Hearing the respectful tone in Vincent’s voice, Dumbledore’s immediate instinct was to turn and walk away.
If the boy was being this polite, there was almost certainly a catch.
Yet no matter how much he mistrusted it, Dumbledore remained standing where he was, not moving an inch.
Fleeing in panic over a single sentence hardly befitted the Headmaster of Hogwarts.
He put on his warmest, most genial smile, appearing completely unbothered by Vincent’s strange behavior.
“What is it, Vincent? If you need anything at all, you have only to ask.”
Could Dumbledore really be this kindhearted?
Now, it wasn’t just Dumbledore—Vincent also felt there was something decidedly off about this exchange.
The two of them stared at each other.
Both knew the other harbored ulterior motives, yet both kept up their false smiles as they carried on the conversation.
Since they were going to talk anyway, it made sense to move to a more comfortable location.
Dumbledore offered with a smile, “Would you like to come up to my office for a chat? Perhaps you’d care for a cup of tea I brewed, or my favorite sweets, Lemon Sherbets. A comfortable environment helps one relax, which makes it much easier to share our true thoughts.”
He had wanted to have a heart-to-heart with Vincent ever since the boy arrived at Hogwarts.
But until Vincent truly experienced the magic of the castle, anything Dumbledore said would have been in vain.
Vincent sat across from Headmaster Dumbledore once again.
Sunlight streaming through the stained-glass windows bathed the Headmaster’s office in a bright, cheerful atmosphere, where dappled light and shadow softened the quiet room.
Dumbledore poured him a cup of freshly brewed black tea.
It was lethally sweet; after a tiny sip, Vincent knew his palate wasn’t made for it.
*Perhaps his goal was to lure me here and poison me with this atrocious tea, so he can sit peacefully in his headmaster’s chair without ever worrying about me again.*
Vincent knew full well that since Dumbledore had allowed him into Hogwarts, he wouldn’t actually entertain such thoughts, but he didn’t mind indulging in the amusement.
It was quite entertaining, really.
Dumbledore was on guard against him, yet unable to do anything drastic, and watching the old man squirm with tension was thoroughly amusing.
Vincent was the first to break the silence.
A sly smile tugged at the corners of his lips, making him look like a completely different person from his usual composed self.
“Headmaster Dumbledore, I’ve been pondering a question. What exactly guarantees the safety of Hogwarts?”
*Hogwarts: A History* naturally described how powerful magical enchantments protected the ancient castle, but Vincent was asking Dumbledore directly.
He wanted to know what kept the school safe from within, aside from fending off external threats.
Dumbledore replied with a smile, showing not the slightest irritation at the question.
“Vincent, the safety of Hogwarts rests upon many pillars: the unity of the staff and students, the protective enchantments of magic, and our unwavering commitment to justice.”
Generic platitudes.
He might as well have said nothing at all.
Vincent nodded slowly, putting on a thoughtful expression.
“You make a compelling point, Headmaster. But I can’t help thinking that sometimes, danger comes from unexpected places. Like… watchful eyes hidden in the shadows, for instance.”
The overly formal phrasing made the underlying meaning all the more glaring.
*Someone is watching me from the shadows.
I don’t know who yet, but now that I’ve told you, you’d better pay attention.*
Dumbledore narrowed his eyes slightly, seemingly catching the subtext.
“Vincent, please don’t be overly anxious, nor should you dwell too much on the gazes of others. Hogwarts is a place full of love. If people pay extra attention to you, I believe it comes mostly from goodwill. You should try to enjoy your life here, rather than pushing yourself so hard.”
*Perhaps I sounded a bit too solemn, but this needs to be said.* Light glinted off the half-moon spectacles resting on Dumbledore’s nose.
*He noticed I’ve been watching him.* Dumbledore had assumed this was already an open secret between them since arriving at Hogwarts.
Why was Vincent suddenly bringing it into the open?
Was he trying to reject this scrutiny, or was he planning something in secret and giving a warning?
Beneath Vincent’s grand, diplomatic wording, Dumbledore’s thoughts had spiraled into troubling directions.
The Riddle of the past had become an uncontrollable Dark Lord because of his own oversight.
Now, given a second chance, Dumbledore hoped he could provide proper guidance and prevent such a dire tragedy from recurring.
He was old now.
Had it been his younger self, he might have handled the matter far more directly.
But facing a boy who had done nothing wrong—a boy who was merely deeply guarded and intensely curious about the magical world—Dumbledore had no cause, nor could he bring himself to take drastic action.
Vincent didn’t realize just how dark a path Dumbledore’s thoughts had strayed down.
“That’s wonderful to hear, Headmaster Dumbledore. I’m sure you’ll keep me safe. After all, you are the greatest light wizard in the world.”
*Alright, alright.
I know you’re watching me, and I know you want me to fit in at Hogwarts.
I accept all of it—as long as you guarantee my safety.*
His expression shifted into a warmer, brighter smile, making him look like a perfectly obedient child.
It was simply a fair exchange.
Vincent would act the part Dumbledore wanted to see, so long as the Headmaster kept him safe until he figured out what was threatening him.
Seeking appropriate help before gaining true power was a necessary survival tactic.
Vincent saw nothing embarrassing in it; it was simply the most rational choice given the circumstances.
