Chapter 159: Dumbledore’s Betrayal
The orange part even had a texture that suggested liquid flowing within, as if the horn were still alive and ready to inject explosive fluid into whatever pierced it!
As for the hide, it was the opposite of the crystallized horn. Compared to fresh Graphorn hide, its color and luster had become much duller, and its texture was softer.
Graphorn hide is a very rare and powerful material.
Its resistance to magic even surpasses dragon hide!
As for whether Newt’s statement that they were worshipped by a certain African tribe for thousands of years had caused other properties to appear, it was impossible to tell with the naked eye and would require further experimentation.
For now, judging by appearance alone, these two items were already precious enough.
Observing the horn and hide in his hands, Vaughn shook his head and said, “Newt didn’t have to do this. They’ve helped me a lot, and this is just me returning the favor, a matter of reciprocity.”
“Newt and Tina are both honest children. They feel your help has gone beyond the ordinary. Only by accepting it can they feel at ease.”
“…Alright!”
Vaughn no longer refused and accepted them.
Neither of them was one to stand on ceremony, so this small interlude was put behind them. Having completed the task Newt had assigned, Dumbledore rested his hands on the railing of the gallery, leaning into the wind that rushed towards him, his eyes narrowing slightly:
“You should know that this trip to North America might be dangerous… no, it will definitely be dangerous. You still decided not to have me accompany you?”
Vaughn glanced at his hands.
On those aged hands, he wore four rings, two on each side. The left pair were simple silver bands in Celtic knot and Celtic cross styles; the former symbolized the connection of life, and the latter was a symbol of the early development of the “Golden Soul” theory in medieval alchemy. The image of the Golden Soul was of a standing person with arms outstretched.
The other two were a black onyx ring and a moonstone ring. Onyx was a symbol of astrology, while moonstone represented magic.
Beyond these, there was nothing Vaughn wished to see.
He withdrew his gaze and looked out at the Black Lake like Dumbledore: “You can’t leave here. Although Tom failed again, no one can guarantee he won’t return to England to cause trouble while you’re away… And the Gaunt Ring, haven’t you resolved the curse on it yet?”
Speaking of which, Dumbledore’s emotions visibly sank. He sighed, “I must say, Tom is one of the most powerful dark wizards I’ve ever known, and the curse on the ring is very troublesome. So far, the only way I’ve found to remove it is to wear the Gaunt Ring.”
But doing so would transfer the curse to the wearer of the ring.
Vaughn could do nothing about it. “What do you plan to do?”
“Don’t worry, dear.”
Always optimistic, Old Dumbledore quickly regained his cheerful mood. He winked at Vaughn and said with a smile, “I’m no match for Tom, but someone else is. If you truly don’t need my company, I’ll have to trouble him.”
A dark wizard who could contend with Voldemort?
Without much thought, Vaughn asked, “Grindelwald?”
“…”
The air suddenly became still. The surge of immense magical power affected reality.
But the feeling quickly dissipated. Dumbledore’s smile turned to self-mockery. “I’m sorry, child, I forgot your incredible information-gathering abilities… Yes, Gellert is the only one I know who can solve this curse. I’ll have to disturb his peaceful retirement!”
“Will he help you?”
“I don’t know.”
Old Dumbledore shook his head. “I haven’t seen him in a long time. You know, I’ve never been a person of great self-control. I’m afraid I might make a grave mistake…”
As he spoke, he seemed to remember something, looked at Vaughn, and suddenly asked, “Would you like to meet him?”
The wind ruffled his bangs, and Vaughn squinted slightly. Dumbledore couldn’t see his expression clearly and only heard him say faintly:
“Why do you ask?”
“I’ve noticed you have similar ways of thinking in some aspects. Perhaps you’ll find common ground!”
“Are you probing me again?”
Vaughn turned to look at Dumbledore. Beneath his lowered eyelids, his eyes flickered with an unreadable light.
“No, it’s just a feeling,” Old Dumbledore said, shaking his head. “Especially when I saw you giving a speech on stage the day before yesterday… for a moment, you were very much like Gellert, equally impassioned and full of fervor, easily stirring people’s emotions and drawing them onto your chariot, captivated by your charisma.”
