Chapter 372

The silence in the office continued,

John, feeling a bit of a headache, rubbed his brow.

Regretting not having read the original in his past life, ah, he didn't know whether the story's ending would follow Dumbledore's conception.

Following the usual trope, the protagonist would surely be placed in a deadly situation and then survive.

But having time-traveled here, I've brought too many variables; I don't know if the outcome will deviate.

"Headmaster, may I ask an off-topic question...."

"You may ask." Dumbledore found John's question a bit strange, but he nodded.

"If, I mean, if I had never appeared at Hogwarts, would you still choose this method to help Harry resolve the Horcrux issue?"

Dumbledore: "?"

What kind of question is this?

"What you mean to say is... have these decisions I made for Harry changed because of your existence?"

Although he didn't understand why, Dumbledore quickly grasped the core of John's hypothesis.

"Ah, right." John nodded.

Dumbledore gave John a few strange looks; why would this well-behaved kid ask such a question?

Surely it's not that his saintly complex flared up, making him think Harry's predicament is related to himself, right?

If that were the case, it wouldn't be a saintly complex but rather narcissism gone too far.

However, in the end Dumbledore still shook his head.

"Regardless of whether you appear, or even anyone around Harry appears."

"It will not change this ending."

"Because this is the only viable path."

"Unless someone can go back to the past and change the fate of Harry's family."

Hearing this, John felt considerably relieved.

That is to say, even though my time-travel brought many variables, Harry's fate trajectory has not deviated from its core because of them.

So can I finally relax?

Harry is the boy who lived; the author surely wouldn't kill off this teenage protagonist, would they?

But still, a bout of worry is unavoidable.

To be fair, his relationship with Harry isn't particularly close.

It's mostly just camaraderie among comrades and classmates.

But letting a vibrant life go to death for the sake of so-called "greater good" is ultimately hard to accept.

Thinking thus, John sighed again.

Dumbledore didn't press John about his strange question just now, merely assuming John was trying to think of a solution from different angles.

"Headmaster, you say."

"Can we keep Harry's Horcrux?"

Hearing this, Dumbledore was stunned?

John's words continued.

"That is, after we destroy Voldemort, we then eradicate the roots, eliminating those Death Eaters."

"Furthermore, we can locate Voldemort's wandering soul and seal it."

"Completely cut off the possibility of his resurrection and harm to mankind."

"In that case, Harry wouldn't have to die."

"Wait until Harry dies a natural death, then the Horcrux will disappear along with him, and Voldemort can be completely eradicated."

Hearing John's words, Dumbledore was slightly taken aback, then shook his head and laughed.

"I didn't expect you to propose something similar to what Grindelwald suggested."

"Huh?" John blinked in surprise.

"Grindelwald had previously suggested a similar plan to me," Dumbledore said slowly.

"Listening, it indeed sounds like a good idea, but the future is too long; who knows what variables might arise over the ages?"

Saying this, John still thought Dumbledore would reject the proposal.

As a result, Dumbledore shifted the conversation.

"I will find an opportunity to have a good talk with Harry."

"I will not impose the burden of the greater good on him; instead, I will return the power of choice to him himself."

"If Harry seeks another possibility from me, I will fully support him."

Upon hearing that, John felt his heart loosen suddenly, and his tense nerves finally relaxed.

I was just saying, how could Dumbledore possibly be so cold-blooded as to force a teenager to go to his death?

After all, he's still that headmaster who cares about his students.

He ultimately still is that headmaster who cares about his students, ah.

Will Harry really choose that harder path, yet one full of vitality?

He has borne the title of "savior" for too long.

So long that......

He probably also takes it for granted that sacrifice is his only destination.

He would probably also take it for granted that sacrifice is his only refuge.

Time flies.

Soon it was the end of term, and the day to go home had arrived.

During this time, both Hogwarts and the wizarding world were very peaceful.

For a while, news of Voldemort and Grindelwald faded considerably.

Apart from the occasional Death Eater popping up, proving that everything wasn't over yet.

That oppressive feeling of an impending storm constantly weighed on everyone's hearts.

The only thing worth mentioning is that Harry and Draco seemed to have gotten into a stubborn rivalry.

Draco had defeated Harry last time.

Harry then worked hard to improve his strength, and then defeated Draco in return.

After being defeated by Harry, Draco didn't yield either; he went into seclusion to train hard, then sought Harry for a challenge.

They kept going back and forth, neither willing to yield.

Professor Maige turned a blind eye to it, as it could promote both of their strength improvements, and she was pleased to see it.

Oh right, there's also something else worth mentioning.

【The prophecy of the savior is nothing but a human fabrication!】

【Harry Potter is nothing but an unlucky bloke chosen by the mysterious person!】

【The wizarding world doesn't need a savior; it needs every wizard daring to stand up and oppose the mysterious person!】

Wizard Weekly and Sing Against the Grain, these days, as if by agreement, consecutively published several similar articles.

The articles, both inside and out, downplayed the concept of the savior, instead emphasizing each wizard's responsibility and power.

Harry, upon seeing these articles, did not feel lost due to the downplaying of his savior identity; instead, he felt an unprecedented sense of ease.

This is also what John wanted to see.

Because he had commissioned Luna's father, Mr. Lovegood, to publish these articles in Sing Against the Grain.

At the same time, he ordered LiTa to cooperate with Sing Against the Grain to publish similar articles in Wizard Weekly.

That's all he could do for Harry.

The rest is up to Harry's own choice.

On the train home.

John and Hermione sat in the same compartment.

Hermione was looking at that article in Wizard Weekly, her brows slightly furrowed, she lifted her head thoughtfully to look at John.

"John, these articles... were arranged by you, right?"

"LiTa wouldn't just jump on the bandwagon to write such an article with no sensational points for no reason."

"Sing Against the Grain wouldn't write something this serious...."

Although these articles were grand and stirring, this kind of moral coercion article basically had no points of interest.

Moreover, they were almost published back-to-back, clearly someone was deliberately promoting them.

Speaking of LiTa, Hermione's first thought was naturally of John.

Add to that John's relationship with Luna, and Hermione could almost certainly tell this was John's doing.

"Hermione, how is your mind so sharp?"

John laughed and shook his head, not denying it.

He then put his arm around Hermione and pulled her into his embrace.

Hermione naturally leaned against his shoulder, but still asked curiously.

"How did you suddenly think of doing this for Harry? Weren't you previously calling him the savior with great delight?"

John had indeed previously liked to tease Harry about his savior identity.

"Well... because I talked with Dumbledore a bit, and found that old coot Dumbledore is quite wicked."

"He actually believed a prophecy from over a decade ago, believing Harry would be the savior who defeats Voldemort, and wanted to send him to the arena."

"But that broken prophecy was still uttered by that fraud Trelawney; can it be believed?"

"So I deliberately ruined his arrangements."