"Henry, have a seat." Dumbledore waved his wand, and a chair appeared behind Hoare.

  Hoare sat down, unsure of Dumbledore's iions.

  "Magall, could you please take Professor Quirrell back to the infirmary?"

  "Severus, could you hahe first-year css for me?"

  "I o have a chat with our young Professor William."

  Dumbledore calmly arranged everything, even making a small joke with a smile.

  Hoare was even more fused about what Dumbledore meant, but it was clear he wao talk to him alone.

  First, he tested him with the Dark Mark, thehe deranged Quirrell to provoke him.

  Listening to Quirrell, it seemed like he was trying to pin the bme on Hoare.

  But Hoare didn't believe Dumbledore truly trusted Quirrell. If Dumbledore could be deceived with just a few words, Voldemort would have taken warts long ago.

  Once everyone else had left the headmaster's offid the door closed, Dumbledore spoke again.

  "Henry, you've been w hard tely." With a wave of his wand, two cups of hoea appeared oable.

  "I thought once Professor Quirrell recovered, he could help you and Severus with the csses, but as..." He sighed, stopping the topid handed one of the cups to Hoare.

  "Oh, Henry." Dumbledore took a rge sip, sav it for a moment before saying, "Such a delightful drink, it's a pity I've only met one oisseur like you."

  Hoare didn't hold back, taking a big gulp from his cup, finishing half of it.

  Indeed, it was cssic Dumbledore-style honey water, with a lethal amount of honey, sweet enough to make your teeth ache.

  Hoare loved it.

  The cup automatically refilled with more honey water.

  Holding the cup with both hands, Hoare spoke, "Headmaster, the assistant work isn't hard for me, if that's what you're w."

  "No, my child." Dumbledore pondered for a moment before speaking again, "Child, you've done well. Whether it's the assistant work, your studies, Quidditch training, or the development of the Squib Potion."

  "You've done well, and I'm proud to be your headmaster." Dumbledore's blue eyes showed a faint smile as he spoke.

  He genuinely seemed proud of Hoare.

  Hoare knew what was i.

  "But, my child..." Dumbledore tinued.

  Hoare thought, as expected.

  "You're still too young." Dumbledore's words made Hoare frown. What did he mean by too young, in what way!?

  Dumbledore seemed to uand Hoare's defiand asked, "Do you know the differeween a Dark Wizard and a Light Wizard?"

  Hoare thought for a moment, "Light Wizards focus on healing, Dark Wizards on attag."

  Dumbledore chuckled at Hoare's summary, pg his cup oable, and walked to the window.

  With his back to Hoare, he spoke in a long, drawn-out voice, "Light Wizards attack, and Dark Wizards heal."

  "The true difference lies in the heart."

  "Magic itself is her good nor bad; it's the heart that determis nature."

  ---

  Several days had passed sihat versation with Dumbledore.

  Hoare had carefully thought over Dumbledore's words and seemed to uand.

  Old Dumbledore hadn't believed Quirrell's words, but he did have doubts about Hoare's identity, knowing he wasn't truly Henry William.

  Yet, despite his suspis, Dumbledore hadn't forced him to reveal his identity.

  For that alone, Hoare felt grateful to Dumbledore.

  He o find a way to prove to Dumbledore that he was i.

  Hoare suddenly thought of something.

  The Philosopher's Stone ohird floor of the castle.

  The stability of the Squib Potion had beeed with tless materials, but what if he used the Philosopher's Sto was the most successful alchemical item of the time.

  If it could achieve immortality, surely it could restore magic.

  If he could plete the Squib Potion, wouldn't that prove his innobledore?

  After all, to the man with a snake fad his followers, Squibs were the most disgraceful existence, so why would they try to cure them?

  The biggest challenge in obtaining the Philosopher's Stone was that three-headed dog.

  Hoare recalled the weakness of the three-headed dog from his memory: it loved musid would fall asleep upon hearing it.

  But if the music stopped, the three-headed dog would wake immediately.

  Hoare pondered where he could get a music box that pyed tinuously.

  During the day, Hoare worked several jobs, busy as a spinning top, with only the te nights free.

  After searg for a long time without finding a suitable music box, Hoare decided to make one himself, saving money in the process.

  The Room of Requirement had all the materials he needed.

  After several sleepless nights and many failed attempts, he finally made a music box that could py all night without interruption.

  The song was simple, five Hoare's usical talent, it was the well-known "Jingle Bells" from his previous life.

  Once he had modified the music box to py on its own, Hoare picked a night.

  "Exge for Stupefy."

  [Ding]

  [Panel Update]

  [B-level Ability: Spells (Patronus Charm, Basic Transfiguratioaught}, Petrificus Totalus, Fioying Curse, Body-Binding Curse, Leg-Log Curse, Jelly-Legs Curse, Stupefy)]

  [Avaible Galleons: 1508 Galleons, 6 Sickles, 23 Knuts]

  He spent a night casting "Stupefy" on his already sleeping dorm mate, Millit Bagnold, to ensure she remained unscious until he returned.

  He khe spell wasn't the most fortable, but why should he use a more fortable sleep spell?

  Don't think he didn't know that Millit Bagnold reading rumors about him all day.

  Though Hoare didn't have time to care, it didn't mean he wouldn't retaliate.

  Hoare took out the Marauder's Map and followed the shortest route to the right-hand corridor ohird floor.

  After passing through a small path, he found himself he Gryffindor on Room. He heard someoion his name from afar and quickly hid behind a rge Roman pilr.

  It was Ron and Harry.

  Out at night, those two were also sneaking around.

  "Harry, I'm telling you, there's definitely something wrong with William!" Ron's tone was very serious, pulling Harry along as he whispered.

  "The records we found show that William was the st to borrow them. Why is he iigating this?"

  "There's definitely something wrong!" Ron said with such vi that if Hoare weren't the subject, he might have believed him.

  "Ron, don't jump to clusions. Maybe Henry is just curious?" Harry quietly tered.

  "Then how do you expin him driving Professor Quirrell mad?" Ron, unhappy with Harry's disbelief, tinued.

  "He's a dangerous person!"

  0Niffler0