[Third Person's PoV]
Arthur and Dumbledore continued their discussion about Arthur's motives for writing his book. Dumbledore wasn't just making conversation—he was testing Arthur, subtly assessing what kind of person he was deep down.
Arthur had already figured that out. He played along, responding to Dumbledore's probing questions with carefully crafted answers. He spoke sincerely but never revealed anything too personal. Every response was calculated—designed to present him in a favorable light, but not so perfect that it would raise suspicion.
He painted himself as an eager, impatient child who simply loved magic—learning it, mastering it, and sharing his discoveries. He admitted to having ambition, but only in ways that seemed harmless, never anything that would affect others on a grand scale.
By the end of their conversation, both Arthur and Dumbledore were chuckling. Dumbledore studied the young man with an unreadable twinkle in his eyes.
'One thing is for certain,' he mused. 'This boy is nothing like Riddle. In fact, I would go as far as to say he's his complete opposite. What a remarkable young man—not just good-hearted, but extraordinary. His knowledge of magic already surpasses most Hogwarts students… Well, it would have to, considering he created such an intricate branch of magic.'
Then, with a thoughtful expression, Dumbledore asked, "Tell me, Arthur, what do you plan to do after graduation? Do you see yourself working for the Ministry? Or perhaps you'd prefer to become a teacher, sharing your knowledge with others?"
Arthur smirked and gave a thumbs-up. "Neither," he said. "I want to be a businessman. My goal is to delegate my work to others so I can retire early."
His words stunned everyone in the room—including Merlin.
"Are… are you serious?" Perenelle asked in disbelief.
Arthur nodded. "Of course. Isn't that why people work so hard? To be set for life and retire early? That's my goal—I'll build a grand business, make a fortune, and use it to fund any research or projects I want. No stress about money, no struggle to gather materials—I'll just sit back and let the funds flow in."
He sighed wistfully, gazing off into the distance. "Now tell me, doesn't that sound like the ideal life?"
A heavy silence followed—until Dumbledore suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Hohoho!" His eyes twinkled with amusement. "You are truly an interesting child, Arthur, my boy. Full of surprises! You're not even a teenager, and you're already thinking about retirement. What a fascinating goal! In other words, you don't care for glory—you just want to continue your research in peace, without worry."
Nicholas leaned forward curiously. "But don't you want to share your discoveries with the world? Isn't that the reason behind all this?"
Arthur shrugged. "More or less. I have no problem letting others benefit from my retirement projects. If it helps advance the study of magic, then good for them." He referred, of course, to witches and wizards as a whole.
Then, reaching for his book—resting on the ottoman in front of him—he held it out to Dumbledore with a charming grin. "So, Professor… would you help me retire early?"
Dumbledore's eyebrows knitted together as he considered the proposal. Closing his eyes, he weighed the pros and cons of endorsing the young man before him.
Nicholas and Perenelle stood behind Arthur, a supportive hand on his shoulder, watching intently as Dumbledore deliberated.
When he finally opened his eyes, his bright blue gaze was firm and resolute. He studied Arthur, who met his stare without the slightest hint of fear or hesitation. There was only pure, unshakable confidence in his eyes.
The tension in the room was thick—until Dumbledore suddenly smiled. Reaching out, he took hold of Arthur's book.
"Alright," he said. "I'll sponsor the publication of your work. Think of it as my way of supporting my future student." He winked.
Nicholas and Perenelle erupted in celebration, high-fiving each other and cheering—far more excited than Arthur himself. Arthur, meanwhile, simply offered Dumbledore a grateful grin. After all, he had planned for this outcome. Success had been all but guaranteed, so why celebrate something inevitable?
As Nicholas and Perenelle continued their lively display, Merlin chuckled, finding their reactions rather adorable.
"I greatly appreciate it, Professor Dumbledore. I won't forget this act of kindness you've shown me, and I'll be sure to repay it in full," Arthur said with elaborate grace, carrying himself like a true noble.
Dumbledore nodded, smiling warmly. "The best way you can repay me is to stay true to the path you have chosen and continue doing your best. From our conversation, I can tell you are an exceptionally bright child, Arthur. I expect great things from you."
Arthur grinned. "Then I'll be sure not to disappoint."
Perenelle awkwardly joined the conversation. "So, um... how exactly will you go about endorsing his work?"
Dumbledore pondered briefly before answering, "Well, it would have to go through the Ministry, wouldn't it? Arthur's work will need to be tested and approved before it can be officially acknowledged and released to the public. However, with my connections, the process should be completed much faster than usual. You can expect quick results."
"Oh, I do," Arthur said with a smirk. "That's precisely why I value your endorsement so highly. If I handled everything alone, it would take years to get through all the bureaucracy. But your name alone can cut those years down to mere months."
Arthur sighed. "Of course, that doesn't mean there aren't any downsides to speeding up the process."
"Downsides?" Dumbledore raised a curious brow. "What kind of downsides?"
"Credit," Arthur replied, his expression turning slightly grim. "No one will believe I wrote these books. Wizards and witches alike will assume it's some kind of publicity stunt—that I'm just a figurehead while someone else did all the work."
"Ah," Dumbledore murmured in understanding. "Yes, that would be a difficult perception to overcome."
"It'll be annoying," Arthur admitted, "but I don't mind. Eventually, I'll earn my recognition through my future achievements."
Then, a mischievous grin spread across his face as he extended his hand toward Dumbledore. "So, in the meantime, I'll leave the credit in your hands until the day I come to reclaim it. I trust you to keep it safe for me, Professor."
Amusement flickered in Dumbledore's eyes as he chuckled. "It seems you already have a plan."
Arthur nodded. "That I do, but I'll keep that to myself for now. I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise."
"Very well," Dumbledore said, turning toward the window and noticing the dimming light outside. With a sigh, he added, "I hadn't realized how late it's gotten."
Standing up, he looked back at Arthur. "It seems we'll have to continue this discussion tomorrow. I'll return in the morning, and we can head to the Ministry together—I take it you'd like to begin immediately?"
Arthur rose from his seat as well, nodding. "That would be much appreciated. And thank you for agreeing to this in the first place."
They exchanged a firm handshake, both wearing brief but knowing smiles.
---
Later That Night
Arthur and Merlin arrived back home with a crackling pop.
As soon as they stepped inside, Merlin gave him an amused look. "Nice work out there. It's good to see you've been paying attention to everything I've taught you."
"Why, thank you~" Arthur said, dramatically bowing.
Merlin chuckled. "You really threw Dumbledore for a loop with that whole talk about early retirement. That was what sealed the deal."
Arthur blinked at her, confused. "What are you talking about? I was completely serious."
Merlin froze. "Wha—?"
Arthur plopped onto the couch, pulling Cosmo into a tight hug as he sighed dreamily. "That is my ultimate goal—speedrun to retirement. Work hard now so I don't have to later~"
Merlin stared at him, an exasperated look in her eyes. 'Oh Art, you poor fool… Fate won't be so kind.'
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