Chapter 676: A Series of Twists
Chapter 676: A Series of Twists
In the Headmaster's Office, Phoenix trilled softly in Dumbledore's ear.
"Grindelwald has been taken away? Yes... those people were quite hostile, Fawkes. We can't expect everyone to think the same way we do. They're just doing their job", Dumbledore whispered, soothingly, as Fawkes lowered its head to allow him to stroke its feathers.
Felix swiped the air in front of him, and a mirror appeared out of nowhere.
The edges of the mirror shimmered with magical symbols, and the surface rippled like water. Through the layers of mist, a static image emerged: a grassy field with a massive ouroboros suspended in the air.
Dumbledore stared at the mirror for a moment, then rallied his spirit and said, "Felix, now it's just the two of us. While Harry still needs some time, I have something to tell you."
Felix, his mind unsettled, glanced at Fawkes, which pitifully huddled in on itself.
"I also have something to ask—was it worth it, Albus?"
Dumbledore laughed lightly. "About a year ago, around this time, Voldemort asked me the same question." He looked at the scene in the mirror, speaking with some effort, "My answer is the same as then: it was worth it."
Felix furrowed his brow. "I thought you would come up with a better solution, rather than a life for a life... plus two soul projections."
"It was a necessary sacrifice, for... for the greater good."
"I can't think of any 'good' greater than a great wizard." Felix said calmly, "You showed me the prophecy; you know better than I do how important a great wizard is in the current situation."
"But the question is, what do people need from me?" Dumbledore said mildly, "Wisdom? Power? Prestige? I fear that even if I were intact, I couldn't meet their expectations."
"You managed it half a century ago." Felix raised his voice slightly, "I remember a book that called you the 'protector of Muggles and Muggle-born Wizards.'"
Dumbledore laughed bitterly. "You said it—just a protector, not anything else. You should know what happened to me—my sister became a Muggle-born, my poor father died in Azkaban, and my mother lost her life caring for Ariana—knowing the root of all this pain. Felix, I was filled with resentment back then. I hope you can understand the meaning of that word, which is why I aligned with Grindelwald. At that time, I was just as dangerous as he was!"
Felix exhaled softly, dispelling the chill from his heart. "Are you afraid of becoming another Grindelwald?"
"Yes, I am afraid", Dumbledore admitted, "Only I know how close I came to crossing that line. I never intended to abuse Muggles, but I tacitly accepted that some innocent people would be hurt. The number grew larger and larger as Grindelwald and I discussed it, and I numbed my conscience with hollow reasons. Reality hit me hard. I woke up, but the cost was too high... So I constantly remind myself that I cannot have power; only the school suits me."
"In the years that followed, I did my best to protect Muggle-born young wizards, oppose the abuse of Muggles, and oppose war. Did you notice, Felix? All of this happened naturally while the Secrecy Act was functioning properly. But what if it were the opposite? If the tragedy that happened to me were to repeat itself, if I had the power to influence the world, could I still maintain a clear and rational mind? Without wisdom, power and prestige would be a danger."
Tears slid from the tip of his nose.
Felix felt something blocking his heart.
A moment of silence. Then, Harry appeared in the image, looking up at the ouroboros suspended in the air. He could clearly sense that this massive Patronus contained part of his own magic and emotions.
Dumbledore extended his hand, "I think it's time to transfer the charm."
"Is there still time?" Felix asked softly.
He looked at the mirror, and in the image, Harry waved his wand. The massive ouroboros twisted, held for a moment, then suddenly collapsed, scattering into a silver rain. Like the morning mist in a forest, it vanished instantly in the sunlight.
"Enough, it's actually quite simple", Dumbledore nodded slightly, "But after the charm is transferred, I must first remove my magic and then replace it with yours. This might take a few hours."
"Let's start then", Felix said, lowering his eyes. He knew he was taking on a heavy responsibility from Dumbledore.
...
A quarter of an hour earlier, an event of profound future impact was about to unfold.
"Ron? Hermione? What are you two doing here?" Harry, feeling uncomfortable, shook Snape's greasy hair, surprised to see the two of them running up the stairs.
Ron was speechless, clearly not expecting to run into Snape. Hermione stammered, “S-Sorry, Professor Snape. We came up to check—oh, I mean, we’ve been maintaining order as instructed by the professors. All the younger students have returned to their common rooms, and only some of the older students are still in the Great Hall, refusing to leave—”
Harry blinked, almost forgetting that he was now wearing Snape’s face.
“I see.” He said calmly and continued on his way.
“Unbelievable, we just dodged a bullet!” Ron patted his chest in relief. “I thought for sure we’d be punished. If we’d been given detention, the last bit of the term would have been ruined—what’s wrong, Hermione?”
Hermione’s face was blank as she stared at the corner of the staircase where Harry had just disappeared.
“It’s strange. Professor Snape called us by our names.”
“Oh, you’re right. That is a bit odd.” Ron scratched his head. “But we should catch up with Harry. Even if we don’t find him, we can ask other professors what’s going on.”
“You’re right.” Hermione agreed, and the two continued up the stairs.
Meanwhile, in a dark, closed room on the second floor of the castle, Professor Mcgonagall was nervously wringing her hands, occasionally glancing at the unconscious person on the sofa—her former colleague.
Knock knock!
The knock startled her. She took out a lacy handkerchief to wipe her eyes, took a deep breath, and regained her usual stern and dignified demeanor. Then she opened the office door to find Professor Sprout standing outside.
“Pomona, you’re back! Oh, and you too, come in—”
Professor Sprout entered, exchanging a glance with Mcgonagall. Following her was a dark-skinned man who didn’t look young anymore. His face was stern, with deep wrinkles and a downturned mouth that matched the curve of his eyebrows. He wore a dark blue wizard’s robe with a pin on the collar. When he entered and removed his hat, his gray curly hair clung to his scalp.
Before Professor Sprout could introduce him, he extended his hand.
“Hello, I’m Baba Adebadu.”
Professor Mcgonagall was slightly surprised. “The new chairman of the International Confederation of Wizards?” Baba nodded. At that moment, four well-dressed, sharp-looking wizards entered. “These are the members of the enforcement team I brought. They are responsible for the escort—Rodney.” He said calmly, and a middle-aged wizard approached the sofa, lighting his wand to examine the unconscious Grindelwald.
“Scram, you ugly bird.” One of the team members said, causing Fawkes, who was serving as the room’s light source, to glare at him indignantly.
Professor Mcgonagall frowned.
“Could we turn on the lights?” Baba asked. “It’s a bit dark. My team might not see clearly.”
Professor Mcgonagall pursed her lips but didn’t say anything. She waved her wand, and a soft light spread from the ceiling, brightening the office.
“A magical light?” Baba said with interest. “I’ve always wanted to talk to Mr. Hep about that project… and of course, Dumbledore. I hope to hear his wisdom, but we have business to attend to.”
Sprout suddenly gasped, and the two turned to look at her. She stammered, “H-He used a stinging hex.”
“Mr. Adebadu, your enforcement process is too brutal. This is abuse.” Professor Mcgonagall said sternly.
“No, this is a necessary check, Professor.” The team member grinned, tilting his head. “No problem! He’s deeply asleep. Next, the binding charm, immobilizing spell, and silencing charm—according to an internal report, he’s a smooth talker—”
Baba cleared his throat. “Rodney, follow the plan. We don’t need you showing off your eloquence.” Rodney fell silent, pulling out glittering handcuffs and leg irons to secure Grindelwald.
One of the team members opened the door, and another raised his wand, pointing it at Grindelwald. Under the influence of the handcuffs and leg irons, Grindelwald’s body floated in mid-air, his head and limbs hanging limply.
“Mr. Adebadu,” Professor Mcgonagall said seriously, “I don’t know if Dumbledore informed you, but he wants the entire process to be strictly confidential, especially to prevent him from regaining consciousness.”
Babaji Adebadu replied calmly, "You have a point."
He drew an arc in the air with his wand, and Grindelwald's face was covered by a black mask. Seeing that Professor Mcgonagall still wanted to say something, he smiled, "All right, Professor, let's go see Dumbledore. These professionals are experienced with the most dangerous criminals."
Professor Mcgonagall pressed her lips into a thin line. She walked last, and when everyone had left, she stood at the door and looked at Fawkes, "Thank you, Fawkes. You can go back now." Fawkes nodded at her, spread his broad wings, and burst into flames. Then Professor Mcgonagall closed the office door.
A burst of firelight seeped through the door's crack and illuminated her feet, then faded away.
"That was a Phoenix?" Babaji Adebadu exclaimed in surprise. "I didn't recognize it."
"It's called Fawkes", Professor Mcgonagall said absentmindedly. "Mr. Adebadu, there's something you might not know—Headmaster Dumbledore has submitted his resignation to the school board, today... ah, he, he couldn't wait to start a journey", she sniffed. "I'm not sure if you'll be able to see him."
They walked through the corridor to the spiral staircase. Suddenly, a commotion came from downstairs. "What's happening?" Professor Sprout asked, puzzled. She glanced down and was startled by a silver, translucent head emerging from the stairs.
"Murder! Someone's been murdered!" Peeves shouted excitedly, whistling loudly.
Professor Mcgonagall called out, "What's going on, Peeves? Are you playing a prank?" Peeves, who was somewhat afraid of Professor Mcgonagall, replied in a slick tone:
"There's a conflict, Professor. A crybaby against some adults, wand to wand", Peeves said seriously, "I was about to tell Filch, maybe his little stick can separate them—"
"Crybaby? A student?" Professor Mcgonagall's eyebrows knit together tightly, and she hurried downstairs.
"Yeah, that Longbottom—though he's not as fun as he was in first and second year", Peeves said, following her and pretending to stumble down the stairs, humming all the way. "Shut up, Peeves!" Professor Mcgonagall shouted, already on the ground floor. The entrance hall was packed.
