At night, the silvery moonlight and the waves pounding against the cliffs have accompanied Hogwarts for millennia. The first week of school is drawing to a close, and the enthusiastic young wizards have passed through their initial period of excitement. Tonight, apart from the jingling armor in the castle, the talking portraits of those who occasionally stay up late, and the routine patrols of Peeves, everything is quiet and peaceful.
Do you know who that person is, don't you?
Before the two ugly stone beasts on the eighth floor, Snape questioned Dumbledore coldly.
"What led you to such a misunderstanding, Severus?"
Dumbledore, surprised, shook his old face in disbelief. His long beard, reaching to his waist, shone with a silvery white light under the moonlight and looked very innocent.
Snape moved his thin lips slightly, without asking another word, but turned around and left directly.
In the past, he might have argued with Dumbledore, but today his emotions had undergone a tumultuous upheaval. After confirming that the black wizard was not Sirius Black, he no longer wanted to deal with the matter, even though the black wizard had caused considerable trouble for Dumbledore and the Ministry of Magic.
Dumbledore stood motionless, staring at Snape as he quickly left, until his silhouette disappeared at the corner of the corridor. Only then did he lower his silver eyebrows, turned to walk into his own office.
Having been active for a while, the phoenix has already fallen asleep on the gold branch in the fireplace. Dumbledore leans back in his office chair, with his long fingers intertwined on the table, silently staring at the portraits of past Hogwarts headmasters hanging on the wall.
As per the usual routine of these portraits, they should all be in a state of slumber at this time. However, tonight, none of the portraits are sleeping. They remain quietly in their frames, their gazes all fixed on the empty frame behind Amund Dunbar.
The wait is excruciatingly long, and the previous headmasters cannot withstand the loneliness. They secretly visit each other's rooms, chatting softly. Only in this office, Dumbledore, the only living person here, maintains admirable patience.
"It has been confirmed, Dumbledore!"
Finally, the owner of the empty frame returned. Without anyone needing to ask, it spoke up in a joyous and exuberant voice.
"No, there has been no living creature in the Black household during this time. My witty great-grandson has not returned."
"Crafty?!"
Amund Dunbar's portrait said in a very harsh voice, "Headmaster Black, I suppose you must know that your 'clever great-grandson' is a dirty, stinking traitor?"
Amund Dunbar's naked mockery truly stung like a wasp, and Phineas immediately shouted out loud!
It thrust its goaty beard and rushed into Dunbar's portrait to debate with him, shouting things like 'the noble Black family', 'Winsenham must have got it wrong', 'that boy is innocent', and 'you are all against him' etc. If Daisy Devenish hadn't pulled it back, a fascinating duel between the heads might have erupted in the office.
Dink, dink...
"Please keep quiet, everyone. I cannot let this historically old office be destroyed by me."
Dumbledore knocked his fingers on the desk calmly.
The current headmaster's commands at Hogwarts have a strong binding effect on these portraits. Under Dumbledore's interference, the portraits returned to their frames. The portraits of Amund Dunbar and Phineas Black were placed next to each other, but they were facing different directions, ignoring each other.
Even after death, the esteemed Daisy Devenish lady still asked the crucial question as all the previous headmasters.
"Surely you know what the child wants to enter the Black household, Albus?"
"Oh, the question--"
Dumbledore removed his half-moon spectacles from his nose, massaging his forehead gently while smiling helplessly, "I have some guesses, and I believe my guess is very close to the truth."
"What is it?" Daisy Devenish pursued.
"It's not important, Daisy..." After receiving the answer, Dumbledore leaned back in his chair again, wearyly said, "What matters is, he indeed did so."
It is clear that the topic of Amos Brann has been discussed more than once in this office. The portraits all know that Albus Dumbledore values the young man, and seeing him take actions that are nearly "mad," their hearts cannot help but be overcast with a sense of foreboding.
"It turns out--"
Mild-mannered Daisy Devenish hesitated, "Would it be possible that there's been a mistake, Albus? According to your account, the black wizard has hidden his magic very well... I mean, you have to admit that anyone can be mistaken at times, don't you?"
"I'm not relying on appearance and magic alone to recognize someone's identity, Daisy--"
Dumbledore's turquoise eyes twinkled with insight as he spoke in a gentle manner.
The office fell silent once again. According to the opinion of the vast majority of the heads, they believed that Dumbledore should intervene and send Amos Brann to Azkaban... However, they were also all too aware that even with a Dementor guarding it, Azkaban might not be able to hold a wizard of that caliber.
"Evil is evil, Albus."
Amund Dunbar spoke firmly, "We should take advantage of our ability to do so while we still have it, to nip evil in the bud, Albus. If Azkaban can't hold that rebellious cub in check, then you should just kill him directly!"
"I see now!"
Amund Dunbar's suggestion immediately ignited Phineas, who spat at him.
"You are jealous, aren't you? Jealous that the great House of Slytherin has once again produced an outstanding talent, and you want to destroy him!"
Blacks' words as a defense were too broad in scope, prompting many heads to stand up and scold Slytherin. Amund Dunbar hit the nail on the head,
"Great Slytherin House? Hmph, I suppose you haven't forgotten how much panic the secret chamber left by Slytherin caused at Hogwarts last year!"
"That chamber isn't as simple as you think!" Phineas counter-attacked.
"Albus has already told us that the chamber is much more than meets the eye. To be honest, I am incredibly grateful to Amos Brann, he has cleared up a defamation of Salazar Slytherin that has been circulating in the magical world for a thousand years. Slytherin left the chamber and Basilisk for a purpose other than to slaughter students of the school!"
Phineas's statement was a conclusion reached after a joint discussion, not representing his own opinion alone, so Amund Dunbar did not refute it but remained silent instead.
"As if winning a Holy War, Phineas stood tall, his chest puffed up, looking at Albus Dumbledore with shining eyes, proudly saying,"
"Would you like to hear my opinion, Albus, regarding Amos Brann?"
"I am very much looking forward to hearing your profound insights, Phineas," Dumbledore said sincerely, smiling warmly, "I'm sure your wisdom will guide us."
Being praised by Dumbledore, Phineas was filled with vitality. In a trance, he seemed to have returned to the days when he was the current headmaster at Hogwarts, wielding power. Proudly glancing at Amund Dunbar on one side who looked at him coldly, he cleared his throat,
"First of all, there is a question that needs your honest answer, Albus--"
After receiving Dumbledore's nod in response, a shrewd glint appeared in the small eyes of Phineas Black.
"Up to this day, Albus, can you still handle Amos Brann?"
"Now."
Reading Hall
