"This is the day of my shame, the yesterday I fear.
"I wanted you to see this, to understand my mistakes..."
Dumbledore gazed at the distant horizon with pale blue eyes as the hymns from the church drifted down with the wind.
"As you know, my behavior in my youth proved that power was my weakness, my temptation.
"It is a curious thing, my boy, but perhaps those best suited to power are those who have never sought it. Just like..."
Dumbledore conjured a chair with his wand and sat down, then took a bouquet of white flowers from his robes.
He placed the flowers before the epitaph and gently brushed away the dust clinging to it.
"However, I was always safer at Hogwarts. I think I have been a good teacher—"
"You have always done very well. You are the best Headmaster."
"I hope those words are not mere flattery, but if my actions satisfy you as well, it proves I haven't been entirely stagnant all these years.
"But there is one thing that puzzles me—I thought everyone walked dragging the corpse of their yesterday, but look, I met you, my boy. You have surprised me countless times.
"Could you please tell me, Mr. Green, why is happiness so easily enough for you?"
Dumbledore looked up, staring kindly at Sean.
He had seen too much insatiable desire; he hadn't expected to one day see a clear, transparent stream.
There must be some kind of flame in this child's heart that set him apart from everyone else.
"Happiness is just a state of being, Professor."
Sean said earnestly,
"Without pain, one cannot strongly feel happiness. That would only be comfort and mediocrity, not happiness and good fortune."
"Ah... so misfortune has given you wealth? This is the first time I've heard such a thing,"
Dumbledore's words took a sharp turn as he suddenly asked,
"Or, have you witnessed even greater misfortunes that make you gladly accept your current life?
"Is it mine? Or Minerva's? Or perhaps, Severus's?"
Sean knew Headmaster Dumbledore could always sense many things, but he seemed to have underestimated the old wizard's acuity.
Dumbledore didn't press further. If asked into whose hands he would most rest assured placing the future...
He could find no one more suitable than the young wizard before him.
"Well, those who know the future should always maintain a bit of mystery.
"Let us hurry back. Hopefully, I can still catch afternoon tea in the Great Hall..."
Dumbledore beamed, looking as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
Of course, his mistakes could still not be forgiven, but he finally had a chance for redemption.
Even better, dear Mr. Green said he was the best Headmaster.
Oh, Merlin, could there be anything more satisfying than this?
Dumbledore hummed an unknown tune, somewhat resembling the Christmas carols Professor Sprout had taught the young wizards.
He led Sean to place some flowers in the graveyard. A few seconds later, they stood together before a monument.
Behind it were statues of three people: a man with untidy hair and glasses, a long-haired woman with a beautiful and kind face, and a baby boy sitting in his mother's arms.
"Do you think we will be carved into statues one day? Oh, I'm not talking about the statue of the Lucky Black Cat on the fourth floor."
Dumbledore said with a smile.
He seemed to enjoy teasing people more than usual.
"I..."
Sean's words were cut off before he could finish.
"I hope never, Sean. Let the statue on the fourth floor be your last."
With that, Dumbledore took the young wizard and Disapparated.
After all... statues are for commemorating wizards, and living wizards need no commemoration.
...
The remainder of the summer term seemed to pass in a blaze of dazzling sunlight.
And so, the summer holidays arrived amidst the young wizards' expectant chants.
In the blink of an eye, they were about to board the Hogwarts Express to go home.
The group from the hut gathered together. By rights, they could have shared a compartment.
But no one expected that someone would have detention even during the summer holidays.
"He probably hates you too... Sean."
Ron craned his neck, looking around. Only after confirming Snape was nowhere to be seen did he whisper,
"What similarities could you and Harry possibly have? I'm guessing it's Quidditch. Snape has always disliked people who play Quidditch..."
"Don't talk nonsense, Ron!"
Hermione stopped him huffily.
"Hermione, then what do you say it is?"
Ron stuck his neck out,
"Maybe it's the eyes—you and Harry both have green eyes! That's something none of the rest of us have!"
He shouted.
"Sean is staying to be an assistant! Mr. Weasley!"
Hermione couldn't stand it anymore.
"Huh?"
Ron was dumbfounded.
"Sean, why are you rushing to..."
Ron couldn't understand.
"Not everyone is like you, getting an 'E' in Potions and still constantly thinking Professor Snape is targeting you.
"Give it a rest—Silencio."
Hermione waved her wand and cast a small jinx. Ron suddenly found he couldn't speak, as if he had no mouth on his face at all.
He kept touching his mouth, and Justin couldn't help laughing.
Then Neville and Harry joined in.
The members of the hut always practiced spells this way. These small, amusing jinxes actually made their magical studies more interesting.
Sean always practiced with Justin, and Neville always with Harry.
Hermione and Ron, on the other hand, paired up, which was the unexpected part.
The reason was that Hermione believed no one could teach Ron except herself and the elusive Sean.
"I can't believe you're actually going to be a Hogwarts assistant—there's never been such a thing in Hogwarts history. A second-year wizard assistant—this will add major points to your resume—"
Hermione said expectantly while Ron was studying the counter-curse with his notes.
Her expression was just like Ron's yesterday when he had transfigured a rat's head onto a tortoise's body and placed it on Hermione's desk.
"Will you still have time? Sean, I mean during the summer holidays."
Justin was obviously more concerned about this.
"Professor Snape will give me a week off."
Sean thought for a moment and replied with a smile.
"One week!"
Just then, Ron managed to break the jinx with Harry's help and immediately exclaimed,
"I say, Sean, you can never finish learning magic!"
"Silencio—"
Hermione waved her wand.
"Second time today, Hermione. You have one attack left—"
Ron tilted his head and dodged it, but ran right into Hermione's second spell. In the end, he dejectedly went to let Harry remove the jinx.
"Now that we've finished eating, line up and follow me—"
Suddenly, a bright voice rang out in the Great Hall. It was Professor McGonagall, preparing to guide the young wizards to the train.