Unlocking an A-rank regret event that still had a chance of being resolved filled Dudley with satisfaction.
He knew that raising dragons at Hogwarts wasn't as simple as he made it out to be. Turning a blind eye to rules and bending them required power—connections, wealth, sheer force, and influence. Under Cornelius Fudge's Ministry of Magic, which still adhered to wizarding laws, these conditions weren't easily met.
However, depending on how the future unfolded, Dudley was confident he could achieve these conditions through targeted means.
While Dudley was confident in his ability to break the rules, Dumbledore, who had been following them, was now deeply troubled. The great wizard realized that Dudley had no respect for rules whatsoever—he was utterly lawless!
Dumbledore began to ponder how to steer Dudley onto the "right path." He couldn't bear the thought of another Dark Lord rising in his lifetime.
"Dudley Dursley! Harry Potter!" Dumbledore called out, appearing in front of them just as they were about to enter Ollivander's Wand Shop, their final stop.
He handed Dudley a letter of acceptance and said, "Dear Mr. Dursley, I, Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, am pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts. You will be in the same year as Harry Potter and may start together."
Dudley stopped in his tracks, looking at the man he saw as both brilliant and foolish, brave yet cowardly, and undeniably aged. A cold, mocking smile spread across his face.
"You say you're pleased? How pleased? And who told you I'm going to Hogwarts? Let me be clear: before today's events, I had some respect for you and was planning to attend Hogwarts with Harry. But now, unless you can give me a reasonable explanation, I'll have my parents take us to another country. We could go to Ilvermorny in America, Beauxbatons in France, Durmstrang in the north. Wherever we go, I'm confident Harry and I will become powerful wizards—stronger than you!
Then, we'll return here, hunt down that noseless freak Voldemort, and make everyone who ever hurt my Aunt Lily's family pay. We'll torture them and kill them all—every last one!"
Dudley's voice was as cold as a biting winter wind, sending a shiver down Hagrid's spine. Dumbledore's brow furrowed deeply, his expression one of shock and concern.
This shock only deepened when Harry, without hesitation, echoed Dudley's sentiments.
"I'll do whatever Dudley says. He'll decide where we go to school. And we will avenge my parents!" Harry declared, his voice trembling slightly but filled with unwavering determination.
A shimmering barrier had already surrounded them, ensuring their conversation remained private. To the average witch or wizard, Dudley's words would have been shocking, but Dumbledore's magic kept them contained.
After a long silence, Dumbledore finally attempted to use Legilimency on Dudley, only to find that Dudley's thoughts matched his words perfectly. He truly meant every word.
Hearing the system's alert about the mental intrusion, Dudley's expression turned even more disdainful. He was certain now that Dumbledore had become small-minded, truly showing his age.
Dumbledore had seen Dudley's true thoughts. Despite the dangers they'd faced today, Dudley had achieved a significant victory. He had absorbed the Philosopher's Stone, gaining the magical prowess of a seasoned professor, and his power would only grow.
Once he mastered various spells—both light and dark—or even simpler, transferred the [Weak Wizard Bloodline] he'd gained from Harry's blood to his mother and taught her a few spells, he could complete the D-rank regret event [Petunia—Rejected by the Magical World]. This would grant him a D-rank magical item fusion opportunity.
Combined with his current stock (two C-rank and two D-rank opportunities), he could synthesize a B-rank fusion opportunity. By fusing Quirrell's damaged wand—a near A-rank magical item—he would instantly become a powerful wizard, proficient in numerous spells.
Quirrell's wand, if not damaged, would have been rated A-rank. All the spells Quirrell had cast in his lifetime, along with those Voldemort had cast through Quirrell's body, would become Dudley's to command.
With this power, Dudley could establish himself in any magical community. Even if he didn't complete other regret events or meet other characters from the original story at Hogwarts, it wouldn't be a dealbreaker.
He could take his family far from the conflict, leaving Dumbledore and Voldemort to their endless struggle. When he was strong enough, he'd return to wipe out Voldemort and his followers.
This new plan had no obstacles—except for Dumbledore standing in his way now.
Unless Dumbledore turned completely dark, killed Dudley, and altered Harry and Hagrid's memories to force things back on track. But then, how would he be any different from Voldemort? He'd be destroying the very ideals he'd fought for.
Dumbledore wouldn't do that, just as Dudley would rather risk his life than be controlled by others.
"Well? You've set up a barrier and thought for so long. Have you come up with a foolproof explanation?" Dudley asked calmly, his eyes piercing, far beyond his eleven years.
"Dudley," Dumbledore finally spoke, his eyes weary and filled with regret. "You are an exceptionally intelligent young wizard. You must see that I was trying to train Harry—"
"Ha!" Dudley laughed. "Of course I can see you were trying to train Harry. But that's not the point! The point is, you set up a reckless, dangerous plan without considering the consequences for others!
You stored the Philosopher's Stone in Gringotts, had Hagrid bring Harry and me to retrieve it, and then leaked the information to lure Voldemort, who craves immortality. Am I wrong?
Harry has his mother's protective charm, so Voldemort can't kill him, but he can torture him. Do you think an eleven-year-old should endure the Cruciatus Curse? Is that what you call training?
As for me, you didn't even know me. To you, I was just a insignificant Muggle. My life or death didn't matter to you, did it? I can understand that!
But what about Hagrid? He trusts you completely, worships you like a god. Did you even consider his safety?
If Voldemort had used the Killing Curse instead of the Blasting Curse in the vault, you'd be looking at a 12-foot corpse right now!"
Inside the barrier, Dudley's furious words struck like daggers. Harry's face paled, his opinion of Dumbledore plummeting. Hagrid trembled, his eyes pleading for Dumbledore to refute Dudley's accusations.
"I... I..." Dumbledore stammered, his heart racing with a panic he hadn't felt in years. He realized he hadn't considered the finer details of his plan.
"I truly didn't expect you to face Voldemort in Gringotts. I didn't account for the timing," he finally admitted, his aged face filled with guilt and regret. He couldn't even meet Hagrid's eyes.
But Dudley's anger wasn't appeased.