“Promised Hagrid to visit a giant or an Acromantula, that’s why Ron didn’t want to come,” Hermione said as soon as the door of the cabin closed, “and we still had to make excuses for him, as if he truly had something important he couldn’t miss.”

“If it can cheer Hagrid up, then it’s no big deal to visit,” said Evan. “Let’s head back quickly; I’m starving!”

The rock cakes earlier were really unappetizing — too hard to eat. Especially after watching Hagrid’s baking process, hearing about Aragog’s illness, and seeing the large barrel of wriggling giant grubs noisily squirming nearby — it completely killed any appetite.

Harry nodded in agreement; he had abandoned the rock cake after an ominous cracking noise from one of his back teeth.

So, the four of them had only eaten a token amount and were now starving.

“Oh, it’s Saturday today, you two should hurry up!” said Hermione, suddenly remembering something, “Remember? Dumbledore told you to be in his office at eight p.m., and now it’s almost seven, there’s not much time for dinner!”

Indeed, they had better not be late, and the four of them quickened their pace through the dim, deserted grounds back to the castle.

By this time, dinner in the Great Hall had been underway for a while, and most people had already finished eating!

The Hall was nearly empty, with no sign of Ron, Lavender, Ginny, or Colin.

After quickly finishing their dinner, Evan and Harry said goodbye to Hermione and Elaine and headed for the headmaster’s office on the seventh floor.

Harry looked a bit anxious about Dumbledore’s private lesson, his expression restless and uneasy.

Evan was also a little curious. What was Dumbledore going to teach them? If it was about Voldemort’s memories, he had already seen some of them before. It wouldn’t make sense to review the same ones with Harry; surely, Dumbledore had something specific prepared for him.

“I hope everything goes well!” Harry said hopefully. “Is he really not going to teach us any magic?”

“We’ve discussed this before, I don’t think so!”

“Okay, so his previous training was just showing you those memories?”

“Yes, but he showed me some of the memories, Harry, about the past, which involved some very important clues, very helpful for us to defeat Voldemort and find the treasure key of Slytherin,” Evan replied. “He should continue to show us these memories today. I’m not sure if they are the ones I’ve seen before, but I think, well … I think these memories will hold a different significance to you.”

“A different significance?”

“Yeah, perhaps these memories can help you understand the prophecy and why Voldemort chose you,” said Evan.

The two of them didn’t speak again after that, and Harry seemed to be mulling over this revelation.

Last term, he’d known that his fate had been determined by the prophecy, but there were still many unclear points that needed Dumbledore’s answers.

Evan and Harry didn’t meet anyone along the way, and they walked all the way to the seventh-floor corridor where a single gargoyle stood against the wall.

“Acid Pops,” said Evan, and the gargoyle leapt aside; the wall behind it slid apart, and a moving spiral stone staircase was revealed, onto which Evan and Harry stepped, so that they were carried in smooth circles up to the door with the brass knocker that led to Dumbledore’s office.

The two looked at each other, and Harry walked up and knocked on the door.

“Come in,” said Dumbledore’s voice.

“Good evening, sir,” said Evan and Harry, walking into the headmaster’s office.

The circular office looked just as it always did; the delicate silver instruments stood on spindle-legged tables, puffing smoke and whirring; portraits of previous headmasters and headmistresses dozed in their frames, and Dumbledore’s magnificent phoenix, Fawkes, stood on his perch behind the door, watching Evan and Harry with bright interest.

“Ah, good evening, Evan, Harry. Sit down. You both look well. I trust you’ve had an enjoyable first week back at school?” said Dumbledore with a smile, though his voice carried a note of fatigue.

“It’s been good, Professor. The N.E.W.T. classes are keeping us busy!” Evan replied, glancing around the room.

“Don’t tire yourself. You have plenty of time to study,” said Dumbledore cheerfully. “And you, Harry?”

“I’m fine too, thanks, sir,” said Harry.

“Oh, but I hear you’ve a detention under your belt already!”

“Er,” began Harry awkwardly, but Dumbledore did not look too stern.

What happened that day had been a hot topic in school recently, and the heat had just passed.

Although Snape could certainly be infuriating, he was still a professor at the school, and Harry himself bore a great responsibility for his actions.

“I have arranged with Professor Snape that you will do your detention next Saturday instead.”

“Right,” said Harry, who had more pressing matters on his mind than Snape’s detention.

“Evan already knows what we’re about to do. I think, Harry,” said Dumbledore, in a businesslike voice, “you have heard some of it from Evan, but you have been wondering, I am sure, what I have planned for you during these — for want of a better word — lessons?”

Harry nodded. He hoped this wouldn’t just be about watching old memories. Although Evan had said they contained crucial clues and tied into the prophecy, Harry was far more eager for Dumbledore to teach him powerful magic — spells he could use in a direct confrontation with Voldemort.

“Here’s the thing, Harry,” Dumbledore began. “Since you already know what drove Voldemort to target you fifteen years ago, I think it’s time for you to understand more about the situation.” He paused briefly before continuing, “After so many developments that went beyond my original expectations, I believe it is necessary for you and Evan to be involved in my plans. To do so, you both need a deeper understanding of what happened back then. Last term, I also promised to tell you everything.”

“That’s right, sir!” said Harry. It was hard to keep a note of accusation from his voice.

Dumbledore had clearly said so after the incident at the Ministry of Magic last term, but he still stayed alone with the Dursleys for the entire summer, watching others go on adventures or fight against Voldemort, and he couldn’t go anywhere.

It was impossible not to feel some resentment.

But anyway, after understanding Dumbledore’s difficulties, Harry was not as angry as he was the year before.

He knew that it was meant to protect him, though he still resented needing such protection at all!

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