Chapter 684: The End of an Era and the Beginning of a New One

Chapter 684: The End of an Era and the Beginning of a New One

The funeral was arranged near Black Lake, close to the Forbidden Forest. Hundreds of chairs were set up on the open ground, but more and more people kept arriving, and the professors hastily added more chairs nearby. All the chairs faced a pristine white stone table. A light rain fell sporadically from the sky.

The chairs were nearly full, but people continued to arrive, standing solemnly at the back.

Grindelwald did not appear until the funeral began. Felix suppressed his concerns and quietly waited for the ceremony to start.

Suddenly, the crowd heard music that seemed to come from heaven itself.

In the clear green water near the surface, a mermaid choir sang melodiously. Their pale faces were filled with deep emotion as they expressed their grief in Mermaid Language. Felix looked up, and the fine drizzle continued to fall, though not as heavily. High in the sky, a phoenix circled, its mournful song adding to the sorrow. As the mermaids and the phoenix sang in harmony, Hagrid appeared, carrying Dumbledore's body. He walked through the aisle between the chairs to the front, large tears streaming down his beard onto the purple velvet shroud adorned with golden stars that wrapped Dumbledore's body.

Hagrid gently placed the purple velvet on the white stone table, paused for a few seconds, and then returned to the aisle, walking to where his half-brother, Grawp, stood. Grawp, dressed in a giant jacket and tent-like trousers, looked gentle and patted Hagrid's head in a comforting manner.

The music stopped, and the mermaids submerged, their faces fading into the depths. Only the phoenix continued to soar in the sky. A short, stocky man with thick hair and wearing a black wizard's robe stood up, walked to the stone table, and turned to face the crowd with a solemn expression. He cleared his throat.

Just then, an unexpected event occurred.

A silver lynx landed gracefully in front of Felix and his companions, raised its head, and spoke in Kingsley Shacklebolt's voice: "Grindelwald is here, with a group of people. You'd better—oh, my! There are too many of them!" His voice became increasingly panicked, losing all traces of his usual calm.

The wizards in the front rows exchanged worried glances.

Bartemius Crouch, the President of the International Confederation of Wizards, frowned and said, "He brought the Saints? Is he showing off his power or preparing for a trick?" No one responded. Felix's eyes flashed with a silver light, and he suddenly widened them.

He stood up abruptly and, before anyone could react, turned to Professor Mcgonagall and the three Heads of House. "I'll go first. There shouldn't be a battle, but—"

"Of course there won't be a battle! He swore not to initiate a wizarding war!" Crouch raised his arm, revealing some strange markings on his skin. Felix ignored him and continued calmly, "But I suggest the students—especially the younger ones—be ready to evacuate through the Chamber."

Professor Mcgonagall swayed slightly, her face turning pale. She clutched the collar of her robe, confirming, "There are many of them?"

Felix replied succinctly, "Far more than we imagined." With that, he vanished into thin air, leaving the crowd in a state of confusion. Crouch opened his mouth to speak, but Professor Mcgonagall stepped forward, raising her arms to quiet the crowd. She spoke loudly:

"Hogwarts will protect all guests. If danger arises, we will stand in front of you to buy time. Mr. Filch and Madam Pomfrey will handle the evacuation. Prefects and professors will maintain order and wait for the signal. The evacuation point—Potter? Harry Potter?" she called.

Harry stumbled over, his face still showing signs of shock.

"Do you know the place—" Professor Mcgonagall whispered, "In the Chamber, there's a statue with a fireplace for evacuation. You can open it with Parseltongue." With that, she hurried toward the school's main entrance. But she stopped abruptly a few steps later.

A blinding white light suddenly erupted at the school gates, causing the wizards facing it to squint in pain. Harry's body was on high alert, and he forced his eyes open to see a translucent image of Hogwarts Castle enveloped in the white light.

The black castle seemed illuminated by the light, which cut into the walls like tiny knives, leaving deep scratches. The walls cracked as if they were about to collapse, but Felix turned a page in the Runic Tome, and the walls shimmered with small runic symbols—the cracks vanished.

Grindelwald waved his wand, and all the light disappeared.

Felix looked up, and the outline of the castle became faint.

"Dumbledore's move", Grindelwald sighed, "It left a lasting impression on me back then. But after all these years, I've learned to mimic it quite well." The two stood about two hundred feet apart, with a large, silent crowd behind Grindelwald, numbering in the thousands, far more than Felix's intelligence had suggested.

A thought crossed his mind: most of these people were likely brought by Grindelwald to create an intimidating presence.

