Let's Discuss the Inheritance (Seeking Reads, Seeking Votes)

Once Snape had left.

"Is the explanation he mentioned related to me?" Harry asked.

Dumbledore's expression remained unchanged as he led the way: "Why would you think that?"

"He was paying close attention to me." Harry followed in Dumbledore's footsteps. "Seven times, eight times? He looked at me that many times just during the meal."

Dumbledore nodded: "Of course, everyone pays close attention to you, Harry. You are the most special one."

Changing the subject, brushing it off.

Snape was definitely not in the category of "everyone."

Seeing that the old man did not want to discuss it, Harry offered no further opinion.

They arrived at the Headmaster's Office.

Dumbledore gestured for Harry to sit, then sat down himself, pulling a jar from his drawer... something indescribable—a transparent glass jar filled with densely packed, crawling cockroaches.

"Fresh Cockroach Clusters."

"Would you like some? They taste wonderful."

Harry leaned his head back, his face full of resistance: "No, thank you."

"Oh, very well. It seems our dear Mr. Savior cannot appreciate such a delicacy." Dumbledore opened the jar, plucked out a few, and tossed them into his mouth, crunching down as juices splattered.

Peanuts, cream, sugar frosting...

Almost instantly, Harry caught the scent of the ingredients in the cockroaches.

Thank goodness.

They weren't real cockroaches—he knew many sorcerers eventually went mad, which was normal, but he certainly didn't want his headmaster to be that kind of person.

"Before you pose your questions, Harry, may I ask you one first?" Dumbledore spoke first, waving his wand to conjure a glass of milk in front of Harry. "Someone has been clutching the throat of this poor old man, demanding an explanation."

"Professor Snape, is it?" Harry asked.

Dumbledore ignored him: "What is going on with your eyes?"

"I remember your eyes being emerald green, like jade."

"I don't know." Harry shook his head, answering half-truthfully. "Perhaps it's some kind of magic?"

"When did they change?" Dumbledore asked again.

Harry replied: "The day I received my letter from Hogwarts."

"Were there any other changes?" Dumbledore became slightly more serious.

"Suddenly, I knew a small spell," Harry said.

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow: "A small spell? What kind? Could you show me?"

Harry surveyed his surroundings: "Its range is a bit large, I don't know if..."

Dumbledore raised a hand to press down: "Don't worry. Although I am old, I still have the ability to protect this office of mine."

Harry did not hesitate; he raised his hand and formed a sign.

"Aard!"

With a boom, the magical force surged, the office shook slightly, and the sleeping phoenix let out a startled cry, poking its head out to look around.

Other than that, there was no further impact.

"Very interesting, similar to a Knockback Jinx." Dumbledore tapped the table, offering his assessment. "But to have such a wide range is truly unexpected."

"A very interesting spell."

Harry said nothing, watching Dumbledore cautiously.

This... the greatest white wizard of the century, the old man who had defeated two Dark Lords in succession, was even more powerful than the books described. He had used the Aard sign with almost his full strength, yet he hadn't even managed to shake the man's magic.

"Potter is a very, very old family." Dumbledore rubbed his head. "It seems I must go and investigate thoroughly; perhaps there is something I have overlooked."

"Very well, Harry. Tell me, what is it you wanted to discuss with me?"

Harry took a deep breath: "I have two... oh, no, three things to say."

"The first thing is, I would like to discuss with you whether I might see how much of an inheritance my parents left me."

Dumbledore was somewhat taken aback, looking at Harry in surprise.

"It's not that I don't trust you, but... you are elderly and wise, and you know that doing this is the right thing to do." Harry waved his hand, explaining casually. "I think my parents must have left behind more than just those assets in Gringotts."

Dumbledore nodded: "Yes, I know. I was just a bit surprised."

He had expected Harry to come and complain about his life with the Muggles, to be curious about his parents' past, or perhaps even ask why Snape treated him the way he did.

He just hadn't expected the first thing out of his mouth to be about the inheritance.

"Your parents left behind many things." Dumbledore thought for a moment and spoke slowly. "Most of them are at Potter Manor, in your family home."

"I heard from Hagrid that you have many hobbies, such as potions, herbology, and blacksmithing..."

"You needn't worry about money. The Potter family has a goose that lays golden eggs; for every bottle of Hair-Raising Potion sold on the market, you receive a portion of the royalties."

"I will compile a list of those families for you."

"Although they haven't paid the Potter family a single Galleon in ten years, you will have to find a way to collect that debt yourself."

"Of course, you may also seek help from an old man like me."

Harry froze.

Oh...

This surprise was truly massive.

Hair-Raising Potion—no wonder he hadn't seen a single bald wizard.

Dumbledore continued.

