#442 - Bombs and fire
“Grindelwald.” Dumbledore said with an icy tone, “After all these years, the first thing you do after leaving Nurmengard is attacking a child. It truly exceeds my expectations.”
Grindelwald laughed loudly, the sound echoing across the ruins.
“Dumbledore… Albus! How high are your expectations of my morality? You know, if necessary, even infants…”
His voice stopped abruptly because Dumbledore suddenly stepped forward, the Elder Wand steadily pointing at his heart, the tip of the wand faintly flickering with golden-red light.
That kind of hidden, powerful force was like a blade, making people feel the pain of being cut even before it was unsheathed.
Grindelwald slightly raised his head, but his face wore a smile.
“Why avoid it, Albus? You know what I've been doing recently, why don't you question me on behalf of those killed Muggles? Why don't you accuse me of disrupting the balance and peace between the magical world and the Muggle world?”
“You always stand on the side of those weak and foolish fellows, you always oppose me to protect them… why don't you mention it this time?”
Grindelwald's smile grew wider.
“Because you also think I'm doing the right thing? Deep down, you also think these guys deserve to die! The world is decaying, Muggles are creating the apocalypse, my way is saving it!”
“And you, Albus, you are hailed as a saint, using pathetic mercy to cover up your weakness! But we all know, back then you were also…”
Mentioning the past, Dumbledore's face looked as if he had been punched, revealing a bit of embarrassment caught off guard, painful light flashing behind his half-moon spectacles.
Grindelwald abruptly swallowed the remaining words, his mood agitated, magic surging, a dull pain in his chest, and deep red blood spilling from the corner of his mouth again.
The two were silent for a long while, the cold winter wind wrapped in tiny ice crystals, sweeping across the disfigured ground.
After a long time, Dumbledore coldly asked: “Where is Wade?”
“Kill me, and you can take the child back.”
Grindelwald stepped forward, the tip of the Elder Wand against his heart, deeply sinking into his clothes and flesh.
Dumbledore's arm remained motionless, Grindelwald reached out and grasped the other end of the wand, his eyes flashing with inexplicable fervor and killing intent.
“Kill me, Albus, just like you've always wanted to… don't worry about it damaging your nobility, I killed Ariana, this is what I deserve.”
Dumbledore's eyes suddenly widened, his pupils slightly dilated, a look of pain flashed across his face. Besides shock and sadness, he suddenly felt a sense of relief and ease.
Many years ago, Dumbledore, Grindelwald, and Aberforth had a violent conflict, the argument quickly turned into a duel, and Grindelwald actually used the Cruciatus Curse on Aberforth.
In the midst of his brother's shrill screams, the mentally unstable little sister Ariana was stimulated, and the Obscurus in her body instantly went berserk.
Such terrible and devastating power suddenly erupted beside them, and the few teenagers had to do their best just to survive. They used the strongest spells they had mastered to resist the Obscurus… After a period of confusion that no one could explain, the Obscurus disappeared, and Ariana died as well.
This is the deepest scar in Dumbledore's heart, and also what he fears the most… He fears that he was the one who delivered the fatal blow to Ariana, he fears that he killed his own sister.
Hearing this sentence from Grindelwald's mouth at this time, Dumbledore only felt as if a mountain that had been pressing on his back for a hundred years had been removed, his breathing briefly stagnated, and for a moment he even had the urge to cry.
But he also inevitably thought of a question—
Grindelwald knows what he fears the most… Is he saying this on purpose? Is this the truth of what happened back then?
The two stared at each other in silence, similar blue eyes covered with the shadows of the years, the depths of their eyes seeming like a scene of ruins.
Time seemed to stand still at this moment.
“Professor.”
A soft call shattered this scene.
Wade, who had also Apparated to a distance to avoid the blast, came not far behind Dumbledore and said softly.
Dumbledore blinked, turned to look at Wade, his eyes slightly moved, and his tense face also relaxed.
“Are you alright, Wade?”
“I'm fine, Professor.” Wade replied, paused, and then added: “Is there something you want to ask me?”
After Dumbledore took him to see the memory vision related to Grindelwald, Wade said the exact same words to Dumbledore.
This sentence not only showed that he was Wade Greay himself, not an imposter using Polyjuice Potion; it also showed that he was still himself, his thoughts, his honesty and trust in Dumbledore, were the same as before.
