The extremely cold weather had frozen the enormous black lake into a solid piece of ice. In the dim light, the Forbidden Forest swayed in the bitter cold wind, resembling a lake adorned with jagged lights.
"Last Easter, I remember you writing to tell me about your exploration of the ruins of an ancient Greek wizard in Greece and mailing me five pints of dragon's blood and forty ounces of dragon liver," Snape said as he and Bryan walked side by side toward the castle perched on the edge of the cliff. As they passed the three tall clubs on one side of the playground, Snape glanced at the burning fire in Hagrid's cabin, while Bryan looked around with deeper eyebrows and eyes than when he graduated three and a half years ago, Snape's s voice held an inscrutable meaning as he continued, "But shortly after, the Daily Prophet revealed an interesting piece of information. The Norwegian Ministry of Magic stated that someone illegally broke into their Fire Dragon Nature Reserve, stole a precious Norwegian Ridgeback egg, and ended up killing it. Do you think there's any connection between the two Bryan; Who slaughtered a Norwegian red-scaled dragon in front of Muggles who had entered the reserve?"
"What are your thoughts, my professor?"
Bryan withdrew his gaze from the distance and looked at the only room in the tower illuminated by fire among a row of dark rooms. He smiled and said, "Or, what kind of response are you hoping to receive from me?"
The corners of Snape's mouth curled up in his habitual sneer, but as the words reached his lips, he suddenly realized that the young man beside him was no longer the same person who had been born into poverty and had preferred not to form deep connections with his classmates at school. This student, who had been immersed in his own world, had rapidly grown into a wizard whom even he couldn't fully understand.
"It doesn't matter to me, Bryan. I just wanted to remind you," Snape replied. With a sullen expression, he strode towards the castle.
"I hope you know what you're doing now, and I hope you understand that this school is not as peaceful as it seems on the surface—especially in recent years. Bryan, if your habit of keeping a low profile hasn't changed, then I suggest you continue doing so, especially in front of Dumbledore. Furthermore, my advice is to leave here as soon as possible, and even depart from the British wizarding world entirely. Return when everything has settled... If your mind is still as sharp as it was back then, you should understand what I'm talking about."
........
Perhaps tonight's actions were too ordinary, as the stone guardian at the office door stepped aside, revealing a cryptic expression of dissatisfaction.
"Thank you for your reminder, Professor."
Snape made no move to enter, and Bryan smiled softly as he passed by, saying, "I've always known what I'm doing and I'm well aware of the risks involved."
In the office, Dumbledore had taken the time to change into a clean and presentable wizard's robe. He had evidently sensed the arrival of his visitor beforehand. As the wall closed behind Bryan and he stepped into the office, Dumbledore had already risen from his seat and stood behind the desk, smiling as he gazed at the door.
"Good evening, Headmaster Dumbledore!"
Though he had mentally prepared himself for this encounter, Bryan Watson still felt a tingling sensation on his skin as the bright blue eyes, illuminated by the steady and vibrant fire, locked onto him. His heartbeat unconsciously quickened for a moment.
Fawkes in the brazier heard a somewhat familiar voice, stretched out its neck from a pile of ashes, and curiously surveyed its surroundings.
Thirty feet away stood the tall and slender figure of the old man, engulfed in flames, radiating not only an immense magical power but also a life experience that rivalled anyone's—a living history of modern European magic.
In the presence of such an individual, it was hard to imagine how the previous Dark Lords had managed to survive for so long.
"Welcome, welcome~" Dumbledore extended his hand with a smile, greeting Bryan as he strode forward. His piercing eyes swept across Bryan's youthful face, lingering briefly on his lavender eyes, before shifting attention to his snow-streaked gray hair. "Good evening, Bryan. I apologize for having you travel in such inclement weather. As a token of compensation, may I offer you something to drink?"
"Thank you, that would be much appreciated."
Guided by Dumbledore, Bryan took a seat while the Headmaster himself walked to the bookshelf on the side. He opened a cabinet with a Pensieve and retrieved a vintage bottle of wine from a hidden compartment beneath it. "For the sake of my health, I had to relinquish most of my collection to Poppy. However, this bottle... Honestly, Bryan, I haven't shared it with anyone else yet!"
