At this peculiar demand, Dumbledore's eyes narrowed behind his half-moon spectacles, their lenses flashing opaquely, concealing his emotions.
He pondered Wayne's motives.
To study the secrets of Horcruxes?
This possibility was swiftly dismissed.
Wayne had repeatedly expressed contempt for such immortality methods—genuine disdain with no hidden agenda.
Even if Wayne harboured some interest in Horcrux creation...
Why confess so openly?
He could have remained silent, leaving Dumbledore none the wiser.
Moreover, the condition specified destroyed Horcruxes... suggesting he wanted not the dark artefacts themselves, but the original items repurposed as vessels.
Dumbledore looked down at the lounging youth awaiting his response, and suddenly smiled.
He understood.
Wayne must have discovered a Horcrux crafted from some valuable artefact, sparking acquisitive instincts.
The boy likely assumed other undiscovered Horcruxes contained similar treasures.
Youthful folly—at his age, material possessions meant little.
Even the Elder Wand—if sacrificing it could destroy all Horcruxes—he'd gladly gift it to Wayne, let alone ordinary treasures.
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled with amusement. "I accept your conditions. You may keep any items left behind after the Horcruxes are destroyed."
He emphasised the word "items" deliberately.
In his estimation, Harry might also be a Horcrux, and he hadn't yet devised a method to destroy the Horcrux while preserving Harry's life.
Yet this loophole needed addressing.
Wayne pretended not to notice, nodding cheerfully.
"Since we're establishing an Unbreakable Vow, we'll need a witness..." Dumbledore hesitated.
The only others privy to this were Grindelwald and Nicolas Flamel.
Finally, he said, "Let Nicolas serve as the witness."
"No need for such trouble," Wayne replied with a smile. "I've made some improvements to the Unbreakable Vow spell—it no longer requires a witness."
Dumbledore's interest was piqued. "How did you manage that?"
"By creating a magical node within both parties' magical power, simulating a witness. The node only dissipates if one of the two dies."
Wayne elaborated further, and after some consideration, Dumbledore couldn't help but admire it.
"A stroke of genius. This spell will become far more convenient from now on."
Yet Dumbledore also noticed something...
Why on earth would you research such an obscure spell? Just how many secrets are you hiding?
But now... he had no energy to dwell on Wayne's activities. The Horcrux information took precedence.
Their wands emitted golden light, forming a thread between them, with a golden sphere perfectly centred. Wayne recited the vow's terms—identical to their earlier discussion, with one addition: if Dumbledore obtained definitive Horcrux intelligence, he would bring Wayne along to retrieve it.
Dumbledore saw no harm in this and didn't object.
As the sphere burst apart, both men felt a shared understanding.
The vow was sealed.
"Now, might you produce the Horcrux?" Dumbledore asked wearily.
After all this effort, he hadn't even glimpsed the damned thing.
Wayne placed Ravenclaw's Diadem on the table.
Dumbledore carefully levitated it with his wand, too preoccupied with detecting Horcrux traces to scrutinise its appearance.
Yet after extensive examination, he found no signs of a Horcrux.
Just as he prepared to question Wayne, his gaze caught the engraved Ravenclaw motto beneath the diadem—his pupils constricted sharply.
"This is Ravenclaw's Diadem?"
Wayne smiled modestly. "Indeed. Your eyesight remains impeccable."
Dumbledore: "..."
Was now the time to complement his visual acuity?
"Wayne, I believe our recent contract may require revision," Dumbledore said earnestly. "I hadn't considered that Voldemort may have stolen these Horcruxes from their rightful owners. If they're someone's property, restitution would be appropriate."
"You're absolutely right," Wayne agreed unexpectedly. "When I encounter Rowena Ravenclaw, I'll return this diadem to her."
"Don't tell me this treasure belongs to the school. The Sword of Gryffindor was explicitly left behind by Godric Gryffindor, but the Diadem wasn't left by Rowena Ravenclaw. It went missing over a thousand years ago. It was only through Voldy's hard work that it was found and turned into a Horcrux."
Dumbledore was left speechless.
Though he knew the chance of reclaiming the Diadem from Wayne was practically zero, he had to try.
How could he give up without trying?
Sure enough, after one attempt and refusal, he resigned himself to it.
"Where did you find the Diadem? Has the soul fragment inside already been destroyed? And how was it done?" Dumbledore fired off a series of questions.
Wayne produced his pre-prepared explanation. "Professor, do you remember the Vanishing Cabinet Tom used to escape last year?"
