Chapter 41: Doubts in the Wrongful Conviction and Older Students!

"Got it, Dudley. Let's do as you say!"

Dumbledore snapped out of his shocked and dazed stupor. Without much hesitation, he directly agreed to Dudley's plan.

His concepts and ways of doing things were undergoing a profound transformation.

"And there's one more thing."

Seeing that Dumbledore had agreed, Dudley immediately shifted to the next topic.

"Dumbledore, Hagrid has been wronged for way too long. You must clear his name as soon as possible and prove his innocence!

This is also to atone for the mistake you made back then! As the chief wizard of the Wizengamot, the highest wizarding court and the entity in control of the judicial power, you are extremely lacking in the ability to investigate cases and determine liability.

The Chamber of Secrets of Slytherin was opened, and an unknown monster escaped, killing students at the Hogwarts. During the same period, the fact that Hagrid was secretly raising Acromantulas was accidentally leaked and made public.

Are just these few facts enough to prove that Hagrid set the spiders on people?"

Dudley's question sent Dumbledore into a reverie.

"At that time, Voldemort, also known as Tom Marvolo Riddle, was an exceptional fifth-year student at Hogwarts. His exceptional magical talent and strikingly handsome appearance made him highly esteemed among the student body.

Voldemort claimed to the wizards from the Ministry of Magic who came to investigate the case that he witnessed firsthand that the spiders Hagrid raised had killed Myrtle. His followers all chimed in with him, greatly interfering with the judgment of the Ministry of Magic wizards.

Coupled with the fact that Hagrid had no way to prove that the Acromantulas hadn't killed anyone, I couldn't exculpate him or prevent him from being expelled. I could only manage to ensure that he stayed at Hogwarts as a Gamekeeper."

As Dumbledore recounted what had happened back then, as if reminded of Hagrid erasing his own memories yesterday, a look of sadness and guilt appeared on his face.

But Dudley wasn't going to indulge Dumbledore. He immediately analyzed rationally what Dumbledore could have done back then.

"I'm really speechless with you wizards. Your judicial system is so archaic! Do you even know the principle of 'innocent until proven guilty'? If you suspect someone is a murderer, you need to investigate and find enough evidence to prove it!

You actually made the suspect prove their own innocence? If they can't prove it, they're guilty? What kind of absurd logic is that?

Dumbledore, the reason you thought you couldn't exculpate Hagrid back then was simply that you didn't think!

Without even using magic or potions, I can come up with a way to prove that Hagrid didn't commit the crime of murder!

It's clearly stated in your wizards' history books that Salazar Slytherin was a pure - blood supremacist wizard. Would the Chamber of Secrets he left behind be opened by a half - blood offspring of a wizard and a giant?

If this isn't very persuasive, then let me ask you, did you perform an autopsy on the deceased Myrtle back then?

When Acromantulas kill, they either suffocate their victims with silk, erode them with venom, pierce them with their spider legs, or bite them with their mouthparts. Were there any corresponding marks left on Myrtle's body?

Could they be traced to the Acromantula Hagrid raised?

Even if the young Voldemort was cautious and left some disguised marks and clues on Myrtle's body afterwards, it wouldn't withstand a careful and in-depth examination!"

Because once a person dies, the blood stops flowing. The difference between the poison from an injury inflicted during life and the marks added after death is quite obvious!

And there's an even more crucial clue. I heard from Hagrid that Myrtle became a ghost after she died, right? Didn't you go and ask her what caused her death? Had she seen the Acromantula that Hagrid raised during her lifetime?

A young Acromantula doesn't have the ability to kill a wizard with a single blow. If it was the spider that killed someone, Myrtle, the victim, couldn't have known nothing about it!

So, if they had just paid a little more attention at that time, was it really that difficult to prove that Hagrid and his spider didn't commit the murder?

Dumbledore, if you had done that back then, not only could you have cleared Hagrid's suspicion, but you could also have exposed the young Voldemort's disguise. At the very least, you could have charged him with false accusation. You might even have discovered that it was Voldemort who opened the Chamber of Secrets and killed someone, and locked Voldemort up in Azkaban.

If that had happened, could Voldemort still have become the Dark Lord who plagued the wizarding world? Even if he could, he would have to pay a much greater price!

Dudley's penetrating analysis left Dumbledore stunned yet again.

"Dudley, you're cleverer than any Ravenclaw I've ever encountered. If I had possessed your quick wits and wisdom back then, and if you could have been born a century earlier so that I could have met you sooner, most of the tragedies I've faced would have been averted!"

Dumbledore felt a swirl of emotions in his heart, such as guilt, self-reproach, regret, and a sense of loss... Tears welled up in his eyes once more.

"However, Dudley, the regrets of the past have already occurred. The lack of ability and the intricate destiny have brought about this outcome. All we can do now is do our best to make amends for it.

I'll clear Hagrid of his charges as soon as possible and prove his innocence to all the wizards!"

Dumbledore made a promise.

"That's not sufficient. Hagrid dropped out of school in his third year because of this. I hope you can set aside some time to tutor Hagrid, improve his spell-casting ability and combat skills, and also make up for the regret of his dropping out."

Dudley added to his demands.

"Okay! I haven't taught a class myself for many years since I became the headmaster. By then, you and Harry are also welcome to audit the classes."

Dumbledore readily agreed to this request without hesitation.

"Not just me and Harry, but also my parents, the Dursleys! Dumbledore, you don't mind having two older students, do you? This is the last thing I hope you can do before the new school year starts."

Dudley unceremoniously increased Dumbledore's heavy workload.

Dumbledore was already thoroughly shocked. At this moment, upon hearing Dudley's outlandish request, he didn't show much emotional variation and simply nodded in reply.

He was really eager to see how Dudley could transform two already adult Muggles into wizards.

...

As a great many astonishing conversations took place, it was already late at night.

The Dursleys had been waiting in the first-floor living room and had prepared a sumptuous dinner.

After Dudley, Harry, and Dumbledore concluded their long conversation, they composed themselves and left Dudley's large bedroom. They walked down the stairs from the second floor one by one and arrived at the first-floor living room of the Dursley family's house.

In the presence of Dudley and Harry, Dumbledore solemnly apologized to the Dursleys, especially Aunt Petunia. He earnestly asked the Dursleys to forgive his inappropriate behavior back then and expressed his respect and remembrance for the Harry Potter family.

This left Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon so shocked that they didn't know what to do with themselves. It was only after Dudley explained things and comforted them that they understood what Dumbledore meant.

Aunt Petunia recalled every single detail of her past interactions with her "freak" sister. For a moment, grief overwhelmed her and she sobbed bitterly in Uncle Vernon's arms.

After crying, the Dursleys forgave Dumbledore. They were no longer as afraid of and distant from the old wizard as they used to be. It was as if they had accepted an ordinary, though unfamiliar, friend.

Dudley then announced to his parents in a timely manner that the family no longer needed to go abroad. Right in front of Dumbledore, he stretched out his two hands and held his parents' arms respectively.

A miracle was on the verge of happening!