Chapter 142: Confronting the Old Fox

The flickering candlelight waxed and waned, casting a reddish glow over the old fox Dumbledore's pale cheeks. Behind his dazzling half-moon spectacles, the dancing flames masked his gaze, making it unreadable.

Ma Jun kept a smiling, gentle expression. Long ago, his sharp and aggressive edge had been thoroughly concealed. Beneath his youthful visage, he too hid the heart of an old fox.

Dumbledore did not stand on ceremony. He skillfully poured a cup of water and said softly, "Professor Ma Jun, I must thank you for taking on the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. You know, ever since Quirrell left, there have always been many rumors surrounding this post. People believe it is cursed! But your arrival has put us all at ease, and the students are very fond of you. I must say, your teaching style is unique and remarkably effective."

"It is my honor!" Ma Jun replied. "To become a part of the great Hogwarts is simply wonderful for me! I am working hard to learn, learning how to become a qualified teacher. Now it seems I am doing quite well. Those little ones are full of energy, and I love spending time with them. Of course, I am also very grateful for your support."

"Forgive me if I sound a bit abrupt, but I am rather curious," Dumbledore said hesitantly. "You know, for a wizard without a systematic education, especially an orphan, growth is extremely difficult. Yet clearly, you are an exception; you are doing wonderfully in every aspect."

"I have been fortunate to receive help from many kind-hearted people during my upbringing," Ma Jun said with a smiling shrug. "Add a bit of talent to that, and for now, it seems I am somewhat superior to most of my peers!"

"Ah, quite right!" Dumbledore responded with a chuckle, bypassing the topic. He continued, "I hear you have been spending a great deal of time in the library lately? You are truly a studious person, and such individuals are usually favored by Merlin!"

"Oh, absolutely!" Ma Jun nodded. "Swimming in the ocean of knowledge is a great enjoyment for me."

"Not long ago, I happened to run into Madam Pince," Dumbledore probed further, "and she mentioned that you are researching many books on the Dark Arts?"

"Yes!" Ma Jun answered without hesitation. "I am a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, so naturally I need to work harder. Didn't you know? Many of the students have high talent, and my teaching level needs constant improvement to satisfy them. Especially Hermione—that little girl always asks complex and obscure questions; she's driving me half crazy!"

"Hermione is indeed a very talented student!" Dumbledore said cheerfully. "Professor Ma Jun, I wonder what your thoughts are on the petrification of Mrs. Norris? I should like to hear your true opinion! You know, that kind of petrification is not something an ordinary wizard can achieve."

This old fox harbored doubts about Ma Jun. Unable to ascertain whether Ma Jun was a man filled with love in his heart, he continually tested him.

Ma Jun frowned, his expression growing serious. "I imagine you must have noticed that Harry lied. He is concealing something. I intend to investigate this matter privately! I certainly do not want any accidents to occur in the school, let alone the death of a student!"

"Harry..." Dumbledore nodded with a complex expression. "If there is anything you need, you may come to me at any time!"

"I will!" Ma Jun said. "As we all know, the person who petrified Mrs. Norris is certainly not a student! Even upper-year students, due to their incomplete development, lack the strength to cast such Dark Magic. Professor Dumbledore, apart from myself, which of the school's professors do you find most suspicious?"

"All the professors have taught at Hogwarts for many years!" Dumbledore affirmed. "I do not believe they would do such a thing."

"Yet I have heard that Professor Snape was once a Death Eater?" Ma Jun asked with mischievous suspicion. "And not long ago, Voldemort made an appearance!"

"I trust Professor Snape," Dumbledore said gravely.

"Very well," Ma Jun shrugged. "I hope you trust me just as well—I have no desire whatsoever to harm non-pure-blood wizards."

"Of course," Dumbledore replied definitively.

"Professor Dumbledore, would you mind telling me a bit about what happened fifty years ago?" Ma Jun furrowed his brow. "Professor McGonagall said the Chamber of Secrets was opened back then? What were the exact circumstances? I need to understand them in order to conduct a more thorough investigation."

"Fifty years ago..." Dumbledore hesitated slightly, a reminiscent look appearing in his eyes. After a long moment, he sighed. "A student died at the time—it was Moaning Myrtle, who haunts the second-floor girls' bathroom. The school faced the threat of closure on account of it, but ultimately the culprit was found!"

"Who was it?" Ma Jun pressed.

"Hagrid!" Dumbledore stared into Ma Jun's eyes. "It was Hagrid. He was raising a giant spider. At that time, he was expelled and his wand was snapped."

"A giant spider?" Ma Jun asked curiously. "Capable of casting a petrification curse? May I ask who discovered that Hagrid opened the Chamber of Secrets?"

"Tom Riddle! An exemplary student—at the time, the most brilliant student of all!" Dumbledore continuously observed Ma Jun's reaction, his voice chillingly calm.

"Clearly, Hagrid was framed!" Ma Jun smiled. "Only a fool would believe that Slytherin would choose a wizard with giant blood to inherit his legacy!"

"Indeed... but for the sake of the school, for the sake of stability, Hagrid was cast aside and made a scapegoat!" Dumbledore said with a mocking smile. "Later on, I protected him, and after I became headmaster, he became part of the school staff."

"Where is Tom Riddle now?" Ma Jun asked. "If Hagrid was wronged, then the student who exposed him must have a problem."

"You have grasped the crucial point very quickly!" Dumbledore smiled with satisfaction. "That student vanished. After graduation, he simply vanished off the face of the earth. Perhaps he changed his name; in any case, he disappeared."

Ma Jun nodded thoughtfully. "Very well, the trail is cold for now. However, we can certainly obtain crucial information from Harry. He could not have appeared at the scene of the crime for no reason; he must have discovered something."

"You two are good friends, so I leave this matter in your hands," Dumbledore said sincerely, resembling an elder entrusting a child.

"Rest assured, I already have some inkling about this!" Ma Jun said with confidence. "Do not forget, I have traveled the world and witnessed many bizarre events. Before things deteriorate further, I will surely resolve this. After all, I am the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor! This time, I shall give the students a genuine lesson!"

"Then I shall await your good news," Dumbledore said with a smile. "It is getting late..."

"Wait, Professor!" Ma Jun interrupted him. "I still have one doubt."

"What is it?"

"I heard Harry mention the Sorcerer's Stone. The entire event was full of coincidences from beginning to end," Ma Jun chuckled inwardly while putting on a puzzled expression. "It seemed as though someone deliberately arranged for Harry to deal with Quirrell... Perhaps whoever harbors malice toward Harry wanted to get him killed..."

"Oh, no, you are overthinking it!" Dumbledore paused, looking somewhat strange. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "With me here, Harry will not be in danger."

"Is that so?" Ma Jun's expression turned one of sudden realization. "So that's how it is..."

A trace of embarrassment crossed Dumbledore's face. He had not expected Ma Jun to so unceremoniously pierce through the truth. The Sorcerer's Stone incident had been the old fox's plan from start to finish—designed to earn Harry renown while simultaneously cultivating his courage, strength, and combat ability in preparation for eventually facing Voldemort directly.

One had to admit that Harry was somewhat unfortunate; from the moment he was born, his life's path had already been mapped out: to fight Voldemort.

Having teased Dumbledore and confirmed a suspicion in his own mind, Ma Jun did not keep him any longer. It was so late, and he had no interest in lingering with an old man.

"Good night, Professor Dumbledore!"

"Good night!"