The Hogwarts Emerald

Chapter 499 Showdown
As the sky brightened, more and more people came to the teahouse, including adults and children.

But among so many people on the sixth floor, no one looked in the direction of Dumbledore and Ada, as if the corner where the two were had never existed.

Dumbledore stared at Ada motionlessly. The headmaster didn't know whether he was wrong or something had influenced Ada to make her have such extreme ideas.

When Cornelius Fudge woke up and saw three wands on the bedside, knowing that someone had broken into his home silently, what would he think? Especially when he learned that three employees of the Ministry of Magic had "disappeared", and these three employees were sent to investigate Arthur Weasley.

Dumbledore didn't need to think too much to know that Fudge would definitely step up his efforts to suppress and deal with him, and eliminate him as the biggest "threat". If he was really pushed into a corner, who knows what else Fudge could do.

Dumbledore felt a headache worse than when Voldemort had returned.

"How long have you been planning this?" Dumbledore asked. "Did we last discuss any specific plans for the future?"

Ada shook her head, then she propped her arms on the table and made the same gesture as Commander Ikari. She said, "No, I suddenly thought of it before I started. The plan is not complete. I only thought of the beginning, and there may be many loopholes in the future."

"Professor, you know that I have never been good at plotting or strategizing. I can't even predict your and Fudge's reactions. But since you came here in such a hurry, I think my beginning went well. Now all I need is Fudge's reaction. I hope it's not after school starts, otherwise it will be too boring."

Dumbledore did not avert his eyes; he was still looking at Ada.

If Ada's communication with Ms. Bones during the summer vacation was just a test and an unformed idea, now she is determined to do it and put it into practice.

Everything that was done in the early hours of the morning could be seen as Ada asking for a fight. Even if Dumbledore was busy looking for the Horcrux, it didn't matter. She could act on Dumbledore's behalf. She had the ability and the strength to do so.

But this was not what Dumbledore wanted, and it was far from what he had planned.

"You are too modest. You have already made up your mind." Dumbledore said, "This is not something you came up with on the spur of the moment. Since the summer, you have been secretly investigating the Ministry of Magic. You should have had a rough outline by then, but you did not fully realize it. When Arthur was attacked, the staff of the Ministry of Magic provided you with the opportunity to attack and completed your idea."

Finally, Ada went from being a chess piece to being the chess player, faster than Dumbledore expected.

Ada withdrew her hands and leaned back into the cold chair. She said, "I regard Mr. Weasley as a father figure."

"I know, and that's why we're still sitting here," Dumbledore said. "I know you're different from them. Completely different."

Ada laughed, and her laughter was full of disdain, as if she was laughing at herself, or at Dumbledore.

She looked at the people coming and going in the tea room and said, "Professor, you are always like this. You always think the best of others."

"Not everyone is worthy." Dumbledore shook his head and softened his tone. "Before you took action, did you hesitate? Even for a second."

Ada gave Dana and Matthew a chance, twice.

Once, Ada asked him if he was the one who found Arthur Weasley and sent him to St. Mungo's; another time, Ada asked him to forget what happened that night.

In these two chances, if Dana had followed Ada's wishes once, he and Matthew would not have died. There is no difference between the life of one person and the lives of three people.

But Dina didn't. He chose to be loyal to the Ministry of Magic and to Cornelius Fudge. His blind loyalty killed himself.

Two people had already died at this point, and Matthew's life or death was no longer important. Even if he wanted to force Dumbledore or Fudge, these two lives were enough.

If Matthew put down his wand, there would be a chance that Ada would let him go, but he didn't. He raised his wand like Dana.

"No hesitation, very quick and easy," Ada said. "It's much easier than killing a chicken." She didn't tell the truth, or maybe telling the truth wasn't that important.

Dumbledore suddenly realized that he saw some of his own youth in Ada, as well as some of Gellert Grindelwald.

It was as if the two young men of Godric's Hollow had merged into one. Dumbledore closed his eyes slightly and rubbed his brows with a headache. When he opened his eyes again, the young man of Godric's Hollow was gone. Ada was still Ada, just Ada. She was another person who agreed with the phrase "for the greater good".

Seeing Ada's cold face and thinking of her indifference to lives that had nothing to do with her, Dumbledore's fingers twitched unconsciously.

This scene did not escape Ada's eyes. She saw it clearly and could see Dumbledore's inner struggle. But Ada was not afraid. She was still very confident. Even if she couldn't beat him, could she still run away?

Besides, Ada didn't completely touch Dumbledore's bottom line, so there was still room for maneuver.

"Perhaps I shouldn't have taken you to see Gellert." Dumbledore said slowly. After saying this, he seemed to relax a lot, and the headache also eased.

"There are no ifs or maybes in this world, professor." Ida picked up the glass of milk, which was still warm. "I am not Gellert Grindelwald, and I will not be the next Gellert Grindelwald."

After drinking the milk, Ida licked her lips and continued, "I just do what I think I should do. Even if it's wrong, I will do it. Otherwise, I'm afraid I will regret it."

The sunlight hit Ada, and the light made Dumbledore squint his eyes, and he suddenly seemed to be back to that morning in the Twilight Cottage. You reap what you sow, and many things are predetermined.

"Ada, are we still on the same path?" Dumbledore asked, looking at Ada's drooping eyelids, wondering if those green eyes were still shining.

Ada looked up and looked into Dumbledore's eyes. She had trusted the owner of these eyes. Then, everything changed.

"I took a different path than you and Harry took," Ada said solemnly, "but the destination is the same."

In the end, Dumbledore got an answer that was not too bad.

The headmaster stood up and said, "If you see my Head Girl, please tell her that I hope to continue seeing her at school. Hogwarts will always be her home."

Silence. Ada did not give any response, but Dumbledore was satisfied. At least she did not say "Versailles is my home."

Dumbledore turned and prepared to leave. He still had a lot of things to do and his plans needed to be adjusted appropriately.

"professor!"

Dumbledore turned and looked at Ada, anticipation rising in his eyes.

"Professor, you are old." Ida stared at the table. "Your leniency will eventually hurt you."

This time it was Dumbledore's turn to remain silent. He walked out of the tea room silently, leaving only his tall and thin back to Ada.

Watching the figure gradually going away, Ada really wanted to chase after him regardless of everything. She had complicated feelings towards Albus Dumbledore. Ada forced herself not to think about it, lowered her head tightly, and even grabbed a dry sandwich and stuffed it into her mouth.

Ada knew that she had done nothing wrong. Even though her actions were hard to accept and could even be said to have let Dumbledore down, time would prove that she was right.

She just forced Dumbledore or Fudge to take action, so that Voldemort hiding in the dark would also take action, not giving the dark forces time to continue accumulating strength.

Sacrifices now are only to reduce sacrifices in the future.

The sandwich was still too dry, so Ada threw the rest back onto her plate.

She stared blankly in the direction where Dumbledore left, her eyes red but not a single tear shed.

(End of this chapter)