The Prisoners of Hogwarts

Chapter 238 The Question of Staying or Leaving

Chapter 238 The Question of Staying or Leaving (5.2K)

"No, of course not!" Harry said quickly, then added somewhat embarrassedly, "I—I'm almost done."

He stood before Dumbledore, feeling he had many questions to ask, but for a moment he didn't know where to begin.

Dumbledore leaned slightly forward, his gaze behind his half-moon spectacles softening further. He spoke softly, as if discussing a trivial matter: "Harry, I heard you—ran away from home. How's life here?"

This question made Harry's heart skip a beat. He felt like a naughty child caught by his teacher after doing something wrong, which made him very uncomfortable.

He instinctively avoided Dumbledore's probing gaze, rubbed the polished floor with the tip of his shoe before raising his head and trying to answer in a relaxed tone, "It's...it's not bad. Uncle Lynch is very good to me. He arranged for me to live with him and even helped me find this job to enrich myself."

He tried to make his voice sound firm and satisfied, but there was a subtle, barely perceptible panic in his heart.

Facing Dumbledore's gentle gaze, he subconsciously didn't want Professor Dumbledore to think of him as a troublemaker, or—to think he had done something wrong.

Inflating your aunt and then running away from home is by no means something to boast about.

"I'm glad to hear that." Dumbledore's gaze swept gently across the tidy shop, finally settling on the row of gleaming brooms. "It seems Professor Lynch has found you a job that suits you very well. I remember you've always been very passionate about flying brooms, and of course, your talent is even more outstanding."

A mischievous glint flashed in Dumbledore's eyes.

The mention of brooms eased Harry's tension somewhat, even bringing a genuine smile to his face. "Yes, Professor. This place—this place is wonderful." He looked around, the scents of wood and magic in the air comforting him. "Mrs. Fleming taught me a great deal about broom care, much more in detail than I'd ever seen in the Quidditch Boutique manual."

"A strict teacher is a great treasure." Dumbledore nodded in agreement, then walked with interest to the display shelf, his fingers lightly tracing the handle of an antique silver arrow, as if sensing its history. "Cornflower and Shooting Star" was quite an old shop; he hadn't expected it to now be part of the Stone Tower Merchant Guild. "I remember when I was your age, the broom handles sold here were made of willow wood wrapped with unicorn tail hair—of course, nowhere near as comfortable as they are now."

Harry listened in surprise, finding it hard to believe that Professor Dumbledore had also been young and focused on brooms like him.

The two chatted for a long time while surrounded by brooms in the shop. Dumbledore's casual anecdotes about flying made Harry almost forget his identity.

"That's the charm of the broomstick," Dumbledore's voice pulled Harry back from his reverie of the early flying races. His deep blue eyes rested gently on Harry's face. "It gives us unprecedented freedom, allowing us to escape our predicaments and fly into the wider sky—however, just as every young wizard who takes up a broomstick must begin with the basics of flying lessons, taking off too early and recklessly" will worry those of us who care about you.

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Dumbledore's tone became slightly more serious, though still gentle: "Harry, I must say, Professor McGonagall and I were very concerned to learn that you—left your aunt's house, and in that manner."

Harry's heart tightened, knowing that what was coming would eventually come, and the criticism that Uncle Lynch hadn't given him was now being made up for by Professor Dumbledore.

He lowered his head, ready to accept criticism.

"Not because you punished that lady—though the Inflation spell certainly requires more precise control," Dumbledore said. Harry looked up in surprise and saw the headmaster blink behind his half-moon spectacles. "It's because you went off into the Muggle world all by yourself, without any of us knowing. That's very dangerous, Harry, especially at this time."

Harry's heart sank, and a strong sense of guilt welled up inside him.

He certainly knew what "at this moment" meant: Sirius Black was at large, and his target was very likely himself.

His unauthorized departure from home caused trouble for everyone. If Uncle Lin Qi hadn't picked him up, he might be in even greater danger now.

He lowered his head in shame, staring at the tips of his shoes, not daring to look Dumbledore in the eye.

Seeing Harry's reaction, Dumbledore sighed knowingly, his voice becoming even gentler: "It seems Professor Lynch has already told you about the Azkaban escape."

Harry nodded, his voice barely audible. "Yes, sir. Uncle Lynch—he spoke of Sirius Black."

"Then you should understand why I'm worried," Dumbledore's tone grew serious. "Black is very dangerous, Harry, extremely dangerous. That's why your leaving your Aunt Petunia's house worries me so much."

Harry looked up, confusion and a hint of resentment overshadowing his shame: "But—Professor, why? It's not safe at the Dursleys' either; they're just Muggles, and there's no magical protection there—"

He couldn't understand how the cage he was desperately trying to escape could be related to safety.

"No, Harry," Dumbledore interrupted him gently, speaking to Harry in a deep, unwavering voice, "you are mistaken. There is magical protection there. And it is one of the most powerful protections in the world that your mother left you."

