"I... I didn't consciously think of it that way."
Dumbledore's mind raced as he recalled his thoughts at the time. The more he reflected, the more he realized, "But subconsciously, I might have been thinking exactly that. I didn't even notice!
Dudley, your analysis is like a blade, cutting straight to the core of my intentions."
As he spoke, Dumbledore's embarrassment faded, and his self-reflection became clearer:
"Like I said earlier, I've been arrogant for too long. I've hidden many dark thoughts beneath the noble cause of fighting Voldemort and saving the wizarding world. Like shadows in the sunlight, they seemed so natural, so easy to overlook!
These are indeed my mistakes, Dudley and Harry. If you can't forgive me, I have no defense. From now on, I'll make amends to you and the Dursleys through real actions."
After Dumbledore's apology, Dudley fell silent. He didn't speak but instead looked at Harry.
Harry understood his cousin's meaning. Dudley respected his opinion and didn't want to decide for him whether to forgive or not.
Harry thought carefully for a moment, then said to Dumbledore:
"Professor Dumbledore, regardless of your intentions, you did provide shelter for my parents. Also, I'm grateful you sent me here to grow up with Dudley.
So, I don't hold much resentment toward you. I'll try to forgive you."
"Good, good! Harry, I'm relieved," Dumbledore said, tears welling up in his eyes.
Dudley, having calmed down, spoke up under Dumbledore's expectant gaze:
"Professor Dumbledore, I'm a practical person. Words are far less powerful than actions, so whether I forgive you depends on what you do from now on.
Also, Harry and I can't make decisions for my parents. After we finish talking, please keep your promise to apologize to them."
"I will, Dudley!" Dumbledore immediately assured.
"Now that we've covered the past, let's talk about the future!"
Dudley focused, organizing his thoughts. The success of today's negotiation hinged on this moment.
"Go ahead, Dudley. Tell me your and Harry's demands. I'll do my best to meet them! Whether you want to stay in Britain, come to Hogwarts with me, or study magic abroad, I'll support you!"
Dumbledore had fully accepted the situation.
"It seems Professor Dumbledore has truly reflected deeply!"
Dudley felt a flicker of joy. The negotiation hadn't even officially started, and he was already halfway to success.
"Now, I'll formally begin my questions about the future!
Professor Dumbledore, can you promise, from this moment on, to stop secretly guiding Harry's growth without his knowledge?"
"Yes, I promise! From now on, anything related to Harry will be discussed with you and him, and we'll decide together whether to proceed."
"Professor Dumbledore, can you promise not to interfere—or even assist—Harry and me in our quest for revenge against Voldemort and his accomplices?"
"Yes, I promise! Eliminating Voldemort and his followers has always been my goal."
"Professor Dumbledore, if Harry and I attend Hogwarts, can you guarantee the safety of our family, especially my parents, the Dursleys?"
"Yes, I promise! I won't let what happened to Lily and James happen again."
"Good! Very good! Excellent!"
Dudley suddenly stood up, walked over to the tearful, emotional Dumbledore, and solemnly extended his right hand:
"Professor Dumbledore, will you, from now on, listen to the advice of this eleven-year-old strategist and form an alliance with me?"
"Dudley, you're..." Dumbledore was stunned. He felt Dudley was playing a grand game of wizard's chess.
"Give me your power and influence to wield, Dumbledore! Let me be your second brain. For a better, safer life, to eliminate regrets, to grow stronger, for our shared goals, and for an ideal future!"
"I hope this decision doesn't lead to another mistake."
After several seconds of serious thought, Dumbledore extended his aged hand and clasped Dudley's firmly. Two shimmering, magical threads appeared, winding around their wrists before vanishing in a flash of light.
They had formed an unbreakable alliance.
At that moment, Dumbledore couldn't imagine the bold actions he would take with Dudley as his ally—actions he would never have considered before.
Nor could he foresee the seismic changes this alliance would bring to the wizarding world.
For now, Dumbledore's strongest feeling was that Dudley and Harry had finally accepted him.
At over a hundred years old, in the twilight of his life, he had gained two trusted comrades and friends.
"Cousin! Are we staying, then?"
Harry had witnessed the entire process of Dudley and Dumbledore forming their alliance. After the magical threads disappeared, he couldn't help but ask.
"Yes, Harry! With the greatest wizard of the twentieth century as our ally, why would we need to wander abroad?"
Dudley smiled, victorious in the negotiation.
But before Dumbledore and Harry could celebrate, Dudley immediately shifted into serious "work mode."
"Dumbledore, we have less than a month before school starts. We need to take action!"
"Action? Dudley, what kind of action are you referring to?" Dumbledore asked, puzzled.
"Many kinds!" Dudley's mind raced. "The most urgent is dealing with that uncooperative Minister of Magic! Dumbledore, you've read today's Daily Prophet, right?
If I'm not mistaken, there's not a single mention of Voldemort, is there?"
Dumbledore's face immediately showed frustration. "You're right!"
With that, Dumbledore pulled a folded, moving-picture newspaper from his pocket.
Dudley took it and unfolded it in front of himself and Harry.
The headline read:
"Gringotts Conducts Special Security Drill in Underground Vaults—Minor Earthquake in Diagon Alley Purely Accidental!"
"Gringotts Goblins Assure: No Vaults Were Compromised. Your Wealth Is Safe!"
...