Chapter 57 Banquet Hall and Principal's Office (Part 1)

Chapter 57 57. Banquet Hall and Headmaster's Office (Part 1)

In the magnificent hall, wizards in elegant and gorgeous robes were enjoying this unexpected banquet.

The invitation to the dinner was sent out in the afternoon. At this time, the upper-class wizards of the British Ministry of Magic had already made other arrangements for tonight. But no matter who they were, as long as they received the invitation, they all turned down all the activities prepared in advance and attended this gathering.

Just because this dinner was initiated by that great gentleman, it would only make people feel terrified and honored to receive his invitation, and no one would have the slightest idea of ​​refusing.

The dinner started at 7 o'clock, and two hours have passed, but the great gentleman is still sitting in the main seat at the front of the banquet hall. He has a faint smile on his handsome and charming face, and he listens absent-mindedly to the flattering Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, reporting to him about the work of the ministry.

From beginning to end, he did not announce the reason for holding this dinner, nor did he have any intention of ending the banquet.

Everything in the British magic world must serve the will of this gentleman. Even if this meaningless dinner party has to go on like this for three days and three nights, as long as this gentleman does not say it is over, the wizards and witches with extremely noble status here must smile and hold the goblets in their hands to maintain the elegance and luxury of this moment forever.

But at this moment, the door of the banquet hall was suddenly pushed open by the waiter outside.

The whispering and laughing between wizards gradually stopped, and all their eyes were looking at the wizard who seemed to be late.

Greasy long hair, pale face that has never been exposed to the sun, empty and emotionless eyes, no one in the entire magic world has such obvious appearance characteristics.

Severus Snape, the most trusted subordinate of that gentleman, is currently the vice-president of Hogwarts, the dean of the Pure Blood College, the professor of potions, and also the deputy captain of the Death Eater Guard.

In the current magic world where blood class is extremely strict, as a mixed-blood, he has an identity and status far beyond most pure-blood wizards.

In the banquet hall, someone frowned as he saw Snape coming in.

Even if he was highly valued by the master, he couldn't take advantage of the favor in such an occasion. He didn't come until two hours after the dinner had already started.

However, just when some people were about to stand up and criticize Professor Snape, someone finally noticed the figure that walked in behind him and exclaimed.

"Dean, Dean!"

Slughorn still had that harmless smile. He had changed into a brand new emerald green robe and nodded slightly to the witch who called him the dean, as a response.

The huge banquet hall suddenly became silent.

Everyone present knew exactly what Slughorn was now. Although the Ministry of Magic had never included him in the wanted list, he was still on the same side as Dumbledore, the wizard sinner.

So what did it mean that he was brought here by Snape tonight?

The smart wizard turned his eyes to the man sitting in the main seat.

The greatest gentleman had already stood up from his seat when Slughorn walked into the banquet hall.

He walked down the steps step by step, with a faint smile on his face that was obviously more enthusiastic. When he came to Slughorn, he opened his arms.

Slughorn's face also had a blush as if it was due to excitement. He also opened his arms and hugged the student who had once been the most optimistic in front of him.

"Welcome back, teacher."

The next moment, the most enthusiastic applause rang out in the banquet hall. No one knew why Slughorn, who had been hanging out with Dumbledore for the past two years, would appear here.

But none of this mattered. What mattered was the attitude of the great gentleman towards their former dean. The gentleman's attitude was the attitude of these noble pure-bloods.

...

"Professor, I don't understand why the dark devil wanted to get the Philosopher's Stone so much? And, does he really believe that the teacher betrayed us?"

In the old principal's office, Jon expressed his doubts.

Dumbledore showed an inexplicable smile on his face, and he opened his mouth to answer Jon's doubts.

"The Philosopher's Stone really has no appeal to him. The entire British wizarding world belongs to him. Even if the stone can create more wealth, what can it do? As for the elixir of life, he has always disdained this means of relying on external objects to gain immortality. He will never trust others with his life, even if it is a dead object. The only thing that is a little attractive to him is the alchemical value of the Philosopher's Stone itself, but this attraction is certainly not enough for him to go to such great lengths to get it."

"The Philosopher's Stone is not the key to him. The key point of the problem is whether the stone is in my hands."

Jon said thoughtfully.

"He doesn't want Hogwarts to continue to survive in the wizarding world by relying on this stone?"

Dumbledore shook his head, with a smile on his lips that was a little ironic.

"He doesn't want me to drink the elixir of life."

Jon's face was stunned, and his mind suddenly became clear.

Now Voldemort has completely controlled the wizarding world, but Dumbledore is still alive!

The reason why Hogwarts can survive in exile is only because Dumbledore is still there.

Voldemort never took these students and professors on the carriage and the rebellious wizards in the Order of the Phoenix seriously. Only Dumbledore, only he, could make this successful dark devil so serious.

And if Dumbledore has the Philosopher's Stone, it means that he has the capital to live indefinitely!

"But he obviously underestimated me." Dumbledore said softly, "Even he doesn't look down on the false immortality, how can I use it?"

"As for how I can be sure that he will trust Horace to really betray me and join him, there is no need to be sure about this."

"He has never given anyone trust. For him, the loyalty of those who are loyal to him is not important. What is important is whether his people can create the value he deserves. Of course, absolute loyalty is also a kind of value sometimes. Before it is confirmed that Horace is really absolutely loyal to him, the fact that Horace rebelled is already a very valuable thing in itself."

Jon said uncertainly.

"Help him rally the people?"

Dumbledore smiled in praise.

"He has been wanted by us for seven years, and during this period he has hardly made any major gains. Even though his absolute authority in the wizarding world has not been shaken in the slightest, he has many people under his command, and he needs to give those wavering people some confidence they can rely on."