"Sherbet lemon?"
"I'm fine thank you." The headmaster's weathered hands presented a small tub of individually wrapped candies.
"I do insist, they're quite remarkable."
"I will decline."
"Your funeral. Sweets really do hit the spot, though I suppose that might be my age taking effect there." He plopped a small yellow hard candy into his mouth, discarding the wrapper into a small container which housed many of the same kind. A sweet tooth in his old age?
The suitcase, which was once a troll, had been plopped into the corner unremarkably. Still shaking every so often.
"What exactly did you call me for, Professor Dumbledore?" We had made our way around the castle's winding corridors and moving staircases to arrive here. The headmaster's office. An opulent room filled with magical gadgets the like of which I had never seen before. Not that that was a particularly difficult accomplishment. Nevertheless I'm sure a natural born wizard would look upon these contraptions whilst smiling to themselves. I was more interested with the single living creature, Fawkes as its nameplate indicated. A phoenix. There were no other signs of life in the room, even the portraits which usually held an image of the past were void of contents.
"No need for all the formalities, my boy. It's just you and me. From father to son." Looking around the room I noticed all of the portraits were empty. There were many placards beneath them, each denoting a different headmaster. The fact that they were empty must mean he had sent them away… As he said; the only living thing or undying thing for that matter was his phoenix stood perched on a birch handle by the regal chair in the centre of his office.
"Adoptive father and son. Besides, I thought there was no special treatment in this school."
"It seems your memory is failing you, Kiyotaka. I remember saying that there would be no special treatment in my classroom."
"And we seem to have stepped out of that… So are you saying that some special treatment will be afforded to me now?"
"Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say all that… But certainly some things can be swept under the rug. For one, the ownership of a certain interesting contraption." A familiar aphid looking instrument along with its controller appeared on the desk.
"So you do have it…"
"Indeed, Minerva was all but perplexed by the instrument. I imagine you scored this off of one of the twins." Using her first name? An attempt to drop my guard in this close encounter.
"So even their machinations don't escape you." When I had last seen Professor McGonagall, she had insisted I speak to Dumbledore to retrieve it. Unique, considering every other item went through her and Filch… So much for no special treatment. That means no unfair treatment against me as well, you know?
"I take an interest in all things magic. Budding magicians who intend to pave the way into unexplored territory, even more so. It takes a rather special mind to do that, wouldn't you agree?" To discover something new required both intense curiosity and fortune. Many large discoveries could be attributed to luck. Something we happened across by dumb luck or circumstance, though someone had to take the first step to get there.
A good example was the discovery of penicillin. Through chance a petri dish left alone allowed for the manufacturing of modern pharmaceuticals and antibacterial drugs. All because one man left a petri dish unattended whilst on holiday. Circumstance and knowledge was necessary for progress.
"Certainly."
"Do you feel any envy towards those boys?" He said with a mild measure of concern.
"About the same as any other person would." In some ways, I could never achieve what the greatest minds in history had. Because I didn't afford for mistakes. I could, out of curiosity… But my mind wouldn't allow it outside of that. If I were in that lab instead of Alexander Flemming that very day, it's safe to say that modern pharmaceuticals could regress by many years.
"That's a peculiar answer, why would an ordinary person feel envy towards those boys?"
"They have their direction, now all they need is a goal. Most people struggle to find that, it's a wonder more people don't feel in awe of them." The Weasley twins were fully satisfied with their lives and only needed a fully formed idea of their end goal to achieve something worthwhile. You only found a person like that every so often. Most people were directionless in life, circumstance alone dictates their movements. I was the same.
"Ah, but all the more so for young Kiyotaka, eh?" I didn't appreciate being so easily read.
"What exactly are you getting at, Professor?"
"Well, I didn't call you here to play any games or the sort. I only came to offer this back into its rightful hands." Rightful hands? Did he know the fact that I had won it from them? Or just an educated guess?
"I see."
"Ah, but… But it does demand a certain price."
"That would be?"
"Your soul! Mwahahaha…" Dumbledore stroked his beard a few times through. Chuckling to himself.
"…"
"Nothing… Really… Hah, you need to learn to play along dear boy or I fear you'll never make any friends." That's a very… apt worry. To say the least.
