Professor of Gemology at Hogwarts

"That's right," Dumbledore said, "You are my trustworthy student and the school's trustworthy professor, Gray. From the last incident with the basilisk, we can see that you are a very observant person, and you are very good at observing students. Be responsible. Our idea is not wrong. Voldemort will come back. He has taken the lives of countless people before, including your mother Franty. If we are unprepared to face him, how many more people will there be? Lose your life..."

Dumbledore paused deliberately, as if waiting for Gray's reaction. The last words made Gray feel that he wanted to use Franti's incident to emphasize the preciousness of life.

Since Gray came to this wizarding world, the idea of ​​​​exterminating Voldemort must exist. This is not only to avenge his family but also to protect himself. After all, he is a wizard. If he just keeps it simple, he may not know the dark days after Voldemort becomes rampant. When was he treated as a tool and killed?

Moreover, he already knew the ins and outs of the entire plot and everything about the Horcruxes. This would have been unjustifiable if Voldemort had not been killed a few years in advance.

But he can't tell others directly that he knows everything, or even tell everything about the Horcruxes. This will inevitably make him the center of attention and even be suspected by people from all sides - whether he is one of his own people or his enemies.

"We have a common goal, Headmaster." Gray raised his head and looked at Dumbledore, "Defeating Voldemort is what I have always wanted to do. I have many reasons. You can also understand it according to your own ideas, but the most important thing is One reason is - I stand on the side of the Hogwarts formation, and as a professor, I will definitely protect the students and the school."

"I'm so glad you have such an idea." Dumbledore's eyes flashed with a cunning light, "As far as I know, you seemed to have gone to see Ballard again a while ago. I am very happy that he can communicate with young people. Communication, especially for a smart young man like you, of course, if he is like me, it would be better if he gains something new after chatting with you. But this is not what happens often, after all, what you discussed between you... …You don’t know as much about that matter as you do about Horcruxes, and you don’t even know as much as I do about the ins and outs of this matter, but…”

"but?"

"But I hope you can understand me. I trust you, Gray. I have never doubted your ability." Dumbledore said, "I understand that you have always wanted to know those things about Ballard Mason, which involves more than just him. , and your mother Frandi, and Nico Flamel, and me, but I don’t want to put you in danger without knowing it. If the right time comes in the future, I will explain it to you. Clearly, I believe Ballard will explain it clearly to you. Gray, I understand that with your alertness, you will definitely discover something, and that day will come sooner or later."

Now he has been thinking about the Elixir yeast, the French people, and the book "The Secret". He always feels that these things will be involved in a line, but now he is surrounded by a layer of The fog blocked it, making it difficult to see anything.

But it's a good thing that Dumbledore can speak frankly like this. On the one hand, he is trying to guide himself with the correct concepts. On the other hand, he wants to make Gray feel that he is being treated candidly, and at least build mutual trust.

Gray felt that this was better than nothing. When Dumbledore's trust in him continued to increase in the future, he would be able to better use the known information to deal with Voldemort.

"Thank you for telling me your thoughts, Principal." Gray said, "Sometimes being honest makes people feel more comfortable with each other, and they may say more."

Thinking about it this way, could it be that you are the least honest person now?After all, he was hiding so many things.

"Then we can talk frankly now," Dumbledore smiled, his smile always hanging on his face, "Regarding Horcruxes, there are too many things in this world, and there is no basis for wanting to do so. It is impossible to find Horcruxes in this vast universe, and it is not clear how many Horcruxes there are."

"Yes, Principal, since we can't find anything in the vast world, we might as well focus on what we know in front of us." Gray moved his eyes to the diary on the table. "Actually, there is something worth noting in this diary. After I picked it up from behind Longbottom, when I carefully examined the diary, I noticed a place——"

Dumbledore picked it up cooperatively.

"Vauxhall Road, London, on the back cover of the diary." Gray approached, "This shows that he has been to the streets of London and bought this diary there. You were once his professor. I don't know if you are familiar with this diary." The address is impressive. Of course, it is also possible that he directly used the notebook of a Muggle-born student..."

