2: Dumbledore

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The Wu Orphanage.
In the corridor.
Dumbledore glanced around.
His eyes held a complex mix of memories—over the years, the decor here seemed largely unchanged.
“Ms. Elena, I have come for Ian Prince.”
Under the reception of the orphanage director, Dumbledore stepped into the office. His arrival seemed to dispel any lingering chill within the room.
“He needs to complete his studies.”
Sunlight streamed through the stained glass windows, casting a soft and mysterious glow upon Dumbledore’s silver hair and beard, imparting a gentle radiance to the aged wizard.
“Oh! That’s wonderful news!”
The director, Elena, was a woman in her fifties with gray hair and a warm smile.
She warmly invited Dumbledore to sit and brewed him a cup of tea—an inexpensive blend, carrying a stale flavor.
“Ian Prince is a good boy, quite precocious. He doesn’t really play with the other children here; he prefers to do his own thing.”
Listening to Elena’s description, Dumbledore pondered quietly.
He set down the tea Elena had poured for him.
“Ms. Elena, do you mean to say that Ian Prince is a rather solitary child?”
Dumbledore’s gaze caused Elena to pause briefly.
Then she quickly shook her head to clarify.
“No, no—you’ve misunderstood me. Perhaps I can explain it better: Ian is simply a very mature child. The other children want to play with him, but he just doesn’t like their games.”
Elena paused before continuing, “Ian once said the make-believe games children play are boring and childish. He’d rather spend that time watching birds.”
“Watching birds? A fine hobby. It seems Ian Prince is the kind of child who is close to animals.”
Dumbledore seemed relieved, smiling as he joked,
“Looks like he will have an owl someday.”
Elena was momentarily taken aback by this, but she maintained her smile and spoke kindly of Ian.
“Though Ian finds the other children immature, he still takes good care of the younger ones.”
“He’s only eleven but already sneaks out to earn money, buying flour and vegetables to stock the kitchen… He remembers every child’s birthday.”
“He even buys candies for the little ones.”
Elena spoke with a sense of pride, then suddenly sighed with some sadness and self-reproach.
“The social environment is tough now. The orphanage struggles to receive donations. I suppose it’s also my lack of ability, that a child has to go out and earn money…”
She looked quite troubled.
“You need not blame yourself. You’ve done more than enough. The changes here are significant—I can feel it,” Dumbledore said respectfully, using a formal tone toward Elena, who was likely at least half a century younger than him.
He sincerely comforted her.
“Have you been here before?”
Elena looked surprised.
“This is not my first visit.”
Dumbledore smiled faintly.
Elena did not press further; she was more concerned about the adoption.
“Sir, if you intend to take Ian from the orphanage, please believe me, he is a remarkable child.” Elena earnestly hoped this sensible boy would find a good home.
“May I see him then?”
Dumbledore asked with a smile.
Under the influence of a confusion charm, some of Elena’s perceptions diverged from reality.
There was no need to correct this.
“Of course! Of course, sir!” Elena was delighted. She stood and said to Dumbledore, “Please wait a moment.”
As Elena stepped out, she saw Ian in the yard, having just returned.
A look of eager joy appeared on her face as she waved and called out.

