NABC Chapter 34 Sworn Brotherhood and Shared Tribulations
Chapter 34 Sworn Brotherhood and Shared Tribulations
Picking up where we left off. Upon hearing Dumbledore's words, Harry bowed and replied, "Professor, please forgive me, but I swore before my parents' graves that I would not be human if I did not kill Voldemort! I beg you, Professor, to grant my request!"
"Oh, Harry, but Voldemort is very powerful, far beyond what a first-year wizard can handle."
"Tonight I'll cut off one of its legs. If it can be fully repaired, it might be worth a try."
"But I shouldn't let you get any closer to danger..."
Dumbledore tried to persuade him several times, and although he was sincere, Harry still had doubts.
In his previous life, when Chao Gai and his group joined Liangshan Marsh, Wang Lun was unwilling. It was Wu Yong and Lin Chong who used a goading tactic to persuade him to join their own group, thus giving them a good reputation and allowing them to eventually take over Liangshan.
Dumbledore may seem to be trying to dissuade someone, but he's secretly fueling the fire. Could he be like Wu Yong, plotting something behind the scenes?
Harry's mind raced, and he nodded in agreement, "What the professor says is from the bottom of his heart. I will do as the professor says, no matter what."
"...Harry," Dumbledore sighed, "you are indeed the most perceptive wizard I have ever met."
Harry scoffed, "My body may be drunk, but my mind is clear. Professor, why not just speak plainly? Why keep testing me?"
"Alright, Harry, I need you to confront Voldemort directly, not just a hasty encounter like tonight."
He was just waiting for Harry to ask the reason, but Harry said instead, "This is not difficult, but Professor, you must grant me a request."
"you say."
"I fought Voldemort head-on, casting numerous spells, but he simply chanted something about armor protection and blocked them all. A year at school, and I haven't learned anything useful!"
"Professor Flitwick is a renowned dueling champion, so why does he only teach spells that look good but are useless?"
Dumbledore smiled and said, "Learning magic requires a gradual process. Many spells should be learned in your later years."
"However, I do think I can make an exception for you this time."
After saying that, he wrote a letter and told Harry to give it to Flitwick.
Harry received the letter and said, "I'm sorry to have bothered you tonight, I'll take my leave now."
Just as he was about to leave, Dumbledore said again, "Harry, don't you want to know why I want you to confront Voldemort?"
"I have sworn an oath: I am not human if I do not kill Voldemort! Other reasons are irrelevant."
After saying that, he headed straight out of the office.
When Harry returned to the common room, Ron and Hermione were already waiting for him.
Upon seeing Harry, they all rushed over to ask him questions.
"Harry, what did you and Professor Dumbledore talk about this time?"
"Will we get points deducted for going into the forbidden forest at night?"
"Has the mysterious man really returned?"
The two men had many questions, which Harry answered one by one.
They all breathed a sigh of relief upon learning that Dumbledore hadn't pursued the matter of trespassing into the Forbidden Forest. But upon hearing that the one who wanted to steal the Philosopher's Stone was Voldemort, their hearts nearly leaped out of their throats. And when they learned that Harry was going to take on Voldemort, their hearts seemed to freeze, sinking completely to the bottom of their stomachs.
"Harry, are you crazy? How could you possibly beat Vader?" Hermione exclaimed in horror. "Why would Professor Dumbledore do this?"
"I don't think Harry can't beat Voldemort, but at least we should wait until we've learned all the spells," Ron said anxiously. "Right now we only know some pretty useless spells."
With these two on his mind, Harry simply smiled and said, "Don't panic, sister and brother. How could I dare to clash with Voldemort if I hadn't made thorough preparations?"
Seeing that they couldn't persuade them, the two had no choice but to stop talking.
The next day, Harry went to find Flitwick and delivered the letter. The short professor read the letter carefully and exclaimed with delight, "Harry, very few people are valued so highly by Professor Dumbledore!"
"Don't worry, I will train you to be excellent in the months leading up to summer vacation."
Flitwick received a hairpin from Harry and was enlightened by him to break free from his mental block; their relationship was that of teacher, friend, and student.
This time, Dumbledore had ordered him to teach Harry some practical and powerful spells, so he naturally brought out all his best skills. Coupled with the teachings he had accumulated over decades of experience, Harry made rapid progress in just two months.
After evening classes that day, Harry, Hermione, and Ron said goodbye and went to find Flitwick.
As they were climbing the stairs, the staircases suddenly changed direction and went their own way. Seeing that the stairs were no longer obeying his commands, Harry was furious and ready to draw his sword and hack them down.
Before they could even pull it up, Bai Xuegu suddenly flew over, tossed a letter from the air, and then left on her own.
Harry opened the letter and read: Follow the stairs.
Although the letter was unsigned, Harry recognized it. The handwriting was identical to the one given to Flitwick; who else could it be but Dumbledore?
He thought to himself: Damn it! No wonder when I was looking for that magic stone, all those staircases and maze-like structures were shifting and turning; it turns out this guy was behind it all.
He tore the letter, straightened his dagger and wand, and headed straight for the staircase.
After going up to the fourth floor and passing through the corridor, I saw a door marked "No Entry." Now, the lock on this door was broken, and there was a crack in it.
It should be noted that Harry and his companions had searched the castle several times, but this was the first time they had ever seen this place.
Harry thought to himself: It really was that old man's trick, making it impossible for us to find him!
Just as he was about to push the door open, he suddenly heard someone call out behind him, "Harry!"
Harry turned around and saw that the people who had come were Hermione and Ron.
"Oh dear, what brings you here, elder sister and brother?"
Hermione said, "You used to go to the underground classrooms to see Professor Flitwick, but today you went upstairs—Harry, are you going to see Voldemort?"
Harry couldn't refuse, so he had to say, "That's exactly right. Unfortunately, the journey is dangerous, so please let us return, elder sister."
Ron said, "Harry, I can't let you take this risk alone."
Hermione nodded emphatically. "You said it yourself, no one who does not gather together in righteousness is worthy of being a Gryffindor."
It is:
Harry faces the path of life and death alone, while Ron Hermin is filled with anxiety.
How could I venture into the tiger's den alone? We must fight side by side, wielding our staffs, against the demon.
Both of them knew how terrifying Voldemort was, yet neither wanted Harry to be alone, which moved Harry deeply.
He cupped his hands and said, "I am thrice blessed to have met such valiant men as elder sister and brother!"
"After we've slain Voldemort, we'll definitely become sworn brothers with my elder sister and brothers!"
The three pushed open the door and suddenly heard music. Following the sound, they saw a violin being played by itself, with a snoring three-headed dog lying beside it.
Hermione was thrilled and whispered, "I guessed right, Cerberus is one of the magical creatures Hagrid and the passerby mentioned."
Ron peered inside. "Oh, the entrance is a trapdoor, right next to this big dog paw."
The three of them left quietly. Underneath the trapdoor, it was pitch black, with no bottom and no end in sight.
Hermione and Ron were terrified and were about to offer some words of comfort when Harry rolled in.
As fate would have it, Cerberus lifted the door with his feet, and a black hole swallowed light and darkness. Granger clenched his fists in fear, Weasley was filled with doubt, and Scarface leaped in. To find out what happens next, stay tuned for the next installment.