Someone shouted, "Professor Mcgonagall is here!" The crowd parted, revealing the two groups facing off. On one side were four members of the International Confederation of Wizards' enforcement team, and on the other—
"Longbottom! Abbott! Finnigan! Thomas! Goldstein! Greengrass!" Professor Mcgonagall shouted their names in fury, her wand raised. Then she turned to the other side, "And you two, Weasley and Lovegood, what are you doing?"
The students whose names were called lowered their wands sheepishly, all glancing at one person—Neville.
"Mr. Longbottom, is this your doing? Give me a reason." Professor Mcgonagall's chest heaved with anger.
"I'd like to know too, who are they?" Neville's face turned red as he pointed at the four enforcement officers. "Hannah and I were coming out of the Great Hall when we saw them roughly dragging someone down the stairs. Even though their faces were covered, I recognized Professor Bashir by the patterns on his clothes and trousers!"
"They are enforcement officers from the International Confederation of Wizards", Professor Mcgonagall said weakly. "Mr. Longbottom, you were too impulsive."
"Did you not see what they did?" Neville shouted, his eyes welling up. "They, they—", he stammered, overcome with anger.
Hannah Abbott took his hand and spoke for him:
"Professor Mcgonagall, we didn't know their identities, but they certainly didn't act like enforcers. They were like thugs who burst into the school. They made Professor Bashir's knees hit the steps and his head bang on the ground! You know, Neville holds Professor Bashir in high regard... He just asked a few questions and was attacked with spells."
The students were instantly indignant.
Professor Mcgonagall's eyes widened as she turned to look at the four members of the enforcement team, who stood expressionless. At that moment, Babaji Adebadu approached and asked sternly, "Rodney, is what this student saying true?"
"It seems to be the case", Rodney said, pursing his lips. "Who can explain why so many students are defending a Dark Wizard who has done nothing but evil?"
"What evidence do you have to say that?" a student shouted angrily.
"Evidence?" Rodney said with disdain. "There's plenty of it. You don't know what he did in his youth. If it weren't for someone protecting him—"
"Rodney!" Babaji snapped.
He looked around, and after a moment's thought, said, "Allow me to introduce myself: Babaji Adebadu, the current President of the International Confederation of Wizards—" The students looked at him in surprise, then confirmed with Professor Mcgonagall, who nodded slightly.
Murmurs spread through the Great Hall.
"I swear on my honor that this person is indeed a Dark Wizard, and one of the most dangerous. He escaped from his prison a year ago, and it was Headmaster Dumbledore himself who apprehended and handed him over to us", Babaji said.
The students exchanged glances. Could this be another fake Moody? But for a fugitive to apply for a teaching position at Hogwarts was quite bold, even for a Dark Wizard. Even the falsely accused Professor Bashir had to clear his name before becoming a teacher.
"Of course, I understand that you were unaware, and your courage in defending your teacher is commendable. I won't hold you responsible for this. However, crossing this line would be a violation of the law. Think carefully", Babaji's tone grew increasingly stern.
Many students looked fearful and hesitant. Babaji looked around, waved his hand, and the four members carried the unconscious Grindelwald away.
"Wait, um—Mr. Adebadu?" Neville mustered the courage to step forward and said softly, "I'm sorry, it's my fault. I just want to ask—can I speak with Professor Bashir for a moment? Just a few words, I want to ask him some questions—"
"Absolutely not!"
This was not Babaji speaking, but Professor Mcgonagall. She stood firm, despite the surprised looks from the students. "I will not allow anyone to wake him."
The Great Hall fell silent, save for the snort from the team member named Rodney, who was pulled away by his colleague. They moved through the crowd and left the castle. Professor Mcgonagall secretly sighed with relief, having completed the task Albus had given her, though she didn't know the reason.
"Alright, everyone, disperse", she said sternly, turning around. "Leave this place. Prefects, take charge."
The students dispersed, discussing the events that had just transpired and speculating about Professor Bashir's identity. Only Neville remained frozen in place, pulling out a broken Scrying Mirror from his pocket. He had imagined many scenarios, but never one like this.
Meanwhile, the four enforcement members arrived at a carriage halfway up the hill.
"You were a bit hasty, Rodney. I know your family has a grudge against Grindelwald", one of the team members said as he helped Grindelwald into the carriage and then climbed in himself. "But you shouldn't have attacked that student, even to scare him—"
"I didn't."
"What?"
"I didn't mean to scare him. I intended to stun him, but for some reason, the spell didn't work", Rodney said, puzzled. He stared at his wand, wondering if it had malfunctioned.
He glanced at Grindelwald, who was flanked by two members, and casually waved his wand. Grindelwald's exposed skin immediately turned red and swollen, as if whipped.
"Rodney! I warn you—"
"Sorry, Captain", Rodney shrugged and lowered his head, continuing to examine his wand. "It didn't fail. So what's going on? Some kind of hidden defense spell?"
As he spoke, the carriage jolted, and the black carriage sped into the dark night sky. The breathing under the black mask quickened, and the skin on his wrist, marked with what looked like whip scars or bee stings, turned bright red.
At that moment, in the Headmaster's Office, two hands clasped tightly together.
Mystical patterns emerged, then seemed to come to life, climbing up Felix's wrist.
(End of Chapter)
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