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“Aurelian, you should have heard about how Voldemort threw Britain’s wizarding world into chaos more than ten years ago and even affected the Muggle world.”
Hearing Aurelian speak, Dumbledore suddenly felt a new spark of hope.
He ignored Miles’s objection and began telling Aurelian what had happened over a decade before.
“Yes, I know.”
Aurelian nodded.
“I have heard that Voldemort was extremely powerful and ruled the wizarding world through fear.
The only person he feared was you, Professor Dumbledore, so he never dared attack Hogwarts.
Ten years ago, the year I was born, he tried to kill Harry Potter, the son of James Potter, and the Killing Curse rebounded onto him.
Since then, he has vanished from the wizarding world.
Harry Potter became its savior.”
“Yes.
But what people do not know, or perhaps do not wish to think about, is that Voldemort did not truly die.
The Killing Curse did rebound upon him, but it destroyed only his body.
His soul escaped.”
Dumbledore sighed.
He had tried for years to tell people that Voldemort was not dead, but they were unwilling to believe him.
Even with his high standing in the wizarding world, even when they knew in their hearts that his words were true, they still refused to face it.
“These years, I have continued searching for him.
Many signs suggest that he has been looking for a way to return.
If he comes back, he will bring another catastrophe to the wizarding world.
That is why I hope to receive House Pendragon’s help and stop the threat before it grows.”
“Then what do you want us to do?”
“Aurelian!”
Miles could no longer endure it.
Even though he usually allowed Aurelian an extraordinary amount of freedom, he was truly angry now.
His chest rose and fell heavily, his breath rough.
“I am still the head of House Pendragon.
Family matters are not yours to decide.”
“Father, please do not be angry.
I only want to hear Professor Dumbledore’s thoughts.
Besides, sooner or later, I will inherit the position of family head and lead House Pendragon forward.
I would rather prepare now than sit in your seat one day knowing nothing.”
Aurelian did not retreat before Miles’s anger.
He answered calmly instead.
Miles stared at him for a long time.
Seeing his son’s firmness, his heart softened in the end, and he said nothing more.
“My apologies, Professor Dumbledore.
Please continue.”
“I hope you will use House Pendragon’s influence in the wizarding world to spread the news that Voldemort is not dead, so people become vigilant.
Then I hope you will search for his whereabouts with all your strength, so we can end the threat before it grows.”
“I am sorry, but we cannot agree completely.
House Pendragon can support you against Voldemort, but we will not stand in the open.
That means we cannot be the ones to spread the news that Voldemort is alive.
As for the second matter, we can help you quietly.”
Aurelian did not answer at once.
After thinking for a while, he gave his reply.
“I hope you understand.
“I understand.
I do.”
Dumbledore nodded.
He could fully understand Aurelian’s approach.
“Do you have any other requests?”
“The last one concerns you, Aurelian.”
At Aurelian’s words, Dumbledore looked as if he wanted to speak but hesitated.
After a pause, he chose to say it.
“You know that when Voldemort tried to kill Harry Potter, the Killing Curse rebounded and destroyed Voldemort’s body.
That made Harry, who was still an infant, the savior of the wizarding world.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
Aurelian was confused.
Dumbledore said this concerned him, but then began talking about Voldemort and Harry Potter.
“I hope you will help Harry grow and become his firmest ally.
In Harry, I see hope that Voldemort can be defeated.”
“Dumbledore!
Are you insulting House Pendragon?”
The moment Dumbledore finished, Miles roared at him.
“Father, calm down.”
Aurelian’s expression hardened as well, but he soothed Miles first.
“I am sorry, Miles, Aurelian.
I know this request is discourteous, but I still hope you will agree.
Harry is the one destined to defeat Voldemort.”
Dumbledore bowed apologetically to them, but Miles remained unmoved and gave only a few cold laughs.
“Unfortunately, Professor Dumbledore, we refuse that request.”
Aurelian rejected him with a dark expression.
Whether as the heir of House Pendragon or as someone with memories from another life, his pride would not allow him to become someone else’s supporting role, even if that person was the savior of the wizarding world.
“Aurelian, I…”
“Do not continue, Professor Dumbledore.
I will not agree to that condition.”
When Dumbledore tried to persuade him, Aurelian frowned and cut him off.
“House Pendragon has decided to help you because you are the strongest light wizard in the wizarding world and the only person Voldemort fears.
But if you want me to help a wizard my own age who knows nothing, forgive me, but I refuse.
I believe you understand better than anyone how Harry Potter defeated Voldemort.
I do not believe I am inferior to him.”
Aurelian looked at Dumbledore with open pride.
He had absolute confidence in his own talent.
“Since you have decided, I will not force you.
But Aurelian, you possess talent far beyond what I had at your age.
I hope you will not use it in the wrong direction.
I hope you will use your talent and ability to become the next pillar of the wizarding world.”
Dumbledore knew there was no point continuing.
When he was young, he too had possessed talent far beyond his peers, so he could understand Aurelian’s choice.
“Please rest assured.
If nothing else, for the honor of House Pendragon, I will hold to my limits.”
“Then I will leave.
I have taken up too much of your time today.
Dumbledore chuckled, then walked away.
His figure slowly disappeared into the darkness.
“Aurelian, come with me.
You owe me an explanation for tonight.”
After Dumbledore left, Miles spoke briefly to Elaine and Catherine, then brought Aurelian to the study and looked at him with a grave expression.
“You know that from its founding to this day, House Pendragon has never participated in the conflicts of the wizarding world.
That is why our family has stood for a thousand years.”
“Your decision tonight seriously violates our ancestral teachings.
If you cannot give me a reasonable explanation, I will consider removing you as heir.
I will not gamble with House Pendragon’s future.”
Having made that difficult declaration, Miles waited for Aurelian’s answer.
“Father, how do you view Voldemort?”
Aurelian showed no surprise at Miles’s decision.
He only asked a calm question in return.
“Voldemort?
He may have had extraordinary magical talent, but his madness means he is doomed to fail.”
Miles did not know what Aurelian wanted to say, but he answered quickly.
“Exactly.
Voldemort’s nature is too mad.
His madness helped him succeed, but it is also what will destroy him.
In the last war, House Pendragon refused to help Dumbledore, but we also did not join Voldemort’s camp.
Once Voldemort returns, someone with his nature will never let us go.
No matter what choice we make, we can no longer remain outside this.”
“You think he would dare move against House Pendragon?”
Miles looked uncertain.
He knew Aurelian would never speak without reason.
“Yes.
Over the past two years, I have studied the information our family collected about Voldemort.
In my judgment, once he revives, he will be stronger than before.
With his personality, if House Pendragon remained neutral in the last war and refuses to submit to him this time, he will destroy us by overwhelming force.”
“So you chose to cooperate with Dumbledore.”
“Yes.
House Pendragon cannot possibly stand with Voldemort.
If we want to resist him, we must cooperate with Dumbledore.
Only then do we have a greater chance of victory.
And as long as we do not support Dumbledore openly, Voldemort will not immediately move against us when he returns.”
Aurelian laid out his plan for Miles.
Miles listened and sank into thought.
“Aurelian, Aurelian…
Mrs.
Longbottom was right.
You are far better than I am.”
After a while, Miles gave a bitter laugh and spoke slowly.
“I understand your plan.
I will act according to it.
The wizarding world is going to fall into turmoil again.”
Afterward, Miles and Aurelian discussed matters late into the night.
Only when Elaine and Catherine came upstairs to protest did the two finally return to their rooms to rest.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter.