The Old Celestial Master turned his hand over and drew the Diary straight into his grasp. Dumbledore leaned closer too, his long beard trembling as his slender fingers glided gently over its cover.
His blue eyes held the worry and gravity of someone whose suspicions had just been confirmed.
The three Heads of House stood beside them, watching in puzzlement. At last, Professor McGonagall could not help asking:
"Albus, what is that?"
Dumbledore shook his head and looked back toward the towering Hogwarts Castle. His gaze seemed to pierce the layers of mist and see the truth.
The Old Celestial Master paid no attention to their conversation. Without that "special means of communication" between the two great masters, he could not understand English.
He merely held the Diary and studied it closely. Suddenly, he could not help laughing.
"Ha! To think there's such an enormous fool in this world! Never heard of anything like it. What an eye-opener!"
His laughter made the professors pause.
He performed some calculations on the fingers of one hand, then nodded and said to Dumbledore:
"Headmaster Dumbledore, let my grandson have this thing."
What?! Give a Horcrux to a young wizard? And one with such a powerful ability to tempt people?
Dumbledore looked at the Diary in concern and said gravely:
"This object is profoundly evil. Even adult wizards cannot resist his temptations and end up falling into the abyss. If we give it to Zhang..."
The Old Celestial Master glanced at the Diary. Him? This great fool?
"I'm afraid this thing isn't up to the task!"
Seeing that Dumbledore still looked deeply worried, the Old Celestial Master considered it, then added:
"How about this? I'll erase its consciousness and leave only its memories. That may damage the memories, but it will make it safer."