Chapter 254

Chapter 254

The conversation continued in the headmaster’s office. In response to Sirius’s confusion, Dumbledore unhurriedly added another two sugar cubes to his tea and stirred it with a silver spoon before explaining softly.

“The reasons are complicated, Sirius. As you know, Voldemort has never truly left the wizarding world.”

“From the information I have received, I have reason to believe that Voldemort is regaining his strength. Whenever Harry is away from Hogwarts, he may be in danger.”

Before Dumbledore could finish, Sirius interrupted impatiently.

“If he is in danger, that is all the more reason for him to stay with me. Lily’s sister — the place where Harry lives now — they are nothing but Muggles. They cannot protect him at all!”

“I will do everything in my power to protect Harry, even if it costs me my life, just as James gave his.”

“I have never doubted your resolve, Sirius,” Dumbledore said softly. “Harry’s circumstances are unique. He must remain with his blood relatives to ensure his absolute safety.”

“But I am Harry’s family too. I am his godfather.” Sirius raised his chin and argued defiantly.

“By relatives, I mean those who share his blood.” Dumbledore took no offence at Black’s attitude. He shook his head slightly and continued his gentle explanation. “Lily left an ancient magic upon Harry. This magic of blood is immensely powerful, and it can protect him from harm.”

“Yet it can exert its power only while he remains with a blood relative. Voldemort cannot use it to discover Harry’s whereabouts, and that undoubtedly makes Harry much safer.”

Once Black understood Dumbledore’s explanation, he could not hide his disappointment, but he did not press the matter further.

…

The Ministry of Magic would need time to act. Until then, Black still could not appear openly before others. He therefore resumed his Animagus form and prepared to remain in the Shrieking Shack for a while longer.

Professor Lupin went with him.

Once the two had left, only Suer and Dumbledore remained in the headmaster’s office.

“Is there something else?” Dumbledore asked Suer kindly.

“Yes, Professor.” Suer nodded. “I wanted to ask you about Helga Hufflepuff.”

“Oh?” Dumbledore raised an interested eyebrow. “Go on.”

Suer considered his words before asking tentatively, “Do you know about… a trial?”

“A trial?” Dumbledore repeated in surprise. “Helga Hufflepuff’s trial?”

“Then you have already met the centaur priestess?”

“Yes.” Suer nodded and ventured another question. “Do you know anything more about it? For example, what Helga Hufflepuff left behind?”

Reminiscence flickered across Dumbledore’s face. “When I was young, I once sought the legacies left by the four Founders.”

“Unfortunately…” He shook his head beneath Suer’s expectant gaze. “I possess very little information. To those of us living now, the four Founders remain profoundly mysterious.”

“Even though you are now Headmaster of Hogwarts?” Suer could not conceal his disappointment.

“Yes.” Dumbledore nodded. “No one knows what they left behind. After I became Headmaster, however, I investigated the matter myself and formed a few conjectures from the scattered records that remain.”
“Slytherin studied the Dark Arts in great depth. He left behind the Chamber of Secrets and set his pet to guard it. Voldemort entered it while he was a student here and must have benefited greatly.”

“The one beneath the castle?”

“Yes.” Dumbledore smiled and nodded. “As for Rowena Ravenclaw, I suspect she may have left a private library within the Ravenclaw common room. She possessed an intense desire to seek out knowledge, together with wide interests and a taste for deep study.”

Understood. A compulsive book collector. Suer nodded.

“As for Gryffindor…” Dumbledore beckoned gently, and the familiar Sorting Hat floated over from its shelf.

Clang!

An ornate and magnificent sword dropped out of the Sorting Hat.

“As you can see, he left behind a sword.”

Suer curiously lifted the gleaming silver knight’s sword, its hilt encrusted with gems. His first impression was that it looked splendid but impractical. It was unexpectedly light.

“Can it be used as a wand?”

“Why not try?” Dumbledore merely smiled.

Suer stirred the magic within him, but it poured into the sword like a stream entering the sea, without raising the slightest ripple. He murmured an incantation, but the blade gave no response.

“The goblins forged this sword from a metal unique to their craft. It can absorb any magical substance it encounters, and its sharpness is determined by the magic of the wizard wielding it.”

Suer nodded and, without the slightest reluctance, carefully laid the sword flat upon the desk. After all, this was the prop destined for Mr Longbottom’s future moment of glory as a Sword Saint.

“Then… what about Helga Hufflepuff?”

Difficulty flickered across Dumbledore’s face. “Helga Hufflepuff is the most mysterious of the four Founders. As everyone knows, she left behind a pair of golden cups and the Hogwarts kitchens.”

“I fear even I know less about her than the house-elves who work there.”

“Have you never searched the kitchens?” Suer asked curiously.

“Of course I have.” Dumbledore nodded without the least embarrassment. “Even I cannot order the kitchen house-elves to tell me everything about Helga Hufflepuff.”

“She appears to have instructed them never to speak of her until they were shown the proper token. To the kitchen house-elves, Helga Hufflepuff’s command takes precedence over everything.”

“Do you know what the token is?”

“I have a theory. It should be some emblem connected with Hufflepuff house,” Dumbledore said frankly.

Suer nodded thoughtfully. Perhaps he could ask in the kitchens about the third little bronze badger.

“Since you have met the centaur priestess, you should already possess a relevant clue. Why not try the Hogwarts kitchens? You may discover something.” Dumbledore smiled and winked.

“According to the records I have found, Helga Hufflepuff explored many branches of magic. Her most remarkable attainments, however, seem to have concerned the soul and the bloodline.”

“The soul and the bloodline?” Suer asked in surprise.

“Yes. Soul and bloodline. They establish a wizard’s foundation and influence the heights that wizard may one day attain. Those were the fields Helga Hufflepuff studied most deeply.” Dumbledore nodded, a trace of melancholy entering his gentle face.

“I was once obsessed with the subject. I tried to find within it something I desperately sought…”

“Unfortunately…”