Chapter 858: This Is Part of the Agreement
Chapter 858: This Is Part of the Agreement
“I am well aware of that…” Grindelwald said slowly, his expression calm.
“So, you must have researched how to counteract the corrosive effects of this Dark Magic on the body, right?” Ivan stared at Grindelwald, asking.
“Indeed, I did provide him with some advice. Unfortunately, he came too late. That bizarre Dark Magic has completely eroded his entire body. Even I have no solution.” Grindelwald replied.
“But the Wizards who prepared his potions told me that, given Dumbledore’s condition, he should have only lasted until the start of the school year at Hogwarts. Yet, he defied expectations and managed to hold on until the end of the year, and he still retained significant combat capabilities. I believe this must have something to do with you.” Ivan stated with certainty.
“You are very perceptive… Hals.” Grindelwald’s voice was low and slightly raspy. He did not directly answer Ivan’s question but instead extended his left hand, which had been hidden in the shadows. “This is the answer you seek.”
Ivan looked down and his pupils constricted. Grindelwald’s entire left hand was charred black, with a faint Dark Aura emanating from it, identical to the injury on Dumbledore’s body.
“So, all these days, you have been taking on part of the damage caused by the Dark Magic in place of Dumbledore?” After a brief moment of surprise, Ivan quickly deduced this. He had seen several spells in the Forbidden Books at Hogwarts that could achieve a similar effect.
“You can think of it that way.” Grindelwald’s expression remained unchanged as he withdrew his hand and casually replied.
Ivan looked deeply at Grindelwald for a moment and then suddenly asked, “You don’t seem to mind answering my questions.”
Grindelwald slowly ate the last piece of steak, chewing it carefully before responding. “After all, this is part of the agreement!”
“What agreement? An agreement with Dumbledore?” Ivan pressed.
“The terms of the agreement are simple. I answer your questions, and in return, he promises to make my life slightly more comfortable… before I die…” Grindelwald’s face bore a mocking smile.
“Just that?” Ivan seemed surprised, as the terms of the agreement seemed unequal. To gain a slightly more comfortable environment, Grindelwald not only had to answer his numerous questions but also had to sacrifice his own life!
Dumbledore had already proven that once someone was afflicted by this Dark Magic and did not receive treatment within a short period, the outcome was certain death!
Grindelwald did not have the specialized potions that Snape had prepared to suppress the injury, so the erosion of his body was extremely rapid. Judging by the severity of the injury on his left hand, Grindelwald probably had less than three months left to live…
“I have been imprisoned in this tower for about fifty years. Whether death comes a day earlier or later makes no difference to me.” Grindelwald said calmly.
“Is that so?” Ivan scrutinized Grindelwald, his gaze quickly shifting to the few newspapers scattered on the bedside table. Judging by the headlines, these were the latest issues of the Daily Prophet.
“You often read the newspapers? That doesn’t seem like something a man waiting to die would do!” Ivan raised an eyebrow, teasingly.
"This tower is utterly dull, so one must cultivate some habits to pass the time, like... checking what interesting events are happening in the outside world." Grindelwald's tone remained calm.
He pushed the utensils in front of him to the side, picked up a copy of the Daily Prophet, and looked at the large headline, "Dark Lord Strikes Again, Gringotts Suffers Heavy Losses", before asking with interest.
"It seems you used the Dark Lord's name to severely punish those Goblins, something I've always wanted to do but never managed to... Oh, and if I'm not mistaken, Britain should now be under your control, right?"
"That's just a minor trick", Ivan replied casually.
Although he had done quite a bit over the years, it all amounted to minor skirmishes in Britain. If one were to count, the population of Wizards on the British Isles would probably be less than that of a small Muggle town.
More importantly, Ivan didn't feel proud in front of Grindelwald. The latter had once attempted to spark a Wizard-Muggle War with a shocking plan, and even though he ultimately failed, he still commanded a sense of awe.
"Headmaster Dumbledore once spoke to me about you and your many plans. I must say, it is indeed a feasible path and has given me a lot of inspiration", Ivan said.
"So it seems we share the same ideals..." Grindelwald's lips curled into a meaningful smile. He believed Dumbledore must have mentioned those things with a warning in mind, but the young Wizard in front of him seemed to have a different perspective.
However, Ivan shook his head. "No, your ideas are too extreme. While there are aspects to learn from, Wizards and Muggles ultimately need to find a way to coexist."
In Ivan's view, even if Wizards, being a minority, could temporarily dominate the world, it would be difficult to maintain such dominance for long.
Conversely, Muggles couldn't possibly exterminate Wizards, as there is always a chance that a child born to two ordinary people might possess magical abilities.
"So you believe in Dumbledore's approach, that Muggles and Wizards should live in harmony?" Grindelwald sneered.
"What's wrong with that?" Ivan asked, puzzled.
"You intend to put lions and sheep together?" Grindelwald said disdainfully.
"Muggles are not as weak as you think... I believe you must have seen the devastation caused by the last Muggle world war", Ivan said noncommittally.
"You mean those Muggle weapons of mass destruction?" Grindelwald laughed scornfully. "I admit Muggles are more efficient in killing, but don't forget that even the most powerful weapons need to be wielded by people. Wizards controlling Muggles is enough."
Ivan didn't argue the point but instead said calmly, "You tried that decades ago, didn't you? And you ultimately failed."
Grindelwald's face darkened for a moment but quickly returned to its usual calm. "That's true, I did lose, but not to those Muggles. It had nothing to do with the Wizarding Council either..."
(End of Chapter)
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