As the sun began to set, Dumbledore and Eda left the small amusement park, with Eda still carrying a large bag of bread.
She had originally bought the bread to give to the children.
There were a few little brats who were actually quite lovable.
Eda had grown up in an orphanage, so she knew exactly how children interacted with one another.
That was why she had to buy more bread.
That way, those few little brats could eat some bread without being bullied by the other children.
With their backs to the setting sun, Dumbledore and Eda walked along while talking. The sight of the two of them together looked particularly incongruous. One was an old man with a white beard wearing wizard's robes, while the other was a young girl wearing shorts and a T-shirt. It just looked awkward.
"By the way, you still haven't told me when you noticed me," Dumbledore asked. "Was it when you decided to buy the doughnut?"
"No. I noticed you not long after I entered the shop." Eda gave the Headmaster's robes a disdainful look. "Your outfit is simply too conspicuous in Little Whinging."
There were only two wizards here, Eda and Harry, and both of them had grown up in Muggle society. Neither of them would walk around the streets wearing wizard's robes.
By now, there were gradually more pedestrians on the road. Whenever people saw this old-and-young pair of Dumbledore and Eda, they could not help but take a few extra looks.
It was not because Eda was particularly pleasing to look at, but because Dumbledore's outfit was genuinely bizarre, as though he had walked straight out of a television show. Like some world in Middle-earth...
"All right. Did you deliberately keep me waiting because you wanted to leave me hanging in the shop for a while?" Dumbledore asked. "But then you felt bad about leaving an old man like me waiting, so you bought that doughnut as an apology, didn't you?"
Eda's expression became even more disdainful. She said, "No, you're being far too self-important. I took so long simply because I couldn't decide what to buy. The doughnut was only meant as a prank. I didn't expect you to like it so much. If I'd known, I wouldn't have bought it."
Dumbledore neither agreed nor disagreed with her answer. Some people were simply tough on the outside but soft-hearted underneath.
"Do you remember? The last time the two of us walked along the road like this was when we went to see Newt," Dumbledore recalled. "You were much cuter and much more obedient back then."
Eda, carrying the bag of bread, was in no mood to listen to the Headmaster reminisce about the past. She said, "Professor, if you don't get to the point soon, I'll already be there. You don't want Miss Nelson to mistake you for some crazy old man, do you?"
"That's why I said you're becoming less and less cute." Dumbledore said helplessly. "On the twelfth, Harry will be going to the Ministry of Magic for his hearing. You will appear in court and defend him."
Eda suddenly stopped. She could hardly believe her ears. She asked, "Me? Professor, you've got the wrong person, haven't you? Aren't you afraid I'll get into a fight with that old bastard Fudge right there in the courtroom?"
Dumbledore also stopped walking. He looked at Eda, satisfaction filling his blue eyes.
"You won't. You can now distinguish what matters most and understand what should be done at what time. Take this time when you were angry with me. You had plenty of places you could have gone, and you could even have gone home, but you didn't. You chose Little Whinging. Why? Because Harry is here."
"I'm not as good as you think. Don't put your hopes in me, or you'll be disappointed," Eda said calmly. "I was just too lazy to cross the sea. It had nothing to do with Harry living in Little Whinging."
The two silently started walking again, heading toward the orphanage.
After they had gone a short distance, Dumbledore asked, "You'll appear in court on the twelfth, right?"
"What if I accidentally send Harry to prison?" Eda asked. "I'm not familiar with those articles and regulations. It would be better if you handled it yourself. I think those people would still give you some respect. Surely things can't become cold that quickly once the person has left the tea table."
Eda's refusal was not because she was timid or afraid to try. She was simply looking at the matter objectively.
Eda was not a professional, and she was unfamiliar with the wizarding world's laws and regulations. There was a good chance that she would make things worse while defending him.
Even if she could not help, simply watching from the side would still be better than making things worse!
Moreover, the Ministry's hearing regarding Harry's violation of the rules was less about upholding laws and regulations and more about settling a personal grudge and abusing public authority for private purposes.
