It's Like an Old Friend Returns

Belvina Black II, the youngest daughter of the Black family.

Some say she is a leading figure among the younger generation, while others see her as a traitor to the pure bloodline.

In Dumbledore's eyes, she was just a young woman who had lost her way in life, capable and thoughtful, but content with mediocrity.

Belvina could push the minister to the top from behind the scenes, or step into the limelight to showcase herself. Dumbledore felt a strange sense of déjà vu about her.

They can all be considered idealists, equally charismatic, equally talented, and equally driven by a desire to change the world.

Nevertheless, Dumbledore did not regard Belvina as that person, or as that person's successor. Everyone is unique and irreplaceable.

Dumbledore wouldn't take any precautions or simply raise his wand; he wouldn't step into the same river twice, and he wasn't that heartless.

Moreover, Belvina and Gellert Grindelwald are ultimately different.

To achieve his ideals, Grindelwald was willing to give everything, by any means necessary, regardless of the cost.

Belvina's ideals are just that—ideals. Rather than realizing her so-called ideals, she seems more willing to shut herself away and live a peaceful life.

Her true beauty remains unknown, her untapped talents are shelved, and she is trapped in a self-imposed cage, unwilling to let herself go.

This is Dumbledore's observation over the past two months, his personal assessment of Belvina. It may not be entirely accurate, but it is the most fitting description he could think of.

Albus Dumbledore hesitated, unsure whether to let Belvina continue to confine herself to her own little world, or to break free of her cage and let the beautiful bird soar through the sky once more.

"Belvina, what do you think about this?" Dumbledore asked.

Not Professor Black, nor Miss Black, but by their first names in a slightly more intimate way.

At this moment, Dumbledore is neither the headmaster of Hogwarts nor the universally acknowledged greatest wizard of his time, but simply an old man who wants to listen to the voices of young people.

I'll think about it sitting down; standing is too tiring!

Of course, Belvina only dared to think it in her heart; she would never dare to say it out loud.

People can be cheeky, but they must be careful about who they are and the occasion, or they'll end up hurting themselves.

"Professor Dumbledore, how do the traps you and the other professors set up compare to Gringotts?" Belvina asked, her serious demeanor a sight she hadn't seen in a long time.

The question of whether Hogwarts or Gringotts is the safest place in the world has long been a question that lingers in the minds of many.

Gringotts is an extremely dangerous place, thanks to the exquisite skills passed down by generations of goblins, the dangerous traps and vicious curses brought back from digging up graves, and the fire dragons kept deep underground.

The higher the danger level of Gringotts, the wizarding bank, the safer the wizards' wealth is when they keep it there.

Hogwarts, a school with a history spanning thousands of years, was founded by the four greatest wizards of its time. The Forbidden Forest and the Black Lake protect this ancient castle, and the wisdom and hard work of generations of wizards have made it indestructible, just as the school motto says: "Sleeping dragon, do not disturb."

At the same time, Hogwarts has a major advantage that Gringotts does not: its current headmaster, Albus Dumbledore.

This summer, Gringotts Wizarding Bank was "contributed" to someone, and the goblins' prized mechanisms and magic became nothing more than paper tigers.

Now, it's Hogwarts and Dumbledore's turn to be tested. What's even more dangerous is that the enemy is right here in Hogwarts, in this ancient castle that has stood for thousands of years.

“I respect most of the professors at the university, but I don’t think the traps they set up can compare to Gringotts,” Belvina continued. “We can’t keep a ferocious dragon locked up in a castle.”

Bassheda Bablin, standing to the side, silently raised her hand to cover her mouth, trying her best not to laugh out loud.

Rigorous, extremely rigorous. Basilda could guarantee with a year's worth of snacks that Snape was definitely not among the "most professors".

"I have to admit you're right, Belvina." Dumbledore nodded in acknowledgment, his movements almost as swift as a sliding knee. "Hogwarts is, after all, a school."

Hogwarts has hundreds of students, the youngest being only eleven years old and the oldest only seventeen or eighteen. The school and professors' primary task is to ensure the safety of the students.

"Please forgive my disrespect again, Professor Dumbledore. I am glad you still remember that this is the school."

Unlike Dumbledore's proactive approach, Belvina always maintained a distance, and now she was even more disrespectful, as if she had suddenly forgotten her own worth.

Belvina continued, "On Halloween Eve, a twelve-foot-tall monster broke into the school. This morning, Mr. Potter's flying broomstick was cursed; someone wants to kill him."

"I don't understand, Professor Dumbledore."

