When Numa had first ascended the throne, he was still a foreigner. It was said that he often took off the purple robes symbolizing royal authority, donned the white toga of a priest, and went alone into the forest. Whenever he did, people would whisper that Numa was speaking with the goddess and receiving the will of the gods.
So when he emerged from the forest, not only would the citizens' assembly unconditionally adopt his proposals, but the Senate of the Directory would unanimously approve them as well.
But the Roman kings who came after him were not like that. A king's political power depended on the extent to which he could overcome resistance from the people and the Senate of the Directory.
It was somewhat like Dumbledore's position in the Wizengamot. Though he was Chief Warlock, he could not disregard the opinions of the other members. Thus far, the two greatest controversies had been in vitro fertilization and the arrangements for Harry Potter.
Whoever sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed.
Whoever lives by the sword shall die by the sword.
Although the Avada Kedavra Curse did not make its victims bleed, the magic protecting Harry was tied to blood relations. When everything had been in chaos at first, Harry had been sent to live with the only Muggle relatives related to him by blood.
Now that peace had returned, people felt it was inappropriate for the "Salvator Mundi" to continue living with a Muggle family. Many families were willing to adopt him, but Dumbledore opposed it once again.
Only a few people knew Harry's whereabouts, and exactly who those people were remained a secret. If Dumbledore refused to reveal it, no one would know.
Likewise, only Dumbledore knew where Tom Riddle had been as a