82: Chapter 82 Dumbledore's Summer Test

The July rain stopped in the evening, and the iron gate of Potter Manor clanged twice as a grey-feathered owl landed on the door knocker.

The door knocker spoke first.

"A letter from Hogwarts."

Allen emerged from the study, a copy of A Brief History of the Potter Family tucked under his arm.

"Who sent it?"

The door knocker spat the letter into the copper tray.

"Albus Dumbledore."

The family crest on the wall glowed faintly.

"This name has appeared in the manor's records."

Allen broke the wax seal.

"How many times?"

The family crest replied.

"Frequently during James Potter's time, then it decreased."

The door knocker asked.

"Shall I read it out?"

"No need."

Allen scanned the parchment, pausing at the signature at the end.

The letter invited him to visit Hogwarts during the summer holidays for a cup of tea and a chat about the history of the Potter Family.

The tone was cordial and the wording thoughtful, without a single word questioning the night of the Philosopher's Stone.

The door knocker snorted.

"Written very politely."

Allen placed the letter on the table.

"The more polite, the more troublesome."

The family crest asked.

"Are you going to refuse?"

"Refusing will make him come in person."

"The manor can refuse visitors."

"He might not need to enter through the door."

The door knocker's copper tongue clicked.

"That doesn't sound auspicious."

Allen pulled out a chair and sat down.

"He is probing me."

The family crest said.

"There was no mention of the Philosopher's Stone in the letter."

"That is exactly why it's a probe."

The door knocker asked.

"How do you know?"

"On the night of the Philosopher's Stone, I altered Harry's memories; Quirrell died, Lord Voldemort fled, and the scene was too clean."

Allen tapped the corner of the letter with his fingertip.

"If Dumbledore can't find the culprit, he will investigate those who shouldn't have been there."

The family crest chimed in.

"You carry the name Potter."

"And I was sorted into Slytherin."

The door knocker said.

"Put those two things together, and it's enough to keep him busy for a while."

Allen opened A Brief History of the Potter Family.

"He invited me to discuss the family history, but what he really wants to see is how much I know."

The family crest asked.

"How much are you prepared to say?"

"That I grew up in an orphanage, have limited knowledge of the magic world, the inheritance contract was handled by Gringotts, and I've only read the public books on family history."

The door knocker chuckled.

"Sounds very obedient."

"Being a little obedient makes it easier for others to let their guard down."

The family crest reminded him.

"Dumbledore is skilled at Legilimency."

"He has tried."

"Snape has tried as well."

"Neither had any results."

The door knocker asked.

"Then what are you worried about?"

Allen folded the letter.

"The lack of results itself will become a result."

The family crest was silent for a moment.

"You mean he will be suspicious of that blank space."

"He certainly will."

The door knocker said.

"Then don't go."

"I have to go."

"You just said he is probing you."

"That's why I need to give him an answer he can accept."

The family crest asked.

"What kind of answer?"

"An eleven-year-old boy who is intelligent, vigilant, insecure, curious about the Potter Family, and holds the Hogwarts Principal in awe."

The door knocker interjected.

"Awe?"

Allen glanced at the door knocker.

"I can fake it."

The door knocker gave a dry laugh.

"You certainly make talking easy, kid."

The family crest said.

"You cannot take The Potter Family Memorandum."

"Of course."

Allen closed A Brief History.

"This one is fine."

The door knocker looked at the cover.

"The public version; it's more useless than a kitchen brush."

"Useless is exactly what's appropriate."

"What about the copper key?"

"I won't take it."

"What about the cracked pocket watch?"

"It will stay deep within the Portable Space."

The light of the family crest dimmed slightly.

"The Portable Space will also be inspected."

"He cannot check the core."

"What if he uses the Phoenix?"

"Fawkes can detect magic anomalies, but it cannot enter my space."

The door knocker asked.

"Are you sure?"

"I can't be sure, so I must reduce what I carry."

