Under Dumbledore's gentle gaze, very few young people could keep their thoughts hidden.
He always knew how to be a good listener.
Often, for someone burdened by grief, the sincere attention of a good listener was far more comforting than any number of words of consolation.
By the time Elena had finished telling her story, she was once again in tears.
Sitting nearby, Wade couldn't help scratching the corner of his mouth.
Elena's heartfelt confession had, once again, struck right at Dumbledore's greatest weakness.
Family was a hurdle Dumbledore could never overcome, and sincerity always reached his heart. After all, Wade himself had used the same approach on him before.
And Elena's tragic experience had clearly moved him deeply.
Sure enough, Dumbledore's eyes began to redden as well.
"Don't worry, my child. Put everything behind you for now and settle down here in peace."
He offered very few words of comfort.
He understood that wounds caused by family could only truly heal with time. At best, another person's willingness to listen could ease the pain.
Time was the greatest remedy for grief, and on that point, he spoke from experience.
"May I have the honour of helping you with whatever comes next?" Dumbledore asked gently.
"Mmm..." Elena nodded through her sobs.
"Good. Then leave the rest to us adults. Your only responsibility is to study hard and grow into the person you want to become."
Ever since her life had been turned upside down, both Andrews and Wade had helped Elena, but neither of them had ever spoken to her so gently.
It was the first time anyone had said something so warm to her.
For a moment, all she felt was warmth filling her heart. She could only keep nodding, too choked up to speak.
Dumbledore looked over at Wade.
"Wade, come outside with me."
Wade pointed at himself and asked suspiciously, "Professor... but I'm not an adult either."
Oh no. Has Dumbledore figured out I'm not really a child?
Dumbledore merely shot him a look, and Wade immediately fell silent.
After they stepped outside, Dumbledore glanced at the small lake nearby before slowly walking along the shore.
Wade had no choice but to follow.
"Was it you who told her to return one day and take revenge on her father?" Dumbledore asked suddenly.
"No. That was entirely her own decision. I only told her I'd help her when the time came," Wade answered honestly.
"That isn't right, Wade. People shouldn't live consumed by hatred," Dumbledore said earnestly.
"But, Professor, if someone can't even achieve their revenge, they'll never truly be happy."
"And you're certain she'll be happy once she's taken revenge?"
"No. But I am certain that if she does nothing, she'll never be happy. She can't face her mother's death. I simply chose to respect her decision," Wade replied.
"But... that man is still her father. How could she kill her own father?" Dumbledore frowned. "No matter how you look at it, that would be an extraordinarily cruel thing to do."
"I agree. But, Professor, revenge doesn't necessarily mean killing someone. If I don't help her, she may be killed before she ever gets close to her father. But I'm confident I can help her achieve her revenge without forcing her to kill him," Wade said firmly.
Dumbledore looked at Wade in silence.
He believed that Elena's father was guilty and deserved to pay for his crimes.
But he could not bear the thought of a daughter having to kill her own father for revenge. No matter how one looked at it, it would be a tragedy.
Still... from the way Wade spoke, it seemed he had already considered that.
"And what do you intend to do?"
"I'll find a way to remove her father from his position and send him to prison. You know, for someone who values power above everything else, losing that power is worse than death," Wade replied.
Dumbledore nodded.
As expected, Wade had already thought of that. Like himself, he had no wish to see a daughter kill her own father.
"Professor, how do you plan to arrange for her to attend Hogwarts? What if the Soviet Ministry finds out?" Wade asked, changing the subject.
He had no desire to continue discussing revenge with Dumbledore.
As Dumbledore gradually became more like the white-bearded wizard Wade remembered, the sharp edge that had once defined him also seemed to be fading.
"We can give her a new name. After that, she'll enrol as a transfer student and be Sorted during the Sorting Ceremony," Dumbledore said.
Wade looked at him hesitantly.
"Something like this doesn't happen very often, does it?"
"Not very often," Dumbledore replied. "But transfers between magical schools aren't unheard of. Students who transfer are essentially the same as transfer students. As long as everyone is told that she's a new arrival and she joins the first years during the Sorting Ceremony, no one will think much of it."
Wade nodded.
