Facing Dumbledore

Inside the headmaster's office.

Li Wei sat across from Dumbledore.

"Lemon black tea again?"

"No. It's late at night; I don't feel like drinking anything."

Li Wei declined Dumbledore's offer. He was not in the mood to drink anything right now.

"We'll probably be talking for quite a while. I think you should have a cup—hot cocoa, perhaps?"

Dumbledore conjured a cup for himself first and raised it toward Li Wei. Seeing him nod with a slightly softened expression, Dumbledore smiled and conjured an identical cup of hot cocoa on the table before him.

"Li Wei, I have to admit that I did not pay much attention to you when you were a student, so I know very little about you."

That was the point.

Li Wei lowered his head and took a sip of hot cocoa without speaking.

"Since I intended to invite you to teach at Hogwarts, I looked into your background and what you have been doing these past few years—I hope you don't mind. I had no other way of getting to know you."

"That's all right, Headmaster. You are being responsible for the students' safety as well. Letting someone of unknown background become a professor—I don't think Hogwarts has fallen to such absurdity yet."

"Thank you for understanding."

Dumbledore continued.

"But in truth, even after I tried to search for information about you, I still learned very little. To put it somewhat inappropriately, your movements after graduation were practically those of a ghost.

Even during the war, there was no record of you anywhere.

The only thing I know is that you and Minerva maintained a long correspondence for some time. I am curious—what exactly did you do after graduation? Would you be willing to satisfy an old man's curiosity?"

"Have we strayed a little off topic? Headmaster, I thought you wanted to discuss the Basilisk with me."

"Oh—" Dumbledore replied as if only just realizing it, yet he still insisted, "You know, when people grow old, they like reminiscing about the past.

Remembering only their own past is not enough. They often greedily seek strength from other people's memories as well."

"And I assure you, what we are discussing now is directly related to the Basilisk."

Li Wei lowered his eyes, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with him as he said calmly,

"Whatever you want to know, just ask directly."

"Hmm—why does this feel a little like an interrogation? That was not my intention."

Dumbledore took a sip of hot cocoa.

When he set down the cup, his tone shifted, and he suddenly began discussing another subject.

"Perhaps we should talk about your reward first? Would that give you more motivation?"

"A reward?"

"Of course. You did me a great favor and spared Hogwarts's students from the Basilisk's threat. The entire school owes you its gratitude.

You are a professor, and the school's safety is partly your responsibility, but as headmaster, I must also offer special thanks for your exceptional personal contribution."

He leaned forward slightly, his tone casual, as though sharing an insignificant secret—

"For instance, we could discuss how to increase magical power. What do you think?"

"..."

Li Wei's index finger tapped soundlessly against the armrest, then the rhythm suddenly stalled for half a second.

He slowly straightened in his chair, his gaze turning more probing as he looked at Dumbledore.

Dumbledore was quite satisfied with his reaction. A faint smile flashed deep within his eyes—he truly admired Li Wei's devotion to magic, but he worried that it might lead him down the wrong path.

"You seem surprised. What, do you take me for someone who hoards his knowledge?"

"I don't know, Professor. In most circumstances, I imagine you are not."

Li Wei looked boldly and directly into Dumbledore's eyes—an extremely dangerous act between wizards.

The eyes were the windows to the soul. Wizards skilled in Legilimency could often easily obtain another person's thoughts through eye contact, even without casting a spell.

But which of the two present was not an expert in Legilimency?

Rather than an insult, Li Wei's gesture was more a display of sincerity—and Dumbledore undoubtedly received it.

"But who knows? Although you investigated me, I think I know you better than you know me."

"What have you learned? I hope those reports did not portray me too inaccurately."

Faced with Li Wei deliberately changing the subject, Dumbledore merely smiled and followed his lead.

"Both good and bad."

Li Wei did not evade his gaze in the slightest. His eyes were calm to the point of indifference—even Dumbledore, under that gaze for so long, could not help feeling the strange sensation that he had been completely laid bare.

"For example, you are acknowledged as the greatest white wizard of this century. You led the defeat of two generations of Dark Lords who brought disaster across the entire wizarding world, and countless people see you as a beacon against darkness.

But in private, they speak of you endlessly. They believe the power in your hands far exceeds anything ordinary people can imagine, that your will has long stood above the law. I have heard quite a few people call you this."

"The White Demon King."

The smile on Dumbledore's face did not change. He merely gave a soft "Hmm," as though savoring the deeper meaning of the title.

"There is one point I must correct."

Li Wei's figure was reflected in his brilliant blue pupils.

"Whether in the first war or the second, many remarkable wizards silently devoted their strength. Without them, I could never have accomplished those things alone. I am not as great as the newspapers make me out to be."

"Mm, I sincerely admire those people."

There was genuine sincerity in Li Wei's voice; he truly meant it.

But,

At that moment, Dumbledore's words suddenly stabbed out like a sharp sword!

"But you do not wish to become one of them, do you?"

"..."

"...Yes."

Li Wei's voice was slightly hoarse, as though forced from his throat.

But the next second, his voice had already returned to normal.

"I do not mind helping others when it is within my ability, but I would never throw myself into danger for that."

He admitted it frankly.

Dumbledore nodded. Without rushing to judge him, he continued asking,

"Anything else? I must say, hearing others evaluate you is truly a fresh and interesting experience.

And I believe those rumors alone would not be enough to make you misunderstand me."

Li Wei saw how relaxed he was, then recalled the barb Dumbledore had just thrust at him. He gave a faint snort, and a barely visible mocking smile appeared on his lips—at that moment, he bore some resemblance to Snape.

"There is more, but you may not enjoy what comes next."

"I believe unpleasant sounds have a reason to exist as well. They keep us vigilant, do they not?"

Since Dumbledore had said so, Li Wei naturally saw no reason to go easy on him.

"For example, you were once inseparable friends with the first-generation Dark Lord, Grindelwald, and even proposed a dangerous idea—"