Phoenix in the Surging Tide

At dawn on Thursday, Harry got out of bed, yawned, and dragged himself to the washroom. He gave his Uncle Vernon, who was getting ready for work, a perfunctory greeting before entering the washroom.

Ten minutes later, Harry walked out of the Dursley Residence.

As expected, it was drizzling today. Harry slicked back his hair and began his warm-up exercises on the garden path, followed by his morning long run.

This had become his daily routine; a healthy and strong body was one of the indicators of an excellent wizard.

In Little Whinging, there weren't many people on the streets. As a middle-class residential area, the public order here was much better, with no hooligans staying out all night or drunks wandering around at midnight.

Only one or two bird chirps could be heard, making it seem quiet and peaceful.

However, today, as soon as Harry rounded a corner, he saw an unfamiliar figure, which instantly caught his attention.

It was an old man dressed in multiple layers of silver-gray robes. Although his face was aged, he appeared vigorous, with a perfectly straight posture and a height of at least 1.8 meters.

He wore a small purple hat, and his long silver hair and beard reached his waist, but they weren't messy, suggesting he took good care of them.

"Wizard!"

With just one glance, Harry recognized from his attire that this person was no ordinary individual.

As expected, the old man saw him and gave him a friendly nod.

Harry returned the smile.

"He must have noticed my scar," Harry thought. He continued running, adjusted his breathing, and slightly increased his pace as he ran down the street.

"No, that's not right..."

His steps gradually slowed, and he looked back at the empty street, but the image of the old man from earlier still lingered in his mind.

"That person... I've seen him..."

"Albus Dumbledore?!"

Harry finally remembered where he had seen this person: on Chocolate Frog cards and in pictures in History of Modern Magic.

Instantly, information about Albus flooded his mind.

Headmaster of Hogwarts, the greatest wizard, who discovered the uses of dragon's blood with Nicolas Flamel...

Why would someone with such honors be here?!

Meanwhile, Dumbledore watched Harry's retreating figure, deep in thought. He then turned and continued towards Privet Drive.

Before long, he arrived at the Dursley Residence. At that moment, Uncle Vernon Dursley, dressed in his formal attire, was standing outside the garage on the side of the house, about to start his beloved red car.

He had clearly seen Dumbledore and quickly lowered his head, muttering grumpily under his breath.

Clearly, seeing "that kind of person" first thing in the morning was an unfortunate omen for his day.

Fortunately, the old man's destination was not his house.

Walking two more houses down, Dumbledore soon stopped at Number Six, Privet Drive.

Across the street was Number 13, Privet Drive, from the letter.

At the same time, a man dressed in formal attire opened the front door and stepped out of the house.

He also noticed Dumbledore.

Suddenly, time seemed to slow down. Their minds raced, both displaying a long-unseen level of activity and agitation!

Vernon started his car, and on this misty morning, its round headlights shone towards them. The car then drove between the two of them.

The rolling wheels splashed up water.

A single drop of water reflected the two of them as their figures crossed—

In an instant, blades carrying immense power shot towards Dumbledore from Mu En's side.

They moved as fast as lightning.

However, Dumbledore simply stood there, the space around him distorting. He made no move to shift, and the blades were deflected, their trajectories twisted behind him.

Houses shattered, the ground trembled, and a massive explosion echoed throughout Little Whinging like thunder in broad daylight.

Mu En's wand appeared in his hand, and he tapped the ground twice.

The next moment, waves surged from beneath him, spreading outwards like a tsunami.

Dumbledore lowered his arm, and the Elder Wand appeared in his hand. With a gentle wave, infinite flames instantly engulfed him, swirling and forming the shape of a phoenix.

Sizzling sounds continuously echoed as the tsunami washed over.

The furiously surging waves and the fiery phoenix clashed, neither giving way!

At this moment, they were no longer on Privet Drive; they were clearly standing in the abyssal depths of the sea, engaged in an indescribable battle.

Then, a yellow blur appeared in Dumbledore's hand. He threw it forward, and the object, unaffected by the surging waves, flew directly towards Mu En.

Mu En's eyebrows rose, a look of joy on his face.

Finally, an attack was coming...

Then, he watched as the blur grew closer, its speed gradually slowing.

Until finally, it transformed into a letter and landed in front of Mu En.

Mu En gently raised a hand, and the water coiled into an arm, delicately picking up the letter. A moment later, disappointment flickered across his face—

Snap.

The tiny droplet reflecting the two of them burst like fireworks.

Uncle Vernon drove his rumbling little red car away into the distance.

"After being the 'number one' for so long, you've lost basic respect for the common people?" Mu En asked, a half-smile playing on his lips.

Dumbledore's face showed apology, and he nodded with a smile, "I am truly sorry. I hope you can forgive an old man's embarrassment at his thoughts becoming increasingly uncontrollable."

"Heh, you don't seem like you've lost control at all. Furthermore, casually invading someone's mind isn't what's described in books as the actions of the greatest wizard of this century," Mu En scoffed.

This old fellow had attempted to invade his mind in that very instant.

He supposed it was the Legilimency mentioned in the records.

Of course, his mind was not unguarded. He immediately counter-pressured mentally, engaging Dumbledore.

Dumbledore shook his head, "It was just a misunderstanding. You know, I'm just concerned about the child."

"If he could have heard that in the first ten years of his life, he probably would have jumped for joy," Mu En said with a dismissive laugh.

Speaking of which, Dumbledore's face dimmed slightly, and he shook his head heavily, "You know, there are many things in this world that are naturally contradictory and irreconcilable. If he weren't with the Dursleys, no one could protect him."

"Not even Hogwarts?" Mu En asked, slightly surprised. He then added, "Of course, I'm not saying you have an obligation; I'm just curious if Voldemort is that powerful?"

Dumbledore nodded with a hint of melancholy, "When Voldemort was still at school, he did many things behind my back. He was very clever and unscrupulous.

Even if this child lived in Hogwarts from childhood with my protection, he would not be safe."

As he spoke, he looked at Mu En, "Thank you. You are one of the few people who doesn't think too highly of me.

I don't mean in terms of magic, but of myself."

"I feel the same pity for everyone the world calls 'great,' because they are not allowed any mistakes," Mu En said casually.

"Yes, but who can truly understand old men like us?" Dumbledore sighed in agreement.

Mu En looked coldly at Dumbledore, "But don't pretend to care about him. If you cared about him that much, you wouldn't be meeting me now!!"

Of course, what angered him even more was Dumbledore's last sentence.

"Who's an old man with one foot in the grave like you?"