Allen stood up. With a flick of his cuff, the ebony box vanished from the edge of the table, sinking deeper into the Portable Space.

The Void disc hovered beside the box, its silver eyes fixed on the copper key.

Peter, in his cage, huddled in the corner, not daring to touch the edges.

Allen spoke.

"Void, keep an eye on the cracked pocket watch, the copper key, and Peter."

The black snake flicked its tongue.

The family crest asked.

"Does it understand?"

"It's more obedient than Draco."

The door knocker said.

"That's not a very friendly assessment of young Master Malfoy."

"He isn't here."

Allen put away the copy of The Potter Family Memorandum, placing it outside the boundary through Spatial Displacement.

The family crest immediately reminded him.

"That is a manor copy."

"It hasn't left the jurisdiction of the manor."

"You put it into the space."

"The spatial anchor is still in the manor."

The family crest paused for a moment.

"You are exploiting the family rules."

"The rules are written loosely; you can't blame the reader for being thorough."

The door knocker said.

"The Potter Family used to say the same thing."

"Which is why their deaths weren't unjust."

The family crest didn't respond to that.

Allen took out an ordinary book bag, placed A Brief History of the Potter Family inside, and tucked in a few sheets of blank parchment.

The door knocker asked.

"What about the wand?"

"I'm taking it."

"The blackthorn wood and Thestral tail hair is too conspicuous."

"Ollivander knows; Dumbledore will know sooner or later."

The family crest said.

"Don't use Spatial Magic indiscriminately in the Headmaster's Office."

"I won't give him a show."

The door knocker asked.

"Should you bring protective gear?"

"The more I bring, the more it shows that I know there is danger."

"So you're bringing nothing?"

"I'm bringing a useless book, an innocent face, and a few lines I've memorized in advance."

The door knocker paused.

"The last one is the hardest."

Allen fastened the book bag.

"I will try my best."

The family crest asked.

"What if he asks where you were on the night of the Philosopher's Stone?"

"In the Slytherin Dungeon."

"Who can testify to that?"

"Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, and there were others in the Common Room."

"What if he asks why you are distant from Harry?"

"A distant branch relative raised in an orphanage, suddenly having a The Chosen One cousin, I don't know how to get along."

The door knocker said.

"That sounds reasonable enough."

"So it can be used."

The family crest continued to ask.

"What if he mentions Slytherin?"

"I respect Hogwarts regarding the Sorting Hat's choice."

"What if he asks how much you know about the Potter Family?"

"I only know about the vault, the manor, and the public family history; I'm still learning the rest."

The door knocker reminded him.

"You just inherited the manor."

"So I can only say that Gringotts notified me of my right of entry, and I haven't figured out the rules inside yet."

The family crest said.

"That's half-true."

"If it's completely false, it's easy to forget."

The door knocker asked.

"What if he gives you candy?"

"Accept it, don't eat it."

"Why?"

"Things in the Headmaster's Office might not be poisonous, but they could be cursed."

The door knocker agreed.

"Sweets are the easiest way to cause trouble."

The family crest said.

"That is a prejudice."

The door knocker replied.

"You've seen tea sets that bite; are you really going to speak up for candy?"

Allen re-read the letter.

"He scheduled it for the afternoon, three days from now."

The family crest asked.

"Are you going to reply?"

"Yes."

"How will you write it?"

Allen picked up his quill.

"Dear Professor Dumbledore, thank you for your invitation. I am willing to go to Hogwarts at the appointed time, and I also hope to hear you talk about the past of the Potter Family."

The door knocker clicked its tongue after hearing it.

"Too obedient."

"If I'm not obedient enough, he'll keep asking."

The family crest said.

"Add a sentence expressing your gratitude to the Principal."

Allen added it.

"Before I started school last year, I heard from Mr. Hagrid that you helped confirm my identity, and I have never had the chance to thank you in person."

The door knocker said.

"That's even more obedient."

"He likes it when others remember his favors."