“But that’s all on the surface. I’m well aware that, like Gellert, you are a person with a cold, rational heart. What you say, the ideals you propagate, are merely excuses to conceal your true intentions.”
The wind swept through the gallery, whistling.
His fiery red hair fluttered in the wind, echoing the rustling of his robes.
Regarding Dumbledore’s words, Vaughn still smiled slightly and said, “I didn’t expect you to equate me with Grindelwald. Is that a compliment?”
Dumbledore gazed into the distance, silent for a moment before sighing:
“…I suppose it is!”
“Oh? I thought you didn’t approve of Grindelwald.”
“Haha!” Dumbledore laughed heartily, his voice regaining its cheerful tone. “I’ve told you before, dear, I’m not as fond of peace as I appear. You should know that Gellert and I once shared common aspirations… I restrain myself not because I believe I’m wrong, but because I’m selfish. I don’t want to be consumed by my ideals!”
1899, Godric’s Hollow.
Two teenage boys with extraordinary magical talent met. In a dark shed, they swore a blood oath, vowing to destroy the Statute of Secrecy, to grant wizards the power and dignity befitting their strength, and to make those ignorant, disgusting Muggles pay for their ignorance and persecution!
But in the end, their oath remained unfulfilled.
Because one of them betrayed it!
Dumbledore’s azure eyes grew hazy. He gazed at the distant, verdant mountains, his vision unfocused, as if he were seeing not the current scenery but his memories from 100 years ago.
After a long while, he came back to himself:
“Ah—sorry, dear, I drifted off again.”
As he spoke, he pulled a piece of parchment from his wide sleeve and handed it to Vaughn. “Ilvermorny has upgraded the invitation specifications. Now, you will be visiting America as a member of the Wizengamot and the President of the WAC. According to diplomatic protocol, the Wizengamot and the Ministry of Magic will also scale up the delegation and corresponding treatment accordingly.”
Vaughn took the parchment and unfolded it.
It was a document jointly signed by Albus Dumbledore, Chief Wizard of the Wizengamot, and Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic.
In written form, it officially responded to Ilvermorny’s invitation, granting Vaughn Weasley the status of official envoy, and stipulating the size of the delegation with equivalent official status.
The delegation would primarily consist of WAC members, including one Vice President, three Executive Committee Members, and twelve Committee Members.
However, a Ministry of Magic official would also be accompanying them.
Due to diplomatic customs, for such an official envoy, the Ministry of Magic needed to dispatch a five-person Auror Squad to protect the envoy.
The Ministry official would be responsible for managing the Auror Squad and participating in diplomatic activities as the Minister’s representative.
Vaughn looked up. “Who is the Ministry of Magic official?”
Dumbledore chuckled. “Dolores Umbridge!”
“…No wonder the esteemed Mr. Fudge would sign it!” Vaughn retorted. Umbridge was Fudge’s confidante. Given Fudge’s poor character, who was eager for small gains and forgetful of favors, he wouldn’t sign such a document without some benefit.
“What does he want by stuffing Umbridge into the delegation?”
“I’m not sure. That’s something you’ll have to handle yourself. Of course, to avoid any accidents, Amelia will arrange for Kingsley to be part of the Auror Squad. I heard he has a good relationship with you.” Dumbledore spread his hands.
Vaughn rubbed his forehead and continued to scan the document.
Apart from the bad news about Umbridge, the rest was generally good.
First, the Ministry of Magic provided transportation—a Muggle cruise ship, a normally operating Muggle cruise ship. The delegation would travel with other Muggle tourists aboard the same cruise, departing from England, crossing the North Atlantic, and arriving on the East Coast of America in New York.
Seeing Vaughn notice the mode of transport, Dumbledore said, “Traveling with Muggles might cause some inconvenience, but this was a method we deliberately chose.”
Vaughn’s mind raced. “To guard against attacks?”
“Yes,” Dumbledore nodded. “This visit is very dangerous. We can be sure that many powers in North America do not want to see Ilvermorny’s predicament resolved… What dangers you will encounter once you reach America, we can do nothing about, but on the way, we can at least try to help you mitigate potential attacks.”
“Your method is to have a ship full of Muggles stay with me, a ticking time bomb?”
