Chapter 293: Diagon Alley

A week passed quickly.

When the day Dumbledore had originally set with John arrived, John received a letter from Dumbledore early in the morning.

It said there would be action tonight and told him to stand by at the Order of the Phoenix.

So when night fell, John went specifically to the Order of the Phoenix to wait.

The only kids left at the Order of the Phoenix were Harry, Ron and Ginny.

The twin brothers had gone into business; it is said they opened a joke shop called the Weasley Magic Trick Shop in Diagon Alley.

That shop is now the hottest store in Diagon Alley.

Besides the fact that their goods are top‑notch, Diagon Alley has recently fallen into a severe slump.

The reason, of course, is Voldemort.

Some time ago, several Death Eater attacks occurred in Diagon Alley; the most serious was that the owner of Ollivander's wand shop, Mr. Ollivander, was forcibly taken by Death Eaters.

The Ministry of Magic has investigated ever since but still cannot locate Mr. Ollivander.

Even the wands in the shop were burned to ash by a fire.

Decades of hard work turned instantly into charred ash, hovering over everyone's hearts in Diagon Alley.

As a result, few people go to Diagon Alley now; even those who do shop hurriedly and leave.

Many shops have also closed down one after another.

At this point, the twin brothers seized the downturn in Diagon Alley and bought a gold storefront there at a low price.

It is easy to imagine that once Voldemort's dark clouds lift, that storefront will reap unprecedented appreciation.

This made John consider buying an entire low‑priced property in Diagon Alley; after graduation he might even sell Magic Potions and do business.

One should know that in that place, as long as your product quality is good enough, you never worry about lack of business.

"John, Dumbledore meeting us today—he's not looking for a Horcrux, is he?"

A few of them sat around the living‑room sofa, and Harry asked John.

"Probably not; if he's after a Horcrux, he wouldn't involve us,"

John shrugged his shoulders and said.

The Horcrux matter had already been passed on through Harry, letting Ron, Ginny and the others know.

So it wasn't a secret that couldn't be spoken.

"Last time I told you about interrogating Leigulesi, was there any result?"

John turned the question back to Harry, about the Horcrux clue they had discussed earlier.

"I was just about to tell you that, Professor Moody went to the Ministry of Magic a few days ago to interrogate Leigulesi, and even brought Truth Serum,"

"But Leigulesi had no idea what a Horcrux was,"

"Voldemort originally just handed him the diary and told him to keep it safe, otherwise his whole family would be doomed,"

"But he didn't tell him what the diary actually was; he only said it could reopen Hogwarts' Chamber of Secrets."

Harry explained while speaking, also giving John the background of the Chamber.

It is an ancient Chamber that has existed in Hogwarts for centuries, legend says Slytherin built it himself, and its entrance is hidden behind a faucet in the second‑floor girls' washroom.

Voldemort's soul inhabited the diary, then he controlled the newly enrolled Ginny, opened the Chamber, and released the Snake Monster inside.

Later Harry slew the Snake Monster, and Harry also pierced the diary with a Snake Monster tooth.

John had not experienced any of this personally, so he could only learn it from Harry's account.

Back to Leigulesi.

"Professor Moody said he was only there because the Ministry of Magic had issued a new Muggle‑Protection Act and was confiscating items in Pure‑blood wizard families that might endanger Muggles,"

"To avoid detection of Voldemort's items at home, he deliberately slipped the diary into Ginny's Crucible,"

"That way he could discard the potentially troublesome diary and also conveniently set a trap for Mr. Weasley,"

"And most importantly, if that diary could really open the Chamber, it would cause a disaster, plunge Hogwarts into chaos, and give him a chance to impeach Professor Dumbledore,"

"By his own words, it would be a three‑fold gain,"

From his seat, Ron slowly teased, "He did succeed in more than half of it."

"But luckily, in the end Harry and I shattered his illusion."

Saying that, Ron looked very smug.

But he was immediately undercut by Ginny.

"But in the end only Harry faced the Snake Monster... you were just moving stones outside,"

"What are you saying! I clearly contributed too, okay!"

Ron immediately said in discontent.

"Anyway, when I woke up, all I saw was Harry~"

Ginny pursed her lips, then smiled brightly at Harry, her eyes full of gentle, sparkling light.

It was just like Hermione looking at John.

Could it be that?

John raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Harry awkwardly scratched his head, looking a bit at a loss.

Then he continued.

"However, Leigulesi did say something: before Voldemort handed him the diary, he had a private audience with Beila."

"But we don't know what was said; we only know Beila ran off with an excited face,"

"And after him, he also summoned Leigulesi."

The name Leigulesi, now they all know who he is, including his deeds.

Sirius told Harry, and then Harry told the others.

John stroked his chin, thought for a moment, then said.

"Then Beila's suspicion is even higher."

"Lu Xiu Si and Leigulesi are both linked to the Horcrux."

"Although Leigulesi was only conscripted a House‑Elf, he truly knows the location of a Horcrux."

Harry also nodded and continued.

"Sirius and the others thought the same, so now they are investigating Beila."

"However, during this period there have been news of Death Eaters appearing, but none have seen Beila."

Regarding this, the few students couldn't help at all.

They could only chat here.

It was already 11 p. m. when Dumbledore finally appeared at the Order of the Phoenix.

By then everyone else had left; the living room only had John and Harry drowsily waiting for Dumbledore.

Harry's eyelids kept fighting, his mind was hazy.

John simply lay on the sofa and fell asleep.

"Harry, John."

Dumbledore came into the living room, found them, and called softly to the two.

Harry quickly came to his senses and lifted his head.

"Ah, Professor, you're here."

John was sound asleep, didn't hear Dumbledore's call at all.

Harry, seeing this, quickly nudged John's shoulder and shouted, "Wake up! John!"

John only then groggily got up and looked at Dumbledore.

"Ha~ Headmaster is here......"

"Next time can you not set such grim timing for actions? I'm still growing."

After a yawn, John finally woke up and directly complained to Dumbledore.

Dumbledore smiled lightly and nodded.

"Alright, next time for sure."

"......"