Hogwarts in the shadows

"It is indeed important." Hephis looked at the Phoenix Fox who was looking at him with interest.

"Then sit down and talk slowly." Dumbledore pointed to a chair beside him.

"Thank you, Principal." Hephis did not sit down, but walked straight to Fox.

He pulled out of the bag an exquisite frame made of sycamore wood, three feet high.

He placed it in front of Fox.

Fox rolled his eyes, uttered a clear phoenix cry, and flew to the sycamore tree stand.

You can see that it likes it very much, it even rubbed its head against the shelf.

Hephis took out another bag of bamboo shoots from his bag and shook it in front of Fox.

Fox's nose twitched, and he immediately flew happily into Hephes' arms.

It dove into the pouch and started devouring the food.

Hephis was satisfied and sat down on the chair holding Fox.

The ancients do not deceive me!

"It seems that Fawkes likes the gift you prepared for him very much." Dumbledore watched the scene with a smile.

Fawkes ignored Dumbledore and turned slightly, pointing the tail feathers on his rump towards him.

Dumbledore shook his head helplessly, but there was a smile on his face.

"After all, I know a lot about the phoenix." Hephis carefully admired the phoenix in his arms.

Dumbledore stared at Hephaestus, his deep blue eyes twinkling.

"Just now the stone beast told me that you don't know the password. But it must open the door for you because you have the authority to enter Hogwarts."

Hephis smiled slightly, "I'm lucky. I got a gift from a senior."

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows slightly, "Can you tell me who it is?"

Hephis uttered a few words lightly: "Helga Hufflepuff."

"Hufflepuff... indeed, she is the only one who can survive until now." Dumbledore fell into deep thought.

Hephis waited quietly, gently stroking Fox's soft feathers, which felt great.

Dumbledore came back to his senses and refocused his attention on Hephis.

"When people get old, they tend to get lost in memories. What's the matter with you coming to see me?"

Hephis held up two fingers, "Horcruxes, two."

Dumbledore's eyes flashed with a sharp light, "You got it?"

Hephis shook his head, "No, but I found the location, it's likely."

Dumbledore immediately guessed his intention. "You want me to go?"

"That's Voldemort's Horcrux!" Hephis spread his hands.

"How dare I move with my weak arms and legs? Of course, I have to trouble you, the principal, to do it yourself."

Dumbledore stared at Hephis for a long time before he said slowly, "Perhaps... it would be better to keep Voldemort?"

Hephis shrugged, "I don't care!"

He really doesn't care now whether Voldemort is resurrected or not.

His main purpose was to find something for Dumbledore to do, so that the old man wouldn't be bored and run around everywhere.

Dumbledore sighed, as if he had aged a lot in an instant, "Tell me the location."

Hephis raised his hand, leaving a tiny gap between his thumb and index finger.

"Principal, I have a small request."

Dumbledore's beard twitched: "Oh? You have another condition? Tell me about it."

Hephis said bluntly: "Once you find the Horcrux, I will be responsible for destroying it."

Dumbledore's eyes flashed with a trace of thought: "You are responsible for the destruction? Why?"

"Horcruxes! There must be more than just these two."

Seeing that Fox was almost done eating, Hephis gave him another bag of bamboo shoots and continued.

"Maybe I can get clues about other Horcruxes from these two."

Dumbledore was silent for a moment before he slowly spoke, "Okay, but you have to do me a favor."

"You say." Hephis responded.

"Horace Slughorn, I'll give you the location, I need one of his memories."

Dumbledore's tone revealed a mixture of emotions.

"Horace Slughorn?" Hephis had some impression of this name.

But the memory of "Harry Potter" in the previous life has become very vague.

I guess only when I see people can I remember something.

"Horace is a Potions Master who worked with me at Hogwarts for many years and also taught Tom," Dumbledore explained.

"Do you suspect he knows the number of Voldemort's Horcruxes?" Hephis instantly understood what Dumbledore meant.

"Yes," Dumbledore nodded slightly, "I need that memory of his."

"Principal, aren't you a master of Legilimency? Why do you have to let me do this?" Hephis asked in confusion.

"He and I have been friends for many years..." Dumbledore did not finish his words.

Hephis curled his lips in disdain, "Is this part of the deal?"

"Although I don't know what you are going to do, you also want to find Voldemort's Horcrux, don't you?"

There was a gleam of wisdom in Dumbledore's eyes.

"The ruins of the old Gaunt house in Little Hangleton, and the seaside cliffs behind Neptune Orphanage."

Hephis directly revealed two addresses. He was too lazy to continue arguing with Dumbledore.

Dumbledore pondered for a moment, "These two places... are indeed very likely."

"Well, good night, Headmaster." Hephis stood up and prepared to leave.

"Wait." Dumbledore suddenly stopped him, "Gellert's shadow is with you."

Hephis paused, turned to look at Dumbledore, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"Although he is trying his best to hide it, I can see that his shadow is not coordinated." Dumbledore said lightly.

"How do you know my ability?" Hephis asked curiously.

Dumbledore looked at his shadow on the ground. "Not hard to guess, is it?"

Hephis shrugged, "Okay! So what are you going to do?"

"I don't know, but he believes in you." Dumbledore sat down in the chair somewhat dejectedly.

"Maybe you should really give young people a little more trust, right?" Hephis left after saying this.

Dumbledore looked at him quietly with his deep eyes and said nothing more.

Just as he was about to step out of the threshold, Dumbledore responded, "Fawkes."

Hephis paused and looked back at Dumbledore.

"I have a lot of delicious food. Fox, come and stay at my place for two days." Hephis continued to rub Fox's feathers.

Fox was still eating bamboo shoots with his head down, seemingly not paying any attention to the conversation between the two.

After Hephis left, Dumbledore sat alone in the empty room, lost in thought.

At this time, the portraits in the principal's office finally stopped pretending and became active one by one.

Dumbledore didn't bother to pay attention to them and just let them chatter away.

Phineas Black said something unknown and was beaten again.