This was a clash between Fudge and Dumbledore. Fudge wanted to use this matter to embarrass him and further weaken his influence in the wizarding world.
You see, even Albus Dumbledore cannot protect the most important Harry Potter. How can he possibly protect you insignificant people?
Come on, magic is power. The powerful Ministry of Magic welcomes you to abandon the darkness and join the light at any time!
"Life is a series of attempts, constantly facing new challenges. You cannot retreat, nor can you stand still. If you don't give it a try, how can you be certain that you definitely can't do it?" Dumbledore said
. His words of wisdom always came in endless batches, as though they had been bought wholesale.
Dumbledore continued, "Besides, if I weren't certain of victory, how could I use Harry to give you some practice? Do you remember Amelia Bones?"
Eda still had a strong impression of the short-haired, square-jawed strong woman. She was also one of the few Ministry officials who had left Eda with a good impression.
Thinking back to the first time Dumbledore had mentioned the Order of the Phoenix, Eda felt that she seemed to understand something.
Could it be that the Order of the Phoenix was not merely a civilian organization, but also the wizarding world's opposition party?
"No way! Amelia Bones, the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Magic, isn't she also a member of the Order of the Phoenix?" Eda asked uncertainly.
When Dumbledore had first mentioned the Order of the Phoenix, the Headmaster had mentioned Edgar Bones.
This outstanding wizard had been one of the Order's original members, and could even be considered one of its founders. As it happened, he was Amelia Bones's older brother.
If Madam Bones was also a member of the Order of the Phoenix, she would naturally help Harry prove his innocence. Besides, Harry was not guilty in the first place. The Ministry, or rather Fudge, had simply forced the accusation upon him.
"Of course not," Dumbledore said. "Why do I feel like you're thinking about something strange?"
Eda lowered her head without saying anything. She admitted that she had let her imagination run a little wild.
Amelia Bones was someone who might become the next Minister of Magic. How could she possibly be willing to remain subordinate to someone else?
Just look at Fudge. Before, he had been extremely respectful toward Dumbledore and always asked Dumbledore for his opinion on everything. But look at him now. Fudge practically wished Dumbledore would drop dead on the spot.
Dumbledore explained, "Amelia is a highly talented witch and very farsighted. Someone like her will not be deceived by Fudge's claims that everything is peaceful. She knows very well that darkness is right beside us. When Harry is put on trial, she will become an ally of ours because she knows that if Fudge is allowed to continue acting recklessly, things will only get worse."
Eda nodded. She said, "Fine, I'll go to the Ministry of Magic that day. But I still don't understand why you want me to appear. Wouldn't it be more effective if you went yourself?"
The two stopped walking at the same time. They could already see the entrance to the orphanage, but they had not finished their conversation.
"I have my reasons," Dumbledore said. "I want to reduce my contact with Harry as much as possible. This is a form of protection for him, and also protection for us."
Reduce his contact with Harry... protection for both sides... What the hell? At a time like this, shouldn't Harry be tied to his belt? She did not understand. She completely could not understand what Dumbledore was thinking.
If she could not figure out the logic behind this tonight, Eda probably would not be able to sleep. There was no way she would be able to fall asleep.
Dumbledore continued, "It's too late tonight. I'll explain everything to you in detail after we return to school. Also, once we're back at school, I have something else I want to show you."
There was nothing Eda could do. She could only return to the orphanage with her mind full of questions.
It was only a short stretch of road, yet it took her a very long time to walk it. At that moment, Eda desperately hoped that the Headmaster would show some mercy, call her back, and clear up her confusion!
And Dumbledore?
He simply stood there, smiling as he watched Eda look back three times with every step. Every time Eda turned around to look, he tirelessly waved goodbye, just like the windshield wipers of a Muggle car.
In fact, Dumbledore had not merely failed to explain why he wanted to avoid Harry. He had only told Eda half the reason for having her appear at the hearing.
No matter how cunning a young fox might be, it still could not outwit an old hunter. She was still far too inexperienced.
...
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