Chapter 72: Meeting after half a century
Nurmengard stands on the top of a towering mountain, like a gloomy giant beast guarding its territory.
The towering tower reaches into the sky, and the surrounding walls are made of thick black stone. Every stone seems to exude a heavy sense of oppression.
There are no guards here, only a huge and heavy iron door covered with complex runes and protective spells, exuding terrifying power.
The castle is surrounded by thick clouds and fog, which seem to be flowing slowly as if they have life, obscuring the entire view of Nurmengard and giving people a mysterious and terrifying feeling.
Looking at the familiar words above the gate, Dumbledore was filled with emotion.
For the Greater Good
Originally, he thought he could face it all calmly and then tell Sebastian about the past here.
However, he could no longer care about Sebastian.
Endless memories flooded his mind and complex emotions arose in his heart.
It's been 46 years...
It has been such a long time since I last met Gellert.
I don’t know. Is he okay now?
Dumbledore took a deep breath and continued forward, ready to face those long-forgotten memories.
He lifted his legs and walked slowly towards the gate of Nurmengard, step by step. His footsteps echoed on the empty mountain top, as if every step was a conversation with the past.
He reached out his hand and gently touched the iron door covered with powerful spells.
The cold touch reminded him of the days when he fought with Gellert.
At that time, they had longed for a new world, a world without secrets and without boundaries.
However, everything was shattered by their obsession with each other.
The iron gate slowly opened, and Dumbledore stepped into the interior of Nurmengard.
The interior of the castle was equally suffocating, with long corridors stretching into the unknown darkness, flanked by cold stone walls, with one or two dim torches occasionally flickering on the wall.
The firelight illuminated the deep scratches on the wall, as if telling of the loneliness and struggle that once existed here.
Dumbledore walked very slowly. He was not sure whether he should walk faster or slower.
He only knew that the stairs to the upper floor were very long, and his legs were very heavy, so every step was extremely difficult.
Finally, he came to a small room with the door half open and a faint light coming from inside.
Dumbledore pushed open the door and saw the strange yet familiar figure - Gellert Grindelwald.
Grindelwald sat quietly on a simple hard bed, covered with a thin and tattered blanket.
His eyes were calm and deep, as if he had already seen through everything in the world.
Looking at the old man who walked in, he smiled slightly, with a hint of complicated emotions in his eyes.
"Albus, did you get my letter?"
"very nice."
"You came to see me."
"I have been waiting for you."
"I waited a long, long time."
“It took 46 years.”
The corners of Dumbledore's eyes were slightly moist. In his eyes, this skinny figure slowly overlapped with a handsome and charming figure.
They were once friends, lovers, comrades-in-arms, and rivals. Now, time has brought them together again.
Dumbledore took a step closer and spoke in a low, slow voice.
"Gellert, long time no see."
Grindelwald smiled, patted the hard bed board beside him, and extended an invitation to Dumbledore.
"Come and sit down. My place is a little shabby, without even a bed sheet. I hope you don't mind."
"However, although it is a bit shabby, the scenery outside the window is nice. I often stand at the window and look out."
"Look at the sunrise, look at the sunset, look at the clouds in the sky, look at the falling rain."
"The night before last, the sky was full of stars. I stood there for a long time and looked at them. When I got tired, I just leaned against the wall and fell asleep."
"I prefer to sit on the bed and watch my neighbor. Albus, look."
Grindelwald raised his hand and pointed to the corner of the roof, where there was a spider, lying quietly on its web.
"What I like most is watching it weave its web, one circle after another, busy all the time."
"It's just that there are not enough mosquitoes here, so it often goes hungry or full."
"It's strange that we were so focused on moving forward that we didn't pay attention to the scenery around us."
“Now that it’s quiet, I find these common things so interesting.”
"I have written many letters to share these wonderful things with you. Unfortunately, I have never received a reply from you."
He turned his head, looked carefully at Dumbledore who was sitting next to him, and smiled with emotion.
"Time flies, Albus. In the blink of an eye, you have grown so old and your beard has grown so long."
"We are not as lively as we were when we were young. I remember you used to talk a lot."
Listening to Grindelwald's chattering, Dumbledore's heart slowly calmed down.
He smiled at Grindelwald, a smile full of relief for the past.
"yes......"
......
Sebastian stood in the shadow outside the door, quiet and silent.
The time now belongs to the two reunited old men.
He listened silently to the two people reminiscing about the past, and had no intention of disturbing them.
Sebastian sensed it carefully and found that Grindelwald's magic was still very dazzling.
However, his body was very thin, like a skeleton, and he was very weak.
Sebastian's thoughts were a little distracted, and he was wondering what kind of person Grindelwald was.
There is no doubt that young Grindelwald was a charming and brilliant wizard.
He has pale blond hair and looks both noble and cold.
His eyes were cold blue, deep and sharp, as if they could see into the deepest part of people's hearts. Under his gaze, anyone would feel that nothing could escape his gaze.
Thinking of this, Sebastian looked carefully outside the door.
He found that Grindelwald's face was as thin as a skeleton, with his eyes sunken in his eye sockets, which was completely different from his handsome image in his youth.
However, Sebastian does not judge people by their appearance, and does not look down on Grindelwald just because he has gray hair.
This is a very idealistic and talented person.
He has a genius-level intelligence and a ruthless personality. He can carefully plan to achieve his goals and will do whatever it takes to achieve them.
You know, back then he single-handedly made the American Ministry of Magic run around in circles.
In addition, he also has amazing personal charm.
To this day, there are still many people in the Wuzu Party he founded who miss him and are waiting for him to issue new orders.
Suddenly, the words from inside the door interrupted Sebastian's thoughts.
"Albus, the young man has been standing outside the door for so long, why don't you call him in and introduce him to me?"
"Hello, Mr. Grindelwald." Sebastian walked in and bowed slightly to Grindelwald.
"I'm Sebastian Swann, professor of Muggle Studies at Hogwarts."
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
Grindelwald sat on the bed and looked carefully at Sebastian who walked in with his piercing eyes.
After a long pause, he smiled and said, "A very impressive young man, with very dazzling magic power, just like me when I was young."
"I already know the reason why you came, the purpose hidden deep in your heart."
As he spoke, the corners of his mouth widened, as if he had completed a prank.
"Unfortunately, your goal cannot be achieved."
"Because I..."
"Don't talk to childish people!"
......
...
.
Ask for everything, thank you very much~
