Milk_Is_My_Drug
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Chapter 120: The Weight of the Future
🕑 Added 2025-05-23 06:08:49 +0000 UTCThe stadium emptied in an eerie silence, its spectators lost in thought. They could only think of the dread they had felt for the future.
The students made their way back to Hogwarts, the usual anticipation for the Sorting Ceremony subdued. No whispered guesses about which House the first-years would join.
No playful rivalries. No one had the energy to care—not after Dante’s revelation. And yet, throughout the entire ceremony, Dante was absent.
Some students wondered, Had he quit? Had he left Hogwarts for good?
After the ceremony, while the students settled into their common rooms, the professors gathered for a meeting. When Dante arrived, the air in the room tightened.
Before, they had viewed him as a prodigy, a brilliant but young professor. Now, he was an ancient monster.
A being with power beyond comprehension. A being who had promised the worst of fates to them. Fear filled the professors.
But Dante didn’t care. He simply turned his gaze to Snape and asked “Do you still want to swap classes?”
Snape, who had long forgotten that conversation in the wake of recent events, felt his mouth go dry. What was he supposed to say? He had once thought himself an expert in his field—a master of potions, a time where he thought he taught Dante something.
And yet, standing before him now, was a man who seemed to have lived since the dawn of time. Snape clenched his jaw before finally speaking "When I tried to act as your guide all those years ago… did you enjoy watching me make a fool of myself?"
Dante raised an eyebrow. Then, after a moment, he smirked.
"It was amusing seeing you act all high and mighty," he admitted.
Snape’s lips pressed into a thin line.
"But in all honesty," Dante continued, "you saved me months of effort. So I appreciated that."
Snape exhaled, staring at Dante with a complicated expression. After a long pause, he finally said "I will take Defense Against the Dark Arts this year."
Then, with a slight inclination of his head, he added "I will leave Potions to the real old master."
Dante nodded. The decision was made.
The other professors, watching this exchange, did not feel any better. If anything, their unease deepened. Dante was staying.
Finally, Dumbledore spoke—his voice quieter than usual.
"Dante… should I even continue calling you that?"
Dante shrugged "Use whatever you like."
Dumbledore nodded, taking a deep breath before asking "Why? Why now?"
Dante’s silver eyes met Dumbledore’s without warmth “I made it clear,” he said. “I am tired of living, and I want to die. But I decided to postpone that for three years.”
Dumbledore’s fingers curled slightly.
"But why must you ruin so many lives in the process? Your plan will lead to devastating consequences." he said.
The air grew colder. Dante’s eyes narrowed "Because you are the most disappointing generation in eras."
Dumbledore’s expression darkened.
"I do not see hope for the future." Dante’s voice grew sharper with every word "Muggles have grown far beyond you. While you sit here in peace, the next generation will suffer and disappear because of your choices. So I decided to force you to face the consequences of your stagnation. In three years, you will either survive and build a future… or you will perish. Either way, I will not be around to watch."
Dumbledore’s voice held frustration now "That is not fair to most!"
He gestured around the room.
"People live their lives, they put in effort. Being unable to meet your impossible standards is not a crime!" Dumbledore argued.
Dante shook his head.
"It is not about my standards." Dante replied as his gaze swept over the professors cold and judging.
"It is about reality. And the reality is that you are truly lacking." His voice was like ice as he continued "This school has hundreds of students and dozens of professors. And yet…"
His gaze hardened.
"The only ones I see a future for are Argus Filch, an old squib. Luna Lovegood, mocked and called 'Loony' by many. And the Weasley twins, who are known as troublemakers and graduated last year.”
A long, tense silence followed. Then Dante spoke again, final and absolute "If these four are the best production of Hogwarts in the last seven years, then the world is already doomed."
Dumbledore frowned, trying one last time "Why do you insist that we will not survive? That we are going to be destroyed"
Dante didn’t hesitate "Because you are being pushed back more and more by Muggles. They are growing at an alarming rate. If you are discovered now, it is almost guaranteed that you will be wiped out.” He tilted his head slightly "Now imagine thirty… or fifty years from now. Imagine what Muggles will become while you still stagnate."
Dumbledore’s face was unreadable. Finally, he said "You assume the worst of people. You assume war and death. But what if we find understanding?"
Dante smiled. Not warmly. Not kindly. It was the smile of someone who had already seen the outcome.
"I have lived through history, Dumbledore. I have seen what Muggles and Wizards alike are capable of. They are no different from the Elves of old, destroying what is different, what they do not understand."
His expression grew distant. "Many wizards believe themselves superior now. But the truth is that Muggles are already superior. And when they discover you, they will fear you. They will slaughter you. They will enslave you. Because that’s what we do with what we deem different and can’t defend itself"
His voice was quiet, yet it rang through the room like a death sentence.
"When time come, they will win."
Dumbledore said nothing. There was nothing to say.
Dante leaned back and said "I am going to teach everything I know."
He looked around the room one final time "And then the choice will be in the hands of the next generation."
His silver eyes gleamed as he concluded "As I said… I will not be around to watch."
Dumbledore’s piercing blue eyes studied Dante, his expression caught between frustration and reluctant understanding. After a long silence, he finally spoke. “Is that why you refuse to fight Voldemort?” His voice was low but firm. “You want the wizards to fight and grow stronger? Is that why you attacked the Ministry, because you decided they are a hindrance to the future you envision?”
Dante smiled calm, knowing, as if he had expected the question. “When I die,” he said simply, “you can reach an understanding with muggles, if you are strong enough to protect yourselves and prove that you are capable.” His silver eyes gleamed “If you are not… then your end will be grim.”
Dumbledore’s fingers curled slightly on the armrest of his chair. “Then why not expose everything while you are still here?” His voice carried an edge of desperation now.
“If things are truly as bad as you claim, why not fix them? Why throw the world into chaos and destruction instead?” His gaze was steady.
“With that tree, with the sheer power you displayed, you are already a deterrence. You could balance things between wizards and Muggles. You could ensure peace.”
Dante let out a quiet chuckle. “Yes, I could,” he admitted.
“But that would be no different from what has already been done with the Statute of Secrecy.” He leaned back slightly, exhaling as if he were speaking to a child who had yet to understand the weight of the world.
“A temporary solution.” His voice was cool, almost indifferent. “But if the magical world is forced into a state where it must either rise and survive or be destroyed, then change can truly happen.”
Dante’s expression remained unchanged as he continued. “I admit it, separating the magical and non-magical worlds was my mistake.” His voice carried no regret, only an acceptance of past errors. “I gave the world more credit than it deserved.”
Dumbledore frowned deeply, his fingers pressing against his temple. “And what if this decision of yours is also wrong?” His voice was softer now, not accusing, only searching.
Dante smiled, slow and amused. “That’s the beauty of being dead permanently,” he said, his voice carrying a finality that sent a chill through the room. “I won’t need to worry or care about what happens next.”
Comments
Parinya Punprasit
Free from shackles ⛓️💥
Bluestar_sword
Honestly this is a beautiful story
