That conversation that night not only cleared up Eda's misunderstanding about Tonks, but also made Eda unintentionally gain a friendship—a friendship from Tonks.
The lively, cheerful Tonks left a memorable impression, and since she also liked pranks, Eda really wanted to introduce her to the twins.
After parting with Tonks, Eda considered her suggestion. She thought about whether she should tell Professor McGonagall everything about being monitored and let her help decide what to do.
Yes—Eda thought of Professor McGonagall, not Dumbledore as Tonks had suggested.
Although her relationship with Dumbledore had eased a bit because of Nurmengard and the Chamber of Secrets, that rift still existed and needed more time to fade.
Eda no longer saw Dumbledore as someone she could rely on, nor did she want to owe him any more favors. Favors, after all, must be paid back.
With Professor McGonagall, Eda didn't feel that burden—if anything, it felt as though McGonagall owed her.
Whenever she had doubts or problems, she always thought of her Head of House first. And Professor McGonagall had never cared about repayment; she always helped her unconditionally and looked after her.
In this cold world, Eda felt at least somewhat fortunate—because she had met so many kind people. Some people might go their whole lives without meeting even one such person, while she had met many.
And it was precisely because of these people that Eda never sank into darkness, because her life was full of light, and the road to falling into darkness was covered with stumbling stones.
Just when Eda was struggling over whether to ask Professor McGonagall for help, Dumbledore suddenly came to her.
That night, just as Eda was about to go to bed, she found Fawkes the phoenix perched outside her window.
Eda quietly put on her black lace-trimmed dressing gown and tucked her wand into it before walking downstairs with confusion.
This wasn't Dumbledore's first visit to the Burrow, and he had just saved the Weasley couple's youngest daughter, Ginny. Why wouldn't he visit the Burrow openly? Why did he have to sneak around like this, making it feel like some sort of secret underground meeting?
With that doubt in mind, Eda stepped out of the Burrow, went around the bushes coiling at the base of the wall, walked past the thick weeds and overgrown grass, and finally saw the late-night "intruder" Dumbledore by the large pond.
"Professor, visiting so late at night—and in such a guilty, sneaky manner—do you have some unspeakable secret?" Eda said softly. The night wind was chilly, carrying her words far away.
"There's nothing that cannot be spoken," Dumbledore replied. Seeing Eda purse her lips, he continued, "But some things need not be turned into great public fuss, disturbing others. It's enough that you and I know."
Hearing Dumbledore's words, Eda's first reaction was that her act of killing someone had been exposed. But she quickly dismissed that thought—she was confident she had been discreet enough that Dumbledore shouldn't have discovered anything.
Besides, if Dumbledore really had found out, even if he didn't come to condemn her, he wouldn't be speaking with such calm lightness.
"Then why are you here?" Eda asked. "Beauty comes from sleep, you know. You and your bird have successfully made me miss my skin regeneration time."
"What theory is that? I've never heard of it. Is it something new Muggles have discovered?" Dumbledore asked curiously. Skin regeneration time—what was that?
Of course Eda couldn't explain anything. She was just complaining that Dumbledore had interrupted her rest. She had no idea what theory this was supposed to be, who proposed it, or whether it was true or not.
Under the sparse stars and bright moon—a rare stretch of good weather—the matter Dumbledore brought up was anything but pleasant. He asked, "Someone told me you've been followed. Is that true?"
"Tonks told you?" Eda turned her head toward Dumbledore. Tonks had only just discussed this with her, and only a few days later Dumbledore came looking for her. Naturally, Eda assumed Tonks must have told the Headmaster.
"So it is true." Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully. "Tonks—I recall she was a Hufflepuff student. I didn't know you were acquainted with such a lively young lady."
Dumbledore had been a professor for decades and taught countless students. He couldn't possibly remember every name, but Tonks was the type to leave a strong impression.
"I only just got to know Tonks," Eda said. "I'm not sure who's monitoring me. I only discovered them because Tonks pointed it out. Oh—and Tonks is attending Auror training now."
Dumbledore lifted his head and looked up into the night sky, as though his interest in Tonks had grown. His old friend Alastor Moody had mentioned her before as well. He continued, "What surprises me is that you only noticed because someone else reminded you."
"If you went to the Leaky Cauldron, you'd know how good old Tom's business is this year!" Eda sighed helplessly. "It's like he suddenly got ten years younger—happier than if he'd married a new wife."
"Never look for excuses for yourself, Eda." Dumbledore's tone of reproach was gentle—far more pleasant than Grindelwald's ever was.
Eda nodded and accepted the Headmaster's criticism. It was indeed negligence on her part—or perhaps a sign of her overconfidence as her abilities grew.
She said, "This kind of surveillance happened once last year. Back then, I suspected Fawley or some other pure-blood families, but I couldn't find any concrete evidence."
"And this time?" Dumbledore asked. "Have you discovered anything new?"
"Well.. Some of them don't look like British wizards," Eda said.
"That aligns with the information I received," Dumbledore replied. "Some of them entered Britain through legitimate means, while others… were smuggled in illegally."
"Like when we went to Nurmengard last time?"
"Yes—though the methods involved may have been different."In this world, no one could say for certain how many kinds of magic existed—not even Dumbledore. Otherwise, he wouldn't have needed to seek the help of Glover Cecil earlier, nor would he have failed to recognize the magic Voldemort had placed on the diary.
"I will investigate this matter as quickly as possible," Dumbledore said. "Leaving it unresolved would be a hidden danger."He felt that Eda was becoming increasingly difficult to read. What secret was this child carrying that drew so much interest from these people?
"Also—do you need protection?" Dumbledore asked again. He knew the question was likely unnecessary, but still felt it needed to be voiced.
In the entire magical world, no one understood Eda's abilities better than Dumbledore. Next were Grindelwald and Newt Scamander.
The latter two did not interact with Eda as often and weren't fully aware of her recent changes, but each had their own sense and assessment of her abilities—thus, they were roughly on the same level of understanding.
Professor McGonagall, despite interacting with Eda frequently, still didn't have a true understanding of Eda's actual strength—or rather, she lacked a clear and complete picture.
After all, Professor McGonagall only ever discussed Transfiguration with Eda; they had never talked about other branches of magic.
Dumbledore's suggestion came from goodwill, the concern of an elder—yet Eda couldn't help wanting to ask him: Are you insulting me? Are you sure you're not insulting me?
A man over a hundred years old, and of all things he had to learn Snape's snide way of talking.
"Thank you for your kindness, but I can handle it," Eda replied, having her own considerations. "And if I suddenly have extra people around me, it might alert the enemy."
Dumbledore did not show even the slightest displeasure at her refusal. He knew Eda must have her own judgment—what one might call a steady head on her shoulders. He added, "By the way, I'm not sure why, but a friend of mine suggests that you should start learning French."
"French?" Eda turned toward Dumbledore in confusion—only to discover that he had already vanished.
Her confusion evaporated instantly, replaced by a cold sweat. If Dumbledore could disappear without a sound… couldn't he appear just as silently? Besides him, who else could manage such a thing?
The night breeze carried a hint of chill. Eda stood alone by the edge of the pond, unmoving, for a long time before she finally returned to her room.
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