The Resurrection Stone and Wool Socks

Chapter 379 The Resurrection Stone and Wool Socks (6K) (2/2)

Dumbledore raised his eyes, his blue pupils focusing behind his glasses: "Following in Tom's past." His tone was certain, without a trace of doubt.

"Exactly." Lynch tapped his fingertip lightly on the back of the chair, as if setting the tone for this logic. "His background, his choices, the places he has visited and the places he has given special meaning to. We never expect him to leave secrets lying around in unfamiliar places."

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze meeting Dumbledore's in the air, his tone becoming even more resolute: "So now, near Tom Riddle's birthplace, there exists another family home claiming Slytherin blood. I don't believe it's a coincidence, Headmaster. Given Tom's character, his morbid obsession with his bloodline, his fanatical pursuit of 'purity,' and his deep-seated hatred for his 'unclean' Muggle father line—he will go there, he will form a profound, dark connection with that place, especially when he needs to hide his most fractured, darkest secret. For him, it's not just a maternal legacy, but a distorted self-affirmation of 'true' lineage. There's no more fitting hiding place for his psyche."

All the gentleness on Dumbledore's face had vanished, leaving only utter seriousness and sharpness.

He completely followed Lynch's train of thought and realized its weight. He nodded slowly and heavily, and whispered, "A place he both despises and desires, and may try to purify or possess"—yes, this fits Tom's extremely contradictory mindset. He places evil within the ruins of his bloodline legend—a distorted declaration.

"So I immediately sent my men to check out the Gaunt family's old house," Lynch continued, but with a more detailed narrative in his tone. "The initial, most basic investigation revealed that the place appeared abandoned and dilapidated, with no obvious signs of life. At first glance, it was almost a completely forgotten ruin."

Dumbledore listened attentively without interrupting, knowing that Lynch had not finished speaking.

"However," Lynch changed the subject, tapping his finger on the armrest, "among the people I sent, there happened to be one who was an expert in tracking hidden clues and investigating ancient magical structures. He wasn't fooled by the outward decay, but rather focused on the interior of the old house, especially the core areas that best reflected the family's obsessions or hidden secrets—such as possible secret chambers,

The mezzanine or specially treated building structures underwent extremely detailed inspection.

His account became more specific: "On the floor of the main house, which was almost entirely filled with dust and decaying furniture, he discovered something unusual. It wasn't a strong magical fluctuation, but rather an extremely subtle, yet unnaturally formed, difference in the structure of a small area beneath the floor. This difference was so well concealed by dust, wear, and a deliberately contrived sense of antiquity that it almost fooled all conventional methods of investigation."

Dumbledore's gaze sharpened, clearly recognizing the key point.

"Following this clue from the physical structure, he used a more subtle magical perception," Lynch continued, "and only then did he realize that beneath that floorboard, it was sealed off by layers of ancient stone, soil, and, more importantly, a powerful protective magic that was almost integrated into the building materials themselves. That magic was ancient, malevolent, and full of resentment and bloodline warnings. Its core structure was deeply bound to the blood curse of the Gaunt family. The protective concept was not an overt external deterrence, but an extreme concealment and assimilation, making the protected object seem as if it were part of the foundation of the house."

"My people judged," Lynch concluded, his tone calm and pragmatic, "that protective magic is extremely ancient and uniquely constructed, deeply intertwined with bloodlines and ley lines. With his abilities, he wasn't confident he could safely break it without triggering a violent chain reaction. Forcing an attempt would have unpredictable results. Therefore, after confirming the location and the nature of the protection, he cautiously withdrew all probing actions, without making any substantial contact or attempt to break it."

He looked at Dumbledore, his gaze steady: "Although we couldn't obtain it directly, the process of discovery itself—locating a specific, precisely protected location by magic of such a high level from seemingly empty ruins—and the extraordinary level of protection—Headmaster, I think the clues we've been following have finally pointed to a clear and specific point. What lies buried there is very likely the final piece of the puzzle we've been searching for. It's right beneath the floorboards of that old house, fused with the ruins where his bloodline originated."

A brief silence fell over the office as Dumbledore's fingers tapped lightly on the desk, producing a rhythmic sound.

His eyes flashed with a complex light—both the relief of finally having a clear clue and a clear understanding of the difficulty of the next step.

