23 Chapter 023 - Visit and Stalemate

In the Scottish highlands, the most common breakfast consisted of bread, boiled potatoes, and baked beans. A wealthier family might add on a few pieces of bacon and a bowl of salad.

But because of the disastrous culinary skills passed on in the British Isles, the taste usually wasn't that great. At least for Alina, whose tastes had been influenced in her previous life by the show 'A Bite of China,' the majority of the foods all had the same grade: Not poisonous, can fill the stomach.

Ever since Alina had been placed in charge of the orphanage's finances and meals, the breakfast the children enjoyed could be considered quite rich and refined.

Of course, this was only relatively speaking.

—Honeyed toast, mashed potatoes, fried eggs, and occasionally a bowl of fish from Loch Lomond stewed until the broth turned white (Replaced temporarily last week with a hot bowl of Scottish Round-Faced Chicken)—

In Benitez's view, this was the most luxurious meal the world could provide.

Thus, when he heard Dumbledore's voice outside, Benitez immediately shook his head and began to refuse.

"There's no need. Thank you for your kindness, but our breakfast is much better than you can...sss~."

Before he could finish, he suddenly inhaled and made a strange sound.

"Of course, we don't mind! We'll leave it up to you, Professor Dumbledore."

Alina slowly withdrew the fingers that had just given Benitez a sharp pinch on the waist and sweetly smiled.

Hogwarts, with its several hundred house-elves, had all other schools of the same era soundly beaten when it came to basic meals.

Whether it was the type of cuisine, the cooking style, or the level of refinement, they were all many times more sumptuous and extravagant than the small family breakfasts she made.

Since the school's scholarship for orphans had been refused by a certain stubborn man, Alina would at least take advantage of a free breakfast.

"But, Professor Dumbledore, you don't seem to have brought anything to eat with you?"

The silver-haired girl jumped out of the kitchen, saw the empty-handed old wizard, and instantly creased her brows in confusion.

Although she didn't know exactly how far Luss was from Hogwarts, Alina was certain that it was unrealistic for Dumbledore to use the Summoning Charm to fetch food.

"I'm also powerless when it comes to producing food out of nowhere. Someone else will be preparing breakfast."

Dumbledore smiled and then lightly waved his wand. Alina vaguely saw a translucent ripple slice through the air.

A moment later, a house-elf, with its large eyes and large ears, appeared in front of the kitchen.

"Greetings, Miss Alina. It is a pleasure to see you again. House-elf Boli is happy to serve."

It was the same house-elf who had let Alina on her tour of Hogwarts yesterday afternoon.

"Oh my God, is this a legendary elf? I didn't think they existed!"

Benitez happened to be walking out of the kitchen at this time, and he now stared in shock at Boli.

Upon hearing the voice behind her, Alina suddenly realized that this certainly wasn't Hogwarts. This was just an ordinary orphanage in the little town of Luss.

"Oh my God, Professor Dumbledore, you're not worried about the International Statute of Secrecy? There are ordinary people everywhere around this place..."

Alina's pupils constricted, and she immediately turned around and began to push the big man behind her back into the kitchen.

"Of course, there's no need to worry. We've always had a set procedure for this kind of situation."

Dumbledore smiled and waved his hand, playing around with his wand as he casually replied.

"Set...procedure?! You're saying..."

The silver-haired girl thought for a few moments, and then she stood in front of Benitez, the brand on her left-hand brightening. Like a leopardess, she stared at Dumbledore's wand.

"Be serious! I won't permit you to use the Memory Charm on him."

Dumbledore looked at the silver girl with some interest. He suddenly found something to be happy about.

Compared to Riddle and Grindelwald, the similarly orphaned Alina Kaslana seemed to have quite a few weaknesses, such as her obsession with food and her concern for her family.

In Dumbledore's view, these things that appeared like weaknesses to Grindelwald and Riddle were often one's strongest support when trying to resist the darker side of magic.

"Very good. It seems like you have quite the understanding of the Magic World. You even know the wizard's common response to this situation."

Dumbledore gave an approving nod, his lips curling as a naughty look appeared in his eyes. He casually pointed his wand in front of him and spoke in a leisurely tone.

"If I said that I was going to use the Memory Charm now, do you think that you could block it? Come on. Try and stop me."

Although his expression was very relaxed, Dumbledore had already gathered the magic in his body and was prepared for any possible reaction from Alina.

His eyes were locked onto the half-Veela girl's face, very curious to see how she would react under intense pressure.

"..."

Alina looked up, her eyes meeting the tip of Dumbledore's wand, and she awkwardly swallowed.

She helplessly opened her mouth, tragically realizing that no matter how eloquent or smart she was, her skills rested on the prerequisite that her opponent did not use violence.

In other words, her previous actions had been rather risky. For certain extremely powerful wizards, the laws of the Magic World did not apply. Those people could do as they wished...

A phrase suddenly appeared in Alina's mind: Only magic can defeat magic.

When a witch or wizard was unreasonable, the current Muggle methods, like money, guns, or the mathematical sciences, all became ineffective.

"Honored Professor Dumbledore, do as you please."

Alina took a silent glance at Dumbledore before closing her eyes, taking in a deep breath, and hiding her left hand behind her back. Her voice was frighteningly calm.

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, pointed his wan at Alina, and lightly poked it at the trembling girl.

Whoomp!

A dazzling bouquet erupted from the tip of the wand.

"There's no need to worry. The era where the Memory Charm was required to be used on all Muggles is long gone. You don't think I would dare to ignore the laws of the Ministry of Magic, do you?"

Dumbledore comically shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.

"In 1945, the Ministry of Magic revised the International Statute of Secrecy. If a parent, spouse, or child is a witch or wizard, the secret does not need to be kept from their families. Given that Mister Benitez is your guardian, there's no need to keep things secret from him."

As Dumbledore spoke, he slowly extended a hand to rub the stubborn girl's head out of habit. But a large hand blocked his way.

"If you rub this child's head too much, she won't grow any taller. Besides, her hair was just washed last night."

Benitez pulled Alina to his side, and courteously nodded. He then looked at the house-elf.

"So, in other words, this Boli...Sir, how long will it take for this Hogwarts breakfast to arrive? In about half an hour, the children will be up."

"You may just call me Boli. The breakfast is already done."

Boli elegantly bowed, then he extended his long and slender fingers and snapped.

A clean white table cloth appeared on the wooden table in the dining room next to the kitchen, and the porcelain saucers and plates stuffed with food began to appear in an orderly manner.

Milk, tea, coffee, pumpkin juice, orange juice, porridge, oatmeal, sugar, salt, butter, cornflakes, toast, bread, various kinds of jam, ketchup, mayonnaise, fried eggs, salted herring, ham, smoked bacon, sausages, smoked fish, pickled salmon, fried tomatoes...

In the blink of an eye, the orphanage's simple dining room became a miniature version of Hogwarts' dining hall.

"Thank you, Boli."

Dumbledore smiled and gave the nod.

"It is my honor to serve Mister Dumbledore. I hope that everyone enjoys the meal."

Boli said in his sharp voice. He gave another deep bow before vanishing with a snap of his fingers.