Kingsley Shacklebolt said somewhat awkwardly beside them, "There are people in other parts of the school. They've surrounded it, but they don't seem to have any intention of attacking." Felix glanced past Grindelwald, seeing some people pointing and gesturing at them.

In the distance, more wizards kept arriving, the "cracks" of apparition echoing continuously. The newcomers pressed together, craning their necks to see, as if they were attending a rally or watching a match. Felix, however, didn't catch the scent of an impending battle.

Grindelwald beckoned to him.

"We haven't had a proper fight yet. We still have a bit of time before Akinbade and the others arrive. How about we take advantage of this opportunity—"

Felix suddenly looked at the crowd, using Legilimency. A spell shot over, and a tall, armored figure sprang from the Runic Tome, deflecting the spell instantly. Felix retracted his gaze, more puzzled than ever. These people seemed to have a mission, ready to stir up trouble.

But unless Akinbade and the Ministry of Magic officials were blind, allowing Grindelwald to make a false vow, this couldn't happen.

"Then I'll grant your request", Felix said calmly. The Runic Tome rustled as its pages flipped, and black lightning bolts shot toward Grindelwald. Grindelwald's eyes widened, and his wand emitted a shrill whine as the black lightning splashed in front of him.

At this moment, it became clear who among the crowd were the elite and who were the rabble. Some stepped forward, working together to cast protective charms, but many more wizards retreated, falling into chaos. Felix's brow relaxed, but then furrowed again.

"Step back", Grindelwald shouted, suppressing his anger.

He raised his wand, and a silver bird with a body covered in blue fire emerged from the tip. The bird's eyes were replaced by crystalline flames.

"A Patronus?" Felix thought. He had seen it in the newspapers but hadn't been entirely sure. Now, seeing it in person, he finally made an accurate judgment.

A castle conjured from Ancient Runes and Memory Magic materialized from outlines into a solid structure, trapping the strange Patronus inside. Grindelwald waved his wand, and the firebird expanded to hundreds of times its size, crashing around. Meanwhile, blue-white flowers fell from the sky, sticking to the walls of the castle Felix had summoned, turning the battlefield between them into a sea of fire.

Professor Mcgonagall, Professor Sprout, Snape, Bones, and Akinbade arrived first, followed by a dozen other Ministry of Magic officials and their accompanying Aurors. They all gaped in amazement.

Akinbade's eyes shone with disbelief, different from the shock and awe of the others. His gaze held more confusion and uncertainty as he rolled up his sleeve, staring at the pattern on his wrist. The Unbreakable Vow hadn't taken effect, so neither of them was taking it seriously? Or was a one-on-one duel not considered starting a wizarding war?

Professor Mcgonagall and Bones looked worried; Felix seemed to be at a disadvantage—his entire castle was engulfed in magical fire, and dozens of firebirds, larger than fire dragons, emerged from the towers, spewing flames from their perches.

At this moment, Felix tossed the Runic Tome high into the air, and it transformed into a beam of light, merging with the castle.

The castle instantly grew to several times its size, almost matching the real school's scale, with magical symbols glowing on every brick.

It was as if a distant voice was calling.

Figures marched in unison, materializing from the air—Hogwarts students and professors, wands in hand, chanting spells in perfect synchronization. Instantly, hundreds of golden-red spells pierced the air. Grindelwald's fire was forced to split, and then exaggerated Runic Script creatures appeared, charging fearlessly into the inferno. A few seconds later, a firebird was shattered into fragments, which were promptly extinguished by the students' spells.

If this was a battle with the castle's projection as the battlefield, Felix was beginning to reclaim lost ground.

Grindelwald's face grew serious as he waved his wand. The two seemed to have reached an unspoken agreement, no longer casting new spells but testing their understanding of magic. More firebirds split off, and blue fire petals rained from the sky, but it was all in vain. The students inside the castle—mere images conjured by Felix for convenience—were essentially no different from the Runic Script creatures rampaging on the ground. They couldn't die, and their power was even greater than that of real students.

"Is this him?" a wrinkled old wizard asked from the crowd behind Grindelwald.

"Yes, are you satisfied?" Vita Rosier asked. The old wizard coughed a couple of times.

The last stray flame flickered out, leaving only the initial Patronus firebird in the castle. Felix weighed his options in his mind. If Grindelwald's strength was only what he had shown, he could still handle it...

Grindelwald had already lowered his wand.