Although she didn't speak with a Fenghua accent, Belvina genuinely couldn't understand how Dumbledore could remain calm when Quirrell's actions went beyond simply threatening the students' safety.

The young man's question hit the nail on the head, and even the greatest wizard of our time could not immediately provide an answer.

Dumbledore thought for a moment and said, "Belvina—and of course, Basilda. If you were me, what would you choose?"

Without any tricks or traps, Dumbledore simply returned the questions and doubts to them, and he genuinely wanted to know Belvina's true thoughts.

"Professor Dumbledore, I don't like cat-and-mouse games. The longer it drags on, the more variables there are. What if the mouse suddenly becomes stronger than the cat?"

Without any hesitation, it was almost a blurt out. Rather than hiding or being coy, it was better to be straightforward and express one's true feelings.

This straightforward way of speaking saves a lot of trouble.

"I think so too, Professor Dumbledore." Bassheda raised her arm like a student. "Just take him down—just take him down. That will ensure the safety of the students and prevent him from continuing to covet the Philosopher's Stone."

If we were to interpret the two young professors' thoughts using the analogy of a compressed Eastern language, it would be "hesitation leads to trouble," meaning they should directly arrest the culprit to avoid endless future problems.

Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully again. He knew this was the safest and most efficient method, but he did not choose it and instead waited passively.

Perhaps he wanted to give those who had gone astray a chance to reform, or perhaps he wanted to prepare a whetstone for Harry Potter; no one knew Dumbledore's true thoughts.

Dumbledore remained silent, and the headmaster's office suddenly fell silent, with only a faint buzzing sound proving that they had not suddenly lost their hearing.

Belvina stared intently at the old headmaster sitting on the steps. He was really old; his silver hair and beard were long enough to be tucked into his belt, and his crooked nose looked like it had been broken at least twice. The river of time flowed slowly in his bright, azure eyes.

It turns out that the great Albus Dumbledore was just a mortal; he would grow old, he would die, he would become weak, and he would hesitate.

It turns out that the great Albus Dumbledore wasn't as terrible as people imagined.

Belvina thought this to herself, and in some corner of her heart that she didn't notice, a soft sound came out—click!

"I fully understand your concerns. I will make appropriate modifications to the original plan, and I assure you that the Philosopher's Stone will be safe," Dumbledore said slowly.

The principal's behavior resembled that of a stubborn old man, a domineering patriarch. He seemed to still want to give Quirinas Quirrell another chance, still wanting to save the lost soul.

Dumbledore paused, as if making a decision, and continued, "If—I mean if—he threatens the safety of any student again, I will act immediately! Without hesitation!"

Having learned what they wanted to know and obtained the answers they sought, it was time for Belvina and her two companions to leave the principal's office.

Paul Bernard held the silverware with obvious delight, strutting out of the office like a spoiled rich kid.

Belvina and Basilda were also preparing to leave when they heard Dumbledore suddenly speak from behind them: "Basilda, I have a few words I'd like to say to you."

The two women standing at the office door exchanged a glance, both seeing confusion in each other's eyes.

Belvina had no choice but to leave the office first, while Bassheda sat back down, puzzled. She asked, "Professor, is there anything else?"

Dumbledore, with his silver hair and beard, pondered for a moment, then said, "In your eyes, what kind of person is Belvina Black?"

"Professor! You're not doubting Belvina, are you?!" Bassheda jumped to her feet, her face filled with disbelief. "Anyone could want the Philosopher's Stone, but Belvina would never!"

Only after Dumbledore shook his head in denial did Bathsheda slowly sit back down, but she didn't sit properly in the armchair. Instead, she sat in a very tiring way, as if she could get up quickly at any moment.

In ancient times, if Nirvana was unhappy, no one could speak ill of Belvina, not even Albus Dumbledore.

"In my opinion, there are countless flaws in Belvina."

Others are not allowed to speak ill of their good friends, but you can, and not only can you, you should say it all the time.

"She's a deep thinker, but also incredibly timid. She clearly enjoys solitude, yet forces herself to socialize; the word 'hypocrisy' seems tailor-made for her." Bassheda counted her friend's flaws on her fingers. "She's also a hypocrite; she says she hates Blake, yet she's busy running around for that surname..."

Basista ruffled her hair in frustration and said, "Oh dear, she has so many flaws, I can't possibly list them all."

"Since Belvina has so many flaws, why do you still want to be friends with her?" Dumbledore asked with a smile. "You two have been good friends for over ten years."

"Because no one in this world treats me better than her; she is a gift from God."

For a fleeting moment.

Albus Dumbledore panicked.