Ian walked alone through the castle. As for the so-called password for the Headmaster's office, he wasn't worried at all. It wasn't because he knew the original story and could guess blindly with the Honeydukes candy catalog.
After confiding in Dumbledore and reaching an agreement, the Headmaster had granted him the authority to enter the office at any time without needing a password—so long as Ian required assistance.
A favor for a favor. This was also a sign of Dumbledore's trust in Ian, and the trust between them.
Magic is truly extraordinary. As Ian approached the door to the Headmaster's office, the stone gargoyle seemed to sense his intention and moved aside to reveal the passage behind it. However, Ian still knocked politely before stepping in.
Fortunately, Professor Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, munching on a variety of candies that he could never seem to finish. Upon seeing Ian, he smiled warmly.
"Ian, would you like some candy? Many of them are made exclusively for Honeydukes by me, and they taste absolutely amazing."
As Dumbledore spoke, he didn't forget to recommend some sweet and unusual candies to Ian.
"Of course, thank you for your hospitality. To be honest, though, compared to those strange candies, I still prefer chocolate frogs—both interesting and delicious," Ian replied.
Ian could feel the genuine sincerity and equality in Dumbledore's tone; there was no sign of the usual hierarchy or difference due to their positions.
The Western world has perfectly inherited certain traditions from China. As far back as a thousand years ago, the Doctrine of the Mean stated:
"Those in higher positions should not bully those below them, and those in lower positions should not support those above them. If you correct yourself and do not seek to benefit others, you will have no complaints. Those above you should not blame the heavens, and those below you should not blame others. Therefore, a gentleman should live in ease and accept his fate…"
…
While tasting the candy, Ian listened as Dumbledore shared amusing stories from his youth. When the moment felt right, Ian spoke up with his request.
"Professor Dumbledore, I have come to ask for your help."
Hearing this, Dumbledore's expression turned more serious. He took everything related to Ian very seriously, not only because of his status as a prophet who had shared crucial information about Horcruxes but also due to his character and the fact that he had saved the lives of many innocent teachers and students at Hogwarts.
"I'm listening. Tell me what you need. I promised to help you, and I'll do my best," Dumbledore said.
After hearing Dumbledore's response, Ian didn't linger on pleasantries and stated his needs clearly and concisely.
"Professor, I need an infinitely expandable backpack that's easy to carry and has as much space as possible. If possible, I would also like a few alchemical items that can release defensive magic."
"Is that all? Perhaps you underestimate an old man like me," Dumbledore replied, raising an eyebrow in mild surprise.
It seems true that strength determines one's level. Dumbledore not only didn't find Ian's request difficult, but he also had the feeling that Ian was overcomplicating things.
Not bothering with Dumbledore's surprised expression, Ian continued:
"Yes, Professor, that's all for now. Some things may not be troublesome for you, but they are very difficult for me. Finally, I hope you can have everything ready as soon as possible."
"Well, everyone has their own secrets. I'll have what you need by tomorrow. If you run into any trouble, you can use it to call Fawkes for help," Dumbledore said, handing Ian a feather from the phoenix Fawkes.
"Thank you for your understanding. As you said, everyone has their own secrets. Perhaps there are things that only I can handle alone," Ian replied.
After Ian had completed the purpose of his visit, he relaxed and shared afternoon tea with Dumbledore. Notably, neither of them brought up Voldemort or Horcruxes.
Ian refrained from mentioning them because he trusted Dumbledore's ability. The director of the entire play could plot to defeat Tom Riddle without a script.
Though there were a few minor incidents along the way, they were just minor setbacks—harmless in the grand scheme of things.
Dumbledore, on the other hand, simply felt it would be foolish to burden Ian, a prophet, with such matters. After all, a true prophet could know anything they wished, just like Cassandra Trelawney, a famous seer in the wizarding world from over two hundred years ago.