"Ouch!" Sirius Black yelped as he felt a sharp pain on the back of his hand.
He turned around, looking aggrieved, only to meet Dumbledore's kindly smiling face.
How strange—it was the middle of summer, yet Sirius felt a sudden chill.
"Sorry, Sirius, my hand slipped," Dumbledore explained with a cheerful smile. He smoothly pulled Jane Yu closer, who was still holding the locket in her hands.
"I think it's quite late, and the child is still young. It's not suitable for her to stay up with us old folks."
"Besides, we still have the Dark Lord's artifact to deal with."
Dumbledore had no intention of staying here a second longer to watch his once-troublesome student cozying up to his child!
Sirius looked utterly confused.
He glanced at Dumbledore's white hair and wrinkled face, then turned to the mirror to examine himself—
Tall and lean, with elegant, beautiful black hair and striking gray eyes... though a little puffy...
But he still thought he looked quite handsome?
How was he an "old folk"?
However, it was clear that his behavior had already earned him a failing grade in Dumbledore's eyes. The rightful guardian quickly delivered his verdict:
"After everything that's happened, I think you need some time to reflect, Sirius."
"In that case, Jane and I won't disturb you any further. I wish you and Harry a pleasant summer."
The next second, ignoring Sirius's startled "Wait!" and his outstretched hand—
Dumbledore disappeared before him, taking Jane and the locket with him.
...
The two of them landed in Hogsmeade.
Now it was Jane's turn to be confused.
"Aren't we going to Professor Snape's?"
She received the explanation that Snape's left hand was injured and he needed rest.
How strange.
How could he have gotten injured in less than two days?
Little did she know, Dumbledore had already been bombarded by a Howler from Aberforth.
Unable to withstand his brother's fierce verbal assault, Dumbledore led a bewildered Jane into the Hog's Head Inn.
Only to be greeted by Aberforth's "kind" expression.
Dumbledore suddenly shivered, rubbing the goosebumps that had risen on his arms.
How strange—it was the middle of summer, yet he felt a sudden chill.
The next moment, Aberforth's rough voice boomed through the pub—
"Albus—you really are my dear, wonderful brother!"
He made a visible effort to swallow the curses threatening to spill out in front of Jane, instead forcing a smile and pouring her a drink:
"I can't believe it—dragging a child around at four in the morning—Jane, have some orange juice—"
"Why hasn't your guardianship been revoked yet?"
Dumbledore, his temper flaring, retorted with phrases like "parent-child bonding" and "a very close relationship," only to be met with a resounding slap from his brother.
"You even sent her to Snape—yet you wouldn't bring her to the Hog's Head—"
"The child stays. You can leave—"
Fuming, Dumbledore dragged Jane upstairs, determined to ignore his brother's words.
But he hadn't expected to hear such an outlandish request from the child before leaving.
"This locket... if you haven't decided how to deal with it yet... could I keep it for now?"
It must be said, Jane's request was driven by a desire for revenge.
The restless little thing inside the locket had dared to try manipulating her emotions, forcing her to relive the fear and pain of her childhood—
It had even nibbled at her soul, possibly leaving it covered in its slobber—
In any case, she was already sharpening her metaphorical knives against the fragment.
After all, Dumbledore planned to destroy the Horcrux eventually—
So why not let her have some fun with it first?
Dumbledore could hardly believe his ears.
"No, I don't think so—this is a very dangerous Horcrux, imbued with powerful dark magic—"
His words trailed off, his thoughts inexplicably drifting back to Advanced Secrets of Dark Magic...
"I see, I see... So that's it... You're willing to give him one last chance..."
He murmured to himself, convinced he had understood Jane's intentions!
After all, the way to restore a soul after creating a Horcrux was through repentance—
One had to truly feel the weight of their actions, and the pain of repentance could destroy a person.
And Jane had once torn her own soul apart. No one understood the agony of a fractured soul better than she did.
This, he believed, was why she wanted to keep the Horcrux for now!
She hoped to make Voldemort repent!
This was her way of giving him one last chance to restore his soul!
"Indeed... You're right, my child..." Dumbledore sighed, his eyes filled with emotion. "Yes... to make him realize his mistakes..."
He studied the locket, looking hesitant, before finally speaking:
"But it's still very unsafe... I will keep it for now... Once we've tested whether this method is feasible... we'll destroy it..."
Jane shrugged.
She had only asked as a formality. If he disagreed, so be it.
She could always find another opportunity to mess with it!
Perhaps by implanting some fabricated memories—
Like all his Death Eaters rebelling, having him bitten by hundreds of Naginis, or Muggles dancing on his forehead.
The little devil in her heart let out an evil laugh.
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