Professor McGonagall led Silan to a stone beast on the Seventh Floor and gave the password.
"Lemon Sherbet."
The stone beast jumped to the side, and the wall behind it automatically split in two, revealing a spiral staircase behind it.
"Let's go, child." Professor McGonagall remained stern.
Silan followed Professor McGonagall up the stairs to an oak door with a griffin knocker. They knocked, and the knocker seemed to come alive, flapping its wings and slowly pulling the door open.
This was Silan's first time visiting Dumbledore's Headmaster's Office.
This is a circular room, originally very spacious, but because it's cluttered with so many things, it feels a bit cramped.
A large table was covered with all sorts of bottles and jars, and near the wall was a stone basin engraved with many runes.
Of course, the most abundant items were various colorful candies and a bunch of cockroaches.
"Headmaster Dumbledore," Professor McGonagall called out in a deep voice.
"Oh..." Dumbledore, the white-bearded old man wearing a pink and purple lace nightgown, slowly walked out. He first glanced at Silan with slight surprise, then turned to Professor McGonagall and asked, "What happened, Minerva?"
"Speak, child, don't be afraid," Professor McGonagall patted Silan on the shoulder encouragingly.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, Professor Quirrell wants to kill me."
Silan's single sentence left Dumbledore stunned.
After a moment of silence, Dumbledore walked up to Silan and waved to him.
The dust that had been on Silan vanished instantly, and her hair became dry and docile.
"Take your time, don't rush."
Taking a deep breath, Silan composed herself and repeated what she had just told Professor McGonagall.
Upon hearing that Quirrell had attacked Silan, Dumbledore's beard twitched, clearly showing some surprise.
But Silan noticed that Dumbledore wasn't too surprised, as if he had expected these things.
"Then how did you escape?" Dumbledore asked.
"It's Unicorn... and Dragon..."
Silan made no attempt to hide anything and recounted the whole story, but he deliberately omitted his prior arrangements, thus absolving himself of any responsibility.
Aren't you afraid, child?
"At that moment, I had only one thought: I had to tell you about this." Silan's expression was resolute. "I will never bow down to such an evil wizard!"
The expression on his face changed from fear to appropriate determination.
He was, by all accounts, a little hero who would rather die than surrender.
McGonagall, listening from the side, grew increasingly alarmed.
Whether it was Hagrid raising Dragon in the Forbidden Forest, or Quirrell taking Silan on a nighttime trek through the Forbidden Forest to capture Unicorn, both experiences left her with a lingering sense of dread.
Hearing Silan say that she risked her life to escape in order to tell Dumbledore this news, McGonagall felt somewhat relieved.
"Well done, child. Your integrity and courage are probably beyond even your father's." Professor McGonagall spared no praise.
"As expected of Fabian's child, so brave."
Thinking of this, Professor McGonagall glared angrily at the Sorting Hat, who was fast asleep on the shelf, and thought to herself, "That dazed old hat must not have woken up properly on the day of the Sorting."
How could we possibly put this kind and brave child in Slytherin?
He's a natural Gryffindor!
Dumbledore nodded slightly and praised, "I must say, you truly possess the most authentic qualities of the Prewett family. Hmm... would you like some candy?"
He patted Silan on the shoulder and slipped him a piece of candy.
Thankfully, it wasn't Cockroach Clusters...
"Headmaster Dumbledore, Quirrell..." Professor McGonagall dropped the honorific title and addressed Quirrell by his first name.
"Ah..." Dumbledore picked a piece of candy from the Cockroach Clusters and popped it into his mouth, saying slowly, "I'll handle this."
"Mr. Prewett," Dumbledore, looking at Silan, "I'll ask for a few days off for you. Get some rest and don't worry."
Dumbledore spoke, he winked at Silan.
This almost confirmed Silan's suspicions.
Dumbledore had arranged everything long ago; Quirrell was just an actor he had brought in.
However, with my meddling, I estimate that many things will have to be brought forward.
"Minerva, could you please take him back to the common room?" Dumbledore, sitting down in a chair. "Let him rest for the next couple of days; he doesn't need to attend classes."
"Come on, child," Professor McGonagall said.
She now likes Silan even more.
Brave and kind, polite and diligent—such a child is truly rare.
The Prewett family is truly fortunate to have such descendants.
Even she couldn't help but exclaim, "The Prewett family is full of loyal martyrs!"
Their fathers died heroically on the battlefield, and although their descendants are young, they are also upright and righteous.
After watching the two leave the Headmaster's Office, Dumbledore stood up from his chair and paced back and forth in the Headmaster's Office.
The portraits of the past headmasters on the wall were unusually quiet, each seemingly snoring in its own frame. Occasionally, someone would half-open their eyes and glance at Dumbledore, but no one said anything.
Dumbledore's pajamas sleeves swung back and forth, casting a flickering shadow on the wall of the Headmaster's Office.
He never expected things to develop this way.
However, he wasn't too surprised. Ever since the Troll appeared at the school, Dumbledore had been keeping an eye on Quirrell.
He had a suspicion back then, and he had anticipated what was happening now.
But what about Silan?
Dumbledore was conflicted.
This clever little guy always manages to bring him some unexpected surprises, whether it's Unicorn or Dragon.
Moreover, some of his traits are too prominent, and he resembles some of his deceased friends too much.
This left him momentarily at a loss for what to do.
"Never mind," Dumbledore sighed, muttering to himself, "Let's wait and see."
He then began to think about other things.
Quirrell has gone this far, and he's pretty much out of options. If he can't catch the Unicorn, he'll probably have to go get the Philosopher's Stone soon.
Although it's much earlier than expected, it's fine this way.
With Dumbledore extinguished all the candles in the Headmaster's Office.
The play he had planned was about to begin ahead of schedule.