That afternoon, four excited students gestured animatedly in front of the stone tablet.
"Hahaha! This is amazing! It's Headmaster Dumbledore!"
Four overjoyed Gryffindors, accompanied by the mirror image of "Dumbledore" they had just recruited, entered the temple dungeon.
The mirror wore a robe patterned with stars and moons, his silver beard flowing, his eyes kind and wise.
Along the way, he gently pointed out the terrain and possible hidden magical mechanisms, dispelled their fatigue with Revitalization spells, and even performed a small trick with colourful sweets that made everyone laugh.
"There's absolutely no problem this time!"
The leading student excitedly waved his fist, even tucking his wand into his pocket. "With Headmaster Dumbledore with us, we can clear this with our eyes closed! We might even break the record!"
"Dumbledore" smiled gently, his eyes twinkling behind his half-moon spectacles. "Children, relying too much on old men is not a good habit. Still, let us see what interesting things we encounter today."
He conjured a lemon sherbet. "Would you like some sweets? They help maintain a cheerful mood."
The dungeon progressed more smoothly than expected, and some students were already discussing which items to choose from the exchange catalogue.
Along the way, powerful Dark Arts traps quietly dissolved under the old man's casual spells, while fierce magical creatures were deftly diverted or calmed by him.
Parvati asked with admiration, "Headmaster, how did you spot that trap?"
Dumbledore blinked. "Experience and observation, my dear. And a certain understanding of the nature of magic. Remember, the most obvious temptations often conceal the deepest dangers."
"But you're the greatest white wizard of this century," Lee Jordan said excitedly. "All dangers must be nothing in your eyes, right?"
"Oh, thank you for your trust," Dumbledore said with a smile. "But you may be overestimating my abilities."
"How could that be! You must be the strongest among all the mirror images!"
They advanced as easily as if on a picnic, reaching the grand stone doors of the final chamber without any obstacles.
Victory was within reach, and Lavender nearly jumped with excitement. "We did it! It was that simple!"
Another student reached out to push the door. "Let's go claim our reward. This speed will definitely break a record!"
Elation filled the hearts of every Gryffindor present.
Just as the leading student, brimming with confidence, was about to push open the final door, the "Dumbledore" beside him let out a soft, regretful sigh.
"My dear child," the mirror's voice remained gentle, yet carried an unsettling chill, "do you know? Sometimes, the most fatal threat does not come from a frontal enemy, but from unreserved trust."
He tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping across their suddenly frozen smiles.
The next moment, the entire world seemed to be cast into a furnace.
Without warning, flames so intense they distorted the air surged from nowhere, like roaring beasts, instantly engulfing the entire corridor.
The four students felt like insects trapped in amber, unable to move a single finger, forced to watch as the flames swallowed them whole.
"Dumbledore" maintained his benevolent expression, gently shaking his head.
"Remember this lesson. I hope this 'burning' experience will help you survive a little longer in a real crisis."
The students were terrified, trying to draw their wands but unable to move. "Pr… Professor?! Why?!"
"Why? Because a carefully designed betrayal teaches vigilance far better than a fire-breathing dragon. This is what Professor Greengrass wishes to convey. The name of this lesson is—'Absolute security is a deadly illusion.'"
Then he casually waved his wand.
Several flashes of white light flickered violently, and the four Gryffindor students were flung out as if by an invisible giant hand, instantly ejected from the dungeon.
The students outside watched as the Gryffindors staggered out, their eyes dull, as though they were questioning reality itself.
"That fast? That must've been a full speedrun, right? Is Headmaster Dumbledore really that ridiculously strong?"
Curious onlookers immediately gathered around to ask.
The leading student slowly lifted his head, his expression a mixture of collapse and utter absurdity, as if his entire worldview had been shattered.
"Ridiculously strong… beyond imagination…"
He took a deep breath and added, almost tearfully,
"But he betrayed us."
"…"
After a brief silence, the crowd erupted into an uproar.
The Headmaster's betrayal—news worthy of being recorded in Hogwarts history—spread across the entire castle at astonishing speed.
The shock and absurdity it carried far surpassed all the previous ambushes by Dark Wizards and wandering wizard mirror images combined.
This betrayal, laced with a near-cruel sense of irony, carved Sagres's core creed into every student's heart:
Within this arena, never place complete trust in anyone, no matter how powerful, reliable, or righteous they may seem.
From that moment on, the dungeon's appeal soared to new heights.
Every recruitment became a gamble filled with tension, and every battle fought alongside a professor's mirror carried an undercurrent of vigilance.
Meanwhile, the professors, with very mixed feelings, would occasionally hear all sorts of "legendary" stories about their other selves in the arena.
Sometimes, they would save everyone from danger, turning the tide amid cheers of "Our boss is amazing!"
Other times, they would plunge everyone into peril, delivering an "educational" betrayal amid cries of "I'm not okay!"
…
During Potions class, Snape glided silently among the students like a bat, scrutinising their methods of simmering slugs.
He suddenly stopped beside a Gryffindor, leaning in with an oppressive presence. "Longbottom, if that brain of yours, filled with gillywater, still possesses even a trace of processing ability, you would know it is time to stir, not stand there staring like a troll."
Neville flinched in fright, nearly knocking over his cauldron.
Ron whispered to Harry beside him, "…Do you think he'll suddenly add something else to our cauldron? Like in the arena…"
Though quiet, the whisper was enough for Snape to turn sharply.
He looked down at Ron, his lips curling into a cold smile.
"Oh? It seems Mr. Weasley has finally diverted his limited mental capacity from 'what to eat today' to… certain useless fantasies."
Ron's face turned bright red as Snape continued, his words dripping with venom. "It appears Professor Greengrass's 'situational teaching' has been quite effective, successfully instilling fear into your already meagre minds."
He suddenly bent down, bringing his face close to Ron's, almost nose to nose. "Let me explain the difference, boy. In the arena, he teaches you to be wary of everyone. Here—"
His voice dropped even lower. "—you only need to be wary of me. And if I truly intended to add something to your cauldron…"
He straightened, a cold, insincere smile on his face. "You would have no chance to notice. You would simply find yourself in the hospital wing, contemplating your life. Also, Gryffindor—ten points deducted for your foolish delusions and for wasting everyone's time. Now, stir."
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