"I just want to protect the people around me—my family and friends—from harm. But with my own strength, I am far from being able to do that," Draco said calmly, lowering his eyes. "As everyone knows, you are exceptionally powerful and are the person he fears most."
The Dark Lord feared Dumbledore and always avoided direct conflict with him.
The Death Eaters all knew that the Dark Lord had never defeated Dumbledore. In the previous life, during the turmoil at the Ministry of Magic over the Prophecy Orb, Dumbledore's intervention had left the Dark Lord utterly defeated and forced to flee. He had abandoned his loyal followers—including Lucius—in the Ministry, leaving them in a sorry state. This caused some of the more self-serving Death Eaters to waver in their resolve.
"Does the Dark Lord not know that doing this will demoralise his men?" Draco once asked his mother.
"Oh, Draco, you should think about whether it is that he does not want to save you, or that he cannot?" Narcissa said worriedly. "Even the Dark Lord has people he fears; he is not omnipotent. I am very worried about you, Draco. The task he assigned you is one that even he himself could not accomplish—"
"Stop, Mother, stop! He said he trusts me! That mission is a recognition of my abilities!" Draco became emotional, showing his tearful mother the Dark Mark on his arm. "I have to prove myself to him! Otherwise, no one will save Father, and he will stay in Azkaban forever!"
A confused sixteen-year-old boy carries a mission that even the Dark Lord himself could not accomplish, and he is filled with delusions of proving his abilities and saving his father and his family.
Draco stared at the diary, his heart pounding with memories.
"Slytherin students always manage to surprise us the most. I must say, I never expected to receive such high praise from a Malfoy." Albus Dumbledore was exclaiming at that moment.
A whole new possibility suddenly appeared before Dumbledore's eyes—perhaps the Malfoys were about to turn against him.
They may no longer be content to be former Death Eaters lying dormant in the world, waiting for Voldemort to rise again, but rather to fight Voldemort until all traces of his resurgence are extinguished.
This possibility excited Dumbledore. Today might be the starting point of a defection.
"I will keep my promise and not let a word of it slip by. I will also not cause trouble for Lucius. As for the school's Special Award for Services to the School, I respect your choice, but I personally still have reservations." He looked at Draco with a smile, "Hogwarts never overlooks the good character of any student, and your performance today is enough to convince me of your character."
Draco breathed a sigh of relief and forced a smile at him.
Negotiating with a powerful wizard like Professor Dumbledore is no easy task. Draco himself did not know how he managed it.
"I think you should put these things aside for now and enjoy tonight's dinner," Professor Dumbledore said in a relaxed tone. "I heard from Professor Sprout that the Mandrakes are growing very well this year and will soon be ripe. If you feel guilty about the damage caused by opening the Chamber of Secrets, why do you not go and report to Professor Snape and help him brew the Mandrake Restorative Draught, and personally revive those students? I think that might make you feel better." He kindly suggested.
"I will," Draco said.
He stood up, took a few steps towards the door of the Headmaster's office, and finally could not help but turn back to ask Professor Dumbledore one last question: "Tell me, Professor Dumbledore, since you once taught him, please tell me, what was he interested in? Any numbers that interested him? Anything that was significant to him?"
Professor Dumbledore's expression gradually grew serious behind the table. It was as if Draco, after submitting a satisfactory study plan, had suddenly told Dumbledore that these plans were only a small part, and there were many plans that even Dumbledore himself did not know about, requiring them to start all over again.
Draco believed he understood the implication of his words.
The diary may be the end of Horcruxes; or it may just be the beginning.
Draco desperately hoped the conclusion would be the former. He desperately hoped that the matter was already resolved.
However, in the spirit of caution, Dumbledore should remain vigilant.
He is the man the Dark Lord fears most. If anyone could find more Horcruxes—Draco has no clue about the other possible Horcruxes—it would undoubtedly be Dumbledore.
Professor Dumbledore frowned and pondered silently for a whilst.
"This is not an easy question to answer," he sighed, his voice trembling. "Give me some time; I need to do some research. Trust me, one day we will figure it out."