"Get your wand ready, Harry," he said lightly.

"But, I don't seem to be able to use magic outside of school, sir?"

"If attacked," said Dumbledore, handing the candied haws to his left hand and drawing his wand in his right, "I allow you to fight back with any magic and incantation you can think of. However, I don't think you need to worry about being attacked tonight. to the attack."

"Why, sir?"

"Because you're with us," Dumbledore said confidently, not forgetting to tease Lockhart, "the headmaster of Hogwarts, and the man who is best at dealing with black magic in the world."

"I don't think I can be of any help..." Lockhart said helplessly, "What on earth do you want me to do?"

"It's alright, Harry." Lockhart patted him on the back. "Occlumency may make you feel better."

"Occlumency is useless," Dumbledore asked, looking down at him with concern. "It takes time to get used to this feeling."

"I'm fine," said Harry, rubbing his ears, which seemed to be reluctantly off Privet Drive, "but I seem to prefer flying on a broom."

Dumbledore smiled: "This way."

"Then tell me, Harry," said Dumbledore, "that your scar...is it hurting all the time?"

Harry subconsciously put his hand on his forehead and touched the lightning-shaped scar.

"No," he said, "I've been on Occlumency at all times since what happened last time."

Both Lockhart and Dumbledore looked satisfied.

"I can see that Professor Lockhart taught you very well," said Dumbledore, "and I don't think Voldemort dares to share his mind with you anymore."

"Well, I'd love to do that," said Harry, Occlumency against Voldemort was an uphill battle. "Well—where the **** are we?

"This is the charming village of Badley Barberton."

Lockhart knew what they were here for, but he didn't know why he brought him with him: "What am I here for?"

"Ah, by the way, I haven't told you yet," said Dumbledore, "but there's no way, though, you, Gilderoy, seem to have broken the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor's curse, but now we have to invite me old colleagues back to work at Hogwarts."

"What professors are we missing?" Harry asked.

"The professor of Muggle Studies is about to resign. Of course, this old man will definitely not be a professor of Muggle Studies."

"What am I going to do?" asked Lockhart, he knew they were going to find Professor Slughorn, but Harry would do it alone.

"Oh, with you, you'll change from 90% to 100%, Gilderoy." Dumbledore said vaguely, "You're almost as famous as Harry."

"Do I need to do something to please him?" Lockhart asked.

"It seems that you guessed it, Gilderoy, your wit impresses me." Dumbledore nodded, "It's okay if you don't do anything, of course, if you want to save time, you can say something. "

Of course Lockhart wasn't really so witty, he nodded helplessly.

They walked up a steep, narrow street lined with rows of houses. The chill that enveloped the whole of England could not linger here either.

"What about me?" Harry asked.

"Be respectful, Harry, and be casual," Dumbledore said lightly.

"Professor, why can't we Apparate directly to your old colleague's house?"

"Because that would be as rude as kicking the door of someone else's house," said Dumbledore. "It's polite to ask other wizards to give us the opportunity to reject us. Most wizarding houses, however, have magic against unwelcome apparitions. The Manifestation. Like, at Hogwarts—"

"—You can't Apparate in castles or hunting grounds," Harry snapped. "Hermione told me."

"That's right," Lockhart nodded. "Actually, Hogwarts is one of the places with the strongest anti-apparition spells in the world."

"Sir, I read in the Daily Prophet that something happened to Ms. Amelia Burns..."

"What happened to her?" Lockhart was surprised. The head of the Magic Law Enforcement Department was almost as strong as Scrimgeour. "What's going on."

"I'm sorry, she must have been in a fierce battle," Dumbledore said, turning into another straight side street. "There is no doubt that it was Voldemort or a few Death Eaters. He was replaced by Rufus Scrimgeour, former Auror Chief of Staff."

"How is he?" Harry asked.

"It's very strong, he can protect us." Lockhart said firmly, he couldn't even imagine that such a powerful wizard stayed in the Auror pile every day, how did Voldemort kill the Minister of Magic in the original plot his? Of course, now Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge is not resigning because of Lockhart. This made him a little uneasy, he wouldn't accidentally kill Pandora's grandpa, would he?

"There is no doubt" Dumbledore said ~lightnovelpub.net~ He is very capable, a decisive and powerful man.

"He participated in last year's Ministry of Magic battle, and he fought head-to-head with You-Know-Who, have you forgotten, Harry," Lockhart reminded.

"Oh yes……"

"That's it." They approached a neat little stone house set in a garden, and Harry thought of the scene of Scrimgeour fighting Voldemort, before Dumbledore stopped abruptly, and Lockhart Stopping too, Harry was caught off guard and bumped into Lockhart.

"Oh, my God. Oh, my God, my God, my God." Dumbledore, holding something in both hands, let out a slight exclamation.

The two followed Dumbledore's gaze towards the well-maintained path, and Harry's heart sank immediately. The hinges of the front door opened, and the door hung sideways. Of course, Lockhart wasn't nervous.

Dumbledore looked on both sides of the street, and there seemed to be no one there.

"Harry, pull out your wand and come with me." He whispered, he didn't seem to think it was strange to hold the candied haws in his left hand, and he had no intention of putting it away.

Several people entered the house cautiously.

"Fluorescent flashes!" Lockhart once suspected that he would use the candied haws in his left hand as a magic wand again, but he didn't. The tip of Dumbledore's wand lit up, reflecting a narrow doorway. There is also an open door on the left. Dumbledore, holding his shining wand aloft, walked into the living room, Harry following closely, and Lockhart entering last.

PS: (The author wants to understand, the recommendation list of the starting point is unlimited, and the author's manuscript and energy are limited. Starting from next week, even if I go to the starting point home page, I will insist on two updates. If it is a large number of original plots or moods Well, just three shifts, plus more basically just look at the recommended tickets, ask for the recommended tickets!)

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