A subtle smile appeared in Dumbledore's eyes, and he said: “After we get back, I would like to hear the part you are willing to tell me.”
“Okay.” Wade nodded, secretly relieved.
Seeing the headmaster appear, he suddenly realized that although he had not been mistreated in life before, he was indeed under indescribable pressure in his heart.
But glancing up, Wade found Grindelwald staring at him with deep eyes, his lips slightly downturned, appearing very displeased.
Wade's eyes flickered, avoiding eye contact, and he had a million words he wanted to complain.
Dumbledore raised his left arm, signaling Wade to grab his arm, while slowly lowering his wand.
“I won't kill you, Grindelwald, violence cannot solve problems, killing is never my choice—even for you, I won't end everything with death.”
Dumbledore said with deep eyes and a sigh:
“If you believe you are right, then go on—perhaps the world does need someone like you…”
His eyes swept across the remaining buildings around, and various tragic scenes he had seen flashed through his mind.
“But I hope… I hope you can understand…”
Dumbledore said: “True power lies in restraint, in choosing not to harm others, even if we have the ability to do so… and also in choosing to protect others from being harmed, this is the responsibility that those with power should bear.”
Grindelwald sneered: “Don't use your ridiculous morality to kidnap me! My thoughts… my ideals, have never changed from beginning to end!”
“Whether it's sincere or pretending, the current you are indeed doing things that benefit others, and not just brutal killings.”
Dumbledore said calmly and powerfully:
“I never thought your ideals were completely wrong, what was wrong was just the means.”
“After so many years, you should also understand that the old way will only bring destruction. Changing the world does require power, but it requires even more wisdom and mercy.”
Dumbledore looked at the other person's eyes with a faint regret:
“Even for the greater good, forbearance, concession, and compassion are necessary.”
“Grindelwald, if you are now merely trying to deceive the world, but in the end still choose to use violence to rule and oppress, then no matter how many times you repeat it, you will definitely fail.”
“I hope you can understand this point.”
Hearing his words, Grindelwald's eyebrows jumped, and he said loudly: “So that's how you teach that child? If you had told me this before, wouldn't I have…”
“Pa!”
Dumbledore had no intention of arguing with him at all. After saying what he wanted to say, he took Wade and Apparated directly.
That loud bang was like a slap in the face to Grindelwald, instantly twisting his expression.
The wind wrapped dust and frost, twirled in front of Grindelwald, very arrogantly giving him a mockery.
Grindelwald: “……”
The Wizengamot members were overjoyed to see the battle end and Grindelwald not killed, and they came to their leader's side. Then they saw Grindelwald let out a sneer, a cold light flashed in his eyes, and he raised his wand to point at the ruins of the manor in front of him.
“Destroy it!”
“Saints forever!”
The Wizengamot members shouted slogans and rushed into the manor, entering the underground along the cracks in the ground. Soon, the sound of fighting came from inside.
The organization's soldiers had just been shocked by the earth-shattering power of the two, and at this time they had no fighting spirit. The Wizengamot easily gained the upper hand, advancing like a hot knife through butter.
Drayan came to Grindelwald's side, took out a potion and handed it to him, asking worriedly: “Sir, how are you feeling now?”
“Me? I feel great!”
Grindelwald drank the potion in one gulp, gnashing his teeth.
Drayan guarded him worriedly, but saw that Grindelwald's thin body seemed to be injected with an invisible force, or perhaps the boiling anger became a new pillar, making him even forget his physical discomfort, and light re-ignited in his eyes.
——This is definitely not the power of the potion.
Drayan muttered in his heart, thinking of the feeling that the sky was falling just now, and sighed silently.
……
The few remaining cameras stubbornly stuck to their posts, slowly rotating, recording the scene on the ruins.
Despite the twists and turns, the organization's person in charge was so moved that he was almost in tears to see the wizards finally entering the manor as they wished, and he couldn't wait to kneel down and thank God.
His colleagues around him were already cheering, slapping the table hard, and said loudly: “Great!”
The calmer ones were still instructing: “Wait a minute… wait until most people come in.”
“Of course, I understand.”
The person in charge wiped the sweat from his palms and pressed the start button, staring intently at the scene on the screen.
