Chapter 445
: Can't Miss the Chance to Save
Chapter 445: Can't Miss the Chance to Save
"I see."
Vader lowered his head and pondered for a moment, took a deep breath, and said, "Regarding the magic book he gave me... Professor... what suggestions do you have?"
Dumbledore didn't answer immediately. He rummaged through his drawers and handed over a box of toffees.
"Stop frowning and have a piece of candy? Sweets always make people happy."
"…Thank you, Professor."
Wade took it and unfolded the candy wrapper. The surface of the candy had a slightly golden luster and exuded a rich caramel aroma and sweetness.
He ate one and realized that the toffee might be McGee's handiwork.
Contrary to what it looks like, this toffee has a strong aroma but is not too sweet when tasted.
Sweets are not too sweet, and meats are not too greasy; this is the taste that Vader likes. Among the house-elves in the kitchen, only McGee knows this best and will adjust the proportion of sugar according to his taste.
——Maybe a house elf accidentally sent the candy that McGee prepared for Wade to Dumbledore.
Wei De thought so, and narrowed his eyes slightly because his taste was satisfied.
The house-elves of the Witch Party castle are also proficient in cooking, but they prefer to pickle and smoke their food, and then pair it with a variety of strong sauces.
Once, he was served a plate of raw beef minced with pickles and raw egg yolks. When Wade saw the mosaic, he thought it was some weird punishment. But when he went to find Wowilet, he found that the old man was eating with gusto...
Dumbledore sat in front of the desk, staring at Wade quietly through the glasses, his hands folded, his fingers tapping unconsciously, his eyes deep and with a hint of elusive meaning.
After a long while, he asked, "Do you like this toffee?"
"Of course." Vader nodded.
"Great, then you can take this box back. It's too bland for me." Dumbledore pulled out another box and said, "Would you like another jelly slug?"
"Let's forget about this." Wade said hurriedly.
Dumbledore said regretfully, "It's just made to look like a slug. It tastes great and is very popular at Honeydukes... Oh, forget it if you don't like it."
He paused, then suddenly added: "Those books...if you want to learn something or two, you can keep them for yourself."
Wade was startled and looked up at him in surprise.
Dumbledore smiled and nodded slightly: "I won't stop you, Wade - there is nothing wrong with knowledge itself, what is wrong is people's ambition and desire."
"I believe that you have grown into a wise wizard, and no matter what you have learned, you can stick to the light in your heart... Of course, if you feel lost, you can always come to me - I am willing to listen to your ideas at any time."
"Thank you, Professor," Vader said gratefully.
"Then, let's go to lunch." Dumbledore stood up and said, "I hope the kitchen has prepared cream cakes for us today."
Wade hesitated for a moment: "Professor, I want to take a few days off first... go home and see my parents. My parents must be very worried about me. Is that okay?"
"Of course," said Dumbledore gently. "Who can stop a child from visiting his parents? By the way, I suppose you haven't seen your Christmas present yet?"
"Yes," said Vader.
"Then you should sort it out carefully." Dumbledore blinked and said mysteriously, "There are some things in it... I think it will surprise you."
……
The light of the phoenix flashed by, and Dumbledore, who said he was going to have lunch, did not go out. Instead, he stood by the window, looking at the students jumping on the lawn outside.
The portraits on the wall that were pretending to be asleep opened their eyes one by one. Some even walked into other portraits, covered their mouths with their hands, and whispered to each other.
More than two hundred years ago, the headmaster of the healer, Delys De Winter, said bluntly: "Albus, I thought you would not allow your students to come into contact with the dark arts, especially a child who...seems to easily cross that line."
Dumbledore said calmly, "I have faith in Vader."
Dumbledore's predecessor, Armando Dippet, groaned and said, "To be honest, I used to believe in Tom Riddle."
"I have also studied the Dark Arts. Only by understanding it and mastering it can we better resist it and use it in a proper way -" Dumbledore emphasized: "The Dark Arts are not that terrible."
