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Roger Virgil was someone Dumbledore had saved from the Wizengamot's highest court.
At the time, many members of the Wizengamot saw Dumbledore's silence as a statement in itself.
Strictly speaking, Dumbledore's decision carried some risks.
After all, the things Roger was involved in were no small matter. It wasn't just the charges against him—even diplomatically, he posed a potential risk.
Yet, Dumbledore still chose to step in.
However, Dumbledore wasn't the type to act recklessly out of pity, leaving the innocent to pay for his actions.
After Roger was declared innocent, Dumbledore kept a close watch on all his activities, making sure he hadn't accidentally let a threat walk free.
From what happened in the Middle East, it was clear that Roger Virgil was someone bold and decisive. If someone like him turned to evil, the consequences would be disastrous!
Fortunately, Roger did not betray Dumbledore's trust.
Professor McGonagall's assessment of him was that he had the potential to become a pillar of the wizarding world.
And after he enrolled at Hogwarts, his actions reassured Dumbledore even more.
…Though watching him break up a fight between Slytherin and Gryffindor students with his fists was a bit much.
Still, whenever someone sought his help, or when he saw injustice happening before him, he stepped up.
What happened with Hermione and Ron wasn't the first time Roger had helped his classmates, nor would it be the last. Gaining more of Dumbledore's trust, he was now about to be given more responsibility.
Of course, only if Roger was willing to accept it. Dumbledore wouldn't force him.
After all, Roger Virgil's situation was different from Harry Potter's.
Harry was burdened with Voldemort's chosen prophecy—his future would never be peaceful. Training him was necessary to ensure his survival.
But Roger had no destined enemy. If he refused, Dumbledore would find another way to handle the Philosopher's Stone.
Roger was straightforward. Aside from the true extent of his prophetic abilities, he rarely held back his words.
So, he didn't beat around the bush with Dumbledore either and asked directly why he wanted him to safeguard the Philosopher's Stone.
"Because I need to take a trip soon. It's going to be a bit troublesome, and carrying the Stone with me wouldn't be ideal. So, I thought of you," Dumbledore said with a kindly smile.
The fact that Roger didn't even ask what the Philosopher's Stone was or why it was in his possession didn't bother Dumbledore at all.
Roger was a Seer. It was perfectly normal for him to know things others didn't.
Having once been close friends with Grindelwald, Dumbledore understood all too well how absurdly powerful a true Seer's information-gathering abilities could be.
"You're going on a trip? Where?" Roger frowned slightly.
In the original timeline, Dumbledore did leave Hogwarts for a while—but that was because Professor Quirrell, possessed by Voldemort, tricked him with a forged letter from the Ministry of Magic. That happened near the end of the school year. It was still too early for that.
Strange…
But soon, Roger's doubts were answered.
"The Middle East," Dumbledore said. He still remembered that Roger hated lies.
And trying to be cryptic in front of a Seer was like showing off in front of a master—pointless. So, he decided to be honest.
"Is it what I think it is?" Roger narrowed his eyes.
"Yes," Dumbledore nodded, understanding Roger's meaning.
Dumbledore was never one to leave messes for others to clean up. He always planned ahead to ensure the best possible outcome.
Not everyone liked his methods, but his actions were always rooted in the desire to make things better.
This trip to the Middle East was no different.
By protecting Roger, he had stirred some reactions from that side. But Dumbledore had no intention of using the British wizarding world as a shield.
He was going to the Middle East personally—to "have a chat."
"I need to watch out for Quirrell?"
"Yes." Dumbledore was certain he had made the right choice.
Roger, the Seer, already knew everything.
No matter who he entrusted the Philosopher's Stone to, there was always a risk of something unforeseen happening—except with a Seer.
A Seer could predict the future. Nothing would escape his watchful eyes!
"If anything happens, you can seek help from a trustworthy professor. I'll give you a signed letter as proof."
Since Roger hadn't fully grown into his abilities, Dumbledore made sure to provide him with a backup plan.
As he spoke, Dumbledore took out a red crystalline object along with a letter.
"...Do you know that Quirrell has a fragment of Voldemort's soul inside him?" Roger asked after glancing at the Philosopher's Stone.
"…What?" Dumbledore froze.
Seeing his surprised but not entirely shocked expression, Roger immediately understood something.
So, Dumbledore hadn't known from the start that Quirrell was Voldemort.
…Of course. A professor who had been teaching Muggle Studies just last year couldn't have broken into Gringotts' vault alone.
Dumbledore must have suspected something from that moment on.
In the original timeline, he likely confirmed Quirrell's true identity only after Voldemort started drinking unicorn blood to sustain himself.
A wizard strong enough to do that yet desperate for survival, unable to seek help through legal means… There weren't many candidates.
Thinking back to how Dumbledore told Harry, "It was all according to plan," at the end of the school year, and considering all the events in the original timeline…
So, he always had multiple plans in motion at the same time? Adjusting his strategies on the fly?
Seeing Dumbledore hesitate, pulling back his hand holding the Stone and letter, Roger could guess what he was worrying about.
"Relax, just give it to me. I'm telling you this so you won't make a mistake due to missing information."
As he spoke, Roger reached out and took the Philosopher's Stone and letter from Dumbledore's hands.
"You…" Dumbledore was still hesitant.
After all, this was Voldemort they were talking about!
"I'll be fine," Roger tapped the corner of his eye lightly, his meaning clear.
A Seer's prophecy—guaranteed!
Roger's foresight wasn't as precise as Grindelwald's, but he could sense any threat related to him. If someone was plotting against him, he would feel it.
Though the sense wasn't always clear, just a vague premonition…
At Hogwarts, the only strong enemy who might target him was Quirrell.
With Dumbledore's letter as a backup and no unknown factors on his side, how could he possibly lose?
"But—"
Roger cut him off.
"You can't always be the one helping me. I should help you too, right?"
The Middle East situation was far from over. In that region, a "prophet" wasn't a minor issue.
During this peaceful period, Dumbledore had been the one shielding Roger from all the trouble, keeping any ill intent far away from him.
Roger wasn't the type to let others protect him without doing anything in return.
If he could help, he absolutely would!
"…Alright. In that case, let's talk about the other matters concerning the Philosopher's Stone."
Seeing Roger's determination, Dumbledore didn't argue further and instead began discussing his second reason for coming to him.