Dumbledore didn’t know what a ticking time bomb was, but he could tell from Vaughn’s tone that it wasn’t a good term.
The old wizard was unfazed. “Dear, don’t worry about those Muggles getting hurt, because our old friend Babajide will also be on the same ship.”
“Hmm?”
“Oh, I forgot to tell you, attending the WAC conference is only part of Babajide’s itinerary. He was already planning to take that cruise to America to carry out the Federation’s investigative mission—to investigate the current enforcement of the Statute of Secrecy in North America and the rumored reappearance of the Purifiers.”
Hearing this, Vaughn was momentarily speechless.
He sighed, “So, you’re using the Federation as a shield for me? Does Ajinbad know about this?”
Dumbledore blinked his eyes:
“I haven’t notified him yet, but I believe when you meet him on the ship, he will be full of surprise and delight!”
More like feeling wronged and shocked!
Vaughn pursed his lips, feeling a bit sorry for Ajinbad.
As for Dumbledore’s plan, it wasn’t anything complex. It was essentially using the lives of a ship full of Muggles and the Federation delegation to force North America’s hand, ensuring they wouldn’t dare attack Vaughn en route.
After all, attacking Vaughn was a minor offense, merely offending Dumbledore and the WAC.
But attacking a ship full of Muggles and the Federation delegation would be a heinous crime.
Deliberately causing a breach of magical secrecy, attacking a delegation, violating the Statute of Secrecy…
The Federation, that colossal entity, would likely use these charges to scour the entire North America!
That was an outcome no power in North America wanted to see!
Therefore, after some thought, Vaughn raised no objection. While he didn’t care whether he was attacked or not, if he could arrive in America safely, he wouldn’t go out of his way to create trouble for himself.
Continuing to read, the next section was the return itinerary.
Unlike the outward journey, the document outlined a relatively packed schedule of visits for the delegation led by Vaughn upon their return.
The destinations included the Ministries of Magic of several major countries in East Asia and West Asia, then crossing the Arabian Sea into the Red Sea, passing through the Suez Canal to visit Egypt, focusing on Middle Eastern and African magical communities represented by Egypt!
Next were the Balkan Peninsula and France.
The visiting tasks seemed busy, but Vaughn had no objections, as this itinerary was originally his proposal.
The newly established WAC urgently needed recognition and for countries to understand that an organization dedicated to solving werewolf problems existed.
Therefore, using visits as an opportunity to tour various countries was undoubtedly the simplest and most effective method.
His only concern was: “Have you calculated how long it will take to complete the entire itinerary?”
“About two months, if all goes smoothly!” Dumbledore replied.
“By then, school will have started.”
“But I think missing a month shouldn’t affect you much.”
Vaughn shrugged. “You said it… I have no objections.”
Dumbledore clapped his hands with delight. “Annoying official business is done, dear. Would you like to visit my office for some candy that makes one forget their troubles and feel cheerful?”
Vaughn politely declined and soon took his leave.
After exiting the range of Hogwarts’ anti-Apparition ward, he looked back at the brightly lit gallery under the night sky, frowning slightly.
He then recalled Dumbledore mentioning Grindelwald to him not long ago.
Perhaps Old Dumbledore was sometimes sentimental and eccentric, but Vaughn never underestimated the wisdom and will of this White Lord.
His bringing up Grindelwald in front of him was likely not a spur-of-the-moment thought, but rather an attempt to probe something, or to contemplate something!
To test his stance on the Statute of Secrecy?
To ascertain if he shared the same aspirations as Grindelwald?
To prevent him, just as they intended to prevent Grindelwald?
Vaughn was unsure!
Old Dumbledore was a very complex person. He was undoubtedly a wizard who was close to Muggles, but at the same time… he was also a wizard who harbored extreme hatred for Muggles.
The aftermath of the witch hunts, the bullying by Muggles, had led to his sister Ariana becoming an Obscurus, and his father, after retaliating against the Muggles who had insulted his daughter, died in Azkaban.
While the causes of the witch hunts might have been multifaceted and not solely attributable to Muggles,
the outcome clearly led to one conclusion—
Dumbledore’s lifelong pain was caused by Muggles!
