A ruined Hogwarts

Snowflakes were floating in the sky again, falling lightly in the fountain in front of the manor house. Several lifelike ice sculptures and snowmen standing next to them were still shining brightly in the dim evening.

The family had just returned from a trip to Austria with large bags of souvenirs, and they were boredly passing the time before dinner.

"Dad, do you know what the relationship between mother and Grindelwald is?" Owen watched the house elf stuffing several neatly ironed new robes into his suitcase while Ms. Adeline was not around, and then he became curious. asked.

"I just said you can't hold it in for long." Mr. Albert winked at him proudly, then smiled and shook his head and said: "That's all a matter of the older generation. The branch of the Rozier family in France. She did a lot of things for Grindelwald, but also declined with the fall of that one. Your maternal grandmother was born in the French Rozier family..."

As he spoke, he also sighed with emotion: "It's hard for you to imagine how powerful the Wiccan Party was when it was at its most glorious. Grindelwald's admirers and followers were all over the world, and too many people were fanatical about him. He He advocated the overthrow of the Wizarding Secrecy Act and tried to establish a new world order in which wizards ruled absolutely over Muggles. He was a true revolutionary... Hey, if I had been born in that era, I would have supported him."

"Later Grindelwald was defeated by Dumbledore and imprisoned in Nurmengard. Some of his many followers were arrested and imprisoned in secret prisons in various countries, while others disappeared and hid in silence. They obviously Not reconciled, maybe he always has faith in Grindelwald, hoping that he can escape from prison and gather them together again..."

"Your grandmother was like this. She instilled those thoughts into Adeline when she was a child. Therefore, your mother can be regarded as an admirer of Grindelwald." Albert spread his hands and said nonchalantly, "The black veil in the sky used to be This is Grindelwald's way of gathering followers, haha, I hope those people in the International Federation of Wizards won't be frightened into having a heart attack. If your mother is willing to go and have a look, then let her."

"I didn't expect my mother to have someone I admire." Owen said with a smile, sitting on a chair with his chin in his hand.

Thinking about it this way, how many of the saints back then were still quietly accumulating strength and passing on their will with their faith? How many people did these people silently influence and make them become Grindelwald's admirers? If Drindwall really comes out to cheer up, some of these admirers will definitely be willing to follow him... This is definitely a force that cannot be underestimated.

"As long as Grindelwald is alive, his era will not end." Owen sighed in his heart, but became very excited. With such a group of people here, the future will become even more exciting, and that is also the colorful stage he yearns for.

"Who didn't have an idol they admired when they were young?" Mr. Albert said casually, "Grindelwald has passed away anyway, and his era is completely over."

"Since he is dead, why is there black veil floating in the sky?" Owen's expression was meaningful, "Did he gather his followers to bury him before he died?"

Albert's eyes flickered. He straightened his back suddenly, put away his cynical attitude, looked at Owen with a serious expression, and said slowly: "Are you trying to say that he faked his death to escape?"

"Why can't you think so?" Owen tapped his long, pale fingers on the table, smiling innocently, "It would be too easy for such a powerful wizard to deceive investigators."

"But why is it necessary? It's been fifty years. If he really wanted to come out, why did he wait so long?" Albert's look was even a little stern.

"Dumbledore disappeared a few days ago..." Owen said softly.

"Dumbledore is back." Albert glanced at him, "Yesterday I received news that Dumbledore went to the Ministry of Magic and met with Cornelius Fudge and a group of senior officials of the Ministry of Magic. There were objections to a little bill about goblins being introduced..."

Owen's tapping on the table paused. He opened his eyes slightly, licked his lips and said, "Dumbledore also used to give advice on matters in the Ministry of Magic?"

"On the contrary, he never likes to get involved in those things. Even his status as the chairman of the International Federation of Wizards is almost a decoration. He basically does not express opinions except on major matters." Albert said thoughtfully, "If he hadn't refused to take up the position of Minister of Magic, Fudge wouldn't have been able to catch it... Haha, Dumbledore's intervention will make Fudge sleepless."

"Of course, although Fudge is afraid that Dumbledore will usurp his position, he still cannot do without Dumbledore's help, otherwise he will not be able to secure the position of minister..." He sneered, making no secret of his disdain for Fudge. He knew that his son had always been smart and precocious, so it was not too early to discuss this topic.

