Voldemort in the Headmaster's Office

In a castle in Nottingham Forest, Ryan lay on his side on the sofa, unable to help but mentally review everything that had just happened.

If that part of Voldemort's soul truly represents his conscience, then the fact that those young wizards who were attacked in the original timeline didn't die might also be due to that part of him.

Also, it's really unexpected that Dumbledore would do something like this.

In the original timeline, his allowing the diary to run rampant in Hogwarts was simply to make Voldemort, who might still be linked to his Horcrux, believe that he was unaware of Horcrux existence.

Incidentally, it can also test whether Voldemort can sense the destruction of his Horcrux.

This provided important reference for Dumbledore's later plans.

However, if Voldemort's abilities were even more advanced, and he could truly sense the destruction of the Horcrux, then Dumbledore's method for dealing with each Horcrux would probably be to train Harry and then have him quickly scan all the places he had found or that might contain Horcrux.

Even if he was still blinded by the existence of the Resurrection Stone and prepared to go find it alone, he probably wouldn't be so hasty in being attracted to the Resurrection Stone on the Horcrux in Gaunt House. His sense of responsibility would drive him to abandon that unrealistic idea.

Thinking about it this way, the reason why Dumbledore so easily swayed was because he already had a foolproof plan that could be carried out even after his death.

Ryan cleared his throat, and Jack materialized beside him, bringing over Jerry, the black cat who was still fast asleep. Ryan picked him up, petted the cat, and continued watching the scene that was still unfolding.

"Ah, Riddle, how could you—"

"Dumbledore, what's going on?" shouted an old wizard who looked frail, from the picture frame in the Headmaster's Office.

"Hello, it's been a long time, Professor Dippet." Riddle nodded slightly.

"Armando, this is just Tom." Dumbledore, as usual, didn't speak human language, leaving the listener to guess what he was saying.

"Hmm, I understand now. So that's what those materials you collected are for." In another picture frame, a wizard with a goatee, dressed in silver and green Slytherin attire, and with an intelligent-looking face, said this.

This is Sirius's grandfather, Phineas. The Black House has a long history of learning, and they even have some knowledge of Horcrux. They are the most knowledgeable about Dark Magic.

"The diary is gone," Phineas reminded Armando, who was still somewhat confused.

"Ah, I understand."

"Dumbledore, although we have an obligation to serve the current Hogwarts Headmaster, I have made a mistake with Riddle."

"Whatever you're planning to do, I suggest you reconsider," Armando said breathlessly.

"That's really hurtful, Professor Dippet. You were planning to make me a professor back then," Riddle said, feigning melancholy.

"Shut up, Tom," Dumbledore snapped.

"Understood, Master~" Riddle said in a trembling, affected tone.

"I understand. It's the same approach as my Defense Against the Dark Arts back then: using Dark Magic to fight Dark Magic."

"Use Voldemort against Voldemort," Phineas said confidently.

"I don't think so, Phineas."

"Tom, be serious. I need you to provide me with lesson plans for grades one through seven."

"You'd better hurry, I think I need to review and revise it multiple times," Dumbledore said to Riddle, who was part of Voldemort, in a tone that suggested he was asking what to eat for dinner.

At this, everyone in the picture frame gasped.

"He was only 16 years old at that time, right? And he was already a professor?"

"Dumbledore, are you confused? There's already one this year, and another one is coming next year? Do you really like Voldemort being a professor at Hogwarts?"

"I suggest you reconsider."

"I thought you wouldn't make mistakes, Dumbledore."

Now, almost all the figures in the picture frame started talking at once.

"I think we should listen to Dumbledore's opinion first; he is the best among us." A shrewd witch raised an extremely thick wand, which looked like a birch branch.

"No need for explanations, I trust Dumbledore!" roared a portrait of a fat, red-nosed wizard.

"Thank you, Fosco, but I think I still need to say a few words." Dumbledore wiped his eyes gratefully.

"This is Dexter Fosco?"

"To thank you for your trust, I'd like to remind you again."

"I don't know if Florin Fosco, the owner of the Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, is still alive, but he was alive when I last linked to the part of my soul that occupied my body."

"At that time, I was interested in the most famous wand in history and wanted to use it to defeat Dumbledore."

"And Florin is well-versed in the A History of Magic and familiar with all sorts of unofficial histories, is one of my targets," Riddle reminded him in a gentle tone.

"I think I should go ahead and warn my bastard offspring who runs the ice cream shop," Fosco said.

"Ha, has he forgotten that he got so fat from eating too many cold drinks?"

"In my opinion, his descendants are just as good as him. Unlike my wretched great-grandson, who refuses to go on blind dates!" Phineas first laughed heartily, then looked like he was gritting his teeth.

"Phineas, the children have their own choices." Dumbledore, himself a bachelor without children, couldn't help but speak up for Sirius.

"Don't forget what we mainly want to hear," an old witch with long, flowing silver hair reminded them from within the picture frame.

"Ah, I almost forgot, thank you for reminding Doris." Phineas tugged at his goatee, pulling himself out of his previous mood.

"Before you explain, there's something I'm curious about," Riddle said.

"What is it?" Dumbledore asked. The headmasters in the picture frame pursed their lips, but they still pricked up their ears curiously.

"'There's already one this year, and another one next year?' What does that mean?" Riddle asked curiously. If it was true, he wondered if he had been fooled by Dumbledore and was being discarded after being used.

If things were really as he thought, would Dumbledore resurrect one of his Horcrux every year to serve as a professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts, only to kill him in the end?

"Your main body (Riddle frowned unhappily) is attached to the back of the head of the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor from last year's class, so he is technically the professor of this class last year and this year."

"And you will be the professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts this year and next, in the 1992-1993 academic year," Dumbledore said earnestly, sensing Riddle's unease.

"Oh, is that so? It seems he died once. What about his servant? What became of him? Was he defeated by you?" Riddle asked casually, then added an unquestionable certainty to the last sentence.

"No, Quirrell, that is, the professor."

"Both he and your main body were defeated by Harry, and your main body could only slink away in the end," Dumbledore low voice, as he thought of Quirrell's passing.

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