"I'll keep that in mind." Oh well, I always have Hikari.
"Ahem. As for actual payment, the entirety of your ledger contents will do." I was hoping he would laugh maniacally and stroke his beard once more. Instead, my foster father was the picture of a statue. Stillness squared. Not even the air of a chortle in the room.
"…You're entirely serious, aren't you?"
"I've perhaps never said anything with less whimsy in my voice than this very moment." My adoptive father said with a smug twinkle in his eyes. "Unfortunately for you I know what that toy is capable of." Capable of now and capable of being in the future were slightly different admissions.
"It's barely able to walk let alone fly." As it is.
Not to mention providing no visual feedback. The most basic functions that I require from it are unavailable at the moment and will probably remain that way for a long time…
"And could be quickly modified."
"Is this your way of telling me to give up on it?"
"On the contrary, if I wanted to dismiss it as an option I could've 'lost' it or perhaps sent it back to The Burrow. Any number of things really. Feel free to pay for it. It's your choice, always has been…" He was mocking me.
Nothing was my choice right now. In fact everything he had been doing the past week was to discourage further choices on my part. He wanted me to play the part of a Gryffindor like he had planned. Perhaps he was holding it against me for acting out of his plans.
"Always?" An unfair question. And he knew it.
"…Well, perhaps that's an unfair statement from me. Though you can understand why I say it as such. You never felt out of place there, did you?" That wasn't untrue. In fact, if I hadn't been given the ultimatum, I may still be testing my own limitations in that cold white room.
"It was a convenient learning grounds." I had the requisite knowledge to accomplish any goal that I set my eyes on. Most fully grown adults weren't my match in any martial endeavour and above all; I had the wisdom and wherewithal to not fly too close to the sun.
"And I think it was high time that you learnt of the things that bring light to life. Convenience is one thing, but life doesn't follow that track forever."
"You speak as if my own and your own convenience are one and the same."
"Maybe not the same… But intrinsically linked, that I don't doubt."
"You wanted me in Gryffindor, for what purpose?" The houses were preconceived, there was probably some on the fly decision making but I was almost certain that was the case. The number of students in each house wouldn't be even and the gender ratio wouldn't be nearly perfect in all classes. The only way that was possible was if the rosters were made beforehand.
"Sometimes you look too deeply for your own good… I suppose that's a failing on my part for not taking the proper steps."
"…" He was trying to evoke memories of my past and treat me with some measure of pity.
I didn't require it. That environment, for all its troubles… suited me. I wouldn't be the thing- the person capable of what I am today if I didn't survive it.
His pity was misplaced, and he knew that all too well.
It didn't feel fake. Despite it all, he was still trying to use me to succeed in his own plans. To pity me and still throw me into the flames… Whatever he was, it was at least dedicated to some singular cause. That's what I needed to decipher.
"I'll admit. It would've been better for both of us if you ended up in Gryffindor." He admitted albeit reluctantly.
"Why?"
"You'd have friends. A surrogate family, with the Weasleys. A childhood admirer through the Sakayanagi heir. Possible romance could bloom through your study buddy, or any friend you took your fancy with. Well, that's years off in the future. But all the pieces were there. I collected them and tried to drop them in your lap. Now, I see. That was my mistake." So everything was for my sake? It's strange but I couldn't quite place that as a lie, perhaps an exaggeration? It served some other purpose, I was just an added bonus.
"It's only natural to suspect when things drop in your lap uneventfully. You said it yourself, convenience in life doesn't last."
He chuckled a bit in admission. "Is it so bad that they would be there?" Dumbledore asked after a brief reprise.
I had no issues with the Weasleys. The month I had spent with them was relaxing, I even enjoyed their company on many occasions. The very issue I had was that it was this man that contorted events so that they came to pass. It isn't natural. That brings the authenticity of their friendship into question as well.
"I didn't choose them."
"You don't often choose the people that fall into your life. The hands of fate can be fickle like that."
"That wasn't fate's hand." He said it himself. He gathered the pieces and dropped them in my lap. Whether I accepted was a choice only I could make. A level of freedom that I wasn't afforded before.
