A certain Hogwarts rune professor

Chapter 674 The Crime of Grindelwald
"Oh, is it true? Did Dumbledore really say that - deal with Voldemort's soul fragment in you tonight?"

The next morning, when Harry told his companions what happened last night, Hermione said in surprise.Ron next to him was too shocked to speak, his eyes fixed on Harry's face.

Harry nodded silently, and they stepped on the soft lawn and walked around the Black Lake.The sun was shining outside the castle, and Hagrid could be seen busy in the vegetable garden from a distance.

"Did he say what to do? What preparations are you going to make?" Ron asked impatiently.

"He just told me to do one brave thing, and he'll tell me the rest after dinner tonight," Harry said.

"But why?" Ron asked puzzled.

"Could it have something to do with the OWLs?" Hermione speculated. "The last exam just ends today, so Headmaster Dumbledore can be completely free."

Harry couldn't think of a reason to refute or agree.In fact, he'd been looking forward to this day, and the idea of ​​spending the last week of the school year with Ginny on a sunny June day was simply obsessive to him.

They walked around the Black Lake, pausing every now and then to watch the giant squid spout jets of water in the lake, and the sun refract the arching rainbow, then disappear again in an instant.

Sometimes they also enthusiastically discussed the methods that Dumbledore might use. Ron guessed that Harry would have a thrilling life-and-death duel with Voldemort under the watchful eyes of Dumbledore and Professor Haip, but Hermione didn't think so. The two professors would put Harry in danger, so Ron quickly changed his mind and changed to Dumbledore and Professor Haip beating Voldemort half to death before letting Harry play.

"It's better to just use your bare hands. The two of you compete with each other for strength. Voldemort seems to be lacking in exercise." Hermione said with a straight face.

Harry laughed.

Especially when Ron said bluntly, "It's not impossible", he smiled even more happily.Afterwards, the three of them spent the afternoon at Hagrid's place, drinking tea and giving advice on the pattern of canvas trousers that Hagrid had prepared for Gropp, feeling very comfortable.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione didn't return to the castle until it was nearly time.

Their timing was very accurate. When they came to the entrance hall, many students had already completed the practical examination of Charms and were chatting enthusiastically in twos and threes. These people cheered loudly, celebrating the end of the hellish year.After waiting a few more minutes, Ginny appeared at a side door of the auditorium.

In the short time that the door was open, Harry clearly heard Professor Marchbane's loud voice announcing the end of the exam.

"I've always thought it was a bad name," muttered Ron. "It doesn't take advantage of anything alphabetical."

Ginny rolled her eyes at Ron and wrapped her arms around Harry affectionately.Looking away uncomfortably, Harry saw Colin Creevey, leaning against an alcove with a college hourglass, seemingly being interviewed by Mafalda.

At this moment, Snape's wide black clothes swished past them.

Harry just glanced at him curiously, and then he was attracted by Ginny's words, "I want to be a bridesmaid!" Harry was in a daze, and Snape's shadow was thrown out of his mind by him, and he couldn't help but think about it. Fantasizing about Ginny in a bridesmaid dress, wondering what the difference is from a bridal dress?
But in the next few minutes, professors appeared one after another. Even Hermione, who was enthusiastically discussing the wedding dress with Ginny, and Ron, who looked impatient, noticed something unusual: the professors passing by seemed to be too frequent.

Therefore, when Hagrid's broad figure walked in from outside, Harry stopped him.

"Hagrid, why are you here?"

"Meeting," said Hagrid in a low voice, the wet dirt still sticking to his boat-like boots, as if he'd been busy in the vegetable patch after they left.He babbled into the auditorium, and several people glanced at each other. Ginny volunteered to disappear for a while, and when she came back, she said, "Hagrid went to the staff room. I took a look, and there were many people in it. It seemed that all the professors They're all invited."

……

When Felix sat down next to Snape, he scanned around. All the professors in the school were present, and there were two other strangers sitting in the corner with expressionless faces, not saying a word.

The room gradually became quiet, and everyone's eyes were on Dumbledore who was sitting in the main seat.Dumbledore looked around with a smile on his face, and spoke.

"Before the meeting begins, allow me to introduce two witnesses, Vader and Chester, who are representatives of the school board."

The two nodded.

The professors present exchanged surprised looks with each other, as if something big was about to happen.