Beside him, another person dialed the phone, suppressing his excitement, and said with a slightly trembling voice: “The plan is proceeding normally, you can start!”
Finally, after most of the wizards had entered the manor, the person in charge pressed the button hard!
……
“Buzz——”
The quiet machine in front of him suddenly made a buzzing sound, and the indicator lights on it lit up one after another. Dobby was startled, and then quickly cut off the cable in front of him.
Seeing that the lights on the machine had not gone out, Mackie pointed his finger again, and with a loud “bang”, several huge cracks appeared on the surface of the machine.
“That's terrible, what was it going to say just now?” Dobby asked with lingering fear.
“It can't speak, it was the sound of the machine starting.” Donovan explained: “Fortunately, you stopped it in time.”
Dobby smiled shyly.
Mackie frowned and asked: “Are you sure this is the last one?”
“Of course. I heard this thing is very expensive, and only so many were temporarily transported here.”
While explaining, Donovan sent a message to Dumbledore as agreed.
Dumbledore replied in seconds: 【Wait.】
Mackie saw the Friend's Book in his hand, narrowed his eyes, and asked suspiciously:
“Who is Donovan contacting? Is he lying to Mackie?”
“No, no.”
Donovan had just witnessed the power of the two house elves, and didn't dare to offend them. He quickly waved his hands and said:
“It's Dumbledore, didn't I say that? I'm Dumbledore's man.”
“Dumbledore?!”
Mackie screamed, subconsciously wanting to Apparate, but the parchment in Donovan's hand suddenly emitted light, followed by a loud bang!
Dumbledore appeared.
Mackie's eyes flickered, not daring to look at the headmaster, his fingers nervously twisting together, unconsciously fiddling with the corner of his clothes.
Dobby looked at Dumbledore adoringly, swallowing nervously, his big eyes looking watery.
“Mr. Dumbledore.” Donovan stepped forward and said.
“Thank you for your hard work, Donovan.” Dumbledore looked at the wounds on the werewolf's body and said: “I'll send you away first, this place will be broken through soon.”
“Yes.”
Donovan naturally had no objections. He took the Portkey Dumbledore gave him and disappeared from the spot instantly.
Afterwards, Dumbledore's gaze turned to the two house elves next to him.
“Good morning, Mr. Dumbledore.” Dobby bowed deeply, his nose almost touching the ground.
Mackie next to him quickly followed the action, praying in his heart that Dumbledore wouldn't recognize him—
There are so many house elves at Hogwarts, wizards have always been unable to tell them apart, right?
“Good morning, Dobby, Mackie.”
Dumbledore said gently: “I want to thank you for your help, you are both very brave and loyal house elves.”
Dobby's eyes lit up instantly, his cheeks flushed with excitement, and he gestured with his hands and feet, saying: “Dobby, Dobby is very happy to be able to help!”
Mackie secretly glanced at the headmaster's face from below, stammering in a low voice: “Actually… that… Mackie is…”
Dumbledore looked at him with a smile and said: “I know you left the school to buy wine for Professor Trelawney… did you buy it?”
Mackie quickly shook his head.
“Then go buy it.”
Dumbledore said with a gentle smile: “Remember to go back to school after buying it… Wade has returned to school safely, I think you don't have to run thousands of kilometers this time to buy whiskey.”
——J、just like that? No punishment?
Mackie looked at the headmaster in disbelief, and even after Dumbledore told them to pay attention to safety and Apparated away, he still couldn't believe his good luck.
“That's great!” Dobby waved his fist excitedly and said: “Mackie was not punished! Mr. Grey was also rescued!”
Mackie slowly came back to his senses and finally smiled.
He remembered that he had passed by a room not long ago and saw a sign of wine cellar hanging on it, so he disappeared with a “pa” and quickly reappeared, holding almost too much whiskey to hold.
“Mackie should go back to school.” Mackie asked: “Does Dobby want to come along? Mr. Dumbledore should agree to accept a new house elf.”
Dobby just wanted to nod, but soon, he hesitated again.
“Mr. Dumbledore is a very, very good wizard, but… but…”
Dobby's eyes flickered, he began to be a little uncertain, and slowly became firm.
“But Mr. Grey doesn't have a house elf… Dobby wants to ask Mr. Grey first, if he is willing to accept, Dobby… Dobby wants to work for the Grey family…”
