Chapter 740
Reflection
Chapter 740 Reflection
“I am indeed considering this option.” Dumbledore looked directly at Wade and said calmly, “After all, you are the one who got your hands on this diary, and I think I need to get your opinion first.”
That day, Lucius Malfoy was briefly under Braun's control. But Vader later contacted them and learned that Grindelwald had not brought Lucius back to Greyhold—
After delivering the message to Dumbledore, the man slipped away when he sensed something was wrong. The members of the Malay Party had received prior instructions from Braun and did not stop him.
“How can we be sure this fence-sitter will cooperate?” Wade frowned. “To be honest, I can’t trust this guy.”
"Don't worry, he will cooperate."
Dumbledore gave a sly smile and said slowly, "Otherwise... when Voldemort discovers that his Horcruxes are malfunctioning, no matter how loyal Lucius is, he will probably not escape death."
Wade's eyes lit up: "You mean... the diary...?"
Dumbledore nodded slightly: "We can't let a Horcrux really drain a life and then kill another... Innocent people shouldn't be harmed for this, but we have to wrap the trap in honey before we deliver it to the enemy."
Wade finally relaxed and smiled: "As long as Voldemort can be completely dealt with, you can do whatever you want with that diary, I have no objection."
After a slight pause, he added softly, "If there's anything I can do to help... Professor, please don't hesitate to ask."
Dumbledore was unusually stunned, his eyes widening slightly and his gaze unfocused for a moment.
When Wade got up to say goodbye, Dumbledore seemed a little more silent than usual. Considering that he already had enough troubles lately, Wade wasn't surprised.
Dumbledore isn't made of iron; he always needs to rest.
"Click."
After the office door closed gently, the old principal unconsciously stood by the window.
It was already late at night, and it was pitch black outside the window. Only his own reflection was visible on the glass.
But in Dumbledore's eyes, he seemed to see many young figures—
James Potter leaned against the fireplace, still habitually tossing the Golden Snitch in his hand, and grinned:
"Don't worry, Professor... As long as Lily and the baby are safe, I can go anywhere and do anything."
Lily gently stroked her already noticeably protruding belly:
"If my spell can protect an innocent person, then it is worth using."
Frank Longbottom lowered his head slightly:
"So what if I'm pure-blooded? I just want to do what I can—fight the dark wizard, whoever he may be."
Edgar Bones smiled broadly, gave a thumbs-up, and said:
“I don’t want to be a coward, Principal… death isn’t that scary.”
Karadok Dearborn's face was filled with hatred:
“My sister died at the hands of Death Eaters, Albus… If you won’t let me go to the battlefield, I’ll go myself…”
Gideon Prewitt smiled calmly as he played chess:
"Jasmine just had a baby... What if that child grows up and asks me, 'Uncle, why is the world so terrible?' What am I supposed to say? Haha, to avoid that scenario, we have to work hard now!"
His brother, Fabian, said calmly:
“As long as there is resistance, the Mysterious Man will never win—General, Gideon, you have lost.”
Phoenix Fawkes flapped its wings and gently pecked Dumbledore's finger, snapping him out of his daze.
Upon closer inspection, it was clear that only his own reflection was visible on the glass.
“It’s always like this…” he murmured. “It’s always been like this… the bravest people say the most ordinary things.”
Everyone trusted him, but at these times, Dumbledore felt as if he were being scorched by the blazing sun, irresistibly exposing the darkest corner of his heart.
That place... it is cowardly, despicable, greedy, and teeming with dark thoughts, where one could easily sink into depravity if one is not careful.
He blinked, looked at the highly respected old principal in front of him, and gently wiped the window with his palm.
The night view outside the window suddenly became clear; the quiet campus was deserted, and the lake was like a black mirror.
But tomorrow morning... a few hours later, the lush green grass will be filled with children running and jumping, their clear laughter carried on the morning breeze and rising into the sky, faintly audible even in the principal's office.
Like the students, Dumbledore also loved the days leading up to the holidays the most—the students, free from pressure, could fully unleash their enthusiasm and youth, laughter and singing could be heard everywhere on campus, and many people rode brooms freely, like birds without restraint.
Imagining that scene, he felt as if he had found his anchor again—not a person, not powerful magic, and not some magical artifact, but this ever-vibrant land.
On the glass window, the dull eyes regained their wisdom and calm, as blue as the vast sky.
Dumbledore took off his glasses, wiped them, and then put them back on.
When I looked up, it was as if I saw many smiling figures behind me again.
"It won't be long..."
He silently thought to himself:
"After the diary, only the golden cup remained... Voldemort's soul could no longer endure the pain of further fragmentation; this truly was the end..."
"It won't be long before we wipe him out bit by bit... There will be no hope of him ever coming back to life..."
……
"Click!"
With a soft sound, a flame appeared, and Narcissa, holding the candlestick, walked up the stairs step by step.
Pushing open the study door, she saw her husband leaning against the window, looking haggard, carefully lifting a crack in the heavy curtains to peek outside.
“There’s no one outside, I’ve checked,” Narcissa said softly, placing the candlestick on the table.
"It's better to be careful," Lucius Malfoy said cautiously in a low voice, then pulled a map from the bookshelf and traced lines on it with his finger.
“Should we continue looking for a hiding place?” Narcissa asked softly. “You know that man’s magic… as long as you still have the Dark Mark on your arm, he can find us.”
Lucius asked thoughtfully, "What do you think... about me cutting off my own arm?"
“It’s not impossible, but we can’t hide forever.” Narcissa reached out and took his arm, saying, “Draco’s going on vacation soon, and we have to go pick him up.”
Lucius Malfoy's expression stiffened slightly as he gripped his arm and his wife's cold hand, a hint of regret creeping into his eyes.
(End of this chapter)