"An ancient sanctuary, carefully hidden, bound to blood and land—" Dumbledore said slowly, his voice deep. "That certainly fits Tom's style, burying his secrets in the very place of his origins, which he both despises and cannot sever ties with. This sanctuary itself is probably a reflection of his inner conflict."

"Then, Principal," Lin Qi broke the silence, his tone direct and decisive, "now that the location is clear, we should go to the Gunter family mansion as soon as possible to eliminate this hidden danger."

Dumbledore did not reply immediately.

His fingers stopped tapping, crossed them again in front of him, and he fell into a brief moment of contemplation.

As he pondered the pros and cons of the proposal, his gaze inadvertently swept over Lynch's shoulder, where a jet-black raven was quietly crouching, its wings folded, its pupils gleaming faintly in the dim light, like a frozen shadow.

This familiar scene, like a key, instantly unlocked the floodgates of a memory.

He recalled that night not long ago, when he returned the wand to Lynch at the castle gates, and saw the other's empty shoulder. Then, the very next evening at the banquet, Harry Potter's name burst forth from the Goblet of Fire, completely shattering the Triwizard Tournament and stirring up an ominous undercurrent.

Dumbledore knew perfectly well that Lynch was not responsible for the incident; the involvement of Voldemort's servants was clearly evident.

But—at that point in time, the empty shoulder, the major upheaval that followed that pushed Harry to the center of danger, and Lynch’s “low profile” and unpredictable whereabouts for a period of time afterward—these fragments formed an indescribable, unsettling puzzle in Dumbledore’s mind.

Lynch is like an elusive wind, always lurking in the shadows at the most crucial or delicate moments, on the edge of events.

This thought flashed through his mind, but it deepened his current consideration.

To have Lynch accompany him deep into the Gaunt mansion to confront a Horcrux directly linked to Tom Riddle's twisted mind and ancient bloodline? This would certainly increase immediate combat power, but it would also mean bringing Lynch's equally unpredictable style and unfathomable trump cards directly into the heart of an already extremely sensitive and dangerous situation.

What he needed was to remove the Horcrux, not to introduce more uncontrollable variables outside of it, especially in a place that might strongly stimulate Voldemort's own senses.

Dumbledore's eyes flickered almost imperceptibly. A few seconds later, he spoke slowly, his voice steady, yet revealing...

The conversation veered in another direction: "Jim, regarding that Horcrux from Gringotts, we agreed beforehand to have two plans. I'll try the legal route first."

He paused, then calmly looked at Lynch: "It seems my path is temporarily blocked. The fairies' defenses are stronger than we anticipated. So, how's your other plan—"

Lynch raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly, seemingly slightly surprised that Dumbledore had brought the topic back to Gringotts, but his face quickly regained its usual calm.

"On my end—" he drawled slightly, as if precisely assessing the progress, "I'm still a little short. Some necessary tools" and coordination with the external environment need final confirmation. But the general framework is already in place."

"Almost there—" Dumbledore repeated softly, nodding as if this was the answer he had expected or anticipated. Then, he made his decision, his tone gentle yet undeniable: "Then, I think this arrangement might be more efficient and allow us to advance both tasks simultaneously."

"Leave the Gauntlet mansion to this old man," Dumbledore's voice remained steady, but a barely perceptible, slightly mischievous smile played at the corners of his lips, as if sharing a lighthearted little secret. "I have some knowledge of those ancient family magics and blood curses; perhaps I can find some shortcuts. Besides, compared to dealing with those cunning goblins and breaking through Gringotts' numerous traps—" He shrugged slightly, his blue eyes behind his half-moon spectacles blinking, "dealing with a dilapidated house in the middle of nowhere sounds like a slightly easier job for an old man, doesn't it? The risks are relatively—well, less. Let me try to retrieve that Horcrux."

He changed the subject, his gaze sharpening and filled with trust as he looked at Lynch: "As for Gringotts—Jim, now that your preparations are nearly complete, you'll be in charge of taking it down. In your own way. I have no doubt about your abilities and..."

The meticulous plans made for this purpose.

His tone hardened slightly here, each word clear and steady: "But I must emphasize, Jim, I don't want to see any unnecessary casualties—whether goblins or your people. Our goal is the Horcruxes, to eliminate that threat, not to create new hatred and bloodshed. Gringotts' defenses are certainly dangerous, but I believe that with your wisdom and understanding of magic, you can find a precise and restrained path. Violence and sacrifice should always be the last, absolutely necessary choice. You understand my insistence, don't you?"

