Chapter 163: Old Friends

Words : 1269 Updated : Oct 8th, 2025

"Main Atrium." A woman's cold voice announced from within the elevator. The golden grilles opened, and Dumbledore and Wade stepped out together. After a short walk, they reached a large atrium with a grand fountain at its center. In the middle of the fountain stood a set of pure gold statues: a noble-looking wizard held his wand aloft, a beautiful witch gazed at him with admiration, and around them, a centaur, a goblin, and a house-elf looked up at them with boundless reverence. At the fountain's base were numerous shining coins, and a small plaque beside it read: [All proceeds from the Fountain of Magical Brethren are donated to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.] The two paused by the fountain, and looked up at the statues. "A fine piece of art, isn't it?" Dumbledore tossed a handful of coins into the fountain and said with a smile, "Though probably only wizards and house-elves would admire this piece. Centaurs and goblins might not find it so pleasing." "The goblins would appreciate the gold," Wade countered. Dumbledore chuckled, "True." "Does the money here actually go toward helping patients?" Wade asked. "Muggle wishing fountains are often just a way to make money." "You can be assured that in the magical world, funds are used more faithfully," Dumbledore replied. So Wade also took a handful of coins from his pocket and threw them in. The gleaming Galleons stood out amidst a pile of silver Sickles and bronze Knuts. A stream of water poured from the ear of the house-elf statue, splashing into the water in front of Wade. The droplets seemed to shimmer in gold. After a moment of silence, Dumbledore sighed and said, "Wizards, centaurs, goblins, house-elves—intelligence and magical ability make us equals... just as wizards, Squibs, and Muggles are all part of humanity." "Our world is made up of different races, each an inseparable part of society. But wizard prejudice and arrogance have long caused other races to suffer, and wizards themselves often pay a price for it." "Isn't it the same even among wizards?" Wade remarked. "Purebloods look down on half-bloods and Muggle-borns, nobles look down on commoners, the rich look down on the poor, the clever look down on the dull... Even without racial divides, hierarchies of disdain are everywhere." "Yet some kinds of disdain inspire us to improve," Dumbledore replied, "while others bring suffering based solely on one's birth." Wade remained silent. Dumbledore might have been alluding to house-elves, or perhaps to Squibs or Muggles. He was discussing things that most children wouldn't ponder, but Wade had no desire to reveal his inner thoughts. After a brief silence, Dumbledore said in a light-hearted tone, "Let's go." "Professor, where are we going?" Wade asked, following him. "You're following me without knowing our destination?" Dumbledore asked with a touch of humor. "You're Dumbledore," Wade replied simply. Dumbledore laughed again. This time, his smile seemed more genuine, his blue eyes crinkled beneath his half-moon glasses, softening the wrinkles at the corners. "I want to introduce you to someone," he said. "An old friend I haven't seen in a long time." ... Upon leaving the Ministry of Magic, Dumbledore asked, "Have you ever tried Side-Along Apparition, Wade?" "No, Professor," Wade shook his head. "Then I'll guide you. Just hold onto my arm firmly," Dumbledore instructed, holding out his arm. "The sensation is a bit unpleasant, but don't worry; I'll make sure you're safe." Wade grabbed Dumbledore's arm. Dumbledore's tall stature made Wade feel even smaller, almost like a child. "Very well, off we go!" The moment Dumbledore spoke, Wade felt an intense pressure, as if the air around him was crushing in from all directions, squeezing his body into something as small as a ping-pong ball... With a sudden "pop," Wade felt as if he'd been forced out of a narrow tube, his body snapping back to its normal form, and limbs felt as if they'd just regrown. He took a moment to steady himself, then looked up to see Dumbledore patiently waiting for him to recover. "All right?" Dumbledore asked with concern. "Apparition takes some getting used to." "I'm fine," Wade exhaled. "I heard that during the war, even young children had to learn Side-Along Apparition." "Yes, that was true," Dumbledore replied. Wade looked around. They were in an unfamiliar valley, with a dark, winding path leading into dense woods. Nearby, a quaint but dilapidated old house stood on a hillside. Not far from it was an overgrown graveyard. The area didn't look inhabited. Wade had a sense of where they might be, but he kept silent, and followed Dumbledore along the winding path without a word. Dumbledore didn't leave him guessing for long. With a wave of his wand, a mist rolled in, and Wade saw two shadowy figures appear ahead. He couldn't make out their faces, but he could tell that one was a man and the other a woman. The man was on horseback, dressed finely and elegantly, while the woman was hunched, with a bent back, wearing tattered clothes. They looked mismatched, yet the man lifted the woman onto the horse, and they rode together along a narrow path. "Many years ago, there was a young couple here — Tom Riddle, the handsome son of a Muggle family, and Merope Gaunt, the daughter from a wizarding family. They eloped, causing quite a scandal at the time." "To everyone, Riddle was a local gentleman, while the Gaunts were seen as eccentric vagabonds — they couldn't have been more different. So when Tom Riddle returned alone a few months later, the villagers weren't surprised." Through the mist, a man staggered back alone, and the young woman was no longer at his side. Dumbledore extended his arm. "Come, I'll show you the next chapter in Merope's fate." Wade once again took hold of his arm. With a "pop," they emerged from a narrow alley. Dumbledore cast a Disillusionment Charm, and they stepped out onto a London street. Wade recognized the neighborhood. There were some Muggles on the street, but they couldn't see Wade and Dumbledore. The mist gathered once more, and a blurry, heavily pregnant woman trudged along the street with snowflakes falling gently onto her shoulders. Wade followed her and listened as Dumbledore spoke. "After losing her husband, Merope found herself impoverished and pregnant. On a snowy night, she arrived at the orphanage ahead." The woman's blurry form collapsed, and people from the orphanage heard the noise. They ran out from behind the iron gate, calling to each other as they carried her inside. The scene shifted, and a newborn baby appeared. A woman in an apron held the infant, bringing him closer for his mother to see. The mother whispered something, then fell silent, and her arm dropped lifelessly. "After giving birth to this child, Merope passed away. With her last breath, she gave him his father's name — Tom Marvolo Riddle." -------------------------------- ????????Please consider supporting this translation project by becoming a P@treon member!!! Your support is greatly appreciated! Available on my P@treon page for just $4!! Early access to the following translations:- ⭐Harry Potter: Becoming a Study God (HP:BSG)- +148 Chapters & 2 Chapters/Day ⭐MCU: Druid's Adventures (MCUDA)(⭐COMPLETE⭐) - Total Chapter 460 ⭐Famous Police Detective in Detective World (FPDDW)- +165 advance chapters ⭐Marvel: Little Genius (MLG) (⭐COMPLETE⭐) - Total Chapter 450 [email protected]/Lightreaper457 --------------------------------

Chapter 163: Old Friends

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