The Wind and the Wings of Hogwarts

"father!"

Kevin quickly stopped him.

"Please, this is a library. Please don't shout. Also, please don't mislead tourists from out of town."

Chapter 496 Sunrise and Sunset on the Cape

The fog that appears on certain days, the curse spoken by the old man, Kevin's brother who died unexpectedly...

Upon hearing a new rumor, whether out of caution or curiosity, Scott wanted to ask a few more questions.

But clearly, Kevin, the real librarian, didn't want to talk about the topic anymore and refused to let his father say anything more.

Unable to force them, Scott left the library with Dumbledore.

They walked to a corner park, sat on a bench, and looked at the red St. Magnus Cathedral in the distance.

Scott asked, "What do you think of what that old gentleman said, Professor?"

Dumbledore said, "Perhaps we can ask the other residents."

As he spoke, he got up and started chatting with an old woman who was resting on another bench.

His elegant and polite demeanor quickly won over the old woman, and the two chatted happily.

A little while later, two more elderly women walked to the corner park and naturally joined their conversation.

Dumbledore was undoubtedly very good at socializing, and the ladies clearly liked him very much, as evidenced by their frequent bursts of laughter during their conversations.

About half an hour later, the three ladies reluctantly said goodbye to Dumbledore.

Under Scott's admiring gaze, Dumbledore sat back down beside him.

"The local residents remained skeptical of the man's account."

He told Scott the information he had gathered.

"They may not believe that there is really a curse over the Stenes Standing Stone, but out of caution, they try not to get close to it on June 21st."

"Thank you, Professor."

Scott first thanked him.

“This might be a good thing,” he said. “This way, I won’t have to worry about anyone interfering with my operations.”

As evening approached, the old man and the young man had dinner in town and then checked into a hotel.

After that, Scott went to bed early.

When he woke up again, it was 3 a.m. on June 21.

After a quick wash, as he stepped out of his hotel room, Dumbledore was already standing in the hallway.

"Do you need me to give you a ride?" Dumbledore asked with a smile.

Scott said, “Oh, thank you, of course, Professor. Although I have mastered Apparition, I don’t want the Ministry of Magic to send me a warning letter.”

Dumbledore reached out his hand, letting Scott grasp his wrist, and Apparated him to the vicinity of Stennes Standing Stone.

They were greeted by the sea breeze and the sound of the waves.

The moon hangs high above the sea, casting shimmering colors on the deep surface.

The rocks, each with a unique posture, stand silently on this headland, like silent giants.

"Isn't the night view beautiful?"

Dumbledore stood with his hands behind his back, admiring the tranquil night scene before him.

Scott looked at his aged back and felt a little guilty.

He simply sat down on the ground and said to the old principal, "Actually, you don't need to take such good care of me."

"Oh, please don't say that, Scott."

Dumbledore shook his head.

“It’s not just you; I would help any student in this situation in the same way.”

Scott said from the bottom of his heart, "So, you are a good principal."

But Dumbledore shook his head again.

"As the principal, I often feel that I haven't done a very successful job."

He said with a sigh.

“I am well aware that I have not been able to devote all my energy to being a good principal.”

“Oh, Minerva helped me a lot; she cares about the school and the students more than I do.”

Scott gazed at the sea under the moonlight.

"So you are not just the headmaster, but also the greatest wizard of this century, as recognized by everyone."

Hearing him say that, Dumbledore couldn't help but laugh.

It wasn't a triumphant laugh, but a carefree one.

"Do you agree with such praise, Scott? I'd like to hear your thoughts. I'm sure you've heard and seen a lot about me."

Scott smiled too.

He thought for a moment and then said, "You have indeed devoted yourself to the magical world and done a lot, even things that were not originally your responsibility."

“But I don’t think I did a very good job,” Dumbledore said. “If I were as great as everyone says, many of the regrettable things in the past would not have happened.”

Scott felt that the old principal's way of life was exhausting.

No wonder he once said that death is actually like finally going to bed after a long day.

The words "finally" and "rest" already reveal his attitude.

Thinking about all this, Scott added, "That's what I think..."

Dumbledore turned to look at him.

Scott continued, "People think you're great, and you've taken on their expectations of you without ever thinking that it's not just your responsibility. Even if you didn't do it perfectly, you're still great."

Neither Grindelwald nor Voldemort were responsibilities that Dumbledore was obligated to shoulder. He stepped forward when people expected him to solve the problem.

Scott understood that stepping forward to shoulder such expectations required great courage, but Dumbledore never backed down.

No one can criticize such an elderly person.

So what if it's not perfect?

He was just a wizard.

Although powerful, it is not a god.

"Thank you for the compliment, Scott."

Dumbledore turned around and sat down on the grass like Scott.

"If it were you, what would you choose?" he asked curiously.

Scott shook his head immediately.

“I can’t be a savior, nor can I be a leader,” he said frankly. “Compared to you, I’m much more selfish.”

He knew himself well; he thought more about his own well-being and rarely had the desire to benefit the world.

Dumbledore was not disappointed.

He simply said meaningfully, "Oh, Scott, you can't predict what you'll choose until the moment you have to make that choice."

“…Maybe,” Scott said.

But he was certain that he could never become someone like Dumbledore.

Dumbledore replied, "Do you remember when you heard that Voldemort's men were attacking Hogwarts, you returned to the school without hesitation and actively participated in the battle?"

Scott thought back for a moment.

Indeed, his first reaction upon receiving Professor Flitwick's message was to go back.

“I’m worried about my friends,” he said. “But if it weren’t Hogwarts being besieged, I probably wouldn’t take action.”

“That’s enough,” Dumbledore said. “That’s enough.”

Hearing him repeat the same sentence twice, Scott looked over in confusion.

Under the moonlight, Dumbledore's beard and hair seemed to radiate a soft white glow.

Behind his crescent-shaped glasses, his deep blue eyes looked stunningly bright.

He didn't explain anything, he just said to Scott, "You are not me, Scott, and I don't expect my students to become the next me. You just need to be yourself."

As he spoke, he stood up again.

Accompanied by a melodious cry, a fiery red phoenix emerged from its hiding place and landed on his shoulder.

“You’re right about one thing, Scott.”

He reached out and touched Fox's magnificent wings.

"This is your adventure."

Scott also stood up.

"Therefore, I will not rashly participate in your actions, but will observe from the sidelines."

Dumbledore added.

"But please remember, if I determine that you are in danger, I will take you away from here immediately..."

After he finished speaking, his figure, along with Fox standing on his shoulder, slowly became transparent in the moonlight until they disappeared.

"Thank you, Professor."

Scott said loudly and sat down again.

He took off his backpack, pulled out his notebook, and compared it with the documents he had copied to find the location where the destroyed "Odin Stone" had once been.

Then he got up and walked to the area where the "Odin Stone" had existed, and examined it carefully.