Chapter 70: The Price of Curiosity

"Headmaster, this should be a phoenix, right? Don't phoenixes rise from the ashes?"

John stared at the pile of ashes and asked curiously.

He had just recognized that the fiery red bird was the legendary phoenix, so he curiously leaned over and pulled out a few feathers.

But he didn't expect this thing to be so fragile, and it died all of a sudden.

"No, child, he is not a phoenix, you killed him..."

Dumbledore said sorrowfully after a moment of silence.

"Ah?"

John looked at the ashes and then at Dumbledore at a loss.

Is the content in the book a lie?

But before John could say anything, he saw the pile of ashes move, and a bald bird without feathers poked its head out.

"......"

Seeing this, how could John not know that he had been deceived by Dumbledore.

Dumbledore showed a smiling expression like an old urchin, shaking his head at him.

After teasing John, Dumbledore started talking about business with Sirius.

"Sirius, you've had a hard time these years."

"The Ministry of Magic will come later to take you and Peter Pettigrew away, and I will go with you then."

"Thank you, Headmaster."

Sirius nodded gratefully; if Dumbledore didn't help, who knew how that group of rice buckets at the Ministry of Magic would judge in the end.

Just the matter of being an unregistered Animagus was enough for him to drink a pot.

Dumbledore also understood this, so he began to explain to him how to clear his name.

"Although you are an unregistered Animagus, the Ministry of Magic was actually at fault for your previous imprisonment."

"Back then, Old Barty locked you up without trial, just to give the outside world an explanation."

"Resulting in you being wrongly imprisoned and locked in Azkaban for so many years, so I think, as compensation, that can offset some of your crimes as an unregistered Animagus."

Hearing Dumbledore's words, Sirius finally showed a trace of a smile.

Sure enough, with Dumbledore around, even a losing game can be straightened out for you.

At the same time, he regretted more and more why he didn't listen to Dumbledore's suggestion back then and let him be the Secret-Keeper.

Insisting on showing off their friendship, leading to the tragedy.

A trace of pain flashed in his eyes, his voice low and hoarse: "If back then, we had listened to you, Lily and James wouldn't have..."

Dumbledore sighed and patted him on the shoulder.

"Sirius, don't dwell on the pain of the past; now, their child still needs you."

Sirius understood Dumbledore's meaning, showed a serious look, and nodded.

"That's right, Harry, he still needs a real home."

"I will take good care of him for James and Lily!"

Sirius had just said this righteous and sincere statement, but the next moment.

Dumbledore: "No, you can't give him a home yet."

Sirius: "?"

Hearing this, Sirius was also stunned.

Dumbledore continued to explain.

"His home now must be with the Dursleys."

"Because the magic protection Lily left on him must be in a family that has the same bloodline as Harry to continue to take effect."

"I'm sorry, Sirius, although you are his godfather, you don't have the same bloodline as Harry."

"At least, before Harry comes of age, or..."

"In short, you can acknowledge Harry, and you can also take Harry to stay with you during the holidays."

"However, Harry's home can only be with the Dursleys, and he must go back to live there for at least one week every year."

Sirius was silent for a moment, and finally nodded.

Dumbledore's arrangement must have his reasons.

This time Sirius chose to listen to Dumbledore.

Professor Lupin smiled and patted Sirius.

"Alright Sirius, anyway, as long as Harry goes back once a year, the rest of the days can be spent with you."

"When Harry comes of age, he can move out of the Dursleys directly; this day won't be too long."

Sirius looked at Lupin and nodded with a smile.

That's right, he even survived more than a decade in Azkaban, what's a few more years?

Just as the few were chatting, a sound of mechanism suddenly came from the office.

They followed the sound and looked, it was John, this unlucky child, touching things everywhere.

He actually found the Pensieve hidden behind the cabinet.

"Wow, Headmaster, this washbasin of yours can even glow."

John looked at the glowing pool and said in surprise.

Dumbledore: "......"

Professor Lupin also got up helplessly, walked over, picked John up, and placed him beside him.

"John, don't touch the Headmaster's things."

Professor Lupin said unhappily, and John didn't struggle, being carried by Professor Lupin obediently.

"I'm just looking, Headmaster, are you going to stifle a child's curiosity?"

Saying that, John looked at Dumbledore with a grievance, almost squeezing out a few tears from the corners of his eyes.

John, who had seen real bear children, knew very well what to do to satisfy his curiosity without causing real trouble.

Dumbledore smiled slightly at this, seemingly seeing through John's little thoughts, but didn't point it out.

John Merrick.

A child who suddenly appeared on the Book of Admissions a year ago.

When Severus went to deliver the admission notice, he discovered his unusualness.

There was surging magic power in his body, but it had never gone out of control once.

Using Sleep Beans to test him, verbally making things difficult for him, and even saying he wouldn't take the freshman to Diagon Alley for shopping, but there was no reaction at all.

On the day of school opening, he encountered the train attack by Dementors.

According to Remus's description, when Dementors attacked other students, he didn't care about his own safety and went to protect other students.

Although the Sorting Hat's evaluation of him was reckless, isn't this also a kind of bravery?

Afterwards, in various courses, he showed extraordinary talent.

Minerva, Filius, and even Severus all gave him extra lessons.

Dumbledore naturally knew about such a student.

"Curiosity is naturally good, John, it's always curious people who discover new things in this world."

"However, curiosity is sometimes accompanied by risks."

Dumbledore said while looking at John gently, and then took out a small paper box from his arms.

Then Dumbledore handed the box to John.

John looked at Dumbledore strangely, but still took the box.

The box was very light; when shaken gently, he could feel that there was only a small gadget in the box.

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows at the box, signaling John to open it.

John always felt that this old man was brewing some bad tricks.

But he couldn't resist his curiosity and opened the box.

He was prepared for whether this box would be some magical prank prop.

As a result, there was only a red candy lying inside.

"Candy?"

John picked up the small candy and said strangely.

"Taste it, this is a treasure I found after carefully selecting for countless days and nights."

Dumbledore showed a mysterious smile, saying in a seductive tone.

John raised his eyebrows; a candy can make him say it so mysteriously?

Then I have to try it.

John opened his mouth and threw the candy into his mouth.

The next moment.

yue!! ===== CHAPTER 71 =====