Hogwarts: Harry Returns from Azeroth

Chapter 117: Dumbledore's Trust and Harry's Independence
A deterrent to the magical world?
Or... a deterrent to myself?

What if the four elemental giants were not fighting each other, but were attacking someone or somewhere under Harry's command?

Are the Ministry's Aurors capable of countering such an attack?
A series of questions forced Dumbledore to think and consider again and again. The real world is not like the games that Dudley played that can be saved and loaded infinitely. Dumbledore wanted to find a way to keep Harry on the right track and make the most correct choice.

In addition, there is also the major event of the revival of the elements. After confirming that the power of elements really exists, Dumbledore no longer regards what Harry said as an ignorant child's fantasy. He began to worry about what kind of changes the revival of the elements would bring to the magical world, and what kind of reaction the Muggle world would have?
New opportunities? Or new wars?
Would the elements revived from ancient history trigger corresponding changes in other equally ancient entities? Should he stop Harry from awakening those ancient elements?

One has to admit that the future after the resurrection of the elements described by Harry did attract Dumbledore. It was a better future for wizards without the need for any war with Muggles.

In addition, there are the souls returning from the hazy fantasy, the changes in the Hall of Death in the Department of Mysteries, the souls, Ariana...

This series of events and changes seemed to pile up together, and in a very short period of time, they surged like a wave towards Dumbledore, an old man who regarded protecting the safety of the wizarding world as his lifelong responsibility.

It is impossible to say that he is not tired. No matter how many legends he had when he was young, Dumbledore is, after all, a 110-year-old man. His energy is constantly fading, but he cannot rest. After all, the burden of the entire British wizarding community and even the international wizarding community rests on his shoulders.

Well, or Dumbledore wouldn't allow himself to turn a blind eye to these things.

Dumbledore was indeed relieved when he witnessed the elemental power displayed by Harry and the selfless sharing of this power with other young wizards.

He was surprised to find that even if he did nothing, Harry would be on the right track. Although he was paranoid and did things his own way, he had a clear boundary in his heart and knew what he could do and what he could not do.

This child was surprisingly honest and directly admitted that he had an unknown adventure in a place no one knew about, and it was that adventure that changed him and made him what he is.

Dumbledore was surprised to find that many of the things Harry said were principles he agreed with. He did not need any education or guidance. He only needed to provide some help when Harry needed it.

Then, Harry is given the position he deserves based on his magical strength. Although such rules will not be explicitly mentioned in the wizarding world, powerful wizards will indeed get the rights and status they deserve.

Just like Dumbledore, even if Rita Skeeter talks nonsense in the newspapers all day long, it will not have any impact on his status in the wizarding world. No one can rush into Hogwarts to drive him out of the position of headmaster - unless he wants to.

In Dumbledore's view, the only thing that currently limits Harry from reaching this point is his age. For those who are not aware of this, they will always misjudge Harry because of his age.

However, this was not a big problem, because based on the details observed by Dumbledore, Harry himself did not seem to have any great desire for power, and was only focused on the so-called revival of elements and the spread of shamanism, which was what satisfied Dumbledore the most.

Well, every time Harry came to him for help, Dumbledore couldn't help but sigh deeply... He always felt that this child had some misunderstandings about him.

Is this what Dumbledore used?

But no matter what, what made Dumbledore feel most relieved and gratified was Harry's attitude when getting along with his friends, or it could be said that Harry really made friends with a sincere heart.

Not only that, those who support Harry are not just from Gryffindor House, there are also students from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, and even Slytherin students are no exception, but their number is very small.

Of course, Dumbledore was naturally frowning at the beginning. He was incredibly talented, was loved by his classmates and professors, became the center of the crowd at a young age and formed his own group - these keywords made him nervous no matter how you looked at it.

Like, so similar.

Fortunately, with the passage of time, Dumbledore finally confirmed that Harry was completely different from the Tom he used to be. He not only had his own supporters, but also treated his supporters well and had friends with whom he could confide.

But most importantly, Dumbledore saw how Harry got along with his aunt's family, especially what he witnessed today.

It was as if everything Mrs. Figg had reported was false. Dumbledore could see that Harry now had a very friendly relationship with his aunt's family, as if all the things that happened in the previous eleven years had never happened.

Vernon did look a bit like his uncle, and Dudley no longer bullied Harry, and even Aunt Petunia helped a little in cleaning the house today - and all this was achieved by Harry's own efforts.