In the past, Dumbledore chose to abandon his and Grindelwald’s ideals to restrain himself. Would he have the same thoughts decades later?
Would he change?
Suppressing the turmoil and doubts within him, Vaughn turned and walked into the night…
Time passed quickly. August 4th, the day of departure!
“Everyone up, everyone up! Today is an important day for your brother. How can you sleep through it?”
“Fred! George! Tidy up the junk outside your door. If I see it again in a while, I’ll throw it all in the garden!”
“Ron, stop sleeping. Help me pack your brother’s clothes…”
“Oh, my dear Ginny, my darling Hermione, you can sleep a little longer. Yes, no need to rush.”
“Percy! I remember your father gave you a Muggle fountain pen two years ago? I heard Lupin say Vaughn dislikes quill pens. Merlin’s beard—*sob*, I never knew such a thing!”
“Mother, that’s my fountain pen!”
The morning chaos at the Weasley house officially began with Percy’s final, aggrieved, and tearful cry.
Today was the day Vaughn departed for North America.
The entire Burrow was awakened by Molly’s high-pitched voice. She busily prepared clean clothes and various other items for Vaughn, which he might need but likely wouldn’t.
By the time Vaughn finally got up and came downstairs, wearing his robe, his suitcase was already in the living room. His brothers, with sleepy eyes and dejected expressions, glared at him resentfully.
Vaughn ignored them and went to hug Molly. “Thank you for your hard work, Mother.”
“Oh—” Molly wiped the corners of her eyes, her heart melting like butter. She gave her son a kiss on the head and hugged him tightly, unable to let go. “My poor darling, you have to go so far, to such a dangerous place… Can’t someone else go? Dumbledore? Amelia?”
Vaughn said helplessly, “Mother, I am the President of the WAC. This is my duty!”
“*Sob sob sob—*”
In the living room, Arthur, trying to shrink into a corner and shield himself with a newspaper, raised it a little higher to ensure he wouldn’t be angered by a middle-aged woman lost in grief.
Molly’s emotions finally improved when Hermione came down. At this point, she was no longer sad and, pulling Hermione along, enthusiastically talked about how envious other witches were of her.
“Their sons might never achieve what Vaughn has. Heavens, representing England on a diplomatic visit! Didn’t you see, dear, how they looked at me, as if they wanted to eat me up!”
“And some witches’ children wanted Vaughn’s autograph. I didn’t plan to give it to them… Some even asked how I raised a child like Vaughn. Ha, how could I possibly tell them!”
“Of course, they are even more envious that Vaughn has you, dear. I really should take you out more often…”
Throughout breakfast, it was mostly Molly chattering, with Hermione listening obediently.
After the meal, Molly, carrying Vaughn’s suitcase, went off to attend to something else.
Fred, George, Ron, and Percy, who had been roused early in the morning, also quickly left, fearing being roped into more tasks by their mother. They also took Ginny with them.
Arthur had already slipped away, using the excuse of preparing the car.
Only Vaughn and Hermione remained in the dining room.
“Mother is a bit naggy, but she just doesn’t want you to worry and be scared. She’s deliberately trying to distract you.”
“I know.”
Hermione said softly, “And Fred, George, Ron, and Percy, they all left on purpose, wanting to give us some alone time.”
Vaughn smiled.
As perceptive as ever.
“Then are you worried?”
“Of course!” Hermione said. “But I also understand that you have a reason to go, just like the analysis in the newspapers…”
Even so, her delicate eyebrows were furrowed.
Her lips moved a few times, as if wanting to say something, but perhaps considering it inauspicious, she ultimately didn’t voice it. The learned Miss Know-It-All was aware of the concept of “ill omen” in the magical world. Although she didn’t believe in it, at such a moment, she suddenly felt it wouldn’t hurt to believe.
Vaughn remained silent, and the two of them quietly enjoyed this time before their parting.
However, no matter how reluctant, as noon approached, Hermione had to part ways with Vaughn.
Watching Vaughn get into Arthur’s magically enhanced car, and as the car started and his retreating figure sped away, the girl’s eyes gradually welled up.
A gentle breeze swept through, causing the vast reed marsh outside The Burrow to ripple like waves.
