After being interrupted twice, Dumbledore was finally able to resume the story of the so-called Savior.
"Twelve years ago, while Tom was wreaking havoc across Britain, a Seer came to me and delivered a prophecy."
Dumbledore's eyes grew distant with memory.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…
Born to those who have thrice defied the Dark Lord…
Born as the seventh month dies…
And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal,
But he will have power the Dark Lord knows not…
And either must die at the hand of the other,
For neither can live while the other survives…
The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord
Will be born as the seventh month dies…"
Kai Adler rested his chin on one hand, unimpressed. "Harry Potter is that person?"
"There were actually two children who matched the prophecy," Dumbledore said. "Harry and Neville Longbottom. Their birthdays were only a day apart—both born at the end of July."
Neville?
The image of a round-faced boy with an earnest but slightly clueless expression floated into Kai's mind. So even that simple fellow had once been a candidate for the title of Savior?
"But the prophecy states: 'the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal,'" Kai mused. "So Voldemort chose Harry… and ended up on the losing end?"
"And what if he'd chosen Neville instead?"
Dumbledore gave a small shrug. "Perhaps the result would have been the same. Or perhaps he would have succeeded, and Harry would've grown up to defeat him later."
"Who knows."
There was a pause before Dumbledore looked down at the charred notebook in his hand. "But you and I both understand something the rest don't… This prophecy isn't finished."
Kai followed his gaze, eyes settling on the diary now resting quietly in the old man's grip. "No. It's not. Voldemort isn't completely dead. Horcruxes may be an abomination, but they are effective."
Silence settled over the chamber, the air thick with unspoken thoughts. Dumbledore was likely considering the shadow that still hung over the wizarding world—the return of the Dark Lord.
Kai's thoughts were simpler: find the bastard, and end him.
If Voldemort was stupid enough to choose Harry as his equal, then fine. Harry was Hermione's friend. By that logic, Voldemort had just made himself Kai's problem.
And if that walking corpse insisted on stirring chaos every year, how was Kai supposed to peacefully date Hermione?
Breaking the silence, Kai asked bluntly, "Is that why you want to train Potter? To make him strong enough to survive the prophecy?"
Dumbledore nodded.
His eyes drifted toward the massive Basilisk, still half-submerged in the transfigured stone, its glowing, blinded eyes still glowering with rage. Could Harry even defeat this beast? Kai had required serious effort just to suppress it.
"I believe in Harry," Dumbledore said softly. "He has courage, loyalty, and friends who stand with him."
Friends.
Kai caught that word instantly. His brow furrowed, and he glanced at the Headmaster with a sharp edge in his voice.
"You're not planning to involve Hermione too, are you?"
Dumbledore gave a heavy sigh. "I know how much you care for her, Kai. But Hermione isn't a porcelain doll. She will have to face challenges of her own eventually. Besides," he looked directly at Kai, "you're still here, aren't you?"
True.
Kai nodded slightly, acknowledging the truth. Hermione wouldn't want to be sheltered. She wanted to grow, to stand beside him, not behind him. She wasn't a songbird to be caged—he wanted a hawk that could fly beside him, fierce and proud.
Then something clicked.
Kai narrowed his eyes at the old man. "You're not planning to put Hermione in danger deliberately, are you? So I'll be forced to help Harry?"
Dumbledore didn't reply, but his small smile was answer enough.
"You want to use the fact that I'd never let Hermione get hurt—so I end up protecting Harry too," Kai muttered darkly. "You're a sly old fox, Albus."
"I believe in your judgment," Dumbledore said smoothly.
Kai rolled his eyes. "Fine. But say it plainly—how are you going to get your young hero to stumble across the Chamber of Secrets and slay a monster? He's not exactly the sharpest wand in the armory."
He eyed the bound Basilisk. "You're not seriously going to just shove him in here and say, 'Congratulations, you're the Savior—go fight the snake,' are you?"
"Of course not," Dumbledore replied, amused. "We need to ignite his determination. Stir him into action."
Kai turned back, suspicion growing. "So… a victim. Someone close to them gets attacked, and that pushes them to investigate."
Dumbledore didn't say a word. He just kept looking at him.
A long pause. Then realization dawned.
"You're not thinking of me, are you?"
The old man's smile said it all.
"You want me to play the victim?!" Kai's voice rose in disbelief. "Aren't I supposed to be the bodyguard? How am I supposed to protect anyone if I'm the one lying in the hospital wing?"
"I don't want Harry to rely on you," Dumbledore said gently. "He needs to learn to act on his own. To lead. He's already grown dependent on your presence, and I want him to break that habit before it becomes a crutch."
Kai muttered a curse in German under his breath.
"And since you already know where the Chamber is, your involvement would negate the challenge. But your absence—your fall—will raise the stakes."
The young man crossed his arms, brooding. Then he slowly smirked.
"Fine. But I'm not doing it for free."
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "Name your price."
"First," Kai held up one finger. "I want the right to Apparate within Hogwarts."
Dumbledore raised both eyebrows now.
"It's exhausting walking around this castle. If I'm going to be tossed into danger on a whim, I at least want the convenience of instant travel."
Dumbledore considered it. "Alright. But you may not use it to enter the girls' dormitories."
Kai rolled his eyes. "I'm not a degenerate."
"And second…" Kai pointed at the diary still in the old man's hand. "I want that."
Dumbledore's expression darkened. "What do you want with it?"
Kai shrugged. "If this is going to be a trial, there should be a proper final boss, right?"
"What do you intend to do?"
With a flick of his wand, Kai summoned the diary to his hand, spinning it lightly in his fingers. "Just returning it to its rightful owner."
The way he said it made Dumbledore frown with concern.
"Don't worry, I won't kill anyone," Kai added with a half-smile. "Just a little punishment. A small scare."
He looked directly at Dumbledore. "Either you let me deal with him this once… or I'll keep targeting him until I graduate. Which would you prefer, Headmaster?"
Dumbledore gave a long-suffering sigh and murmured almost to himself.
"May fortune smile upon you, Draco."