Phineas Black nodded in agreement. "Yes, the children of our Black family have been exposed to the Dark Arts since childhood. But look at Regulus... and Sirius... they are all good children."
Phineas struggled briefly, thinking about which of the two younger bastards he should kick out of his praise list, but after hesitating for a moment, he finally included both of them.
After all… although both of them were extremely stupid, one was already dead and the other was the only remaining Blake. As a great-great-grandfather, he should be more tolerant…
Dalys Devonte snorted angrily and said, "But most people who come into contact with the Dark Arts have their hearts twisted and corrupted! Albus, you should forcefully stop that child from learning the Dark Arts. It just so happens that he listens to you very much!"
Armando Dippet nodded in agreement and said, "Yeah... You can't put too much trust in students. You don't know what they will become in a few decades."
"I know! I warned you a long time ago, remember? Dippet."
Phineas Black gloated: "I've said before that Riddle doesn't look like a good guy, but you didn't believe me and told me to shut up!"
Armando Dippet pretended not to hear and turned his head away, ignoring him.
As for Dumbledore, his successor who cleaned up the mess for him, Dippet was willing to admit his mistakes and warn him not to make the same mistakes again; but when faced with Black, who often made fun of him, Dippet just wanted to kick this annoying guy into a pit and bury him.
There's a reason why Phineas Black is ranked as the most unpopular headmaster.
Another headmaster, Everard, also said in a gentle tone: "I think what they said makes sense, Dumbledore. Why not take this opportunity to stop him from getting in touch with those dark wizards?"
Dumbledore was silent for a moment, then asked, "Phineas...if it were you...if your elders asked you not to touch the dark arts when you were young, would you obey them?"
"Huh? Of course not!" Phineas said proudly under the contemptuous gazes of other principals, "I will definitely agree on the surface, but learn secretly!"
Eupraxia Moore couldn't help but say, "In fact, I wanted to ask this when I was alive - Black, why didn't you go to Durmstrang?"
"Of course it's because it's too cold! And it's too strict. It's not an interesting school at all." Phineas Black said naturally.
Other principals started to expose his shortcomings: "You were also very strict when you were the principal!"
"Students are not allowed to make comments on the management method of Hogwarts, remember?" "You still favor Slytherin! Other houses don't like you!"
"So what?" Phineas Black pretended to pick his ears and said nonchalantly, "I am Slytherin! If I don't love Slytherin, should I love Gryffindor?"
"Dumbledore, take care of this guy who likes dark magic!" a red-haired headmaster shouted in protest.
Dumbledore smiled calmly and explained to the other headmasters: "In fact, I can understand the desire and pursuit of the unknown. Even if I can prevent Wade from getting in touch with the dark arts this time, can I completely stop Grindelwald from getting in touch with my students?"
"If in the future Vader becomes curious about the dark arts and comes into contact with knowledge that he shouldn't be exposed to, causing problems with his body and mind... under normal circumstances, he can ask me for help."
"But if my attitude at this moment is to firmly resist the dark arts, then he will most likely conceal his condition from me and turn to some more dangerous guys."
"So I can't be too harsh," Dumbledore said slowly, "because I don't want to miss an opportunity to save him in the future..."
There was a long silence in the principal's office.
After a long while, the principals finally spoke one after another.
"You're too tired to do this." Phineas Black muttered: "It's a good thing I'm dead."
"Since you have made your decision, we will naturally support you," said Delis Devonte gently.
"I hope the child will live up to your kindness," Evra said, closing his eyes.
"Ah, Albus..." Armando Dippet said with emotion: "In fact, sometimes I think that what a person will become in the future may have been decided when he was born."
The principals closed their eyes one after another, and soon low cries were heard.
This time he really fell asleep.
Dumbledore stood in front of the window, gazing into the distance, as if his eyes were penetrating the scenery in front of him and falling on some invisible place.
