Dumbledore chuckled gently. "Well, if that ever happens, I'd be quite interested in having a chat with whoever was bold enough to try. But honestly, aside from a few daring Gryffindors, I doubt anyone would attempt it."
He smiled warmly at Alex. "I can hardly believe how quickly time has passed. It feels like just yesterday you were that brave student fighting Death Eaters alongside Lily."
With a kind gesture toward the chair across from him, Dumbledore invited Alex to sit, his tone light but his thoughts still weighed down by lingering doubts.
After hearing Dumbledore's words, Alex couldn't hide the trace of disappointment on his face. "Yeah… it's a shame. After all these years, I finally have the strength to protect myself, and them, but Lily's no longer here to see it."
Dumbledore let out a soft sigh, his expression full of sympathy. "If Lily could see everything you've accomplished, I'm sure she'd be proud of you."
Then, his tone turned more serious as he looked directly at Alex. "About Sirius… things still aren't going as smoothly as we'd hoped. Have you made up your mind about tracking down the Silver Wand?"
He paused for a moment before continuing, "Actually, both Bagnold and Amelia are hoping you'll either drop this deal entirely or at least slow down and let us take over more of the effort."
The officials from the Merlin Society had some knowledge about the "Horned Basilisk" tied to the Silver Wand organization, but their understanding wasn't nearly as deep as Alex's. To them, the Silver Wand was just another dangerous criminal group, albeit one with a strange ability to greatly enhance certain wizards' powers and keep them under tight control.
What made matters more complicated was the organization's connection to the Saints, a group that had supposedly been disbanded. Recent intelligence suggested that remnants of the Saints had reorganized into a new faction, and there were even whispers of a potential coup brewing in Germany. That's why the Merlin Society was so determined to root them out.
But things had changed. After everything that happened in Egypt, protecting Alex had become a much higher priority for the British Ministry of Magic. Even if this was just a reconnaissance mission, the idea of sending him abroad again made them uneasy.
Alex couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed by this sudden concern. 'Now they're worried about me? Where was this attitude before?' he grumbled silently.
With a hint of sarcasm, he noted how typical this kind of reactive behavior was from the Ministry's higher-ups. Fortunately, Alex had always seen through their political games.
Dumbledore, for example, was someone Alex had always treated with caution. Although the old headmaster mostly stayed within the school grounds, he was far from out of touch. He kept a close eye on everything happening in the wizarding world.
That's why Alex had always been careful around him, he didn't want to draw unnecessary attention or make Dumbledore suspicious. After all, the man had enough influence to cause serious problems if he chose to.
But things were different now. Alex's own influence was on the rise. With graduation behind him and his reputation growing, he no longer needed to tread so lightly. He had his own standing now, and he wasn't afraid to use it.
"I already spoke with Minister Bagnold about this," Alex said calmly, his tone steady. "I'm not just chasing after the Silver Wand because of Sirius. There's more to it than that."
Dumbledore nodded, though he looked slightly resigned. "The Silver Wand may have appeared to be nothing more than smugglers in the past, but their ties to the Saints run deep. Recently, their activities have picked up again. They've somehow gotten their hands on a large amount of funding, but no one knows where it's going."
He gave Alex a serious look. "So, once you arrive in Europe, be wary not just of the Silver Wand, but also of any remaining members of the Saints. The group may be officially disbanded, but there are still signs that some of its followers are active."
"Thanks for the warning, Professor Dumbledore," Alex replied with a smile. In truth, he already knew far more about the Silver Wand than he let on.
Some of the more extreme members of the club definitely intended to stir up trouble, but since they needed to keep a low profile, they rarely acted out in the open. Instead, they would push others, usually less cautious wizards, to directly challenge the local Ministries of Magic.
The situation in Germany was especially concerning. While there wasn't an outright war yet, many ordinary witches and wizards had already lost faith in their Ministry. This growing distrust had sparked the rise of various resistance groups, and the radicals in the club were secretly funding these small factions.
"Let's not dwell on that," Dumbledore said, shaking his head with a small sigh. "I've seen what you're capable of over the years. I'm sure you've got a plan already."
He paused for a moment, then added, "So, what are your plans after graduation? I mean, once everything with the Silver Wand is dealt with."
Alex leaned back slightly, considering. "If things settle down, I'd like to focus on business and research. Maybe even travel a bit when I get the chance. After my trip to Egypt, I realized just how much I still don't know about the wizarding world."
As he said this, something seemed to come to mind. He reached into his robes and pulled out a thick book, handing it to Dumbledore.
"By the way, this is a first draft of a book I've been working on. The Ministry of Magic asked me to write it. If you have the time, I'd really appreciate it if you could take a look, and if you'd be willing to write a foreword, that would be amazing."
Dumbledore looked genuinely surprised. "You're publishing a book? That's impressive!"
He took the manuscript with curiosity and glanced at the cover. The title read, Tactical Training. His eyebrows rose slightly. Naming a book like this with such bold language, it wasn't just a casual project. It hinted at an ambition to carve out a whole new academic approach to magical combat.
Intrigued, Dumbledore flipped through the first few pages. His eyes landed on the title of the first chapter: Standardizing Magical Power Metrics.
He began reading, and before he knew it, he was completely absorbed. The content was both thoughtful and innovative, presenting a structured way to measure and improve magical performance. It was a fresh perspective on a field often left to instinct and tradition.
Ten minutes passed in silence before Dumbledore finally looked up, slightly startled by how engrossed he'd become. Alex, meanwhile, sat calmly at the desk, a knowing smile on his face, clearly expecting this reaction.
"Sorry, I got a bit carried away for a moment..." Dumbledore said with an apologetic smile.