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Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: A Chat with Dumbledore 

"So, I only get detention? Is that really all you called me here for?" Harry asked, quite bewildered. 

"Do sit down first, Harry. We have plenty of time," Dumbledore replied, a twinkle in his eye. 

No sooner had Harry settled into the chair opposite the Headmaster's desk than a cup of tea, steaming hot, appeared before him. Dumbledore gestured for him to take a sip. 

"Cough, cough, cough! Professor Dumbledore, did you put all of Hogwarts's sugar in this?" Harry nearly choked. 

"Oh, forgive an old man his small quirks," Dumbledore chuckled, taking a hearty swig himself and looking utterly delighted. Harry leaned back in his chair, a look of distaste on his face. 

A long silence settled between them, and Harry slowly began to relax. Just then, Dumbledore broke the quiet. "Harry, why did you use a charm against Draco?" 

"Just like Hermione said, because he insulted my parents first." 

"And those Muggles at primary school? Was it for the same reason? Did they also mention your parents?" 

Harry's head shot up in surprise. Dumbledore took another sip of his overly sweet tea, then looked directly into Harry's eyes. 

"Forgive me for delving into your past without your permission. You might recall our first meeting, when you tried to attack me with a Levitation Charm. Because of that, I visited your primary school and spoke with your teachers about you." 

Harry didn't respond, slowly raising his teacup and taking a sip. 

"I learned some rather negative opinions about you from the teachers. To verify them, I sought out some of your former classmates and obtained some memories. Would you care to see them with me?" Dumbledore gestured toward a basin on a bookshelf, filled with a swirling, misty substance. 

"No, thank you. If you already know, what's the point of looking?" Harry said coolly. "Yes, even if Malfoy hadn't said those things, I still would have cast that spell." 

"Why, Harry? I wish to understand the true reason." 

Harry didn't answer directly. Instead, he said, "Professor Dumbledore, I've read about your deeds in many books. They're all so incredibly great, so great that I can hardly believe someone so perfect exists in the world." 

"Oh, I assure you, I am far from perfect. What is written in books is merely what the authors wished for you to see. It's simply that I've lived for a very, very long time, so long that the world has come to see me as a saint." 

"Yes, you've certainly lived for a very long time," Harry retorted, a hint of bitterness in his voice. "So long that you've forgotten what it's like for an orphan to survive in school." 

For the first time, a look of genuine surprise crossed Dumbledore's face at Harry's sarcasm. 

"How could someone as great as you, having stood atop for so long, possibly understand the hardships of an orphan? So you don't know what hunger feels like, or what it's like to have no parents..." Harry abruptly fell silent, then stood up, slamming his teacup onto the floor, and glared angrily at Dumbledore. 

Seeing the fury in Harry's expression, Dumbledore understood that Harry had guessed. He quickly said, "Harry, I am truly sorry. For the sake of this conversation, I had to bend a few rules." He looked at Harry with an apologetic yet firm gaze. "I give you my word, this was only a very small potion. It won't override your will, nor will it cause you any harm. So, may our conversation continue?" 

"Even if I don't speak, I'm sure you'd find a way to get the answers from my mind anyway," Harry shot back. 

"Harry, I promise you, I would never force you. In fact, I haven't even looked at the memories in the Pensieve yet," Dumbledore said earnestly. 

Harry retorted, "If I don't tell you, will I be expelled?" 

Dumbledore shook his head. "Whether you speak or not, you will not be expelled. Attending Hogwarts is your right." 

Harry was a little surprised by this answer. He'd fully expected Dumbledore to use Hogwarts as leverage. 

After a moment of silence, Harry sat back down and began to speak. "As I said before, it's incredibly difficult for an orphan to survive in school. Some kids just love picking on orphans; it gives them a thrill." A cynical expression crossed Harry's face as he continued, "At first, the teachers tried to help, but ever since my wonderful aunt visited the school, no teacher was willing to help me anymore. I was always hungry, skinny and short, my clothes were ragged, and no one cared about me. Who could be a better punching bag? It was in that kind of environment that my magic awoke." 

Harry paused, then went on. "At first, I only used the Levitation Charm to scare off the ringleader, so no one would bully me anymore. But later, I found they started respecting me, bringing me all sorts of food, and girls who never even looked at me suddenly started showing interest." 

"Including your cousin, Dudley?" Dumbledore pressed. 

Harry silently nodded. 

"I think I understand now," Dumbledore said, a look of realization dawning on his face. "You figured out a way to survive on your own. After coming to Hogwarts, you identified Draco as a new 'leader,' and combined with his insults to your parents, you deliberately attacked him." Dumbledore mused. "But then, why did you become friends with Miss Granger? This might be a bit rude, but Miss Granger isn't the most... conventionally attractive among the new students." 

"Because she's quite foolish, foolish enough not to make friends..." 

Dumbledore suddenly chuckled, picking up his tea and taking a sip. "Harry, I'm very glad you're being so open with me, and I'm also pleased to see that you have a kind side to you." 

Harry glared at Dumbledore, annoyed. 

"But Harry, this is Hogwarts, not that Muggle primary school. You don't need to resort to violence to gain friendship here. Promise me you won't easily use magic on your classmates, alright?" 

Harry was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "What if they start it first?" 

"I never advocate for surrendering when under attack," Dumbledore replied, his eyes twinkling. 

Hearing Dumbledore's answer, Harry finally had nothing more to say and agreed. 

Dumbledore, looking quite pleased, pulled out a box of Cockroach Clusters from a drawer and, to Harry's utter disbelief, bit into one. "Care for one? Don't look at me like that, they're magical sweets!" 

Harry looked at the cockroach still wiggling in Dumbledore's hand and firmly shook his head. Seeing Harry refuse the Cockroach Clusters, Dumbledore regretfully popped the rest of the sweet into his mouth, closing his eyes in enjoyment as if it were the most delicious candy in the world. 

A moment later, Dumbledore suddenly said in a lighthearted tone, "Let me see... it's gotten quite late. Your detention is over, then. Consider it my apology for rather presumptuously using a potion on you." 

"Malfoy won't agree to that," Harry pointed out. 

"Oh, but I am the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Harry. How punishments are given is entirely up to me," Dumbledore said, raising an eyebrow. 

With that, Dumbledore indicated it was time to send Harry back to his common room to rest. Walking through the Hogwarts corridors, Harry was still a little disbelieving. He had fully expected Dumbledore to lecture him with grand life lessons and inspiring platitudes, telling him what he couldn't do and what he could. But it just... ended? 

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