That was a good theory, that Dumbledore had considered. Not that the boy would have imagined it, but that it was some kind of elaborate illusion that the boy fell prey to. However, there were a few issues with that possibility. For one, he saw the runes in the bombs that young Neville used in his memories. They were correct. Remarkable or not, Neville simply did not have the knowledge necessary to imagine these runes. The only option would have been an outsider illusion attack of some kind, but the fact that the sword of Gryffindor had absorbed some Basilisk Venom, was physical proof that there was at least a grain of truth in Neville Longbottom's story. Or there was before the damn thing vanished into thin air.
The sword of Gryffindor was a mythical weapon that was said to even give you a fragment of the prowess of the founder himself if it did deem you brave enough. It was a remarkable weapon that literally disappeared from under his nose. And if losing that weapon wasn't frustrating enough, with it the only proof of what happened in the Chamber was gone.
Steeling his expression, the headmaster answered, "Ah, but I believe that he didn't. However, I do find it curious that you would lose interest in the Chamber so readily…"
"Ah, I guess I'm just excited to see Daphne again. But I am just as curious as to why you're talking to me about it. You are obviously fishing for information, and I don't mind. I'm an open book, but if you've got so much evidence, I don't know why you don't just come forward with it. Where did Longbottom say the Chamber was again?"
"In a hidden room, called the Undercroft," the headmaster answered.
"And did you find the entrance to the Chamber there? Longbottom's been up for almost a day. If it was a clear danger to the student body, you must have gone there to explore it, to make sure that the threat was gone. Right?"
Before he could answer, the Potter boy continued, "What about that mythical sword Weasley kept prattling about? Do you have the murder weapon?"
Dumbledore spluttered for a second, "What are you hoping to achieve with these needless questions."
"I'm just wondering why you're so hung up on me being involved. You have two students found unconscious, the only one that was able to speak said that I somehow was involved, despite the fact that there is evidence that I was in my dormitory. He said that he somehow found the Chamber of Secrets, but you still can't find the entrance where he said it was. And that he somehow killed a Basilisk a feat that I doubt a team of Aurors would be able to do, much less a twelve-year-old child. And he claimed to have done it with a weapon that seemed to have vanished into thin air. I don't think I have ever heard anything that ridiculous, and I'm finding it hard to understand why you're so certain that I had anything to do with it…"
The Potter boy had a way with words, but Albus would secretly admit that he also had a point. The entire situation was so ridiculous that no one, not even his greatest supporters, would believe this tale.
And yet, before he could say anything, the boy continued, "Even then, I don't even understand why you would ever want people to believe that. Confirming that a Basilisk was in the castle, whilst students lived there, wouldn't end well. A cursed artefact, that petrified students would be a more elegant solution. After all, people wouldn't really feel safe sending their children to a school whose headmaster actively ignores their safety."
And here it was, the Blackmail. The boy was one of the few people who figured out the monster's nature. It was dead, according to Neville, that is. But if he wanted to investigate the Potter boy for his involvement in the chamber, he had to admit that he knew that there was a Basilisk on the loose and that he hadn't said anything for months. The curse solution was more elegant and more friendly to the public. An ancient, cursed artefact that a student was given, maybe even under the Imperius or something, would be a good way to end the investigation.
The implicit threat was simple. If Albus was going to go after the Potter boy, he would lose more than he could afford.
Fine, he was going to let it go, for now, but the boy had shown himself to be too competent to be left alone. Luckily for him, Albus still had one more card to play, "Oh, but I didn't bring you here to talk about the Chamber. I just wanted to clarify a few things. I believe it was a cursed artefact that was the culprit in our little mystery. No, I am here because I discovered something deeply perturbing."
"And what would that be, headmaster?"
"Your living situation," Albus suppressed a grin when he saw the boy stiffen, "It has come to my attention that you haven't lived in your aunt and uncle's home for some time, and that is simply unacceptable. I take the safety of my students very seriously. As you are a ward of the ministry, I am advising Cornelius to send you to a proper family that would take care of you in the summer holidays. You cannot live without guardians, Mr. Potter."
Ah, yes. He had spent the previous day looking up anything about the Potter boy, and he had gone to use some Legilimency on Petunia. And he was flabbergasted. She had barely even interacted with the boy and ignored it as much as possible. But her last conversation with the boy had lightened a few things up. First, was that he was a very mature young man. And second, that he hadn't lived with his muggle relatives for years.
So, that brought an opportunity. If he could get Cornelius to assign him to a family loyal to him, the boy would be discreetly brought to heel. It was subtle, but he could restrict the boy, his gold, his possessions. Get him on the right path, or more specifically Albus' path. The only question would be which family would accept him, and condition him enough not to rebel against Albus.
"Oh, I'm sorry but that won't be possible," the boy answered, "I was recently adopted by a relative of my father's. He saw the situation you spoke of and also found it unacceptable. I think the papers should go through soon."
This was bad, but not unsalvageable, "And who is this mysterious guardian of yours?"
"Arcturus Black."
And with just those two words Albus' dream of gaining any form of control over the boy vanished into thin air. He couldn't control his cold anger when he spoke next, "That sounds acceptable. You're dismissed, Mr. Potter."
The moment the boy left, Albus silenced the room and released a cry of fury. Damn, that boy to the deepest hells.
He looked at his companion, who had woken up with a squawk at his yelling and signed, "I think I lost this one, Fawkes."
The trill of the Phoenix brought some comfort, but not enough. It has been a long time since he was outmanoeuvred like this. Still, he would need to keep a close eye on the Potter boy. The boy could be very problematic in the future. Albus wouldn't allow anything to disrupt his plans. The Potter boy was still a potential asset, even if he didn't have to know about it. Worst comes to worst, he could just kill the boy if he becomes too troublesome.
He has done worse things in the name of the greater good of the wizarding world, after all.
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