The tone of several headmasters carried a hint of impatience.
"He didn't take the picture, and you also told me no one else has approached the place where I left the letters... Perhaps, someone has cast a spell on you without your knowledge."
Dumbledore furrowed his brow deeply, his expression somewhat grave.
"No one can cast an Obliviate spell on a portrait, Dumbledore, it's not realistic. We're not truly alive." One of the headmasters spoke with certainty.
"Yes, unless someone can alter reality, modify the basic rules of magic." The portrait of Phineas Black sneered, mocking Dumbledore for being senile.
"What you said makes sense."
Just as Dumbledore couldn't sit still and started rummaging around the office, there was a steady knock on the door of the Headmaster's Office.
"Minerva, come in."
Dumbledore hurriedly tidied up the bookshelf he had turned upside down, adjusted his expression, and looked up with a calm demeanor at Professor McGonagall who stepped in.
"I checked all the statues in the school, and none of them showed any signs of awakening." Professor McGonagall's face was weary, with a hint of worry.
The reason for her rushed departure after class in the afternoon was found.
"Perhaps it was a false alarm from Hogwarts." Dumbledore sat back in his chair, a smile on his face showing no worry.
His optimism made Professor McGonagall furrow her brow even further.
"We all know Hogwarts never makes mistakes. Surely someone used that magic last night." Professor McGonagall stared seriously at the headmaster in front of her.
"Even if Voldemort were resurrected, he couldn't command the school's guardians. That requires authority, and so far, only you and I possess that authority as professors."
Dumbledore continued to smile in response, his deep eyes behind the glasses as calm as a deep lake, causing Professor McGonagall to instinctively avoid eye contact.
"Yes, only the two of us have authority, and I certainly don't have a sleepwalking problem... So, who was it?" Professor McGonagall sighed heavily.
"According to the founders' rules, the guardians can only be commanded in times of crisis. I've always followed the rules and haven't used that magic until today!"
Her tone carried a tinge of indignation.
"It wasn't me; I'm not yet senile enough to forget what I've done." Dumbledore actually had some suspicions, but Professor McGonagall's glare made him decide to shake his head.
Perhaps this current head of Gryffindor was no match for him in magical prowess, but Dumbledore was somewhat afraid of the elder Cat Lady's potential all-night-long reprimands.
Even from several meters away.
Dumbledore could feel Professor McGonagall's resentment.
"So, don't you need to work with me to figure out what went wrong last night? I'm really worried that someone might have cracked the magic left by the founders." Professor McGonagall wasn't sure whether to believe Dumbledore's words; she had also noticed that Dumbledore had been acting quite strangely lately.
In the face of Professor McGonagall's suggestion,
Dumbledore just continued to smile.
"We must trust the founders' magic, and we must trust that our founders are strong enough. Perhaps last night the statues themselves got bored and wanted to stretch."
He tried to pass it off with what he considered a humorous remark.
"I'm not joking with you, Albus. If a dangerous individual has indeed infiltrated Hogwarts, we must take responsibility for the students' safety that we are obliged to ensure."
The elder Cat Lady was extremely insistent on investigating hidden dangers.
"I certainly understand that. So, please trust me as well, Minerva. Hogwarts is much safer now than it ever was."
Dumbledore responded with utmost seriousness, finally putting Professor McGonagall somewhat at ease.
"Quirrell is acting suspicious."
She revealed the reason for her worry and caution. The Mysterious Man who wasn't found in the Forbidden Forest yesterday, and the strange professor, of course, made Professor McGonagall realize some clues.
"Hmm, I know, and I hope you pretend you don't know anything just like me." Dumbledore nodded, causing Professor McGonagall to widen her eyes.
"So it really is him!"
Just moments ago, Professor McGonagall was still uncertain.
"It's already quite obvious, isn't it? I still need to learn a few things from him, so we can't alert him yet." Dumbledore calmly reminded her.
"Aren't you afraid that negligence might lead to the little wizards getting hurt? That is... that's the Mysterious Man! Have you forgotten the massacres he committed and his madness?" Professor McGonagall furrowed her brow tightly, her gaze on Dumbledore full of extreme disapproval.
Dumbledore's eyes did not evade.
"Many eyes are watching him, and until he either achieves or loses the hope he seeks, he will not, and dare not do anything that would truly provoke me."
This strongest White Wizard of the century spoke with absolute assurance.
"He's a madman... Relying on a madman to have rationality and judgment, have you gone mad too?" Professor McGonagall clearly knew less about Voldemort than Dumbledore.