Hogwarts: This Dark Lord is so evil

Dumbledore's arrival was so swift that even Leed felt surprised.

Almost within minutes of the house-elf Apparating away, Dumbledore arrived.

This showed just how anxious he was.

Leed welcomed Dumbledore into his room.

"Leed… the thing you mentioned?" Dumbledore asked as soon as he entered.

Leed had never seen Dumbledore so eager before.

No wonder, in the original timeline, after seeing the Resurrection Stone, he actually forgot it was Voldemort's Horcrux and carelessly put it on, thus being afflicted by a curse that left him with only a year to live…

"It's here." Leed pointed to the Resurrection Stone on the table.

Dumbledore recognized it at a glance as the gem taken from the Gaunt family ring that Tom had won back.

"Tom and I both wanted to see if there was any special magic on the ring, and then… I discovered the inscription on it. I happened to have this copy of *The Tales of Beedle the Bard*, where I had read the story. So we tried it…"

"Peverell…"

Dumbledore picked up the Resurrection Stone, his fingers gently stroking the inscription, his expression very complex.

In fact, the first time he saw the ring at the Gaunt's house, he felt that the stone on the ring was somewhat special.

However, after all, it was something Tom had risked his life to win back, so he didn't feel right asking to borrow it.

And now, these two children had discovered the secret of the ring themselves.

"Where's Tom?" Dumbledore noticed that Tom, who was always with Leed, was missing.

Leed pointed in the direction of Tom's room, "He's in his room right now, stabilizing his emotions. He… he also used the Resurrection Stone just now and seemed to see his mother."

"He must be happy to finally see his mother…" Dumbledore asked, somewhat presumptuously.

"No… he's very sad. He asked his mother why she didn't live for him. Why she had to give birth to him and then abandon him in an orphanage… In the end, he gave me the stone, saying he didn't want to see his mother again." Leed leaned against the table and shrugged.

Dumbledore was very surprised by this, "Tom… alas, I should have known about his inner repression sooner. I originally thought… he didn't understand what love was, but now it seems… I misunderstood him, he just hid that emotion."

"I think he just lacks guidance, Professor. With me around, you can rest assured." Leed said confidently.

"With you around, I am indeed very relieved. In fact, I have seen Tom's changes. His changes are indeed inseparable from you. I am grateful that Tom met you…"

"Professor, you flatter me. Ahem, let's get back to the stone… Professor, do you think the stories in this book are true? Was this 'Resurrection Stone' really created by Death?" Leed asked.

Dumbledore carefully examined the Resurrection Stone, meticulously sensing the magical traces on it.

"In my opinion, the story may not be true, and Death may not exist. The three brothers should just be three powerful wizards who created three powerful magical items… Yes, I can still feel extremely powerful magical fluctuations on this Resurrection Stone…"

Dumbledore looked at Leed, saying sincerely, "Leed, can I try it now? I… I'm embarrassed to say, I really can't wait to try it. I… I can answer any questions you have later."

"Of course!" Leed looked around his room, "Hmm… it's a bit small here. Do you need to go to the yard outside?"

"Okay…"

Compared to Tom, Dumbledore wanted to see two more people. Leed's small room probably couldn't fit them all…

The safe house came with a yard, and the yard and the house were integrated, both protected by the Fidelius Charm.

That is to say, as long as you stayed inside the fence, people outside, even if they leaned on the fence, couldn't see the scene in the yard.

At this time, Dumbledore was standing in the center of the yard.

He stared blankly at the Resurrection Stone in his hand.

The thing he had once yearned for so much was now in his hand. At this moment, he actually had a feeling similar to homesickness.

Leed quietly stood aside, without saying a word.

Under normal circumstances, he should actually avoid it and let Dumbledore face it himself.

However, Leed was too eager to watch the show… He really wanted to know what Dumbledore would say after seeing his deceased relatives.

Anyway… Dumbledore didn't ask him to leave…

He didn't wait long. After a moment, Dumbledore held the Resurrection Stone in his hand and gently turned it three times.

Then, Leed saw Dumbledore freeze, his azure eyes instantly filled with tears.

Leed stood in the corner, still feeling a little regretful in his heart.

If only he could also see Dumbledore's vision. If he could only see Dumbledore talking to himself, it would indeed be a little less interesting…

Suddenly, Leed remembered the scene when he used the Resurrection Stone just now. At that time, a burst of white mist first appeared around him. He didn't know if Tom had also seen it…

However, he always felt that the white mist was very similar to the white mist he had seen when he used Nightmare Magic to enter dreams.

Thinking of this, Leed quietly released a trace of his Nightmare Magic power and covered his eyes…

This was one of the uses of Nightmare Magic, originally used to spy on other people's dreams. As long as you covered your eyes with Nightmare Magic and then looked at a sleeping person, you could see what dream he was having…

But now, this magic was being used by Leed here.

And to Leed's surprise, this action, which was just a try, actually worked!

In his vision, several figures appeared around Dumbledore.

Although in his vision, these figures were still a little blurry, he really, truly saw them!

Could it be that… the souls "summoned" by the Resurrection Stone are just a different kind of daydream?

Leed remembered the highest realm of Nightmare Magic, which was to make illusory things appear in reality and still be seen by people…

Could it be that the creation of the Resurrection Stone also used a similar principle to Nightmare Magic?

While Leed was wondering, a phantom in front of Dumbledore spoke.

