Harry bent down and walked a distance, then stood up and walked quickly to the door of the Great Hall.

"Hey, Harry!" He heard someone calling him from behind. Harry turned around and saw that it was Neville. He had a confused expression on his face. Harry waved at him and slipped into the hall.

Dumbledore and his group had disappeared.

Harry guessed that they should have gone upstairs, maybe to the headmaster's office, but he seemed to hear some noise from outside. After weighing it in his mind, he quickly ran to the platform outside the castle and looked far away. It was almost completely dark, and he could barely distinguish two vague figures.

One was Professor Flitwick, whose height was very conspicuous, and the other... Harry thought it was Professor Sprout. He tried to look further away, but there was no one else. He realized that something was wrong: Headmaster Dumbledore's white beard was quite recognizable even in the dark.

So they separated in the hall? Did Headmaster Dumbledore assign other tasks to the two professors?

There were dense footsteps behind him. Harry realized that the prefects had begun to organize the junior students to return to the lounge. He did not hesitate and ran towards the headmaster's office. It was quiet all around, with only his heavy footsteps. He wondered if he had taken the wrong path. After climbing two more flights of stairs, he heard a faint voice above his head.

It was the voice of Headmaster Dumbledore!

Harry was excited, but his speed inevitably slowed down. Finally, he came to the eighth floor, walked through a door, turned a corner, and quickened his pace. He knew that he was about to see the stone monster in the corridor. He was so familiar with this road that he would not go wrong even with his eyes closed.

Moreover, he happened to know the password.

A dark shadow suddenly blocked in front of him. Harry was startled, slipped, and almost fell on his back.

It was Snape.

"What are you doing here, Potter?" he asked coldly.

"I, I'm looking for-wait, you were kicked out?" Harry asked in surprise, looking past Snape's back, where there was no one.

Snape's face froze.

"You're right, Potter." He said in a flattering tone, and then his thin lips twisted into a sarcastic smile, "The important people are talking inside, and the unimportant people - like me, are responsible for stopping the equally unimportant fools who don't know it."

"It was Headmaster Dumbledore who asked me to come here!" Harry said angrily.

"When did it happen?" Harry was speechless, and Snape's tone became more satisfied, "I just followed behind, but I didn't hear Dumbledore talking to any students... I suggest you return to the Great Hall immediately while Madam Pomfrey is still here."

Harry stared at Snape, resentment growing in his heart. He took a deep breath, pulled out his wand, and couldn't decide whether to release the Patronus Charm to tell Dumbledore that he was here.

Snape's eyebrows jumped fiercely.

He thought Harry was going to attack him. Snape narrowed his eyes and couldn't help muttering in his heart: Is this what Dumbledore did? Let him irritate Potter and be disarmed? Should he resist?

But Harry had put away his wand and gave up the idea of ​​using the Patronus to deliver the message. He was very sure that he had not misunderstood the hint Dumbledore gave him, and Dumbledore had clearly told him last night that he would deal with the soul fragments in his body after dinner.

But since other professors were present, it meant that the headmaster did have other things to deal with urgently.

Not many people knew about the existence of Horcruxes.

"Where did Professor Sprout and Professor Flitwick go?" Harry asked Snape calmly, "I saw them go out of the entrance hall."

Snape looked at him quietly for two seconds, and just when Harry thought he still had nothing to learn, he said:

"They went to the school gate to pick up someone. Who was that person? Oh, Potter, I guess you want to ask this? You always have a strong curiosity about things that have nothing to do with you... But I can tell you that they were ordered to bring the former headmaster's brother here, I guess it's probably to say goodbye? You see, Dumbledore does want to see someone, but it's not you."

Harry didn't care about Snape's sarcasm, he was stunned.

Yes... Dumbledore is no longer the headmaster, he handed in his resignation. Until then, Harry was in the mood to think about the impact of this news on himself. A feeling called sadness surged in his stomach. He couldn't help but recall the bits and pieces of his time with Dumbledore.

