Chapter 55 Dumbledore: Gellert, Here Is a Genius Who Can Surpass You

Sherlock had always possessed a somewhat sharp tongue.

However, ever since coming to Hogwarts, everyone he had met had been remarkably polite. Even Snape, who constantly targeted the lion house, was in Sherlock's eyes a contemptible yet kind-hearted good person, which meant this particular trait of his had never truly had a chance to manifest.

This time, when Dumbledore intended to exploit his friend, it finally erupted.

Actually, Sherlock did not oppose the concept of utilization. He frequently utilized Harry and Hermione. If Harry and Hermione were willing to utilize him, he would not refuse either.

Yet Dumbledore’s behavior was distinctly different from his own. Knowing full well that Quirrell might be a minion of Voldemort, Dumbledore had still allowed him to enter Hogwarts, thereby placing Harry right on the edge of life and death.

His purpose in saying these words was also crystal clear. If Dumbledore could not give a satisfactory and logical explanation today, he would certainly not stand by and let Dumbledore act so recklessly.

Faced with the angry Sherlock, Dumbledore was once again stunned. He lowered his head and fell into deep contemplation.

After a long while, he finally spoke slowly:

"To say Voldemort fears me most is giving me far too much credit; he possesses a power I shall never have. As for my conjecture... if there is anyone who can completely destroy Voldemort, that person will only be Harry."

The moment Dumbledore uttered these words, it was like a bolt of lightning piercing the midair, instantly sweeping away all the clouds of doubt in Sherlock's mind.

Having arrived at the school for two months, Sherlock had gradually stripped away the mystical veil of magic. In a split second, all the clues linked together.

"Only Harry can? The thing that sets him apart from everyone else is... he is the only person to have survived Voldemort’s Killing Curse. Was it his parents who protected him when he was still an infant, which is why your confidence rests upon that scar? Or perhaps... a spell that continues to provide protection to this day?"

This cascade of thoughts arose in an instant. The moment Sherlock blurted them out, the expression on Dumbledore’s face grew even more complex.

That sense of déjà vu he had felt earlier became overwhelming. Dumbledore's thoughts drifted back once more to that summer in Godric's Hollow. At this moment, he even felt that Sherlock was sharper than that old friend of his.

"It seems my deduction was correct?"

Just by observing Dumbledore's expression, Sherlock knew his conjecture had once again been confirmed.

"Yes, my boy, you are entirely correct."

Dumbledore looked at Sherlock and spoke slowly: "I suppose you must know the prophecy concerning the savior of the magical world."

Hearing Dumbledore bring up the prophecy of the savior, Sherlock blurted out without hesitation:

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born at the end of July to parents who have thrice defied him."

This was something Hermione had dug up in the library. Although the source was mere gossip, judging by the outcome, it appeared to be true.

"The content is correct, but it is not entirely accurate."

Dumbledore sighed.

"To be precise, the prophecy states: 'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives—'"

Sherlock extracted the critical information from Dumbledore's words immediately.

"'Mark him as his equal?'"

"Indeed." Dumbledore smiled. "You noticed that detail after all."

"Neville Longbottom's birthday is merely a day before Harry's," Sherlock stated bluntly. "So the identity of the savior was actually decided by Voldemort himself?"

"Yes. There were two boys who met the criteria of the prophecy, but Voldemort ultimately chose Harry."

Dumbledore said with a complicated expression, "On that very day, in order to protect him, Harry's mother utilized an ancient charm at the cost of her own life. That charm possessed the greatest emotion in the world—love. The Killing Curse Voldemort cast upon Harry rebounded, and from that moment, he vanished. As for Harry, he became the sole lucky survivor of the Killing Curse. That protective spell continues to guard Harry to this very day."

"Is this your source of confidence?"

Although he now understood the full sequence of events, Sherlock was still unsatisfied.

"I believe you should know that in this world, things are not necessarily more powerful just because they are old."

"Rest assured, although this charm will eventually lose its effect, it is far too early for that now—"

"It must require the power of blood relatives to maintain it, I presume?"

Before Dumbledore could offer a detailed explanation, Sherlock declared, "That is the exact reason you insist on having Harry continue to live with the Dursleys—after all, they are his only remaining blood relatives in this world."

Dumbledore stared blankly at Sherlock. He had nothing left to say. Sherlock's performance today had thoroughly exceeded his imagination.

Looking at the young man before him, at this moment, the white-haired wizard could not help but a sudden thought flash through his mind:

"Do you see that, Gellert... Here is a genius who can surpass you!"

Thinking further of Harry, who had miraculously survived Voldemort's Killing Curse, and McGonagall’s earlier request to bend the rules and let Harry join the house quidditch team, his thoughts expanded even further.

"And... there are two of them at once, Gellert..."

No matter how formidable Sherlock's deductive reasoning might be, with insufficient information, he could never guess what Dumbledore was thinking.

Seeing the other man lost in a daze for a moment, Sherlock could not help but frown.

"Aside from this reason, is letting Harry face Voldemort also because you have no way of completely destroying him?"

Sherlock's words instantly dragged Dumbledore back from that distant summer.

He gave Sherlock a deep look, his expression turning solemn: "I now suspect that even if Voldemort is slain, he will return by other means, and perhaps even grow more powerful."

"So not giving up on your graduated students is merely one of the reasons?"

Sherlock mused, "The crucial point is that you need Harry to face Voldemort in person, so as to determine whether that charm remains effective and to what extent it can be utilized against Voldemort."

"Sherlock, just as you said, the others are also my students, are they not?"

Dumbledore finally broke into a smile once more. "Rest assured, Harry will be quite fine. I am not the only one protecting him."

"Such as Professor Snape?"

"Oh, I am glad we see eye to eye on that point."

"No, I feel Professor Snape is far more pragmatic than you in this regard."

"If only Harry could think as you do."

"I believe we might change the subject now."

"Would you care for a Lemon Drop?"

"No, thank you."

"Very well... I am glad Harry has a friend like you. As for whether to tell Harry about Quirrell, I shall leave that decision to you, but I do hope you will not reveal our agreement to him."

"Splendid. So what on earth did you place on the fourth floor?"

"The Sorcerer's Stone. It is the material used to create the Elixir of Life, and I imagine you understand why Quirrell would be interested in it... So, are you truly certain you will not have a Lemon Drop?"

"Next subject."