The Pacifist Necromancer of Hogwarts

After sending Malfoy away, Anthony immediately returned to the principal's office. Dumbledore was seriously looking at the delicate silverware that was spitting out white smoke. The smoke would circle in the air from time to time before slowly dissipating. Fox was soundly asleep on the perch, and even Anthony pushing the door open did not wake him up.

Sir, said Anthony, Dobby is the Malfoy elf.

Oh, really? said Dumbledore calmly, with interest. Please sit down, Henry. I suppose you came to see me as soon as you discovered this?

Anthony sat down opposite him and said a little sheepishly: Yes.

Don't get me wrong, I'm very pleased to know that I have your trust and approval, said Dumbledore. Brave people are never afraid to ask for help, Henry - as long as they know where to find the right person for help. But we still Let’s talk about Dobby first. How did you find out where he came from?”

I didn't find it, sir, the answer came to me on its own. Anthony said, explaining the Mudblood, the slug, Professor Lockhart and the photo to Dumbledore.

After he finished recounting his conversation with Malfoy, Dumbledore mused: Did Dobby cry?

I guess so, Anthony said, confused. Like he couldn't believe you vouched for me out of Azkaban. But I don't remember ever meeting him.

What does Mr. Malfoy think of Dobby's unusual behavior?

No, I doubt he really cares about what Dobby is doing. Anthony said, But Mr. Potter told me that they did suspect that Dobby was sent by Mr. Malfoy to make him drop out of school - they The two don’t seem to get along very well.”

That boy, Draco, warned Harry that dark magic had entered the school, so he told him not to come back? Dumbledore's eyes flashed with amusement, Let me make a bold statement, this has nothing to do with Lucius' The taste is different.”

Anthony also laughed and admitted: I don't think it makes sense either.

Let's think about it, Dumbledore said, touching their fingertips together. Dobby is the Malfoy elf. He reminded Harry before school started - As if he knew what Anthony was thinking, Dumbledore Lido smiled and said, Let's just take that as a reminder, okay? He reminded Harry that Hogwarts has become a dangerous place, and mentioned the dark magic that can hide from me... Well, I think I There shouldn’t be anything left behind.”

Anthony thought: Assuming Dobby really has good intentions, is it possible that Mr. Malfoy knew something that we don't know, and Dobby happened to hear it?

Lucius?

I've heard some rumors. People - he said, referring to Hagrid, -seem to believe that Mr. Malfoy once worked for Voldemort.

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. Anthony hesitated: I have been wondering whether Professor Lockhart is really Voldemort, or has he also worked for Voldemort? After he accepted the appointment, Mr. Malfoy may have talked about this matter in his home.

He paused and looked at Dumbledore, asking for his opinion.

Interesting speculation, said Dumbledore. Go on, Henry.

You know, Professor Lockhart is already a well-known adventurer and author. I hope I am not biased against him, but it seems that many professors agree with me-his performance in school and his book It's quite different. Anthony observed Dumbledore's expression, Well... I heard that before last year, Professor Quirrell's Defense Against the Dark Arts level also received a lot of recognition...

Dumbledore looked up at the roof, thought for a while, and shook his head: No, Henry, regrettably, Gilderoy doesn't seem to have changed much compared to when I knew him. We had expected to regret our lives. I have already denied someone.

Professor Dumbledore, said Anthony, could this be 'dark magic that can hide from you'? Because you believe that he was a liar from the beginning, Voldemort took advantage of this? If a person's The difference between his performance and his reputation is so obvious that something must be wrong.

Dumbledore chuckled: Okay, Henry, then why did Dobby burst into sobs?

Well... because he didn't expect that there was another dark wizard in Hogwarts? Anthony guessed with a lot of self-knowledge, Maybe he found that the school was more dangerous than he originally thought, so he couldn't help but commit suicide Why didn't you stop Mr. Potter?

Having said this, Anthony was stunned for a moment. A suspicion that had never occurred before suddenly flashed into his mind, like a leaping unicorn, and he grabbed its tail.

Professor Dumbledore, he asked cautiously, feeling a little incredible himself, do you think the dark magic Dobby is referring to is me?

Dumbledore's smile almost spilled out from behind his half-moon glasses. He said: Oh my God, Henry, if someone asked me to name ten dark wizards I know, I guarantee you, your name will be among Nott, Rozier, Mulciber or Dolohov. The front one. And if you ask Fox, they might give you a championship trophy.

Fox heard his name, raised his head from under his wings in a daze, and suddenly saw Anthony staring at him. The next second, the big golden-red bird shook its head, flapped its wings and flew to the high cabinet, staring reproachfully at Dumbledore, as if complaining about why he didn't remind him earlier.

Dobby is talking about me? Anthony was still a little unbelievable, Not Voldemort?

Dumbledore said with a smile: I can't guarantee it, but I heard that Harry didn't catch the Hogwarts Express, and you were beside him at the time. Dobby must be very regretful now.

Yes sir, why did Dobby lock Harry Potter up with the dark wizards he warned?

What do you think, Henry? Dumbledore said cheerfully, handing him a few biscuits. Tea?

It couldn't be better, thank you. Anthony took the biscuit and dipped it into the cup absentmindedly. My guess is that Dobby doesn't know who the dark wizard is. He may just know that there is a dark wizard in Hogwarts. Wizard, and this dark wizard has become a professor - for Dobby, this may be a secret from you - no, Mr. Malfoy clearly knows that you are vouching for me. He shook his head and denied his idea.

