Chapter 294: Collections
"The Hogwarts situation has already been resolved. I've informed the Board of Governors about it. They should understand what I've been doing these days," Dumbledore said.
"Yes, yes, the great Dumbledore dealing with the previous Dark Lord's matters, too busy to look after Hogwarts," Lucius said with a sneer.
"If you ask me, if you're really that busy, then resign your position as Hogwarts' headmaster and focus entirely on your business," Lucius drawled. "Don't occupy the headmaster's position without fulfilling your responsibilities."
Dumbledore's gaze wavered slightly, but he didn't refute the words.
Perhaps he also felt that Lucius was correct. This term, he had indeed failed to fulfill a headmaster's duties. Though he was still contributing to the wizarding world, he hadn't looked after Hogwarts' side properly.
"I believe Professor Dumbledore has handled this matter quite well, hasn't he?" Dudley spoke up.
"Before Dumbledore left Hogwarts, he delegated the school's safety matters to me, and I successfully resolved this crisis and received the Special Contribution Award from Hogwarts."
"Given that point, I don't believe Professor Dumbledore is unqualified. Quite the contrary. He made the most correct decision."
Lucius's expression darkened as he looked at Dudley and walked toward him.
"You think you're so impressive for getting the Special Contribution Award?"
"Aren't you?" Dudley replied bluntly. "If you're so capable, why don't you deal with the basilisk instead?"
"Or should Draco have gone?" Dudley continued.
Lucius's face grew even darker. Dudley Dursley always seemed to find exactly the right buttons to push, making him feel utterly uncomfortable.
"Yeah, Draco probably couldn't handle it. He'd die if he actually tried," Dudley pressed.
Snap!
Lucius drew his wand from his sleeve and pointed it directly at Dudley.
In the next instant, however, Lucius's expression changed abruptly as he looked toward Dumbledore.
This time, facing Lucius's disrespectful behaviour, Dumbledore made no sound. He simply gazed at Lucius intently.
Those blue eyes held a gaze that made Lucius feel genuine fear.
"I... I was simply acting on impulse," Lucius said awkwardly, lowering his wand, his face pale.
"Lucius, next time you point your wand at one of my students in my presence, I will show you exactly what it feels like to face my wand," Dumbledore said calmly.
"I understand," Lucius's mouth twitched slightly as he glanced at Dudley.
"I will explain my side of the accusations to the Board of Governors," Dumbledore continued.
Lucius temporarily set aside pursuing Dudley and instead began accusing Dumbledore of being unfit as headmaster.
Dudley watched Lucius's performance calmly whilst his magical essence quietly seeped into the surrounding space.
In fact, from the moment Lucius entered the room, Dudley had already begun.
Sequence Six. The Baron of Corruption's non-combat ability: Corrosion.
Anyone within ten metres of Dudley would gradually have their spirit become darker, greedy, volatile. They would take many irrational actions. Simplified, it was reducing one's intelligence.
As time passed, Lucius's accusations against Dumbledore grew increasingly aggressive. He even began threatening to throw Dumbledore out of Hogwarts entirely.
"Tomorrow, I will definitely make the Board of Governors pass a resolution to dismiss you," Lucius glared at both Dumbledore and Dudley and turned toward the office door.
"Wait, Mr. Malfoy," Dudley suddenly called out to him.
"What?" Lucius asked coldly.
"I think you may have forgotten something," Dudley said.
"Hmph. I haven't forgotten anything. Stop spouting nonsense," Lucius, currently feeling quite pleased with himself, seemed to believe he had already driven Dumbledore from Hogwarts.
"Once tomorrow comes, without Dumbledore, I will be the first to dismiss you," Lucius said viciously.
With those words, he turned to leave.
Dumbledore watched this version of Lucius with a thoughtful expression. Tonight's Lucius seemed quite different from the usual one who prided himself on aristocratic manners. He was overly agitated and irrational, resembling more a lunatic than a nobleman.
"Yet this diary, I recall it was yours originally. Am I mistaken?" Dudley slowly retrieved Voldemort's diary from the Mirror of Erised.
Lucius, who had almost reached the door, immediately paled upon seeing the diary. However, he quickly masked his reaction.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Lucius said coldly.
However, he didn't rush to leave. Instead, he remained standing near the door.
"Wasn't it when you deliberately caused a conflict with Mr. Weasley in Flourish and Blotts that you placed it in Ginny's bag?" Dudley said calmly.
"Why would I put such a diary in Ginny's bag?" Lucius said darkly.
"Really?" Dudley said with a light laugh.
Dumbledore sat calmly behind his desk, watching Dudley's performance.
"Absolutely not."
"Such an old, worn diary. How could it possibly belong to the Malfoy family?"
"However, I suppose I could help you examine where this diary came from," Lucius said, walking back and reaching out to snatch the diary.
"Oh?" Dudley withdrew it and stepped back, dodging Lucius's reach.
"Since it's not yours, I naturally can't hand it over to you."
"This diary is quite valuable, after all," Dudley said seriously.
"Oh?" Lucius narrowed his eyes slightly.
"A worthless old diary. What could possibly be valuable about it?"
"An ordinary diary certainly isn't valuable. But if the person who used this diary is extremely special?" Dudley continued.
Lucius's pupils contracted sharply.
"To be honest, this is Voldemort's diary," Dudley suddenly said.
"What?" Lucius's face went rigid. He hadn't expected Dudley to actually discover the diary's true origin.
"How is it? Quite a surprise?" Dudley smiled.
"Let me tell you something else. I've discovered that this diary is extremely, extremely important to Voldemort."
"If Voldemort discovers that someone has lost his diary, well, tsk tsk tsk."
"I can't even imagine what kind of crazy things he'd do."