Hogwarts: Even Voldemort Can't Stop Me From Studying

Chapter 873 244: Keeping a Distance from Power

As they spoke, Vid and Dumbledore had already arrived at the gargoyle in front of the Headmaster's Office, uttered the password, and the two ascended slowly with the rotating stairs.

Dumbledore asked with a smile, "It sounds like... you don't quite like Mr. Scrimgeour?"

There was no hint of reproach in his tone, so Vid spoke frankly.

"A bit,"

he said candidly, "Mr. Scrimgeour is known for his tough tactics, but being tough on the surface and strong inside are two different things... I worry he might take some radical measures—"

"Not just toward suspicious individuals, but also affecting ordinary people and even allies."

"Although I don't know Mr. Scrimgeour well, I do know Professor Moody—a brilliant Auror can be a good professor, but it's difficult to be a competent Minister of Ministry of Magic."

Who would want a Minister characterized by suspicion and sharpness, enthusiastic about arrest and surveillance through high-pressure methods?

"No one is perfect, Vid," Dumbledore said, "Perhaps you think I would be a better Minister than Fudge or Scrimgeour... Ah, to be honest, I do have that kind of confidence, or maybe arrogance."

He opened the office door and led Vid inside, soon hearing a portrait snort loudly.

"Hm-hm, Dumbledore, too modest... you're a hundred times better than those fools! If you want to do it, you can do it well, recall your youthful ambition, I don't believe you've forgotten…"

Phineas tapped his knee with his finger, eyeing Vid cunningly.

"Thank you, Phineas." Dumbledore said, "Thank you for rating my youthful foolishness so highly."

He gestured for Vid to sit down and then turned to sit in the high-backed chair himself. On the table beside, alongside those exquisite instruments, there was a golden teapot shining brightly.

The young man ignored the portraits wall, secretly observing him, and said, "I guess there was a 'but' in what you said earlier?"

Dumbledore laughed, "Yes, there was a 'but'."

He paused and then continued, "Power is like a Magic Mirror, it magnifies the most secret flaws within us... Maybe I possess more knowledge than most people, but this also means, when I make a misstep, I could cause more harm to people."

He gazed at Vid, and said softly, "When someone holds both power and wisdom, it's easy to fall into the dangerous self-persuasion of 'for the greater good', 'for world peace'."

Fox perched on a branch suddenly let out a soft cry, Vid glanced at it distractedly, his eyes could not help showing affection and gratitude.

Vid did not face Voldemort without backup; when he confronted that Dark Lord face to face, Fox was actually hiding on him—

A pocket on Vid's chest was enchanted with The Undetectable Extension Charm, and the expanded space was just enough for the Phoenix to stay in.

When he was held hostage by Barty Crouch Jr to threaten Harry, it was Fox who told him to endure temporarily, and later reminded him of how to release the Poppet.

Or rather, it was Dumbledore who communicated with him remotely through Fox.

He turned his gaze back, seeing the Headmaster just as frankly saying:

"You know, I once made a grave mistake out of a desire for power, if I held the highest administrative authority, I might repeat past mistakes or fall into authoritarian risks."

"As I've mentioned to you before—I'm actually a foolishly arrogant and proud person."

"Unlike Fudge, my advantage is that I clearly know my own weaknesses, so I can keep myself at a distance from power, to maintain a clear mind when necessary."

Vid nodded, the fog in his mind gradually dissipating.

He previously thought that with Grindelwald soaring in popularity now and the resurrected Voldemort secretly re-accumulating power, even for the peace of the Magic World, Dumbledore should not continue rejecting the position of Minister of Ministry of Magic.

Grindelwald taunted him for being "timid," Voldemort considered him hypocritical and cowardly, and many ordinary citizens who supported Dumbledore felt disappointed in him because of this, like the werewolf family in the Forbidden Forest.

Vid himself... actually thought so too.

But now he understood—this is not cowardice, but a consciousness transcending the temptation of power, a seeming "dull" sense of responsibility.

Dumbledore relinquished the power to actively change the world because he chooses to protect the foundation of the castle, the future of the Magic World.

As he seemed enlightened, Dumbledore returned to the initial topic:

"As for Rufus, although he might be stubborn, it's precisely because of this stubbornness that he can stick to principles during turbulent times. He recognizes threats more clearly than Fudge and takes decisive action—although his actions might not always be right, it's better than doing nothing at all."

Vid pondered for a moment, nodding slightly.

"You're right, Professor."

He smiled wryly, "Compared to Fudge's self-deception, at least Mr. Scrimgeour is willing to face issues head-on—even if it's by crashing into them."

Suddenly, a humorous thought occurred to Vid:

Perhaps Fudge's sickening incompetence is so overwhelming that even someone as tolerant as Dumbledore doesn't want to endure another Minister like him, hence choosing to support the completely opposite Scrimgeour.

Dumbledore's eyes squinted with laughter, his beard trembled slightly, "Dear Vid, it seems your understanding of Rufus is deeper than you realize!"

"Crashing into it head-on..."

He couldn't help deepening the smile for this comment, "You know, years ago, Rufus really did crash through a wall while pursuing a werewolf fugitive!"

"Such a coincidence?"

Vid was initially stunned, then couldn't help but laugh. His gaze swept over the quiet golden teapot, pausing slightly.

"Professor, what is this teapot?" Vid asked, "It seems similar to a Time Turner, is it some sort of time-related magic tool?"

"It is indeed." Dumbledore's expression appeared a bit solemn, "This is what worries me."

"Worry?"

Vid expressed some confusion, then realized, "Could this teapot... not be something Voldemort stole when breaking into the Department of Mysteries?"

He recalled a similar item appearing in the original story.

Dumbledore took off his glasses and wiped them, and after a while, he sighed and said, "If this were true, it would be much simpler."

"But this teapot... it is not the work of any Unspeakable from the British Department of Mysteries, and that's the biggest problem."