Golden Hogwarts

"Isaac, if you aren't too busy lately, could you do me a favor?" Dumbledore knew exactly how to divert Isaac's attention.

He spoke to Isaac in this manner.

Professor Vinda knew immediately that the two intended to discuss "private matters," and she had no intention of eavesdropping.

She stood up at once, intending to take her leave.

"Professor Rosier, please wait a moment; I may need your help with something as well," Dumbledore said, detaining Professor Vinda.

Professor Vinda paused, then smoothly sat back down in her original seat.

Dumbledore then produced a handwritten letter and handed it to Isaac.

"I need you and Hagrid, our gamekeeper, to help me retrieve an item from Gringotts.

You should know what that is."

Isaac nodded; even without prophecy, he knew Dumbledore was referring to the Sorcerer's Stone obtained from Nicolas Flamel.

When reading Harry Potter in his past life, Isaac had always assumed Dumbledore had specifically requested it from Nicolas Flamel.

Now, it appeared that was not the case.

Nicolas Flamel and his wife had likely lived enough and wished to embark on their next great adventure, but they had entrusted the Sorcerer's Stone to Dumbledore.

This was effectively giving Dumbledore a choice—as long as he wished, he could live as long as he liked.

Unfortunately, Dumbledore was already impatient to begin his own next great adventure.

Thus, he simply used the object as bait to lure Voldemort.

Our senior Tom Riddle had truly taken the bait.

It was no wonder that even at the height of his power, Voldemort never dared to show his face before Dumbledore.

Senior Tom truly could not outplay Dumbledore.

The most direct evidence was that the transfer of the Sorcerer's Stone occurred only between Nicolas Flamel and Dumbledore.

The fact that the Sorcerer's Stone had "changed hands" was known only to the two of them.

Dumbledore deposited the Sorcerer's Stone in Vault 713 at Gringotts, one of the highest-security vaults in the bank.

The goblins at Gringotts were the best at fawning over the powerful and trampling the weak; how could they have defected to Voldemort while Dumbledore was still alive?

Isaac once suspected that the news of the Sorcerer's Stone being kept in the vault was leaked by Dumbledore himself.

Then, shortly after the news spread, he had Hagrid retrieve the Sorcerer's Stone to bring it back to Hogwarts.

This was to entice Voldemort into finding a way to enter Hogwarts and face Dumbledore, that "old fox," head-on.

Thinking of this, Isaac readily agreed.

"No problem, Professor Dumbledore. You can rest easy leaving this to me; it definitely won't go wrong!"

Seeing Isaac agree, Dumbledore added unhurriedly, "By the way, let Hagrid be the one to carry it."

Isaac's eyes widened instantly: "You don't trust me?!"

"I trust you very much, Isaac," Dumbledore shook his head kindly, "but I don't want you to turn the entirety of Hogwarts into a golden castle."

Old fox, and you still claim you didn't use Legilimency!

Isaac was stunned; he was just an ordinary little wizard, was there any need to be so guarded against him?

Besides, wouldn't a golden castle look awesome?

Future Hogwarts graduates could brag to wizards from other countries, "My magic school is made of solid gold; how could anyone not be envious?"

Furthermore, it could solve the problem of impoverished students at Hogwarts—those with financial difficulties could just chip off a piece of the wall or pry up a floorboard to cover their living expenses. It was a win-win-win!

Watching the dejected Isaac before him, Dumbledore felt increasingly glad for his judgment.

The child was indeed a good child, but his unpredictability was truly a bit too high.

It was a good thing he had Hagrid follow along as an insurance policy...

Dumbledore suddenly realized that perhaps the little wizard before him would be a more difficult existence to deal with than Tom Riddle.

Forget it, let it be; trust in the wisdom of those who come after.

He had already dealt with Grindelwald and held down Voldemort; he could not manage anything more than that.

He was merely a lonely old wizard.

Dumbledore looked toward Professor Vinda: "Professor Rosier, if it is convenient, I would like you to act on my behalf to provide a young wizard with their introduction to the magical world."

"Oh?" Professor Vinda appeared somewhat interested.

Dumbledore was the highest mountain and the longest river in the contemporary magical world; there were very few wizards he would personally introduce to the magical world.

In a flash, Professor Vinda realized who Dumbledore was talking about: "You mean your 'Boy Who Lived,' Harry Potter?"

Dumbledore nodded.

"Barring any accidents, Harry should have already received his acceptance letter delivered by owl."

Yet we have waited in vain for his reply.

Even though we sent extra owls, but..."

Dumbledore shook his head as he spoke. Truth be told, had he not been so busy, he would have gone to see what was happening with Harry himself.

Although the appearance of Isaac had caused Harry Potter's weight in Dumbledore's heart to drop significantly.

He was, after all, the scion of the hero who had resisted Voldemort, and Dumbledore had built so many plans around Harry.

Originally, Dumbledore had not wanted to trouble Vinda Rosier.

But Hogwarts was short-staffed during the holidays, and considering Harry Potter was currently living with a Muggle family.

Whoever was sent to provide Harry with his introduction to the magical world had to at least look like a person.

On this point, Hagrid and Professor Flitwick were ruled out.

As for Professor McGonagall, the elderly cat-lady was currently so busy she was practically running off her feet; it was a miracle she wasn't hissing at him already, and if he assigned her more work, the cat-headed Head of House might actually revolt.

As for Professor Snape.

With Harry's looks, did Dumbledore dare let Snape get anywhere near him?

He looked just like a Potter, through and through.

Finally, Professor Sprout had several greenhouses of herbs that needed tending, and she generally didn't like to leave the grounds.

Dumbledore had originally intended to hold his nose and send Hagrid, but now he had a better option.

"Isaac, I'll have to trouble you to go with Professor Rosier."

Dumbledore didn't dare send Vinda Rosier to fetch Harry alone, but bringing Isaac along was equivalent to adding an insurance policy to Vinda Rosier.

Just as Hagrid was Isaac's insurance, Dumbledore always liked to keep an ace up his sleeve, or perhaps several.

Professor Rosier understood Dumbledore's meaning, yet she did not refuse the commission.

She nodded and agreed immediately.

July 31st, the day of Harry Potter's birthday.

Isaac, Professor Rosier, and Hagrid arrived at Diagon Alley.

"Let's go, Hagrid, we need to retrieve something for Dumbledore." Isaac patted Hagrid's leg; for a three-and-a-half-meter giant, that was all he could reach.

"Right, Isaac, let's go."