Harry was completely stunned. His bright green eyes widened in disbelief: "Me—my mother?"

At the Dursleys' house? But—there's nothing there!

The existence of magical protection in the Dursleys' household was more astonishing than any magical story he had ever heard.

"It's invisible and intangible, but it truly exists and continues to work," Dumbledore patiently explained, revealing the mystery behind it to Harry. "On the night of October 31, 1981, your mother sacrificed herself to save you, leaving behind an ancient magical imprint—the protection of love. This protection flows in your blood and continues to be effective in your family's home. As long as you still call that place home, it will shelter you from many dark invasions. That's why you must return there every year to spend part of your holidays."

"As long as you stay there, you are in the most secure protection."

Harry opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

The sheer volume of information overwhelmed him.

The Dursleys, whom he loathed, a place he called "home" but felt no sense of belonging to, became a safe haven because of his mother—because of the Lily blood that flowed in his veins, which he shared with Aunt Petunia.

This realization was so shocking that it left him with mixed feelings.

Seeing the shifting shock and confusion on his face, Dumbledore continued, "So, Harry, for your safety, the safest arrangement is still—" He paused, then said clearly, "—you return to 4 Privet Drive. I've already spoken with your Aunt Petunia, and Madam Maggie's matter has been taken care of; they—will not object to your return."

As if splashed with ice water, Harry felt a chill run down his spine.

go back?

After knowing all this, after inflating Aunt Maggie's ego, and after experiencing a few short days of freedom and dignity, he still had to return to that small room on the second floor, back to the Dursleys's disgusted and indifferent gaze, to become a Harry Potter who would rather not exist?

"Professor, no—" he blurted out almost without thinking, his voice filled with a desperate plea, "I—I can't—"

"Headmaster Dumbledore." A calm and steady voice came from outside the shop.

Harry looked up abruptly and saw that Uncle Lynch was already standing on the shop's porch.

He was still wearing that well-tailored, exquisite gray suit, with his usual warm smile on his face. He walked over slowly and stood naturally next to Harry, placing a hand gently on Harry's shoulder.

This gesture of silent support brought a touch of warmth back to Harry's cold heart.

"Professor Lynch." Dumbledore nodded slightly, his expression gentle, his azure eyes gazing at the newcomer through his half-moon spectacles.

"I didn't mean to interrupt your conversation," Lynch's voice was low but echoed clearly in the quiet shop, "I just happened to overhear your final arrangements. Regarding Harry's return to the Dursleys—I don't think it's necessary."

Dumbledore didn't rush to ask Lynch for his reasons for objecting. Instead, he gave Harry a gentle smile and said, "Harry, perhaps you could go over there and see if the Sweeping series' product catalog needs updating? Professor Lynch and I need to talk to him about it."

This was clearly a way of getting rid of him. Harry's heart sank; he knew he was usually excluded when the adults wanted to discuss "serious matters" about him. He pursed his lips, reluctantly but instinctively moving to obey the headmaster's instructions.

"No need, Headmaster Dumbledore." Lynch's calm voice carried an undeniable authority as he gently touched Harry's shoulder, signaling him to stay.

Harry stopped in surprise and looked at Lynch.

Lynch met Dumbledore's blue eyes, which seemed to see right through people, and said calmly, "Harry is no longer a child who needs to be kept in the dark and passively accept arrangements. He has been through enough and has enough courage to face the truth. What we are going to discuss next is his safety, his future, and ultimately, his life. I believe he has the right to stay here and hear with his own ears how his own decision is made."

Harry looked at Lynch gratefully, then turned his gaze to Dumbledore.

Dumbledore's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly. He glanced at Harry. "Well then, let's return to our previous topic. I believe I have explained the importance of bloodline protection. Professor Lynch, please state your reasons for objecting."

"The importance of the bloodline protection spell is undeniable," Lynch nodded calmly, his expression remarkably serene in the dim shop light. "But based on my research into some ancient texts and calculations based on the nature of magic, although Harry's stay at the Dursleys' house this year was interrupted by an accident, it has already met the minimum time required to maintain that ancient spell. The protective spell's effect will last until he returns next summer and will not immediately disappear because he left a few days earlier."

Before Dumbledore could object, he continued, "Furthermore, this magic has its specific scope and limitations. The bloodline protection forged by Lily's sacrifice is primarily aimed at Voldemort and his power—the Dark Lord himself who was determined to kill Harry. This protection is most effective against Voldemort, while against other threats, it is more indirect and limited. It relies on Harry living in his blood relative's home, transforming 4 Privet Drive into a powerful safe house, capable of resisting most magical intrusions, but its protective effect against non-magical threats or dangers already present in the house is limited or even ineffective."

Lynch paused briefly: "And Sirius Black, though a dangerous fugitive with unclear motives, is not Voldemort himself, nor even a formal servant bearing the Dark Mark. Therefore, we cannot be certain of the extent to which Lily's protection can absolutely deter him. To entrust Harry's safety entirely to a passive defense that may diminish against a specific threat is undoubtedly a huge risk."