These words added a touch of heaviness to the atmosphere in the office.

Dumbledore looked directly at Lynch, his deep blue eyes devoid of any smile, only filled with deep concern and unwavering principle. He knew Lynch's style was efficient and unconventional, but precisely because of this, he had to draw this clear line at this moment.

Lynch listened quietly, his face showing no displeasure or surprise. Meeting Dumbledore's gaze, he slowly raised his right forearm, as if casually adjusting his cuff. The movement was subtle and quick, seemingly unconscious, yet also like a tacit reminder shared only between the two of them.

He lowered his arm, a faint, almost chilling smile playing on his lips. His voice remained steady, but now held a hint of amusement: "People often say the most thorough and cleanest way to infiltrate is to silence everyone who might see you." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the direction of his raised wrist before returning to Dumbledore's face, his tone shifting to a matter-of-fact calm. "But since I can't implement this most direct solution, I have to return to the more traditional, and more skillful, old way."

"I will make sure," he concluded, each word clear and certain, "that no one will see me, that no one will notice anything amiss. The Horcruxes will disappear, and the sunrise at Gringotts will, as always, shine upon the unaltered doors and vault. I..."

People who are good at making things that shouldn't exist disappear are just as good at making things that should exist appear as if they have never been shaken.

Dumbledore gave Lynch a deep look, his gaze lingering on the wrist for a moment, then nodded slightly: "Very good. Well then, I'll await your good news."

"Of course." Lynch stood up, said nothing more, nodded slightly to Dumbledore, and then turned and left the headmaster's office.

The heavy wooden door closed silently behind him, shutting out the honey-colored light and the soft clanging of silverware from the principal's office. The corridor was dimly lit and the air was chilly; the stone walls filtered the distant noise into a muffled background sound. Lin Qi walked steadily toward the stairs, his face as calm as ever, but his thoughts were racing faster than his steps.

Dumbledore refused his offer to go to Gaunt's old house, which was somewhat unexpected.

His suggestion to go together was based on the most rational principles of risk-sharing and maximizing efficiency. Working together would offer a higher margin of error in dealing with any unforeseen circumstances. While Dumbledore was powerful, having an additional top-tier fighter against the ancient defenses personally set up by Voldemort and deeply bound to the blood curse was certainly not a bad thing.

However, Dumbledore refused.

He accepted the task with a slightly self-deprecating humor and quickly delegated the more challenging Gringotts mission entirely to Lynch.

Why?

Lynch descended the spiral staircase, the cold stone steps seeping through the soles of his boots. His thoughts flowed like the most precise instruments.

The instrument began to calmly analyze various possibilities.

Trust-based division of labor? Risk isolation? Or some deeper consideration?

Several possibilities flashed through his mind, only to be set aside one by one. There wasn't enough information to support any definitive conclusion. Dumbledore's mind, like the spinning silverware in his office, was intricate, complex, and often unpredictable.

However, that's not important.

As Lynch walked into the corridor, the thought surfaced clearly and coldly.

The important thing is that as long as Dumbledore goes there, he will definitely not be able to get away unscathed.

Getting injured was almost an inevitable outcome.

Why are you so sure?

Because Lynch had already been there himself before “revealing” the discovery to Dumbledore.

He spent several days with a level of meticulousness and patience far exceeding what his subordinates could achieve, like a true ghost, leaving no new trace of the "visitor," only repeatedly sensing and confirming through layers of ancient protection.

He finally pierced through that vicious and stubborn defense and "saw" the form of the Horcrux: an ancient, even somewhat crude, gold ring. What drew his full attention was the black stone set in the ring. The unique triangular, circular, and straight lines on the stone's surface, and its strange quality that seemed to embody the deepest desires and the most illusory promises...

It looks exactly like the Resurrection Stone, one of the three legendary Deathly Hallows.

As a time traveler who knows certain "futures" and legends, Lynch is well aware that the Deathly Hallows are not a fairy tale.

The Elder Wand truly exists in Dumbledore's hands, and the aura emanating from this stone, so different from ordinary magical creations, almost confirms that ancient legend.