……
Phoenix Fox left after sending Wade home. Wade stood at the door and saw through the window that his parents were sitting on the sofa, sorting out a pile of newspapers and letters.
He unconsciously quickened his pace, raised the corners of his mouth, walked over and knocked on the door. After knocking twice, the door was suddenly opened.
"Vade?!"
Fiona screamed in surprise and opened her arms to hug Vader.
"I'm back, Mom."
Wei De felt the hot water droplets falling on his neck and tilted his head to speak softly.
Ferdinand followed closely and trotted to the door. When he saw Wade, his expression instantly became excited. But soon, the man frowned again and fell into deep thought.
Then, he tore his wife off of Vader and pulled her behind him, his eyes slightly narrowed as he looked at the young man in front of him in an inquiring and scrutinizing manner.
"Vader...are you really Vader?"
Vader sighed and nodded, "Of course I am, Dad. Do you need me to say two things to prove myself?"
"Of course not, I will definitely not mistake my own son!"
Fiona wiped her tears, and took out a colorful and childish scarf from somewhere, handed it to me and said, "This is the scarf your mother knitted for you. Try it on to see if the length is right for you."
Wade was about to take it with emotion, but when he saw the childish pattern on it, which looked like a Christmas present, he retracted his hand and frowned and asked, "Is this really for me? Isn't there a simpler color?"
Fiona burst into laughter, pushed her husband away and hugged Wade again, saying happily: "This reaction...it's really Wade!"
Vader: “…”
——Didn’t you agree that a mother won’t make a mistake in admitting her son’s mistake?
Ferdinand's mouth corners also rose uncontrollably, but his body seemed to have lost all strength. He leaned against the door, unable to move.
Feeling the silent fear and worry of his parents, Wade sighed, raised his hands to hug his mother, and said again: "I'm really back, Mom."
……
After everyone calmed down, the family sat on the sofa in front of the fireplace and listened to Wade talk about his experience.
"… Grindelwald wanted to use the Flow Mirror to promote their ideas, so he took me away when he had the chance. While I was there, apart from not being able to leave or contact others at will, I was actually treated pretty well."
Wei De showed himself off and said, "Look, am I a little fatter than before? German food is better than British food in taste and richness, but I don't like mustard, but sauerkraut is okay."
Fiona slapped him with a smile and said, "You kid, you've been kidnapped, and you're still only concerned about what to eat... Did they not beat you? Did they use any dangerous magic on you?"
"No. Because..." Wade coughed awkwardly and said, "Because I was quite cooperative. I gave them the skills they wanted and taught a few people, so they didn't make things difficult for me."
Ferdinand said approvingly: "Don't be ashamed, this is the right thing to do. Showing a cooperative attitude can prevent further damage, preserve your energy, and buy more time and opportunities - how did you come back? Are they willing to let you go?"
"Headmaster Dumbledore came to rescue me this morning," Wade said. "He had a great battle with Grindelwald, and Grindelwald lost. In order to protect others, he had no choice but to let me go."
As for the fact that Grindelwald taught him the dark arts, Wade thought it would be better not to mention it, otherwise his parents would definitely be so worried that they wouldn't be able to sleep all night.
"Great! Headmaster Dumbledore is still reliable."
Fiona made a prayer gesture in gratitude, then said regretfully, "Oh, I should have sent him a Christmas present as well. Wade, does your principal like fine wine? Or would a watch be a better gift? In fact, I think a book would be more appropriate, but I'm worried that he already has the book I'm sending him..."
Wade thought for a moment and smiled, "Everyone gives him books, but maybe Dumbledore would prefer to receive a pair of wool socks?"
"Wool socks?"
Fiona nodded doubtfully, but finally decided to prepare according to what Wade said.
Although it sounds a bit ordinary, Wade has more opportunities to spend time with the principal and must know the old man better than them.
Fiona even secretly decided to give Dumbledore a pair of wool socks every year... Perhaps wool gloves and cashmere sweaters are also good choices?
(End of this chapter)