Harry Potter: From Muggle Cousin to Conceptual Wizard

Chapter 38 An Unbreakable Alliance of Attack and Defense!

"I...I...I didn't think of that."

Dumbledore's mind raced as he tried to recall his initial thoughts. As he pondered the matter more deeply, he suddenly realized, "But I may have actually been thinking that way subconsciously, and I hadn't even noticed!"

"Dali, your analysis is like a sharp blade, piercing straight to the depths of my heart."

As Dumbledore spoke, his embarrassment dissipated, and his self-analysis became clearer:

"As I just said, I've been self-righteous for too long. I have many dark thoughts hidden under the guise of fighting Voldemort and saving the wizarding world, just like shadows under the sun, so self-evident and so easy to overlook!"

These are indeed my faults, Dudley, Harry. If you don't forgive me, I have nothing more to say. From now on, I will make it up to you and the Dursleys with concrete actions.”

After Dumbledore finished expressing his apology, Dudley fell silent. He didn't speak, but looked at Harry.

Harry understood what his cousin meant; his cousin respected his opinion and didn't want to forgive or not forgive others on his behalf.

Harry thought seriously for a moment, then spoke to Dumbledore:

“Professor Dumbledore, whatever your thoughts are, you did provide shelter for my parents. Also, I am very grateful to you for sending me here so that I could grow up with my cousin.”

Therefore, I don't harbor much resentment towards you, and I will try to forgive you.

"Good! Harry, I'm so glad." Tears welled up in Dumbledore's eyes.

Dudley, having calmed himself, spoke up as Dumbledore eagerly awaited his reply:

“Mr. Dumbledore, I am a practical person, and actions speak louder than words. So whether I forgive you or not depends on your future actions.”

Furthermore, Harry and I cannot make decisions for my parents. After we finish talking, please keep your promise to apologize to them.

“I will, Dudley!” Dumbledore immediately assured him.

"Now that we've covered the past, let's talk about the future!"

Dali concentrated intently, contemplating his words. The success or failure of today's negotiations hinged on this moment.

"Go ahead and tell me, Dudley. Make your and Harry's request, and I'll try my best to fulfill it! Whether you want to stay in England and come with me to Hogwarts, or go to another country to study magic, I'll support you!"

Dumbledore has come to terms with it.

"It seems that Mr. Dumbledore has truly come to a complete understanding!"

Dali was slightly pleased; the negotiations hadn't even officially started yet, and he had already won half the battle.

"Now, I will officially begin asking questions about the future!"

"Mr. Dumbledore, can you guarantee that, from this moment forward, you will no longer presumptuously guide Harry's upbringing in secret?"

"Yes, I promise! From now on, I will discuss everything related to Harry with you and Harry, and you will decide whether to implement it."

"Mr. Dumbledore, can you guarantee that you will not interfere with, or even assist, my and Harry's revenge against Voldemort and his henchmen?"

"Yes, I guarantee it! Eliminating Voldemort and his henchmen has always been my goal!"

"Mr. Dumbledore, if Harry and I go to Hogwarts to study, can you guarantee the safety of my family, especially my parents, the Dursleys?"

"Yes, I promise! I will never let Lily and James' tragedy happen again!"

"Great! Very good! Excellent!"

Dudley suddenly stood up, walked to Dumbledore, whose eyes were glistening with tears and who was overcome with emotion, and solemnly extended his right hand:

"Mr. Dumbledore, are you willing to follow the advice of this eleven-year-old strategist in your future life and battles, and to establish a covenant with him?"

"Dudley, what are you doing..." Dumbledore was stunned. He felt that Dudley was playing a very big game of wizard chess.

"Give me your power and fame, Dumbledore! Let me be your second mind, for a good and peaceful life, for the elimination of regrets, for pure strength, for our common goal, for an ideal future!"

"I hope I won't make the same mistake this time!"

After thinking carefully for several seconds, Dumbledore stretched out his old hand and clasped it tightly with Dudley's right hand. Two magnificent and fantastical twisted threads appeared out of thin air and wrapped around their wrists. Then, they flashed with light and disappeared without a trace.

They made an unbreakable pact.

At this point, Dumbledore could not imagine what kind of thunderous actions he would take after forming an alliance with Dudley, actions that he had never thought of before.

It is also unimaginable what earth-shattering changes this alliance will bring to the magical world in the future.

At this moment, Dumbledore's strongest thought was that Dudley and Harry had finally accepted him.

In his twilight years, at the age of 100, he found two close comrades-in-arms and friends despite their age difference.

"Cousin! Are we going to stay here?"

Harry witnessed the entire process of Dudley and Dumbledore making their pact, and after the unbreakable magical threads dissipated, he finally couldn't help but ask a question.

"Yes, Harry! Now that we have the greatest wizard of the twentieth century as our teammate, why would we need to wander in foreign lands?"

Dali smiled with the satisfaction of a successful negotiation.

However, before Dumbledore and Harry could celebrate, Dudley immediately got into serious 'work' mode.

"Dumbledore, there's less than a month left before school starts. We need to get moving!"

"Operation? Dudley, what kind of operation do you mean?" Dumbledore asked, somewhat puzzled.

“So many aspects!” Dudley’s mind raced. “Among them, the most urgent is dealing with that disobedient Minister of Magic! Dumbledore, you should have read today’s Daily Prophet, right?”

If I'm not mistaken, there wasn't a single word about Voldemort mentioned above, was there?

Upon hearing this, Dumbledore's face immediately showed a helpless expression: "That's right!"

As he spoke, Dumbledore pulled a folded newspaper with pictures and illustrations from his pocket.

Dudley took it and unfolded it in front of himself and Harry.

The front page headline prominently reported:

"A special security drill was conducted at the Gringotts underground vault yesterday. The minor earthquake in Diagon Alley was purely accidental!"

"The Gringotts goblins solemnly promise: No property in any of the vaults has been lost. Please rest assured!"

……