As someone who's lived for over a hundred years, Dumbledore is quite skilled at reading people.
"Perhaps, this is indeed the portrait of Omnius Gaunt," Dumbledore confirmed. "Back then, Harry and I went to Gaunt's Old Mansion and saw Marvolo Gaunt... who is Voldemort's maternal grandfather..."
"Gaunt? Old Gaunt is Voldemort's grandfather?" Sirius asked in shock, "The old lunatic from the Gaunt family? I've heard the name Moffin Gaunt too, rumor has it their whole family is crazy..."
"Your family isn't much better," Lupin muttered quietly beside them, though the tactful Professor Lupin didn't say it out loud.
No wonder friendships can capsize so easily, after all, everyone in the Wizarding World knows about Walburga Black's illustrious deeds...
"Yes, Voldemort's mother was Marvolo Gaunt's daughter, Melop Gaunt—his middle name comes from his grandfather Marvolo," Dumbledore nodded slightly, "Voldemort once returned to Gaunt's Old Mansion after graduating, killed his Muggle father and the entire family, and framed his uncle Moffin Gaunt, stealing the family heirloom ring that was on his uncle's middle finger."
"So there was this kind of connection..." Sirius said as if coming to a realization. "Then why would Voldemort take this... Omnius Gaunt away?"
"In terms of seniority, Mr. Omnius Gaunt here should be Voldemort's grandfather's brother..." Dumbledore explained, "Moreover, you might not know, Omnius Gaunt would count as my senior, having entered school six years before me. He was already famous back then for his exceptional spellcasting skills, becoming a top duelist despite being blind."
"No wonder Voldemort took his portrait," Sirius said, suddenly understanding. "So Omnius Gaunt was so remarkable... that makes sense... but what could he know?"
"Oh, a lot," Dumbledore winked mysteriously at Sirius. "He definitely knows some of Voldemort's secrets, and probably other unknown matters too, otherwise Voldemort wouldn't have had Regulus keep this portrait safe."
But at that moment, Kreacher suddenly muttered, "You are wrong, long-bearded Principal Dumbledore—Young Master Regulus received orders to destroy this portrait, but he defied Voldemort's orders..."
"Destroy?" Harry asked in surprise, "Why would Voldemort want to destroy the portrait of Omnius Gaunt? Besides... even if he wanted to destroy it, wouldn't it be better for him to do it himself..."
"You saw it too, Harry," Sirius said, frowning. "This might be part of Voldemort's plan. I've always been willing to assume the worst about Voldemort's actions. Perhaps the Black Magic Curse he left on this box was prepared for Regulus, the one who knew his secret and helped store the Slytherin Pendant Box—if Regulus had obediently followed Voldemort's orders, he would've fallen into Voldemort's curse... Yet ironically, Voldemort didn't expect Regulus would betray him in the cave, so he assumed Regulus's death was due to following his orders..."
Ron reached up to scratch his head, glancing between Sirius and Hermione.
He felt like his brain was about to overheat, what was all of this?
Why did Voldemort have so many schemes? Oh Merlin's fattest triangle shorts, why is Voldemort so wicked?
"Is that so?" Dumbledore tilted his head to look at Snape.
"Undoubtedly," Snape said coldly. "This fits perfectly with the Black Demon's way of working; he trusts no one."
"If someone lives like that, trusting no one, then what's the point of living?" Sirius sighed.
Unexpectedly, at this remark, Snape's pupils suddenly shrank.
"It's still better than trusting everyone like a certain big-headed fool," he sarcastically drawled. "It was his stupidity, arrogance, and pride that dragged down those who shouldn't have died."
One would have expected Sirius to argue back, but instead, he sat silently at the edge of the bed.
After a while, he said with a bitter voice, "You're right, James and I did trust the wrong person—if we had seen through that traitor earlier, maybe Harry wouldn't have lost his parents..."
"That's fate, unpredictable fate," Vivi murmured beside him, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder.
Harry gently touched Vivi's small hand, not really thinking about why his dad and Sirius trusted Peter, but pondering what Voldemort might have set up in that cave.
Going to the cave wasn't an urgent matter anyway; after all these years, Regulus trapped inside had long since turned into a Yin Corpse.
And becoming a Yin Corpse meant there was no hurry to retrieve him because sooner or later made no difference.
Even if it was a few days earlier, it wouldn't bring back the Regulus who had become a Yin Corpse—no such magic spell exists in this world.
And actually, Dumbledore didn't refute Snape either, though it was Snape who leaked the prophecy to Voldemort, if James had followed the principal's advice and let him be the secret keeper, then no matter where Voldemort searched, he couldn't have threatened the Potters.
Thinking of this, Dumbledore also found it puzzling.
Why did James write him a letter, asking him to borrow the Invisibility Cloak from Godric's Hollow?
Of course, even though the Invisibility Cloak is a Deathly Hallow, for wizards of Voldemort and Dumbledore's caliber, it made no difference.
Back in the day when James and his mischievous friends were causing trouble around school under the Invisibility Cloak, if Dumbledore wanted to discipline them, he would've done so long ago.
However, in Dumbledore's view, a little mischief from Gryffindor students was harmless, so he tacitly approved their nightly adventures under the Invisibility Cloak.
"So, let's ask this Mr. Gaunt," Lupin timely shifted the topic, suggesting to Dumbledore. "Perhaps he knows some of Voldemort's secrets, like how many Soul Artifacts he actually has and what they are, what do you say, Dumbledore?"
"That's a great suggestion," Dumbledore said, tapping his magic wand on the picture frame.
The sleeping Omnius in the portrait opened his drowsy eyes, glanced at Dumbledore, and then looked at the weather outside.
Omnius stretched his arms, giving a long lazy yawn.
"Looks like I've been taken out of that box, right?" he said easily. "You aren't that eccentric junior of mine, may I know who you are?"
"Albus Dumbledore," Dumbledore said to Omnius.
"I've heard of you, you're the one he's most afraid of," Omnius said softly. "Oh, I'm sorry—I've been confined for too long, so I tend to talk a bit much... Let me introduce myself, I'm Omnius Gaunt."
"I've heard of you too, Mr. Gaunt," Dumbledore said. "I entered Hogwarts in 1892, so I should count as your junior."
"I see," Omnius said with a dawning understanding.
After a moment, he continued to ask, "Then, Principal Dumbledore, may I inquire about someone—have you met Harry Potter?"
Hearing this name, everyone present was taken aback.
They all looked at Harry, wondering why this old Hogwarts alumnus from a hundred years ago would know Harry.
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