Dumbledore's Open Scheme

Dumbledore's Open Scheme (Dear readers with questions about this chapter, please see Chapters 49 and 50. This was merely a thread Little Author planted for the later plot.)

The next morning.

Knock, knock, knock...

A rapid knock at the door jolted Brook awake from his sleep.

He rubbed his bleary eyes.

Last night's operation had left him exhausted, and all he wanted now was a little more sleep.

"Who is it?! Can't a person get a proper night's sleep?"

He scratched his butt and casually wrapped the blanket around his waist.

Barefoot, his feet fairer than those of 99.9% of girls, he slowly shuffled toward the door.

When the door opened, an elderly man wearing half-moon spectacles and a grey-white robe stood outside.

His half-meter-long white beard, tied with a pink bow, was particularly eye-catching.

The old man smiled at the yawning Brook.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Lott."

Brook's heart lurched, his pupils dilating as memories surfaced in his mind.

"!!!∑(°Д°ノ)ノDumbledore?!"

"You know me?"

A sharp glint flashed through Dumbledore's eyes, while a meaningful smile hung on his face.

This was becoming more and more interesting.

"Aren't you going to invite me inside for a seat?"

Brook did not move, merely looking at Dumbledore in confusion.

He should not have done anything to provoke this man, right?

Suddenly, his body took two uncontrollable steps backward, clearing the doorway.

Dumbledore then walked into the house as if it were only natural.

Brook frowned slightly.

This visitor had come with ill intent!

"Headmaster Dumbledore, please sit."

"It seems I disturbed Mr. Lott's rest."

Smiling, Dumbledore picked up a piece of candy from the coffee table and put it into his mouth.

He made himself entirely at home.

"May I ask why you came to see me?"

Brook casually pushed the plate piled with candy toward Dumbledore.

He did not like sweets. All of this candy had been prepared for Hermione.

Hermione's parents were both dentists and simply would not allow her to eat candy.

That was why the little girl often sneaked over to Brook's house to mooch sweets.

"Mr. Lott, do you need to change clothes?"

"￣□￣｜｜"

Brook felt a little embarrassed and was about to get up to change when Dumbledore drew his wand.

With an elegant flick of his wrist through the air,

the clothes that had been tossed onto the bed instantly appeared on Brook's body.

Brook narrowed his eyes.

As the wielder of the Door-Door Fruit, he could clearly sense the fluctuations in space.

It looked as though Dumbledore had helped him get dressed, but was it not also another form of intimidation?

"Thank you. What exactly did you come to see me about?"

"I came to deliver your Hogwarts Acceptance Letter."

As Dumbledore spoke, an envelope flew before Brook.

"You may take a look first."

He unwrapped another piece of candy and swiftly popped it into his mouth.

Brook immediately turned it over.

The wax seal in the center bore a capital H.

Around it were the images of four animals: a lion, a snake, an eagle, and a badger.

He took out the letter and gave it a quick scan.

An acceptance letter, along with a Book and Supply List.

"Headmaster, I do not wish to study magic, so regrettably..."

"Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans? What a nostalgic taste."

Dumbledore narrowed his eyes, as though savoring the deliciousness the candy brought him.

"I am glad you like them."

"Could you give me some?"

"Of course."

"I cannot accept your gift for nothing. How about I tell you a story in exchange?"

Brook gestured for him to continue.

"An interesting robbery occurred at Lloyds Bank last night. A young man in a black cloak used a very peculiar kind of Space Magic to steal a large quantity of gold bars, jewelry, and Pound Sterling."

If you cannot find the book by searching its title, try searching for the author instead. It may simply have been renamed!

Brook's heart sank.

He had been discovered.

How had something in the Muggle world alerted Dumbledore?

Dumbledore paused, his gaze seeming to casually sweep over Brook.

"That person's build was quite similar to yours."

Brook's face remained calm.

"You concern yourself with affairs of the Muggle world as well?"

"You not only know me, but you also know the word 'Muggle.'"

Dumbledore's azure eyes turned toward Brook with a sense of pressure.

Brook's expression shifted slightly. Just as he was about to make up an excuse, Dumbledore continued on his own.

"Oh, you have a distant relative who is a wizard. Perhaps you learned of these things from them. Is that so?"

Brook coughed twice. "Yes."

"That bank happens to have shares held by a Pure-blood family. The Ministry of Magic has already begun investigating, but that Space Magic was too brilliant. Even I cannot find the slightest trace."

Without showing it, Brook leaned back slightly.

He quietly hid his hand behind his back, ready to activate a Space Gate and flee at any moment.

If he had truly found nothing, why would this old man come directly to his door?

Although he did not remember the plot of Harry Potter particularly well,

he knew that delivering letters was the work of Scottish Owls.

Since when did Dumbledore need to come in person?

Yet Dumbledore, whether intentionally or otherwise,

picked up the wand he had set aside and toyed with it in his hand.

"The consequences of violating the International Statute of Secrecy are quite serious. Have you heard of Azkaban? Dementors are there. They suck away the prisoners' happiness every day. Truly terrifying."

After Dumbledore finished speaking, he even put on a frightened expression.

Brook was momentarily dazed.

The more he looked at this old man, the more he resembled Kizaru.

And he was even using Azkaban to threaten him.

(╯-＿-)╯╧╧

Was Brook someone who could be scared that easily?

"I... I am deeply honored to receive Hogwarts' invitation. I will study magic diligently. Today, I am proud of Hogwarts; tomorrow, Hogwarts will be proud of me."

It was not that Brook was cowardly.

The main issue was that the speed at which he opened a Space Gate might not be faster than Dumbledore's magic.

If he went, he would stay at school for seven years.

If he did not, he would win himself a trip to Azkaban.

Even an idiot knew which one to choose.

Besides, once this old man left, he would run away.

He did not believe it.

Could this old man really chase him all over the world?

"Then write your reply. Hogwarts awaits your arrival."

Dumbledore's azure eyes became even deeper.

"What reply should I write?"

"Of course, a reply stating that you agree to attend Hogwarts."

"But do you not already know my decision?"

"Yet the reply must still be written."

Dumbledore's tone was stern.

Brook felt as if his brain were about to start smoking.

There was no need to submit one at all.

Could this also be some kind of magic?

If he wrote the reply, would he form some kind of contract with Hogwarts?

Would he be forced to go?

Then how could he run away?

Dumbledore's grin was harder to suppress than an AK.

The smarter someone was, the more they thought.

He had originally intended to make Brook write a reply anyway.

It was simply because he found it troublesome.

If he did not receive a reply from a young wizard, the Acceptance Quill would keep reminding him to send the Hogwarts Acceptance Letter.

Although he could deal with it, it was still troublesome, was it not?

If he could use this matter to add another shackle to Brook,

would that not kill two birds with one stone?

As for the bank robbery,

if he had not been interested in that Space Magic, which left not even him able to find the slightest trace,

a single Pure-blood family would never have been able to invite him.

(If you spot any problems, feel free to @ me directly.)