Chapter 1031
Long Talk 1
Chapter 1031 Long Talk 1
"They didn't send me a message; their intention was simply to protect their comrade and not make a big deal out of it, but the result..."
Dumbledore sighed deeply, but instead of blaming anyone else, he said, "It's my fault, Wade."
"The entire Order of the Phoenix has gradually become complacent due to the prolonged peace. I should have foreseen this, and I should have been more attentive in supervising and making everyone realize how dangerous and important this matter is..."
"I focused too much attention on distant threats and didn't give enough thought to the changes in the people around me."
Wade listened quietly until the old man finished speaking, then slowly shook his head.
"No one can foresee everything or be without making any mistakes—not even God."
He looked at Dumbledore and said softly, "Professor, you've already shouldered too much responsibility. If you insist on taking all the blame—even for other people's mistakes—on yourself, won't you break down?"
"Don't be so gentle, child." Suddenly a sharp voice rang out from the side, "You should yell at him, grab his water bottle and smash it on his head, that might make him torment his arrogance a little!"
For a moment, Wade thought that Phineas Black had said such harsh words, but then he realized that the voice was coming from a rather low position.
He turned his head, his eyes crinkling into a smile, and said, "Long time no see, Ralph."
"Hello, Wade."
Ralph said in a slightly hoarse voice, "But I can't say 'long time no see,' because I've seen you every day since you came back, it's just that you kids don't see me most of the time."
To the side and behind Vader stood a small, thin house-elf with white hair growing in its ears, looking like a withered tree trunk.
But Wade knew how much power was contained within that old and short body.
Back when Vader hadn't yet mastered Apparition, he was in America but needed to return to London as soon as possible. It was this house-elf who Apparated him all the way back.
Even though Ralph couldn't cross thousands of miles in one go, but instead used several small islands in the vast ocean between the two countries as stepping stones, the magic of this feat is truly astonishing.
Moreover, as everyone knows, wizards can only Apparate to places they have been before, and they need to have a clear image in their minds to successfully complete the transfer. House-elves are the same.
So Ralf is not only powerful in magic, but also a very knowledgeable house-elf.
Upon seeing Ralph, Dumbledore smiled wryly and said, "Is this considered arrogance?"
"Of course! Whether human or house-elves, we are all responsible for our mistakes—unless it is a child who has not yet reached adulthood."
Ralph walked to the table, nodded to Wade, then placed the drinks and snacks on the tray he was carrying on the table and said to Dumbledore:
"If Dumbledore insists that he should be responsible for other people's mistakes, then he is denying that the people who make mistakes are also independent and autonomous adults, and believing that they do not have the courage to bear the consequences."
"Moreover, he actually believes that he alone can control everyone's behavior and thoughts, and avoid all mistakes?"
Ralph curled his lips into a mocking smile and said slowly:
"I thought only Odin, the king of the gods, would place himself at the center of the universe and believe that his every move could determine the course of everything!"
"when!"
With a soft click, Ralph placed the last plate of pudding on the table and said to Wade:
“Please enjoy it, Wade. This is specially made by McKee to suit your taste; you'll definitely like it.” “Ah…ah, okay,” Wade quickly replied, “Thank him for me.”
Ralph nodded and disappeared from the room with a "pop".
After he left, the room suddenly became very quiet.
Wade didn't look at Dumbledore, nor did he eat the pudding. He simply stroked a cufflink on his sleeve, as if he had suddenly discovered its captivating luster.
After a long while, Dumbledore sighed softly: "Well... Ralph is always right... It is indeed a kind of arrogance."
He spoke softly to Wade, but it sounded more like he was analyzing himself:
"I always thought... if I could have seen further and thought more thoroughly, perhaps I could have avoided the tragedy."
“I took the responsibility, perhaps because… I couldn’t bear to blame this sense of powerlessness on fate, nor could I bear the feeling of being out of control and uncertain… I wanted to take more responsibility myself in order to control the outcome.”
He looked up at the fragrant hot cocoa on the table, his voice tinged with a sober resignation:
"But in any case, we are not gods, we cannot solve all problems, nor can we foresee all crises. Some prices, it seems, are destined to be paid no matter how much we prepare."
"Just like Lady Abigail..."
“She is a passionate and upright person. I have seen shadows behind her, but I always thought... I thought we could change her, could make her re-examine her heart and her position... I thought it was not too late.”
“She has indeed been changed, Professor.”
"She chose to fight against the deception and exploitation of the past, which is why she chose to die," Wade said in a low voice.
Dumbledore's gaze snapped back to focus on Wade's face, looking at him intently as he asked gently, "And you, Wade?"
Wade looked at him, puzzled: "Me?"
Dumbledore said, "After receiving that news... are you alright?"
“I’m fine,” Wade said. “Why do you ask?”
“Because I worry,” Dumbledore said, placing his hands clasped on the table and looking at Wade, “when you think back on this, do you feel… that you also bear some responsibility for her death?”
The office fell silent again for a brief moment, but unlike the awkward silence before, the air seemed to thicken with the quiet.
Wade did not answer, his gaze lowered to the back of his hand, his knuckles tightening slightly.
Dumbledore sighed and said, “Don’t be like me, Wade… Ralf is right, we can’t take full responsibility for other people’s choices, especially since Lady Abigail knows the cost.”
"She has been a purger for many years and knows the dangers of the dream weavers better than you do. She also knows what regaining memories means. Under these circumstances, her choice is a judgment on her own life, and you can only respect it, not decide her life or death for her."
(End of this chapter)