Also confirmed was the terrifyingly powerful dark magic inherent in the ring itself. It was a curse filled with malice and deception, twistedly combined with the power of the resurrection stone to form a sweet yet deadly trap.

At that very moment, as he gazed at the ring through layers of protection, a long-dormant image suddenly flashed into Lin Qi's memory—a dark, withered hand, as if scorched by fire and decayed over countless years.

The image was blurry and fleeting, stirred by the newly acquired information, surfacing from the depths of his memory, albeit with a subtle sense of uncertainty. He still vaguely believed—that hand belonged to Dumbledore.

The fragmented information carried by this time traveler now perfectly overlaps with reality, giving him a vague sense of confidence in what is about to happen. This is no longer merely a speculation based on personality analysis, but rather a fragment of the future that Xi Jinping has "witnessed."

Lynch believed that with Dumbledore's knowledge and keen perception, he would surely be able to detect the danger of the dark magic.

But he was even more convinced that Dumbledore would not be able to resist the allure of the stone itself.

If you ask why————

Before Lynch's eyes, it was as if that night from several years ago had reappeared, in front of the Mirror of Erised, where Dumbledore told him that he saw himself in the mirror holding a pair of thick wool socks.

A pair of thick wool socks.

Wool socks symbolize family, warmth, and reunion—something Dumbledore's heart forever shattered by his early tragedy, yet forever yearned for. What he saw was perhaps a vision of his family gathered around the fireplace, peaceful and joyful; an alternative possibility where his sister Ariana had never been ill, and his brother Aberforth had never broken ties with him. That longing for the lost warmth of family and the fulfillment of kinship was deeply etched into every line of his soul.

The Resurrection Stone, a stone said to bring the dead back to life, directly addresses this deepest desire to "reunite" with departed loved ones, even if it is a vain comfort.

For someone whose soul is burdened with such heavy regret and self-blame, the allure is devastating. It offers not a concrete image, but the possibility of making amends for a lifetime of regret, even if that possibility is built on illusion and curse.

Lynch could even understand the temptation.

Even he himself, in the instant he finally confirmed, through the protective barrier, that it was very likely the Resurrection Stone, despite his reason repeatedly warning him that its effects were illusory, a self-destructive illusion, still felt an uncontrollable surge of emotion within him: "Even if—it's just to see it again, just to receive a false hug, a hollow apology or farewell—that would be enough."

It originates from the deepest part of the human soul, an instinctive pursuit of what has been lost, and an eternal delusion about regrets that cannot be made up for.

Even someone as powerful and wise as Dumbledore cannot escape this human nature, and may even become more deeply entangled in it due to the depth of his experiences.

For him, the Resurrection Stone was not a simple temptation, but a carefully designed trap targeting his greatest emotional deficiency in life.

Therefore, Lynch was certain that when Dumbledore faced the ring, the warnings of dark magic could not withstand the call of the Resurrection Stone.

He would definitely try to touch it, would definitely want to "use" it, even if it was just a momentary hesitation, it would be enough to make that vicious curse take effect.

This may also be another reason why Dumbledore insisted on going alone, and perhaps even subtly hoped that Lynch would focus on Gringotts—perhaps his legendary magical abilities made him sense that there were ghosts of the past that he had to face alone, and he was not sure if he could perfectly resist them.

He didn't want others, especially Lynch, to witness his potential vulnerability or mistakes.

"Let's see how things develop from here." Lin Qi walked to the window of an empty corridor, stopped, looked out at the deep night, and finally gathered his turbulent thoughts into a cold calm in his heart.

He turned and walked toward the auditorium.

Dinner was drawing to a close, but there was still plenty of hot food left on the long table.

The auditorium was brightly lit, but the number of students around the long tables of the four colleges had shrunk considerably, and only a few professors remained at the faculty table who ate slowly or enjoyed chatting after the meal.

Lynch walked steadily to the teachers' table, sat down in his seat, and began to eat naturally. His movements were elegant and focused, as if his entire mind was immersed in the food in front of him, completely ignoring the whispers around him and the occasional glances cast his way.

However, the raven perched on his shoulder, seemingly just for decoration, silently turned its neck, its dark eyes, which seemed to absorb light, quietly "enveloping" the entire teachers' table with a perspective that humans could not achieve, especially the Potions Professor Severus Snape, who sat at the other end of the table dressed in black.

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