Those on the Same Path

"Well, it's getting late. I'll take my leave for today."

After thoroughly understanding Dumbledore's plans, Li Wei rose to leave.

"Li Wei."

Just as he was about to open the door, Dumbledore suddenly called out to him.

"There is one last small matter I'd like to ask of you—nothing to do with our plans. Consider it a personal request. I hope you'll look after Harry a little more in your daily life."

"What kind of looking after? Do you want me to train him while I'm at it, or do you want me to give him preferential treatment?"

"Hmm... both sound quite tempting. If he could receive your careful guidance, perhaps he might completely exceed my expectations."

Dumbledore had originally intended to ask Li Wei to go easy on Harry—after all, the boy was destined to face exceedingly difficult challenges in the future. At the very least, he wanted Harry to have a happy, complete school life.

But Li Wei was also someone Dumbledore had watched grow up. Although he had rarely devoted much attention to this student during Li Wei's school years, he knew Li Wei's history of growth inside and out.

His brilliance was beyond question!

Unlike Voldemort, whose abilities had been innate gifts of talent, Li Wei had reached his current level entirely through extreme self-discipline and learning methods he had explored on his own.

That was precisely what made his achievements all the more valuable.

Even if Dumbledore had traded places with him, he did not believe he could have achieved what Li Wei had.

If Harry were handed over to Li Wei as well, Dumbledore could not even imagine how extraordinary the results might be.

Seeing Li Wei still watching him, Dumbledore actually hesitated—a rare occurrence.

"I'd like to hear your opinion."

"My opinion isn't important. What's important is what result you want to achieve."

"..."

Dumbledore would rather Li Wei not be so understanding at a time like this, and simply give him a course of action.

No matter how he considered it, he could not make a decision. Even Li Wei himself did not understand why this question was so difficult for Dumbledore to decide.

"If it's really that hard to choose..." Li Wei offered a suggestion. "Why not hand the question to Harry and let him choose for himself?"

"Let him choose for himself?"

"Yes. His father and I were classmates, after all, so he's practically half a good mate of mine. If he wants to slack off, I'll look after him.

On the other hand, if he wants to work harder, I'll help him grow as quickly as possible. What do you think?"

Dumbledore still hesitated somewhat.

He was not sure whether Harry, as he was now, possessed the maturity to make the right choice.

But on second thought, what if Harry chose wrong? At worst, everything would simply return to its original course.

With that thought, Dumbledore said,

"A very thoughtful approach. I don't think I have any reason to refuse."

"Then that's how we'll do it. But—I don't like the feeling of dragging people along by force. Until Harry shows that he wants to improve, I won't go looking for him.

It's late. Get some rest, Professor."

Li Wei waved and turned to leave.

"Creak."

After he left,

the headmaster's office returned to silence. Dumbledore let out a deep breath and sat back down in his chair.

"Li Wei."

As Dumbledore recalled today's exchange with that remarkable young man, he felt a long-lost sense of exhilaration in his chest. How long had it been since he had spoken with someone like this?

Not to mention that the other party was capable of discussing the nature of magic with him.

"To regard all magic as phenomena that can be broken down?"

Dumbledore stood once more and extended his right hand.

Above his broad palm, firefly-like specks of light gradually gathered, quickly forming a sphere.

Dumbledore silently watched the ball of light. Under this new way of thinking, the sphere formed by the spell had become something entirely different in his eyes.

He did not stop. His palm remained raised.

The specks of light continued to gather, yet the sphere never grew larger; only its radiance intensified.

Gradually, the gathering specks accelerated, connecting into lines. The lines quickly converged into thick columns. In the end, no more specks were generated, yet the ball of light in Dumbledore's palm flickered faster and faster, as though new energy were constantly gathering within it.

"Gurgle—gurgle—"

The ball of light continuously made bubbling sounds, as though something were gathering inside it.

As the energy compressed further and further, the sound became increasingly rapid—faster and faster—

Snap!!!

Blinding light directly filled the entire office, illuminating it like the desert at noon, and it did not fade for a long while.

Dumbledore raised his wand and gave it a light wave. Only then did the light filling the room dissipate.

He quietly sat back down.

Without saying a word.

After an unknown amount of time, a pleased chuckle suddenly rang out in the office.

"Interesting."

"Didn't I already warn you to be more careful?"

The moment Li Wei stepped out of Dumbledore's office, an impatient voice sounded beside his ear.

A tall figure blended into the shadows beside the corridor window silently emerged. He was so soundless that it seemed as if he had been standing there all along.

"Snape? How long have you been here?"

"Answer my question!"

There was a trace of barely suppressed anger in Snape's voice.

If they had not been outside Dumbledore's office, he would have shouted long ago.

Faced with all this, Li Wei found it rather baffling.

He could not help frowning. "Could you be a little more rational?"

"Rational? What am I supposed to use to stay rational?!

I already warned you like that, yet you still made this mistake!"

Snape looked as though he were on the verge of a breakdown.

He paced back and forth anxiously, seemingly trying to think of a solution. But the next instant, he strode forward in irritation, his head nearly colliding with Li Wei's nose.

"What the hell were you thinking? Hm—?! Making such a huge scene at school and setting your sights on a cat? Have you thought about the consequences?!"

"Snape, calm down first."

Li Wei soothed the furious Snape, though his tone remained as infuriating as ever.

"How could I possibly use a cat for an experiment? And even if I really had, there was no way you would have found out.

Didn't you see the bloody writing on the wall?"

"The Chamber of Secrets? You're planning to use that vague legend to clear yourself? There isn't the slightest evidence that Slytherin ever built even something as simple as a secret broom shed!

Let me tell you, McGonagall won't believe it. She's extremely wary of you right now!"

"Really? She truly thinks that? That's the saddest news I've heard all day."

"Is this the time to be talking about that?!"

Snape was truly about to break down!

He grabbed Li Wei by the collar and anxiously demanded,

"So? What did Dumbledore say? How does he plan to deal with you? Revoke your position as a professor and send you back to Azkaban? Speak!"

"No, we reached an understanding."

"?"