"Indeed. That's fair… I acted out of turn. I suppose I just wanted to do something for my son. Well adopted son, nevertheless…"
"…"
"I've never had one… so the experience is well… new. To put it bluntly." It was the first time I had seen Dumbledore acting awkwardly. I had seen serious, magnanimous, silly and even clumsy depictions of the aged mage before. But never this.
"…"
"Getting old is a scary and tiresome ordeal, Kiyotaka. It's been years since I've had to experience something new… What I'm trying to say is… I'm sorry if it came across in the wrong way."
"Why did you say it would be better for you?"
"Hm?"
"You said it would be better for both of us, so? Why would it be better for you in the end?" The fact that my study buddy remained Hermione even though I made that decision was clear he wanted or needed me to have a link to the Gryffindor house. He could've easily changed it before I became aware.
"…Isn't it obvious? My son would be surrounded by people near and dear to him… You've seen enough of the darkness of this world. Enough for a lifetime, can you blame me for trying to change that?" His way of looking after me, huh?
That's why he was also attracting attention to me in class? To make my presence more well known and subtly convey that I was an important student?
I didn't buy it.
"…That's it?"
"Do I need another reason?"
"Yes. I think so."
"Then all the more reason that you need to understand what life really is. Perhaps your friends in Ravenclaw will still make that satisfactory. And that rivalry with the Sakayanagi heir."
"You knew?" I was tipped off already by the almost coercive methods he had taken to have me watch over her. It at least gave me a heads up on her 'ally'. I'm almost surprised not a single butterfly had found their way into this room.
"Director Sakayanagi had notified me of your acquaintance, so to speak." A single look at his face, immediately let me know. If even ghosts weren't allowed in this room during our conversation, then how would a bug ever intrude?
"Competition between us would be almost impossible in the same house, wouldn't that betray her hopes?"
"Certainly. But your hopes are my concern." So the dynamic between ANHS and Hogwarts isn't exactly even… That or there were specific terms in their contract afforded to me. Of course, there was also the possibility of Director Sakayanagi not having as much influence over the proceedings. Dumbledore was a special exception; he held titles in high political offices and as the headmaster of this school. They weren't comparable.
"…"
"You need to understand Kiyotaka. Not everything is done for the express purpose of gaining some advantage or furthering a goal. Some things are done simply for the benefit of another."
"Altruism?"
"In some ways. Though, the human mind is a fickle thing. Doing a favour makes even the perpetrator feel good." The dopamine that was released when doing these favours was similar to furthering your own goals. You could argue buying a gift for a loved one was a self-serving exercise seeing as it made the individual feel better as well.
"So in the end, you do it as much for yourself as you do for me?"
"In a sense it wouldn't be wrong to say that." It was a selfish desire to also make me feel good? Did I have any tendencies that were the same?
…The closest thing to it was caring for Hikari. Did it make me feel joy? I don't think so… Was it supposed to?
At this stage all I felt was the responsibility. Waking with him. Feeding and exploring the castle with my pet. Bathing and grooming the small pup. But I didn't think it had reached the level where it provided me a sense of fulfilment or enjoyment. Slowly, I was becoming used to routine… That was it. Nothing else.
"You agreed to the girl's request, didn't you? Wasn't that the same idea?" My adoptive father needled in a gentle tone.
A conscience wasn't within my syllabus just yet.
"No." That agreement was entirely self-serving. If I could be defeated, I needed to know how and why… She was my yardstick. A judge of what the wizarding world was capable of, and just how I would measure in comparison. I wasn't sure exactly how strong Sakayanagi was, but she seemed confident in herself, a confidence which didn't seem misplaced or unconvincing.
"To protect your identity then?" Even if that were my intention, it would easily be uncovered by your own hand.
"That hasn't been a concern of mine for quite a while."
"…Hmm. I suppose you've become a bit disillusioned, my boy."
"A different world and magic exist. My circumstances are hardly interesting in comparison to that revelation."
"I can assure you that most anyone would not agree with that statement… Though I am glad that those ties to the past aren't acting as shackles." My past was not something that could be used against me. I didn't care if it came to light. It might be a disadvantage, but it wasn't something to fear. Moreso when the possibility of it being used against me was in plain sight.
"…"
"I believe we should finish our business, I do have a backlog of paperwork to get through… So what shall it be? Will you accept?"
