Marking Papers? The All-Night Kind!

Headmaster's Office.

After listening to William's account, Dumbledore fell into a long silence.

"I'm sorry, Professor, I didn't catch Peter." William sighed softly. "He got away."

When I left Hogsmeade, it was past midnight, and I was outside the castle. I couldn't use the Ravenclaw Ring.

William did not use the Time-Turner again. Tywin's lesson was too tragic. Years later, it was still vivid in his mind.

He didn't want to kill himself.

"Don't be so upset, William." Dumbledore, slender fingers touched together gently.

He said gently, "You should be proud of yourself."

Just a few hours ago, you and Hermione saved three innocent lives.

Sirius, Remus, and Harry... we're alive because of you two. There's nothing happier for us tonight than this."

"But Peter still ran away." William shook his head.

"If it had been detected earlier... I still believe that Peter's death would have been less of a threat."

"That's not how it is." Dumbledore stared at William with his blue eyes.

"As long as Peter lives, he will never be able to escape the guilt he feels over the deaths of James and Lily."

Even if he won't admit it.

Dumbledore.

Peter a love-hate relationship with the Dark Lord, and even more so with himself.

His life was a tragedy.

The principal's voice was deep and serious:

"That's right, many living people deserve to die, while some dead people deserve to live."

We cannot bring the dead back to life, but we should not rush to decide whether someone deserves to die.

Even the wisest cannot foresee the ultimate fate of all things.

Dumbledore said calmly, "I have a feeling that Peter will play some important role."

Whether it's for evil or for good.

"Before everything settles down," he said, staring at William with a slight smile.

"Your decisions will determine the fate of many people, but don't blame yourself. The only thing we can do is think about how to cope within the limited time we have."

Listening to the principal's words, William suddenly remembered what had happened that morning.

"Professor, there's something I need to tell you. During the Divination exam, Professor Trelawney acted more strangely than usual."

"Is that so?" Professor Dumbledore squinted. "Oh... stranger than usual, you mean to say?"

"Professor Trelawney's voice deepened, her eyes darting around; she might have entered a sage... well, I mean Seer mode," William said quickly.

"What did she say?" Dumbledore leaned back in his chair.

She said a night of vigilance was coming... and with the help of his servants... the Dark Lord would rise again.

Coldness breeds resentment, and resentment leads to betrayal. When three traitors appear, death is sure to follow...

The principal seemed slightly surprised. He paused for a long time before finally looking up and saying:

"You know, William. I've never taken Divination and have always been skeptical of Prophecy."

But perhaps...

His brow furrowed, and he said thoughtfully, "Professor Trelawney really made a Prophecy."

William nodded; judging from tonight's events, it seemed to be true. Indeed, the school was full of hidden talents.

Wait a minute... he didn't offend Professor Trelawney, did he?

William for a moment.

Not only did he not, but it seems he also bribed a lot of sherry.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

I'd even thought about diluting the liquor with water to save some money... Luckily, I didn't do it!

Dumbledore, unaware of William's thoughts, joked:

"I should give her a raise... Someone as outstanding as her must stay at Hogwarts."

I think Sybill herself was aware of this.

"That's right." Dumbledore blinked. "At noon, she argued with Professor McGonagall again."

He even hinted to me that the salary was too low.

"So Peter will go to Albania to help Voldemort resurrect?" William asked.

According to the first half of the Prophecy, it should refer to this event.

Peter, however, was also Voldemort's traitor. He became Tom's little spy.

"I think you guessed right." Dumbledore said calmly, as if Voldemort's resurrection was not something to be too alarmed about.

William nodded slightly. This was not difficult to understand.

If Little Tom wants Old Tom to die, he must first resurrect him. Destroying the Horcrux and resurrecting the Dark Lord are not contradictory matters.

After Voldemort's resurrection, he can still provide William and his men with some work, giving them ample time to develop their careers in United States.

This also aligns with Tom's approach. A spy loses the meaning of the word if he doesn't act as a spy.

Dumbledore scoffed, "If Peter is destined to find Voldemort and resurrect him, that would be wonderful!"

There are many other forces operating in sync in this world.

Voldemort would not want someone who repents for the deaths of the Potters to complete the process of resurrecting him.

