Legacy of Harry Potter- Chapter 120: Dumbledore's Arguments (Patreon)

November 1994
Ministry of Magic


Dumbledore's little fiery questions produced another perspective of thought in the mind of the members of Wizengamot.

It was as he described. If Dumbledore really wanted to harm or Harry, why would he have to plant such conspiracies? With the power and the influence Dumbledore had, he coulr have done as he wished. He kept Harry Potter hidden for 11 years and yet no dared to question him. The why such conspiraciesM

And even if Dumbledore really planned all the 'conspiracies', would he realy fail in every one of it? What purpose did these conspiracies served Dumbledore?
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Meanwhile in the well of the Wizengamot, Dumbledore aura remained tall and imposing. He was not over yet.

"Any incident big or small," continued Dumbledore. "Can be linked to me as an architect of some conspiracy just because I was there as Hogwarts headmaster."

"Let us cosider Harry's confrontation with the troll," added Dumbledore.

"Indeed professor Quirrell possessed by a wraith was able to bring a troll in Hogwarts. But was it me who caused to face a life and death situation with the mindless creature?"

"No," declared Dumbledore. "It was Harry Potter's decision to to follow his friend who wanted to satisfy her curiosity of witnessing a troll in flesh and blood."

"Harry Potter defied a simple instruction from me to follow the prefects to their respective houses."

"And yet I am the conspirator?" He questioned and faced Andromeda Tonks.

"No... Mrs. Tonks," he smirked. "At most you can call me out for my 'incompetency' in failing to keep the school safe.... not a conspirator."

"And I believe," he eyed Harry. "Lord Slytherin have already dealt me my punishment for my incompetency."

Dumbledore with his words was turning the tide in his favour. It was as he said. He could be called for his failure in maintaining the security but it was Harry Potter who mindlessly jumped into a life and death situation without thinking of its consequences.

"And this is not the only example," continued Dumbledore.

"Most of you would be aware of the petrification of students which happened two years back."

"But what many don't know the cause behind it," said Dumbledore; his voice deep.

"It was the legendary Basilisk of the Slytherin causing those petrifications," announced Dumbledore causing murmurs in the hall.

"And it was Harry Potter along with his best friend Ron Weasley who in a magnificent feat of bravery slaughtered the basilisk and rescued a girl student who was taken away by the Basilisk."

This news further caused sensation in the hall. Harry Potter slaughtering a Basilisk was a news that very few people were aware of.
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On the other hand, Harry gritted his teeth in irritation. Firstly, because of Dumbledore's reference to Ron Weasley as his best friend.

And secondly, by the manipulative words of Dumbledore in revealing the story of the second year. Dumbledore very conveniently 'forgot' the part about how the whole school treated him during the entire year... calling him heir of Slytherin.
Dumbledore had taken the advantage of being the first mover by moulding the story as per his wish. And even if Harry explained the reason for the act he was about to be accused by Dumbledore, he would just explain.
He would not be able to use that to generate opinions in his favour. To generate sympathy for him.
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In the well Dumbledore continued, "Even if I applaud and praise Harry for his bravery, one thing cannot be ignored."

"His reckless method of jumping in the chamber of secrets, again putting himself in a life and death situation."

"This again cannot be called a conspiracy as Harry of his own accord rushed in danger."

"I at most can again be called for my failure in finding out the basilisk," sighed Dumbledore. "Or maybe not as it was believed to be nothing more than a myth... a legend."

"Even so, I have been already punished for it... maybe even 2 times," chuckled Dumbledore. "That year, the board of education for Hogwarts removed me from my position of headmaster for some time and now Lord Slytherin have done the same."

Andromeda who had been quiet till now interrupted, "No doubt, what you say makes Dumbledore..."

"But was all of it really a coincidence?" She questioned in shrill voice.
"Hogwarts which was a calm lake even during the rise of he who must not be named, suddenly turned into a chaotic ocean?"

Her voice echoed, "The very same year, Lord Potter steps back into Wizarding world, you conduct an alchemy expermient... someone tries to steal the philosopher's stone... you lay a trap to lure the thief into Hogwarts which is full of students and Harry is miraculously caught in the storm."

She continued, "Was it really a coincidence, that when anyone rarely encounters something like mirror of erised, Lord Potter encounters the famed aircraft during a random stroll in Hogwart?"

"For the second year... a creature which no had encountered or even found a conclusive evidence for in centuries, suddenly surfaces in Hogwarts and started petrifying students."

She questioned, "Was it all really a coincidence... happening when Harry Potter was at Hogwarts."

She continued, "I agree that Lord Potter recklessly jumped into Chamber of secrets but what condition arose that he had to do so? Why did he have to take a job which belonged to you... to Hogwarts' professors in his own hands?"



She faced Dumbledore, "If you are not a fool to fail in every conspiracy you planned, is Lord Potter a fool to walk into every danger that comes in Hogwarts out of nowhere?"

Silence ensued in the hall as everyone weighed the arguments from both sides. Ironically, both sides made sense and sounded very reasonable when both were contradictory to each other.

Things had started to get complex and it was turning extremely tough to separate who was right and who was wrong.