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"Any more first-year visits this year and the older students might claim it's favoritism," Dumbledore remarked, a genial smile on his face as he stared at him with his mad and twinkling eyes.
He shifted on his seat. "...I am not a fan of being rude, headmaster- You know, don't really swear, use insults and the like- Just not my style."
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at him.
"That is an admirable quality to have for one so young."
"Yeah, sure, just pointing it out so you don't take what I am about to say badly-"
Dumbledore's raised eyebrow disappeared into an almost perfect poker face if not for the slightest hint of amusement.
"Anyway, back to your point about favoritism- By any chance do mean subtly hoping and possibly acting on for Harry Potter to win the house cup?" Rodrick questioned in retort, a small smile on his face, earning a blink from the older wizard. "Not that I blame you of course, if I was in your position I'd certainly want the Boy-Who-Lived to end the Slytherin's reign of house cups on his first year." He added with a shrug. "It'd make a great story."
He had to give the old man credit- He had a really good poker face.
Alas, the fact that Harry Potter had gotten fifty points for protecting his two fellow wizards from a Cerberus was quite frankly proving his point.
Even Hagrid hadn't believed his bald-faced lie, yet fifteen hours later, Harry Potter got those points either because the headmaster evidently believed in the rumor mill, or he'd been holding onto those fifty points and waiting for a chance to give them out for anything.
"...I can't say I know what you're referring to..." Dumbledore blinked once, a mirthful expression on his face. "Though you do seem rather more comfortable in the castle compared to your last few visits to my office." The man chuckled. "A good thing of course."
"...I am just gonna be honest with you," Rodrick shrugged, leaning back into the seat as his gaze swiveled upwards to meet the old man's eyes, surprising him for a moment. "I don't know if it's a coincidence regarding everything that happened this year, or it's a consistent theme-" A single beat passed as he frowned, taking in the Headmaster's thoughtful, albeit somewhat sharp expression. "-The latter, paints you as... Pardon my language, but crazy, for seeing it as the status quo and not bothering to do anything to change it." He paused again, a far more visible frown on his face as his fists clenched beneath the desk. "The former... Paints you as utterly reckless."
"Rodrick-"
"Let me finish," A beat passed before he hurriedly added a- "Please."
Dumbledore, after a split-second of thought, simply nodded.
"I don't know what kind of ship you're running here headmaster, and I am not sure I want to-" Unable to stop his fidgeting hands, he simply crossed them together. "-But three-headed, vicious dogs, should not be placed in the third floor, where a moving staircase can randomly take an unsuspecting child towards it-" He wasn't particularly sure if that was true, but the fact that up until recently it had been considered a forbidden place for students, and that when the ban was lifted, a freakin' three-headed dog found it's way into the forbidden forest was a thing, he was going with the bluff.
The fact the headmaster didn't so much as look bemused at the words, meant it was in fact true, or the old man was humoring him.
"Hiring professors, without making sure they're suitable around children, is not healthy nor conducive for any school environment-" Which considering the only other form of schooling he'd received was from his mass-murdering grandfather said a lot.
That time he did blink in bemusement.
"I was not aware you had an issue with Professor Snape..." The old man interjected.
What.
"I am talking about the possessed one that tried to get me smashed by a troll."
Dumbledore let out a sigh and shook his head in the process.
"Prior to this year, Rodrick, Professor Quirrel had been a rather amicable teacher-"
"Which begs the question of why you, a wizard in his hundreds-" That one he seemed to take an insult, given the affronted the look he gave him in return. "-failed to notice any changes since the last summer, presumably when said change happened." A single beat passed. "'cos if he was normal before, he literally came back possessed."
"..." The old man seemed to consider saying something to him for a moment before he shook his head the slightest bit, the single word 'point' coming out, and elected to let him continue.
"Hiding a stone that thousands would kill children over for, in a children's school, is an exceptionally stupid idea." He added on slowly, his voice dropping down towards the end. "And that's coming from a first-year student, headmaster."
Dumbledore blinked once, twice, before a resigned expression took over his face.
