Chapter 198

"What are you talking about, Professor Darkholm?"

Professor McGonagall took the letter suspiciously and frowned after reading it.

"Oh, okay," she understood, "There is some misunderstanding here."

She glanced at the students who were leaving the classroom one after another, "I happen to have some things about the fourth-floor corridor that I need to ask for your opinion. However, this is not the place to discuss this matter. Let's go to my office to talk."

The two professors left, and Hermione crawled out from under the stairs, full of doubts.

Hagrid is related to the Gringotts robbery?

What's going on with the fourth-floor corridor?

But the flying lesson was about to start, so she had to tidy up her mood and prepare to go downstairs for class.

On the other side, Professor McGonagall's office.

This was a room like a study on the second floor, with a glass window overlooking the Quidditch pitch outside. At this moment, dozens of freshmen were standing noisily outside, preparing for their first flying lesson.

"Professor McGonagall, can you explain now?"

"Of course, Murphy," McGonagall nodded and returned the letter to Murphy, "Actually, Headmaster Dumbledore had already explained it to the Aurors before, but this matter is highly classified, and this investigating Auror may not know the inside story yet."

"Oh?"

"In fact, this is all about the Sorcerer's Stone..."

McGonagall explained the whole thing: Nicolas Flamel discovered that someone was eyeing his Sorcerer's Stone, so he discussed it with his friend Dumbledore and handed the Sorcerer's Stone to Dumbledore for safekeeping.

And Dumbledore sent Hagrid to Gringotts Vault 713 during the summer vacation to take the Sorcerer's Stone and bring it back to Hogwarts. Subsequently, the robbery occurred at Gringotts, but the other party did not take anything away.

"Sorcerer's Stone..." Murphy pretended to ponder for a while, "So, Hagrid was ordered to take something. It has nothing to do with the robbery. Then what is the so-called very bad file record?"

"Ah, that was a long time ago, it's been about... fifty years, right?" Professor McGonagall said, "At that time, Hagrid was reported to have opened the Chamber of Secrets at Hogwarts, leading to the death of a student..."

"Of course, Dumbledore once guaranteed this matter that Hagrid was innocent. If you have come into contact with Hagrid, you will know that although he looks very rough... he is a very gentle person."

Murphy looked relieved, "So that's it. You are right. I have been chatting with Hagrid frequently recently. I like him very much, and I don't believe he can do anything terrible."

"What about the fourth-floor corridor you mentioned before...?"

"In order to protect the Sorcerer's Stone, Dumbledore asked several professors to set traps behind the trapdoor in the fourth-floor corridor. If you have time, you can also set a puzzle."

"So, this is the reason why the fourth-floor corridor is listed as a restricted area?" Murphy frowned, "To protect the Sorcerer's Stone?"

"Yes."

"Those traps should be dangerous, right?" Murphy said, "Especially for the students?"

"Yes, that's why students are forbidden from going there."

"Why do this?"

"What?" Professor McGonagall didn't understand what he meant.

"Hogwarts is not a bank, nor is it a vault, but a school. Why should a school protect the Sorcerer's Stone?" Murphy questioned, "Even at the risk of students being hurt?"

"Although I admire Headmaster Dumbledore, I do not agree with his approach."

"Children have to take risks for the headmaster's personal commitment, which I think is inappropriate."

"This..." Professor McGonagall was stunned.

Why does every time this former student of mine speaks, it seems to be very reasonable, making me unable to refute...

But after thinking about it, she felt that Murphy's words were a bit too exaggerated.

"Professor Dumbledore asked the professors for help out of personal relationships, and did not order everyone to protect the Sorcerer's Stone as the headmaster," McGonagall said, "And that corridor has long been abandoned."

"Oh, okay, of course," Murphy didn't continue to force, "Sorry, Professor. I am not questioning you and Professor Dumbledore. It's just that as a school governor, it is my duty, I must consider more for the students."

Murphy was very curious about what Dumbledore would do if these words reached him.

If he really put the interests of the students in the highest position, he should remove the layout of the corridor, or at least there should be some changes.

But if he didn't do so, then it would be enough to prove that he had other arrangements and considerations for the students—or rather, for Harry.

This point must be confirmed.

Because it directly represents Dumbledore's two different purposes, whether it is purely to protect the Sorcerer's Stone, or to test Harry.

If it is the latter, the script about Harry in this story cannot have too much change.

The person who goes to take the Sorcerer's Stone must be Harry Potter.

If this point is changed, he will have to face Dumbledore directly.

On the other side, the young wizards had just started class when Neville flew into the sky and broke his arm. Madam Pomfrey had to take him to the infirmary first.

"My god, poor Neville." Hermione was even more afraid to touch the broomstick.

"Perhaps we should study the kind of flying Dean mentioned," Tom also frowned at the broomstick on the ground. He felt that he didn't like this thing very much either.

Today Gryffindor and Slytherin were having class together, so Tom and Harry were both next to Hermione.

Harry was eager to try, but Madam Hooch had just sternly warned them not to touch the broomsticks, making him sigh and stand honestly in place.

"You say, what exactly is in the fourth-floor corridor?" Hermione suddenly asked.

"That's a restricted area, right?" Harry said.

"Why do you want to know this?" Tom asked.

Because I'm curious!

Looking at the mysterious appearance of the two professors, there must be some secret in the fourth-floor corridor.

"Hey, look at what this is?!"

Suddenly, a voice attracted everyone's attention. Malfoy held up a Remembrall.

In the office.

Murphy had already left, and before leaving, he indicated that he would consider adding traps.

Professor McGonagall was deep in thought.

She had never questioned Dumbledore's decision, nor had she ever thought there was anything wrong with arranging the Sorcerer's Stone in the school.

But now that she thought about it, have we neglected the interests of the students too much?

This Murphy is really a peculiar child. He can always raise questions from unexpected angles and can always see things that others cannot see.

Perhaps, I should ask Dumbledore why he wanted to put the Sorcerer's Stone in the school?

Professor McGonagall pondered for a long time, so much so that she almost missed the good show outside the window.

It wasn't until Harry Potter made a beautiful emergency stop when he almost hit her window and grabbed the Remembrall in his hand that she suddenly came back to her senses from her deep thought.

"Harry Potter?"

She looked at the small ball in the other person's hand, and an idea popped into her mind: This child should be a Seeker!

As for first-years not being able to play Quidditch?

Oh, there are always exceptions.

Suddenly, she understood Dumbledore's approach.

Teaching is work, that's true, but professors also have their own lives. If they always put the interests of the students in the highest place, the professors might lose their own lives.

For students, Hogwarts is a school. But for many professors, this is their home.

Dumbledore, as the headmaster, is not only responsible for the students, but he is also responsible for the professors.

This point, Murphy might still find it difficult to understand.

Just as Harry and Malfoy were arguing, Tom suddenly felt something.

Seeing that the crowd was watching Harry, he turned around and took out his notebook from his arms.

"Main quest: Explore the secret of the fourth-floor corridor."

"Quest goal: Find out what is hidden in the fourth-floor corridor."

"Quest reward: Magic power increase. Flying spell."

(End of chapter)