A Certain Magical Hogwarts

Headmaster's Office

After reviewing William's memories in the Pensieve, Dumbledore led him back into the office. The headmaster closed his eyes, deep in thought, and let out a long sigh, his expression growing even more sombre.

"William, your memories are invaluable,

"I've long wanted to closely observe Voldemort's current state. What you've shown me confirms many of my suspicions, especially about his immortality magic."

"What kind of magic is it, Professor?" William asked curiously.

"I can't tell you yet," Dumbledore replied with a sigh, "The chain of evidence lacks the most critical material proof." He then changed the subject.

"Since you've brought these memories to me, I assume you're ready to end the time loop. Are there any questions you have about everything that's happened?"

William nodded and, with practised ease, began his inquiries:

"Quirrell turned into a ghost, didn't he? Why was Voldemort still able to inhabit his body?"

Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, hands clasped, and pondered for a moment, "That's a long story. Remember, in the Forbidden Forest, I told you that Voldemort was controlling Quirrell?"

William nodded slightly.

"Well, he was quite literally attached to the back of Quirrell's head," Dumbledore said calmly.

William's eyes widened in shock.

He recalled offering a reward to students for investigating what was beneath Quirrell's turban. 

Some had even resorted to violent methods to try and reveal it. It turned out they'd all been punching Voldemort in the face!

The absurdity of it left William speechless.

Wait, he realized he hadn't personally participated in those efforts. Most of the initiative had come from Slytherin students, who'd shown no mercy.

What a shame he didn't have any evidence. If Voldemort rose again, William could've packaged te evidence and sent it all to him. Some of those students' parents, like Lucius Malfoy, were likely Death Eaters.

William felt a twinge of regret.

Unaware of William's wandering thoughts, Dumbledore continued, "This kind of parasitic relationship significantly drained Quirrell's life force. After fighting you twice, he only had a few months left to live.

"I suspect that's when Voldemort decided to abandon him entirely."

Dumbledore narrowed his eyes, "Voldemort has no friends, only servants. He sacrifices anyone, even those who've helped him.

"So, Voldemort sent Quirrell to the Forbidden Corridor to die, then used dark magic to transform him into a ghost.

"This ghost form was meant to mislead me, to make me lower my guard. Meanwhile, Voldemort himself remained hidden in the castle until he struck today."

"But ghosts can't touch people, right?" William asked, "I saw Quirrell touch Harry."

"William, do you know how Peeves came to be?" Dumbledore raised his hand, summoning a book to float over.

"No, I've always wondered why he's different from regular ghosts."

"Peeves has lived in the castle since Hogwarts was founded.

"To be precise, he came into existence alongside the castle, particularly during periods when it was full of children.

"He's a manifestation of the students' collective thoughts."

Dumbledore handed Secrets of Hogwarts to William, who quickly skimmed the section on Peeves. It detailed his origins and the many struggles school caretakers had faced in dealing with him.

"I've often thought Voldemort was one of Hogwarts' most brilliant students, he used the castle's unique environment to transform Quirrell into a similar entity.

"Then he sacrificed Quirrell's soul with black magic to create a temporary body, even if it wasn't a true physical form."

"Then why couldn't he touch Harry? I saw him react with pain when he tried."

"I've told you before, William," Dumbledore said, his face clouded with sorrow, "Lily Potter cast a powerful magic to protect Harry."

"Ancient magic," William said.

"Exactly. That magic was extraordinarily powerful. It not only rebounded Voldemort's Killing Curse but also left the power of love within Harry, to protect him until adulthood.

"That power resides in Harry's blood and skin. That's why Quirrell, filled with hatred, greed, and ambition, felt unbearable pain when he touched Harry, especially in his weakened state."

Dumbledore had mentioned ancient magic to William before, but seeing Quirrell's condition made him realize its true potency.

Noticing William's curiosity, Dumbledore continued, "I know you're wondering about the source of this ancient magic. I do have some knowledge of it."

With a wave of his wand, Dumbledore conjured a holographic image of a building.

"This is the Ministry of Magic. On its ninth underground level is the Department of Mysteries."

"I've heard of it," William said, "That's where Tywin stole the Time-Turner from."

Dumbledore nodded. "Correct. But the Department contains far more than just Time-Turners.

"Much of its content is highly classified. Only a select few at the Ministry know what's inside.

"The Department studies many mysteries: love, space, thought, time, death, and so on—all extensions of ancient magic.

"In its depths, there's a locked room containing a fragment of ancient magic. Even after centuries of study, the Ministry hasn't been able to open it."

William squinted. This was the first time Dumbledore had told him the specific whereaboouts of ancient magic.

But if the Ministry couldn't open the room after centuries, William doubted he'd fare any better.

Sure, he was handsome, but that wouldn't help.

Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, relaxing, "Any other questions?"

"Just one more. Where did that Basilisk come from?"

"Ah, that's a tricky one," Dumbledore sighed yet again, "Did you investigate the Quidditch pitch?"

"I did," William replied.

After the Basilisk's death, William had explored the underground tunnels but found no clues. Beneath the pitch was a pipeline connecting to the Black Lake, suggesting the creature had swum from the lake through the pipe to the pitch.

But the lake was vast.

"There's a legend that Salazar Slytherin built a hidden chamber beneath Hogwarts," Dumbledore said, summoning another book.

He handed it to William, who skimmed through the account of Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets.

"Slytherin sealed the Chamber before leaving Hogwarts. It would only open for his true heir, who could unleash the monster within to cleanse the school of unworthy students."

"The monster is the Basilisk?" William asked.

"I believe so," Dumbledore replied seriously, "But I think Slytherin had another purpose. The idea of purging Muggle-borns was a distortion introduced centuries after he left."

"Someone deliberately distorted Slytherin's intentions?" William raised an eyebrow.

"Precisely," Dumbledore said, though he didn't elaborate, "Voldemort found the Basilisk and used it at the Quidditch pitch to distract me, giving him enough time to confront Harry and take the Philosopher's Stone."

William nodded, finally understanding the full scope of events.

Suddenly, the ring on his finger grew scorching hot. An eagle emerged from it, and perched itself on his shoulder.

The bird stared at Dumbledore, then grabbed William's shoulder and carried him into a vortex.

When William awoke, he was back in his bed.

The time loop had finally ended.

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