"Professor Dumbledore, what season is it now?"
"Summer solstice, I believe."
"Then, do you think it will snow at Hogwarts tomorrow?"
"From a natural standpoint, I think that's highly unlikely."
Dumbledore stood by the window, his figure outlined by the warm sunlight. Behind his half-moon glasses, his gaze passed through the clear glass, looking into the vast blue sky beyond.
At this moment, the sunlight poured down without restraint, and the air temperature was gradually rising.
—After tomorrow's year-end banquet, the students would begin enjoying their summer vacation. The chance of snowfall at this time of year was close to zero.
Hearing this, Dylan's lips curled into a slight smile.
"Exactly. Tomorrow's temperature will be even higher, so how could it possibly snow?"
Dylan cast a fleeting glance at Dumbledore's back, though his gaze was unfocused.
"But doesn't this count as us predicting the future?"
"Oh? That's an interesting perspective."
A trace of surprise flickered in Dumbledore's eyes.
Although he had never personally taught Dylan, he had heard plenty about him—whether it was Severus' occasional bickering or Minerva's discussions, Dumbledore had learned much about this young wizard.
In truth, he had wanted to have a proper conversation with Dylan for quite some time.
The first time Hagrid came to ask for his help was simply so the young wizard could keep a Shadowwing. That alone had piqued Dumbledore's curiosity.
He even asked Hagrid to pass along a message, inviting Dylan to visit him when he had time.
—Not to demand gratitude, but at least a word of acknowledgment, right?
Yet, the young wizard had entirely dismissed him. The moment he received the permit to keep the Shadowwing, he completely forgot about the headmaster who had helped him.
Dumbledore found this neither offensive nor upsetting—just unexpected and intriguing. After all, he had never encountered a student who was entirely indifferent after receiving his help.
—Most young wizards would be somewhat nervous, like a flock of timid quails, coming to thank him in person.
In fact, hardly any students even had the chance to step into his office.
But Dumbledore wasn't the type to take offense.
As time passed, he heard even more about Dylan.
The young wizard had defeated a troll on his own—a feat that was difficult for Dumbledore to comprehend.
He also dedicated himself to studying, persistently seeking private lessons from nearly every professor, and earning glowing reviews from all of them.
—Even Severus was willing to dedicate a significant portion of his time each week to mentoring the boy.
This only deepened Dumbledore's curiosity about Dylan.
In the past, due to his negligence, Hogwarts had nurtured a Dark Lord.
Now, another exceptionally talented young wizard had emerged, and Dumbledore was determined to ensure that he did not follow in Tom's footsteps.
—Even though he had already used the Mirror of Erised to glimpse Dylan's heart.
And even though he had further confirmed, through the Philosopher's Stone, that Dylan was unlikely to turn into another Tom Riddle.
He still felt the urge to speak with the young wizard face to face.
He firmly believed that words had the power to influence a person's thoughts.
"Go on," Dumbledore said kindly, looking at Dylan.
Dylan did not hold back. "Understanding what it means to predict the future is quite simple."
"For example, we can tell from the morning glow whether it will rain today. We can also observe dense clouds and predict not only rain but possibly a storm."
"This follows the objective laws of nature. By acquiring information and understanding these laws, we naturally gain the ability to foresee the future."
"In this sense, divination is just another way—using one's talent and magical power—to extract otherwise imperceptible information and predict possible outcomes."
Dylan shared his fundamental understanding of divination with Dumbledore.
"In fact, Professor, in the Muggle world, people who have no magic at all and know nothing of the arcane can still use their own methods to make predictions."
"To put it bluntly, while Muggles are completely ignorant of magic, everyone has their own strengths."
"They may not wield magic, but they still practice divination—weather forecasting, for example."
Dumbledore chuckled, his chest shaking with amusement.
"So, is death something that everyone can foresee?"
Dylan pressed his lips together, smiling. "Of course."
"I must admit, Dylan, your perspective is quite unique."
Dumbledore left the window and walked toward a bookshelf filled with magical artifacts, gently running his fingers over an ancient, worn book.
"I've never truly believed in divination. I don't trust tea leaves, nor do I believe those crystal balls, which look like mere props, can dictate a person's fate."
"To me, divination is nothing more than using known information to infer the future. Your explanation aligns with my own views."
"However…" Dumbledore paused, retracting his hand from the book. "I also know that divination is real."
This was something he had to admit.
His own life and fate had been shaped by a prophecy—or, rather, a prophecy had significantly influenced him.
"Is it because of your friend?" Dylan asked.
A flicker of nostalgia crossed Dumbledore's eyes before he nodded. "Yes, my former friend."
Dylan nearly twitched at the careful wording.
Such precise phrasing.
Still, he was curious to see if he could get Dumbledore to share anything about Grindelwald.
So he pressed on. "Regarding your… former friend, what did he foresee?"
Dumbledore returned to his seat.