...

"I'm going to die, Minerva, Felix." Dumbledore whispered in the headmaster's office.

Professor McGonagall was stunned.

Not only because of this news, but just like a wonderful drama at the end, all the suspense and clues before were strung together and were about to be solved, which made her get some enlightenment when she was surprised and overwhelmed:

from Dumbledore's various abnormal behaviors at the beginning of this school year (she was not unacceptable), to Dumbledore's sudden resignation as headmaster this afternoon, and after Dumbledore sent Pomona and Filius not long ago, Professor Bagshot's attitude was quite wrong.

Professor McGonagall could see that Professor Bagshot was forcing himself to endure.

When only he, Dumbledore, Felix and himself were left in the headmaster's office, Professor Bagshot finally couldn't hold back and loudly questioned what Dumbledore was going to do. What happened next was even stranger. Dumbledore, with a guilty look on his face, handed him a book of fairy tales to help him pass the time when he was bored, and said that he would find time to write to him.

Associated with what Dumbledore said about traveling in the afternoon, Professor McGonagall reluctantly understood.

But then something terrible happened: Felix suddenly attacked Professor Bagshot from behind and knocked him out. As if it had been planned, Dumbledore took a step forward, hugged Professor Bagshot, who had lost control of his body, and staggered him to the sofa.

Dumbledore stuffed "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" into the pocket of Professor Bagshot's robe, and put a cushion under his neck. After doing all this, he turned around and said the above words to the other two.

Professor McGonagall stared at Dumbledore's face seriously.

If it was a prank, he would usually compromise at this time, but Dumbledore looked at her without hesitation at this moment.

"It's not April Fools' Day, Dumbledore!" she cried. "If you were hoping to scare me, you did, you did... Oh, God..." She suddenly choked up, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Tell me, Albus, it's not true," she said weakly.

Dumbledore repeated his words in a weak but firm voice, "I'm sorry, Minerva, but I am dying."

Tears welled up in her eyes and flowed down Professor McGonagall's no longer young face.

"But - what you said before - travel -" she asked as if grasping at the last straw.

"That's fake." Dumbledore said calmly, "It's a trick I designed. Calm down, Minerva, you are a warrior who has experienced two wizarding wars. Look at Felix--"

"Don't take me with you." Felix said stiffly on the side.

Dumbledore shook his head slightly.

"Okay. For those who are sober, death is just another great adventure. I am not afraid of death. What really scares me is those people in this world who are worth cherishing... For this reason, I prepared this. Felix, can you do me a favor?"

Dumbledore asked politely. Felix and Professor McGonagall followed his gaze and placed two large boxes on the left side of the long-legged desk. Felix moved his lips and did not speak, but the two boxes floated up out of thin air and landed on the open space between the three people.

"This is it." Dumbledore nodded approvingly and said, "Excuse me--"

"Click!"

"Click!"

With two crisp sounds, the lid of the box popped open. Felix looked at the box, which was full of letters.

"Miss Lovegood's story gave me inspiration. Since my identity is still useful, I hope you can keep it a secret after I die. These letters will help you. I have specially classified them so that it is easy to distinguish them. You only need to send a few letters in the future, or occasionally mention what I saw and heard during my journey in public, so as to create a false impression. Oh, by the way."

Dumbledore looked at Felix with pleasure: "Your clone magic may come in handy. You have experience in playing me."

Felix knew what this meant. He had disguised himself as Dumbledore in the depths of Voldemort's memory. In a way, he was indeed experienced.

Professor McGonagall shook violently.

"Albus, is this what you left us for? To send letters after you die and pretend that you are still alive in some corner of the world?" She said loudly, but her face turned pale.

Those blue eyes seemed to have infinite tolerance and understanding.

"I know it's difficult, but believe me, I have my reasons for doing this. After tonight, you can ask Felix and get more detailed information from him."

There was a noise outside.