In the wind, noticing Hermione’s reddening eyes, Molly sighed and put her arm around her shoulders.
Ginny was quietly sobbing beside them. Ron looked at Hermione, then at Molly, feeling perplexed… Ginny was just sad about not seeing her brother for a long time. As for Ron, he was more concerned about when he could go play with Harry again.
They were unaware of the danger Vaughn was undertaking!
…
The departure point was Southampton Port.
About an hour’s drive from London, Arthur, who was usually very talkative, hardly spoke a word along the way.
It wasn’t until they arrived near the port and were getting out of the car that he suddenly hugged his son tightly:
“Be careful with everything in North America, son. For your mother and me, for our family, for Hermione, your safety is the most important thing!”
“I will, Father.”
“You…” Arthur placed his hands on Vaughn’s shoulders, wanting to say more, but suddenly choked up. He quickly blinked hard to avoid breaking down in front of his son. “…You’ve grown up. I trust you understand how to weigh the pros and cons. We’ll be waiting for your return!”
“Okay!”
“Oh, Lupin and the others are here. You should go quickly!”
Vaughn turned his head. In the distance, a dark mass of people wearing Muggle suits, whom William had purchased for Vaughn, was approaching, led by Lupin.
Vaughn bid farewell to his father and walked towards them.
Under the slightly stifling sea breeze of noon, Arthur watched his son, who wasn’t yet very tall, walk step by step towards the group of men in black.
They bowed respectfully. His son’s silhouette, accentuated by the bowing figures, gave him a fleeting impression of great height.
They surrounded him and walked towards the cruise ship, drawing the astonished gazes of the Muggles.
Arthur strongly realized once again.
His son had truly grown up!
He was breaking away from his and Molly’s influence and forging his own path…
Vaughn was unaware of his father’s emotions behind him.
After bidding farewell to his father, he had already put aside familial affections.
Upon meeting the group, Lupin, who was at the forefront, greeted him. “Good afternoon, Mr. President.”
“You too, Remus.” As he spoke, Vaughn glanced at the suitcase Lupin was carrying.
Lupin understood and said in a low voice, “The unregistered werewolves have been arranged inside. Only I, Barnaby, and James have handled them.”
“…”
The furtive manner of the other party left Vaughn somewhat speechless.
In fact, given the current situation, Vaughn’s capture of werewolves for human experimentation was almost an open secret, especially within the WAC.
This was also a result of the pursuit of self-interest.
Vaughn had developed the Wolfsbane Potion, and the WAC he founded was officially established.
With so many “successes” to his name, his actions were inevitably viewed through a different lens by the public.
The same “human experimentation” might have been a stain on Vaughn’s record before the WAC was founded.
But after the WAC’s establishment, especially after the series of speeches and statements at the conference, and with public opinion gradually fermenting through the media,
the original stain seemed to suddenly gain deeper meaning and become a “choice of last resort”!
Vaughn didn’t need to step forward; those who agreed with his ideology, who were conquered by his personal charisma, and who wanted to follow him, would actively defend him and find justifiable excuses for his actions.
Humans were always like this.
As long as you succeed, society will be incredibly tolerant of you. Conversely, if you fail, even breathing the air is wrong!
Although he felt such stealth was unnecessary, Vaughn said nothing. Compared to trivial matters, he was more pleased to see the change in Lupin.
If it were two months ago, Lupin would have been at least passive, if not overtly opposed, upon learning that Vaughn was experimenting on werewolves.
But now, he could calmly assist in the transfer of experimental subjects.
Vaughn surmised that Lupin’s change might be related to the conference a few days ago. In fact, not just Lupin; Vaughn looked at the werewolves on the welcoming committee and noticed their spirits were entirely different from before.
Gone were the worries and hesitations; their demeanor was positive and full of energy.
This moved Vaughn somewhat. Although the WAC had been de facto in existence for months, it had always failed to bring peace of mind. The conference a few days ago, despite being a mere formality, had acted like a stabilizing anchor, dispelling all the restless and negative emotions.
This was perhaps the validity and charm of politics!
“Take the suitcase with you and take good care of them. I hope this batch can last until the second version of the Wolfsbane Potion is successfully developed,” Vaughn said to Lupin.
