The morning sun barely reached the corners of the factory when Harry heard the familiar hum of the front door opening. He didn't need to look up to know who it was. The soft, measured steps, the calm presence — it could only be one person.
"Good morning, Harry," said the silver-haired man, his voice gentle but deliberate. Albus Dumbledore stepped into the factory, wand tucked beneath his robe, eyes sweeping over the room with quiet calculation.
Harry stayed crouched behind his workbench, arms resting lightly on its edge, eyes sharp. "Morning," he said flatly, voice even. He didn't rise. He did not trust the strange man; and he had learned long ago not to trust people so easily.
Dumbledore inclined his head, taking a measured step closer. "I hope I am not intruding," he said. "Your work seems — remarkable."
Harry kept his gaze down for a moment, then looked up. The man didn't radiate threat, but he radiated knowledge — and that alone demanded caution. "All right," Harry said. "Talk."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled faintly, though his voice remained calm. "I wanted to speak with you about the . . . abilities you've been exploring. The way you anticipate events, influence outcomes . . . the threads of the extraordinary you seem to perceive. You have been tapping into forces most cannot even sense."
Harry's mind raced. He knows. He knows about the block world. He kept his voice calm, neutral. "I've been working on understanding them," he said carefully. "Making sense of patterns, the way things respond . . . how everything connects."
Dumbledore raised a brow. "Ah, yes. The connections of magic, the flow of unseen energies . . . fascinating. And at your age, too. Most children would not notice, let alone manipulate, these threads."
Harry nodded slowly, keeping his expression neutral. He did not know about the block world, if he thinks the block world is magic, that's fine. He can teach me what I need anyway. "It's not exactly something you learn from books," Harry said softly. "You have to experiment. See how the pieces fit together, how to make them work."
"Indeed," Dumbledore said, leaning slightly forward. "Observation, practice, patience . . . all the hallmarks of someone with natural aptitude. I imagine your work has required focus, careful calculation, and discipline."
Harry's lips twitched faintly, though he said nothing. Calculation . . . focus . . . he's reading me all wrong, but it doesn't matter. "Yes," he said evenly. "One mistake and it all falls apart. But if you understand the rules, you can do anything."
Dumbledore's eyes sparkled behind his spectacles. "And yet, you've learned quickly. I can see the discipline in your method, the thought behind each action. Remarkable."
Harry studied him carefully. Curiosity had been itching at him for hours now. "If I had access to . . . that world, would I be able to do even more?" he asked cautiously, watching the man's expression.
"The magical world?" Dumbledore asked softly, voice rising with interest. "Yes. With proper guidance, you could achieve feats far beyond the ordinary. But power must be paired with understanding, and understanding comes slowly."
Harry's eyes narrowed slightly. Feats beyond the ordinary . . . that's exactly what I'm looking for. He didn't correct the misunderstanding. "I can learn quickly," he said. "I can handle it if someone . . . shows me how. I just need access."
Dumbledore nodded slowly, studying the scattered tools, wires, and mechanical contraptions around Harry. "Ah . . . yes. I see your ingenuity, your precision. All of this, in combination with your aptitude, suggests that your potential is . . . remarkable." He paused. "Most children would be content with games, but you . . . you see beyond, into the patterns, the possibilities. Fascinating."
Harry's heart beat a little faster. He had hoped someone would notice his methodical approach, the way he analyzed and manipulated the world — though he hadn't expected it to be called magic. "I want to understand it all," he said quietly. "I want to see the world in a way that makes sense, and then . . . I want to use it."
"Indeed," Dumbledore said. "That is wise. Power without comprehension is dangerous. You understand that, don't you?"
Harry inclined his head slightly. "I do," he said softly. He could already imagine what he could accomplish if he truly understood magic — if he could combine what he had learned from the block world with what he might gain from this one. I could be unstoppable.
Dumbledore's eyes softened. "You are curious, and that is good. Curiosity is the beginning of wisdom. You want to explore, to test boundaries . . . yet you are cautious, prudent. A rare combination."
Harry tilted his head, considering. "I don't want to fail. I want to know exactly what I'm doing. I want the knowledge of the rules to be able to use my abilities to the fullest."
" rules there are, yes," Dumbledore said. "And guidance. Step by step, you will learn. Observe, question, practice . . . and eventually, you will act. The world is vast, Harry, and it favors those who understand before they act."
Harry watched the man closely. He could learn a lot from this — not only knowledge about the magical world but also strategies, limitations, and the understanding of forces he didn't yet comprehend. "And you'll show me?" he asked quietly.
"I will," Dumbledore said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I can guide you. If you wish, I can take you to the magical world itself. Teach you the rules and let you explore safely. But the choice will always be yours."
Harry studied the silver-haired man carefully. I still don't trust him but I have to give a little trust to gain the knowledge I seek and to access the hidden world of magic. "I'll watch and learn first," he said finally. "Then I'll decide when to move forward.
Dumbledore inclined his head. "Very well. Patience is a virtue, and you have it in abundance. When you are ready . . . I will return, and we will step beyond the ordinary together. But only when you are ready."
As Dumbledore left the factory, the sunlight glinted off a metal edge, the faint hum of the air echoing in quiet agreement. Harry returned to his bench, hands settling on the scattered metal and wires. His mind was already racing with possibilities. Magic . . . and everything.
Outside the quiet corner his factory resided. a shadow of possibility lingered, waiting for him to step forward into a world that had always seemed just out of reach.