After both visitors had left, Professor Dumbledore looked at Harley in the corner and sighed helplessly:
"I'm sorry, Harley, but I don't think you need to report to me anymore. After all, I'm no longer the headmaster, and I have no authority to deal with this."
Disbelief appeared on Harley's face. "So, Professor, you just agreed to Lucius Malfoy's unreasonable demand?"
"Yes." Professor Dumbledore nodded slightly.
Harley's voice was full of confusion:
"Professor, if I'm not mistaken, you could tear Lucius Malfoy and Cornelius Fudge to pieces in a second all by yourself, or even grind them to dust.
And now, they're clearly looking for trouble with you. They're dancing all over your dignity.
If they were dealing with Grindelwald or Voldemort, the two Dark Lords of their respective eras, I don't think either of them would dare say no.
No, they probably wouldn't dare say a word. They'd just kneel there and obediently await the Dark Lord's orders.
You subdued Grindelwald and imprisoned him for good, and you also cowed Voldemort so thoroughly that he didn't dare come near Hogwarts.
I don't believe you're weaker than them. So how can you put up with this?"
Professor Dumbledore sighed again, though this time it was for a different reason.
He didn't answer at once. A look of remembrance appeared in his eyes. After a long while, Professor Dumbledore spoke in a slightly sorrowful voice:
"Harley, I hope you'll remember one thing: violence is never the best way to solve a problem.
A progressive society will always need laws and regulations.
Although the law may not be able to look after every single person, it can always look after the vast majority.
And I've always stood by that principle. I'm old, but I still think my mind works well enough.
I