"The next thing I want to say has been agreed by all members of the board of directors: everyone, I will resign as the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Dumbledore said seriously, and there was an uproar in the room, as if he didn't see it Yes, continued: "At the same time, I am very grateful to the board of directors for recognizing my recommendation. Minerva McGonagall will take over my position and become the new principal."

Professor McGonagall let out a shriek, "No, Dumbledore—"

Dumbledore stopped her with a look.

"Let me finish, Minerva. The new appointment also includes - Felix Heppe, who will continue to serve as the vice-principal on the basis of continuing to serve as the professor of ancient runes."

After Dumbledore finished speaking, ten slender fingertips touched together, and then looked at the others politely, as if waiting for someone to ask a question.The room was silent for a while, everyone was trying to digest this amazing news, and no one broke the silence first.

Felix didn't react much to the position that suddenly fell on him. Even without the status of vice-principal, he was able to promote some reforms in the school.He frowned slightly, staring at Dumbledore, his heart sank a little.

He has also guessed before, but he has been uncertain.Especially when he recently learned that Dumbledore used the power of the resurrection stone to summon the soul projections of his two relatives from the hearts of living people, he didn't think that Dumbledore had the possibility of giving up his life.

If Dumbledore had made up his mind to die, what was the point of doing so?
But now that Dumbledore suddenly made this decision, it can't be to enjoy retirement, right?With a thought in his heart, he looked across to Grindelwald, maybe he knew something?At this moment, Grindelwald frowned and looked at Dumbledore intently. Dumbledore didn't deliberately avoid him, but he didn't pay too much attention either.

He felt bad, and the cold feeling penetrated into his internal organs little by little.

"Dumbledore, you should have discussed it with me beforehand!" At this moment, Professor McGonagall said angrily, "I can't accept you doing this. The plan to retire should also leave a period of buffer time, instead of suddenly raising it to scare everyone."

"Minerva, there are still two hours before the dinner party, we have enough time to clear up the confusion, but my decision will not change."

"Of course there are doubts!" ​​Professor McGonagall said fiercely: "Let's start with when you had this irresponsible idea, and what do you do after you leave school? You spent most of your life in Spent here."

"This is a big subject, Minerva, and I don't want to go into details, it's too long-winded, and two hours is not enough. In short, I've planned a trip." Dumbledore announced happily, even at It seemed to Felix that there was a hint of mischief in his tone. "Of course, you can also think that I have planned for a long time."

"Travel, travel?"

Professor McGonagall seemed confused, but Grindelwald raised his head sharply, traveling?Dumbledore mentioned this to him in private. Two days ago, when he talked about his graduation trip that died midway, there was a trace of regret in his words.

He talked about his planned route.

Starting from the UK, passing through France, Greece, Egypt, Brazil... It almost covers the famous wizarding towns and magical attractions all over the world.Of course, the most important thing is people. He is very interested in the magical ecology of other countries, and he will not refuse to stop in some beautiful places...

Grindelwald felt a tinge of longing.

For the next time, he was absent-minded and his thoughts were racing.When the meeting was over, all the professors walked out of the faculty lounge blankly, and the students in the auditorium were already sitting at the dining table.Then the dinner began, and when it was over, Dumbledore stood up to speak, announcing the horrific news.

The students below were stunned. They finally knew why all the professors seemed to have no appetite today - including Grindelwald, of course, but his thinking was completely different from other professors.

When Dumbledore said that he would give up the position of headmaster, he knew that the plan he had endured for a year had gone bankrupt, and his news in Nurmengard Castle was very closed, but this was exactly what he wanted, so he voluntarily cut off The contact with the outside world, at the beginning, there were unwilling saints who sent messages through various means, but after finding no response, they gradually disappeared. His world became simple and quiet, and he relied on past memories to pass the time all day long. .

Many years passed in a flash.Once he accidentally learned the rumors of the Elder Wand from the house elf Bundy, he couldn't hold back the impulse and asked Bundy to send a letter, because he knew that the Elder Wand fell to Dumbledore half a century ago. With his character, it is absolutely impossible to change hands.

He smelled conspiracy.

Sure enough, the junior who claimed to be Voldemort began to stir up trouble.Grindelwald watched the battle outside the Hogsmeade village from the perspective of the house elves, but the doubts in his heart were not verified. Dumbledore was old and did not show the power of the old wand at all.However, the Elder Wand was still in his hand.

Afterwards, he hooked up with Felix Hemp.

