https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-464-Are-Wizards-Entertainment-Lives-Too-Limited-/13441877/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-466-The-Missing-Invisibility-Cloak/13441894/
Chapter 465: The Afterglow of the Setting Sun
Chapter 465: The Afterglow of the Setting Sun
Dumbledore's words made Harry feel as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. All his beautiful expectations for the summer holidays had instantly turned into a bubble that burst.
"But now I have a godfather. Sirius is also my family", Harry stammered in protest.
Compared to the Dursleys, who had treated him so poorly, Harry felt that Sirius was his true family.
Although they had only met for less than a month, Harry could feel Sirius's care for him, something he had never experienced at the Dursleys'.
There, he was more like a servant or a slave, living in a cupboard and often being scolded and starved, bullied by Dudley and his friends.
However, Dumbledore shook his head, shattering his hope. "That won't do, Harry! The magic requires a blood relative to maintain it."
"Then let it fail! I can protect myself!" Harry said angrily.
Harry could no longer endure life at the Dursleys'. After all, the Dursleys hated him, and he hated them. Moving out would mean no one had to worry about the other.
"And Sirius will protect me, won't he!" Harry looked at Sirius, like a desperate animal seeking shelter.
Sirius nodded solemnly; he didn't want to let Harry down.
Harry immediately seemed to gain courage and turned to look at Dumbledore.
"Yes, I understand that, but wouldn't it be better to have an extra layer of protection?" Dumbledore insisted, unwilling to change his mind.
Harry was about to argue further, but Dumbledore's next words made him fall silent.
"The protective magic on you is the result of Lily's love. I'm sure she wanted her love to accompany and protect you as you grow. Harry, you wouldn't want to disappoint her, would you?"
Harry fell silent, unable to refute the words. His heart felt heavy, and his mind was flooded with memories.
Dumbledore keenly observed the change in Harry's emotions and realized his words were having an effect. He continued.
"I understand how you feel, Harry! But before you graduate—"
"Enough! Don't say another word!" Harry shouted, interrupting Dumbledore.
His shout drew the attention of others in the pub, and many eyes turned toward them.
After his outburst, Harry felt at a loss, his mind in chaos. In the end, he stormed out of the pub in a fit of anger.
Dumbledore instinctively reached out with his right hand to stop Harry, but he was too slow, and Harry slipped away.
Ivan, who had been partly focused on Dumbledore throughout, noticed the old professor's right hand, which was charred black, with a gold ring set with a black gem on his thumb.
While everyone else's attention was on Harry, none of them noticed this. Sirius immediately ran after Harry, followed by Ron and Hermione.
"Professor, your right hand is injured?" Ivan hesitated to ask after everyone had left their seats.
Though he asked, Ivan had already understood everything when he saw the ring and the charred wound.
Dumbledore had been cursed by Voldemort's Horcrux and was likely to die soon.
But how could it happen so quickly?
Ivan was stunned. He could confirm this because the same event had occurred in the original timeline, but it should have happened during Harry's fifth-year summer holidays.
He had been considering whether to find a reason to remind Dumbledore next year to be cautious about the Horcrux hidden in the Gaunt shack.
But he hadn’t even come up with an excuse when Dumbledore had already fallen victim to it!
Ivan was puzzled as to how Dumbledore had managed to find the location of this Horcrux so early.
Could it be the butterfly effect caused by the destruction of two Horcruxes in a row?
Ivan frowned, his previously relaxed demeanor vanishing, replaced by a heavy heart.
Unlike Ivan, who was secretly anxious, Dumbledore seemed unconcerned about his injury, casually brushing it off as a minor wound, as if he had just tripped and fallen on the way.
"But it might take some time to get my left hand more agile."
At this, Dumbledore’s expression turned troubled, as anyone accustomed to using their right hand would find it difficult to switch.
"Ah, I see. I hope you’ll be fine!" Ivan responded perfunctorily, looking at the white-haired old professor with mixed feelings.
Ever since the misunderstanding with Aesia was cleared up during the summer of his first year, the person he was most wary of was Dumbledore!
After all, with his strength, he had the confidence to face anyone, even the powerful professors like Snape and Mcgonagall, and could at least escape if things went badly.
But it was different with Dumbledore. Ivan felt a deep sense of powerlessness whenever he faced him.
Even when there was no hostile intent, he could always sense the subtle pressure from the old professor.
Ivan knew very well that if he were to fight Dumbledore, he would have no chance of winning!
Most importantly, for someone with many secrets, Dumbledore’s Legilimency was like a fatal weakness, and he couldn’t be too cautious.
However, when he learned that the greatest white wizard was running out of time, Ivan’s first reaction was not relief but panic!
If Dumbledore died, who would restrain the Ministry of Magic? Who would fight against Voldemort?
Everything would fall into chaos.
Ivan became restless and, to avoid Dumbledore noticing anything unusual, he made an excuse to check on Harry and left the Three Broomsticks Inn.
Outside, Ivan watched the sunset slowly sink below the horizon, like the last remnants of light fading away. He sighed deeply and took out a golden, shiny badge from his robe pocket.
Although Ivan didn’t know the exact nature of the conflict between Dumbledore and his mother Aesia, the old professor had been quite good to him over the years. This Order of Merlin, Second Class, was a special favor from the old professor.
Ivan couldn’t help but feel regretful. If he could, he would have liked to offer some help.
But such an injury, even the strongest wizard of the current magical world, Dumbledore, and the master potioneer Snape, could do nothing about it. What could a young wizard like him do?
(End of Chapter)
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