Seeing Dumbledore listening attentively, Lynch continued, explaining to Harry beside him, "Secondly, as I said before, Harry's time at the Dursleys' this year has been sufficient to maintain the magical connection until next summer. Forcing him back to a family environment that will inevitably be more tense, even resentful, because of the Maggie incident will not only fail to strengthen the magical foundation of the 'home,' but may actually weaken its effectiveness and cause unnecessary psychological trauma to Harry."

Lynch took a small step forward, his gaze open and resolute as he faced Dumbledore: "Therefore, I maintain that it is the more sensible choice to keep Harry in Diagon Alley, under my direct protection. He is a wizard, he belongs to our world, and he needs to grow up in the wizarding community outside of Hogwarts. In the heart of the Stone Tower, surrounded by many well-trained wizards and within my sight, the safety and care he can receive far surpasses that of being sent back to that Muggle residence with questionable protection and a hostile emotional environment."

He concluded with a solemn promise: "I assure you, Headmaster Dumbledore, that Harry's safety will be my personal responsibility for the remainder of the holidays."

Harry held his breath, watching the two professors nervously.

Uncle Lynch's words struck a chord with him, and he looked at Dumbledore almost pleadingly.

Dumbledore was silent for a moment. His gaze lingered on Lynch's calm face for a while before falling on Harry's face, which was filled with tension and anticipation. In Harry's deep blue eyes, it seemed as if countless thoughts were rapidly flowing and weighing.

The shop was so quiet that you could hear muffled voices coming from the lobby on the first floor of the Chamber of Commerce.

Finally, Dumbledore let out a soft sigh of relief.

“Your reasoning is very convincing, Professor Lynch.” His tone was ambiguous, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, but the insistence seemed to have softened. “Since you are so certain and willing to take on this responsibility—” He looked at Harry again, “—then, Harry, you may stay.”

Overwhelmed with joy, Harry almost jumped for joy, instantly overcoming the previous tension and chill.

"Thank you, Professor!" he said excitedly, glancing gratefully at Lynch beside him.

“However,” Dumbledore’s gaze sharpened, this time looking at both of them simultaneously, “my previous warning remains valid. Black’s threat is real and deadly. Harry, you must strictly adhere to the safety regulations Professor Lynch set for you.”

"I will!" Hali nodded vigorously, reaffirming his promise without hesitation.

Dumbledore said nothing more. He gave Lynch one last deep look, nodded to Harry, then turned and left, his dark blue star-patterned robes tracing an arc.

"Professor Dumbledore," Lynch spoke again, his tone much gentler than during the previous discussion, a perfectly polite smile on his face, "It's late. If you're not in a hurry, perhaps you'd like to share a simple dinner? The food at the Chamber of Commerce restaurant is quite good."

The invitation made Harry, who had just relaxed, tense up again, and he looked at Dumbledore.

Dumbledore paused as he pushed the door open, then turned around with his usual gentle, slightly apologetic smile on his face.

"Ah, thank you very much for the invitation, Professor Lynch." He said in a light voice, as if he were truly regretful. "It would be a great pleasure to taste the food of the Stone Tower Merchant Guild. However, unfortunately, I had already promised Professor McGonagall that I had to go back to discuss some minor issues regarding the new semester—well—faculty and staff arrangements. You know, she is just as meticulous about schedules as she is about the precision of Transfiguration."

This reason is impeccable.

"Of course, I understand." Lynch nodded slightly, not insisting. "Please give my regards to Professor McGonagall."

"I will," Dumbledore assured him, his gaze lingering on Harry's face for a final moment. "Well then, goodnight again, Harry. Enjoy your holiday."

"Good night, Professor Dumbledore," Harry replied quickly.

The shop door was finally pushed open, the copper bell rang crisply, and the tall figure disappeared at the edge of the glass window.

Harry only truly and completely breathed a sigh of relief when the echo of the bell had completely dissipated in the air, feeling his tense nerves finally relax.

"Thank you, Uncle Lynch." He looked up and expressed his heartfelt gratitude once again, this time for Uncle Lynch's insistence on not keeping him in the dark.

Lynch looked down at him, his expression softening completely, and gently rubbed Harry's head.

"Hurry up and close up shop, kid. I'll be waiting for you outside." His tone became more casual than usual. "Since Professor Dumbledore isn't in the mood for this, we'll just have a peaceful dinner ourselves. I bet you could eat a whole roast chicken right now."

Harry felt closer to Uncle Lynch in this relaxed and casual way, so he couldn't help but laugh.

He took one last look at the closed shop door, then turned around, ready to finish his last work for the day.

He kept the information-rich conversation he had just had to himself for the time being, waiting to discuss it with his two good friends.

At the same time, something was quietly changing deep inside Harry—he felt once again that with Uncle Lynch, he was not just someone to be protected, but that his voice could be heard and deserved to be heard.

Fortune