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“Ian, come here!”
Ian was pushing a small cart.
Another child ran up beside him, hugging him: “Ian, looks like something big is happening to you! Hurry, don’t keep Ms. Elena waiting.”
In the orphanage, being adopted was considered a major event.
For these homeless children, nothing was more important than being adopted.
Of course, Ian was different.
He knew this wasn’t adoption.
With a nervous heart, Ian was led to the office.
“So it is him!”
Having glanced before and now confirmed, the man in the office was Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts, the greatest wizard of this century.
“Don’t be nervous.”
Before Ian could speak, he saw Dumbledore studying him.
“Child, I must tell you a fact: you are a wizard.”
Though Ian feigned surprise, Dumbledore’s eyes were deep and profound.
“I suppose you must have realized from an early age that you are different from others.” His eyes were not clouded but held the pure clarity of a child.
“Uh.”
Ian didn’t answer immediately. He glanced at Ms. Elena, who showed no reaction, as if she hadn’t heard the old man’s words.
This was… a confusion charm?
Forcing himself calm, Ian avoided Dumbledore’s gaze.
“Yes, that’s true. I realized early on. Sometimes when I stare at a cup of water, I can make the water ripple a bit. So this is the power of a wizard?”
Ian didn’t dare pretend ignorance.
His answer made Dumbledore smile and nod.
“Yes, that is your own magical power at work. Sometimes, when you’re angry at someone, the fluctuations of this power become more intense.”
Dumbledore’s tone was gentle.
But to Ian, it sounded like a trap. What does it mean that it fluctuates more when angry? I’m not some Tom Riddle!
“Sir, I rarely get angry at others because emotions don’t solve problems,” Ian replied calmly and softly.
Dumbledore seemed very pleased with this answer.
He smiled, and his beard trembled slightly as he nodded.
“You are a very clever child. Ms. Elena was right—you are indeed precocious.” His aged eyes looked steadily at Ian as he spoke.
“Hogwarts is the magical academy every wizard in the world aspires to join. There, you can learn all the spells in the world, as well as encounter various magical creatures…”
“Don’t be nervous, Ian Prince. As headmaster of Hogwarts, I officially invite you to attend Hogwarts and pursue your studies.”
It had come!
Finally!
Ian was nervous. Though in his previous life, he had only watched a few movies about Hogwarts and some fanfiction about Hermione, he had heard of Hogwarts and Professor X.
Ian truly worried Dumbledore might be as ruthless as some conspiracy fanfictions portrayed.
“Do you have any concerns?”
Dumbledore sensed Ian’s feelings and thought he might have reservations about Hogwarts. Softly, he reassured, “At Hogwarts, there are flying hippogriffs, man-eating trees, and most importantly, a group of children your age with whom you will learn magic.”
“Don’t worry about the process of learning magic… Ian, actually, your orphanage once produced a very remarkable wizard.”
Dumbledore suddenly grew reflective, his tone full of emotion.
Hearing this, Ian became even more nervous.
Why was he nervous?
Because he knew all too well how ‘remarkable’ that man from this orphanage was!
“Is that wizard still at Hogwarts?”
Ian forced curiosity in his voice.
Dumbledore was pulled from his reverie by Ian’s question. He shook his head.
“In fact, he left Hogwarts a very long time ago and, unfortunately, went astray.”

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Dumbledore spoke earnestly.
Ian expected some harsh criticism next but was surprised when the old man shifted tone to one of regret and slight remorse.
“However, this does not diminish his extraordinary achievements. He could have gone much further.”
Ian looked at Dumbledore, seemingly puzzled, but his mind raced with various thoughts.
Were Dumbledore’s words a warning?
Or a test?
Damn it! Blame those Harry Potter fanfics for this cursed persecution complex—Ian restrained his wild imaginations, trying hard not to overthink.
“Child, have you made your decision?”
Dumbledore’s voice rang in his ears.
“Uh... I’ll give it a try?”
Ian had been waiting for this day and would not refuse.
“A wise choice. In half a month, Hogwarts will send you an acceptance letter. Then someone will accompany you to purchase your school supplies.”
Dumbledore smiled at Ian.
Ian shrugged and politely declined, “Sorry, sir, even if I want to enroll, I can’t afford it—I have no money to pay the tuition.”
Dumbledore had already stood and was reaching for his hat on the stand.
At that moment, Elena suddenly stood and addressed Dumbledore, “Thank you. Ian will definitely go in half a month.”
Ian was stunned, then realized.
This was the power of the confusion charm. He didn’t know what Elena had seen, but it was clear she couldn’t perceive the true conversation between him and Dumbledore.
Dumbledore didn’t speak to Elena but smiled and said to Ian,
“You don’t need to worry about money. First, the school has a scholarship fund. Second, the person who will come for you won’t ask you to pay—he feels deeply indebted to you.”
With that, Dumbledore began to walk away.
Ian was stunned again and stood up, watching Dumbledore head toward the door.
“Who? My parents?”
Am I still pure-blood?
This surprised Ian.
“That’s not for me to reveal,” Dumbledore merely winked, gestured goodbye, and spoke with deep meaning,
“Child, you’ll know in time.”
With that, he left without looking back.
Elena happily escorted him outside.
Ian opened his mouth but said nothing, turning to return to his room.
That night.
Ian lay in bed, thinking about why Dumbledore came early—was it because of the Wu Orphanage or because his original name should be Grindelwald or Ian Riddle?
Or perhaps, simply Ian Prince?
Did this pure-blood surname exist in the original story?
Lost in thought, Ian’s eyes grew heavy.
The next moment, he drifted from sleep toward awakening, as if crossing some boundary—the horizon was adorned with a ribbon of rosy light gently entwined across the fading blue sky.
The distant woods looked like a fairy tale realm, lush and verdant. A small bird skimmed over the treetops, its song clear and melodious.
Beneath this picturesque sky, everything was painted in dreamlike hues, as if part of a masterful painting, bringing unprecedented peace and cleansing to the soul.
Ian opened his eyes, gazing at the breathtaking scene before him.
“You’re here again.”
A soft voice whispered in his ear.
“Almost forgot—it’s Saturday today.”
Ian turned to see the girl emerging from the woods.
She wore a blue dress, her long golden hair cascading over her shoulders, her face pure as she looked at Ian.
“Arianna, I met a scary old man today and forgot to bring you candy.”
He spoke to the girl thus.