In the Harry Potter Without Harry Potter

The banquet was nearing its end.

And every wizard here knew very well that the great gentleman still has one more important thing to announce.

On the high platform, the student and professor who hadn't seen each other for a long time seemed to be chatting happily, and no one dared to urge them about the fact that it was already very late and everyone should go back to bed; because as long as the gentleman didn't mention it, the banquet would never end.

Finally, the wizards who are right next to the high platform heard the gentleman's casual remark.

"If you join me, you can be a minister of magic for a while, professor. It just so happens that Cornelius talked to me just now, saying that he feels overwhelmed with the management of the Ministry of Magic."

The wizards who heard these words all looked slightly puzzled, but soon they all reacted quickly to the situation, chatting and laughing, except for Cornelius Fudge, who was beside the gentleman with an insincere smile, his face somewhat stiffened and looked like a pug.

But such stiffness only lasted for just under two seconds, and his round face once again blossomed into a daisy smile.

"Ah, it would be great if Professor Slughorn could take over my position, his ability is obvious to all, and I believe the Ministry of Magic will definitely become much better under his leadership."

The smile on Slughorn's face had not changed from the beginning to the end, and he politely refused.

"I'm getting older, and it's not easy to manage the Ministry of Magic for you, you should help me find an easy job to enjoy my life, but of course, the pay should not be less, I heard that the crystallised pineapples in Diagon Alley are not cheap."

The great gentleman smiled, his request for Slughorn to become the Minister of Magic didn't look that firm, those words at the beginning seemed like truly a casual remark.

"What professor said does seem reasonable, and it is time for you to enjoy your life, but it is also true that crystallised pineapples are not all that cheap, and the salary of a normal job will not be enough for you to eat them every day."

As if he thought of something, he turned his head to look at Fudge.

"I remember you mentioning that the one who manages the Department of International Magical Co-operation doesn't want to work there?"

Fudge said with a smile, "He has been complaining that those Frenchmen simply don't want to communicate at all, and the first few times they met, they even got to the point of raising their wands, and he talked to you about it before, saying that he actually wanted to go back to the Death Eaters more than anything else."

"Then let him return, after this night the guards are estimated to have a few spots vacant, give him a place."

He said indifferently, his voice still sounding as casual as usual, only this time it carried a non-refusable tone.

"Professor, you should be the head of the Department of International Magic Cooperation, it's much more reassuring for me to leave it to you than to those baboons who can only wave their wands. The position of deputy Minister of Magic will also be added to you, you are my professor, after all, even if you become head of the department, you can't just be the head of the department."

Slughorn did not refuse this time, he smiled and nodded, only the corner of his eyes glanced at Fudge who obviously seemed to have breathed a sigh of relief.

He clearly knew that in the future, in the Ministry of Magic, even without his student's specific instruction, this puppet minister would definitely keep an eye on him at all times, and that is exactly what this student of his wanted to see.

After playing with the scarlet stone in his hand, the great gentleman finally raised the goblet in his hand.

He did not get up, and merely raised the goblet gently as he sat in the main seat, and said aloud to the wizards in the whole banquet hall.

"For the Purest Blood!"

Offstage, the male and female wizards also raised their goblets in their hands and offered their salutations for the last bit of the banquet.

"For the Purest Blood!"

---

Fawkes on the golden perch was grooming his flamboyant feathers with his pointed beak.

When Dumbledore mentioned his defeat, his face did not show much frustration or shame, he still spoke as calmly as ever.

"The Dark Lord's gift of magic, especially dark magic, is unprecedented. But previously, his will had always been very chaotic, and he could even be described as crazy, which made his dark magic more powerful and uncontrollable, yet also made him influenced by the 'will' of magic, rather than controlling magic with his 'Will'; he and his organization brought unspeakable terror to the magical world, a terror which only made countless people oppose his rule spontaneously."

"But after a certain day, he changed beyond everyone's recognition. He became more like his former self, adept at disguise, knowing how to refine his desires with nobler goals, knowing how to unite those around him with something other than just violence, and knowing even better how to truly master his power."

"After that, the winds of the magical world began to change, and he eroded the Ministry of Magic almost completely without a sound; when Hogwarts Castle became the only place that could stand against him. It was at that time he proposed a fair duel with me on his own initiative, and on the very day of the duel - that same night - he led his men into Hogwarts Castle."

"The students were all hidden in the kitchens' underground cellar, the faculty and others who opposed his rule were constantly fighting in the corridors, the lawns, and all over the classrooms of the castle, and he was engaged in a final showdown with me on the very highest place in the castle, the Astronomy Tower."

Jon held his breath, through Dumbledore's narrative, his mind subconsciously imagined the image of that tragic night.

Battles were happening all over Hogwarts Castle, with Death Eaters falling and Professors dying at Hogwarts, but the only thing that could determine the final outcome of the fray happened at the top of that tower.

But in the end.

"In the end, it was me who lost." Dumbledore said calmly, "His spell knocked me to the ground, his wand was lit up with a killing curse, and I still remember very clearly what he said to me: 'Professor Dumbledore, I proved to you that the most powerful magic in the world is not that bullshit love, but something greater, something more fascinating! ', and then it was Fawkes who saved me just before his Killing Curse could even be released, and that was the night he managed to rule the entire British magical community."

He stared at the Elder Wand in his hand, his words didn't contain much regret, but rather some sentiment and relaxation.

"And from that day on, this wand became ordinary in my hands, because I am no longer worthy of being its master."

"As for the second question you asked, Jon; is he really invincible or not, as a loser, I can't give you a definite answer, but what I can tell you is that even if he had defeated me once, he can't guarantee that he can still beat me the second and third time like the first time, even if the wand in my hand can no longer exert its full power. "

Dumbledore said with a serious face.

"The power that makes him immensely powerful came from an unknown source, but this power must be unstable, otherwise he wouldn't have tried to keep dragging things out with me like this and let time wear down my magic. Since he has something to be wary of, this means he is far from invincible."

Jon fell silent.

He finally got the answer he had always wanted to know from Dumbledore, Voldemort not only killed Harry Potter that night, but he had also become stronger and saner than before.

As for the reason why he became like this, even Dumbledore is not aware of it.

Or maybe he had in fact already found out something, but his trust in Jon still was far from the point where he could reveal everything he knew.

Even the things he was saying to Jon now, Jon found it, a bit too much.

Before tonight, the number of times the two of them had exchanged words with each other could be counted on one hand, so why say so much to him now?

Just because Jon found out the secret of Slughorn going undercover?

Jon felt that the reason why Dumbledore, and he had this conversation tonight would not be that simple, there must be a deeper objective to it in the end.

Just when he was thinking about this, Dumbledore looked at him and suddenly opened his mouth and asked.

"I heard from Horace that you are very talented in Occlumency?"

Jon froze for a moment, then nodded lightly.

"My teacher did mention that I learned this magic quite well."

Dumbledore's gaze became serious as he asked sincerely.

"So Jon, I wonder if you would be willing to help me with something?"

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