"Your father left behind many notes on Transfiguration. He was an excellent Transfiguration master, but the subject carries certain risks. I will entrust them to Professor McGonagall, your Head of House and Transfiguration professor."

"She is a very conscientious and responsible professor, and she will give the notes to you when the time is right."

"As for your mother, she was an outstanding witch who excelled at Potions. She left behind quite a few notes on the subject, which are currently with Professor Snape. You can speak with him about them."

Harry narrowed his eyes.

The tone was slightly off. It was "entrust" for Professor McGonagall, but when it came to his mother's belongings, they were "in the hands" of Professor Snape.

Oh ho...

He looked very much like his father, and Professor Snape loathed his face so much, not to mention the matter of his eyes...

It seemed he would need to find out if this Professor Snape was married.

Dumbledore didn't continue; he looked hesitant, his fists slightly clenched.

He was deliberating, deep in thought, gathering his courage.

"Of course, the most important thing is an heirloom of your father's: an Invisibility Cloak."

He stood up and took a box from a cabinet nearby.

Harry raised an eyebrow.

This unusual attitude?

He knew about Invisibility Cloaks; the books mentioned they were woven from the hair of a Demiguise and possessed effects similar to the Disillusionment Charm.

They were indeed precious.

But not precious enough to make Dumbledore hesitate. An Invisibility Cloak cost only a few hundred Galleons, while the Potter family's hair potion royalties were worth far more than that.

He wasn't moved by mere Galleons.

Dumbledore opened the box, took a deep breath, and pushed it forward with a slight effort: "This is it, your father's heirloom. He used this thing for night-time wanderings quite often back in the day."

The box was empty, but when Harry reached out to touch it, he felt a cool, silky sensation.

"This isn't an ordinary Invisibility Cloak, is it?" Harry pulled his hand back, closed the lid, and clutched the box to his chest.

Dumbledore was startled: "Why would you ask that?"

"You hesitated," Harry said bluntly. "I can tell you were struggling with whether or not to give this to me—and it wasn't because you were worried I might use it for something wicked."

Dumbledore's expression didn't change, but he let out a breath: "The Sorting Hat was right; you truly are an extremely perceptive young wizard."

"The master of the Cedar Wand?"

"Very well. It is indeed a very special Invisibility Cloak. Perhaps—and I only say perhaps—I may borrow it from you again in the future. I hope you will agree when that time comes."

"But what is it..."

"Can that wait for another time?"

Harry nodded: "Of course."

"Then let us move to the second matter. I would like to take the Sorting Hat with me."

Dumbledore was startled again. Well, another unexpected request.

"I knew it, I knew it!" the Sorting Hat, perched on a nearby cabinet, shouted. "You young wizard certainly have no good intentions!"

"Why would you want it?" Dumbledore asked curiously.

Harry was righteous: "It told me that whoever draws the sword may participate in the trials of Gryffindor, and by passing them, one can truly possess the Sword of Gryffindor."

"By keeping it with me, I can learn more about the trials."

A trace of nostalgia flickered in Dumbledore's eyes: "The trials of Gryffindor... oh, yes, of course. You must return the hat at the start of each school year."

"Hogwarts still needs it for the sorting."

Harry asked again: "Did you pass the trials of Gryffindor back then?"

Dumbledore shook his head: "Those trials are intended for young wizards. When I was at Hogwarts, I didn't even have the courage to draw the sword."

Harry didn't press further; he caught the imperceptible pain in Dumbledore's eyes. A Witcher might not be talkative, but he was not incapable of reading the room.

"And the third matter." Harry raised his hand and brushed back his hair: "My scar suddenly started hurting just now, when I made eye contact with Professor Quirrell."

Dumbledore froze, his expression turning serious at once: "The scar started hurting?"

Harry gave a brief explanation: "It never hurt while I was at my aunt's house, and it didn't hurt after I started learning magic either. It was only today, just a moment ago, when I made eye contact with Professor Quirrell, that it suddenly flared up."

"Are you certain it was caused by looking at Professor Quirrell?" Dumbledore frowned as he asked.

Harry nodded: "Yes, I am certain."

"Magic power wasn't the reason for my scar hurting, and no one cast a jinx on me. Although this hypothesis sounds a bit absurd, it is the most likely cause."

Dumbledore rubbed his head: "Very well, I understand."

"Do you have an answer?" Harry narrowed his eyes.

Dumbledore muttered: "Harry, you are truly too sharp. I am even beginning to suspect whether you used Legilimency on me, provided you knew how."

"I do have some conjectures, but I am not yet certain. Give me some time, Harry."

"It is late now, and you have been on the train all day. Take your Invisibility Cloak and the Sorting Hat, and head back to your dormitory to rest early."

"I recall the password for Gryffindor is Dragon Dregs."

"The hat will show you the way."