In the constant bickering and communication, he was keenly aware that another era of great momentum was coming.The last great era was a century ago. At that time, the speed of Muggle development was getting faster and faster. Not only did people of insight in the wizarding world feel threatened, but even ordinary wizards could find that the scope of their activities became wider and wider. The rules of secrecy laws are getting stricter and narrower.

Discontent is pervasive all over the world.

He jumped at that opportunity, thus building Grindelwald's reputation as the most dangerous Dark wizard of all time.Almost a century has passed now, and history is reincarnated again, but this time it is not the wizards who provoked the war on their own initiative, but they have no way to retreat, and no matter how they avoid it, it seems that it is difficult to hide the existence of the magic world.

The law of secrecy is in jeopardy, and this crisis cannot be solved by putting a dark wizard in jail.

Shortly thereafter, he 'saw' some images, not one.To be precise, there are three different scenes: the anti-wizard parade; the grand fireworks; and - the scene where he summons the saints himself!

He concealed the latter two pictures, and took out the most intuitive one as a condition for negotiation.In the end he succeeded, changed his face, concealed his identity, and became an ordinary magic teacher.

At first he had no interest in educating students.

But this idea gradually changed, and sometimes he even thought that it would be good to continue living like this until the prophecy appeared.He even found an explanation for two other images he saw: the celebration ceremony after the victory, and calling the saints to replace the corrupt and incompetent International Federation of Wizards when he was exposed in the wizarding world.

It is precisely because he has figured out the meaning of these three pictures that he, Dumbledore, and Heppe have the ternary theory.Each of the three plays an important role:
Dumbledore gained great prestige by defeating him and being recognized by Kirin, and this influence is unmatched to this day;

Felix Hep's influence is a little less, but it depends on who he is compared with. In fact, both his personal strength and prestige are far beyond the geographical limit. Novel magical items have spread their tentacles all over the entire magical world, and even Grindelwald was amazed after studying his resume.

As for Grindelwald himself, as he said, unite all the forces in the wizarding world to ensure that there will be no internal chaos.The saint in his hands will wipe out any threat if necessary.This list naturally also includes the stubborn Muggle regime. In his opinion, even if wizards and Muggles finally go to peace, it must be after the war.

In the few short decades when he was most active, there were two world wars, and he was too aware of the evil in human nature.

A wizard must show his power.Optimistically, only one or two countries need to be burned to rubble.At least an all-out war was avoided, no?Even if both sides will suffer heavy losses, with the wizard's hiding ability, as long as someone organizes it, an ordinary house can hide hundreds of wizards.

The ones who died were just enough to quench the hatred of ordinary Muggles.

After dozens or hundreds of years, when the convenience brought by magic is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, wizards will become de facto nobles, and the wars and bloodshed in the past will be forgotten. How many people now remember that a small country in Bulgaria also participated in the war?
This is Grindelwald's preview of the future—pessimistic, desperate, cold, and cruel. Even speaking of these thoughts will provoke a lot of criticism.So he withheld the bloody speeches, but he knew Dumbledore would figure it out himself.

This time, he was not determined to start a war.

He was even happy to say comfortingly: "There are more than 200 countries in the world, as long as each one makes the right choice, war can naturally be avoided." He likes to see Dumbledore's speechless expression.

They've lived too long and seen too many ugly things, and only Hep can have unrealistic fantasies and hope that everything will be fine.But that possibility...is too slim.

Both he and Dumbledore were downright pessimistic in nature, and their hearts were already desolate.

……

In the deathly silence, Dumbledore raised his goblet and smiled to everyone:
"If hope is lost, what are we left with?"

There was still silence in the auditorium, as if someone had cast a whispering spell.Then, Dumbledore announced that the dinner was over, but no one moved, everyone stared at him, and some sensual girls cried.

Dumbledore was quite moved. He took a breath and said tremblingly: "Everyone can leave. In addition, the four deans of the college, as well as Professor Haip and Professor Bagshot, come with me." After finishing speaking, he took the lead Passing through the crowd and walking towards the door, the people whose names were called followed one by one.

As he passed the silent Gryffindor students, Dumbledore paused slightly and looked towards the crowd.Their eyes met, and Harry suddenly understood.

He glanced back at the messy auditorium, exchanged glances with Ron and Hermione, bent over and followed quietly.There was a burst of shoving and an angry shout from Seamus: "I'm not leaving! I'm in sixth grade—I'm an adult!"

(End of this chapter)