Dumbledore nodded. Of course, he hadn't forgotten. He'd even collected the fragments, hoping to repair them and trace where Tom had fled.
Unfortunately, the cabinet had been too severely damaged to reconstruct.
"I wondered where Tom got that Vanishing Cabinet. Probably some treasure he discovered during his student days, hidden somewhere in the school."
"After remaining undiscovered for so many years, it must have been concealed in a very secret place."
Dumbledore nodded again.
It was perfectly logical.
"So while searching for where the Vanishing Cabinet was hidden, you found the Diadem?"
"Exactly. It was in the Room of Requirement."
"The Room of Requirement?" Dumbledore looked puzzled. "Does the school have such a place?"
"On the eighth floor, opposite the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy being clubbed by trolls. It's a room that doesn't exist."
"Ah, that place." Dumbledore's expression cleared as he stroked his beard with a smile. "The Room of Requirement? Quite an apt name."
"I've been there myself. Once, when I was desperately searching for a lavatory, a door appeared opposite the tapestry. When I opened it, I found it filled with chamber pots. I even took two back with me – both excellent quality. Would you like one?"
Wayne ignored this aromatic tangent and continued, "At the time, the Diadem was placed on a small statue of Salazar Slytherin, giving off the same aura as the Diary."
"Then I took it to Nicolas. He was the one who destroyed the soul fragment inside."
"How exactly was it done?" Dumbledore pressed. Finding Horcruxes was difficult enough, but destroying them posed another challenge.
He'd originally planned to consult Grindelwald about this. Now it seemed unnecessary.
"Basilisk venom or Fiendfyre can destroy Horcruxes," Wayne answered truthfully. "As for Nicolas, he isolated the soul-targeting toxins from the venom to create a potion. The Diadem had to soak in it for a week before succeeding."
With a firm tug, Wayne retrieved the Diadem from Dumbledore's grasp, smiling. "Now, this Diadem has no connection to Horcruxes whatsoever."
Dumbledore: "..."
After accomplishing so much – even obliterating Voldemort's soul fragment – only now did he think to mention it.
Was he afraid Dumbledore would seize the Diadem back?
Did he really think so little of him?
"I've said all I needed to say. Professor, I'll take my leave now."
Having delivered his piece, Wayne prepared to make a swift exit before Dumbledore's envy got the better of him.
Unfortunately, Dumbledore wasn't about to let him off so easily.
Glancing at the time, Dumbledore suddenly smiled. "It's past mealtime now, the Great Hall won't have any food left. Why don't we eat here instead?"
"No need," Wayne instinctively sensed danger, but the door had already locked itself with a click.
With a wave of Dumbledore's hand, two plates of West Lake vinegar fish appeared on the table.
Wayne: "..."
...
In the end, this confrontation ended in mutual destruction.
Wayne fled, clutching his stomach, while Dumbledore downed an entire large glass of honey water to heal his traumatised palate and digestive system.
Vinegar was vinegar. Fish was fish. Why did combining them create something so inedible?
Had the house-elves used vinegar from outside the Hufflepuff common room?
After recovering for quite some time, Dumbledore finally regained his composure and began contemplating the matter of Voldemort's Horcruxes.
Unlike Tom Riddle's Diary, Ravenclaw's Diadem had provided him with numerous clues. At last, he wouldn't have to search blindly like a headless fly.
Voldemort had one particular hobby - collecting trophies of sentimental value.
When he'd first gone to Wool's Orphanage to bring Tom Riddle to Hogwarts, he'd discovered this secret. Tom's wardrobe had been full of tattered clothes taken from children he'd bullied.
If even the long-lost Diadem could be found, then Voldemort's other Horcruxes were likely to be relics of the other founders as well.
With this clear direction, many things suddenly made sense to Dumbledore.
And his heart ached all the more for it.
He desperately wished he could use a Time-Turner to return two hours earlier and stop his past self from making that Unbreakable Vow with Wayne.
If all the Horcruxes were artefacts of the four founders, wouldn't that make him the most wasteful Headmaster in history, having gifted so many precious treasures to Wayne?
That lad probably guessed it too, which is why he said that!
Dumbledore clutched his left chest.
Uncomfortable. He wanted to take it back!
...
After classes ended, Dumbledore went to Professor McGonagall's office.
He was there to 'request leave'.
"Minerva, do you still have any of that special medicine Poppy gave you?"
Professor McGonagall was startled. "I have a few bottles left. Is your heart troubling you too?"
She needed the medicine because she was constantly aggravated by those energetic little lions from Gryffindor.
Dumbledore never got angry – in fact, he thought it was good for students to be lively. Why was he taking medicine now?
