Welcoming Petrification

"How would you choose this time?"

Faced with Dumbledore's question that seemed to probe his very soul, Li Wei could not help but smile bitterly.

"Do I have any other choice? Professor, has anyone ever told you that you're actually very good at manipulating people's hearts?"

As he spoke, he did not hesitate in the slightest as he extended his hand to Dumbledore.

"This time, I choose Headmaster Dumbledore. Are you satisfied with that answer?"

"It is my honor as an educator."

Dumbledore had not felt tired before, but at that moment, a surge of abundant strength flooded into his heart, making him feel as though his previous condition had not been all that good after all.

He tightly clasped Li Wei's hand.

After their hands parted, Dumbledore rose directly to his feet.

"Li Wei, this first Horcrux was discovered thanks to the information you provided. I would like to invite you to witness this with me."

He raised his wand and transfigured a brazier in the center of the office, then placed the diary from the middle of the desk inside it.

Boom.

A red flame formed at the tip of his wand, taking the shape of a spear as it stabbed directly into the notebook at the center of the table.

Whoosh!

The flaming spear pierced straight through the diary's center with the force of a wildfire, its flames continuously spreading outward.

Streams of ink began to gush violently from the diary! They nearly spilled over the edge of the brazier.

Along with them came a terrifying scream, shrill enough to pierce eardrums!

After the scream fell silent, ink still dripped from the diary, accompanied by the sizzling sound of flames scorching it.

Li Wei and Dumbledore stood together, solemnly experiencing it all.

He began to feel that his earlier thoughts had not been cautious enough. If he ever truly had to use something this sinister, he might need to make far more preparations.

"All right, the important matters are more or less settled."

After the Horcrux was completely reduced to ashes by the flames, Dumbledore invited Li Wei to sit down again.

As for the extraordinarily advanced Fiendfyre Dumbledore had used earlier, both of them tacitly chose to ignore it.

"Now, only the matter of the Basilisk remains."

"Yes, that was supposed to be the reason I was sitting here today."

After sitting down, Li Wei let out a tired breath. Today's conversation had been far too intense, and now that it was nearing its end, exhaustion surged over him uncontrollably.

"So, what are you planning to do by keeping the Basilisk?"

"There are many things involved, but most importantly, I hope to train Harry."

"Harry? Harry Potter?"

"Yes. You've met him already. What did you think of him?"

Li Wei thought back, but there was almost no impression in his mind. He shook his head and said,

"He has a great talent for spells, but perhaps because he lacks a goal, he's far too lazy. He often cannot even finish the homework I assign.

Honestly, I simply cannot connect him with the term The Chosen One."

"Lazy... I didn't expect you to see that child that way."

Dumbledore's expression showed some surprise.

"My opinion of him isn't important. So, what does keeping the Basilisk have to do with him? You can't possibly intend to make him challenge the Basilisk, can you?"

"That is indeed what I intend."

". That's a reckless decision, but since it's your plan, I have no objection.

But setting aside keeping the Basilisk, why did you arrange today's attack?"

"..."

Seeing Li Wei immediately accept the matter of putting Harry in danger, Dumbledore felt somewhat conflicted. If Snape or Minerva learned of this plan, they would certainly have a furious argument with him, but when it came to Li Wei...

He suppressed the strange feeling rising in his heart and explained,

"Filch's cat is fine. In fact, it was temporarily controlled by my spell. Once this conversation is over, I will personally visit Filch and offer him a solemn apology."

Facing Li Wei's questioning gaze, he continued,

"Tom is about to return. I want to give certain ambitious people a warning beforehand, so that they will behave themselves. The Basilisk is a fine piece of bait."

"So you're using the Basilisk to fish, waiting for others to attack you?"

"Correct. Of course, there are other reasons as well." Dumbledore nodded. "I hope to bring this matter into the open, preferably so that everyone knows about it.

Now that you and I both know that the heir of Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets is Tom, he likely tried to open the Chamber of Secrets while he was still a student. That incident permanently caused the death of a student, and her ghost still spends every day crying on the grounds of Hogwarts."

"Moaning Myrtle?"

"Yes. During that incident, Hagrid was forcibly identified as the culprit. His wand was taken away. I believe there must have been hidden circumstances. After repeatedly pleading for him, I managed to keep him from being expelled, but I could do no more than that.

Now, it is time to clear his name."

Li Wei nodded, with no interest in this old gossip visible on his face. He had already read the complete Harry Potter series. To him, these things were more like story background than events that had truly happened. Perhaps that was why he had always maintained a sense of distance from everyone else?

No, that would not do. He needed to change that from now on. If he wanted to find the path to becoming a Legendary Wizard, he had to try to become part of life.

Li Wei silently reflected on himself, then asked Dumbledore,

"So, are you still planning more Basilisk attacks? How many? Have you already chosen the targets?"

"Mm... I think at least two." Dumbledore seemed not to have decided yet. "I do not wish to use students as participants in this plan, so—"

"Could I be one of them?"

"What?"

Even Dumbledore was momentarily stunned.

"Earlier, no one cared because it was Filch's cat that was petrified, so you could disguise it with magic. But the next two targets should genuinely have to face the Basilisk and be petrified for a while, right?

I can be one of them, whether the first or second. Though if that happens, you may need to find a temporary Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts to replace me.

Or you could have Qiao Weili replace me. I believe he can handle these matters."

"You truly want to do it? Why?"

Dumbledore frowned slightly, unable to understand.

Based on what he knew of Li Wei, the other man should not have been someone willing to sacrifice himself for others.

"I want to see what it feels like to be petrified by a Basilisk."

"..."

Dumbledore's eyes behind his lenses lifted slightly as he stared at Li Wei in surprise.

"Aren't you interested? Why can a Basilisk's eyes kill someone, yet after being blocked by lenses, the effect becomes petrification?

Is this a rule established by the God of Magic, or merely a kind of magic we have yet to understand?

Perhaps so-called petrification is simply one manifestation of a curse within a branch of the Dark Arts? I'm very curious."

Li Wei had no intention of trying to convince Dumbledore. He truly was very curious.

And with Dumbledore watching over him, he felt entirely at ease.

Dumbledore and his two assistants were the only people in this world to whom Li Wei could safely entrust his life.

Dumbledore looked at Li Wei, who was speaking with such confidence, and the astonishment on his face did not fade for several seconds.

Suddenly, accompanied by a brief shriek like gas escaping from a boiler, Dumbledore broke into delighted laughter.

"Li Wei, I must solemnly apologize to you again."

His voice trembled with laughter, yet he persisted in speaking.

The next moment, he abruptly stopped laughing and looked at Li Wei with utmost seriousness.

"To deprive a wizard like you of the freedom to explore magic is absolutely one of the few atrocities I have committed in my life."