Dumbledore: Did I Do Something Wrong?

"I owe you an apology for what happened last night. I put you in danger," Dumbledore said apologetically.

"You don't need to apologize. Accidents can happen anywhere, can't they?"

"How have the past two months at school been for you?"

"Everyone at Hogwarts is talented, and they speak so nicely. I really love it here."

"The professors all have a very good impression of you as well."

Dumbledore nodded, then changed the subject.

"You forgot this last night, didn't you? Could you tell me what it is?"

"It's a Muggle weapon, something like a wand. I keep it for self-defense. I might have been too nervous last night and forgot to take it with me. Thank you, Headmaster."

Dumbledore felt somewhat helpless.

The little fellow was making it perfectly clear to him.

I'm lying. If you have the time, I'll keep making things up with you.

It seemed that his earlier encounter with Brook had made the boy somewhat resistant.

"I heard you've been very busy lately. Is there anything you need help with?"

"Probably not."

"I think there could be."

"Then there is?"

"Go on."

"I have something similar to Mr. Newt Scamander's, except mine is full of crops. There are too many of them, and I can't manage them all by myself."

"Hogwarts has many House Elves. You can choose a few to serve you. And I will order them not to reveal anything about you to anyone, including me," Dumbledore immediately offered a solution.

Brook nodded. He still trusted Dumbledore's promise.

"Also, there are simply too many fruits and vegetables. They'll rot if they stay there."

"Hogwarts will purchase them at market price. Professor Pomona will discuss the matter with you."

"You also know that I love studying, but the books in the library are too disorganized. Every time I look for something, it wastes a great deal of my time."

Dumbledore pondered for a moment, then took a somewhat worn notebook from the cabinet behind him.

"These are some notes from when I studied magic in my youth. They mainly concern the Transfiguration Curse and combined magic. You may read them as extracurricular material."

Brook felt that was enough, so he stopped while he was ahead.

"I quite like Hogwarts. This place will become my second home."

At last, a satisfied smile appeared on Dumbledore's face.

"I hope every young wizard can experience the warmth of home here."

"I think I will. If there's nothing else, I won't disturb you any longer." Brook rose directly to take his leave.

"Have a pleasant weekend."

"Thank you, Headmaster."

Brook replied politely, then walked out of the Headmaster's office.

He was in a good mood, because his conversation with Dumbledore had gone very smoothly.

Conversations between intelligent people were always so tacit.

Dumbledore had not pressed him about the origins of the weapons, much less forced him to hand them all over.

Because they both understood that such forceful methods were meaningless.

If he could get them once, he could get more. Coercion would only backfire.

Dumbledore clearly intended to bind him to the great ship that was Hogwarts through emotion and benefit.

As long as he did not use those special weapons at Hogwarts, that was enough.

And Brook had taken the opportunity to put forward his own conditions.

Those three not-too-excessive conditions happened to fall within Dumbledore's acceptable range.

If he pushed his luck and made more unreasonable demands, angering Dumbledore, the losses would outweigh the gains.

After all, with his current strength, defeating Dumbledore was nothing but a fool's dream.

Unless he hid in the Ring Space forever and waited for Dumbledore to die.

In the end, he had not taken the weapons from the table.

First, it showed that he truly had plenty of such things and did not care about one or two of them at all;

Second, it told Dumbledore that he could dispose of the weapons as he pleased, and that Brook did not wish to be interfered with too much.

The moment Brook left the Headmaster's office, a commotion erupted inside.

"You are far too indulgent toward that little fellow!" Phineas Nigellus Black's voice was especially shrill.

"If you ask me, you should teach him a lesson! He actually dared to use Hogwarts to threaten you. He has no respect for authority!"

"Which ear of yours heard Lott threaten Albus? He clearly likes Hogwarts very much and wants to treat it as his second home. What's wrong with giving him a few benefits? Or would you rather Hogwarts be filled with ungrateful ingrates?"

Dilys Derwent immediately retorted.

She was only a step away from directly naming Slytherin's students as those ingrates.

"Then what else is him getting so many weapons, if not a threat?"

"Every young wizard has a wand and can cause harm to Hogwarts. What, are you going to strip young wizards of their right to use wands?"

Phineas was left speechless. Furious, he cursed, "You... long-haired, short-witted woman!"

"What did you say..."

With a scream, Dilys charged straight into Phineas's portrait and began beating him mercilessly.

The other portraits egged them on from the sidelines, cheering Dilys on.

"Good! Dilys, kick him in the crotch!"

"Stop it, all of you." The noise made Dumbledore's head ache.

His shout instantly silenced the noisy Headmaster's office.

Only Phineas, pinned beneath Dilys, continued to whimper.

Dumbledore rubbed his temples.

"Mr. Lott is a student of Hogwarts. As Headmaster, it is only proper that I provide him with some help."

Everard spoke slowly.

"However, this child still needs to be watched closely. If those weapons are truly as you described, Hogwarts cannot afford the consequences."

Dumbledore knew that although he had reached a verbal agreement with Brook, the risks still remained.

Even the usually quiet Phyllida Spore spoke up.

"People who enjoy growing plants usually do not take the initiative to cause trouble unless they are pushed too far. Dumbledore, just how did you provoke that little fellow?"

Dumbledore fell silent, a trace of confusion flashing through his eyes.

He did not believe he had made a mistake in how he handled the matter involving Brook.

Even if he had to do it over again, his choice would not change.

His only mistake might have been not placing Brook in Hufflepuff.

He had chosen Gryffindor because he believed McGonagall was stricter than Sprout and would be better able to keep Brook in line.

Yet he had never expected Brook to love planting so deeply.

Phyllida had heard Sprout say quite a bit about Brook.

Brook's talent and passion for planting, in particular, had made him greatly admire the boy.

"Dumbledore, there is something wrong with how you handle and treat children, just like with Tom Riddle—Voldemort—back then."

Her words plunged Dumbledore into thought, and the Headmaster's office fell completely silent.

(Note: Phineas Nigellus Black: One of the least popular Headmasters, prejudiced against people connected to Muggles.

Dilys Derwent: A healer at St. Mungo's Hospital.

Everard: His portrait is at the Ministry of Magic.

Phyllida Spore: Author of One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi.)

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