"So, I'm actually a wizard? And my parents didn't die in a car crash, but... were killed in that wizarding war by a dark wizard named Voldemort?"
Inside the Bentley, little Harry sat in the passenger seat and murmured to himself.
By then, Victor Wick had already told Harry about his background and explained everything concerning the wizarding world.
"Hmm..." Victor Wick seemed to be focusing intently on his driving, but his eyes grew complex as if he were reminiscing about the perils of those years.
"Professor, were you also involved in that war?"
"Of course... at that time, no wizard in Britain was spared, even if I was just a Chinese wizard who had drifted here." Victor Wick took a deep breath. His face, which usually wore a smile, now appeared quite solemn. "It was a brutal war. It was slightly better in the early stages, but in the latter years... especially in the months before the Dark Lord disappeared, many of my comrades died. Those heroes fell forever just before the dawn broke."
Victor turned to look at Harry. "Among them were your parents."
Harry fell silent upon hearing this. At the Dursleys', there wasn't a single photograph of his parents. To this day, he didn't even know what they looked like.
However, a secret joy also rose in Harry's heart. His parents were heroes! They weren't the useless freaks Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia had always claimed they were.
Harry wanted to ask more about them, but he noticed the young professor driving beside him had an expression of indescribable sorrow and regret.
"Did you... know my parents?" Harry asked.
Victor's hands, which had been resting lightly on the steering wheel, suddenly tightened.
"Oh... know them? I certainly knew them! Although they didn't know me... we were still comrades, Harry. In fact... I'm sorry..."
Harry looked at Victor in surprise, not understanding why the young professor was apologizing to him.
"I could have saved them, but... due to certain circumstances, I was a step too late." Victor's voice was heavy with emotion.
Harry's eyes widened. He suddenly began to understand why Victor felt such regret and sadness.
Putting himself in Victor's shoes, he realized that failing to save one's comrades by only a step would cause anyone to feel deep regret and self-blame.
Thus, Harry sensibly refrained from pressing further.
After all, questioning him now would undoubtedly be like twisting a knife in Victor Wick's heart.
"When I arrived at your home, it had been reduced to rubble... Your parents had passed away, killed by the Dark Lord's own hand. However, according to Dumbledore's investigation, when the Dark Lord attempted to use the Killing Curse on you, it was rebounded by a protective magic your mother had unintentionally placed upon you. As a result, the Dark Lord vanished, and that scar was left permanently on your forehead..."
Harry instinctively touched the lightning bolt scar on his forehead. It had been there as long as he could remember, but the Dursleys had never told him how it happened. Now, he finally knew the truth.
"Harry, you must remember: because you are the one who 'killed' the Dark Lord, you are incredibly famous in the wizarding world. Every child your age has heard your name," Victor said.
"Me? I'm famous?"
"As the hero who killed the Dark Lord and ended a ten-year war, do you think you wouldn't be?"
"This..." Harry found it hard to believe.
A 'nobody' who was constantly bullied by Dudley at home and school was actually a celebrity in another world?
Harry was still a child, after all. As he gradually accepted this fact, a small sense of secret delight couldn't help but rise within him.
"Harry, fame isn't actually a good thing," Victor said solemnly.
"Why?" Harry asked, looking at him with confusion.
"First, there's the issue of safety. The wizarding world knows the Dark Lord died at your hands, so what do you think his loyal servants will think?" Victor asked.
Harry's face turned pale, and the small joy he had felt instantly vanished. "They probably want to tear me to pieces... even though I don't even know how I managed to finish their master off."
"Exactly... and that is why Dumbledore left you with the Dursleys. To protect you, your mother bravely stood before the Dark Lord. Her love for you unintentionally activated a powerful protection spell. That is why the Dark Lord vanished. To maintain that protection, Dumbledore had to place you with your only living blood relative until you come of age."
"Aunt Petunia..." Harry now fully understood why, even though his parents were heroes and he was one too, he had been left at the Dursleys' to be bullied for all those years without a word from anyone.
"I'm sorry, Harry. The wizarding world and the Muggle world are almost entirely separate. We had no idea you had suffered so much all these years." Suddenly, Victor's usual smile returned to his face. "However, I'm very heartened to see that... despite being treated so unfairly, you are still as kind-hearted as your mother was."
Victor was indeed happy about this. It was truly a miracle that a child who had been bullied for so long hadn't become mentally twisted or timid.
Harry felt a bit embarrassed by Victor's praise.
"But don't worry. From now on, the Dursleys won't treat you like they used to. Don't forget, I'm Vernon's boss now," Victor said with a smile. "I've even given them performance quotas. The more comfortable your life is, the more business I'll give him. I imagine that to keep his job and make more money, he'll know exactly what he needs to do."
Harry laughed as well. Just thinking about his uncle and aunt's expressions made him feel much better.
After a brief silence, Victor continued, "There is another downside to your fame... Without a doubt, because of a feat you can't even remember, everyone in the wizarding world has high expectations of you. They believe you will grow up to be a wizard even more outstanding and powerful than Dumbledore. Do you know what that means?"
Hearing this, a heavy feeling settled in Harry's heart. "It's pressure, isn't it?"
"Yes, pressure... Everyone's eyes will be on you. They will habitually compare you to adult wizards rather than your peers. At the same time, any small mistake you might accidentally make could be blown out of proportion by those with ulterior motives. So, Harry, you must become stronger and more capable. Not just for yourself, but for your late parents," Victor said.
Victor was trying to prepare Harry for what was to come.
Everyone makes mistakes, and Harry would be no exception.
If any other child made a mistake, it might not be a big deal, but Harry was different. If he failed, his fame would bring about a fierce backlash.
Because people's expectations of him were higher than for anyone else, the moment they discovered Harry Potter was just an ordinary boy, the backlash would be even more intense. That was simply human nature.
Therefore, he needed Harry to be mentally prepared. Otherwise, he feared the boy wouldn't be able to handle such a psychological fall when the time came.
Even setting aside his own guilt, Victor had to consider the well-being of his future student.
Furthermore, this was the most crucial task Dumbledore had assigned him: to protect Harry Potter for the sake of the ultimate victory.
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