With an unexpectedly broad mind and unexpected maturity, Harry did not use his own powerful strength to retaliate against his Muggle relatives who had not taken good care of him or even bullied him in the past. He even reversed the bad relationship left over from the grievances between his fathers and made everything become normal.

For Dumbledore, there could be no more convincing evidence than this.

He finally believed that there was something in Harry's heart that Voldemort did not have at all - that was love.

Walking on the gravel road in Godric's Hollow, Dumbledore wondered what he was thinking about. He smiled slightly and shook his head.

At this moment, his old figure with white hair and beard seemed to straighten his back, and his whole body was filled with a sense of relaxation, as if something had disappeared from Dumbledore's body.

He was walking forward, and suddenly, Dumbledore's figure completely disappeared in Godric's Hollow.

....................................

Not knowing that Dumbledore stayed outside for a while after leaving, Harry was now sitting next to a small coffee table in the corner of the living room. The chandelier in the living room was not turned on, and only a dim table lamp illuminated this corner.

On the other side of the small coffee table, Uncle Fenon was leaning on the back of a chair - to be honest, even though he had used the weight loss potion, the chair was still a little too small compared to Uncle Fenon's body shape, so he was not very comfortable sitting on it.

After seeing Dumbledore off and returning to the house, Harry found Uncle Vernon sitting here waiting for him, and waved for him to come over.

"...Do you remember what you said to me last year, kid?" After twisting and turning in the chair but still unable to get comfortable, Uncle Vernon finally gave up the idea and asked, "That's it - child support."

"Oh, you mean that?" Harry nodded in understanding. "Just like last time, how about gems? Uncle, you probably wouldn't want Galleons, the wizard's currency. I will pay you gems of corresponding value according to the level of support I have received over the years."

"No, no, no, kid, listen to me," Uncle Fenon waved his hands and said, "I don't want this money anymore."

"No more?" Harry said in surprise.

Harry really didn't care about many things in the past anymore, and he could understand the pressure his aunt's family had to bear in raising another child, but he really didn't intend to give away too many gems. Their value would only be equal to the level of upbringing he had received from his aunt's family.

But putting aside the issue of how much money it was, what surprised Harry was Uncle Vernon's reaction - you know, the reason why Uncle Vernon's attitude towards him changed last year was because Harry promised to pay alimony after inheriting the Potter family's property.

So you don’t want it now?
"Well, no," Uncle Fenon yawned and said, "Thanks to you, don't forget that I just made a lot of money - I was thinking of booking the villa today, but now I have to postpone it again."

"Really?" Harry raised his eyebrows and repeated. "Don't bother me, kid!" Uncle Vernon stood up with an impatient look, and walked towards the stairs to the second floor, waving his hand without looking back, "You talked to the headmaster for a little too long, and I almost fell asleep waiting."

Uncle Vernon walked very fast, but when he was about to turn the corner on the stairs, he suddenly stopped, leaned over to look at Harry and said, "What I said to you yesterday is still valid, boy, you can still be the first to choose a house you like in the villa on Majorca Island, that's it."

After leaving these words, Uncle Fenon staggered up to the second floor.

Harry was the only one left in the living room. The night in Godric's Hollow was very quiet, so quiet that Harry could even hear the chirping of insects outside the window while sitting in the living room.

"...a glass of mead" suddenly broke the silence, and as Harry spoke, a small glass of mead suddenly appeared on the small coffee table next to him.

There is even a wine cellar specially built in the old Porter house, and Ah Fu found a lot of good wine when he was cleaning today.

Harry swirled the amber liquid in the glass and drank it slowly, savoring the taste.

So be it.

....................................

The Dursleys spent a wonderful night at the Potter mansion. They didn't get up until the sun had risen completely. Then they had breakfast under the care of Alfred before leaving to go back to their own home.

"Are you really not going back? Harry, I was thinking of taking you through that new game." Dudley looked a little conflicted. To be honest, the things that happened in the past two days were somewhat unreal to him. And now the cousin who grew up with him has his own family and will no longer return to number 4 Privet Drive.

"No," Harry shrugged and said, "You can see that Alfu has already sent all my things over, including the game console you gave me."

"Don't worry, there is electricity in Godric's Hollow. I will come to play with you after I finish my practice. Of course, you are welcome to come over anytime. Just shout Alfu's name in a place where there are no outsiders." As he spoke, Harry handed a small trinket to several people. "Here, take it."

