Dudley stopped abruptly and turned to face Dumbledore directly.
Dumbledore tilted his head slightly, maintaining his characteristic gentle smile as he waited patiently for a response.
After a long, contemplative silence, Dudley spoke a single word.
"Order."
Dumbledore's eyes flickered with recognition as he repeated the word in a low, thoughtful voice.
"Order?"
Dudley offered nothing more and resumed walking along the lakeside path.
After a moment of consideration, Dumbledore fell into step beside him.
"Dudley, I don't believe you're someone who truly abides by order," Dumbledore observed carefully.
"Is that so?" Dudley feigned surprise, glancing at the headmaster. "I feel like I follow order quite well."
Dumbledore shook his head with knowing certainty.
"You merely utilize order, then shatter it when circumstances require. Order cannot truly constrain you. Therefore, it would be more accurate to describe your relationship as the shadow of order! Am I correct?"
Dumbledore winked with obvious satisfaction at his deduction.
Dudley's expression remained carefully neutral, but internally, his estimation of Dumbledore rose considerably. This wizard commanded respect as the pillar of the magical world for excellent reasons. He possessed remarkable intelligence.
From observing Dudley's behavioral patterns alone, he had intuited the fundamental authority that Dudley's pathway controlled. Of course, Dumbledore couldn't comprehend the intricate details, merely inferring broad concepts from observed behavior. Even so, his insight proved formidable.
Dudley could easily imagine that if Dumbledore appeared in that mysterious otherworld, he would inevitably rank among the most powerful entities.
However, something puzzled Dudley deeply. Would someone of Dumbledore's capabilities truly remain content operating within the current magical system without implementing meaningful changes?
The more Dudley understood the wizarding world, the more he perceived its fundamental decay: the dominance of pure-blood aristocracy, magic hidden from broader society, and virtually no progress over hundreds or thousands of years.
During Dumbledore's youth, hadn't he harbored ambitious dreams of transforming the magical world? With his extraordinary abilities, he should have achieved revolutionary changes rather than simply becoming a school headmaster.
"Dudley, there's something I've never been able to understand," Dumbledore said as they continued their lakeside stroll, the gentle lapping of water providing a peaceful backdrop.
"On Halloween, those prohibitions that manifested throughout Hogwarts Castle... was that the Night Emperor's doing?"
Dudley shook his head definitively.
"It wasn't the Night Emperor."
"Not the Night Emperor? Yet it must still be connected to you somehow, correct? After all, those prohibitions possessed power remarkably similar to order," Dumbledore said, studying Dudley intently.
"That incident didn't cause any permanent damage, so I chose not to investigate thoroughly. However, I don't want such occurrences repeated. Do you understand my meaning?"
Dudley considered his response carefully before speaking. "I cannot guarantee that similar events won't happen again, but I can promise that if such incidents occur, I will do everything possible to manage them properly."
"You cannot guarantee prevention?" Dumbledore's eyebrows rose with genuine surprise as he regarded Dudley with new concern.
"Why not?"
That Halloween incident remained vivid in Dumbledore's memory. Even he couldn't completely resist that mysterious power. Once someone violated those supernatural prohibitions, punishment followed inevitably. Unlike others, he could utilize powerful magic to partially mitigate the damage but couldn't entirely ignore their authority.
Dudley's expression grew troubled and conflicted. In this matter, he bore genuine responsibility.
The awakening of the Trunsoest Brass Book remained beyond his current control. Whether such manifestations would occur again in the future, Dudley couldn't predict with certainty. Moreover, if the Brass Book awakened again, its power would most likely exceed the previous incident significantly.
Previously it had been flogging. Next time it might begin with severing limbs or even directly sentencing violators to death.
"Is this something extremely serious?" Dumbledore astutely detected the gravity in Dudley's demeanor.
"Yes. Order is awakening, and other forces are stirring as well. What I can do is minimize the consequences after events occur, but I cannot prevent these manifestations from happening."
Hearing this admission, Dumbledore's expression grew deeply contemplative.
"If left completely unchecked, what would be the ultimate outcome?" Dumbledore asked with obvious concern.
Dudley looked directly at Dumbledore and spoke with chilling clarity. "You could be sentenced to death simply for stepping through a doorway with your left foot first."
"Oh my, that would indeed be truly terrifying," Dumbledore said with genuine alarm.
"If my speculation proves correct, this risk was brought here by you, wasn't it?"
Although Dudley wished he could deny it, he nodded reluctantly. When he had traveled back to this world, he had brought the Trunsoest Brass Book with him. This danger was indeed trouble of his own making.
"Very honest of you," Dumbledore said with approval.
He pondered the implications for several moments before speaking with careful precision. "This danger exists wherever you are present, doesn't it? It will perpetually accompany you?"
Dudley nodded grimly.
"Indeed. If you want to expel me because of this threat, I have nothing to say in my defense. I will leave Hogwarts willingly."
Dudley had already prepared himself mentally for this possibility. After Dumbledore fully understood these risks, the most logical solution would be his removal from the school. Otherwise, Hogwarts would face constant peril, which was completely unacceptable for any responsible headmaster.
During his time here, Dudley had spent countless hours reading in the library. He had gained a comprehensive understanding of the magical world, so even if forced to leave, it wouldn't create insurmountable problems.
"Oh, Dudley, I will never abandon any of my students, including you!" Dumbledore declared with fierce determination.
"But as I explained, my presence puts Hogwarts in constant danger," Dudley protested.
"It represents danger, not necessarily catastrophic harm. You know, danger exists everywhere in life! Moreover, what purpose do we professors and the headmaster serve? Isn't it precisely to solve problems our students encounter?"
"Although I'm growing old, I still possess considerable capability. You don't need to shoulder everything alone. Some burdens, I can help you carry as well."
Dudley stared at Dumbledore with genuine surprise. He had never expected to hear such words. He had assumed Dumbledore sought this conversation to persuade him to leave Hogwarts permanently.
Dumbledore smiled warmly at Dudley's astonishment. "Rather than allowing you to venture into the world and potentially wreak havoc unchecked, it's far better to keep you under my careful supervision. This way, even if problems arise, I can address them swiftly."
"I have no desire to hear reports in a few years about a dark wizard terrorizing the world named Dudley Dursley."
Dumbledore regarded Dudley with intense, burning eyes, the young man's reflection visible in his spectacles, while a hint of mischievous humor played at the corners of his mouth.