But Dobby doesn't necessarily know who they are talking about. Dumbledore prompted. Cornelly once told me that Lucius asked him about you, Henry. He said slyly, Oh, I can imagine what Lucius must have thought when he found out that I had sponsored a dark wizard from Azkaban and made him a professor at Hogwarts - a professor of Muggle Studies, mind you. How puzzling.”

Do you think Lucius Malfoy would tell his son about Azkaban? Anthony asked, Isn't that a bit strange?

strangeness?

That must have been a very pleasant conversation. 'Come here, Draco, listen up. The professor who took the points off was a dark wizard. He was once a prison cellmate of those dad's friends, but Dumbledore let him out. .’ Meanwhile, Dobby was pouring wine into goblets bearing the Malfoy family crest.”

No need for wine, Henry. People always tend to ignore house elves. Dumbledore said seriously, No, they have unimaginable power for us wizards. As far as I know, most elves will try their best to satisfy their masters. Ask without appearing in front of them - at Hogwarts, this means not making students aware of their presence when packing up or delivering meals. Lucius may not realize that every word he says, secretly There are elves listening.

This sounds a little scary. Anthony said, Coco, are you listening?

With a snap, Coco appeared in the principal's office. He looked embarrassed, rubbing his bare feet back and forth on the wooden floor, and lowered his head: I heard it, Professor Anthony.

Anthony stood up quickly: No, I apologize, Coco.

Did you know Henry was a necromancer, Coco? Dumbledore asked gently.

Coco twisted her hands, refusing to look at either Anthony or Dumbledore.

A good house-elf doesn't reveal secrets, he said.

Anthony knelt down and said: It doesn't matter, this is not a secret to Professor Dumbledore.

Good house elves don't reveal secrets, Coco insisted. He raised his eyes and glanced at Anthony, nodded to him very lightly and quickly, then closed his eyes tightly, shook his head violently, and swung his big ears.

How do you know, Coco? Anthony asked softly, It doesn't matter. If you don't want to say it, you don't have to say it. If you don't know what to do, you can also apparate and leave.

Coco opened her eyes and looked at Dumbledore - he was sitting on a high-backed chair, looking at Coco with a smile, his silver hair shining in the sun - and then at Anthony - he was squatting In front of Coco, he saw his distorted reflection in Coco's protruding, yellow-green eyes.

Professor Anthony keeps strange pets. Coco whispered, twirling her long fingers, We will not enter the professor's bedroom without permission, but Coco found that there is no cat hair in Professor Anthony's office. There are no mouse hairs either. Professor Anthony often comes out of his room in the middle of the night and walks around the castle. Professor Anthony sometimes forgets to light the fireplace in the winter. Professor Anthony's chair is always cold.

Ah, Henry, said Dumbledore, you have left many clues for anyone who cares.

Koko also heard people talking. Coco looked a little ashamed and said quickly, Koko heard Professor Dumbledore introducing Professor Anthony's identity to Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape. Coco heard Dumbledore The professor and Professor Anthony discussed undead magic and that person. Coco should not tell Professor Anthony what he overheard, Coco is a bad elf! He put his fingers into his mouth and bit hard.

Dumbledore said calmly: I, the Headmaster of Hogwarts, asked you to say it. It's okay, Coco, please continue.

And, and - Coco choked, Coco heard other house elves talking.

What did they say? Dumbledore asked softly.

They say Professor Anthony is a necromancer. Coco said, All the house elves know this. They want to know what Professor Anthony can do with the elf heads hanging on the wall, or how they will reward him for liking it. The little elf. He looked at Anthony expectantly and curiously.

Anthony recovered from the surprise that he had failed to hide his identity and declared: I will praise the elf I like, thank him for everything he has done for me, and smile at him. He gave Coco a smile, I would want him to live happily.

Coco told the other elves the same thing! Coco said proudly, But they didn't believe it! Now all the elves have heard it!

Dumbledore smiled and said, That's great, Coco. Just to confirm with you, all the elves know Henry's identity, right?

Yes, Professor Dumbledore, Coco said respectfully, relieved that she could tell the truth.

Anthony already understood why Dumbledore asked this question: Do you know Dobby, Coco?

I don't know. Coco shook her head. Coco knows that Professor Dumbledore and Professor Anthony are talking about the elf who does not belong to Hogwarts. He is a bad elf, and we don't even talk to him.

Is he a bad elf? Anthony asked curiously.

Yes, he actually wanted to speak ill of his master! Coco said angrily, His master asked him to protect his little master, so we let him in, but he actually said he didn't like his master! He's crazy, his brain is broken, he's a bad elf!

Gee, that sounds exactly like the adjectives people would use to describe me, Dumbledore said. Okay, thank you, Coco. I kind of get it.

Coco bowed deeply to him, bowed to Anthony again, and disappeared with a snap.

House elves. Anthony whispered, even though he knew that no matter how quiet the voice was, the whole castle was listening, I still underestimated their abilities. Only then did he realize that Dumbledore was lost in thought, Sir?

Henry, Dumbledore said, have you ever thought about how many people this means knowing your identity as a necromancer?

You, Minerva, Snape, Mr. Fudge. Anthony counted, Some Aurors... and all the house elves. Okay, I understand what you mean.

That's it, please listen to my quibble - no, explanation - today I have a sudden offer and a big problem to choose from, and I am carefully considering my future life path.

In short, one is a job that matches the major and requires serious overtime work. The other is a job that is not sure whether you can get the final offer, does not match the major (but does not require any professional knowledge) and basically gets off work on time and guarantees two days off. Retirement jobs...

It’s funny, I spent a few hours with my friends in the afternoon about work, and asked Dice for life advice x