Chapter 723
Keeping Distance from Power
Chapter 723 Keeping Distance from Power
As they spoke, Wade and Dumbledore arrived in front of the gargoyle below the Headmaster's office. After giving the command, the two slowly ascended the spiraling staircase.
Dumbledore asked with a smile, "It sounds like... you don't like Mr. Scrimgeour very much?"
There was no blame in his tone, so Wade spoke frankly.
"There are some."
He frankly stated, "Mr. Scrimgeour is known for his tough approach, but outward toughness and inner strength are two different things... I'm worried he might take some radical measures—"
"It's not just targeting suspicious individuals; it will also affect ordinary people and even allies."
“Although I don’t know Mr. Scrimgeour very well, I do know Professor Moody—a good Auror can be a good professor, but it’s difficult to be a qualified Minister for Magic.”
Who would want a Minister of Magic who is suspicious, sharp-tongued, and fond of coercive methods such as arrests and surveillance?
“No one is perfect, Wade,” Dumbledore said. “Perhaps you think I’ll be a better minister than Fudge, better than Scrimgeour… Ah, to be honest, I’m quite confident of that myself, or perhaps arrogant…”
He opened the office door and led Wade inside, whereupon a portrait emitted a loud snorting sound.
"Hmph, Dumbledore, too modest... You're a hundred times better than those fools! If you want to do it, you can do it. Remember your ambitions from back then; I don't believe you've forgotten them..."
Phineas tapped his knee with his fingers while giving Vader a sly look.
“Thank you, Phineas,” Dumbledore said. “Thank you for such high praise of my youthful foolishness.”
He gestured for Wade to sit down, then turned and sat in a high-backed chair himself. On the table beside him, besides the exquisite instruments, there was now a gleaming gold kettle.
The boy ignored the portraits on the wall that were secretly observing him and said, "I guess there was a 'but' after what you just said?"
Dumbledore smiled: "Yes, there is a 'but'."
After a pause, he continued, "Power is like a magic mirror, magnifying our most hidden flaws... Perhaps I possess more knowledge than most people, but that also means that when I make mistakes, I will cause more harm to people."
He gazed at Wade and said softly, “When a person possesses both power and wisdom, it is easy to fall into the dangerous self-persuasion of ‘for the greater good’ or ‘for world peace’.”
Fox, perched on a branch, suddenly let out a soft cry. Wade glanced at it, his eyes filled with affection and gratitude.
Wade wasn't facing Voldemort without any protection; when he confronted the Dark Lord, Fawkes was actually hidden within him—
One of Vader's chest pockets was enchanted with a seamless stretching spell, creating just enough space for the phoenix to stay inside.
When Barty Jr. took Harry hostage, it was Fawkes who told him to be patient for the time being, and later reminded him how to release the puppet.
Or rather, it was Dumbledore who communicated with him remotely through Fawkes.
He turned his gaze back and saw the principal speaking just as frankly:
“You know, I made a big mistake because of my desire for power. If I were to take the highest executive power, I might repeat the same mistake or risk becoming autocratic.”
"As I told you before—I am actually a conceited and arrogant fool."
“Compared to Fudge, my advantage lies in my clear understanding of my weaknesses, which allows me to keep my distance from power and maintain a clear head when necessary.” Wade nodded, the fog in his mind gradually dissipating.
He previously felt that Grindelwald was now very powerful, and the resurrected Voldemort was secretly gathering strength again. Even for the sake of peace in the wizarding world, Dumbledore should not continue to refuse the position of Minister of Magic.
Grindelwald mocked Dumbledore for his persistent refusal to serve as minister, Voldemort considered him hypocritical and cowardly, and many ordinary people who supported Dumbledore were disappointed in him because of this, such as the werewolf family in the Forbidden Forest.
Wade himself... actually thought so too.
But at this moment he realized—this was not cowardice, but a clarity that transcended the temptation of power, a seemingly “dull” sense of responsibility.
Dumbledore relinquished the power to actively change the world because he chose to protect the foundations of the castle and the future of the wizarding world.
As he seemed to understand something, Dumbledore returned to the original topic:
"Rufus may be stubborn, but it is precisely this stubbornness that allows him to uphold his principles during turbulent times. He will be more aware of the threats than Fudge and will take decisive action—although his actions may not always be correct, they are better than doing nothing."
Wade pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly.
"You're right, Professor."
He smiled helplessly: "Compared to Fudge's self-deception, at least Mr. Scrinker is willing to face the problem head-on—even if it means getting hurt."
A funny thought suddenly popped into Vader's mind:
It's probably because Fudge's ability to disgust people is too strong that even someone as tolerant as Dumbledore didn't want to continue tolerating a minister like him, which is why he chose to support the completely opposite Scrimgeour.
Dumbledore's eyes narrowed with a smile, and his beard trembled slightly: "My dear Wade, it seems you know Rufus far better than you realize it!"
"His head was smashed and bleeding..."
He couldn't help but laugh more at those words: "You know what? A few years ago, Rufus actually smashed through a wall with his head while chasing a werewolf fugitive!"
"What a coincidence?"
Wade was taken aback at first, then couldn't help but laugh. His gaze swept over the quiet golden kettle, lingering for a moment.
"Professor, what is this kettle?" Wade asked. "It looks similar to a time-changer, is it some kind of magical device related to time?"
“Indeed.” Dumbledore’s expression was somewhat grave. “That is what I’m worried about as well.”
"Worry?"
Vader was puzzled, then realized: "Could it be that this kettle... wasn't it Voldemort who stole it when he broke into the Department of Mysteries?"
He remembered that something similar seemed to have appeared in the original work.
Dumbledore took off his glasses and wiped them. After a long while, he sighed and said, "If that's really the case, then it's much simpler."
"But this kettle... it's not the work of any of the silent men in the British Bureau of Mysteries, and that's the biggest problem."
One update tonight
(End of this chapter)