Will reflected on his recent actions.
Eating, attending classes, gaining experience.
After class, eating, gaining experience.
Beating up classmates, having a late-night snack, and gaining more experience.
No problem, right?
It was perfectly normal Hogwarts student behavior.
Could it really be because of a single Thunderclap Explosion in the common room?
Lost in thought, Will had already arrived at the Headmaster’s office.
He spoke the password, “Lemon Drop,” and entered.
Inside the Headmaster’s office, portraits of former Headmasters hung on the walls.
A still-grimy Sorting Hat sat on a nearby cabinet, while Dumbledore, his long white beard hanging down to his chest, sat behind his desk in purple pajamas covered in star patterns, teasing the phoenix Fawkes beside him.
“Professor Dumbledore, I heard you were looking for me?”
With a clear conscience, Will sat down opposite Dumbledore without even using Occlumency.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t.
Although his Occlumency had achieved some success, he didn’t think he could resist Old Dumbledore’s Legilimency yet.
As for his system, it was practically like a dead person.
It never communicated with him and simply continued recording his experience gains.
He hadn’t done anything wrong, nor did he intend to.
Rather than nervously using Occlumency and making himself look suspicious, it was better to be open and honest.
Besides, wouldn’t it be even more suspicious for a young Wizard to use Occlumency at his age?
“No need to be so reserved. Would you like a slice of chocolate cake?” Dumbledore pointed toward the cake on the table.
“Of course.”
Will didn’t hold back at all.
He reached for a pre-cut slice and took a bite.
“Delicious. The right amount of sweetness makes people happy.”
“Ah, of course. That’s what Muggles call… dopamine.”
“Dopamine, Professor? You also read Muggle theories?” Will asked, slightly surprised.
“Of course. The progress of Muggles is quite evident. They are always coming up with interesting little inventions. Mr. Behrens, don’t imagine me to be too rigid. I’m simply keeping up with the times. You know, young Wizards didn’t always take trains to school.”
“Is that so? Then it seems the magical world really is making progress.”
Will smiled, though he was somewhat skeptical.
Everything he had read and seen about the magical world over the past few years suggested that it was more like a stagnant pool.
Wizards looked down on Muggles and had little desire to change, preferring to remain isolated from the Muggle world.
As for taking trains to school, pure-blood families had put no small amount of pressure on the Ministry of Magic back then.
After Dumbledore intervened, however, no one dared to say much anymore.
Old Dumbledore progressing would be closer to the truth.
“Are you settling into Hogwarts well?” Dumbledore asked as he poured Will a steaming cup of black tea.
“Quite well. It’s more comfortable than home.”
“Oh, home…”
Dumbledore blinked before continuing, “Filius mentioned your situation to me. You are quite remarkable, Will.”
He paused for a moment.
“And in the past week, I’ve seen how diligently you’ve been studying. But you still have a long road ahead of you, so you can afford to relax a little. You know, when I was your age, I hadn’t even read that many books.”
“You should make more friends and enjoy your school life. If you spend all your time immersed in books and magic, you might miss out on many other things. You should also spend more time with your classmates.”
Will now understood why Dumbledore had called him here.
Perhaps Dumbledore had seen a little of Tom Riddle in him, the talented boy from Wool’s Orphanage who would eventually become the leader of the Death Eaters.
But could Will really be blamed?
He did want to relax.
If Dumbledore had gotten rid of that noseless man earlier, perhaps he really could have relaxed.
But knowing that Lord Voldemort would eventually take control of Hogwarts, and that countless people would die before Harry Potter finally defeated the Dark Lord and saved the Wizarding World, how could he afford to be complacent?
Was he tired of living?
“Professor Dumbledore, I love reading, and I love learning magic. Every time I acquire new knowledge, it satisfies me and makes me happy. I simply want to learn and explore.”
“I have my own friends, and I cherish friendship. As for those classmates, if they didn’t call me a Mudblood, I might actually interact with them properly.”
Dumbledore was silent for a moment before smiling and shaking his head.
“Everyone says I’m the greatest Headmaster Hogwarts has ever had, but when it comes to educating students, I’m absolutely no match for Professor McGonagall. No offense to her, of course. I simply don’t know how to interact with exceptionally talented young Wizards.”
“You’re a great educator.”
Will took another slice of chocolate cake.
There was now only half of the cake left.
Dumbledore smiled.
“Oh, that’s right, Will. I’m always afraid that my actions might lead them astray, yet I also worry that my inaction might allow them to stray onto the wrong path.”
He paused, his expression becoming more serious.
“There was once a young Wizard of extraordinary talent, born into humble circumstances, but he was sorted into Slytherin…”
But he quickly displayed his talent, studying diligently and achieving excellent grades while behaving with grace, humility, and politeness.
Not only did he gain the trust and attention of the Professors, but he also quickly gathered a group of followers.
If I had discovered his true nature back then, perhaps I could have prevented the series of tragedies that later occurred in the magical world.”
“Are you talking about Lord Voldemort?”
“Oh, Will, you’re very brave. Not many Wizards dare to speak his name.”
“I’m brave because the most powerful White Wizard in the world is sitting right in front of me.”
“Even though many people don’t believe that.”
He handed the cake to Will.
“When Lord Voldemort studied here, he was polite and excelled in his studies. It was only later that we learned it had all been a clever disguise.”
“Child, I am very worried about you.”
“Because I’m like Lord Voldemort?”
“No, you’re very different from him. You don’t hide your likes and dislikes. You have genuine goodwill toward certain people, and you have true friends. Compared to Lord Voldemort, I think you’re more like someone else.”
Dumbledore’s tone became somewhat wistful.
“I’m worried that you might be led astray by power and eventually lose yourself in the world of magic.”
“Promise me, child. Don’t delve into the Dark Arts too early or too easily. They can affect your emotions and your mind.”
“You won’t stop me from studying the Dark Arts?”
“I cannot stop you. You will encounter them eventually. All I can do is offer you some advice before that happens.”
Will looked at Dumbledore in surprise for a moment before nodding.
“Thank you, Professor.”
Clearly, Dumbledore had changed his attitude toward exceptionally talented young Wizards like Will.
“Go back and get a good night’s sleep. Then enjoy your weekend.”
Dumbledore popped the last piece of cake into his mouth and sent Will on his way.
Once Will had left, Dumbledore’s gaze turned toward the Sorting Hat.
“Old friend, would you be willing to tell me about Will?”
“An impolite young Wizard.” The Sorting Hat sounded rather reluctant.
“He actually called me a ‘grimy, rigid hat.'”
“Clearly, he has a straightforward personality.” Dumbledore smiled.
He was quite pleased with Will’s unfeigned and undisguised nature.
“Oh, Albus, I think he called me dirty because you haven’t cleaned me in many years.”
The Sorting Hat sounded increasingly disgruntled.
“As for the boy himself, he’s very dangerous.”
“Dangerous?”
“Yes. He’s the kind of Wizard who relentlessly pursues knowledge, and he has no small amount of ambition. If no one guides him, I’m afraid he’ll eventually walk down a terrifying path.”
The Sorting Hat paused before continuing.
“Think of Herpo. Think of the mad Wizard Lud. Those men were all madmen who pursued knowledge without restraint.”
The Sorting Hat had deliberately chosen two frightening examples.
Dumbledore fell silent, deep in thought.