"Of course, this is the highest and most unfathomable realm of magic..."

Just then, a commotion arose at the door.

Fudge, holding his little green top hat, pushed open the door and walked in.

He exclaimed excitedly, "Unbelievable! Harry's still alive!"

William, you saved the Ministry of Magic tonight! If the Boy Who Lived had died, the Ministry of Magic would have exploded tomorrow.

"Then, can we release Professor Lupin?" William smiled. "Professor Lupin did not harm Harry; he was injured for other reasons."

"Of course, Professor Lupin is innocent; Hagrid must have been mistaken," Fudge sighed. "Harry was so badly injured; Black must have done it."

"Merlin, what a heinous crime! But he got away, that Dawlish..."

Fudge fiddled with his hat, looking at Dumbledore. "Albus, although I released Lupin, he must leave this school."

Tonight proved he wasn't so safe.

"I think... this is between me and the School Governor," Dumbledore.

"Fine... whatever you want." Fudge's chubby face flushed slightly.

He hadn't expected Dumbledore to be so disrespectful to him.

William quietly turned and left, leaving the office to Fudge and the principal. They would probably be arguing until dawn again.

Not long after leaving the office, I ran into Sirius.

Lifting Harry's Invisibility Cloak, he didn't look very happy.

"Have you seen Harry?" William asked.

"Yes, he's awake now," Sirius said. "Since he's alright, I should go."

Where are you going?

"Hmm... the Black family's ancestral home is at 12 Grimmauld Place, London. Dumbledore suggested I go there first."

Sirius's face fell.

"I haven't been back there since I ran away from home at sixteen."

Sirius hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Can I see you all during summer vacation? Can I invite you, Anne, and Hermione to my house?"

"I don't think that will work." William shook his head.

"Hermione and I won't have time in July; the International Confederation of Wizards is about to begin."

He thought for a moment and said, "But you can go watch the Quidditch World Cup. We'll go there after we're done with our work."

"... That's right." Sirius exclaimed excitedly, "I can borrow Harry's Invisibility Cloak for a while, and no one will be able to spot me while I'm wearing it."

"Goodbye then. I've heard Hermione's voice, so I won't disturb you two any longer."

Sirius put on the Invisibility Cloak and went to find Harry again.

William turned down the corridor and saw Hermione chatting with Tonks.

"What are you talking about?" he asked as he approached.

Hermione took William's hand and said mysteriously, "We were talking about Hogsmeade."

"..."

"What's with that expression?" Tonks, arms crossed, clearly annoyed.

"Let me tell you, William, you have no idea how dangerous that just happened!"

"A whole team, ten wizards against one of me."

"... Ten?!" Wei raised his eyebrows, a half-smile on his face.

"This is the number we got lucky with. Even if we didn't get lucky, the number would be at least this!" Tonks held up one finger.

"One?"

"Pah! A hundred of them!" Tonks foamed at the mouth as she exclaimed, "I'm surrounded by them, attacked from all sides!"

They're all dark wizards, top-tier experts, Auror level, even stronger than you!

Tonks was beaming with excitement, gesturing wildly.

"Oh dear, they're still young and inexperienced. Otherwise, I would have arrested them all and thrown them into Azkaban!"

"Hey, what are you two laughing at!" Tonks roared angrily when he saw William and Hermione laughing together.

You don't believe me, do you? You don't think I'm lying, do you?

I'm telling the truth! I swear on Minister Fudge's name.

"Hey, you two, don't go! I still have a lot of details to tell you."

William, do you need intelligence? Just ten Galleon... Where are you going?

"It's late at night, of course I should go to sleep," William said without turning his head.

Watching the two run away, Tonks stomped his foot in frustration.

She shook off Tonks, Hermione her hands behind her back, and stepped lightly down the castle corridor.

She quickened her pace, turned around, and asked with a smile, "Really going back to the dorm?"

"It's already two in the morning." William glanced at the time. "It's still early. Let's go back tomorrow night."

"Then... to the Room of Requirement?" Hermione asked tentatively.

She quickly added, "Correct the exam papers!"

William suppressed a laugh. "Of course, the kind that's just for one night."

Hermione nodded vigorously, flashing a bright smile.

The night breeze caressed my face, ruffling my hair like turning the pages of a book.

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