7

Arthur, having made his decision, immediately began writing a letter, and the rest of the Weasley family busied themselves. Only Aiden sat on the sofa in a daze, silently lamenting that he was likely going to be handed over to an old bumblebee.

A few days later, on Arthur's day off, Mrs. Molly tidied the house from early morning. Aiden watched the two of them bustling about, as if preparing to welcome someone important.

"Is it today?" Aiden wondered.

A flash of green flame erupted in The Burrow's fireplace, and a tall, thin old man stepped out.

"Long time no see, Arthur, Molly," Dumbledore greeted the Weasleys.

"Welcome, Professor Dumbledore," Arthur replied.

"Please, sit here," Molly added warmly.

Once everyone was seated, Molly served tea, and Arthur took the lead. "Professor, the details were included in the letter, so I won't repeat them. Why don't you meet the child first?"

"Of course, Arthur. Let me see him." Dumbledore beckoned to Aiden. "Come here, child."

Aiden stepped forward, met Dumbledore's gaze, and greeted him politely, "Hello, Professor."

Dumbledore looked at the boy, momentarily dazed. After a pause, he said, "Arthur, Molly—when I brought this child to your home, I sensed his talent. As expected, Mind Readers always surprise us pioneers."

"Yes, Professor. Although you warned us back then, unfortunately, Molly and I aren't well-versed in that field of magic," Arthur replied helplessly.

"Come now, child, use your talent on me. Don't be afraid or embarrassed—magic is mysterious and wonderful," Dumbledore said.

Aiden nodded and tried to read Dumbledore's thoughts, but an overwhelming wave of magic distorted his senses. "I'm sorry, Professor. I can't see anything. Your magic blocks my observation, and the emotional light surrounding you never wavers."

"Ah, emotions. Yes, that's a wonderful talent. My thoughts are surrounded by love—that's why you can't read them," Dumbledore said with a wink. Aiden resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

Dumbledore then turned to the Weasleys. "I understand Mr. Pruett's ability somewhat now. It seems different from the usual Mind Reader. He observes magic and emotion to interpret minds. It's distinct, but I'll still teach him. After all, a wizard who can peer into hearts is often… unpopular."

"We'll entrust him to you, Professor Dumbledore," Molly said at last. Though initially the most reluctant, she now resolutely allowed Aiden to go.

"Don't worry, Molly. It's just for a while," Arthur comforted her gently.

"Alright then. I'll take the child with me and send him back shortly." Dumbledore stepped forward and took Aiden's hand. A phoenix flew through the window, and in a flash of flame, the two disappeared.

The phoenix's method of travel was far more comfortable than Apparition. Though Aiden hadn't tried it yet, he knew from books that Apparition felt unpleasant.

If only I had a phoenix someday, Aiden thought.

"We're here. This is my house in Godric's Hollow, though I haven't lived here in some time," Dumbledore said.

Fawkes perched on his shoulder, eyeing Aiden curiously.

"Looks like a bit of cleaning is needed before we settle in," Dumbledore added. He drew his wand and said, "Scourgify!"

A sudden breeze swept through the house. The dusty windows cleared instantly, revealing a cozy interior. Dumbledore waved his wand again, "Reparo!" Broken tiles flew back into place, and damaged furniture rebuilt itself under the spell's effect.

This large-scale spell, cast over the entire property, amazed Aiden. Casting spells at multiple targets all at once—Dumbledore's legendary status wasn't undeserved. In a wizard duel, this kind of magic would offer a huge advantage. If only he enjoyed dueling… otherwise, Professor Flitwick might have a rival for champion.

"Come in, child. I'll have Hogwarts' house-elves send over whatever else you need," Dumbledore said, walking toward the house.

"Okay, Professor." Aiden followed, grumbling internally. If there weren't elves, would I have to light the fire and cook for myself?

"Professor, will I be studying with you for a while?" Aiden asked innocently.

"I'm afraid so, child. We need to help you control your talent to prevent any harm," Dumbledore replied.

"Alright, where do we start?"

"I've already prepared," Dumbledore said, pulling two books from his pocket. "Take these."

Aiden was stunned. His pocket? Are Unbreakable Charm restrictions just decorative to magic masters? So jealous. I'll definitely learn that one day. He reached out and accepted the books.

The covers read: "The Secrets of the Brain: Peeking into the Souls of Others" and "Occlumency: From Beginner to Master."

"For the next few days, focus on studying these books. Later, I'll help you practice the magic in them. I still have school matters to attend to, so I must leave for now. I've arranged for Coco to assist you. If you need anything, just call for him." With that, Dumbledore vanished in a flash of flame.

Coach, I want to learn this too. And Coach, you're way too irresponsible, Aiden grumbled silently. Confirming Dumbledore was gone, he sank into the sofa and opened both books.

Immersed in reading, Aiden lost track of time. Dusk fell before he realized how long he'd been studying, and hunger finally drew him back to reality.

"Coco," he called.

With a flicker of magic, a house-elf appeared. He was short, with bat-like ears, a long nose, and wide green eyes the size of tennis balls.

"Coco is very happy to serve you, sir."

"Coco, could you prepare some dinner for me? Thank you." Aiden observed him with interest. Clearly, this elf had not been mistreated—the Hogwarts elves were well protected.

Soon, Coco laid out a dinner: roast chicken, vegetable salad, phantom fish fillets, and delightful desserts. After eating, Aiden sat back down and resumed reading Dumbledore's books.

Having advanced to a Mind Reader, Aiden's memory and mental strength had improved dramatically. He was nearly able to recall everything he read. By the end of the night, he had already finished both books.

End of the Chapter.