When Lia spoke, her voice was still crisp, but by the time Dumbledore and Hermione looked over, she had transformed into her human form, standing quietly behind Hermione, her hands resting gently on her trembling shoulders to convey bodily warmth.
Hermione looked up blankly at Lia.
Lia straightened her back, her sapphire-like eyes looking directly at Dumbledore.
"In the world of us beasts, if a certain creature merely has foul habits but limited strength, it still remains in the position of prey, at the bottom of the food chain."
Her voice was calm, but her expression carried the confusion of someone looking at an old man who had made a common-sense error.
"I truly cannot understand how a person, merely by being evil enough, can make you all so fearful. In terms of strength alone, he is far inferior to you."
"Furthermore, he fears you from the bottom of his heart. In the deepest part of his soul, he has always believed he could never compare to you."
Dumbledore leaned forward slightly, the gentle expression on his face gradually fading.
His gaze became sharp, yet without a hint of anger.
He had long known Lia was not simple, but the perception and perspective she displayed now once again exceeded his expectations.
"From where did you learn this?" Dumbledore asked.
A faint smile appeared on Lia's lips, one that carried a hint of playfulness and cunning unbefitting her age, even mixed with a touch of the mockery she had learned from Tom.
Hermione really wanted to interrupt Lia and tell her not to learn everything, but she also knew now was not the time.
"Tom. He told me."
She answered nonchalantly, her words devoid of fear toward the soul fragment within her, possessing only a certainty of complete control.
"Tom Riddle's memories are not entirely darkness and sin. He craved knowledge, delved into spells, and pursued power; in this regard, he is quite similar to Hermione."
Lia said slowly: "The knowledge Tom possesses is far more than you imagine."
Hermione's eyes widened, momentarily forgetting her sorrow.
It sounded as if she had already completely mastered this content, rather than being eroded by it.
Lia's blue eyes remained pure as she looked up, her slender back held straight, a strong confidence entirely at odds with her petite frame radiating from her.
"The practice at the Order of the Phoenix over the summer break meant far more than the practice itself," Lia's tone was incredibly certain. "I sparred with them—elite Aurors from the Ministry of Magic, senior members of the Order of the Phoenix... their spells, combat styles, and even the weak points in their magic flow, I have grasped them all clearly."
She gave a light wave of her cat-clawed hand, and a ball of magic, as solid as a pearl, condensed at her fingertips.
The magic leaped wildly at her fingertips, its form changing rapidly, finally turning into a small white cat emitting a pure aura, which began washing its face in mid-air.
"The Avada Kedavra curse is not impossible to withstand, and the Obliteration Curse is not without a way to be broken."
Lia's words were calm and certain, carrying a power that made one's heart tighten.
She looked at Dumbledore again, her gaze not that of a child showing off, but an assessment and judgment from a top predator to an equal.
"I have seen Voldemort's strength with my own eyes; I can dismantle and analyze his spells; I can also find his weaknesses."
Lia stood beside Hermione, every word resonating with power.
"With a bit more practice, once I have completely mastered the use of those spells... perhaps, I too could defeat him."
Her gaze was as cold as frost, revealing an almost arrogant, powerful confidence.
The resilient will forged from giving up on life on that cold street corner and then being tempered after resurrection made Lia's personality and beliefs more independent and firm than ever before.
A very complex light flashed in Dumbledore's eyes.
It was a mixture of approval and deep concern.
He gazed at Lia, clearly feeling the power in her words; this confidence did not come from nowhere, but was built upon tangible insight and ability.
Hermione's heart was full of shock; she had never seen Lia look so sharp and formidable.
She subconsciously reached out and tightly grasped Lia's cool hand.
Lia turned her head and rubbed her cheek against the back of Hermione's hand, the sharpness in her eyes instantly turning into tenderness, full of dependence and affection.
Dumbledore slowly set down the jar of lemon drops and re-evaluated the Lia before him, his gaze as deep as the starry sky, rapidly weighing a new possibility that could overturn the entire course of the war.
In the end, he still could not make a decision immediately.
To let students, to let a child bear all this, even if their strength had already surpassed that of ordinary Wizards, Dumbledore found that he ultimately could not be so cold-hearted.
He sighed tiredly, planning to wait for Snape to return before having an emergency discussion with him.
"Very well, children, this matter... I will reconsider it."
Dumbledore finally issued a dismissal, his voice carrying an unprecedented hesitation, "The number of times you two have run to my office lately is almost catching up to Harry."
"Go and enjoy this rare, peaceful school life for now."
He tiredly stroked his long, silvery-white beard.
"Because even I cannot say for sure... how many days remain before the war truly breaks out."
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Greyhounds
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"