"I do know this place." Dumbledore turned to the back cover of the diary. "He grew up in an orphanage when he was a child, and the orphanage was near Vauxhall Road."

"The orphanage is also a breakthrough. We can first learn about his childhood and school days. Maybe you can tell me more about him. Maybe we can find some clues from it, especially his life experience. . Maybe we can also learn the number of Horcruxes he split. After all, this diary was made when he was only 16 years old. During the time before and after he first learned how to make Horcruxes, he may have already decided to make it in his heart. how many."

"Actually, I've thought about it, but I can't find much memory of Riddle at Hogwarts," Dumbledore said. "Few people who knew him at the time wanted to talk about him. They were too scared. However, our former principal, Professor Armando Dippet, told me that Riddle was obsessed with his identity, and Riddle once confessed to him the origin of his name, 'Tom', after his father; The name 'Marvolo' comes from his maternal grandfather. This is what the person in charge told me when I went to the orphanage."

A portrait on the wall coughed twice inadvertently. Gray looked over and saw the portrait of Armando Dippet sleeping next to it, making a slight snore. Of course, he could actually hear everything.

"Marvolo, Tom, Riddle." Gray pretended to think seriously, "Parseltongue... Gaunt?"

After Dumbledore heard Gray's words, his eyes suddenly brightened. Gray felt as if Dumbledore already knew the answer, but was just waiting for him to guess it.

"Are you thinking of the Gaunt family, Gray? A very old wizarding family, known for its restlessness and violence. Because they are used to marrying close relatives, this character trait becomes more and more prominent from generation to generation, and this family is near the Gaunt family. There is a family named Riddle."

"About 1943, during the Riddle Mansion murder case, Morfin Gaunt used a curse to kill the Muggle Riddle family. According to the prisoner's information, Morfin Gaunt's father's name was...Marvolo Gaunt." Gray slowly said Said, "When I was working at the Ministry of Magic, I looked through the records of previous cases of wizards using magic against Muggles. I was deeply impressed by this case."

"I understand," Dumbledore said. "The Department of Magical Accidents and Disasters is always exposed to similar accidents, but rarely when they involve human life. It's not surprising that you remember old cases so well, and they have become It's a good thing, Gray. There may be some kind of connection between the two of them. I think I have to go to Azkaban some time. Morfin may know something. I hope he is still well. "

"Are you going to find Morfin?"

"Morfin may have met Tom Riddle. We can't guarantee that there must be a relationship between them, but Riddle may very well have the same idea as us when he is tracing his life experience. I'd better go to his home and inquire about it. , also go to Azkaban and ask Morfin, this is a very important breakthrough at the moment, of course, I hope my trip will not be in vain, it is best to get some useful memories." Dumbledore said.

"Do you need my help to get some information?" Gray said, "The place where this murder occurred, I remember, was in Little Hangleton."

"It's not necessary for now, Gray, you have already helped a lot." Dumbledore said with a smile.

"Okay." Since he didn't let Gray go to Gunter's old house, he wouldn't force it.

"There will always be gains in communicating with young people. This is true, but Ballard does not believe this at all." Dumbledore said calmly, "But, Gray, everything about Horcruxes... I hope you Don't tell anyone about these things, including other professors, everyone. If the news gets out and people know that we are investigating Voldemort's Horcruxes, it may not be good."

"Of course, I will strictly keep it a secret. The fewer people who know, the better." Gray agreed, "But... Principal, if you go to Little Hangleton, please be sure to take me with you."

Dumbledore did not agree immediately, but looked at Gray, wanting him to continue to tell his reasons.

"Riddle House or Gaunt's old house should have been abandoned for a long time. There is probably something bad inside, and it might be worse if Voldemort had come. Moreover, sometimes it might be easier to have one more person, especially You are the one who has unique insights, that’s what you said.”

Dumbledore's eyes under his thick silver eyebrows looked at Gray thoughtfully.

"I will," he said slowly at last.