62 51.4 Defense Club

In the meanwhile, Kaiser was chatting merrily with his friends, but he was quite aware of the stare in the back of his head. He knew this wouldn't be as easy as the others believed it would be, thanks to his history with the headmaster, but he honestly hoped the headmaster wouldn't give them any difficulties.

And so, the hours passed, and it was time to meet the most dangerous old man in the UK. He met Cedric in the Great Hall, before heading together to the headmaster's office. He noticed that Cedric was trembling for a bit, in contrast to his usual confident self.

"Having second thoughts?" Kaiser smirked.

"What?" Cedric turned to him with a frown. "No, I'm just nervous. You know, we're about to meet Dumbledore… The Albus Dumbledore!"

"It's no big deal! Come on, where is your Gryffindor courage!" Kaiser said cheerfully.

"I'm a Hufflepuff!" Cedric huffed.

"You mean a wimp?"

"Hey! That's not nice."

"Sorry just kidding. Relax, it's just Albus Dumbledore, the man who singlehandedly defeated the worse dark lord of all the times, Gellert Grindelwald, and the man child Tom Riddle. No big deal." Kaiser shrugged, but he was internally laughing.

"Yeah, look how relaxed I am now." Cedric said, sarcasm seeping through his voice. Kaiser couldn't stop himself and burst into laughter, but that still seemed to calm the Hufflepuff for a bit.

They soon arrived in front of the stairwell gargoyle, where they were expected to say the password to the headmaster's office. Before Cedric could say anything, Kaiser beat him to it.

"Candy something!" He cried out. Surprisingly, it seemed to trigger the mechanism, which prompted Cedric to look at him incredulously, as if he grew two more heads, since he knew the password was 'Acid Pops'.

"wHoT?" Kaiser said unconvincingly. "He likes candy, so that's gotta be the password." He shrugged, ignoring his friend's shock, who seemed to gather his wits momentarily, archiving the question for later, which Kaiser would never give an honest answer to, obviously.

Arriving in front of the headmaster's door, they knocked before they heard: "Enter." Promting them to do so.

"Good evening, headmaster." They both echoed.

"Please, take a seat." He gestured for them, before they were properly installed on the comfortable chairs. "How my I be of assistance?" Dumbledore said in a approachable tone, as he seemed to understand that Cedric was having difficulties with his presence.

"Professor Dumbledore," Cedric took the lead, as he should. "We wanted to make a student's club, but according to the school rules, we need to get the headmaster's approval."

"Oh." Albus nodded. "And have you found a teacher that would agree to mentor you?"

"Professor Flitwick said he would as long as we could get your permission." Cedric answered, but Dumbledore didn't really need to hear him say it. He was already having his way with his mind, digging up every answer as they came to make sure he didn't lie. Not that he expected him to, but it doesn't hurt to make sure, he believed. It was a habit he picked up along the way.

"Very well." Albus said with a smile. "I will require more information about this club of yours, before I can agree, however." And as soon as Cedric began to think of his answer, a particular memory of their first meeting made its way to the front of his mind, which only decreased the difficulty of reading it. Even though Cedric was an Occlumens, it was no use before the old wizard, who spent more than a hundred years studying magic. Cedric began telling him about the details of their club, their goals, while keeping away the fact that it was to combat death eaters, as he doubted the headmaster would appreciate that particular fact, but it was no use. The headmaster was already aware of everything that had been said in their meeting, so he knew their real goals.

Kaiser was obviously aware of the headmaster's actions, but he didn't say anything, nor did he warn Cedric about it. He wanted the headmaster to see, not only because it would raise suspicions if Cedric avoided eye-contact, but also because he needed to display sincerity if he wanted a chance with the old goat. Dumbledore waited until they were both done with their presentation.

"That is very impressive, and thoughtful of you, to wish to help your fellow students, and teach them the noble art of dueling." The headmaster praised them with a smile. "Take fifty points to Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw." Cedric's chest puffed up in pride, while Kaiser was looking at the headmaster passively, a detail that did not escape the latter.