"I'm coming! Albus, see what you have to say!" Aberforth's roar came from a distant place. "

Okay, Minerva, cheer up!" Dumbledore said sternly, and then he looked at Fawkes. The phoenix was lying on the branch, sickly, and seemed to be covered with a layer of black and red ash.

"Fawkes." He said softly.

The phoenix propped up and looked at Dumbledore. "Take him to Minerva's office." Fawkes responded in a low voice, spread his wings and landed on the unconscious Grindelwald. In a flash of fire, a man and a bird disappeared. Dumbledore turned to

Professor McGonagall and said, "Minerva, I need you to return to the office now. Pomona will bring some people to see you. They are law enforcers of the International Confederation of Wizards and have been ordered to transfer-" "

Professor Bagshot?" Professor McGonagall asked in surprise.

Dumbledore nodded. "

Keep it confidential."

"But, Albus, he is--"

"Let Felix explain it to you later," Dumbledore interrupted. "My brother is here. If I don't let him come up, I'm afraid he will use violence. He has been very dissatisfied with me recently... By the way, let Harry come too. He should have been waiting for a while."

The noise outside was getting louder and louder, so his words seemed very convincing. Professor McGonagall looked at him deeply, "It's an honor to work with you, Albus."

"Me too, Minerva." Dumbledore smiled at her.

Professor McGonagall hurried away, and seemed to trip when she was at the door. When the door closed again, a clear inhalation sound came from outside.

The spacious office returned to silence. Although a more irritable person would soon come, at least it was quiet at the moment.

Dumbledore slowly moved to the edge of the sofa and sat down next to where Grindelwald had just been lying.

"Put away those letters, Felix. I have never been able to guess Aberforth's temper. It would be troublesome if he insisted on reading them."

"Hide it from him as well?" Felix asked softly.

"Maybe. In his heart, I have always been an irresponsible brother. It's better to keep this impression, but I can't control it that far. If you plan to tell him, it's better to wait for a while."

Felix put away the two boxes of letters.

"I thought you would survive because--"

"Because of Ariana?" Dumbledore asked softly. Felix nodded at him and the old man laughed. "You forgot, Felix, there is another me in classroom 7."

"Thirteen-year-old Ariana should be with seventeen-year-old Albus Dumbledore, instead of waking up with two old brothers. I took the initiative and didn't let her keep the memory of the last year of her life. That was too cruel for her, but she has the power of soul, which makes her different from ordinary memories and ghosts, more real... If one day she gets tired of it, she also has the right to decide her own destiny."

The door suddenly opened from the outside.

"Albus! And that bastard!" Aberforth's burly figure rushed in, followed by Harry, Snape and Flitwick. "I don't know what kind of sweet talk you used this time-"

When he found that there were only two people in the room, he was stunned.

"Where is he?" Aberforth licked his lips and asked fiercely.

"Gone." Dumbledore said, closing his eyes. Aberforth made a strange expression, and for a moment, Harry next to him even thought that he was going to yell, but Aberforth just stared at Dumbledore with a gloomy face.

"You..." He muttered, and after a while he said: "Where is the key?"

Dumbledore opened his eyes and looked at Felix. Felix stretched out his hand expressionlessly, and countless tiny ancient magic runes gathered between his fingers, and finally condensed into a substantial key. He threw the key to Aberforth.

"Filius, please run again and take Aberforth to classroom seven." Dumbledore said.

"Oh, uh, okay, Headmaster Dumbledore." Professor Flitwick said obediently. "Dumbledore - um, please follow me."

Aberforth stared at the key in his hand, then looked at Dumbledore sitting on the sofa, "Thank you." He muttered vaguely and followed the short Professor Flitwick away.

In the office, Dumbledore, Felix, Harry and Snape were the only ones left.

Snape looked around the office and finally landed on Dumbledore. "Do you still need me to guard the door? There are quite a few professors gathered downstairs, and they all want to know more inside information. I wonder if you heard Hagrid's loud voice... Professor McGonagall left in a hurry without saying anything."