"May we barter?"
"The number of tokens will remain the same, that cannot be changed." Can't be changed? That's peculiar, I assumed the price was arbitrarily decided upon by him… That's slightly concerning.
"That's fine." I planned to rid myself of my allowance before long, otherwise it'd just be confiscated. That or I'd look like a bad team player. I didn't want the higher years chasing me around for donations to the cause… If anything this might be more convenient. "I just wanted you to answer a question."
"I really shouldn't…" He sighed quietly before relenting. "So be it. What would you like to know?"
"In the dungeon just a moment ago, you assigned points to Hermione, Harry, Ron, myself and my housemates."
"…Indeed, I did."
"Why did you bother when the total sum for the Gryffindor students cancelled each other out? The house points would be unaffected regardless of their allocation." Dumbledore hadn't lost the ability to perform basic addition and subtraction in his age… In which case I didn't understand the necessity for such a decision.
"That's simple. Deeds both good and bad should be acknowledged. And the students responsible for them should get their owed endorsement or chastisement regardless. We take such things seriously at Hogwarts, does that suffice?"
"May I ask why you wouldn't allocate the points to me yourself?"
"It wouldn't look very good for a headmaster to dote on his son. I may have awarded you a tad too many points, had Minerva not stepped in." Was that really the reason?
"I see."
"Is that all you wanted to ask? I was almost assured you would request something different."
"No need. I already understand the rest." Thinking over it again, it was rather easy to understand. The reason that I was being treated like a student from ANHS…
Encroaching on Japanese territory whilst in armistice could be a breach of their agreements. The very fact that I was attending this school whilst they had an agreement was the consolidating factor. Dumbledore couldn't risk that. For whatever reason these schools needed each other, and I was likely a passive term in one of their many pages of clauses. There would be no other reason for Dumbledore to even retrieve me from my prior station otherwise.
That only meant that I needed to find out exactly what their shared goals were… I had a few ideas. Most of them stemmed from the competition bred between the houses.
What would be the major advantage to such a system?
More competitive students.
Not only in their behaviour but also in their capabilities. A list of variables scattered in my mind.
It was almost as if they were creating their own little army…
The only problem was what would end up caught in their crosshairs.
"On that note…"
"Yes?"
"Please be more considerate in the future… I fear Ms. Granger may have become frightful of you." She was scared of me? Why?
"…"
"You were right to do what you did. But that doesn't mean what you did was good, do you understand me?" Was he testing me?
"…I'm not sure." Under my breath I uttered the invocation for my ledger. Producing the signature quill from the spine of the book and allowing the headmaster to gaze at its contents. I had yet to spend much. Almost my entire monthly income for a toy… I suppose I'll just have to wait to increase it once more.
"…Well, it's something that might take more time. Leave it to me for the time being. I'll talk to Ms. Granger. I'm sure we'll come to an understanding." He produced his own quill and ledger and begun writing the clause of the contract. The binding essence of this transaction meant he couldn't go back on his word. And with this I had an appropriate excuse to reject contributions to the communal equipment. As well as rightful possession of the Weasley's prototype. Considering it was one of a kind, I suppose the price is somewhat justified. Though it does leave something to be desired.
I placed both the aphid and its controller in my interior pocket, it loosely hung within my robes.
"Oh and Kiyotaka, do tell that Sakayanagi girl that if she wants to join us next time then she can knock." The door swivelled open as a swarm of butterflies entered the office.
A sigh uttered as I parsed my lips an inch.
Did she not have anything else to do?
---
Word count: 3476
Not much to say here. I tried to bring what I imagine to be a somewhat faithful depiction of Dumbledore to light. Whimsical and silly, yet poised and witty at the same time.
Ayanokouji misattributing basic emotion like the idea that Hermione could be afraid of him or the idea of altruism on Dumbledore's part seemed pretty natural to me. He might have been out of the White Room for a month before this but he's still getting used to these things.
As for Sakayanagi, she's become obsessed after meeting Ayanokouji. Using every opportunity to spy on him. Kinda obsessive but it's all in the name of competition. She definitely isn't doing it for any other conflicting personal feelings or because she's bored. Promise.
Hopefully you all enjoyed the chapter, let me know any of your thoughts in the comments below.
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