"Alas…" the headmaster sighed heavily. "To be frank with you, I want nothing but to give you my approval, but I am afraid it isn't as simple as that."

"What do you mean professor?" Cedric asked hesitantly.

"You remember the Dueling Club we had two years ago, don't you, Mr. Cedric?" at his nod, the headmaster said: "You see, the reason it was disbanded was because the board of governor requested it. They argued that kind of club took too much of the students' time, in addition to their already heavily loaded schedules, which prevented them from spending more time on themselves and enjoying their teenage years."

'Wow…' Kaiser was impressed by the headmaster's ability to bullshit, as he knew for a fact that wasn't the real reason. Flitwick could not focus on his research and the dueling club at the same time, so he had to choose one of them. Needless to say, the headmaster made that lie on the spot.

"Therefore, even if I agree, it wouldn't take long for them to request its disbandment again. Besides, groups that teach fighting and dueling must always be headed by a teacher, otherwise the ministry might believe we are building an army, especially in our times where tensions are high."

"I see…" Cedric said dejectedly. They both bid the headmaster goodbye, before walking away in silence. Midway, Kaiser stopped and looked at his friend: "Go ahead. I still need to have a chat with the headmaster."

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't worry about it. Just go ahead, I'll catch up with you later." Kaiser walked back to calmly to the headmaster's office, as he wasn't surprised by the outcome. But he wouldn't give up so easily. He knocked on the door again, before entering.

"What is the matter, Mr. Lunar?" the headmaster looked at him from above his spectacles.

"I wish to know the real reason why you refused our request, headmaster."

"I truly wish I could help, Mr. Lunar, but my hands are tied on this one. The boa-"

"We both know that isn't true, professor." Kaiser interrupted him. "Please, do not insult my intelligence." The headmaster studied Kaiser closely, thinking about what to say to him.

"I do not know what you are expecting of this meeting, Mr. Lunar, but I already gave you my verdict, and it was final." Albus said with steel in his voice, leaving no rooms for arguments in the matter.

"If my membership disturbs you that much, professor, I don't mind abstaining from joining."

"I am afraid to break it to you, Mr. Lunar, but the world doesn't revolve around you."

"Clearly." Kaiser looked at the headmaster intently before saying. "You distrust of me is unfounded, headmaster. We are both working towards the same goal, it is merely our methods that differ."

"Unfounded, Mr. Lunar?" Albus looked at him, his calm facade never dropping. "How do you expect me to trust someone who could perform the killing curse as a second year? Someone who killed three men, yet felt no remorse for it." Albus knew of his emancipation, and as such, was now treating him as an adult. He would not sugarcoat his words for him.

Kaiser did not appreciate his last sentence. Why on earth would he feel remorse for ridding the world of its scum, and in self-defense, no less! But his occlumency proved the best tool in his arsenal.

"That's hardly fair, professor. I'm sure you've done worse when you were around my age." Kaiser knew it was petty of him to bring back the headmaster's greatest regret, but it still felt good to knock the man off his high horse. But it seemed to be wrong thing to say to one of the most powerful wizards alive, as he noticed the shift in the air immediately.

"If that is all you have to say, Mr. Lunar, you may leave now." Kaiser looked at the headmaster's cold face one last time before turning around and leaving. But as he opened the door to the exit, he met professor McGonagall on her way to the headmaster's office.

"Hello professor." He greeted her.

"Good evening, Mr. Lunar." She smiled at one of her favorite students. "I hope you success with this new club of yours, maybe I could come to one of your meetings and teach you a trick or two."

"Err… professor…" Kaiser said 'hesitantly'. "It is regrettable that the headmaster's hands seem to be tied on this matter, and could not give us the green light."

"I see…" McGonagall frowned, as she was wondering what reason the headmaster could have.

"Good day to you, professor." Kaiser said before leaving.

McGonagall approached the headmaster's desk calmly, but she was anything but calm. In fact, she was seething inside, as she started to understand what this was about.

"What is the meaning of this, Albus?"