That made sense. A new transfer student at Hogwarts was hardly the sort of thing that would make the front page of the Daily Prophet. As long as they were careful, there was little chance the Soviet authorities would discover her.
"Her Transfiguration is excellent," Dumbledore said. "Did you teach her?"
"She had already mastered becoming an Animagus before she ever met me," Wade replied.
"From the traces of Transfiguration left behind in that house, I can tell her skills have improved significantly," Dumbledore observed calmly.
"All right. I did give her some guidance on Transfiguration afterward."
"Wade... when you graduate, have you considered staying on as a professor? You have every quality needed to become an excellent teacher."
"The current professors are doing just fine. I wouldn't want to take away their jobs," Wade said, waving his hands repeatedly.
Become a professor?
No. There were still far too many things waiting for him to accomplish. His ambitions lay elsewhere.
"I see. Then... what do you plan to do in the future? Join the Ministry of Magic? From where I stand, that would be very easy for someone like you," Dumbledore said, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
Wade carefully considered Dumbledore's words.
On the surface, they sounded like casual conversation, nothing more than an inquiry about his future plans.
But judging from Dumbledore's tone and expression, Wade was certain there was more to it.
The most likely explanation was that Dumbledore was probing whether he intended to side with Grindelwald.
At Grindelwald's current rate of expansion, by the time Wade graduated, the Ministry of Magic would most likely be under Grindelwald's control.
If Wade then chose to join the Ministry, it would speak volumes.
His mind raced.
Finally, he answered as calmly as possible.
"Professor, I don't intend to join the Ministry."
"Then what do you intend to do?"
Wade could tell that Dumbledore's tone had become noticeably lighter.
"I plan to start my own business," Wade replied evenly.
"Start your own business? Ah... I see." Dumbledore looked genuinely pleased.
In his mind, Wade meant starting a company of some sort, which fit perfectly with the image he had of him.
After all, Wade had already shown remarkable skill in Potions, Alchemy, and many other fields. He also enjoyed creating interesting new inventions.
He could easily build a successful business around his new potions or alchemical creations and make a fortune.
The creation of new potions and alchemical products would not only bring Wade wealth, but also benefit the wizarding world as a whole.
It was, without question, a wonderful ambition.
Perhaps his work with Horace on breeding Basilisks had also been preparation for his future business.
In any case, as long as he didn't join Grindelwald's cause, that was enough.
With that thought, the tension that had gripped Dumbledore finally eased.
"Starting a business is a fine idea," Dumbledore said.
"Yes... it is," Wade replied quietly.
Starting a business certainly was a fine idea.
What Dumbledore didn't realise, however, was that his understanding of "starting a business" was rather different from what Wade actually meant.
After strolling together for a while longer, Dumbledore suddenly said, "By the way... the International Confederation of Wizards has sent me another invitation. They want me to take a seat among them."
Wade looked slightly surprised.
"Are you planning to accept?"
"Should I, Wade? Am I truly worthy of that trust?" Dumbledore asked with a frown, letting out a deep sigh.
"Theoretically, you should accept, Professor," Wade replied. "In fact, aside from yourself, who doesn't trust you completely? You should know what Grindelwald fears."
Dumbledore remained silent for a long while before sighing again.
"I remember something you once told me... with great power comes great responsibility. I believe my abilities are, at the very least, adequate. So... I can no longer stand by and ignore Grindelwald."
Hearing that, Wade hesitated.
Dumbledore noticed.
"If you have something to say, say it plainly. You know... although I am your professor, I often find it difficult to think of you as a student barely in his teens. So I take many of your words quite seriously."
Wade scratched his head before sighing as well.
"I'm sorry, Professor, but that sentence I told you back then... doesn't really mean much. It only sounds profound. In reality, it's little more than moral coercion. Just because someone is capable, does that mean they can't live an easier, happier life? Must they always shoulder so-called responsibility? And besides, the weight of a person's responsibilities shouldn't be determined solely by their abilities. Professor, all I'm trying to say is that if you truly don't want the position, there's no need to force yourself. When I said you should accept it, I only meant that in theory."
"Moral coercion... what an interesting expression." Dumbledore smiled faintly. "But, Wade... sometimes, someone has to be willing to accept that moral burden if the world is to become a better place, doesn't it?"
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Read 12 Advance Chapters—P@t- Captain69