"He foresaw a great trouble—a major conflict between the Muggle world and the wizarding world."
"To prevent this catastrophe, to ensure that wizards would not perish because of it, he devoted his entire life to the cause."
—Even Dumbledore himself had once been captivated by that young man's passionate vision, drawn into the dream, fighting alongside him to make it a reality.
"That sounds like a rather dangerous and difficult prophecy."
"Indeed. He was a natural seer. Sometimes, I wonder if things would have been different had he not been."
Dumbledore sighed but did not intend to delve further into the topic. Instead, he shifted the conversation.
"Dylan, do you believe that the results of divination are always accurate?"
Dylan blinked. "'Always' is too absolute. The accuracy of divination is usually closely related to the talent of the Seer."
"The more talented a Seer is, the more their predictions align with possible future events, making them more accurate."
"Additionally, divination talents vary. Some can see images, others can hear voices, and some can perceive unknown information to speculate about the future…"
At this moment, Dumbledore asked, "What about you? Professor Trelawney mentioned that your divination talent seems to be quite strong."
"I…"
How could Professor Trelawney spout nonsense like that? And right in front of Dumbledore, no less.
Dylan smacked his lips.
But he also understood that this was most likely because Dumbledore had specifically sought out Trelawney to ask about him.
"My talent is rather direct. It allows me to foresee certain fragments of the future without needing to know too many details in advance."
"I've tried changing some thoughts and actions, and the visions of the future shift accordingly."
"Clearly, the future isn't set in stone—at least, not for me."
Dumbledore gave a slight nod. His long white beard made him appear entirely non-threatening, almost inviting people to lower their guard.
However, Dylan remained composed, sitting properly on the bench, responding obediently to Dumbledore's questions.
"So, the future is always changeable, correct?"
"No. Perhaps some futures are destined to be unchangeable—no matter how hard one tries."
Dylan replied, "Some Seers may receive definitive prophecies—prophecies that cannot be altered."
"No matter what you do, whether you strive for change or not, your actions inevitably push events toward the outcome foretold."
Dylan's words made Dumbledore narrow his eyes.
A definitive prophecy, huh?
There was a very fitting example—Tom.
After the prophecy was made all those years ago, Tom chose to believe only half of it, which ultimately led to him becoming nothing more than a fragmented soul.
But that was because Tom chose to act upon the prophecy.
—What if he hadn't chosen to go after Harry back then?
"The prophecy of the future is merely an auxiliary to the present. If you do not believe in a prophecy, then your present actions will naturally remain unaffected by it."
Dylan continued, "For example, I only choose to trust the prophecies I divine myself—after all, who knows if someone else's prophecy is real or fake?"
Dylan chuckled. "For all I know, someone might show up, claiming to be a great Seer, just to deceive me."
Hearing this, Dumbledore chuckled as well.
"You're barely ten years old, yet your thinking is already more mature than that of many adults."
"That might have something to do with my love for books. I read a lot, and I love learning."
Dylan smiled sheepishly before taking the initiative. "I wonder if I could ask you a few questions, Headmaster?"
"Oh, of course."
Dumbledore blinked and straightened up. "I've been the one asking questions this whole time. You certainly deserve the chance to ask me some."
Seeing that Dumbledore had agreed, Dylan figured he might as well go all in.
"I'm interested in studying the Patronus Charm, as well as the Fidelius Charm. Recently, Professor Snape has been teaching me Occlumency, which has made me even more curious about the Fidelius Charm's effects."
"It seems your studies of Occlumency and Legilimency are progressing well."
Dumbledore's lips curled into a small smile as he gazed directly at Dylan.
However, Dylan did not take the bait. He simply stared at his own shoes.
Such a cautious little wizard.
Dumbledore spoke again. "Both of these spells are well within your capabilities to learn now, and I would be more than happy to teach you."
"First, the Fidelius Charm—if you wish to learn it, you must understand who is truly worthy of being entrusted with your deepest secrets."
"This is an exceptionally advanced and intricate defensive charm. It allows a secret to be completely hidden within the heart of a designated Secret-Keeper."
"Once the charm is cast successfully, unless the Secret-Keeper willingly divulges the secret, no form of magic can uncover it."
Dumbledore's voice was rich and steady, carrying a magnetic quality like the chime of an ancient bell.
"Imagine, Dylan, that you have a secret you cherish above all else and want no one to discover."
"With the Fidelius Charm, you can lock that secret away in an invisible vault, with the Secret-Keeper being the only one holding the key."
Dumbledore paused slightly, his gaze deepening, his tone slowing.
"Years ago, the Order of the Phoenix used the Fidelius Charm to protect Harry's whereabouts."
"Tom—Voldemort—and his followers, even when they were close, could neither find the house nor harm those inside."
Dylan blinked, surprised that Dumbledore would bring up events from back then.
