn't approve of Dumbledore's approach. "By the way," Quirrell was planning to hire a Troll guard to watch over the mechanisms, you know...

Snape's face twitched a few times, and he continued, "Those Troll have brains only the size of walnuts, which can easily cause other problems."

"I think Professor Quirrell will handle this," Dumbledore said.

"Are you serious?" Professor McGonagall asked, frowning, after Snape left. "Are you really going to let Troll into Hogwarts Castle?"

Professor McGonagall found this absurd.

Dumbledore didn't expect the mechanisms designed by the Hogwarts professors to completely stop prying eyes, but if someone wanted to crack these mechanisms, it would take at least some time, which would buy him enough time.

Hogwarts doesn't allow Apparition, so the castle is the biggest trap for Dumbledore. As for how to ensure the Philosopher's Stone isn't easily taken, Dumbledore has already come up with an excellent plan. Even a skilled Dark wizard won't be able to get the Philosopher's Stone in a short time, and he'll be cornered by Dumbledore. This isn't Gringotts; there's nowhere for the other party to escape.

As for fighting, Dumbledore has never been afraid of anyone.

"Tom, what are you planning to do?" Dumbledore murmured to himself, his hands clasped together.

In the Defence Against the Dark Arts office, Quirrell had just seen Snape off, Dumbledore had granted his request to hire Troll bodyguards to protect the facility.

"What should I do?" Quirrell murmured softly, gazing out the window.

Quirrell found the traps set by the Hogwarts professors ridiculous and impossible to stop him, but stealing the Philosopher's Stone without making a sound would be quite difficult.

This means that he needs to follow the rules and solve the puzzles left by the Hogwarts professors one by one, which will take a lot of time.

Brute force would undoubtedly be faster, but it would cause a lot of trouble, attracting Dumbledore and leading to a warrant for arrest by the Ministry of Magic, resulting in a host of follow-up problems.

To make matters worse, Dumbledore told the professors not to tell anyone else how to solve the puzzle. Was he doubting the professors at the school?

Are you doubting me? That's not good news.

"Don't do anything unnecessary. It's not the right time yet. You need to find a suitable opportunity." A hoarse voice came from behind Quirrell's headband.

"Dumbledore doesn't value the traps you set up. He merely established a rule that those who covet the Philosopher's Stone have to abide by. Those traps guarding the Philosopher's Stone are just bait to lure others in. His strength is the ultimate guarantee."

Voldemort easily saw through Dumbledore's trick. This was Hogwarts, Dumbledore's territory. If he made any noise, he would be immediately targeted.

Even if they manage to snatch the Philosopher's Stone in the end, they will still need to face Dumbledore head-on. Apart from him, almost no one can escape unscathed when facing Dumbledore at Hogwarts. That is the old man's real plan.

However, how could he, in his weakened state, possibly be a match for Dumbledore? Quirrell fell silent. Ever since his failed attempt to steal the Philosopher's Stone, he had suffered terrible punishment, with Voldemort parasitizing him.

Until the moment he was parasitized, Quirrell regretted it, regretting why he hadn't run away and why he hadn't betrayed Voldemort.

However, it was too late; everything was already too late.

Since being parasitized, his body has become weak. If Quirrell doesn't want to die, he needs to obtain the Philosopher's Stone as soon as possible to concoct Elixir of Life. If he cannot obtain the Philosopher's Stone, his life will come to an end in a few months at most.

Quirrell doesn't want to die.

He muttered to himself, "I have to find out what the other professors' institutions are."