You Are the Light of His Life / The Two Women Strike, Flash-Stepping into Position

The commotion in the office quickly subsided, while in the secret passage, Harry had been gazing at Dumbledore time.

"I gained the memories of Harry Potter from this timeline, the one who should have lived, and that's why I'm so curious about you." After a long pause, Harry finally spoke. "He respected you immensely, even to the point of dependence. Your death was a heavy blow to him, and he even named his youngest son after you..."

"Unfortunately, the Harry Potter I knew died more than twenty years ago, not much longer than I did." Dumbledore's voice in the portrait carried a clear sense of regret. "However... if he were still alive and had named his child after you, I think I would be very honored."

"So, do you love him?" Harry asked bluntly. "He respects and loves you so much, and what about you? How do you feel about him?!"

"Though I don't expect you to believe me, I truly love him..." Dumbledore said softly, but his tone was very solemn, "Until the very end, perhaps even more than I love myself..."

"Ha... you say you love him, but from the very beginning, you've used him as a pawn to fight Voldemort!" Seemingly sensing the other's excuse, Harry's tone grew harsher, his words becoming increasingly sarcastic. "Just because of the fragment of his soul within him, because of that madwoman Trelawney's Prophecy, you decided to send him to fight Voldemort!"

"Ever since he enrolled, he's fought Voldemort several times... but you've been absent every single time! You orchestrated your own death and even planned this move against the Severus Snape beforehand. All of this was ultimately designed to subtly force him to actively seek out Voldemort and die! And you still dare to say you love him?!"

"No...that's not it! Do you think I don't want to stand in his place against Voldemort?" Dumbledore protested in a hoarse voice. "If I could, I really wouldn't want him to get hurt..."

"But you hurt him from the very beginning!" Harry said coldly. "You left him in a place where he couldn't feel love, where that family subjected him to all sorts of harsh treatment and abuse. Do you know how much resentment he must have felt, and how many years it will take for that resentment to dissipate?"

"If you're referring to Privet Drive, then..."

Dumbledore's voice was already starting to choke up, but Harry didn't notice and interrupted him directly.

"For ten whole years! He stayed there all alone, not knowing who he was, why he was there, and never knowing if anyone would care about him anymore!!"

Chapter 759 You are the light in his life

Privet Drive, the Dursley family, and the Blood Protection Charm... In any timeline, these are the biggest obstacles between Harry and Dumbledore.

At the end of their first year, Harry brought up this sensitive topic with Albus Dumbledore, and his sharp retort forced Albus Dumbledore to back down and apologize.

But the Harry Potter of this world never had the chance to say these words to Dumbledore, and this unresolved issue remained with him.

It was first taken to the grave by Dumbledore, and a copy was left behind by his spirit. Later, when the timeline changed, Harry Potter also took this regret to his grave...

Now, Harry, in a fit of emotion, brought up the old story again, which can be seen as him speaking out for the Harry Potter of this timeline.

However, in response to Harry's questioning, Dumbledore simply shook his head repeatedly and apologized again and again.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry... At the time, I didn't want to get too close to him..."

The other person's behavior inexplicably irritated Harry.

He didn't think Dumbledore was making excuses, but rather because... the apology came far too easily!

So... why?

Why is it that even though they are all children, all have the same face, and are all facing Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter here can easily get an apology!

On the other hand, the person I was facing insisted on arguing, scolding, and eventually getting angry, even threatening suicide before I finally had to give in?!

"So... why is this?!" Harry momentarily lost control, shouting at the portrait before him, "Do you really think all he needed was a Blood Protection Charm?!"

He seemed a little confused, even feeling that the spirit behind him he was facing was Albus Dumbledore from the original timeline.

"I thought that way I could protect him! I didn't dare keep him by my side... I, I was really afraid of hurting you..."

Dumbledore lunged forward excitedly, and in that instant, he seemed to begin mistaking the excited Harry for someone else.

He tried to reach out from the portrait, but he couldn't.

Soon, the old man began to cry, but he tried his best to hide it.

"But in the end, I had to see you again... At eleven, you were so brave, so good, walking the path fate had laid out for you without complaint. Of course I love you, but I know that kind of thing will happen again... I know that once I love, I will cause irreparable harm... I am not a person suited to love; my love always causes harm..."

"Headmaster..." At this moment, Harry, who had just snapped out of his emotions, looked slightly stunned, as if he had realized something.

He stopped questioning Dumbledore and simply shook his head gently. "If you had told him these things sooner, perhaps it would have hurt him less."

