August kicks off with Leo.
On the evening of August 1, 1991, the second evening after Harry's eleventh birthday.
An old lion was invited to visit the Dursley family.
Unlike ten years ago, this time, the old lion can't let a letter deal with the family members of his sacrificed companions on his behalf.
With his aged fingers, Dumbledore knocked on the wooden door of 4 Privet Drive.
In the living room, the Dursleys received him. After an exchange of polite greetings, following the reception process set by Dudley early on, Aunt Petunia led Dumbledore to Dudley's bedroom on the second floor and then naturally closed the bedroom door.
"You're really getting old. Your legs and feet aren't as agile as they used to be. That's why you only arrived in the evening."
In the bedroom, Dudley and Harry were sitting on chairs, reading and studying. When they saw Dumbledore coming, Dudley unceremoniously taunted him, stood up, waved Diggory's wand, and summoned a chair for Dumbledore.
Dumbledore looks much better than yesterday. He smiled and didn't get angry at Dudley's words at all. As he obediently sat down on the chair, he defended himself, saying:
"Dudley, please forgive an old man who has been self-righteous for a long time. I need more time to reflect and sort out my emotions."
Dudley sized up Dumbledore's facial expressions and body language carefully, then chuckled:
"Since you've come from afar, would you like coffee, black tea, or orange soda?"
"Orange soda? Is it a Muggle drink? If it's sweet, I'd be happy to give it a try."
Dumbledore also smiled. He felt that Dudley might be a bit easier to get along with today.
"Orange soda is sweet and sour. It is indeed sweet."
As Dudley said, he stepped towards the corner, took out a can of orange soda from his fridge, and then pretended to be annoyed and said, "Sorry, we're out of orange soda!"
The corner of Dumbledore's eye twitched. Without using Legilimency, he simply can't figure out Dudley's train of thought. But he didn't want to pry into the thoughts of a child he felt guilty towards anymore. He could only remind him, "Dudley, what you're holding in your hand..."
"Oh, this is the last can. Harry wants to drink it!"
Dudley grinned from ear to ear, then directly tossed the can of orange soda in his hand to Harry, who had just put down his book.
Harry didn't say a word. He opened the can and started drinking heartily.
"Well, black tea is actually not bad either." Dumbledore settled for the next best thing.
"We're out of tea leaves." Dudley said, with a malicious sense of humor.
"Then coffee is fine too. Could you add some sugar for me?" Dumbledore took another step back.
"I don't drink coffee, so I didn't prepare any." Dudley said very honestly. He generally didn't lie.
Dumbledore was completely speechless.
After a long pause, he finally said, "Actually, I'm not very thirsty. We can just have an honest chat directly."
"No way. You're a guest. You must have something to drink!"
The smile on Dudley's face gradually turned evil. He wouldn't allow Dumbledore to refuse and took out several colorful containers filled with liquid from the fridge, along with an empty cup, and placed them on the desk directly opposite Dumbledore. Then he started mixing them on his own.
"Add some lychee juice, some honey, and a bit more whiskey..."
Dudley muttered to himself as he concentrated on making the mixed drink. A red glow gradually appeared on his hands. "And finally, add some flashy magic. Done!"
"Here you are!"
Watching the newly made mixed drink with a strange color and an unknown magic cast by Dudley floating in front of him, Dumbledore was taken aback for a moment. He looked up at Dudley and Harry.
Then, without hesitation, he reached out to take the cup and drained it in one gulp.
"Ah~ Not bad. It's a bit like fruit wine. It tastes great!"
After drinking, Dumbledore let out a sincere compliment with an enjoyable look on his face.
But on the opposite side, Dudley's expression turned cold. "It seems that Mr. Dumbledore has wasted a precious opportunity and hasn't reflected on anything valuable. You're still a member of The Compromisers."
"You... this..." This time, Dumbledore was truly stunned.
"Hesitating, being indecisive, passively coping, and retreating again and again. You disappoint me."
Dudley said calmly, his eyes like a bottomless pool of cold water. "If what I cast just now wasn't the magic of the Elixir of Life, but a toxin or a curse, I wonder if Mr. Dumbledore could still smile now."
"Your evaluation of me is quite accurate, Dudley. I will learn to make changes."
Dumbledore understood the intention behind Dudley's actions just now and was greatly touched. At the same time, he also put forward his own view. "However, I firmly believe that you won't harm me for no reason.
I've experienced a lot, and I can't misjudge people. Dudley, although you have many bold ideas, you're not evil. Your nature is kind..."
Whether Dudley was kind or not, he knew it himself and didn't need others to tell him.
He didn't take Dumbledore's sincere compliment to heart. Instead, he waved his wand, sent the bottles and jars on the table back to the refrigerator, and plopped back into his original chair.
"Mr. Dumbledore, you didn't use Legilimency on me like you did yesterday, and your attitude is very sincere. You're a pretty good guest.
So, for today's conversation, I'll allow you to ask me questions first. I promise I'll answer truthfully.
Likewise, when Harry and I ask you later, please tell us everything you know."
Dumbledore didn't expect that in less than fifteen minutes, his mood would be fluctuated by Dudley again. He felt that he couldn't hide anything in front of Dudley!
His Legilimency had already reached the peak level. Except for the born Legilimency masters, no one was better at reading minds than him.
But Dudley, a wizard who hadn't even attended a magic school yet, could clearly sense his Legilimency. It was really incredible.
However, since things had come to this, Dumbledore could only seize the opportunity.
"Open and honest communication. That's exactly why I'm here."
Dumbledore prefaced his words, indicating his approval of Dudley's suggestion just now. Then he officially started asking questions and asked the one he was most concerned about first:
"Dudley, how were you able to transform from a Muggle into a wizard? And how did you master abilities similar to those of The Philosopher's Stone?"
"
"This is an inborn talent of mine. By experiencing certain things, things that turn tragedies into something beautiful and positive, I can obtain a special power from them.
This power allows me to perform a fusion with magic items and thus acquire the abilities of those magic items.
However, this power is very difficult to obtain, and there are also many limitations when using it."
Dudley changed his tone and briefly explained his Cheat System.
He wasn't afraid of letting Dumbledore know about his specialness. If he could convince this old lion today, then he would have a powerful ally when dealing with regret events in the future.
If he couldn't convince him, with Dumbledore's character, he wouldn't spread his secret either.
Moreover, after today's conversation, regardless of the outcome, he would make Dumbledore take an Unbreakable Vow of secrecy with him.