"What is this?" Aunt Petunia looked at the object in her hand with some confusion. A small wooden stick? But there were patterns and words on it that she couldn't understand.

"This is the amulet for you," Harry explained. "Just wear it as a small trinket. Remember to soak it in water for at least fifteen minutes every day. It can protect you when you are in danger. The safety of your family is more important than anything else, right?"

Seeing Uncle Vernon pinching the small totem with two fingers and frowning as if he wanted to say something, Harry's words took a sharp turn.

"...Okay, you're right." Uncle Fenon sighed heavily and put the totem into his pocket. "Safety is more important than anything else."

With a gloomy look on his face, as if he had been defiled, Uncle Vernon even felt that if his current self a year ago saw him, he would probably slap himself hard - and his funny expression made Harry and the others laugh.

"Go ahead." At the end, standing in his own garden, Harry tried hard to hold back his smile as he watched his aunt and her family holding hands. In the end, Aunt Petunia grabbed Alfred's long knuckles and said, "I hope you will be satisfied with this trip."

In the end, he chose to be taken back to Number 4 Privet Drive by Alfred by Apparition. The Dursleys strongly opposed Harry's suggestion of taking the Knight Bus on the way back. In the words of Uncle Vernon, it would be better to kill him than to let him take that damn bus.

"Oh, if only I could be comfortable—"

Dudley's words came to an abrupt end. In front of Harry, Alfred and his aunt's family seemed to be trapped in a flush toilet - well, this metaphor didn't seem to be very appropriate, but their bodies did seem to be twisted, and then spun into a point in the air, like a whirlpool, and finally disappeared.

This is what Apparition looks like.

Harry didn't have to wait too long. After just over a minute, Alfu Apparated back again.

"How are they?" Harry asked, trying not to laugh.

"Just like Master Harry thought! Vomited all over the floor!" Alfred said happily, "Mr. Vernon cursed very fiercely. Alfred helped Mrs. Petunia deal with the vomit and made a cup of tea for each of them!"

"I hope they get better soon," Harry said sympathetically, "It's not a pleasant feeling to Apparate for the first time."

It's like the feeling of Apparition... It's as if your entire body is being squeezed by a powerful force, and then forcibly stuffed into a very narrow tube, spinning rapidly. Everything around becomes blurry, as if being caught in a whirlpool.

It was a feeling as if even your internal organs were being squeezed out, as if your entire body was being thrown out - most importantly, this feeling would be particularly intense for those who were experiencing Apparition for the first time.

Apart from anything else, Harry felt that what the others had said when they parted just now, that they would come and visit often when they were free, was probably going to be invalidated - not just Uncle Vernon, but probably his aunt's family would also have an extremely deep psychological trauma about the wizards' means of transportation.

Don't even think about asking Ah Fu to take me back and forth between the two places... Uncle Fenon would probably rather drive here slowly by himself.

Well, if there was a chance, Harry would ask the Ministry of Magic to connect the fireplace at 4 Privet Drive to the Floo network, so that the Dursleys could come as visitors via Floo powder - according to the description in the book, there would not be any severe physical discomfort when traveling with Floo powder.

No, it won’t?
Suddenly thinking of the book that introduced and highly recommended the Knight Bus, and even tricked unsuspecting people into riding it, Harry suddenly became uncertain.

There are bad people among the wizarding community.

While lamenting the complexity of human nature, Harry returned to his own mansion - he had only roughly cleaned up the exterior yesterday. The interiors of wizards' mansions are often much larger than their exteriors, and there are still many rooms waiting for him to count and tidy up.

After his aunt and her family left, Harry and Alfred were the only ones left in the huge house. But to be honest, he didn't feel deserted or lonely. Instead, he felt an indescribable sense of security.

"Come to think of it, Alfred?" Harry suddenly said to his butler, "Are you used to it?"

"Habit?" Alfu turned his head in confusion. He didn't understand what Harry meant.

"During the time you've been working here, have you gotten used to it?" Harry asked seriously. "You should have discovered that, right? Whether it's personality or anything else, I'm probably different from the Harry Potter you imagined in your mind."

"Take the Malfoy family for example," Harry said directly, "I think you have seen with your own eyes the attitude of the Malfoy family towards me, and we all know that they are regarded as dark wizards by many people in the outside world."

"But I get along very well with such a dark wizard family, and we have agreed to visit them again in the future." Harry stared into Alfred's eyes and said, "Is this the Harry Potter you imagined?"

(End of this chapter)