"I take it Hagrid let that slip during the detention-"
"The one held in the Forbidden Forest close to midnight, yes." A single beat passed. "First of all, who approved that ridiculous detention!? For first years!" The old man didn't respond, mostly because he simply continued his point without waiting for an answer. "Secondly, it is astoundingly telling that you immediately knew who leaked it!" He barely even noticed the finger he'd started pointing at the man. "Which, frankly suggests history- And that makes it all the more ridiculous that you'd trust him with a secret that wars could start over!"
His raised finger turned into an open palm and along with his other free hand, went up to his head before expanding out in a show of how stupid the idea was. "Literal mind-blowing stupidity at play here,"
"...I trust Hagrid with my life," Dumbledore remarked sternly after a moment, frowning at him.
"You shouldn't trust him with anyone else's," He deadpanned, unable to help himself. "And if your life was ever in any actual danger, I am pretty sure the rest of us would probably be dead! Let alone the guy hatching dragons in a wooden hut!"
He finally noticed the deep breath he was taking after a single beat of silence, the older man digesting his words with a passive expression on his face, one that barely betrayed any emotion.
It was almost scary, really.
"I have to say, you're been awfully more candid today, aren't you," Dumbledore eventually remarked, a small smile growing on his face. "I had no idea such thoughts were troubling you, and I am certainly glad to see-"
"It's 'cos I am planning to transfer to Durmstrang." Rodrick immediately cut off the man's words, that time earning what might've been the first genuine sign of worry from the old man for some reason.
"I see. You are aware you would need-"
"Yeah, I got a letter from 'em the same time as Hogwarts, I am sure they still have room for one more," He shrugged.
His grandfather had thankfully explained the nuances of admission, late or otherwise, into magical schools.
"...I was not aware of that," The older wizard remarked, a genuinely worried expression gracing his face as something seemed to flash through his eyes for some reason- After another moment of thought on it, he tilted his head the slightest bit at him. "If you don't mind me asking; if safety is the issue here, why do you think Durmstrang would be any better- Hogwart's isn't known to be the safest wizarding school for no reason." A beat passed. "Have you ever visited their school grounds before?"
"...No." He remarked with a frown. "Profesor Snape told you about my, uh, visions, right? That I might possibly be a seer?"
Dumbledore nodded. "He also mentioned the constant nightmares you seem to have-" A look of recognition filtered through the man's eyes. "Is that why you wish to leave?"
"...Sure," He deadpanned towards him, before he shook his mind of the lie he'd told to save face, "And the mind shield?"
Dumbledore nodded again. "He may have mentioned that as well."
"...So why haven't you enquired about it?" He couldn't help the question. "Not that I am ungrateful but... Just ignoring it seems... Unsafe."
Dumbledore gave him an easy smile for that one.
"Barring Severus's... unnecessary attempt at your mind, Hogwarts is a castle of many secrets, and if some students choose to have their own for whatever personal reason, then I, as headmaster, have no place in forcing them out." The man paused to take a breath, the smile dying down the slightest bit. "Yes, I am rather curious as to how your... Seer affinity seems to affect those that attempt to read into your thoughts- The very fact you know of it and noticed the attack is another point of mystery, but at the same time, it is not truly my place." The man remarked with a shrug.
"In truth Rodrick, I was simply waiting for you to come to me yourself when you needed to."
"...That's a long-winded way of blaming it on laziness." He deadpanned towards the man, earning a brief look of surprise that quickly turned into a mirthful chuckle.
"I am rather old as you've pointed out, I do believe I am allowed some laziness."
"Hm."
"...And on that note Rodrick, I am sure you're aware, given your keenness, that a school like Durmstrang won't be so... Lenient when it comes to students keeping secrets."
...He hadn't considered that part at al-
"Especially ones so transfiguring." Dumbledore remarked, a glint in his eyes as he stared at him.
...He wasn't entirely sure what to even begin to think of that.
On the one hand, Dumbledore noticed the human transfiguration on his face.
On the other... He didn't do a damn thing about it...
He wasn't sure what he should be more worried about to be completely honest.
However, there was really only one thing he could say to that-
"...Well, shit then." He deadpanned, slumping into his seat.
Dumbledore had the audacity to admonish him for his language.
...
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