The family crest asked.

"Are you really thanking him?"

"He helped me get my inheritance, but he also put me on the chessboard."

"Does that count as thanking him?"

"Accounts are settled separately."

The door knocker whispered.

"This kid is eleven?"

The family crest replied.

"According to the contract, yes."

Allen sealed the reply and handed it to the owl still perched on the windowsill.

"Send it back."

The owl pecked at the envelope and flew away.

The door knocker waited until the sound of the rain faded before asking.

"If you go to Hogwarts, who will guard the manor?"

"You will."

"What if someone comes?"

"Harry can enter the outer hall, but Dumbledore is not allowed in."

The family crest said.

"What if Dumbledore accompanies Harry?"

Allen paused.

"Let Harry in, and let Dumbledore wait outside the iron gate."

The door knocker chuckled.

"That's interesting."

The family crest reminded him.

"He will know that the manor already has instructions from an heir."

"It doesn't matter if he knows."

"This will expose that you have contacted the core of the manor."

"He could have guessed that anyway."

Allen picked up the book bag.

"I want to control what he knows."

The door knocker said.

"He knows you are guarding against him."

"For a child raised in an orphanage, guarding against everyone is reasonable."

The family crest asked.

"How long do you plan to stay in the Headmaster's Office?"

"The time it takes to drink a cup of tea."

"What if he asks you to stay for dinner?"

"Refuse, and say I still have summer homework."

The door knocker laughed so hard its hinges creaked.

"You do homework?"

"I will when necessary."

The family crest said.

"Don't mention the Philosopher's Stone."

"Wait for him to mention it first."

"What if he doesn't mention it?"

"Then I won't either."

"What if he mentions Quirrell?"

"Be afraid, confused, and express regret upon hearing of the Professor's death."

The door knocker asked.

"Regret?"

Allen tucked his wand into his sleeve.

"He is dead, after all."

"Did you kill him?"

"Quirrell's body couldn't hold on, and Lord Voldemort left."

The door knocker went quiet.

The light of the family crest faded.

After a while, the door knocker spoke.

"It's not very polite to say that name at the doorway."

Allen walked toward the study door.

"Politeness can't save lives."

The family crest asked.

"Are you still going to check the memorandum tonight?"

"Checking the interactions between Dumbledore and the Potter Family."

"The records are incomplete."

"I'll read as much as there is."

The door knocker said.

"You should sleep."

"I'll read before sleeping."

"You say that every time."

Allen ignored it and sat back at the desk.

The quill wrote a few lines on the paper.

Headmaster's Office meeting, risks, Legilimency, Phoenix, candy, portraits, unknown magical items.

The door knocker poked its copper tongue out and asked.

"Are you taking this too?"

"No."

Allen pushed the paper to the edge of the Portable Space, and Void held it down with the tip of its tail.

"I'll keep it only in my head."

The family crest said.

"Don't push yourself too hard."

"Dumbledore won't ask one less question just because I'm young."

The door knocker added.

"He will ask with a smile."

"Which makes it even more troublesome."

The lights in the study dimmed, and the wind after the rain crept in through the cracks in the window.

Allen turned to the first page of A Brief History of the Potter Family.

The family crest asked.

"What are you looking at?"

"Looking at how the public version lies."

The door knocker said.

"The book says the Potter Family is generous, brave, and loyal."

Allen turned the page.

"Then I'll recite those three things tomorrow."

"Do you believe it?"

"No."

"Then how can you say it?"

Allen closed the book.

"Saying it to those who want to hear it."

The door knocker went silent.

The family crest asked one last time.

"When you go to Hogwarts in three days, how do you intend to enter the Headmaster's Office?"

"Go through the front door as invited."

"That doesn't sound like you."

"The more of a trap it is, the more I must walk in through the front door."

Allen blew out the lamp, and the book bag was placed on the back of the chair.

"Let him see me arrive, and let him see that I haven't brought anything."