Even though those events weren't exactly secrets—after all, those who were meant to die had died, and those who were meant to flee had fled—he still found it unexpected for Dumbledore to discuss them with a mere first-year student.
He followed up on Dumbledore's words, "Then if the Secret-Keeper were to betray the secret, would it mean that…"
Dumbledore let out a soft sigh, a trace of regret flashing across his expression.
"Yes. If the Secret-Keeper betrays the trust placed in them, the charm's protection would instantly collapse, and the secret would be completely exposed."
"This is why choosing a Secret-Keeper must be done with extreme caution. It is not just a matter of trust—it is the very foundation of the magic itself."
Dylan scratched his head and leaned slightly forward in his chair. "Headmaster, I have another question."
"Go ahead."
"Must the Secret-Keeper be a person?"
Dumbledore was momentarily taken aback, then his lips curved into a warm, kind smile.
He folded his hands in front of him, resting his chin on them.
"That is a very interesting question… Normally, an ordinary wizard wouldn't attempt to cast the Fidelius Charm on anything other than a living person."
Dylan: (.)
Who was he insulting in such a roundabout way?
Was he implying that his thoughts weren't normal?
Thought guides action, and theory leads practice!.
**If you don't first dare to imagine boldly, how can you break free from the reins of thought and cross the fence in front of you?**
"You old Dumbledore!"
A fleeting thought passed through Dylan's mind, but he didn't dare dwell on it too much.
If Dumbledore directly caught those stray thoughts, that would be a disaster.
"Professor, why is that?" Dylan put on an innocent expression.
Dumbledore pondered for a moment. "I'm not sure if you'll understand if I explain it in a more complex way..."
"Please go ahead." Dylan straightened up.
What a joke—whenever he discussed Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall, he could sometimes leave her speechless.
—Especially whenever he brought up the topic of anomalous transformations.
You old Dumbledore, how profound can your explanation really be?
Are you going to speak in riddles? Or is it astronomy?
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow and shrugged.
"Alright. Because humans possess complex thoughts and strong willpower, the fundamental prerequisite for successfully establishing a powerful Fidelius Charm is that the Secret-Keeper must be able to understand and safeguard the secret."
"Only then can a stable magical link be formed between the caster and the Secret-Keeper."
Dylan stroked his chin. "So what you're saying, Professor, is that if the Secret-Keeper doesn't actually understand the secret I'm entrusting to them, or even if they do understand it but don't take it seriously, they might accidentally reveal it?"
He suddenly thought of Hagrid.
—Absolutely not someone fit to be a Secret-Keeper.
Choosing Hagrid would be worse than choosing a magical creature.
Dumbledore nodded. "Exactly. If you choose a magical creature, even if it understands the secret, its mind can still be easily invaded by others."
"In that case, your secret wouldn't just be exposed—it would become the most obvious thing in the world."
At this point, Dumbledore paused and placed his hand on the table, lightly tapping his fingers against the surface.
"Of course, if you can find a magical creature with enough intelligence to communicate with you effectively and strong enough to bear the burden of keeping a secret—then, in theory, it could serve as a Secret-Keeper."
"I see." Dylan nodded slightly. "Then… what about the Patronus Charm?"
Dumbledore's voice flowed like a gentle stream, soothing and clear as it reached Dylan's ears.
"The Patronus Charm is an extremely special and highly defensive spell. It is also one of our most powerful weapons against darkness."
With a light wave of his wand, a silver phoenix emerged from Dumbledore's wand tip and soared gracefully around the room.
Dylan's eyes widened. He completely forgot about feigning indifference and stared at it intently.
"It allows you to summon a guardian spirit, one formed by your happiest memories and strongest willpower."
"This guardian can help you fend off Dementors and other dark creatures, as well as counteract certain dark magics."
"—You know what Dementors are, don't you? They're creatures that feed on people's happiness and hope. Their presence plunges the surrounding world into endless darkness and despair."
"But when you summon a Patronus, it shines like a beacon, driving away the darkness and giving you strength and protection."
"The incantation itself is not difficult to learn—the key is in gathering your joy, love, and hope."
"Think of the moments that made you truly happy—whether it was the warmth of time spent with family, the genuine friendships you've built, or the deep sense of accomplishment after overcoming a challenge."
"When you cast the spell, you must pour all your focus and emotions into it. Your magic will resonate with those cherished memories, allowing you to summon your Patronus."
Dumbledore raised his hand, gently touching the silver phoenix.
"Each person's Patronus is unique. Its form reflects your personality, inner nature, and deepest desires."
Dylan nodded.
He had some understanding of the Fidelius Charm and the Patronus Charm, but his grasp of them was not deep, which had slowed his progress in self-study.
Thanks to Dumbledore's detailed explanation, he had gained valuable insights.
"No need to rush into trying it. You can take your time and practice later," Dumbledore said with a smile.
"Understood, Professor."
(End of Chapter)