Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to JK Rowling. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 165: Dumbledore Regret
HEADMASTER POV
It had been a few months, and Dumbledore knew his body was failing. The curse from Voldemort had already begun to spread, slowly eating away at his life.
He had consulted Snape about it, but even Snape could do very little. The moment Snape examined him, a deep frown appeared on his face.
"I can't do anything," Snape said grimly. "I can only slow the curse."
"I understand," the Headmaster replied with a calm nod. "Thank you, Severus."
"Headmaster…" Snape began, clearly wanting to say more, but Dumbledore raised a hand, stopping him.
"I know what you wish to say," Dumbledore said gently. Then his expression turned serious. "But Severus, there is no turning back now. What matters is finding a way to defeat him."
Snape fell silent, his dark eyes studying Dumbledore carefully.
"Do you really think that boy can fight him?" Snape finally asked.
Dumbledore paused for a moment before answering.
"You have seen what he has already accomplished," he said calmly. "And with the time I have left, I intend to teach Dudley everything I can."
"Professor…" Snape looked genuinely shocked at Dumbledore decision, no one that he knows had ever had honour to learn directly from headmaster. "Are you serious?"
"Yes," Dumbledore replied softly. "It may not be enough, but it is what I can do for the next generation and I don't know how long this thing would corroded my whole body.
From that moment onward, Dumbledore began personally training Dudley in advanced magic.
What Dumbledore didn't know was that the moment he decided to take Dudley as his direct student, Dudley received another reward from his system.
But unlike before where he can only choose 1 out of 3 rewards this time, he received 3 out of 5 reward.
So he choose 'Defense Against the Dark Arts: Dumbledore Mastery Collection', Duel Skill Mastery: Dumbledore Version' and 'Charm: Dumbledore Version'.
Combined with his previous rewards, Dudley power grew at a terrifying level. Even when he met Steve, who possessed the Ancient One template. Steve could clearly sense the explosive increase in Dudley magical reserves. It wasn't just growth from him but magical evolution and even his learning speed became monstrous.
Of course, Dudley had to hide it from Dumbledore. If he showed everything at once, it would raise too many suspicions. So instead, he restrained himself, carefully controlling how much he revealed. To Dumbledore, Dudley appeared to be nothing more than a genius among geniuses, someone with extraordinary talent, but still within reason.
But the truth was far beyond that with just a single lesson, Dudley could perform multiple complex spells flawlessly, executing them with nothing more than a simple flick of his wand. His control over his magic are so outstanding and understanding of magic surpassed what even advanced students could achieve.
Even Dumbledore himself was shocked, before this he had heard rumors about Dudley abilities, but witnessing it firsthand was something entirely different. Each time Dudley demonstrated a new spell or spell that he just thought, it felt as if he was breaking the limits of what a student should be capable of.
Dumbledore felt two emotions at once, happiness and fear.
Happiness, because such talent could become the greatest hope against Voldemort.
Fear… because such talent, if it ever turned dark, could become something even worse.
A second Dark Lord from muggleborn family.
Later, Dudley decided to reveal part of the truth.
"Professor," Dudley said calmly, "everything you teach me… I've already mastered it before that was why, it was easy for me to cast it out."
For a brief moment, silence filled the room.
Dumbledore stared at him, speechless.
Even at his own peak, he had never reached such a level at Dudley age. To think that a boy could instantly master advanced spells, spells that even adults struggled to learn was beyond imagination. Now the boy confessed he also had already mastered that spell long before Dumbledore are there to teach him.
"This… is extraordinary," Dumbledore murmured.
From that moment onward, Dumbledore no longer held back his knowledge.
If Dudley could learn, then he would teach.
If Dudley could understand, then he would explain everything.
He poured all his knowledge into him, every spell, every theory, every experience he had gathered throughout his long life.
Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months.
Eventually Dumbledore condition continued to worsen.
His body grew weaker with each passing day. The curse from Voldemort had already spread deep within him, slowly draining him and also he no longer felt certain part of his body. At first, he could still walk, still teach Dudley as usual but eventually, even standing became difficult.
Until one day… He could no longer leave his bed.
On his deathbed, Dumbledore found himself lost in memories.
Ariana, Grindelwald, his family, the people he had loved, the people he had failed and the people he had manipulated in the name of "the greater good".
For the first time, he allowed himself to truly face his past without hiding behind wisdom or justification.
Meanwhile, the other professors had already been informed of his condition by Snape. What had once been suspicion about Dumbledore after seeing it rotted are now confirmed, they already knows that Dumbledore have caught in trap.
The atmosphere within Hogwarts changed instantly, Professor became anxious and the student also knows the condition of headmaster.
This time, there would be no grand plan, no staged death like in a novel. Dudley had already destroyed all the Horcruxes and the Elder Wand had already chosen a new master.
Dumbledore chose not to deceive anyone.
He chose to accept his end.
Until, something unexpected happened.
One day, Dudley arrived bringing Steve with him.
This happened shortly after Steve confessed his feelings to Hermione. The reason Dudley brought him here was simple, he wanted Steve to try to cure Dumbledore curse.
But to do that, Steve had to reveal everything about.
"Actually… I am not really eleven years old," Steve said.
"What?" Dumbledore was surprised, but it didn't sound weird. With his long life and vast experience, such a statement did not seem entirely impossible.
In fact… he had already suspected that something about Steve was unusual.
"I am from another dimension," Steve continued, raising his hand. A faint illusion appeared, two overlapping worlds, shimmering softly in the air. "Because of an accident, I was stranded here. Since then, I have disguised myself as a child."
Dumbledore blinked slowly as he listened, this is different from what he had imagined. In the past he thought Dudley is a grown wizards but now, he was from another Dimension and yet… it made sense.
The boy maturity, his power and his knowledge.
Everything aligned, but as he try to accept it.
Something tightened in Dumbledore chest, his breathing grew uneven and his vision blurred slightly.
"…I see…" he whispered.
Then..... His eyes widened, his body trembled and suddenly, without warning he collapsed.
Dudley and Steve looked at each other, they both fell silent surprised seeing Dumbledore lay motionless on the bed.
They are unable to react for several seconds because it was too sudden.
"Did… we kill the Headmaster?" Dudley asked slowly, his voice uncertain wanted the confirmation.
Steve stood still, staring at Dumbledore lifeless body.
"I… I…" he struggled to find the words before finally shaking his head. "No… the Headmaster… he…"
Steve clenched his fist.
"He couldn't accept it… or maybe… his body simply gave up."
Even Steve wasn't completely sure of his own answer.