The newly sorted Slytherins all looked toward Lucien with confused expressions after Snape's sudden appearance.
Lucien merely smiled faintly inwardly.
"So you finally couldn't resist."
Honestly, Lucien's personal feelings toward Dumbledore were complicated.
Setting aside the blood feud between Grindelwald and Dumbledore—
He could not deny that the old man genuinely dedicated his entire life to protecting the wizarding world.
Even if Dumbledore's methods were often overbearing.
Even if he constantly tried forcing others to follow his ideals.
At least—
His intentions were sincere.
That alone already made him superior to countless hypocrites who demanded sacrifice from everyone else while running the moment danger approached.
Dumbledore's terrifying quality was precisely this:
He was willing to sacrifice not only others—
But himself as well.
Unfortunately…
Good intentions did not necessarily mean correctness.
Trying to force one's beliefs onto others was itself a kind of arrogance.
"Mr. Grindelwald."
Snape's impatient voice interrupted Lucien's thoughts.
"If you intend to continue standing there like a mountain troll, kindly inform me in advance."
Lucien smiled politely.
"My apologies, Professor."
Then he bowed slightly.
"Please lead the way."
Snape snorted coldly and immediately turned away.
The two walked silently through Hogwarts' dim corridors toward the Headmaster's office.
Lucien wisely kept quiet the entire journey.
Snape was not Harry Potter.
Provoking him carelessly would only create suspicion.
A man capable of serving simultaneously as a Death Eater, spy, professor, and double agent was far too dangerous to underestimate.
Fortunately, Snape himself clearly disliked conversation.
Eventually, they reached the gargoyle guarding the spiral staircase.
"Fizzing Whizzbees."
The stone creature jumped aside.
Snape led Lucien upward into the Headmaster's office.
The room looked exactly as Lucien remembered.
Walls covered with portraits of former Headmasters.
Towering bookshelves.
Strange silver instruments quietly puffing smoke.
And perched atop a golden stand—
Fawkes the phoenix.
The bird lazily preened its feathers while watching Lucien curiously.
The moment Dumbledore looked up and saw Lucien entering, he froze briefly.
For an instant, his eyes blurred once more.
But he recovered quickly.
"Thank you, Severus."
Snape glanced immediately toward the enormous bowl of sweets covering Dumbledore's desk.
His expression darkened.
"Perhaps the Headmaster might consider eating less sugar."
His tone dripped with sarcasm.
"It would greatly reduce the workload of certain exhausted Potions professors."
Dumbledore smiled cheerfully.
"At my age, Severus, sweets are one of life's final comforts."
Then he turned toward Lucien warmly.
"Would you care for some sherbet lemon, Mr. Grindelwald?"
"Or perhaps a Cockroach Cluster?"
"No thank you, Headmaster."
Lucien smiled politely.
"Though I do agree with Professor Snape."
"Too much sugar before bed is unhealthy."
Especially for someone over one hundred years old.
Thanks to his Occlumency, Lucien showed no fear whatsoever before Dumbledore.
If Voldemort stood here instead, Lucien would already be planning escape routes.
But Dumbledore?
A terrifyingly powerful old man, certainly—
Yet still someone who obeyed rules.
That alone made him dramatically easier to handle.
Dumbledore studied him quietly for several moments.
Then he turned toward Snape.
"Severus, would you mind checking on the Slytherin common room?"
"According to tradition, the first-year representative selection should begin shortly."
Lucien immediately understood.
"So that's your plan."
By summoning him away now, Dumbledore effectively removed him from competing for first-year leadership inside Slytherin.
Without that position, Lucien's influence among the younger Slytherins would weaken significantly.
At the same time, supporting another student would allow Dumbledore to cultivate someone capable of balancing against him.
As expected of Dumbledore.
Even the smallest action contained multiple layers of calculation.
Snape left immediately without another word.
Once the office door closed, Dumbledore gestured calmly toward a chair.
"Please sit, Mr. Grindelwald."
"Would you like some tea?"
"English black tea would be lovely, thank you."
Lucien sat gracefully opposite him.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Lucien smiled faintly.
"I envy you a little, Headmaster."
Dumbledore looked surprised.
"Oh?"
"You can still enjoy life so peacefully."
Lucien's voice remained gentle.
"My father cannot."
Dumbledore's fingers stiffened slightly.
Lucien continued calmly.
"He's roughly your age now."
"Yet he spends every day alone inside Nurmengard."
"No one speaks with him."
"No visitors."
"No freedom."
"He simply sits quietly in his tower reading old letters."
Lucien lowered his gaze slightly.
"I once asked why he continued sending them when no replies ever came."
"He said nothing."
"He only kept staring into the distance."
Dumbledore's breathing subtly changed.
Lucien noticed immediately.
Perfect.
"If only he could enjoy life as comfortably as you do, Headmaster."
Lucien looked directly into Dumbledore's eyes.
"You understand what I mean, don't you?"
Every word struck like a knife.
Dumbledore's calm mask finally cracked.
Hot tea spilled across his hand unnoticed.
Lucien clenched his teeth internally to stop himself from smiling.
His father remained imprisoned in Nurmengard—
While Dumbledore spent decades peacefully eating sweets and singing school songs.
And somehow, the wizarding world still treated Dumbledore as the tragic victim.
Absolutely shameless.
Dumbledore opened his mouth several times.
No words came out.
Lucien patiently waited.
The office fell completely silent.
Nearly ten minutes passed before Dumbledore finally recovered.
His expression looked infinitely more tired now.
"As people grow older," he said quietly, "they become trapped by memories."
Then he looked toward Lucien with complicated eyes.
"My apologies for keeping you waiting."
Lucien smiled faintly.
"Only people with unforgettable memories can truly reminisce, Headmaster."
Another knife.
Dumbledore visibly winced internally.
For the first time in many years, he felt completely outmatched in conversation by an eleven-year-old child.
Before either could continue further, the office door suddenly opened again.
Snape returned.
His expression looked unusually dark.
"What happened?" Dumbledore asked immediately.
Snape folded his arms coldly.
"That depends on our dear Mr. Grindelwald."
Lucien blinked innocently.
Snape's lip curled slightly.
"Mr. Malfoy and the other first-year Slytherins have collectively declared that they refuse to obey anyone except Mr. Grindelwald."
The office immediately became silent again.
Dumbledore's forehead furrowed deeply.
Only now did he fully realise something troubling—
Lucien's influence inside Slytherin had already reached a frightening level.
And school had not even lasted one full night yet.
....
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