On the evening of September 1, 1996.
At the opening dinner of Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall came to the front of the auditorium as usual, holding the clean and tidy Sorting Hat and a round stool, ready to begin the annual Sorting ceremony.
However, the chair in the middle of the professor's seats remained empty, with no one seen.
The new little wizards standing on one side of the hall and the students sitting at the four long tables were all looking at the chair that belonged to the Hogwarts headmaster with curiosity, wondering why Dumbledore, who was always punctual, did not attend today's sorting ceremony.
"What did Dumbledore do today?" Ron turned to Harry and asked, "I remember he always came early. He said he liked to admire the lively look of the new students."
"I don't know." Harry shook his head. "But a few days ago, Dumbledore asked me to go find an old professor to help him out... Did you see the position of the Potions Professor? That's Professor Horace Slughorn."
"So he is the professor who will replace Snape?" Ron nodded suddenly, then said indignantly, "I knew Snape was not a good person. Dumbledore trusted him so much!"
"I just wonder who the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor will be." Harry looked at the empty chair next to Professor Flitwick with some anticipation, and murmured, "Do you think... Will Professor Dracula come back?"
"I don't think so..." Ron hesitated, "I heard from my father that Professor Dracula is doing something big, and Dumbledore seems to be involved, but I don't know what he is doing."
"It may be related to Voldemort..." Harry said uncertainly, "I hope things go well for them."
"You two keep quiet, the Sorting ceremony has begun!" Hermione suddenly lowered her voice and reminded them in a low voice.
The two then realized that Professor McGonagall was holding the parchment and calling out the name of the first freshman.
"… "
It was not until the Sorting ceremony was over that Dumbledore finally arrived at the Great Hall.
He didn't even have time to sit down, so he stood in front of the big chair in the center of the professorial seats and began his routine speech as the president.
"Good evening, everybody!"
Dumbledore smiled kindly, opened his arms as if to embrace the entire hall, and said the same instructions as in previous years:
"Filch, the caretaker, asked me to inform you that this year students are absolutely forbidden from bringing in any joke items purchased from Weiss at Wizard Wheezes."
"Students who wish to join the house Quidditch team should give their names to the dean as usual. We are still looking for new Quidditch commentators after Mr. Lee Jordan graduates, so those who are interested can also sign up with the dean."
Then, a look of regret appeared on his face that looked fake.
"Unfortunately, our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor last year, Professor Dolores Umbridge, will not be able to continue teaching everyone's Defense Against the Dark Arts class this year!"
There was warm cheering from the audience, and some little wizards threw their hats up excitedly.
Especially Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, the two houses that were most targeted by Umbridge. The students of the two houses were so excited that they looked like fireworks about to explode.
Umbridge has suffered at Hogwarts for a long time!
Dumbledore watched this scene with a smile, and pressed his hands down. The hall gradually became quiet.
Then, Dumbledore's expression became a little heavier, and he said slowly:
"Also, Professor Severus Snape... for some reason, will not continue to serve as the Potions professor this year. This school year, we are pleased to welcome a new Potions professor - Professor Slughorn!"
Horace Slughorn stood up and bowed.
His bald head gleamed in the candlelight, and his large waistcoat-covered belly cast a large shadow on the table.
"Professor Slughorn is a former colleague of mine. He has agreed to return to his old post as Potions professor," Dumbledore introduced.
Except for the Slytherin table, students from other houses cheered no less loudly than when they heard the news of Umbridge's resignation.
The Ministry of Magic has put Snape on the wanted list, and all the young wizards know that Snape is now a Death Eater and has completely become Voldemort's lackey.
Any student with a sense of justice would despise Snape, not to mention that Snape's reputation in Hogwarts was already very bad... Only the Slytherin purebloods who admired Voldemort felt a little regretful, and seemed to want to become Death Eaters together with their headmaster.
Harry glanced around the Slytherin table and did not see his old enemy Malfoy. Instead, he saw the huge figures of Crabbe and Goyle sitting on either side of Theodore Nott.
Only then did he remember that Draco Malfoy had already taken a leave of absence from school and was hiding in a safe house with his father who had taken refuge with Professor Dracula.
Looking at the enthusiastically cheering little wizards, Dumbledore's eyes showed a hint of sadness.
"This year, Slughorn will temporarily serve as the headmaster of Slytherin College." Dumbledore sighed softly and continued, "As for the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor..."
He looked around the hall and said, "The position of the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor is temporarily vacant. A new professor will arrive at Hogwarts Castle in a week at the latest."
Dumbledore looked at the empty seat next to Professor Flitwick, his thoughts rarely drifting elsewhere -
If everything goes well, Snape's undercover career will be over in a few days.
By that time, the curse that Voldemort had placed on the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor would also be dissipated, and Dumbledore would be able to fulfill Snape's wish to become the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and let him change his position.
Amid the noisy discussions, Dumbledore withdrew his thoughts and cleared his throat.
He waited a few seconds to make sure everyone was completely quiet before continuing:
"As everyone in this hall knows, Voldemort and his followers are at it again, and growing in power."
As Dumbledore spoke, there was a tense, anxious silence among most of the students in the Great Hall.
However, Theodore Nott, Crabbe, Goyle and others did not even look at Dumbledore, but talked among themselves, as if they felt that the headmaster's words were not worth listening to at all.
"I need to emphasize that the current situation is extremely dangerous, and each of us at Hogwarts needs to be extremely cautious to ensure our own safety." Dumbledore continued speaking without paying attention to the small movements in the audience.
"The castle's magical defenses were strengthened during the summer vacation. We have received new and more effective protection, but every one of us teachers and students must still be vigilant at all times and not let our guard down at all."
He paused and emphasized, "Especially the first three days after school starts—this is the most impetuous time for all of you."