"Is Pomona back?" Dumbledore asked.

"As far as I know, not yet." Snape whispered.

"Thank you for your hard work, Severus."

Snape stared at Dumbledore for a moment, his expression turned cold, he threw away his sleeves, and left the office with a stern face. Dumbledore seemed unaware and asked Harry to sit opposite him.

"Harry, Harry," Dumbledore almost whispered, "I've been thinking about it for a long time, and I've been hesitating whether to tell you directly. Maybe if you passively accept the predetermined fate, you will burst out with powerful power..."

"Am I going to die?" Harry asked, his voice trembling slightly, but his eyes were very calm.

Dumbledore looked at him lovingly, and after a while, he spoke again.

"You will survive in the end, I promise you, Harry. But - yes, you do need to die once." He took out the Resurrection Stone Ring from his pocket with some effort and put it on himself. Harry and Felix stared at his hand, which was thin and slender, but at this moment it was emitting a faint light.

Dumbledore shook the ring, "Look, I will protect you."

Harry pursed his lips, "How should I do it?"

"You must be killed by Voldemort once, and it must be him, for reasons you can guess without me telling you. Voldemort is now transferred to the Slytherin Chamber of Secrets. Felix and I have made some changes there to allow you to be free. Of course, you can't just appear in front of Voldemort like this. He knows you are a Horcrux and can't kill you."

"Then -"

"But there happens to be someone in the school now who can appear in front of Voldemort openly without worrying about arousing any suspicion - I'm not saying that Voldemort trusts him, on the contrary, it is very likely -"

"Snape." Harry said suddenly.

Dumbledore stopped talking and said with a smile in his eyes: "Yes. It seems that you understand."

Harry nodded.

"I need a weapon. My own wand is useless."

"Severus is outside." Dumbledore nodded, "Oh, by the way, maybe you will need it - Voldemort's wand is in the drawer on the left side of my desk. You have seen it. The handle is like a beast's claw." Harry

was silent for a moment, stood up, walked around the sofa, opened the drawer of the long-legged table and took out a wand from it.

After thinking about it, Harry asked:

"Will you accompany me?" He walked to the door and looked at Dumbledore.

"Yes, I will."

Dumbledore smiled and nodded.

The door closed behind him, and Harry heard a crisp phoenix cry. He was dazed for a few seconds, took a deep breath, and the spiral staircase began to descend. Finally, the wall in front of him cracked and the light from the corridor shone in.

Six or seven professors gathered in the corridor. They talked in a low voice and looked towards the stone monster.

"Harry!" Hagrid called out, waving his arm at him.

But Harry walked right up to Snape, and they stared at each other.

"I need your wand."

Snape looked at him coldly.

"I need your wand—to avenge her," Harry finished.

Snape slowly pulled his wand out of his robes, staring at him with empty eyes, his voice hoarse.

"Birch, thirteen and a half inches, with a dragon heartstring core."

"Thank you," Harry said, shaking the wand twice, as if trying to feel it in his hands, and then pointing the tip of the wand at himself. Hagrid inhaled loudly.

Harry's face began to change shape, his height was elongated, his figure became slimmer, his skin color dulled, the scar on his forehead gradually disappeared...

He became Snape's appearance.

Then Harry pointed his wand at himself again, and his clothes turned into a loose black robe.

Hagrid was shocked, rubbing his eyes hard, and half of the words were stuck in his throat. The other professors were also shocked. Someone whispered, "Animagus can greatly improve the level of Transfiguration."

"But Potter has only mastered it for less than two months."

Harry was quickly adapting to the changes in his body. He recalled Snape's walking posture in his mind and found it surprisingly familiar. He walked back and forth a few steps and soon found the feeling - he strode with big strides, and the black hems were raised high, like two deadly venomous snakes. When he passed Hagrid, he stopped and grinned.

Hagrid's expression was as if he had seen a ghost.