Chapter 665
Night Wind and Lingering Shadows
Chapter 665 Night Wind and Lingering Shadows
The lake at night is like a dark mirror, and the figure wandering on the shore seems like a transparent ghost, or like the moonlight teasing the eyes of onlookers.
Hesitation lasted only a moment. Wade quickly grabbed the broom leaning against the window, flipped over and jumped out of the window, broom in hand!
The night wind immediately filled his robes, and the broom carried Vader rapidly down the slope. After falling for two seconds, the descent suddenly slowed. He traced an arc and landed lightly on the soft mud by the lake.
The thin mist dissipated, and when Vader's feet touched the ground, he found that the figure had vanished without a trace, leaving only a few slender reeds swaying gently.
It was just like the figure he had seen earlier, only he was seeing things and it was an illusion.
Wade narrowed his eyes slightly, pushed off the ground with his feet, spun his broom, and flew slowly around the lake.
Hogwarts doesn't allow Apparition—except for Dumbledore—no matter how fast someone is, they can't completely disappear from the lakeside in the blink of an eye.
"What are you looking for, Wade?"
A gentle voice suddenly sounded from behind him. Wade turned around abruptly and saw a silver beard gleaming in the moonlight, and a pair of deep blue eyes looking at him thoughtfully.
Dumbledore appeared out of nowhere from behind the bushes, as if he had materialized out of thin air from the night.
Wade glanced up instinctively before lowering his gaze: "I can't sleep... I think I saw some people taking a walk by the lake just now, so I thought I'd come and check it out."
Dumbledore looked at him, his gaze gentle yet knowing: "Still worried about that skeleton?"
He patted Wade on the shoulder and said, "You don't need to put these things on your shoulders right now. Get some rest. We adults will handle the rest."
“Professor…” Wade hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Do you think… any professors from the university might be involved in this?”
"Oh?" Dumbledore chuckled. "So, being neighbors with Alastor can make your way of thinking like his?"
"Does Professor Moody have anyone he suspects?" Wade asked.
“He suspects everyone…including me.” Dumbledore’s tone was tinged with amusement.
“Professor…” Wade said helplessly, “I believe that Professor Moody’s original words were definitely not like that.”
"Believe me, that's pretty much what he said."
Dumbledore stroked his beard gently and said, "And I told him that I have absolute trust in every professor in the school."
Wade knew that he was also saying this to himself.
“I see. Looks like I was overthinking it.” Wade slowly exhaled. “I’ll go back to sleep… Goodnight, Professor.”
Dumbledore smiled and said, "Sweet dreams, child."
The broom floated off the ground, and just as it was about to accelerate, it was stopped by Wade.
He hesitated for a moment, then turned and asked, "Professor Dumbledore...were you also taking a walk by the lake?"
“Ah, is that so?” Dumbledore said in a light tone. “I feel a bit hot-headed tonight, and a cool breeze will help me think more clearly.”
Wade nodded, turned and left, but a thought suddenly popped into his mind—
The most sophisticated lie is the one that is carefully crafted.
Even if he was in the tower and couldn't see the figure shrouded in the night by the lake, could he still not recognize Dumbledore?
Even if he couldn't see Dumbledore's face clearly, he wouldn't mistake him for anyone else just by looking at his figure.
Moreover... the figure's hair and beard weren't as long as Dumbledore's, and he couldn't be wrong about that.
……
A cool night breeze swept across the lake, causing the water plants and branches along the shore to sway, as if someone were whispering silently. Dumbledore stood by the lake, watching Vader's figure disappear through the castle window, before turning and walking in another direction.
The wind blew his silver hair and long beard. As if he were afraid of the cold, the principal pulled up his wide hood and walked slowly.
After a moment, he suddenly whispered, "Everyone who changes an era was once just a child."
A night wind suddenly rose, rustling the leaves, and some grass and petals swirled past Dumbledore's feet.
The wind carried a string of whispers:
I once thought you were the one who would break free of your shackles, Albus. You possess wisdom and strength, yet you have locked yourself away.
“I failed…” Dumbledore walked forward without changing his expression, his lips moving slightly: “I’m sorry.”
Although he apologized, his face only showed a weary calm.
I'm not trying to blame you.
“I know,” Dumbledore sighed softly, “but I’m old… I grew old many years ago, and I no longer have the strength to struggle…”
He turned his gaze to the castle.
The lights there were scattered, like twinkling stars.
"I can only place my hopes on the next generation... Call it escapism or cowardice... but time will tell..."
That child is different from you back then... He seems to have a deep connection with darkness.
"What's the difference?" Dumbledore chuckled and retorted, "Back then... I was also very fascinated by darkness."
The whispers in the night wind faded away, as if someone wore a speechless and helpless expression.
Dumbledore chuckled softly, like a child who had won a game.
What if we fail this time too?
"Failure is failure," Dumbledore said calmly. "What's so strange about one person... being unable to combat a chronic problem that has accumulated in the wizarding world for thousands of years?"
Silence filled the air, broken only by the gentle lapping of the lake against the shore.
The reflection of the crescent moon in the water kept breaking and overlapping, while near the shore, the figure of Dumbledore, standing alone by the lake, was reflected in the water. Beside his reflection, however, was another shadow that seemed somewhat illusory.
The figure was tall and imposing, almost as tall as Dumbledore. His silver hair cascaded over his shoulders, and his dark robes shimmered with faint streaks of dark gold.
A breeze blew, rippling the water's surface. When the water calmed down again, the illusory figure had vanished.
Dumbledore gazed at the deep night sky, as if time had frozen around him.
……
Sunlight streamed through the corridor windows, creating the Tyndall effect, with beams of light tracing the shapes of dust particles in the air, resembling countless drifting mayflies.
Wade arrived at the alchemy classroom about half an hour early. The door was ajar, and Professor Mori's deep voice could be heard explaining from inside.
He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his gaze sweeping across the jungle-like beams of light, then looking through the window at the classroom:
Several students sat around a stone table, intently working on today's project—creating a magic book.
(End of this chapter)