"Cease—", Akinbade called out in time. He stepped forward, raising his arm and gritting his teeth. "Grindelwald, do you want to break your vow? Do you want to start a war?"

"Just passing the time", Grindelwald sneered, following Akinbade's gaze to his followers. "Oh, they're just here for the show. I was worried the funeral wouldn't be grand enough—Dumbledore, my old friend, would be disappointed."

Akinbade's expression stiffened, and he couldn't help but lower his voice to shout, "Grindelwald, you’re in violation. If you want to negotiate, let them leave."

Grindelwald glanced at him sideways. Felix had expected him to refuse, given the grand display, but Grindelwald surprisingly conceded.

"You’ve heard it. You can leave now, do whatever you like." Grindelwald pointed his wand at his own ear and whispered, his voice clearly reaching everyone present. One by one, they apparated away.

Grindelwald put away his wand, spreading his palms. "Now it’s just me. You can relax, right?"

Akinbade and the professors visibly breathed a sigh of relief. They had been surrounded by thousands of wizards, a sea of dark heads, enough to make anyone uneasy. Not to mention the thousands of students and visitors who had come to attend the funeral.

It seemed Grindelwald had only wanted to demonstrate his power to the International Confederation of Wizards and the Ministries of Magic from various countries. And he had succeeded. In just a few days, he had quietly gathered so many people, even if most of them were, as Grindelwald put it, just there for the spectacle. This level of influence was enough to make them wary and cautious.

Grindelwald walked over and extended his hand to Felix. Felix hesitated for a moment before grasping the offered hand.

They felt the charms in each other's arms, and something else.

"I know what you’re planning! You’ll become the enemy of all wizards", Felix whispered, his eyes locked on Grindelwald, his body already riddled with scars. No wonder he was in such a hurry!

Grindelwald was taken aback, then bowed slightly.

"I am honored", he said. "Oh, by the way—" his hand suddenly became scorching hot, "I regret ruining your and Dumbledore’s plans. But Dumbledore overestimated himself. How can a good man have more deterrent power than a thorough villain?"

He then walked toward Akinbade.

"Grindelwald!" Felix called out, "Will innocent people die today?"

Grindelwald stopped in his tracks.

"Innocent people? I think... not", he said without turning around.

Felix stayed where he was. Professor Mcgonagall called his name, and he followed her, lifting his hand that had just shaken Grindelwald’s. In his palm lay a blue flame petal, which he silently crushed. A spell appeared in his mind.

It was the magic to summon the Saints.

Felix exhaled deeply.

The alert was over, and they had one more person attending the funeral. Apart from the Hogwarts students who had spent a year with Grindelwald feeling uneasy, no one else showed much surprise. Neville wanted to stand up and question the Scrying Mirror trick, but Seamus and Dean held him back firmly.

"Don’t be rash, Neville", Harry whispered, though his own feelings were complex.

Akinbade spoke briefly, stating that Grindelwald was invited by him, and they would conduct further negotiations after the funeral, promising peace in the near future. Grindelwald, standing beside him, remained expressionless.

The funeral continued. When Akinbade returned to his seat in the front row, Grindelwald didn’t follow. Instead, he approached a short man with thick hair and a black wizard robe, politely asking, "Is it time for the eulogy?"

"Y-yes", the short man stammered.

Grindelwald smiled.

"Then let me handle it. I believe no one knows Dumbledore’s strengths and weaknesses better than I do."

The short man’s expression stiffened, looking helplessly toward the front row, where the important figures sat. But no one spoke. The short man awkwardly moved aside. Grindelwald glanced at the body on the white stone table, Dumbledore seemed to be sleeping peacefully.

He turned and spoke slowly:

"My acquaintance with Dumbledore goes back much further than you imagine. Dumbledore had just graduated, and I had been expelled from school for studying dark magic. Fate brought two troubled young men together in Godric’s Hollow. We hit it off immediately, and our relationship soon became closer than blood brothers—after all, blood only binds you by lineage, and how many families are torn apart in reality?—but we were united by our ideals..."

His opening words caused a stir, but Harry knew it was all true.

"Dumbledore had many virtues, but aside from his tedious academic research, his most celebrated contribution was his steadfast defense of Muggles and wizards of Muggle descent. It’s poignant that he himself was once a victim of Muggles. Oh, poor Albus, his family was shattered by a few Muggles, of course, with a little help from our law enforcement and the Statute of Secrecy."

Professor Mcgonagall was restless, wanting to stand up, but Felix held her back.

"Let him speak", Felix said calmly, his expression as if he were looking at a dead man.

