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“Master Aurelian, Professor Dumbledore has arrived.
Lord Pendragon asks you to come downstairs now.”
After lunch, Aurelian did not continue his experiment.
Instead, he stayed in his room reading while he waited for Dumbledore to arrive.
At last, close to four o’clock, Catherine came to inform him.
Aurelian straightened his clothes and followed her out.
“Father.
Mother.”
When he reached the drawing room downstairs, he saw his parents chatting happily with an old man who had silver hair, a long beard, half-moon spectacles, and a nose that looked as if it had been broken more than once.
After greeting his parents, Aurelian turned to the old man.
“Good afternoon, Professor Dumbledore.”
“You must be Aurelian.
Good afternoon.”
Dumbledore greeted him with a genial smile, warm and approachable.
“Well then, Professor Dumbledore,” Miles said after Aurelian sat down, steering the conversation back to business.
“Aurelian is here now.
What brings you to us?”
Aurelian’s thoughts stirred when he heard that.
He realized Dumbledore had specifically asked to see him, which made him even more certain of his guess.
“My visit concerns Aurelian’s enrollment next year.”
Dumbledore spoke slowly.
‘Just as I thought.’
Aurelian went still.
He had guessed correctly.
“Miles, because of the disagreement between your grandfather and me, your grandfather ultimately sent your father to Beauxbatons.
Hogwarts missed two students because of that.”
Dumbledore looked at Miles with some regret, but Miles remained unmoved.
By now, he and Elaine both understood the reason for Dumbledore’s visit.
“I do not wish that old regret to repeat itself.
That is why I have come today to invite Aurelian to attend Hogwarts next year.
I hope you will not refuse me because of the disagreement I had with your grandfather.”
“Professor Dumbledore, whatever conflict existed between you and Grandfather was between the two of you.
It also faded when Grandfather passed.
I will not hold a grudge against you or against Hogwarts because of it.”
After listening, Miles answered calmly.
“But you should know that Elaine and I both graduated from Beauxbatons.
The current headmistress, Madame Maxime, was our senior and cared for us a great deal when we were students there.
She has already written to us, hoping that Aurelian will complete his studies at Beauxbatons, as I did.”
“I know, and I understand your position.
Aurelian’s fiancee, Fleur Delacour, studies there as well.
With Madame Maxime looking after him, he would adapt quickly in such an environment.”
Dumbledore nodded.
He understood Miles and Elaine’s thinking, but he still wanted to try.
“It may be impolite to say this about Beauxbatons, but I must say it.
Among Europe’s three great wizarding schools, Hogwarts remains the finest.
I also consider my own magical attainment reasonably strong, and I have some standing in the wizarding world.
For those reasons, I hope you will consider allowing Aurelian to study at Hogwarts.
I believe he would grow faster there.”
“Professor Dumbledore, I…”
“Father, Mother, please allow me to say something.”
Aurelian suddenly spoke, interrupting Miles.
“Aurelian, what do you want to say?”
Miles and Elaine were surprised, but neither stopped him from giving his opinion.
“I hope you will let me decide for myself where I will study.”
Dumbledore smiled faintly when he heard that.
“I know you want me to attend Beauxbatons, and Fleur wants that as well.
But as Professor Dumbledore said, Hogwarts is still the best magical school in Europe.
With Professor Dumbledore, the most powerful wizard alive, as its headmaster, Hogwarts is indeed a strong choice.”
Aurelian analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of Hogwarts and Beauxbatons with great seriousness.
He had to be serious.
This decision concerned his future.
“But Aurelian,” Elaine said, “Fleur has always hoped you would study at Beauxbatons.
There, you could…”
“Elaine, enough.
Let Aurelian decide for himself.”
Miles interrupted her directly.
He trusted that Aurelian, who had been unusually mature since childhood, would not treat his own future lightly.
“Professor Dumbledore, I have several conditions.
If you can agree to them, then next September, you will see me at Hogwarts.”
Seeing that Elaine no longer spoke, Aurelian turned to the smiling Dumbledore.
“Tell me.
As long as they are not excessive, I can satisfy them.
I have always believed that exceptional students may be allowed a few small privileges.”
Dumbledore looked at him with a smile.
He knew his purpose had essentially been achieved.
“First, I want my maid, Catherine, to enter Hogwarts as well.
Of course, she has considerable magical talent, so you need not worry on that point.”
“No problem.
In fact, even if you had not mentioned it, Hogwarts would have sent Miss Catherine an acceptance letter when the time came.”
Dumbledore agreed readily.
It was hardly a condition.
“Second, because I often need to conduct magical research, I would like an independent dormitory. Get faster updates on g.com.
Based on House Pendragon’s history, Catherine and I have a high chance of being sorted into Gryffindor.
As far as I know, the current Head of Gryffindor, Professor McGonagall, is a very strict professor.
She may not agree to my request, so I need you to speak with her.”
Dumbledore’s expression became a little more serious at the second condition.
“Aurelian, I can promise you an independent dormitory in advance.
But you must promise me one thing as well: you will not conduct dangerous magical research.”
“I know what you are concerned about.
Please rest assured.
I will not study magic beyond the limits set by the Ministry of Magic.”
Aurelian nodded and gave his assurance.
“Third, when necessary, I would like guidance from the Potions professor, Professor Severus Snape.”
“A desire to learn is a good thing.
I can agree on his behalf.”
“Then I have no other conditions.
You will see me among the incoming Hogwarts students next year.”
Satisfied that Dumbledore had agreed to everything, Aurelian sat back down.
“Aurelian, will you not consider it a little longer?”
Miles saw how quickly his son had decided and could not help asking.
“Father, once I have made a decision, I will not change it.
I know Fleur may be disappointed, but I believe she will understand.”
“Since you have decided, follow your own judgment.”
Seeing that Aurelian had made up his mind, Miles no longer tried to persuade him.
“Oh, Professor Dumbledore, there is one more thing.
Please explain this to Madame Maxime yourself.
You know my parents’ relationship with her, and I do not wish to make things difficult for them.”
“Of course.
That is only proper.
For an excellent student, being complained at by Olympe is well worth it.”
Dumbledore agreed without hesitation.
“Well, since I have achieved the purpose of this visit, I should take my leave.
It is getting late, and I do not want to impose further.”
After that, Dumbledore continued chatting with Aurelian and his parents for quite some time.
When the sky outside began to darken, he suddenly stood and prepared to say farewell.
“If you have no urgent business, why not stay for dinner?”
Miles invited him to remain.
“I would be delighted.
As Headmaster of Hogwarts, I do have a great many matters waiting for me, but I imagine Minerva and the others will understand if I take time for dinner.”
Dumbledore agreed at once.
Seeing his beaming smile, Miles’s heart skipped.
He suddenly felt as if he had fallen into Dumbledore’s trap.
But the invitation had already been spoken, and he could not take it back.
He could only brace himself and ask Bercas to arrange dinner.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter.