"No, Remus, I think perhaps you need to stay behind."
"Dumbledore," Lupin frowned, "I admit Vid is very talented, but he's still just a twelve-year-old child. I believe I'm more suited to face the unknown dangers..."
"It's not about who is more qualified to face danger, Remus, nor is it about capability."
Dumbledore said calmly, cutting off whatever Lupin was about to say.
"It's simply that, for Voldemort, he cares more about how much magic power crosses this lake. I believe this boat has had a magic spell cast on it, allowing only one wizard to ride at a time."
"Then Vid also—"
"He won't be counted. After all, as you said, he's only twelve, and compared to my magic power, his strength is negligible."
"Of course—"
Dumbledore, perhaps concerned that such words might be discouraging for the proud youth, quickly added, "Voldemort certainly did not anticipate anyone being more talented than he was in his youth—he always makes such foolish mistakes."
"You're too kind, Professor."
Vid didn't think much of it; the gap between his magic power and Dumbledore's was vast, and acknowledging facts wasn't shameful.
To put it in the way of the previous life, Dumbledore had consumed more salt than Vid had eaten rice. He was talented, gifted, and had spent a lifetime studying magic.
If a student like Vid who had only been exposed to magic for less than two years could easily surpass Dumbledore, it would be underestimating this century's greatest wizard.
Both stepped onto the boat one after the other.
The small boat was enchanted and did not wobble due to uneven force. However, the space was too cramped to sit down, so Vid opted to stand like Dumbledore.
A warm hand was placed on his shoulder.
Dumbledore seemed concerned that he might accidentally fall overboard; Vid moved his neck, feeling a bit uncomfortable but did not refuse the elder's goodwill.
"Be careful." Lupin cautioned, "I'll be here waiting. If anything unexpected happens, I'll try to get over immediately!"
Vid said, "Yes... but merely taking the boat shouldn't be dangerous; Voldemort would need safe passage to and fro as well."
"Alright..." Lupin took a deep breath, "If there's any uncertain danger, return first, and we'll figure something out together, okay? It doesn't have to be all solved today."
Vid nodded and said, "Understood."
Dumbledore chuckled softly.
Though Lupin's words were directed at Vid, Dumbledore knew he was actually protesting to him.
This intrigued the old headmaster somewhat.
It was the first time someone doubted his ability to protect those around him.
He could see that Lupin did not distrust him but viewed Vid as someone he himself was responsible for protecting.
Even though Dumbledore was far stronger than Lupin, when Vid followed Dumbledore, leaving Lupin's sight to venture out, he still felt uneasy and worried.
Like parents with their beloved children, like misers clutching precious jewels, careful and exceedingly cherished.
...
The small boat had set off automatically.
It needed no steering, gliding straight toward the green light in the lake's center, leaving fan-shaped ripples behind.
The lake's deep, dark surface was impenetrable, with only the light from Dumbledore's wand tip reflected on the water, like scattered stars.
Mikhail perched at the boat's bow, looking around and occasionally spreading his wings, spouting fire toward the lake as if still expecting some leftover Inferi to appear.
Vid almost imagined a bear-child spitting everywhere.
Dumbledore watched Mikhail, the golden light of the Firebird reflected in his eyes.
"A truly unique life," Dumbledore asked casually, "Where did you discover it?"
"At the Gaunt family's old house," Vid said, "I didn't 'discover' it— I 'created' it."
Dumbledore was silent for a few seconds: "... created?"
"Life Alchemy, involving forbidden magic, but it can also be said to be an unexpected result."
Vid didn't think there was anything he could hide from Dumbledore's eyes, especially as being caught lying would be more awkward.
So he briefly recounted the actions he and Lupin took that day to Dumbledore, focusing on the figure that struggled even trying to attack them in the Fiendfyre, only skipping the part where Mikhail found the Resurrection Stone.
Vid didn't know whether Dumbledore at present could resist the temptation of the Resurrection Stone, but the fate of the Peverell brother who received the Resurrection Stone constantly warned him.
Dumbledore was indeed very interested in the shadow figure, and after asking a few questions about the situation, he fell into contemplation.
The small boat lightly stirred the lake's water, producing faint splashes.
They were very far from the shore now, yet Lupin continued holding up his glowing wand, his figure as upright as a pine tree strikingly visible from any direction.
Magic is a power linked to the soul, perhaps because of this, people Vid helped always repaid him in different ways.
But this isn't a cold exchange of benefits.
Seeing Lupin's increasingly small figure, Vid suddenly said, "Professor..."
"Vid?" Dumbledore looked down.
"Why didn't you ask?" Vid said.
"Ask what?"
"How I know all of this... and why I'm doing these things..."
It was very quiet around, quiet enough to hear one's breathing.
Dumbledore didn't seem surprised, nor was he delighted to have everything under control, but he sighed softly.
"You know, among wizards, some have the talent to glimpse into the future. Take our Divination Class professor— Sybill Trelawney, her great-grandmother was the legendary Prophet, Cassandra Trelawney."
"Sybill inherited a part of her great-grandmother's talent, only she seems unable to fully utilize it."
"In contemporary times, the most powerful prophet I know is Gellert Grindelwald, who can see fragments of the future."
"Prophecies brought him success, but they also destroyed him, making him overlook things... far more important than life or death."
"Before you, I always thought Sybill was just a Diviner who occasionally manifested her talents, and Grindelwald the only contemporary prophet."
Vid looked over in surprise, while Dumbledore's gaze held a gentle, faint touch of compassion.
"Vid, I don't know how much you have seen, but I want to remind you... not to overestimate the power of prophecy, and not to fall into determinism. Prophecy offers us destiny's guidance, but only you can decide the direction of your future."
...
The small boat gently bumped against the shore and stopped. Ahead was a smooth rock island, only about the size of a room, with a stone pillar in the center topped with a stone basin.
The stone basin emitted a bright green light.
Dumbledore disembarked first from the small boat. Stepping onto the black rock, he observed for a moment and then turned back saying: "Vid?"
Vid abruptly snapped out of his thoughts and hurriedly got off the boat.
Seeing the headmaster's robe adorned with stars and moons, his heart unexpectedly yet unsurprisingly realized.
No wonder Dumbledore had never questioned him... He already had his conclusion long ago.
Prophecy...
Then again, everything he knew, to this world, what difference is there from prophecy?
Well... there is a difference—
A prophet's vision of the future changes with the observer's actions; but the story he knows is one with a fixed ending.
The progression of that story was already messed up by him, and he intended to change more.
People always want to leave something in this world.
With this world granting him a second life, then peace would be the best gift he could give back...
Walking toward the central stone basin, Vid thought.