"...The victim has the right to seek revenge against the perpetrator in any way they can think of, but Dumbledore chose to abandon that right. This experience, in the eyes of some, not only does not tarnish Dumbledore’s greatness but instead adds a tragic heroism to his persona, praising his mercy and compassion. But I see his weakness and cowardice."

The crowd buzzed with murmurs.

"We used to be inseparable, so I knew the little secrets Dumbledore kept to himself. He dreamed of Wizards and Muggles living in harmony, like one big family—what a noble ideal! Unfortunately, he only wanted the outcome but was afraid of the price that had to be paid to achieve it..."

"...Due to his hesitation, he ultimately stood against me. He betrayed his own ideals, our ideals! Throughout his life, he never took a single step forward, and even in his final moments, he could only cling to a cautious hope." The crowd’s faces grew angrier, and Grindelwald looked around without a hint of fear. "This is Dumbledore. You may have different opinions about him, but one thing is clear: Dumbledore represents an era, and with his passing, that era has ended."

"And a new era is about to begin."

Grindelwald turned away from the others, his gaze fixed on the stone table. Blinding white flames climbed the pristine stone, rising higher and higher. A mournful phoenix cry echoed from the sky, and the flames abruptly vanished, leaving behind a white stone tomb that encased both Dumbledore’s body and the table.

The funeral was over.

After a moment, the noise in the area grew louder. Grindelwald fell silent, staring at Felix. Felix met his gaze and gave a barely perceptible nod, then turned and walked toward the Forbidden Forest, ignoring Barbajad Akinbade’s calls behind him.

Akinbade and several Ministry of Magic officials stood up, staring blankly at Grindelwald’s retreating back. "He just apparated! He doesn’t want to negotiate anymore?"

Felix looked up at the sky. The phoenix had disappeared, perhaps never to return. Another familiar face was gone forever, and he—using someone else’s words—was about to welcome the new era.

"Professor Hup?" a soft, hesitant voice said.

"Oh, Hermione Granger", Felix glanced to the side. "And Potter, Weasley, Longbottom. Please sit. When does the train back to school leave?"

"In an hour", Hermione said, looking at Felix as if she were formulating something in her mind. "The International Confederation of Wizards’ President seems to have reached some kind of agreement with Grindelwald..."

"You mean—they made an ‘Unbreakable Vow’ in front of over a dozen Ministry of Magic officials?"

Harry and the others were startled; they had no idea about this. Hermione thought for a moment and said, "Oh—yes, I suppose it’s quite disheartening. His behavior today shows he’s not someone who follows orders... We all recognize the risks, but there’s nothing we can do because any opposition means standing against them—"

"What are you trying to say, Granger?"

"Oh", Hermione whispered, "I just mean, well, anyone would feel helpless in this situation..."

Felix smiled, seeming to rally but also not.

"What makes me feel helpless is not Grindelwald, but the massive changes about to sweep the world. I both yearn for and fear its arrival. There’s no precedent to guide us."

"Professor", Harry said, "no matter what changes come, we’ll stand with you." Ron and Neville nodded in agreement.

Felix straightened up and scrutinized each of them in turn. "Alright, I’ll take you seriously. Starting now, watch the sky with me and wait for news from the outside. I hope it doesn’t scare you—if I’m right." He muttered.

Harry and the others exchanged glances.

Time ticked by, and in fact, it was less than five minutes before Amelia Bones approached, her face pale with shock. She stumbled, as if she might fall at any moment, her eyes filled with unmistakable terror.

Harry had never seen her like this.

"Ms. Bones?" Akinbade asked, still conferring with his secretary and other high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Magic. Grindelwald’s sudden departure had caught them off guard.

Ms. Bones’s face was flushed, and she stammered, "Mr. Akinbade, and everyone, Grindelwald—he, he—"

"Did you find his trail?"

"Not yet", she looked unsteady, and many of the Wizards present focused their attention on her. "But we have confirmed the locations of the people Grindelwald brought with him."

"Where are they? We can’t let them gather in large numbers. Braelio’s message said Grindelwald had gathered nearly five thousand people, which is excessive even for a demonstration."

"Everywhere", Ms. Bones said weakly.

"What?"

"Everywhere!" she shouted, her voice strained. "Those people, led by six or seven hundred core Saints, have publicly revealed their Wizard identities! They’ve appeared in over two thousand Muggle cities. They’re casting spells without restraint, flying over cities—Mr. Akinbade, the Wizarding world is completely exposed, and there’s no turning back!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end