Dumbledore stretched out his legs on the steps like a child, his smile gentle and serene.
"Sean, don't carry too much pressure. Tomorrow is Christmas."
Sean copied him and stretched out his legs as well. The warmth radiating from the steps made him sigh unconsciously.
"Um... Professor, I have a question." He braced his hands behind him against the warm marble steps. "What do you think of Hogwarts compared to Newmontgard?"
Dumbledore asked curiously, "Why do you ask? Have you become interested in Newmontgard?"
Sean nodded without concealing it. "Yes, Professor. Though those experiences could hardly be called pleasant, they were enough to make me curious."
"That's understandable." Dumbledore agreed, then lifted his head to look ahead, though Sean could not tell whether he was gazing at Hogwarts Castle or Newmontgard's towers.
"As a stubborn old man, I hate to admit it, but I still have to say that Newmontgard has surpassed Hogwarts in some respects. That was also my original intention in agreeing to the Academic Exchange."
He let out a deep breath, his gaze solemn. "Hogwarts and I have lain still for far too long—so long that we nearly forgot that motto."
"Do Not Disturb the Sleeping Dragon," Sean said softly.
"Yes." Dumbledore nodded. "It's just that I still need some time, and more attempts."
Looking at Dumbledore's expression, Sean felt an inexplicable swell of complicated emotions.
He and Grindelwald were both so old...
"Professor, I hope you can achieve your ideals," Sean said sincerely.
"Thank you, my child." Dumbledore smiled, then gave a mischievous wink. "But don't underestimate Hogwarts too much. Even Gellert would admit that Hogwarts possesses certain qualities Newmontgard has yet to touch."
"I think so too." Sean nodded. "That's one of the reasons I chose Hogwarts."
"Though it may sound like self-praise, I still