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Chapter 276: The Inertia of Fate, Sacrifice, and Redemption
🕑 Added 2025-01-23 16:45:30 +0000 UTCIt seems fate has returned to its original path.
Voldemort is likely to be resurrected.
However, unlike the original story where everything nearly collapsed, the current situation is more like Quirrell in the first year, allowing him to perform without interruption as everyone silently cooperates.
...
After Dumbledore finished explaining his plan, the small cabin fell into a stifling silence.
Regardless of whether the plan was feasible or successful, Snape did not ask any foolish questions. Asking others, even the so-called greatest white wizard, would yield unreliable answers.
Compared to Dumbledore, Snape trusted his own judgment more.
Underneath his calm exterior, he was intensely calculating the feasibility of the matter.
...
In the ice cabin.
Harry looked outside, curious about why the conversation had suddenly stopped. His ears were blocked by magic, so he could only turn his head to the other side.
On the other side, Ino ignored Harry's pleading gaze, searching for the right moment to voice his guess and another solution.
Seeing Snape's resigned expression, Ino slowly spoke, "Professor! Actually, we have another way..."
With just one sentence, both Snape and Dumbledore turned their heads in astonishment.
"Why was Harry safe for the past eleven years, even during the first few years at Hogwarts, but now something happened..."
Ino revealed his hypothesis about the number of Horcruxes and Voldemort's control.
"Can we understand that as long as we maintain this number and have Harry master Occlumency as much as possible to keep the current state, it might be a good choice?"
"Compared to creating a stage for Voldemort and Harry to duel alone, maintaining the status quo is very conservative, but at least it is safer."
After explaining his idea, Ino observed Dumbledore and Snape's expressions.
However, their expressions were surprising and somewhat unexpected.
Dumbledore seemed intrigued, but Snape frowned, seemingly disagreeing with the proposal.
"You don't understand his evil. If the hypothesis is wrong, Harry won't have the slightest chance of survival."
Snape voiced his objection.
In truth, he harbored another thought deep down.
Obviously, once the Dark Lord is resurrected, Dumbledore would not stand idly by; likewise, the resurrected Dark Lord would target Dumbledore first.
The best scenario would be for these two to fight for decades, which would be the most stable and conservative approach. With that time, he was confident in developing a potion to suppress the Horcruxes.
After all, the Wolfsbane Potion, which even Merlin couldn't solve, could easily control werewolves.
Snape's advanced Occlumency kept his inner thoughts completely hidden. Even Dumbledore, standing nearby, didn't notice a thing.
Dumbledore couldn't detect it, and neither could Ino, who assumed Snape was concerned about Harry.
...
Seeing Snape reject the second method, Dumbledore temporarily set it aside.
"Regardless of the method, Occlumency is crucial and most urgent."
"Severus, you and Ino need to work together to teach Harry Occlumency as soon as possible."
Feeling that everything had been said, Dumbledore lifted the Muffliato charm.
Once the charm was lifted, Harry didn't ask any questions, remaining calm and composed in the ice cabin.
From a third-person perspective, Ino looked at the composed Harry and then at Dumbledore and Snape across from him.
Suddenly, he felt that a boy's growth might indeed happen in an instant.
Harry seemed to have already shown a hint of the spirit he would have in the final battle.
...
In the room, just as the group reached a consensus, there was a sudden loud knock on the door.
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The rough knocking sound echoed, making Ino's eyes flash with annoyance.
Since buying the cabin, no one had visited so rudely, as if they were about to break in.
The change in emotion made his shadow wriggle, with faint smoke drifting towards the door along the floor.
...
"Open the door quickly! I know you're in there! What happened to Harry!"
Outside, Sirius Black began shouting loudly after getting no response.
He had been sitting quietly at home when the news from the Ministry of Magic reached him, causing him to feel absurd.
Harry had openly attacked his uncle with magic and had been taken away by Ministry officials.
If the messenger hadn't been a distant relative of the Black family, he would have thought it was an April Fools' joke.
But when he arrived at the Ministry, he was a step too late; Harry had already been taken by Dumbledore.
The heritage of the pure-blood families was evident in this moment. Through the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, Sirius tracked Harry to Hogsmeade.
At the same time, despite his continued knocking, Sirius suddenly felt a chill on his neck.
Looking up, although it was a sunny day, it felt like he was back in Azkaban.
...
In the room, as the shadow changed, Dumbledore smiled and stood up, heading towards the door.
"That knocking reminds me of Hagrid."
With Dumbledore's movement, the faint smoke on the floor was dispersed.
Seeing this, Ino decisively turned and walked upstairs.
Since the agreement was reached, there was no need to stay for the heartwarming family drama.
It seemed he wasn't the only one with this thought.
Snape sneered, also standing up and walking towards the fireplace.
His expression and demeanor made it clear he wanted to avoid contact with the mad dog.
In the ice cabin, hearing Sirius' voice, the faint smile on Harry's face disappeared along with the two people leaving the room.
Turning his head, he sighed silently.
Soon, a smile reappeared on Harry's face.
...
In the upstairs bedroom, Ino lay half-reclined on the bed, feeling annoyed by the commotion downstairs.
"Dog barking..."
With a dissatisfied murmur, he disappeared from the room.
...
In the valley of the sanctuary, tranquility and serenity were eternal themes.
The vibrant valley was blooming with various beautiful and interesting flowers: grey Mimblewimble, lively bouncing bulbs, pink umbrella flowers, and shiny bubble pods...
All these were the result of the hard work of trolls and goblins.
Before entering Middle-earth, he had scattered seeds of various magical plants and ordered the two diligent creatures to plant them.
In ten years, the hundred-plus-acre valley had become a beautiful herb plantation.
The difference in time flow made nothing more cost-effective than growing herbs.
Seeds bought during the summer holidays had grown into many ten-year-old magical herbs after just one visit to Middle-earth.
