Not only had Dumbledore failed to persuade Lewis during their exchange of ideas, but Lewis had even exposed a flaw in his logic and used it to support his own philosophy instead.
A shadow fell across Dumbledore's eyes.
It was the first time he had ever been defeated in a clash of ideals.
Looking at the spirited young man before him, memories from long ago surfaced involuntarily.
He remembered someone from his youth.
The closest companion he had ever had.
He had to admit...
Compared to Voldemort, that person resembled the boy before him far more.
Equally handsome.
Equally brilliant.
Equally convinced that power was paramount.
Equally proud.
Yes...
They were astonishingly alike.
There was only one difference.
Grindelwald had been a pure-blood.
The boy before him was Muggle-born.
The old wizard sighed before trying one last time to persuade him.
" Lewis, you shouldn't think that way. Everyone wants to be the hero of their own story, but that path is covered in thorns. Not everyone reaches a happy ending."
"Sometimes..."
"If you simply follow the course of destiny, life becomes much easier."
"Easier?"
Lewis let out a cold laugh.
"Professor, do you really think I live merely to have an easy life?"
"Isn't that looking down on me a little too much?"
Dumbledore slowly shook his head.
He had still underestimated the boy's pride.
"If you insist..." the old man said after a brief pause, "then I only ask one thing."
"Stay away from Harry."
"Don't influence him."
"Don't interfere with his destiny."
Lewis looked genuinely surprised.
So...
Instead of asking him to help Harry...
Dumbledore wanted him to leave Harry alone.
Was the Headmaster truly that confident his own plans would guarantee Harry's victory over Voldemort?
Lewis understood better than anyone that from the moment he had entered the Harry Potter world—and especially after bringing visitors from other worlds with him—
The world's destiny had already changed dramatically.
"Professor," Lewis sighed, "rather than asking me to stay away from Harry, perhaps you should try convincing Harry to stay away from me."
"To be honest, even I think he's been coming to me with far too many problems lately."
"I'm beginning to worry that his poor little brain is gradually evolving into that of a troll."
Dumbledore's expression darkened.
It was exactly what worried him as well.
Still, he nodded.
"I'll handle Harry."
"But right now..."
"The problem is you."
Seeing the old wizard still refusing to give up, Lewis wagged a finger.
"Professor Dumbledore..."
"Don't you think you're being rather excessive?"
"You're an educator."
"And yet here you are, personally encouraging a student to distance himself from his closest friend."
"Harry and I have been friends since primary school."
"He's my dearest friend."
"So..."
"You'll need to pay more."
Dumbledore blinked.
"So... you're asking for Galleons as compensation?"
There was obvious disappointment in his voice.
He hadn't expected Lewis to be so... materialistic.
"No, no, no."
Lewis immediately waved his hand.
"Why is everyone always trying to buy me with money?"
"I've already said it."
"I don't lack money."
"I've never cared about money."
"Then what is it that you want?" Dumbledore asked curiously.
"As a Ravenclaw..."
"The thing I desire most is knowledge."
"I'd like unrestricted access to every book in the Restricted Section."
"And that includes..."
"The books you've moved from the Restricted Section into your own office."
"If you agree to that..."
"I'll probably be too busy reading to bother Harry Potter."
Hearing Lewis's condition—especially the mention of the books stored in the Headmaster's Office—Dumbledore frowned.
He tried once more to persuade him.
"Mr. Green..."
"I think you should choose something else."
"Many of those books contain extensive knowledge of Dark Magic."
"They won't do you any good."
Lewis immediately disagreed.
"Knowledge is knowledge, Professor."
"It isn't inherently good or evil."
"Only people are."
"When the founders and every Headmaster after them placed those books in the Restricted Section, their intention wasn't for future Headmasters to lock them away forever."
"They did it so students capable of handling that knowledge could study it."
"Besides..."
"You've already seen my Patronus."
Lewis drew his wand.
"Expecto Patronum."
The silver Carnival Dragon instantly materialized inside the Headmaster's Office.
This time, Lewis deliberately summoned it at its full size.
It was like cramming an entire Hebridean Black Dragon into the room.
The enormous Patronus instantly filled almost every inch of space.
Books, ornaments, and papers were swept from desks and shelves.
Fawkes squawked in alarm and hurriedly took flight.
Even Dumbledore himself couldn't hide his astonishment.
He had never witnessed such overwhelming positive emotional power.
No wonder...
It had been capable of destroying Dementors with a single breath.
Gradually, however, his expression softened.
He knew very well...
Someone completely consumed by Dark Magic could never cast a Patronus.
The spell wasn't merely proof of exceptional magical ability.
It also reflected the love and hope that still existed within the caster's heart.
In other words...
The love and hope within Lewis's heart far surpassed that of ordinary people.
What Dumbledore didn't know was that psions could shape and strengthen both their own emotions and those of others.
The true reason Lewis's Patronus was so enormous was because it contained an immense amount of psionic energy transformed into positive emotion.
After thinking quietly for a while...
Dumbledore finally made his decision.
"Very well."
"I'll return the books currently stored in my office..."
"...to the lowest level of the Restricted Section."
He spoke softly.
"In addition..."
"Madam Pince and I will no longer conduct inspections of the Restricted Section during the evenings."
Lewis immediately understood what he meant.
In return, he nodded.
"Then I won't interfere with Harry's affairs of my own accord."
"I'll let him grow on his own."
With the agreement settled, Lewis left the Headmaster's Office.
After this conversation...
He had finally seen Dumbledore for who he truly was.
The White Wizard who had once saved the world had grown old.
He no longer possessed the energy to deal with one unexpected variable after another.
His remaining strength was focused entirely on one final game—
Training the Chosen One.
Defeating the Dark Lord.
From this point onward...
He would no longer stand in Lewis's way.
As Lewis walked back toward Ravenclaw Tower, he recalled their conversation and couldn't help laughing inwardly.
Professor Dumbledore...
Your vision is confined to this single world.
You'll never comprehend the scale of my ambitions.
Let's see whether you can fulfill Harry's destined fate...
...before I reshape this world.
From that day onward, Dumbledore never again interfered with the club.
Lewis also officially gave it a name.
The Society of Erudition.
Originally, he had considered calling it the Genius Club.
But the name was far too straightforward.
Besides...
Most of its members didn't deserve to be called geniuses.
The Society of Erudition, with its belief that even ordinary people could pursue wisdom, suited the club far better.
After all...
Lewis had founded the organization for precisely that reason—
To bring the light of knowledge to those whom the world considered ordinary.
Week after week passed.
Before anyone realized it...
Christmas had arrived.
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