Although the words sounded like a very illusory echo to Leed, he could still hear them clearly.

"Brother, you look so old."

Dumbledore looked at Ariana in front of him, his own sister, with tears in his eyes.

“Ariana, your words really break my heart, brother.”

He forced a smile onto his tear-streaked face.

“But, you look just as handsome as ever.” Ariana stood there, smiling sweetly.

Dumbledore had never seen his sister so cheerful, and for a moment, he was once again captivated.

“Albus… long time no see.”

At this moment, a deep male voice awakened Dumbledore.

It was a tall, thin man with eyebrows that looked somewhat similar to Dumbledore's, and he also had a pair of azure blue eyes.

Beside him stood a kind-looking woman.

“Father, Mother… it has indeed been a long time… I… I'm sorry… I'm sorry to you, I'm sorry to Ariana… I didn't take good care of her, I… I, for my own selfish desires, actually caused Ariana to… to die so young… It's all my fault… all my fault…”

As Dumbledore spoke, he couldn't help but squat down and wail.

This cry contained so much guilt, regret, sorrow, and helplessness.

Even Leed, watching from the side, felt a little suffocated.

It was the first time he had seen the usually calm and composed Dumbledore so out of control.

Ariana and her parents quietly walked to Dumbledore's side, looking sadly at the self-reproaching, crying Dumbledore.

“This should be my fault, Albus.” Dumbledore's father said sadly, “When I went to settle accounts with those Muggle boys, I should have thought about the consequences… If I hadn't died so early, you wouldn't have needed to shoulder such a heavy burden at such a young age… You are so talented, you should have been ambitious and gone far… It was I who left you with shackles…”

“It's not like that… Father, it's not like that…” Dumbledore murmured sadly.

“Brother… you don't need to apologize to me. The one who should apologize is me, I… I should have been stronger. All the changes in our family stem from me…” Ariana said sadly. “Please don't torture yourself like this anymore… Please go back to being the brother I once knew, full of spirit, okay?”

“Ariana, ah, Ariana… how can you forgive me? It's all because of me… that you, that you would be so young…”

“I have never blamed you, not even your good friend… Death, whether for me or for you and Brother Aberforth, is a kind of release.”

“No… Ariana, no… How can you say that?”

“I am an Obscurial, brother, even if I hadn't gone through that accident, I would have died soon…” Ariana wanted to put her hand on Dumbledore's shoulder, but her hand passed through Dumbledore's arm. “Please stand up, brother. So many years have passed, we all hope you can let go… completely let go…”

“Yes, child… let it go. Don't regret, don't grieve, death is another great journey, we just started the journey one step ahead of you.” Dumbledore's mother gently placed her hand on Dumbledore's head, “Don't be depressed, you are already the backbone of many people, you also have your mission, don't you? Live well, with the love in your heart.”

Dumbledore slowly raised his head, gazing at the three incredibly real figures in front of him, his eyes filled with tears.

Ariana and her parents stood together, looking at Dumbledore with encouraging smiles.

“Brother, it's time for us to leave too. Remember our words…” Ariana finished speaking, then turned and walked into the distance with her parents, until they completely disappeared into the re-emerging mist…

Leed, who was peeking from the side, was shocked again. This… according to the setting of the Resurrection Stone, shouldn't the spirits only disappear when the holder puts down the Resurrection Stone? How did they leave on their own?

From Tom's soul appearing without turning the Resurrection Stone just now, to Dumbledore's soul leaving on its own, it completely violated the setting of the Resurrection Stone, which made Leed very puzzled.

At this moment, Leed suddenly had a bold idea. Could it be that… the soul of Merope that Tom saw, and the souls of Dumbledore's family members now, are all real?

Dumbledore slumped on the ground, silently watching the direction in which his parents and sister disappeared, the hand holding the Resurrection Stone trembling slightly.

He didn't know how long it was before he felt someone helping him up.

“Professor… are you alright?”

“Thank you, Leed… I'm fine. I'm just… a little hard to let go.”

As Dumbledore spoke, he looked at the Resurrection Stone in his hand with a complex expression. After a moment, he put it back into Leed's hand.

“Sorry, can you give me some time? Let me be alone for a while.”

Leed had no choice but to nod, take the Resurrection Stone, and wanted to return to his room.

Then he saw Tom standing in front of the window in the living room.

Obviously, Tom had also seen the scene of Dumbledore's loss of control just now.

Leed waved his hand and said, “Let's go, Tom, Professor Dumbledore needs to be alone for a while.”

Tom walked over silently and went upstairs with Leed.

“Is family affection… really that important?” Tom suddenly asked.

Leed was a little surprised by Tom's question, “It should be.”

“You don't know?” Tom asked again.

“Only those who have experienced the beauty of family affection will know. How can I have this qualification now?” Leed said, pretending to walk towards his room with a depressed look.

Tom looked at Leed's back and couldn't help but sigh.

Although you have a family that I envy… but I didn't expect that you are the same as me…

Thinking of this, Tom suddenly stopped Leed, “That Resurrection Stone… can I borrow it again?”

“This was originally your thing, Tom.” Leed put the Resurrection Stone back into Tom's hand.

As soon as Tom took the Resurrection Stone, he saw Merope again.

His eyes became extremely complicated again.

“Come on… Mom, let's… have a good chat this time…”

Watching Tom's back as he walked back to his room, Leed sighed inwardly.

Tom, he doesn't understand love? Maybe he didn't before, but now, he should understand soon…