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Chapter 135
In truth, the world was controlled by those silent "old men." Through quiet authority and careful influence, they accumulated enormous power and became the strongest force resisting the darkness. Under their guidance, the world inevitably moved toward another extreme.
"So in the end, Dumbledore is the one in charge of this school. Every teacher and professor ultimately answers to him," George said calmly.
Although Harry was the protagonist of the story, stories were not reality. The true leader of the school, the symbol of the wizarding world's light side, and the real hero opposing the forces of darkness was Dumbledore. From beginning to end, Harry was merely a chess piece in Dumbledore's hands.
"So you think Dumbledore already has some kind of plan or scheme?" Kate asked uncertainly.
"If even we know the truth is close at hand, do you really think Dumbledore knows nothing?" George replied with a question of his own.
There was no way Dumbledore was unaware of these matters. And if he knew, then naturally he would already have preparations and countermeasures in place.
"So we're just supposed to wait for Dumbledore's plan?" Kate finally understood what George meant. Like Hermione, she wanted to catch the culprit herself, yet at the critical moment she hesitated.
George turned and stared directly into her eyes.
"That's exactly the mindset of young people. Young people always imagine they're omnipotent. They think one person can solve everything—that a single hero can save the world."
George's intense gaze made Kate feel embarrassed. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she snapped back,
"And what about you, then? Our great and gloomy Lord George?"
"We can assist with the investigation. We can offer suggestions. We can even identify who the likely culprit is," George said firmly. "But we cannot make the final decision ourselves. We cannot directly judge the culprit, nor can we personally deal with the matter."
"Oh…" Kate immediately caught his meaning. "So the final authority still belongs to Dumbledore."
George gave her an approving glance and continued,
"Exactly. Dumbledore is the headmaster of this school. We may help him investigate and provide advice, but we cannot make decisions on his behalf."
He looked around the room before continuing.
"This dormitory belongs to me for now. I can hang celebrity posters on the walls or decorate it however I like."
"But in reality, this room isn't truly mine. Sooner or later, someone else will live here. Even if I don't care much about what others think, I still know restraint. I know how to consider other people. That's why I won't place any recognition charms or permanent protective curses here."
A strange light flashed in Kate's eyes as she said excitedly,
"So I'm not the only one! I thought I was the only person who considered placing identification charms and protection spells in my bedroom."
Then she pouted unhappily.
"But if I actually did that, my mother would scold me to death. She'd probably blast my door open and search my room for evidence that doesn't even exist."
"That's why you need a room that truly belongs to you," George said in agreement. "Otherwise, don't hide your secrets or valuables there at all. A genuine private space is one where no one else is allowed to enter."
Using that example, Kate finally understood George's point completely.
"So Hogwarts is Dumbledore's territory. We're merely staying here temporarily. We can help investigate and offer advice, but we can't treat this place as if it belongs to us. We can't make decisions for Dumbledore."
She paused before adding,
"Especially when he already has his own plans. We can't just recklessly interfere with them."
Then she muttered softly,
"After all, this is his domain."
Kate had spent six years at school. Sometimes Hogwarts felt more like home than her actual home—there were no parents controlling her, no restrictions weighing her down. Yet she knew George was right. This place was not truly hers.
Not even her parents' house was truly hers.
Only a bedroom where she alone could place recognition charms, cast protective spells, and keep secrets—that could truly be called home.
"No one can handle everything alone," George continued. "Once you've done your part, you should leave room for others to make their own choices and decisions instead of forcing them to accept a result you think is acceptable."
Kate nodded slowly.
"A solution people are forced to accept isn't really a good suggestion at all. We really can't cross that line."
Looking at George, she couldn't help admiring his foresight and maturity.
Then George's expression suddenly turned serious.
"Of course, the most important thing is that I'm extremely busy right now. I honestly can't be bothered with Dumbledore's plans or schemes. Even if he personally asked me to find the Basilisk, I'd tell him to deal with it himself."
"You—!"
Kate burst into helpless laughter, though the affection in her heart suddenly became impossible to hide.
"So what exactly is so important? Have you made progress in your research on Ancient Magic? I still haven't made any progress at all. Honestly, I can't understand how ancient wizards ever learned those spells."
She shot George a resentful look. She believed she was quite talented and had always mastered modern magic with ease.
Yet when it came to ancient magic, she had achieved nothing. Sometimes she even wondered whether the spells themselves were fundamentally flawed. But George could actually cast and control them.
And if anyone tried to claim it was simply a matter of talent, she absolutely refused to admit defeat. After all, she firmly believed that when it came to modern magic, she was no worse than George.
After thinking for a moment, George replied,
"I don't have any special method for learning ancient magic either. The only thing I can do is spend more time improving my meditation. I believe meditation is the key to mastering ancient spells."
Truthfully, George himself had not made much progress in ancient magic. Still, he knew this path was never going to be easy. Otherwise, people like Dumbledore and Voldemort would never have abandoned it.
For centuries, countless wizards had admired the power of ancient magic and tried to revive it. Yet those ancient spells had still faded into history for a reason.
But if George simply believed he was destined to fail like everyone else, he would never have bothered studying ancient magic in the first place.
At the very least, fortune seemed to favor him somewhat. Compared to Kate, he did grasp the foundations of ancient magic more easily.
But only slightly more easily.
(To be continued.)