Dumbledore lowered his head, stepping on his own shadow as he mused, "As for you, they'd like to make contact first."
"Meet me?"
Vaughn was rather puzzled.
Both the Potions exchange and the invitation for China to send a delegation from its magical universities had come about at his insistence.
But Vaughn knew his limits. He could hardly be qualified to engage in political dialogue with a major magical power. Unlike academia, politics had no clear standards for success or failure.
Politics was intensely subjective and placed great emphasis on seniority. His current age and experience were his greatest weaknesses.
So far, the greatest political achievement he could point to was c.
But to China, the werewolf problem had been little more than a minor nuisance throughout its history.
That was why he had entrusted the earlier negotiations with China to Dumbledore, then later handed them over to Fudge as part of an exchange.
He knew that his lack of seniority would probably make it difficult to earn China's respect, leaving him at a disadvantage in negotiations.
He did have some ideas, but he had intended to consider them during later interactions. "We may have had our differences, but I still have considerable faith in your character. I trust you more than those strangers," Vaughn replied evenly.
"Oh, what a heartwarming answer. If you weren't using Occlumency to construct false thoughts while saying it, I might actually feel moved, repentant, remorseful, and ashamed!"
"You have the nerve to criticize me? What headmaster uses Legilimency on his own students?"
"Karkaroff does!" Dumbledore replied with a cheeky grin.
Well, the Wizarding World was never short of creatures that only resembled human beings.
When Vaughn fell silent, Dumbledore, feeling he had gained the upper hand, walked on with a spring in his step