Chapter 29: Dumbledore's Great Expedition (Not Really)

Roger Virgil was a man Dumbledore had personally shielded from the Wizengamot. At the time, Dumbledore’s silence was interpreted by many members of the high court as a definitive stance. Strictly speaking, his intervention had carried significant risks. After all, the stakes surrounding Roger were high; beyond the criminal charges, there were even diplomatic complications to consider. Yet, Dumbledore had chosen to reach out and help.

Dumbledore was not the sort of despicable man who would act on mere pity, running amok and forcing the innocent to pay the price for his whims. After Roger was acquitted, Dumbledore had closely monitored his every move, fearing he might have inadvertently unleashed a menace. The events in the Middle East had proven that Roger Virgil was a man of bold vision and daring action—if such a person were to turn to evil, the consequences would be catastrophic.

Fortunately, Roger did not betray Dumbledore’s trust. The feedback from Professor McGonagall indicated that this boy was destined to become a pillar of society. His various actions since enrolling had largely set Dumbledore’s mind at ease. Although his method of quelling a brawl between Slytherins and Gryffindors—using iron fists to suppress his classmates—was a bit absurd, he was truly someone who would step up whenever called upon or when he witnessed an injustice.

The incident with Hermione and Ron was not the first time Roger had extended a helping hand, nor would it be the last. Having gained further trust in him, Dumbledore decided to add a burden to this young seer—provided, of course, that Roger was willing to accept it. If not, Dumbledore would not force the issue.

After all, Roger Virgil’s situation was different from Harry Potter’s. Harry carried the weight of the prophecy chosen by Voldemort; his future would never be peaceful, and rigorous training was essential for the boy to survive. Roger, however, had no such fated nemesis. If he refused, Dumbledore would simply make other arrangements for the Sorcerer’s Stone.

Roger was a straightforward person. Apart from the true nature of his prophetic abilities, which were critical to his survival, he was generally blunt. He did not beat around the bush with Dumbledore, asking directly why he had thought to entrust the Sorcerer’s Stone to him.

"Because I have to go on a long journey for some business that is a bit troublesome. It is not suitable for me to carry the Stone with me, so I thought of you," Dumbledore said with a kind smile.

Dumbledore did not find it strange in the slightest that Roger never asked what the Stone was or why it was in his possession. Roger was a seer; it was perfectly normal for a seer to possess information others lacked. Having once been close friends with Grindelwald, he understood all too well the inexplicable intelligence-gathering capabilities of powerful seers.

"A long journey? Where?" Roger frowned slightly. In the original timeline, Dumbledore had indeed left the school for a time, but that had been because he was lured away by a letter forged by Professor Quirrell—who was possessed by Voldemort—pretending to be from the Ministry of Magic. That was near the end of the school year; it was far too early for that. Strange...

Soon, Roger’s confusion was cleared. "To the Middle East." Dumbledore remembered that Roger was a child who despised lies. Moreover, playing the riddle-master in front of a seer was a bit like teaching a fish to swim, so he simply told the truth.

"Is it what I think it is?" Roger squinted.

"Yes." Dumbledore could read Roger’s expression and nodded in affirmation. Dumbledore had never been a man who liked to leave messes for others to clean up; he always planned everything, ensuring that things worked out for the best. Not everyone agreed with his methods, but his primary intention was always to make things better for everyone. This trip to the Middle East was the same. His protection of Roger had provoked a reaction from that region, and Dumbledore had no intention of letting the British wizarding world act as a shield. He would go to the Middle East himself to "reason" with them.

"Must I guard against Quirrell?"

"Yes." Dumbledore knew his choice was correct. Without needing an explanation, the young seer already knew everything. Entrusting the Stone to anyone else carried the risk of unforeseen circumstances, but not with a seer. A seer could foresee the future; everything was under his watchful eye.

"Should you encounter problems, you may seek help from trusted professors. I will give you a handwritten letter of mine as a token," Dumbledore said, arranging backup for the young seer, knowing he had not yet fully matured. As he spoke, Dumbledore produced a red crystal and a letter.

"Do you know that Quirrell carries a part of Voldemort’s soul?" Roger asked, looking at the Sorcerer’s Stone.

"Ah?" Dumbledore paused. Seeing Dumbledore’s shocked yet unsurprised expression, Roger solved another mystery in that instant. It seemed Dumbledore hadn't known from the start that the culprit was Voldemort.

Quirrell, a professor who had been teaching the lackluster Muggle Studies just last year, certainly couldn't have broken into Gringotts' vault alone; Dumbledore must have had suspicions from then on. Judging by the original timeline, it was likely only after Voldemort consumed unicorn blood to sustain his life that Dumbledore confirmed the identity of the person behind Quirrell. There were few wizards with that kind of power who were in such a desperate state and yet unable to seek help through legal channels. Thinking back on how Dumbledore told a bedridden Harry at the end of the term that "everything went according to my plan," and the various events in the original timeline... so, you are the type of person whose every action serves multiple purposes, with multiple backup plans, and you adjust as things change?

Seeing Dumbledore hesitate after hearing his words, slowly withdrawing his hand holding the Stone and the letter, Roger guessed his concerns. "Fine, give it to me. I was only telling you so you wouldn't make the wrong judgment due to a lack of information," Roger said, reaching out to take the Stone and the letter from Dumbledore's hand.

"You..." Dumbledore was clearly still hesitant. After all, that was Voldemort!

"It will be fine." Roger tapped his eyes, the meaning self-evident. A seer’s prophecy was reliable. While Roger’s prophecies might not be on the scale of Grindelwald’s, he could sense any crisis involving himself. If someone capable of harming him were plotting against him, he would feel it. Although the sensation wasn't entirely clear—just a vague premonition—there was only one powerhouse at Hogwarts who would try to harm him. He had no "fog of war" on his side, and he could use Dumbledore’s letter to call for help. How could he lose?

"But."

Roger interrupted him, "You can’t always be the one helping me; I should help you too, shouldn't I?" The situation in the Middle East had never truly ended; a religious seer was definitely not a minor issue there. The peaceful time he had enjoyed was all because Dumbledore had been shielding him from the wind and rain, preventing any malice from ever reaching him. Roger was not the sort of person to let others sacrifice themselves for him indefinitely. If he could help, he would do so without hesitation.

"Very well. Let us discuss other matters concerning the Sorcerer's Stone." Seeing Roger’s persistence, Dumbledore said no more and began to explain the second reason he had come to see him.