"I was blinded, that's what love is..." Dumbledore sobbed uncontrollably, tears streaming down his face.

"I don't see why you need to know that this conservative, complex, and dangerous old man... loves you..."

"Headmaster...he's not without complaints, and neither am I." Harry sighed softly, overwhelmed with mixed feelings as he faced Dumbledore.

This time, he took the place of 'Harry Potter' and received an apology from Dumbledore, but afterwards he didn't feel as enlightened as before; instead, he only felt a weary sense of regret.

"It's all my fault," Dumbledore's emotions had calmed down, but his tone was still filled with self-reproach. "I was always worried that the pain would come back, but I forgot that pain is as natural to humans as breathing, and cannot be hidden. I claimed to love Harry deeply, but in the end, I wasn't honest with him enough... and I only truly understood this after I died."

"I can't understand that feeling, because it's not entirely my experience." Harry shook his head slightly, his tone becoming a little more serious. "But personally, I think he would be very regretful... for not being able to fulfill your expectations before he died."

"This is also a great regret for me," Dumbledore's voice choked again, "I have lost a treasure more important than my own life..."

Looking at the old man before him, who was once again on the verge of tears, Harry finally confirmed what he had sensed...

Dumbledore and Albus Dumbledore are two different, seemingly similar but actually different people.

While it can't be said that he loved Harry Potter from beginning to end, he loved him deeply until the very end of Dumbledore's life—and even after that.

He may have made mistakes, and he may have hurt Harry Potter by concealing things, but as he said... love can blind people.

He is not perfect and makes mistakes, but at least he understands love and has truly given love.

But if it were Harry himself, he wouldn't feel a single bit of love from Albus Dumbledore.

There might have been such instances before, for example, when I was in second grade, but it only lasted for a year.

When her growth began to deviate from his expectations, the love that hadn't even warmed up was already taken back by him.

Therefore, all of Albus Dumbledore's love was conditional, and he had to receive something in return.

Otherwise, what does he love about himself now?

Is it a habit to monitor oneself, a habit to trip oneself up, or a habit to readily label oneself as someone destined to become Dark Lord?!

Whatever kind of 'love' it was, it doesn't matter anymore...

Through this time travel and conversation with the spirit in Dumbledore's painting, Harry has determined the difference between the spirit and Albus Dumbledore.

What Harry needs to figure out now is why there is such a difference between them!

Therefore, he still needs to travel back in time to find out the truth!

But before that, he had another thing to do...

Just as Harry made up his mind and prepared to say goodbye to Dumbledore's portrait, a loud noise suddenly came from the office outside.

At the same time, Harry also heard a series of hurried footsteps and various noisy shouts.

"Something's happened?" Harry frowned immediately. "Headmaster, it seems I can't continue this conversation."

"It's alright...everything is far more important than an old man like me who's already dead." Dumbledore shook his head understandingly, then looked at Harry gratefully. "I'm so glad to see you, child...you're like a reminder of him, and you assure me that...the people we love will never truly leave us."

"That's right!" Harry nodded solemnly. "I have his memories, in another timeline where he was alive, even though more than twenty years have passed, even though he is now a father of three... he still has deep in his heart the words he wants to say to you in person."

"I love you deeply, Professor Dumbledore... To this day, you remain the light in my life."

At that moment, Harry seemed to truly become Harry Potter, bowing deeply to the portrait of Dumbledore —not the 'Headmaster' he had spoken of.

After that, he strode away from the secret passage, leaving the old man standing there, stunned, in the portrait on the corridor wall...

Meanwhile, in Snape's office, the situation had already become extremely tense!

Chapter 760 Two Women Take Action, Teleporting and Moving

Inside the Potions Office, with Hermione and Luna Lovegood both watching her, the middle-aged Hermione could only stand there anxiously.

As time went on, her anxiety intensified involuntarily.

The situation is clearly dire; it remains to be seen whether Harry Granger is willing to hand over the Time-Turner, while Snape seems determined not to help anymore.

No... how could he do this?

He'd only just met Harry Granger once, how could this guy have so easily sided with him?

Did he start to side with that guy just because of the nice things that guy said to him?

What happened to your supposed unwavering will?!

Boom!!

However, just as middle-aged Hermione was restless and muttering to herself, the Potions Office suddenly shook violently!

The office door, along with the surrounding walls, was blown open without warning, leaving a large hole. Behind the wreckage, amidst thick smoke, appeared an old witch with a deeply lined face, yet still trying to look young by wearing a pink robe.