*See?
He really does belong in Ravenclaw.
Such a clever boy.*
Sarcasm.
Unadulterated sarcasm.
The boy was pointing out the surveillance and expressing his displeasure.
Dumbledore’s expression shifted abruptly from genial to grave.
“Vincent, I believe you will be a good young man with a very bright future ahead of you. If you ever encounter a situation you cannot handle, or if anything makes you unhappy here at Hogwarts, you may always come to me—or to Professor McGonagall. She is the Deputy Headmistress, and she is quite skilled at reassuring students.”
*Minerva wasn’t skilled at reassuring students at all—she just knew the fastest way to squash a student’s curiosity and put a stop to their foolishness.*
“I’m deeply honored that you have such faith in me, Headmaster,” Vincent said, a subtle trace of irony in his voice.
*He doesn’t trust me at all, yet insists on spouting these platitudes.
Couldn’t we just keep up polite appearances without trying to sound so profound?*
“Though I can’t guarantee I’ll never give in to temptation,” Vincent added.
“After all, magic is so powerful that it can be hard to resist.”
Vincent subtly voiced his discontent, confident Dumbledore would read between the lines.
The added remark carried a final warning: if Dumbledore couldn’t keep him safe, Vincent would have to take matters into his own hands.
*Who knows what horrible things the previous Riddle did to make Dumbledore so paranoid about me?*
*Still, it’s a good thing in a way.
At least Dumbledore will treat me with extra caution, giving my safety an added layer of guarantee.*
Dumbledore gazed steadily at Vincent, seeing past the handsome visage to the soul within this face that felt both familiar and alien.
“Magic is indeed powerful, but true power springs from kindness and courage in one’s heart. Vincent, you must trust in your heart and never let yourself be consumed by darkness.”
*Do not walk down the same path as the Riddle before you.*
Vincent fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly, “That’s easy for you to say, Headmaster. In a world full of danger and hardship, kindness and courage don’t always bring victory. Sometimes, to achieve our goals, we have to make difficult choices.”
He didn’t know why he had suddenly said that.
He had originally intended only to offer superficial platitudes to placate Dumbledore, but the Headmaster seemed so genuinely invested that his look and tone prompted Vincent to offer a slice of his honest thoughts.
Vincent never made promises he couldn’t keep.
He might cut corners or take unconventional risks, but he stayed within his own boundaries; he did not lie.
Dumbledore shook his head slightly, holding firm to his belief.
“Vincent, making difficult choices does not mean abandoning kindness and courage. We can resolve our problems with wisdom and strategy rather than straying onto a dark path.”
The subtle implication here was becoming quite obvious.
“Wisdom and strategy?” A faint, cold smile touched Vincent’s lips.
He looked ready to offer a sharp rebuttal, but checked himself.
In his current position, antagonizing Dumbledore would do him no good at all.
Vincent fell silent, though Dumbledore could tell clearly that the boy hadn’t taken his warning to heart at all.
In the depths of Dumbledore’s blue eyes, a hint of scrutiny emerged, though it was still bathed in compassion.
“Vincent, extreme measures bring only greater pain and disaster. We ought to resolve conflicts with love and tolerance, rather than fostering more hatred. Perhaps you cannot fully understand this right now. You are still young. As you grow older and experience more of this world, you will come to understand.”
“Age isn’t the measure of everything, Headmaster Dumbledore. What you say makes sense, of course—the passage of time grants us greater experience and different perspectives on life. However, I’ve always believed that a sharp mind can bridge that gap.” Vincent shrugged indifferently.
“Love and tolerance? In a peaceful world, those might be wonderful tools. But that relies on one premise—that the world is actually peaceful.”
Dumbledore let out a deep sigh.
*Love and tolerance are the most powerful forces in existence.
They can change the world.*
He pushed no further.
Enough had been said today; to press any harder would only invite resentment.
As for Vincent, he was the kind of person who responded to gentle persuasion, not brute pressure.
Since Dumbledore didn’t try to lecture him further, Vincent actually felt a faint prick of sympathy rising within him at the old man’s heavy sigh.
Vincent remained quiet for a short moment before suddenly asking, “Headmaster, if I truly strayed onto the wrong path one day… what would you do?”
*If I really end up going down the wrong path like the last Riddle, will Dumbledore regret doing nothing today?*
Dumbledore answered without a moment’s hesitation.
“I would do everything in my power to guide you back to the right path. I believe everyone deserves a chance at redemption. As your Headmaster, the very purpose of Hogwarts is to educate children. That is my duty.”
*If a child at Hogwarts strays into wrongdoing, part of the fault inevitably lies with Albus Dumbledore.*
Vincent looked at Dumbledore, a flicker of complex emotion passing through his eyes.
“Your kindness is admirable, Headmaster.”
Whatever one thought of his philosophy, Dumbledore’s sense of duty deserved genuine praise.
Vincent smiled softly.
“You really are, as everyone says, the greatest light wizard in the world.”
Dumbledore returned the smile.
“Thank you for the compliment, Vincent. You are an exceptional young wizard yourself, and I look forward to seeing the height of your future achievements. I am certain they will benefit the entire wizarding world.”
Their undercurrent-laden conversation drew to a close, leaving both of them relatively satisfied.