"God?" The word reverberated through Dumbledore's mind like a bell toll.
He didn't fully comprehend what he had witnessed, but he understood that the figure shrouded in mist possessed unimaginable power. Perhaps Dudley spoke truth when he suggested that without that protective veil, a single direct glance could have ended his life instantly.
Seeing Dumbledore bow his head and tremble slightly, Dudley withdrew his overwhelming presence. The supernatural light vanished from the air above, and the office returned to heavy silence.
"What exactly is a god?" After what felt like an eternity, Dumbledore finally raised his head to meet Dudley's gaze.
"It cannot be spoken," Dudley replied with a shake of his head.
"Is the Night Emperor a god?" Dumbledore pressed.
"Yes, and no," Dudley answered cryptically.
Dumbledore seemed to have anticipated this response. He didn't pursue the matter further, instead contemplating the concept of divinity according to his own limited understanding. Clearly, such an entity transcended everything he thought he knew about the magical world. It appeared that beyond his comprehension existed beings whose power dwarfed even the greatest wizards.
"Professor Dumbledore, you are the headmaster, and I am merely a student. I won't interfere in your affairs, so please don't interfere in mine," Dudley stated with measured calm. "I harbor no ill will toward Hogwarts or toward you personally, but if you attempt to manipulate me, I cannot predict the consequences."
"As for other forms of cooperation, that remains possible. Everyone can benefit from a mutual arrangement. However, this requires honest negotiation, not simple exploitation."
Having revealed his trump card, Dudley believed someone of Dumbledore's intelligence would make the wisest choice. He had also made his position crystal clear: from now on, they would respect each other's boundaries.
"What about Harry? Will you abandon him as well?" After a moment of contemplation, Dumbledore asked quietly.
"He's my brother. Naturally, I'll protect him with my life. As for you, Professor Dumbledore, if you worried less about controlling his destiny, he might actually live a happier existence," Dudley replied with icy precision.
"I see," Dumbledore sighed heavily. "You harbor many misconceptions about my intentions."
Dudley turned to face Dumbledore directly and let out a humorless chuckle. "Misconceptions? I think not."
"Perhaps we could have a proper discussion. We both want what's best for Harry, for the wizarding world. Our ultimate goals align," Dumbledore suggested with meaningful emphasis.
"No, no, no." Dudley shook his head firmly. "What does the fate of the wizarding world matter to me?"
Dumbledore's pupils contracted sharply. He realized with growing certainty that Dudley genuinely didn't care about the magical community's survival. His concerns seemed limited to a small circle: Harry, his parents, and a few close friends. Beyond that intimate group, nothing else held value for him.
He resembled a detached observer, standing at some incomprehensible height and looking down upon the wizarding world with complete indifference. Was this the transcendent perspective that divine connection had granted him?
Dumbledore weighed his options carefully. After a long internal debate, he exhaled slowly, leaned back in his ornate chair, and regarded Dudley as if reaching a momentous decision.
"Perhaps today presents an opportunity for honest negotiation. Any questions you have about my actions, or about past events, I'm prepared to answer truthfully," Dumbledore offered.
Whether the Night Emperor qualified as a true god seemed less important than acknowledging his immense power. Dumbledore could conceptualize him as an ancient, incredibly powerful wizard who was gradually awakening to full strength. Such an individual was undoubtedly worth cultivating as an ally.
At minimum, with Dudley's connection, the Night Emperor could never align himself with Voldemort's cause.
"I'm sorry, but I have nothing I wish to ask," Dudley declined, turning toward the door once more.
"Lily Potter, your aunt and Harry's mother, used her final moments to protect Harry when Voldemort attacked their family. Her love merged into Harry's very blood, creating a shield against Voldemort's power. As long as Harry considers the place where his mother's blood flows to be home, he remains protected from direct harm. This is ancient magic of the most profound kind, powerful enough to rebound Voldemort's Killing Curse, and it will endure until Harry reaches adulthood."
Dumbledore's sudden revelation made Dudley pause. The door he had half-opened remained frozen in place.
"This is precisely why I had to place him with your family. Harry must remain with blood relatives for this protective magic to function properly. Of course, he doesn't need constant proximity, just regular contact each year. Now that you've also become a wizard studying alongside Harry at Hogwarts, this enchantment continues to operate."
"Furthermore, because you and your mother share blood ties with Lily, you would also benefit from this protection, though I cannot say exactly how much shielding the spell would provide you."
"This is why I didn't intervene directly against Quirrell. Instead, after establishing various safeguards, I wanted to observe how effectively that protection functioned and also to understand why Voldemort cannot destroy Harry."
"Fawkes represented one of my most crucial contingencies. He could absorb fatal attacks on your behalf at critical moments. Additionally, I arranged other measures throughout the castle. As long as you remained within Hogwarts grounds, I could guarantee your safety from mortal danger."
"I simply didn't anticipate that you would leave the castle today and venture into the Forbidden Forest. This caused several of my protective measures to fail when you needed them most. For this oversight, I offer my sincere apologies. I failed to safeguard you properly."
Dumbledore's explanation carried genuine remorse and vulnerability.
Dudley closed the door completely and returned to face Dumbledore directly. However, rather than feeling appeased by this explanation, his anger intensified.
"According to your account, my mother, Harry, and I enjoy magical protection. But what about my father?" Dudley's voice carried dangerous quiet. "When you deposited Harry on our doorstep like an unwanted package, did you consider our feelings at all?"
"If Voldemort's followers had come hunting us, could you absolutely guarantee no mistakes would occur? Why should my family bear the risks created by problems in your magical world?"
Dudley's questions struck like hammer blows.
"Furthermore, since Harry's parents left behind a substantial inheritance, why didn't we receive a single coin from you while shouldering the burden of raising him? Yes, we are Harry's blood relatives, but that doesn't automatically obligate us to serve as his guardians."
"Professor Dumbledore, let me pose a question. Do you have siblings? If you had a brother you truly despised, who lived as a Muggle in a world you completely failed to understand, and then one day he was murdered by his enemies, and someone mysteriously abandoned his child on your doorstep while expecting you to accept potential assassination attempts while raising him, what would you do?"
The weight of Dudley's words settled over the office like a suffocating blanket, forcing Dumbledore to confront the human cost of his calculated decisions.