"Dolores Umbridge ..." Snape murmured the name, his expression instantly turning serious.

This old toad, who has become a spirit, is now the headmaster of Hogwarts... in other words, the leader of the Death Eater at the school!

This guy stormed into the blown-up room with a menacing air, followed by several Death Eater dressed in black robes and wearing masks... Of course, in modern Hogwarts, they should be called professors.

Following at the very back were a dozen or so black, mist-like monsters. Even without them getting close, the temperature inside the room, including Snape, would drop dramatically!

"Dementor..." The middle-aged Hermione shuddered involuntarily.

Of course she recognized these monsters; they were Harry Potter's greatest fear...

"Look at you all... Professor Snape, you've locked your office door so tightly, so you're meeting guests here, aren't you?" Umbridge stood arrogantly in the center of the room, wand in hand. "Hermione Granger, that's a wanted criminal! And these two other young wizards, are they rebels too? Professor Snape, can you explain... why you're hanging out with them?"

The room Silencio for a moment. Snape didn't speak, Hermione and Luna Lovegood watched coldly, while the middle-aged Hermione, already anxious, suddenly panicked.

However, just as Umbridge confidently surveyed everyone in the room, Snape did something that seemed unusual to her...

He smiled.

"How long have you been doubting me?" Snape asked calmly, his wand already sliding silently down his robes into his hand.

"It's been many years, and every year the capture operation encounters problems. I've been wondering who leaked the information..." Umbridge pointed her wand at Snape's face. "It's obvious that only you and I have the right to view the Book of Admittance, so you, the vice-principal, are definitely up to something! I never imagined you were actually colluding with these rebels. I should have acted sooner!"

Umbridge glared menacingly at Snape, then suddenly swung her wand at him.

She moved quickly, but Snape was even faster. Before her spell could be successfully cast, a dazzling point of light shot out from beside Snape!

"Full-Speed Knockback!!"

A full-force Knockback Jinx struck Umbridge squarely in the chest, sending her tumbling like a toad as she rolled off the wreckage and out of the room.

"You're too arrogant, Umbridge. This won't do you any good." Snape elegantly flicked his wand. "Haven't I told you that you're the worst headmaster in Hogwarts history?"

"Damn bastards... Attack them all! Drain their souls!!"

After being brutally beaten and mocked by Snape, Umbridge was enraged and screamed as she rushed forward with all her henchmen.

In an instant, several masked Death Eater drew their wands, while a group of Dementor in the corridor rushed into the already crowded room as if they had smelled an incredibly delicious treat!

"Protego! Patronus Charm!"

Faced with this perilous situation, Snape remained calm. He quickly cast a Shield Charm on himself, and then a cloud of light shot out from the tip of his wand, summoning a beautiful white doe.

The lifelike doe, with its beautiful eyes wide open, instantly knocked over several Dementor that were rushing towards it!

"Patronus Charm... No!"

Seeing that Snape was a tough nut to crack, the Dementor immediately changed direction and began to attack the middle-aged Hermione with bared teeth and claws. The latter hurriedly drew her wand to fight back, but her Patronus Charm failed to be cast!

To unleash the Patronus Charm, one needs to be in a happy mood, but Hermione's recent experiences have left her unable to feel joy at all, and for a moment she could only let the Dementor roar as they approached!

"Patronus Charm!"

However, at that moment, a soft shout suddenly came from behind her, and then a white light Accio quickly from behind her, and then transformed in front of her into a huge griffin with a majestic appearance!

The moment the magnificent beast appeared, it blocked the path of all the Dementor. Its huge wings flapped violently, and then it let out a terrifying roar!

"Roar!!"

A roar shook the office, causing the monsters that had been eager to attack to flee in panic!

"Loony, let's join forces. It'll be a good opportunity to test whether that fighting method really works." After easily dealing with a group of Dementor, Hermione turned to Luna Lovegood and extended an invitation with a slight smile.

Hermione knew very well that Harry, who hadn't shown himself yet, must have already secretly taken control of the situation. Therefore, they were now completely fearless and could use these Death Eater as practice subjects at will.

"Okay, Know-it-all ~" Luna Lovegood nodded in agreement, and then the two of them started to move at the same time, swaggering towards the Death Eater opposite them.

"Hmph, you're asking for death!" "Still trying to resist?!"

Seeing Hermione and Luna Lovegood's overconfidence, the two closest enemies immediately fired two spells at them. However, the two women easily dodged to another location before the spells Accio, and then retaliated with two spells of their own, leaving the two Death Eater scrambling to react!