The Prisoners of Hogwarts

Chapter 5 Two Questions

On the back of the photo was a short sentence.

Dumbledore could sense the writer's urgency and shock from the messy handwriting.

"He's here."

At first glance, this sentence seems to have no beginning or end, making it difficult to understand its meaning.

However, considering the content on the front of the photo, its meaning is self-evident.

Voldemort, widely regarded as the most dangerous dark wizard in the history of magic, has returned!

While he was busy with other things, the Dark Lord, who had been unexpectedly defeated ten years ago, had risen again from the shadows, crawled out of his dark lair, and was ready to once again stir up a bloodbath in the magical world.

Where will he go? What is his purpose in reappearing?

These thoughts quickly surfaced in Dumbledore's mind when he saw the sentence behind the photograph.

But he immediately realized that someone who knew the answers to these questions better than he did was sitting on the sofa opposite him.

Dumbledore looked at Lynch and realized that he had underestimated the young man in front of him.

So he went straight to the point and asked, "Do you know what Voldemort's purpose is in showing up this time?"

"Of course," Lynch replied, "but please allow me to get you a cup of hot tea first. This tea from the East becomes bitter and unpalatable when it cools down."

"Oh, that will trouble you." Dumbledore gestured with his left hand.

Lynch flicked his finger, and a new teacup flew out of the cabinet under the stove and landed on the table in front of Dumbledore, while the cold tea flew into the sink.

The teapot flew up and refilled the two empty teacups with tea.

The delicate fragrance of green tea once again wafts through the air.

The two of them took a small sip of tea from their cups at the same time.

Lin Qi put down his teacup and spoke first.

"But first, Headmaster Dumbledore, before I answer your question, you need to answer two of mine." Lynch held up one finger. "The first question is, on October 31, 1981, the night you found and imprisoned me here, the same night Voldemort murdered Lily and Potter."

"Why that particular day? And when you found me, you seemed absolutely certain of my identity. Who gave you this information?"

"Don't you think it's a bit too much of a coincidence? It was almost the same night you came to see me that Voldemort launched his attack."

Dumbledore's eyes flickered, and he replied, "Someone I trust told me that day that he had obtained some information from the Ministry about reports concerning Glencoe Valley..."

"Whoever he is, he must be a traitor." Lynch looked at Dumbledore.

Dumbledore stroked his long, silvery-white beard. "It doesn't matter anymore. That man is dead, killed by his own people. How ironic."

"Ironically or not, Voldemort successfully entangled you at Hogwarts that night, and also used you to get rid of me, his stumbling block. He killed two birds with one stone, brilliant."

Lynch gave a thumbs-up, then held up his second finger: "Second question, what exactly happened that night at Lily's house?"

"All the intelligence I could gather told me one simple fact: Lily and Potter died, their one-year-old child survived and became the savior in the eyes of the world, and the world's most powerful dark wizard would disappear from the world's sight after that night."

"Please forgive me for calling him the most powerful dark wizard in the world. In fact, if I may be so bold, Headmaster Dumbledore, in terms of magical skill alone, I believe Voldemort is superior to you."

"You don't need to feel sorry," Dumbledore said. "Voldemort certainly possessed abilities that I could never attain."

"Therefore, we can basically say that Voldemort was the most powerful wizard in the world."

Dumbledore nodded in agreement: "That's right."

"So the world's most powerful wizard was defeated by a one-year-old boy?" Lynch pressed.

"No." Dumbledore paused, then continued, "It was Lily. She used her own life to cast an ancient spell—the spell of love."

"The magic successfully protected her child and dealt Voldemort an unexpected and devastating blow."

Lynch was silent for a moment. He lowered his head, made a loose fist with his left hand, and extended the second knuckle of his index finger to press against his chin.

He muttered to himself, his right hand, hanging at his other side, unconsciously clenching and unclenching repeatedly. "I see, that explains it..."

He looked up at Dumbledore, his tone very certain: "The effects of that magic are still lingering on that child, aren't they?"

Dumbledore picked up his teacup and took another sip. "Your mind is very sharp, Mr. Lynch."

"You've protected that child very well, hidden him very well. I believe that few people besides you know where he is now." Lynch paused for a moment, then continued, "I think this child is one of the reasons why Voldemort has appeared at this time."

Dumbledore sat up straight. "You think he's after the boy?"

"How old is that child this year?" Lynch asked, answering before Dumbledore could reply, "He's about to turn eleven and will be enrolling at Hogwarts this year."

Lynch continued, "Voldemort suffered the greatest defeat of his life at the hands of that boy. He's not one to give up easily, and he'll want to defeat the very force that once wounded him so deeply."

"There is an old saying in the East that if you are bitten by a snake, there will be an antidote within five steps. Voldemort may be trying to find a way to regain his power from that child."

"These are all my guesses. Maybe he has other motives, but I think he will definitely come to Hogwarts."

"So, Headmaster Dumbledore, let's sign an unbreakable oath." Lynch stared into Dumbledore's eyes. "You and I will sign an unbreakable oath. I promise to stay within the boundaries of Hogwarts School and never step outside them. I also promise not to kill anyone except Voldemort. The oath can be broken if one of the following two conditions is met: first, I obtain permission for you to leave Hogwarts; second, I successfully help you eliminate Voldemort."

Dumbledore lowered his head slightly, avoiding Lynch's gaze. He leaned back on the sofa, his hands clasped on his stomach, his thumbs slowly rubbing against each other.

Lin Qi didn't urge him. He picked up his teacup and slowly sipped it. The bitterness of the green tea vanished in an instant, and the sweet aftertaste became increasingly clear in his mouth.

"I'm afraid I have to decline your offer, Mr. Lynch."