Hogwarts Raven (Harry Potter)

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The old headmaster's voice took on a more complex tone.

"Is that not a good thing?"

Ian sensed the shift in Dumbledore's emotions.

"Bittersweet, I suppose."

Dumbledore forced a smile. "You've proven that the past can be altered, which is a good thing. But you've also demonstrated that the future has long been predetermined."

"Or rather, the cause-and-effect relationships in time aren't as straightforward as we'd like to believe. Perhaps the effect comes first, followed by the cause in the past… That's not such good news." He was clearly alluding to Ariana's death; Ian surmised it had something to do with his ability to summon Ariana's soul in the past, which shouldn't have existed.

"Well, that's quite a profound topic, not something a Second Year like me should be grappling with…" Ian yawned, only partially processing Dumbledore's words.

It wasn't something easily understood in a short time.

A lot had happened today. Ian now just wanted to get a good night's sleep.

Dumbledore likely noticed Ian's exhaustion.

"You can head back to the dormitory and get some rest. I still need to reflect a bit more… I sincerely apologize again for what you experienced today. It was my negligence that led you to encounter things you shouldn't have had to face."

Albus Dumbledore escorted Ian to the office door.

"Don't forget my contribution!"

Before leaving, Ian reminded Dumbledore once more.

"I will never forget it."

Dumbledore replied earnestly. After seeing the satisfied expression on Ian's face as he departed, he returned to his office and stood before the massive clock, beginning to sift through the flood of past memories in his mind.

"He shouldn't be this exhausted." Suddenly, a voice resonated in a low and magnetic tone.

"What do you mean?" Dumbledore wasn't surprised by the voice's emergence. He simply turned his head with curiosity toward a portrait on the office wall.

There, a youthful voice emerged from a field of golden wheat.

Godric Gryffindor.

The very portrait Ian had searched for a whole year but never found; it turned out this fellow had been hiding here all along. Perhaps he had taken to heart the line from The Art of War: "The most dangerous place is the safest place."

What a curious truth. He was right where Ian often appeared but never discovered.

"Changing the past influences him as well." Gryffindor lightly brushed some locusts off his robes and replied softly.

"Do you know something I don't?" Dumbledore detected hidden meaning in that statement and raised his furrowed brows in surprise.

Godric Gryffindor chuckled lightly.

"I'm not a fool, and Ravenclaw is even sharper than you… She once told me that the little one is destiny itself; all cause and effect revolves around him and radiates outward."

His voice carried a hint of melancholic reflection.

"Hmm?"

Dumbledore was clearly taken aback.

"Ian's Divination grades are all from copying others' papers." He was well aware of Ian's academic record, including the instances of cheating.

"Foolish Albus, a nearly all-powerful wizard, yet performing so poorly in one subject, can't you see that this in itself is an oddity?" Godric Gryffindor displayed a look of exasperated disappointment.

"Looks like you want to get caught by Ian." Upon hearing this, Dumbledore wasn't annoyed. He simply replied softly, his expression blank. This single sentence caused Gryffindor's expression to freeze.

"You treat the founder of your own House like this!?" The young portrait was somewhat angry and flustered.

"You're not the real Godric Gryffindor. Besides, I'm ruthless enough to even trick myself; you've seen it." Now it was Dumbledore's turn to chuckle.

"Blast you! I shouldn't have warned you!" Gryffindor thought Old Dumbledore's words made sense. He dared not argue and merely shot Dumbledore a fierce glare.

"Fate and causality, huh." Dumbledore didn't mind this point at all.

He stroked his beard thoughtfully.

After a moment, he said, "Now is not the time to ponder this. I must first attend to something more pressing." Dumbledore clearly felt restless and couldn't calm his mind to think further.

He turned to leave.

"You are not really thinking about your plan to slay the dragon anymore? Where are you off to?" Gryffindor curiously poked his head out.

He could actually stick his head out from the portrait, which was definitely different from most portraits.

"I need to relocate my ancestral home... move the resting place of my ancestors and family... just to be safe, some things must be prevented before they escalate into major problems."

Albus Dumbledore's footsteps were noticeably hurried. As soon as he stepped outside, he summoned his Phoenix, Fawkes, and in the next moment, under Fawkes's guidance, he departed from Hogwarts.

His urgency was as if he feared someone else might get ahead of him.

Clearly, Ian's "forgiveness" hadn't truly put the old headmaster at ease.

...

In truth, Ian just wanted to return to his dormitory and sleep.

Dumbledore was clearly overthinking things, or perhaps worrying too soon. Feeling unusually tired, Ian kept yawning as he ascended the stairs.

However, he didn't get to return to his dorm as he wished.

As he passed by the door of the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's office, Ian saw Aurora standing there, waving at him. He had no choice but to muster his energy and head toward his good friend.

"So late and still not sleeping? Are you practicing your Owl Animagus form?" Ian was quite surprised to see Aurora holding a steaming cup of strong tea.

"My grandfather told me to wait here for you. He said he wouldn't let me sleep until I found you." Aurora sighed helplessly and shoved the half-finished cup of strong tea into Ian's hand.

"Luckily, I'm relieved now." The German girl smiled brightly.

Ignoring Ian's stunned expression, she quickly dashed toward the now-spinning staircase, as if she couldn't wait another moment to return to the Slytherin common room and rest.

"That's abandoning your comrade!" Ian looked helplessly at the strong tea in his hand.

"Hoot hoot gurgle~"

He downed it in one gulp.

Feeling a bit gloomy, he approached the door of the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's office. As if anticipating his arrival, the door slid open smoothly to the side.

"My Dark Arts professor actually redecorated this office over the summer?"

Ian was taken aback as he stepped inside.

Immediately, he spotted Grindelwald, wearing Lockhart's face, sitting upright with his arms crossed on the desk, regarding him with a strange, half-smile.

"I suppose Dumbledore has shared some information with you and asked you a few questions." Grindelwald spoke slowly, his voice magnetic yet elegant, carrying a lightness that belied the tension in the room.

"Yes, Professor." Ian kept his gaze fixed on Grindelwald the entire time.

He even swallowed hard. His eyes reflected disbelief.

"Good. Now I have some doubts I'd like you to help me clarify." Grindelwald lowered his head and gestured toward something he had placed in front of Ian, holding his gaze.

"I can tell you recognize this treasure."

He lifted his hand and gently nudged the object, causing a golden apple to roll slightly across the desk. Ian's attention shifted with the rolling apple.

"I traveled several times behind Dumbledore's back, and during my last trip, I was nearly killed by a mad woman. But after she read my memories, she spared me. Clearly, this was not due to my identity as a time traveler."

Grindelwald's expression revealed a hint of annoyance.

"So, Ian, my apprentice, could you kindly tell me what terrible secret you and Dumbledore have been concealing from me?"

He stared intently at Ian before him, speaking as calmly as he could.

(End of this chapter)