Dumbledore took a sip of tea and looked up, only to notice the strange expression on Skyl's face.
"What's with that look?" the old headmaster asked calmly. "You were staring into space for so long that I thought you'd fallen asleep."
"I went to take care of something. My head's a bit of a mess right now. I've just experienced the sting of love firsthand for the first time. My tongue really has turned into toad skin, and it hurts every time I open my mouth."
Dumbledore asked in surprise, "You were just sitting there staring into space. What could you possibly have accomplished?"
"The entire universe exists inside my mind. What couldn't I accomplish?" Skyl countered, leaving the headmaster speechless.
After a moment of silence, Dumbledore could only manage, "Well, you've got me there. I can't even imagine what your life is like anymore, Skyl. As long as you're happy."
"Was that a compliment or an insult?"
"Have you finished dealing with that girl's situation?"
"Yes."
"Would you care to tell me about it? Don't worry about your secrets getting out. I can always extract this memory afterward and store it in the most secure vault at Gringotts."
Skyl pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'd rather not talk about it."
"Very well. Whatever happens, you'll always be my favorite student, even though I've never actually taught you anything. Since you're here, why not stay at Hogwarts for a few days? You could even give the new students a lesson while you're at it."
"I don't have time for that, Professor. I'm busy with my love life. I'm seeing a wonderful girl who's become a professor herself. I even have to attend her lectures."
Dumbledore feigned an expression of utter horror.
"A teacher-student romance?!"
Skyl fell into contemplative silence.
The old headmaster, however, began enthusiastically discussing the various pleasures of such a relationship, sounding like a man with considerable expertise on the subject.
"Just imagine the scene. A beautiful young woman stands at the front of the classroom, impeccably dressed, her expression serious yet nervous as she waves her teaching wand.
"She's trying her hardest to look like a proper professor, but to your eyes, she's as shy and lovely as a lilac blossom. You can't help smiling at her. The moment she notices your smile, she gets so nervous that she starts stumbling over her words. Then, in frustration, she calls on you to answer a question.
"Naturally, your perfect answer leaves her even more flustered. Unable to think of a suitable response, she angrily orders you to sit down.
"Later, she'll claim that your classroom performance was unsatisfactory and tell you to report to her office after class. The other students will think you're in serious trouble, but what they don't know is that you and the lovely young professor will spend the entire time enjoying each other's company and whispering sweet nothings."
Skyl's impression of Dumbledore had been completely turned upside down.
When the old man talked about these things, he sounded exactly like a lovestruck young man in his twenties, someone with no accomplishments or particular talents who nevertheless remained convinced that someone would eventually fall in love with him.
"Professor, how do you know so much about this? Don't tell me you had a little romantic adventure like that yourself back in the day. Which professor was it?
"It couldn't have been Professor McGonagall. There's too much of an age difference between you, and she had a Muggle sweetheart when she was young. So who else could it have been? Don't tell me it was Professor Matilda Weasley!"
Dumbledore gave him an inscrutable smile before issuing a warning.
"Don't go snooping around in my past. I know you've become a remarkable Diviner, but don't forget that I still have your Hogwarts report card."
Skyl flew into a rage.
"So what if I got two measly failing grades? Why don't you ever mention my nine Outstandings and one Exceeds Expectations?"
"What's done is done, young man." Dumbledore smiled. "Let that tiny blemish stay with you. Just as freckles can be the most charming feature of a girl's face, the imperfections in life are what make you feel truly alive."
Skyl was merely pretending to be angry.
Of course, he didn't mind.
In fact, of all the subjects he had studied at Hogwarts, Divination and Arithmancy were the ones that had left the deepest impression on him.
People were always more inclined to remember their failures.
"Professor, have you ever felt tired of living?"
Dumbledore's eyes immediately grew wary.
"You ungrateful apprentice! What are you planning?"
"Don't get the wrong idea. I'm just curious. An old geezer your age must occasionally feel that life has become rather pointless. What do you do to pass the time?"
"Work. If I didn't have work to occupy me every day, I'd spend all my time immersed in the Pensieve, endlessly revisiting memories that break my heart. Skyl, you really shouldn't go around making an old man sad."
"Ariana's already come back to life. Isn't that enough for you?"
"That was how I felt in the past. My life is perfectly happy and fulfilling now. I simply want to make up for everything my family has suffered while I'm still alive."
"Work, work, work. Trading away your life in exchange for money."
Skyl seized the opportunity to extend an invitation.
"As it happens, I've recently built a floating city in another universe, and I'm planning to establish a school of magic there as well. Our graduates will start their own businesses, contribute to the multiverse's GDP, and supply talented professionals to society. Would you be interested in supporting the project?"
Dumbledore chuckled and waved his hand.
"I'm already the headmaster of Hogwarts. I couldn't possibly take responsibility for another school on your behalf."
"I never said I was inviting you to become its headmaster."
The old professor's expression stiffened.
"I don't have time to become a professor there either."
"I'm not asking you to become a professor. In fact, you meet our admission requirements."
"Admission requirements?!"
Now it was Skyl's turn to lean back happily in his chair and take a leisurely sip of tea.
"That's right. The older a mage gets, the more formidable they become. You're still quite young, so there's plenty of room for improvement. You'd be a perfect candidate for an incoming freshman."
Dumbledore thought about this for quite some time but couldn't figure out what being young had to do with him.
He had already lived for more than a century!
The old headmaster had been born during Queen Victoria's reign, back when the British Empire was still the empire on which the sun never set.
"If I were to enroll as a student, what exactly would you teach me?"
"Oh, just a few ordinary subjects. Immortality, divine power, godhood, the soul of the universe, things like that.
"I've recruited several professors, including Ao, Eru Ilúvatar, Stan Lee, Moonshadow, Eternity, and Galactus. Add me to the faculty, and I believe we should be sufficiently qualified to teach, don't you?"
Dumbledore was completely dumbfounded for a long while.
The expression on his face was so vacant that Skyl could barely suppress his laughter.
"You're planning to spread such dangerous knowledge?" Dumbledore finally asked. "What if someone uses it to threaten the world? Aren't you worried that evil individuals might gain the upper hand?"
"From a Muggle's perspective, the magic taught at Hogwarts is pretty dangerous too. Your library even contains plenty of books on the Dark Arts. Are you going to take all that magical knowledge to your grave because of it?"
"Very well. You've convinced me. However, I won't have time to enroll anytime soon.
"Hogwarts may be hosting the Triwizard Tournament this year. Have you heard of this ancient magical competition? It's a major event in the wizarding world. Unfortunately, you've already graduated. Otherwise, we'd be guaranteed victory this year."
"The Triwizard Tournament? That sounds interesting. Why don't I organize something similar at Skylrael?
"We could bring together the most outstanding mages from Hogwarts, the College of Winterhold, and the Academy of Raya Lucaria and have them compete against one another. Professor, why don't you represent Hogwarts?"
"Aren't you an outstanding Hogwarts graduate yourself?" Dumbledore asked with a wink.
"But I'm also a graduate of Winterhold and a transfer student at Raya Lucaria. If we actually held a competition, I wouldn't take anyone's side. I can't exactly be a three-team turncoat, can I?"
One advantage of Dumbledore's considerable age was that he was exceptionally well-read. He had even picked up enough American sports trivia to appreciate the joke.
He burst into laughter, looking rather like a veteran coach who had just heard a particularly clever play.
"Whatever the case, you're staying here for a few days before you leave. You're not allowed to go anywhere else. I've grown so accustomed to having you around that it feels strange when I go even a single day without seeing you."
"If you want me to stay a few days, then a few days it is."
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