The old headmaster gave a bitter smile. "Ran into a bit of trouble. Feeling rather weary."
"Take mine first, then. I can always get more from Poppy." Professor McGonagall handed him the medicine, concerned. "Albus, you must take care of yourself. The school still needs you."
"Thank you, Minerva." Dumbledore swallowed a pill, then said, "But this isn't the time to relax. I need to make a trip. I'll leave the school in your hands... well, and Mr Lawrence's too."
After a moment's hesitation, Dumbledore added Wayne's name.
Though he'd given the boy quite the ordeal, Dumbledore couldn't deny that when it came to protecting the school, Wayne performed more outstandingly and decisively than Professor McGonagall.
"You're leaving again?" Professor McGonagall frowned disapprovingly. "It hasn't been long at all. Black still hasn't been caught. What about the school if you keep running off like this?"
"Minerva, I have something very important to do." Dumbledore looked at her seriously. "Perhaps more important than Black's whereabouts."
"Besides, I'm leaving the school to you and Severus. Even if Black appears, I trust you can protect the students, can't you?"
Seeing Dumbledore's earnest gaze, Professor McGonagall fell silent.
Finally, she sighed helplessly. "You're the Headmaster. Who can stop you? Just hurry back."
Dumbledore smiled.
"When are you leaving?"
"Now."
"So urgently?" Professor McGonagall's expression grew more severe. For Dumbledore to rush off like this, it must be something extremely troublesome.
"Then you'd best go quickly."
Dumbledore nodded gently. "Contact me the same way as last time if anything important comes up. I'll take my leave now."
With that, he took the medicine and left Professor McGonagall's office.
...
Meanwhile, Wayne had completely forgotten about that minor unpleasantness from noon and went to find Cho.
"You want to come to our Common Room?" Cho looked at the boy in puzzlement.
"Yes, I need to ask the Grey Lady some questions. Could you let me in tonight?"
Having some free time today, he planned to speak with the Grey Lady to see if Ravenclaw's Diadem held any other hidden secrets – and to give Nicolas an answer.
Cho looked troubled. "Wayne, it's not that I don't want to help. If you were a Ravenclaw student, either of us answering the riddle would get you in."
"But if you're from another house, you have to answer a question alone – and it'll be harder than the ones we get."
"That's a rule?" Wayne frowned.
"Mm-hmm." Cho nodded her small head and grasped the boy's hand. "Many people have wanted to visit the Ravenclaw common room over the years, but no one has succeeded in ages."
"At least since I started school, no student from another house has ever gotten in."
"Never mind then, I'll answer the questions myself tonight." Wayne wasn't worried about being stumped.
With his intellect, how could some measly door handle possibly defeat him?
"Perhaps I could call the Grey Lady out for you?" Cho suggested. "But she's quite aloof and rarely speaks to students. You'd probably need to get familiar with her first."
"No need." Wayne stroked the girl's hair. "I've heard she's rather foul-tempered. Let's not subject ourselves to that."
...
At midnight, Wayne arrived at the entrance to the Ravenclaw common room in the west tower.
The bronze eagle-shaped door knocker came to life as he approached, its beak opening to speak:
"Young wizard from Hufflepuff, to enter this domain of the wise, you must first pass my test."
The boy remained perfectly calm. "Bring it on."
The bronze eagle posed its riddle:
"In eternity I spin without cease, neither beginning nor end. The wise pursue me, the foolish ignore me. I am formless, yet shape all things. What am I?"
After hearing this, Wayne fell into prolonged silence...
He might have spoken too soon.
"Is this the kind of question you normally give Ravenclaw students?"
"No, this is only for outsiders."
"Can I get a different one?"
"Return in one month, and I shall pose a new question."
There's a bloody cooldown period?
Wayne was dumbfounded. What if the next question was even harder? This would just be a waste of time.
After a moment's thought, he silently drew his wand.
"Why should you be the only one asking questions? Now it's my turn, nephew."
The boy gave a cold laugh. "Two choices lie before you. First, the door shatters and I force my way in."
"Second, you open it willingly and let me pass."
"Tell me, which scenario is mutually beneficial?"
"Don't doubt whether I can do it. Ask around the doorkeeper community—there isn't a place in this castle I can't enter."
Now it was the bronze eagle's turn to fall silent.
The wand tip began glowing, pulsing red as Wayne's expression grew increasingly impatient.
Finally, the door knocker spoke again.
"Power too is a form of wisdom, young one. I acknowledge you."
With that, it returned to its original form as the door slowly swung open, revealing the passage beyond.