Dumbledore wasn't sitting in his tall, authoritative headmaster's chair.
Instead, he wore a simple deep-purple robe and sat quietly in one of the armchairs beside the fireplace, looking like nothing more than a gentle old man.
Across from him, another armchair had already been prepared.
A cup of steaming lemon tea waited on the small table beside it.
He was waiting for an equal conversation partner.
"Please sit, Lucian," Dumbledore said with a warm smile.
"Would you like some sugar?"
Lucian sat calmly and shook his head.
The office was quiet.
Only the crackling fire and the moonlight shining over the Forbidden Forest filled the room.
Dumbledore looked at the boy before him—someone who seemed impossibly calm for his age.
A complicated emotion flickered in his blue eyes:
Admiration.
Gratitude.
And a hint of awe toward the unknown future.
After a long silence, he finally spoke.
Dumbledore Shares Everything
This conversation was different from any before.
Dumbledore was no longer the wise mentor giving guidance.
Instead, he became someone exchanging information.
He told Lucian everything he knew about Tom Riddle.
How a gifted orphan with a twisted heart slowly became the Dark Lord.
How Voldemort obsessed over blood purity.
How he recruited ancient pure-blood families and built the Death Eaters.
He spoke of the cruelty of the First Wizarding War.
Of the Order of the Phoenix and their sacrifices.
Of the prophecy about a child born at the end of July.
And of Lily Potter's ancient protective magic that defeated Voldemort.
Everything Dumbledore had learned in a lifetime—
He laid before Lucian like an old map of secrets.
Finally, he looked up again.
"About… Horcruxes."
His voice carried an unusual humility.
"Lucian… what else did you see in those memories?"
"Could you tell me more?"
As he asked, the great wizard leaned forward slightly.
It was the unconscious posture of someone showing respect.
At that moment, in the centuries-old office—
The headmaster and the student were completely equal.
In fact, when it came to defeating Voldemort…
Lucian now held the more decisive position.
Dumbledore's Request
After hearing everything Lucian knew about Horcruxes, the office fell into a long silence.
Dumbledore sat back slowly.
His expression grew heavy.
For decades he had searched for Voldemort's secrets.
But the boy before him had uncovered them almost effortlessly.
He stood up and gave Lucian a solemn wizard's bow.
"Lucian."
His voice carried the weight of a commander preparing for a long war.
"I, Albus Dumbledore, founder of the Order of the Phoenix…"
"Invite you to stand beside me."
"I ask you to help me find and destroy Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes."
"I ask you to fight the coming darkness with me."
This was not a command.
It was a request.
A burden placed upon the future of the wizarding world.
Lucian's Answer
Lucian looked at him calmly.
"Professor Dumbledore."
"I will deal with Voldemort."
Relief flickered in Dumbledore's eyes.
But Lucian continued.
"…Just not your way."
Dumbledore froze.
Lucian set down his teacup.
"I won't spend years searching the world for hidden treasures."
"That's inefficient."
"And boring."
To Lucian, Dumbledore's long hunt for Horcruxes was nothing more than an elaborate game of hide-and-seek.
Then he revealed his plan.
"I'll make him bring the Horcruxes to me."
Justice for Hagrid
The Chamber of Secrets incident shook the entire wizarding world.
Lucius Malfoy was sentenced to life imprisonment in Azkaban.
The Malfoy family's reputation collapsed overnight.
But the biggest news involved a fifty-year-old injustice.
The Ministry officially admitted:
They had accused the wrong person.
Rubeus Hagrid had been innocent all along.
The Daily Prophet printed the headline across the front page.
The Celebration Feast
To celebrate Hagrid's vindication and the end of the crisis, Hogwarts held a grand feast.
Students from all four houses sat together for the first time without rivalry.
Hagrid sat at the center of the staff table.
He wore his best brown coat, though he still looked a little awkward.
His beard was soaked with tears and mead.
He hugged everyone who came to congratulate him.
Eventually, he stood up with a mug larger than Ron's head.
He staggered toward the Gryffindor table.
The hall grew quiet.
Hagrid stopped in front of Lucian.
His eyes were full of overwhelming gratitude.
"Lucian…"
His voice was hoarse with emotion.
Words failed him.
So he did the only thing he could think of.
He wrapped Lucian in a massive bear hug.
Lucian suddenly felt like he'd been hit by a warm, furry mountain.
The smell of wood smoke and forest earth surrounded him.
It was the first time anyone had broken his personal space so… enthusiastically.
The hall burst into laughter and applause.
The School's Hero
After that moment, the feast turned into a celebration of Lucian.
Students lined up to toast him.
Gryffindors called him their greatest hero.Hufflepuffs thanked him for saving Justin and clearing Hagrid's name.Ravenclaws, especially Penelope and the rescued girls, looked at him with sparkling admiration.Even many Slytherins offered reluctant respect.
Lucian accepted every toast with a small nod.
Then calmly continued eating his cherry pie.
Luna's Gift
On the day students left Hogwarts, the train waited at the station.
Lucian was about to board when someone called his name.
"Lucian."
He turned.
Luna Lovegood stood behind him.
Her long pale-blonde hair shimmered in the sunlight.
She held a strange necklace made from Butterbeer bottle caps.
"This is for you," she said softly.
"It keeps away Wrackspurts."
Lucian looked at the odd charm.
Then at Luna's perfectly serious expression.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
He accepted it.
Luna smiled gently.
"Next term," she said dreamily,
"Let's search the Forbidden Forest for a Crumple-Horned Snorkack."
"They only appear when they see someone with a glowing soul."
Lucian agreed.
A very unusual promise was made.
Daphne's Respect
As Lucian prepared to board the train, he sensed a cold gaze.
He looked over.
Among the Slytherins stood Daphne Greengrass, the so-called Ice Queen.
Her pale blue eyes met his.
This time, there was no curiosity.
Only respect.
She gave a small nod.
A silent acknowledgment from one strong person to another.
Lucian nodded back.
Hermione Approaches
Just as he turned toward the train—
A familiar scent of shampoo drifted past.
Hermione Granger stepped in front of him.
Her face was slightly red.
She looked nervous.
As if she had something very important to say.
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