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Chapter 1495: Greed
Chapter 1495: Greed
"Is something on your mind?"
Late at night, wrapped in a thick cloak, Isabelle pushed open the cabin door and stepped out onto the deck, shrouded in darkness. Her gaze fell on a solitary figure sitting under the lamplight, fishing and enjoying the sea breeze. She knew that whenever Albert had something troubling him, he would come up to the deck to clear his head, fish, and ponder solutions to his problems.
"A bit," Albert acknowledged.
He patted the spot next to him, gesturing for Isabelle to sit.
"If you don't mind…" Isabelle snuggled close to him, their bodies leaning against each other as they faced the dark sea, the cool breeze brushing their faces. They spoke in hushed tones.
"I've realized that Dumbledore isn't exactly a good person either," Albert suddenly remarked, his words seemingly coming out of nowhere.
"So, you're having trouble accepting that?" Isabelle was a bit surprised that Albert would bring up such a topic. In her eyes, he wasn't usually the type to dwell on such matters.
"No, it's just that I'm starting to think that there are no truly good people in this world." Albert picked up his fishing rod, which had failed to attract any bites, and sighed, "I'm right not to try and be a good person. Once you reach a certain level of power, the concept of 'good' becomes irrelevant."
"What brought this on?" Isabelle was a bit bewildered by Albert's train of thought.
Albert briefly recounted the events surrounding the wandmaker, Ollivander.
"So, you're blaming yourself for not being able to save him?" Isabelle was surprised, but she felt that there was more to it. Albert usually remained detached when it came to strangers, and she didn't expect him to be troubled by the fate of someone he didn't know.
"Not exactly," Albert continued, "As a seer, I've long come to terms with the fact that I may foresee people's misfortunes but not always be able to prevent them. Besides…"
"Besides what?"
"Besides, I did save Ollivander's family. It's just that I feel like I'm becoming more and more like Dumbledore." Albert couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion as he spoke.
"In what way?" Isabelle asked.
"In the way that I'll do whatever it takes to achieve my goals."
"Is Dumbledore like that as well?" Isabelle was astonished at Albert's assessment of the esteemed wizard.
"Yes," Albert sighed softly, "Most so-called great figures are of a similar ilk. I find myself turning into the kind of person I used to detest, even though I'm still so young. It's baffling."
"So, you're reflecting on your own changes?" Isabelle's expression turned a little strange, "Or are you simply not ready to head back and rest, my dear?"
"No, I'm worried about the next steps of our plan." Albert hesitated for a moment before confiding in Isabelle, "Harry, Ron, and Hermione are falling a bit behind the schedule I had in mind."
"It seems their talent for Dark Magic is rather average," Isabelle remarked, knowing exactly what Albert meant by "schedule." She added, "I recall you tutoring them personally."
According to the original plan, after the mysterious man confirmed that the "Deathstick" in his possession was genuine, it would be time for the trio of saviors to embark on their daring heist of Gringotts, culminating in the destruction of a Horcrux. However, Harry and his friends' control over the Blasting Curse left much to be desired.
Albert understood that it wasn't entirely Harry's fault. The Blasting Curse had always been one of the most challenging Dark Curses to master fully. Nonetheless, they had reached a critical juncture, and he knew they couldn't afford to delay any further. If Voldemort decided to disregard all consequences and kill Snape, only to discover that the Deathstick he possessed was a fake, he would undoubtedly realize that Albert had orchestrated this elaborate trap.
In such a scenario, Voldemort might very well flee without a second thought for his Horcruxes, and that would be a truly embarrassing turn of events.
They had to use the Horcrux as bait and complete their preparations before Voldemort caught on, ensuring his utter defeat and permanent return to the coffin, preventing any further resurrections.
However, forcing the trio to invade Gringotts prematurely carried risks. What if the savior perished along the way? It wasn't that Albert lacked faith in Harry's savior complex, but as they approached the climax of their journey, extreme caution was warranted to avoid any mishaps that could undo years of effort right before the final victory.
Albert was well aware that nothing in this world was ever perfect, but he wanted it all—and to get it, he had to give it his all and win this wizarding war decisively.
After all, there was so much he stood to gain from this conflict, and some sacrifices were inevitable.
It wasn't that Albert was overly greedy, but ever since his first year, he had set his sights on the ultimate prize—the downfall of Voldemort—and he wasn't about to give up now.
The most pressing issue at hand was the lack of time! What frustrated him even more was that everyone else seemed blissfully unaware of the urgency of their situation.
At times, Albert wondered how Dumbledore had managed to remain so calm and collected while orchestrating the plan for the savior to defeat the Dark Lord.
How had he ensured that everything unfolded according to his wishes?
Was it truly the so-called "will of the great cosmos" (author's power) at play?
Or perhaps… the old man could only remain so unperturbed because he knew that I would be there to catch him if he fell?
That was indeed likely part of the reason.
"The question is, who will catch me if I fall?"
The thought suddenly popped into Albert's head, but he quickly dismissed it.
He didn't need anyone to catch him.
Albert neither needed nor wanted anyone to share in the fruits of his labor.
"I'm starting to feel like the final boss of an evil organization," Albert muttered to himself. "I suppose I really am asking for too much."
While he had already attained most of what he desired during his confrontations with the mysterious man, and even if he chose to back down now, he wouldn't be at a loss, but Albert wanted that final fruit. It had been his objective since his school days, and he couldn't simply let it go.
He wouldn't give up, even if failure meant minimal consequences.
Why not? Indeed, students of Gryffindor were known for their adventurous spirits.
"My mind tends to wander when I'm talking to others," Isabelle remarked, kissing Albert's cheek and pulling him up from his seat. "Enough fishing for tonight. Let's head back and get some rest."
"Wait, I haven't…"
"You can rest, recharge your energy, and there will be plenty of time to think later, won't there?" Isabelle guided Albert back into the cabin, leaving the cleanup to the house-elves.
"Of course, if you'd like to confide in me, I can offer you a different perspective on the matter. It's hard for one person to consider everything."
(End of Chapter)
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