"I require you to strictly abide by every safety rule set by the teacher, no matter how annoying those rules may be - especially the rule of not getting up and going out after lights out."
"I urge you to report any unusual or suspicious situations to the faculty immediately, whether inside or outside the school. I believe that you will restrain your behavior for the safety of yourself and others!"
Dumbledore's blue eyes swept over all the students, and the serious expression on his face turned back into a faint smile.
"Well, your beds are waiting for you, as warm and comfortable as you wish. Your first priority now is to rest well and prepare for tomorrow's classes."
"So, let's say 'goodnight'!"
…
Three days later, nearly a hundred miles southwest of London, Stonehenge.
The sun at dawn is slowly rising from below the verdant horizon, illuminating the endless green plains inch by inch. The red-orange light drives the dark blue night out of the sky, bringing bright daylight.
In the distance, ant-sized human figures appeared one after another on the edge of the endless grassland.
Although these human figures were extremely small compared to the Stonehenge, which was as tall as tens of feet, they gradually gathered into a vast ocean, seemingly submerging all the huge rocks.
"Who is it! Who is it!
”
In the magical protective shield in the center of Stonehenge, Voldemort roared angrily at his men who were still sleepy around him.
As soon as he woke up from his sleep, he realized that something was wrong. He tried to Apparate to a distant place to find out what happened, but found that the entire Stonehenge was covered by an anti-Apparition spell.
Obviously, the other party came prepared.
“Why! Why does Dumbledore know our base?” Voldemort roared in helplessness and fury, “Tell me, how many of Dumbledore’s undercover agents are there among the Death Eaters?!”
The Death Eaters were suddenly awakened from their sleep, with expressions of confusion and fear on their faces.
They didn't understand why the Dark Lord was furious so early in the morning, until they heard the iconic "bang" sound of the Apparition getting closer and closer, and then they realized that danger was approaching...
The enemy used anti-Apparition spells to restrict the Death Eaters from escaping, but they could "appear" to the battlefield to provide support through corresponding apparitions.
The Death Eaters were unable to escape and could only watch as the encirclement on the plain became thicker and denser...
Voldemort couldn't understand.
It was obvious that after being backstabbed several times, he carefully used Legilimency to check all his subordinates countless times, and did not find any Death Eaters who were treacherous.
However, he had just driven away a large number of Muggles at Stonehenge, but the stronghold he had carefully built was once again easily discovered by Dumbledore.
Voldemort had originally planned to gather all his allies together to raid Hogwarts Castle and catch Dumbledore off guard - now, this plan has basically failed.
He felt like a clown, his every move was under Dumbledore's surveillance, but he couldn't find the undercover hidden among the Death Eaters...
"Master, I have investigated. Dumbledore brought a lot of people with him." Snape strode to Voldemort's side and reported to him, "The Aurors of the Ministry of Magic, the Order of the Phoenix, the International Confederation of Wizards, even Dracula's vampire clan, the werewolves led by Lupin, and a giant..."
"I think they are likely to have a decisive battle with us."
Voldemort glanced at Snape, a look of relief in his eyes.
Fortunately, he has a capable and reliable subordinate like Severus, so people can feel more at ease when he does things.
Ever since Bellatrix Lestrange and many Death Eaters involved in previous operations were captured by the Ministry of Magic, Snape has become Voldemort's most trusted and relied upon subordinate.
After all, this Death Eater who had been lurking in Hogwarts for more than a decade had already proved his loyalty by personally reciting the Killing Curse to Dumbledore! And his excellence was also obvious to all!
Even among the most loyal Death Eaters, not everyone has the courage to attack the great wizard Dumbledore.
“Give the order and have everyone prepare for battle!” Voldemort nodded and said viciously, “The forces we have gathered are no less powerful than those brought by Dumbledore!”
He looked around at the huge rocks lying on the vast plain, a sinister smile on his lips.
If you don't look carefully, perhaps no one will notice.
These huge stones lying on the ground in Stonehenge are rising and falling from time to time... as if they are breathing!
…
Just as the battle near Stonehenge was about to break out, a tall figure with light blond hair appeared on the top of Mount Olympus.
Grindelwald, whose image has been restored to his middle-aged man, stands proudly on the snow-capped peak shrouded in mist, with a wild smile on his face, staring at the magic circle hidden in the mist high in the sky.
There is the entrance to the secret realm built by Andros.
Grindelwald stretched out a hand to tidy up his long light golden hair that was messed up by the mountain breeze, while in the other hand he was playing with a simple-looking scepter, and the mockery on his face was particularly conspicuous.
Suddenly, the mountain wind stopped.
He waved his hand suddenly, and a powerful spell blasted towards somewhere in the fog.
The next moment, a hexagram magic circle surrounded by circular light appeared at the place where Grindelwald's spell was bombarded, and it kept rotating.
Grindelwald tossed the scepter in his hand and stepped into the magic circle leisurely.
…
While Dumbledore and Grindelwald were in their respective positions, Dracula appeared in the Deathly Hall of the Department of Mysteries in the British Ministry of Magic.
On the index finger of his pale and slender left hand was a ring inlaid with a diamond-shaped black gemstone, and in his right hand he held an elderberry wand with seven protruding branches.
Dracula's figure was hidden under an invisible cloak, and his shadow could not be found in the Hall of Death.
With his vision unimpeded through the invisibility cloak, Dracula looked at the dark grey curtain swaying gently in the stone archway before him. His expression was more serious and solemn than ever before, completely different from his usual indifferent and carefree appearance.
"There's still half an hour left, Albus, Grindelwald, you two must not let me down..."
Dracula pulled a pocket watch from his pocket, glanced at it, and said softly.
…
…