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Last of The Fae Chapter 147: A discussion of equals
🕑 Added 2025-04-13 22:34:22 +0000 UTCDumbledore looked up from his desk as a firm knock echoed through the quiet of his tower office. He glanced at the enchanted clock on the wall, its silver hands sweeping past an hour few dared to disturb.
'Who could possibly wish to speak with me at this dreadful time of night?' he wondered, frowning slightly as he reached for the crystalline bowl of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans and selected a few at random.
"Who is it?" he called, his voice polite but tinged with fatigue.
"It's Thane, Headmaster. Forgive me for the intrusion, but there are matters I believe require your attention—urgently."
Dumbledore's silver brows arched in quiet surprise. Thane was not prone to dramatics. If he was here, it was because he deemed it necessary. With a flick of his hand, the heavy oak door creaked open, revealing the young Lord Fae in full school uniform, his expression composed but charged with purpose.
"Thane," Dumbledore greeted, watching as the boy stepped across the threshold. "I must admit, I didn't expect your return quite so soon. The papers haven't even had the chance to publish the outcome of your trial. Though, considering you're here and not still in holding… may I take it you were acquitted?"
A faint smile touched Thane's lips, but it lacked warmth, the corners tinged with dry irony. "Naturally. There was never any real case. The charges were a smokescreen. The trial? Merely a stage—meant to draw battle lines and test loyalties."
Dumbledore's own smile faltered, replaced by a look of quiet concern. "Yes… I feared as much. Politics masquerading as justice. There are many who fear your potential, Thane."
Thane inclined his head in agreement and settled into the chair opposite the Headmaster as the older wizard gestured graciously for him to sit.
"Including you," Thane added, tone even, almost casual. "Though if I'm not mistaken, you've since had a change of heart."
Dumbledore didn't flinch at the accusation. Instead, he folded his hands over his desk and regarded the young lord with a touch of reverence. "I wondered how long it would take you to address my… subtle interference."
Thane waved it off, almost dismissively. "Compared to what others are doing—plotting in the shadows—your meddling was almost courteous. And I suspect your motives were far less self-serving."
A trace of guilt flickered in Dumbledore's gaze as he nodded. "You're not wrong. Restricting your resources was not a decision I made lightly. But I lacked alternatives. To confront you outright would've pushed you away. I feared what you might become if unchecked… and I feared the pressure you're under even more."
He sighed and added with a wistful smile, "Politics, sadly, was never my strength. I've never had your silver tongue."
Thane's smirk deepened. "That's debatable. You've been manipulating the fate of nations with a twinkle in your eye and a few carefully chosen words for decades, Headmaster. You just prefer to dress it in robes of benevolence."
Dumbledore chuckled, the sound weary but sincere. "Touché."
"As for my so-called silver tongue," Thane said, leaning forward slightly, his voice dropping to something closer to sincerity, "I'd trade it all in an instant. I didn't ask to be thrust into this web of alliances and whispers. I'm a scholar. I want to understand the fabric of the world—not sew it back together after others have torn it apart. But…"
He paused, folding his hands. "It's a responsibility I inherited. One I intend to bear, whether I enjoy it or not."
Dumbledore's expression turned solemn. "Then I fear the burdens you carry will only grow heavier, Lord Fae."
"Which is why I've come tonight," Thane said quietly, his tone growing serious.
"There are far more important things my time can be spent on," Thane said plainly, his tone stripped of ceremony. "And unfortunately, I've had to reconsider my priorities. One thing that now falls very low on that list… is this school."
Dumbledore blinked at him, genuinely surprised. "You wish to withdraw from Hogwarts?"
"No," Thane replied, his voice measured. "I wish to remain a student in name. Though I'm certain you'll agree, Headmaster, that I'm far beyond the scope of the third-year curriculum."
Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, frowning thoughtfully. "Then… why continue to attend Hogwarts at all?"
"Certification and credentials," Thane said without hesitation. "I intend to pursue mastery in Potioneering, Healer certification, advanced dueling licenses, and several other formally recognized titles."
He delivered the list with the ease one might use to name courses for a single term, though each pursuit would normally take years of dedicated study. Dumbledore's expression grew unreadable.
"Ambitious," the old man said carefully. "Is there a practical application for such titles—or is it simply ambition for its own sake? Which, I must assure you, is not an insult."
He tossed a jelly bean into his mouth, promptly wincing. "Hmm. Worm dirt. Truly unfortunate."
"They're practical," Thane answered, not missing a beat. "Internationally, my name still carries little weight. These credentials will help remedy that. In certain circles, doors only open when one's qualifications are visibly stamped and countersigned."
Dumbledore nodded slowly, brushing nonexistent lint from his sleeve. "Quite true. Though, as I'm sure you're aware, each certification comes with stringent academic requirements—including original dissertations, which must be reviewed and endorsed by a recognized expert in the corresponding field."
"I'm aware," Thane said, folding his hands. "But to even begin those applications, I'll need to sit the respective NEWT exams early. And for that, I require your permission."
"Ah," Dumbledore said, smiling faintly. "Now we've reached the heart of it."
He paused for a long moment, studying the young man before him with something between admiration and worry. Then, with a small nod, he said, "Very well. You have it. You may take the exams early—with the understanding that I expect nothing less than excellence."
Thane offered a small, respectful nod. "Naturally."
"I look forward to seeing what you accomplish, Lord Fae," Dumbledore said, his gaze lingering. "And I hope, in the pursuit of mastery, you don't forget to live."
Thane nodded slowly, then paused—his expression unreadable, as though weighing something carefully. "Tell me, Headmaster… what convinced you that I wouldn't be the one to repeat history?"
Dumbledore tilted his head ever so slightly, and for a long moment, said nothing. Then, a wistful smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, softening the lines of his face. "Your engagement party, actually," he said, his tone light with memory. "As I imagine was one of the objectives behind your rather intentional hospitality."
Thane's lips curved into a faint smirk, though there was a trace of something more serious beneath the surface. "Is that truly all it took to win you over? A pleasant evening, good food, and fine wine?"
The old wizard chuckled, stroking his beard. "While I won't deny the dinner was superb—especially the roast pheasant—what truly changed my mind was the garden."
Thane blinked. "The garden?"
"Yes," Dumbledore said simply, nodding once. "I took the liberty of wandering through each section before I left. They were magnificent—yes, in appearance, but more importantly, in harmony. Each garden was curated with care. With restraint. There was a sense of purpose to the way each space was cultivated—not just for beauty, but for balance. For reflection."
He looked Thane in the eyes, the blue of his own gaze twinkling with a deeper wisdom. "It was a glimpse into your mind… and your heart. No man with truly malevolent intent could have created such spaces. Not just one, but many—each a study in life itself. Untouched by corruption, untouched by domination. They bloomed freely, and yet with direction. That was what convinced me."
Thane said nothing for a few seconds. When he did speak, his voice was quiet. "Most would've assumed I lied about tending to the gardens myself. That it was the work of a hired hand."
"Then most," Dumbledore said, "would have missed what I saw."
