The Compromiser, You Disappoint Me!

August began under the sign of Leo.

On the evening of August 1, 1991, the day after Harry's eleventh birthday.

An aged old lion arrived at the Dursley household by invitation.

Unlike ten years ago, this time the old lion could no longer use a letter to face the family of a companion who had sacrificed herself.

Dumbledore knocked on the wooden door of 4 Privet Drive with his aged fingers.

In the living room, the Dursleys received him. After an awkward exchange of polite pleasantries, Petunia led Dumbledore upstairs to Dudley's bedroom according to the reception procedure Dudley had set that morning, then casually closed the bedroom door behind him.

"You really have gotten old. Your legs don't work so well if you only arrived in the evening."

Dudley and Harry had been sitting in their chairs, reading and studying. When Dumbledore arrived, Dudley mocked him without the slightest politeness, stood up, waved Diggle's wand, and moved a chair over for Dumbledore.

Dumbledore looked much better than he had yesterday. Smiling, he showed no anger at Dudley's words. As he obediently sat down, he defended himself.

"Dudley, please forgive an old man who has been self-righteous for far too long. I needed more time to reflect and sort through my emotions."

Dudley carefully studied Dumbledore's expression and body language, then gave a soft laugh.

"A guest has come from afar. Would you like coffee, black tea, or orange soda?"

"Orange soda? Is that a Muggle beverage? If it's sweet, I'd be happy to give it a try."

Dumbledore smiled as well. He felt that Dudley might be a little easier to get along with today than yesterday.

"Orange soda is sweet and sour. Calling it sweet wouldn't be wrong."

As Dudley spoke, he walked to the corner, took a can of orange soda from his refrigerator, then said with feigned annoyance, "Sorry, we're out of orange soda!"

Dumbledore's eye twitched. Even without Legilimency, he had no way of understanding Dudley's thought process. But he no longer wished to pry into the mind of a child he felt guilty toward, so he could only remind him, "Dudley, the one in your hand..."

"Oh, this is the last can. Harry wants it!"

Dudley bared his teeth in a grin and tossed the orange soda in his hand straight to Harry, who had just set down his book.

Without a word, Harry popped the can open and drank deeply.

"Then black tea would be fine too." Dumbledore settled for the next best thing.

"We're out of tea leaves." Dudley said with malicious amusement.

"Coffee will do, then. Could you add some sugar?" Dumbledore retreated another step.

"I don't drink coffee, so I never stocked any." Dudley answered honestly. He generally did not lie.

Dumbledore was completely speechless.

After a long pause, he finally said, "I'm not really thirsty. We can just have an honest conversation."

"No, you're a guest. You have to drink something!"

The smile on Dudley's face gradually turned sinister. He did not allow Dumbledore to refuse. He took several brightly colored containers of liquid and an empty cup from the refrigerator, placed them on the desk in front of Dumbledore, and began mixing something on his own.

"A little lychee juice, some honey, and a bit of whisky..."

Dudley muttered to himself as he focused on concocting the mixed drink. A red glow gradually appeared around his hands. "And finally, a little dazzling magic. Done!"

"Please, enjoy!"

Dumbledore froze as the freshly prepared drink, strangely colored and enchanted with unknown magic by Dudley, floated before him. He looked up at Dudley and Harry.

Then, without saying anything, he reached out, took the cup, and drained it in one gulp.

"Ah, not bad. It tastes a little like fruit wine. Absolutely delicious!"

After finishing it, Dumbledore offered heartfelt praise, his face full of enjoyment.

But Dudley's expression across from him turned cold. "It seems Mr. Dumbledore wasted a precious day and failed to reflect on anything worthwhile. You're still a compromiser."

"You... this..." Dumbledore was truly stunned this time.

"Indecisive, hesitant, passively dealing with things, backing down again and again. You disappoint me."

Dudley spoke calmly, his eyes like an icy pool whose depths could not be seen. "If what I had used just now had not been Elixir of Life magic, but poison or a curse, I wonder whether Mr. Dumbledore would still be able to smile."

"Your assessment of me is quite apt, Dudley. I will learn to change."

Dumbledore understood the purpose behind Dudley's actions and was deeply moved. At the same time, however, he voiced his own opinion. "But I firmly believe that you would not harm me without cause.

I have experienced a great deal. My eyes do not misjudge people. Dudley, although you have many audacious ideas, you are not evil. At heart, you are kind..."

Dudley knew perfectly well whether he was kind or not. He did not need others to tell him.

He did not take Dumbledore's sincere praise to heart. Instead, he waved his wand, sent the bottles and jars on the desk back into the refrigerator, and dropped back into his original chair.

"Mr. Dumbledore, you didn't use Legilimency on me like you did yesterday, and your attitude has been very sincere. That makes you a decent guest.

"So, for today's conversation, I'll allow you to ask me questions first. I guarantee that I'll answer truthfully.

"Likewise, when Harry and I question you afterward, please tell us everything you know."

Dumbledore had not expected Dudley to throw his emotions into turmoil again in less than fifteen minutes. He felt that he simply could not hide anything in front of Dudley!

His Legilimency had long reached its pinnacle. It could be said that aside from natural-born Legilimency masters, no one was better than him at reading minds.

Yet Dudley, a young wizard who had not even attended magic school, could perceive his Legilimency so clearly. It was truly unbelievable.

Still, now that things had been said this far, Dumbledore could only seize the opportunity.

"An honest exchange is precisely why I came."

Dumbledore began with that statement, expressing his approval of Dudley's proposal. Then he formally began his questions, asking the matter that concerned him most.

"Dudley, how did you change from a Muggle into a wizard? And how did you gain abilities similar to the Philosopher's Stone?"

"This is an innate talent of mine. By going through certain things, things that turn tragedies into something beautiful, I can gain a special kind of power from them.

"That power allows me to merge with magical objects and thereby gain their abilities.

"However, this power is difficult to obtain and has many restrictions on how it can be used."

Dudley put it another way and gave a very rough explanation of his system cheat.

He was not afraid to let Dumbledore know that he was special. If he could persuade this old lion today, he would have a powerful ally in resolving regretful events in the future.

If he could not persuade him, Dumbledore's character meant he would not spread Dudley's secret around.

And after today's conversation, regardless of the outcome, he would have Dumbledore make an Unbreakable Confidentiality Vow with him.