These slightly cruel words made Lupin feel uneasy, but he still nodded. “Yes!”
Vaughn’s guess was correct; Lupin’s change in mindset was due to the conference and the future Vaughn had painted there.
Even though Vaughn had privately told them similar things, the meaning and occasion were different. In the simple understanding of many, including Lupin, private conversations felt more like casual talk and empty promises, whereas public speeches were true commitments.
If there had been any hesitation before, then after the conference, Lupin had decided to follow Mundungus’s advice and cling to Vaughn.
As thoughts swirled in his mind, after Vaughn had greeted the other delegation members one by one, Lupin, now positioning himself appropriately, leaned in and said to Vaughn, “The Ministry people might be a little late.”
“The reason?”
“They didn’t say. Perhaps they want to put on airs.”
“Ridiculous!” Vaughn scoffed. Without thinking, he knew it must be Umbridge’s idea. That foolish witch, like her master Fudge, was someone who couldn’t stand on a grand stage!
“Don’t worry about them. We’ll board the ship first!”
“Yes, President.”
And so, a group of people surrounded Vaughn and walked towards the cruise ship.
Unlike other countries internationally, although the English Ministry of Magic strictly adhered to the Statute of Secrecy, its connection with the Muggle government had never been severed and was, in fact, quite close.
Not only did they inform each other on matters of governance (e.g., when a magical leak occurred, the Ministry dispatched a team to reverse the incidental event and also informed the Muggle government to provide excuses such as strange celestial phenomena, natural gas explosions, or mass hallucinations for cover),
but they also engaged in limited cooperation.
Regularly arranging for Aurors to protect the Prime Minister and various ministers was only a part of their cooperation. Other aspects included climate forecasting and intelligence sharing on criminal matters.
In the economic and industrial sectors, even if they didn’t need Muggle currency, the Ministry of Magic had invested in many Muggle societal industries, solely to maintain their “friendship.”
The building leased by the Wizengamot to the WAC was one such example.
The cruise ship Vaughn was about to board, the “RMS Queen Mary,” was also a product of their cooperation.
On the way to the cruise ship, an Executive Committee Member, who hailed from the Wizengamot and had previously served in other departments of the Ministry, leaned in to explain to Vaughn:
“…This cruise ship is a testament to the ‘friendship’ between the magical world and the Muggle government. 60 years ago, to commemorate years of cooperation and reward the Muggle Royal Family for their contribution in enforcing the Statute of Secrecy, the Ministry of Magic decided to build a ship and gift it to the then-Muggle King George V.”
The white-haired Executive Committee Member enthusiastically revealed the secret.
Vaughn remained silent, only gazing at the colossal behemoth docked at the deep-water berth.
Given its “Royal” designation, one could imagine the luxury of the cruise ship. It stood 200 feet tall, likely exceeding 1200 feet in length. Its black and red hull looked solemn and majestic, while the decks and upper structures were a bright, clean, and simple silver-white.
Seeing Vaughn’s silence, Lupin picked up the conversation. “There are many ways to witness friendship. Why gift a ship to the Muggle King?”
Finally, there was no awkward silence.
The Executive Committee Member breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said with a smile, “This goes back to the inherent flaws of Muggles. They are very fond of pleasure and like to pursue things that seem meaningless to us. 60 years ago, it was the peak of the English Muggle government’s glory. The entire upper society was obsessed with these super-large ships, and competition was rampant. They not only competed on who had the largest and most luxurious ship but also on speed, even establishing a Blue Riband award for it!”
“That state of madness made it difficult for the Ministry of Magic not to be influenced when choosing a gift. After all, it was something to be given to Muggles. In fact, the Muggles were delighted. When the Muggle King learned of the shipbuilding plan, he immediately decided to name the ship after his beloved wife, Queen Mary!”
Lupin didn’t quite understand.
In his impression, ships were merely inefficient modes of Muggle transportation, far inferior to magical means like Apparition, Floo Network, or Portkeys. They weren’t even as good as magical carpets or flying broomsticks.
Furthermore, he knew that in Muggle society, there was something called an airplane that was faster than ships.
What was the point of competing on speed for such a thing?
