15

Chapter 15: Are You Playing Tricks on Me? I'll Kill You with My Sword!

The Slytherin freshmen regarded Augustus with skeptical eyes.

Augustus smirked inwardly.

You can't help it now, can you?

Don't worry, things will get much worse for you!

Setting aside his grudge against Dumbledore, Augustus didn't harbor a particularly negative view of the headmaster.

After all, this old man had dedicated his life to maintaining peace in the wizarding world.

Even if he could be overly rigid at times and insisted on everyone adhering to his ideas, his intentions were good.

Unlike some hypocrites who claim to sacrifice everything but run away at the first sign of danger, Dumbledore's selflessness extended to his own life as well.

It's a pity that his ideas might not always be correct.

Imposing one's own beliefs on others is inherently flawed.

"Mr. Grindelwald, if you don't want to stand there like a troll, you'd better follow me immediately," Snape's impatient voice cut through the silence.

Augustus's lips curled up into a faint smile. "Professor Snape, please lead the way."

"Hmph!" Snape snorted disdainfully and guided Augustus to the headmaster's office on the eighth floor.

Augustus chose not to speak unnecessarily along the way.

Snape was not as easily deceived as Harry.

A person capable of being a double agent was not someone to provoke lightly!

Making careless remarks might raise his suspicions.

Fortunately, Snape was not a talkative person. The two made their way to the eighth floor in silence, climbing the griffin-shaped spiral staircase.

"Sizzle honey candy!"

The stone guardian opened the door, and the two entered the headmaster's office.

Inside, there were portraits of all the past headmasters and a vast collection of books.

A phoenix with mixed-colored feathers perched on a sycamore wood stand, preening its feathers with its beak.

Dumbledore looked slightly dazed upon seeing Augustus, but quickly regained his composure and addressed Snape.

"Excuse me, Severus."

"Hehe, I wish the headmaster would indulge in fewer sweets, so our poor potions professor wouldn't have to work so hard," Snape remarked sarcastically upon seeing the candies on the table.

"Be considerate, Severus. This is the only hobby of a centenarian," Dumbledore replied with a smile and turned to Augustus.

"Mr. Grindelwald, would you like some lemon sherbet? Or perhaps a pile of cockroaches?"

"No, thank you, Headmaster."

"Perhaps you should heed Professor Snape's advice. Eating too much sugar at night is truly bad for your teeth."

"Especially for a centenarian," Augustus added, his tone laced with a hint of sarcasm.

Augustus, with his advanced mental shielding, showed little fear of Dumbledore.

If Voldemort had been across from him, he might have had to consider his escape options.

Dumbledore's bluster was far easier to handle than the erratic behavior of a madman.

Even if this old man was terrifyingly powerful!

"Severus, if you have nothing else, you may go to the Slytherin common room now."

"According to Slytherin tradition, the election for the head of house is about to begin."

Augustus's heart sank.

Dumbledore had clearly summoned him to the headmaster's office to ensure he missed the opportunity to compete for the position of head of house!

Failing to become the head of house would significantly diminish his standing within Slytherin.

By supporting this headmaster, Augustus could also train someone to compete against him.

Well done, Dumbledore!

Just a simple maneuver, and multiple layers of calculations!

Snape turned and left without further ado.

"Mr. Grindelwald, please have a seat," Dumbledore said calmly.

"What would you like to drink? How about some English black tea?"

"Yes, thank you, Headmaster," Augustus replied with a smile.

"I envy you for being able to enjoy life so freely, unlike my father."

"He should be about your age and lives alone in a high tower."

"No one talks to him, he eats simple meals daily, and spends his days staring blankly at a letter in his hand."

"I once asked him why he never received a reply. He didn't say anything and just gazed into the distance in silence."

"If only he could enjoy life as you do."

"Don't you agree, Headmaster?"

Damn, are you playing these tricks on me?

I'll deal with you severely!

Augustus's gaze remained fixed on Dumbledore.

Dumbledore appeared calm, but his slightly trembling hands betrayed his inner turmoil.

"I really don't understand why my father continued sending letters, knowing he'd never receive a response."

"Come to think of it, who would care for an old man like him?"

Augustus's feigned sympathy pushed Dumbledore to the edge of his composure.

He didn't even notice the hot tea spilling from his cup onto his hand!

As he observed Dumbledore's eyes growing red, Augustus bit his lip to stifle his laughter.

It was Dumbledore who had set goals with Augustus's father.

And then?

Dumbledore simply abandoned him to fight alone!

And not only that, but for some misguided sense of love, he even violated the blood pact and fought Augustus's father!

Stepping over his corpse to become the greatest wizard of this century!

My father languishes in Nurmengard while Dumbledore enjoys his life.

Eating honey candies and singing songs every day!

Is there no justice? Is there no law?

Dumbledore was at a loss for words, perhaps more accurately, he was afraid to speak.

Augustus remained silent, observing the shifting expressions on Dumbledore's face—nostalgia, regret, and remorse.

After nearly ten minutes, Dumbledore pulled himself together and regarded Augustus with increasingly complex emotions.

"As one grows older, one inevitably reflects on past events."

"Sorry to have kept you waiting."

"It's alright, Headmaster. Only those who have meaningful experiences to recall will have past events to ponder."

Augustus's words cut deeply, each one more poignant than the last!

"You haven't yet told me why you called me here," Augustus prompted.

Dumbledore, momentarily stunned by Augustus's pointed remarks, had forgotten his initial purpose.

He was silent for a moment!

At that instant, there was a disturbance outside the door.

Professor Snape, who had just departed, returned.

"What's wrong, Severus?" Dumbledore asked.

"You should ask Mr. Grindelwald," Snape replied.

"Mr. Malfoy and others reported that, apart from Mr. Grindelwald, the first-year Slytherin students refuse to obey anyone."

Dumbledore finally recalled the reason for summoning Augustus.

However, he hadn't anticipated Augustus's reputation within Slytherin to be so influential.

His already-wrinkled forehead furrowed deeply in concern…