Dudley's Anger! Dumbledore's Regretful Events!

Dumbledore was shocked, and the thought of using Legilimency crossed his mind, but after some consideration, he decided against it.

With a gentle tap of the Elder Wand, he restored Hagrid's spirits and brought him fully awake. The hidden injuries on his body vanished, while the scattered scraps of clothing and miscellaneous items returned to Hagrid as though time had reversed, restoring him to his original state.

There was only one exception: the two dormice Hagrid carried with him had been struck by falling rocks in their sleep and had fallen into an eternal slumber. They could not be restored.

Hagrid, whose consciousness had not yet returned earlier, had not clearly heard what Dudley said. Now that he was awake, he failed to notice the strange atmosphere. After looking around, he spotted the fake Philosopher's Stone package on the ground, breathed a sigh of relief, hurriedly picked it up, and brought it before Dumbledore.

Then, he respectfully explained Harry and Dudley's identities to the elder he revered, recounting everything that had just happened.

At the emotional peak of his story, Hagrid tried to pull Harry and Dudley over to speak with Dumbledore, only to find Harry standing firmly beside Dudley and refusing to let Hagrid tug him away.

Meanwhile, Dudley simply went about his own business, ignoring him.

"Oh! It was all my fault, I shouldn't have exposed Harry's identity!"

Sensing Harry's resistance, Hagrid grew sad.

"Don't be sad, Hagrid. They'll forgive you. Let them calm down first," Dumbledore said.

Dudley had no time to calm down.

Right in front of Dumbledore, he took three empty blood bags wrapped in tinfoil and cotton from his clothes and removed their stoppers.

Waving Mr. Diggle's wand, a member of the Order of the Phoenix, he cast a simple Levitation Charm and drew up the large pool of Hagrid's blood still on the ground, filling the bags and properly collecting it.

After gathering Hagrid's blood, Dudley walked over to the stalagmite with Quirrell's wand embedded in it. After trying Diffindo several times, he split the stone apart and successfully pocketed Quirrell's somewhat cracked and damaged wand.

Once that was done, he went over to Quirrell's "corpse," which had turned to ash and left behind only a set of tattered black cloth. He searched it thoroughly, found nothing of value, and gave up.

Next, Dudley turned his attention to the gold blocks formed from the shattered stones. He discovered that they were gradually turning back into stone. Only the traces of cheap metals naturally contained within the rocks had completely transformed into pure gold and did not revert.

"Pure Gold Summons!"

Dudley did not hesitate. No matter how small the gain, it was still a gain, especially when it was gold.

Specks of gold dust shattered the stones binding them, rose into the air, and gathered in Dudley's palm.

"Brute Force Enhancement!"

Holding his wand, Dudley cast the magic he and Harry had created together. He spoke in Ancient Latin, the corresponding incantation he had once devised for the spell. As for the wand movement, it was simply the outline of a clenched fist.

Crimson light flashed. Perhaps because he was one of the spell's creators, Dudley's first attempt at casting it was a complete success.

Feeling the explosive increase in his strength, he was immensely satisfied. This was far more powerful than when Harry had cast it on him in the past!

Dudley turned and stared at Dumbledore, who had found a stone to sit on while waiting. Their eyes met directly as Dudley fiercely clenched his left hand, instantly compressing the small handful of gold dust in his palm into a solid mass.

[Ding—]

[First encounter with Albus Dumbledore. Current regretful events unlocked!]

[Parents Who Died Unexpectedly (B-rank)]

[Details: Albus Dumbledore's father was convicted of attacking three Muggle children when Albus was young, and later died in Azkaban. His mother died when the Obscurus within his sister Ariana erupted.]

[Accidentally Killing Ariana (S-rank)]

[Details: Albus Dumbledore's sister, Ariana, died in a three-way battle between him, his brother Aberforth, and his lover at the time, Gellert Grindelwald, the first Dark Lord.

Although there was no direct proof, Albus Dumbledore knew deep down that it was his spell that had taken his sister's life. It became the nightmare he feared most and least wished to face.]

[The Forbidden Love of the Black and White Dark Lords (S-rank)]

[Details: In his youth, Albus Dumbledore fell in love with Gellert Grindelwald, an extremist and powerful wizard obsessed with Dark magic and the legend of the Deathly Hallows, who believed wizards should rule Muggles.

Later, because of their differing ideals and that disastrous three-way battle, the two went their separate ways. Eventually, for the order of the wizarding world, they completely broke apart and became enemies. One emerged victorious, while the other was imprisoned, and their relationship could never return to what it had been.]

After silently reading the newly unlocked regretful events, Dudley's mood and expression darkened further.

Not one of them was something he wanted to resolve right now, and not one of them was something he could resolve right now!

"Harry, let's go!"

Dudley immediately turned and walked away.

Harry, who had remained by Dudley's side all along, followed without the slightest hesitation.

Though he could not fully understand why his cousin was angry, he did not need to understand. He would stand by his cousin unconditionally. Even if it meant he could not go to Hogwarts to learn magic, that was nothing.

Dumbledore and Hagrid had been abandoned.

"Hagrid, it seems that the rather strong-willed Mr. Dursley has developed some misunderstandings about me." Dumbledore rose to his feet. "Don't worry, they probably don't dislike you."

Though the wise old bee had not used Legilimency, he had still seen the situation clearly.

"Oh! How could this be? You came to save us! Dudley is a smart, good boy. He shouldn't treat you like this!"

Hagrid's head was large, but he was indeed somewhat lacking in intelligence. He could not understand the situation at all.

"No, Hagrid. Strictly speaking, I did not save them. Before I stepped in, they had already defeated Voldemort!"

Dumbledore did not take credit for himself and stated the truth plainly. "And Hagrid, you were right.

Young Mr. Dursley is indeed intelligent, even more intelligent than I imagined. Intelligent and straightforward, without the slightest attempt at concealment! That is a good thing!

Perhaps a sincere conversation can resolve his dissatisfaction and misunderstanding of me.

Let us follow them! It seems they have encountered a little trouble. Besides, the school supplies for two new first-years have not yet been purchased!"

From afar, Dumbledore and Hagrid saw Dudley and Harry having a small dispute with the Goblins who had come to repair the aftermath.

"Oh! All right, Professor Dumbledore. I sincerely hope you can become close with the two children, but for now, go help them first! I'll be there shortly!"

Hagrid wiped the tears from his face. The distance from his two new friends, along with the loss of his two little darlings, had left him grief-stricken.

He crouched down and carefully lifted the two flattened, lifeless dormice. Wrapping them in a piece of silk cloth, he slowly placed them into a separate pocket.

"Do not be too sad, Hagrid," Dumbledore comforted his old friend.

"I'm fine, Professor Dumbledore."

Hagrid replied. He did not want others to worry about him, and he tried hard to calm himself.

As he calmed down, he recalled something Dumbledore had said earlier.

"Professor, you said two new students?! Dudley counts too? Right, right, right! Dudley suddenly knows how to cast magic. He isn't a Muggle!"

Only then did Hagrid realize it. Having remained in a tense state of battle, he had had no time to think about Dudley's unusual nature.

Now that he thought of it, he did not dwell on it. He was simply happy for Dudley.