From a young age, build up an invincible foundation, then bide your time and unleash your strength—first crushing your peers, then surpassing the old masters. That was the idea, right?
Isaac was very familiar with this one!
Before crossing over, Isaac had read countless web novels on Qidian. He'd seen every trick in the book.
But something still didn't add up~
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Isaac suddenly spotted a blind spot in Dumbledore's words. "Wait, Professor.
"Not to mention the Prefects and Head Boys appointed practically every year.
"Wouldn't Hogwarts have one outstanding student in every year?"
"Even setting aside the merely good young wizards, I doubt Hogwarts lacks students who are exceptionally talented.
"Take Percy Weasley of Gryffindor, for example."
Isaac hadn't even been to Hogwarts yet, but that didn't stop him from talking about its people and affairs.
Dumbledore didn't think there was anything strange about it, either.
At the mention of Percy Weasley, Dumbledore agreed.
"That's right. Percy is a very talented young wizard, but that's not enough."
In a way, Percy Weasley had already reached the pinnacle of what an ordinary wizard could achieve through hard work.
No... without the right talent, even Percy Weasley was beyond the reach of an ordinary wizard.
Hogwarts students had to take two life-defining exams during their time at school.
The fifth-year Ordinary Wizarding Levels, or OWLs, were the basic threshold for a magical career, directly determining which subjects students could take in their sixth year.
Percy Weasley had earned certificates in twelve subjects, with perfect scores in every one.
Next came the seventh-year NEWTs, the Ministry of Magic's advanced professional exams and Hogwarts' highest-level tests. They determined eligibility for high-end magical careers.
Professions such as Auror, St Mungo's Healer, senior Ministry official, alchemist, or spell researcher required high marks in the relevant NEWT subjects.
Percy Weasley had earned perfect scores in all twelve subjects there, too.
That was one of the key reasons he could become the personal assistant to the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement as soon as he joined the Ministry.
What exactly was the Department of Magical Law Enforcement? Put it this way: one of its subordinate units was the Auror Office.
The Department of Magical Law Enforcement was the equivalent of the Muggle world's combined Home Office, Ministry of Justice, police force, and Supreme Court.
Its head was always one of the strongest contenders for Minister for Magic.
Percy Weasley's surname had certainly helped him get selected as the Head's secretary.
But his twelve perfect certificates were also a firm requirement for such an exceptional promotion.
The Head at the time, Barty Crouch, simply hadn't expected to have hired a "fool."
Putting aside Percy Weasley's dismal early career, he really had been an indisputably outstanding student at Hogwarts.
Even the students in Ravenclaw House, the most studious of them all, admitted as much.
And that still didn't meet Dumbledore's definition of an outstanding young wizard?
"Of course not. Isaac, you're focusing on the wrong thing. Grindelwald and Tom weren't outstanding because of the certificates they earned or their so-called grades.
"Grindelwald's greatness lay in the astonishing—or, you might say, terrifying—talent for Dark Magic he displayed at sixteen.
"And for Tom, it was his Parseltongue and his talent for magic and dueling that formed the foundation of his greatness."
"So..." Isaac mused. "To achieve that level of talent, you have to do things ordinary wizards can't?"
Dumbledore nodded with approval. Even in his youth, his distinction hadn't come from awards at Hogwarts.
It came from being able to discuss academic matters with the master alchemist Nicolas Flamel and the magical historian Bathilda Bagshot.
In other words, if Isaac wanted to follow the same "path to invincibility" as Dumbledore, Grindelwald, and Voldemort, simply excelling at Hogwarts wouldn't be enough.
Even if he became as outstanding as Percy Weasley, he'd still only be an exceptional ordinary wizard.
A true "young master" had to accomplish what others his age couldn't.
"So..." Isaac was beginning to understand what Dumbledore was getting at.
"So you could try subduing a Dark Wizard. Don't worry, I'll watch from the sidelines without being seen."
After hearing Dumbledore out, Isaac wasn't thinking about himself. He was thinking about Harry Potter's "adventures" at Hogwarts.
In his first year, he took on a teacher—Voldemort. In his second, a teacher again—the Basilisk. In his third, a fugitive and a Dementor. In his fourth, students from another school...
You know what? He really did have a point!
Going by Dumbledore's theory, the quality of Harry Potter's enemies over the years at Hogwarts had been exceptionally high.
At that age, even Dumbledore and Grindelwald hadn't faced an enemy like Voldemort.
Sure, it had only been a fragment of a soul, and Harry Potter had been its natural counter, but that was still one hell of an adventure.
By the time Harry Potter reached his seventh year, he'd be able to face off against Tom. Perhaps the path to magical invincibility would help him get there.
The only difference between Isaac and Harry Potter was that Harry had stumbled onto this "path to magical invincibility" without realizing it.
Now Dumbledore had laid the path out in front of Isaac and asked if he was willing to walk it.
Of course he was!
In a world where magic was power, a proven path to invincibility was right there in front of him.
And with a world-class "protector" watching over him, Isaac would've been a fool to refuse.
It was only some low-level Dark Wizard. He could take him!
Enemies would never wait until you were ready before attacking. And Isaac wasn't just any young wizard!
"Okay!"
"Don't worry, Isaac, your..." Dumbledore looked ready to keep persuading him, but Isaac's decisive answer caught him off guard. "What did you say?"
Isaac wasn't just decisive; he acted fast, too.
"Professor Dumbledore, stay hidden. Oh, and remember to protect Anthony for me later.
"He's too old to withstand a Dark Wizard's attack."
Isaac calmly took out his wand and inspected it, like a soldier preparing his weapon before heading into battle.
At last, he nodded to Dumbledore, then left the Magic Candy Shop.
After leaving the Magic Candy Shop, Isaac headed straight for the exit of Diagon Alley. He passed through the Leaky Cauldron and summoned the Knight Bus outside.
After giving the address, 12 Medway Street, Isaac strapped himself into one of the bus's "seats" and felt the magical bus speed away.
Isaac was certain the Dark Wizard following him hadn't boarded the bus, but he had no doubt the man could find 12 Medway Street.
All he had to do was wait for his enemy to come to him.
About twenty minutes later, a wizard Apparated to the front of Isaac's house.
He checked the house number, then gave a couple of sneering laughs.
"Alohomora!" He pointed his wand at Isaac's front door. The next moment, the lock clicked open, and the iron garden gate swung slowly wide.