Albus had become skilled at implying promises without speaking them—and hence, without being bound by them. Let Arthur believe that if his divorce decree would be heard before Albus, as Chief Warlock, the results would be favourable and Arthur’s spoken decree would be upheld. But for the Greater Good, Albus planned quite the opposite: to not uphold Arthur’s spoken decree and to let Molly Prewett keep the house, the money, and custody of Ronald and Ginevra. Yes, Arthur would still keep his seat on the Wizengamot—but Albus was sure that after he hit the ginger-haired man with a sad-sounding Arthur, the proof was insufficient; there was nothing I could do, Albus still could herd Arthur into voting as Albus wished, for years to come.