November 1994
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Amelia's question about what kind of investigation, he had been conducting in past few days left Dumbledore searching for a response.
He had done nothing in the past days. Since, neither Ludo Bagman nor Barty Crouch were too much interested in any kind of investigation as they had assumed Harry to be the culprit or rather Dumbledore had played the words well to make them believe Harry as culprit.
It had been so easy for him to push this whole matter under the rug and focus on his future ploys and plans.
Dumbledore kept silent for a long time, while Amelia kept staring dead into his eyes.
He sighed, "Madam Bones, the direction in which I took my investigation is that I tried to find out if anything peculiar had happened to the Goblet or near the something goblet."
"For this, I conducted a detail inquiry through the various portraits in Hogwarts. I also conducted very detail investigation with the house elves if they have seen something."
At this moment, though no one noticed but Hermione's eye widened in shock which was later replaced by a pained expression. Though tears did not fall from her eyes but the slight wetness could not be avoided.
Meanwhile Dumbledore continued, "Though, I missed about the Goblet, I conducted various kind other investigation searching if any kind of intrusion happened in Hogwarts."
"And you have not even found a single clue," finished Amelia.
She scoffed, "Headmaster, these students may be naive enough to believe all what are you saying, but I am very well aware of games, politicians like you play."
She continued, "You are chief warlock of the Wizengamot. You are very well aware of nuances of a crime and how is anything handled. The way you casually 'made errors' on almost all the crucial points from the age line to investigating the Goblet is something only an unaware person would believe. I do not believe you."
Amelia was about to continue towards the next question but Dumbledore sighed deeply attracting all attention towards him.
This was something he had planned from the very start and now was the right time to play his trump card.
"You make think of me as some kind of conspirator, Amelia," said Dumbledore. Though his face was not visible to the students as he was facing towards Amelia, everyone noticed the slight quiver in his voice. The pain in his voice was clear to everyone. Even Amelia did not correct him immediately about again using her first name as she was waiting what game the old coot had further to play.
He continued, "I admit for my negligence for not using some better methods in drawing the age line but it was because I thought it would be sufficient to keep some over enthusiastic students away from the Goblet. No one had any idea of something like this happening."
Dumbledore voice deepened and the pain in it more astounding and more clear, "As for the investigation, I confess my lack lustre approach in it. And no, I did not have such an approach because some mistake but it was intentional."
This brought a sudden gasp and slight chaos in the Great Hall but it remained in silence waiting for Dumbledore to continue. Harry raised his eyebrows in response. He understood that Dumbledore was up to something. Amelia also understood the same and her gaze on Dumbledore intensified.
Dumbledore continued with the same quiver, "I know what I did is wrong. I did so because I was afraid that I would find the person responsible for Harry's name coming out from the goblet with enough evidences."
The confusion among the crowd deepened. Wasn't finding the culprit was something the headmaster had to do…. Unless he wanted the culprit to remain hidden.
Dumbledore got up from his seat and turned to face the crowd of the student. The pain on his face was now clearly visible to every student.
Dumbledore focused his eyes towards the Gryffindor table, on a particular student sitting at the other end of the table, "I was afraid, I would find you, Harry."
It took some moments for the students to register what the headmaster meant by this but it dawned on them. Dumbledore did not conduct the investigation properly because he wanted to protect Harry. His implication about Harry being the man responsible for him name coming out from the Goblet was clear to everyone. Everyone present there conveniently forgot that Harry was the one who had asked to for a detailed investigation through DMLE.
On the other hand, Dumbledore was back in his game for the first time this night. Though in the beginning, Dumbledore had not been prepared for the Amelia's question regarding his approach to drawing the age line but he knew very well that there was no way he could hide his lack lustre approach in the investigation.
And to come out from that situation he had only one method. To admit his intentional approach. But then give a fine reason for it. And what better than using this moment to further solidify the fact as Harry is the culprit. He had done enough. And now if the real person responsible is not found out with concrete evidences, Harry would never be able to wash out the allegation on him.
Though a good number of people like Amelia Bones would not believe him but the general population and people on the side of 'light' who seem him not less than Merlin himself would believe him.
Dumbledore had played his card but he was not done yet. He had one final thing to add which would further enhance him image and his act of selflessness.
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