"Ogden's Old Fire Whiskey, over 80 years old and priceless," Bryan remarked, savoring the aroma of the wine in the air. He smiled subtly and added, "Thank you for your generosity, Headmaster Dumbledore. Just based on this, I can confidently say that this trip was not in vain—"
Years had bestowed upon this precious spirit a touch of richness and mellowness. Bryan took a sip, patiently waiting for his stiff fingers to regain their dexterity.
Dumbledore, in no hurry to proceed with their conversation, observed Bryan quietly with gentle eyes. Though he asked no questions, it seemed as though he had obtained the answers he sought, and the outcome appeared to be quite satisfactory.
"Severus has informed me that in the past two years, he has been following in the footsteps of great sages, exploring lost magical artifacts," Dumbledore remarked, his smile deepening as he noticed Bryan's pale cheeks reddened by the cold. "I'm delighted that even after leaving this school, you haven't forgotten to study magic and continue to better yourself. It reassures me that the educational principles I've upheld in this institution have not been a complete failure. At the very least, Hogwarts education still manages to make a few individuals realize that there are many other extraordinary places in the wizarding world beyond the Ministry of Magic."
Dumbledore made no mention of the school board appointment or any topics related to the secret chamber, which surprised Bryan, who had already prepared speeches and plans for those matters.
"When I was still a student here, young wizards didn't immediately seek their own way after graduating. Instead, they embarked on graduation trips and explored the world. Prior to my own graduation, I had planned to travel with one of my old friends to Greece, seeking out magical creatures whose names have echoed through mythology, and then venture to Egypt to witness the experiments of the alchemists... Unfortunately, certain incidents disrupted my plans, nearly leading to a lifelong regret."
Dumbledore's eyes glazed over with nostalgia as he spoke, reflecting on the past. "Perhaps the choices I made had something to do with my Muggle heritage," he added.
Bryan set down his wine glass and, though he wore an approving smile, confusion churned within him. He had contemplated the conversation between him and Dumbledore countless times prior to this meeting. In his mind's anticipation, he imagined the unpredictable old man behind the desk delving into years of experience and refusing to be deceived by mere words.
Perhaps, like Professor Snape, he was curious about Bryan's true intentions for returning to the school.
Maybe he wished to discuss the locked room attack and question the proposed preventive measures.
But now it seemed that Dumbledore's interests lay elsewhere, as he simply wanted to engage in a casual conversation.
Was that even possible?
Bryan couldn't believe that Dumbledore was so naïve, and he remained vigilant within himself. Nevertheless, he showed great interest in the current topic, feigning curiosity. "Children from wizarding families often take the wonders of magic for granted. But those of us who grew up in the Muggle world better understand how truly remarkable it is to witness miracles unfold when we wield a wand. Compared to that, power and wealth seem insignificant."
"Don't be too modest, Bryan. There are many children from Muggle families, but not all possess your ability to marvel at and relentlessly pursue knowledge," Dumbledore countered, finding Bryan's explanation to his liking. The deep eyes behind the half-moon spectacles revealed relief. "What's more important is that, despite your many experiences, you still describe magic as 'miracles unfolding' rather than simply 'power'—"
Dumbledore paused, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "When you were a student here, Professor Snape often expressed his concerns to me about your studies on dark magic. That resulted in the two of us banning certain books in the library and having several 'chance encounters' in the Restricted Section."
Coughing, Bryan, who had been sipping his wine, found himself momentarily choked. He wiped his scarlet lips, his expression resembling the embarrassment of a child caught in their parents' scrutiny of some past indiscretion. "It's rare for someone as busy as you, Headmaster Dumbledore, to remember such trivial matters. I've never been fascinated by the raw power of dark magic. I merely believe that whether it's black or white magic, they are both facets of the same whole—magic. They are parts worth studying, learning from, and blind exclusion will only serve to highlight our own ignorance."
"Indeed, indeed, a truly philosophical perspective," Dumbledore affirmed with a nod, his expression turning serious. "However, not everyone possesses the self-awareness and control that you possess, Bryan. That is why Professor Snape had genuine concerns for you back then."
[To be continued...]