"Dad, don't you think it's a coincidence that Dumbledore came back at the right time?" Owen gently stroked the armrest of the chair and winked at him, "And his style of doing things has also changed..."

Albert narrowed his eyes and frowned gradually. After being silent for a long time, he took a deep look at Owen, then leaned back casually on the chair, raising the corners of his mouth teasingly: "Ha, who knows?"

Glancing at his arrogant father, Owen shook his head in amusement and huddled in the armchair lazily.

As soon as Ms. Adeline came over, she saw the father and son looking exactly the same, and she couldn't help covering her lips and narrowing her eyes in laughter.

…

At the end of the Christmas holidays, Owen returned to Hogwarts.

The atmosphere in the auditorium that night was cheerful and warm. The panic that had permeated the school before the holidays had disappeared. Dumbledore, sitting safely in the middle of the teachers' bench, gave everyone reassurance.

Owen cut the steak on the plate gracefully and skillfully, looking in the direction of the teacher's desk consciously or unconsciously. Dumbledore was wearing a black robe embroidered with silver patterns and white gloves on his hands. He was eating a piece of grilled lamb steak with a smile. His light blue eyes under the half-moon glasses looked at the students at the four long tables from time to time. them. Most of the other professors had relaxed expressions on their faces. Professor McGonagall narrowed her eyes with a rare smile. Only Professor Snape had a gloomy expression, as if he was attending a funeral.

Owen silently withdrew his gaze, stuffed a piece of steak into his mouth and chewed it carefully. The thick juice exploded in his mouth, and it tasted very good. Through his observation, there seemed to be nothing unusual about Dumbledore, but if he had to say it, his taste in clothes might have improved a bit, and he no longer wore his brightly colored robes...

"How was your vacation?" he joined the chatter around him.

"It's so boring." Draco showed an impatient expression and raised his chin, "If I had known I would have gone home for Christmas. I could go on a trip, and I wouldn't have to be forced to write letters home every day, lest I Mom cried and missed me all day..."

"It seems like everything has been peaceful recently?" Owen changed the subject.

"Yeah, the heir hasn't made any more moves." Harry gave him a "you know" look, "Several members of the Weasley family have been detained in school and haven't caused any more trouble. I think they are pretty good. The people I get along with are all very nice..."

"What's so good about Weasley? He's rough and rude, has too many children to raise..." Draco said slowly, "Oh, I heard they still live in a pig pen."

"Draco, don't say that..." Harry tugged on his sleeve.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't see where your upbringing was." Ginny Weasley passed by behind them and said with a pretty face, "I hope it wasn't eaten by a dog."

"Sorry, Ginny..." Harry blushed and stammered as he hurriedly blocked Draco's mouth.

"It's okay, you didn't say that." Ginny nodded at him, a faint blush appearing on her freckled face. She walked away quickly, and her ears, which were vaguely covered by her long fiery red hair, turned bright red.

"Wow, Harry, this little Weasley girl is treating you..." Blaise showed a meaningful expression.

Harry kicked him, shutting him up.

Watching a group of people having fun, Owen finished a piece of strawberry pudding in a good mood, and then slowly put the knife in his hand into his mouth under Daphne's surprised gaze.

"It's just a little magic." Owen said with a wink when he saw the little girl's eyes widening. With a flick of his right hand, the table knife appeared in his hand, spinning rapidly between his fingers.

After this night passed, the second semester began. The schoolwork has become more arduous, causing the little wizards to complain endlessly. Harry and Draco have to spend more time practicing Quidditch. Owen began to spend more time immersed in the wall space studying magic, always making others think he was sleeping.

Lockhart's class was still a joke. Owen was once again forced on stage to play a traveler who was bewitched by a female ghost. He had a perfect smile on his face the whole time, which made Harry, who played the female ghost, tremble. Harry felt that Owen was going to turn black. This smile frightened him, but unfortunately Lockhart was still jumping around him unconsciously, his bright white teeth still shining.

In the first week after school started, Owen received a letter from Dumbledore, in which he was invited to go to the principal's office with Harry this Saturday and have dinner and chat together.

Owen was too lazy to make random guesses about the other party's purpose of calling him over, and calmly continued his daily study and research, while looking at Peter Pettigrew hiding in the castle. Because of Dumbledore's suspicion, he temporarily postponed his plan.

The time came on Saturday, and after the sun completely set behind the horizon, the two of them came to the principal's office together.

Dumbledore was wearing a simple dark blue robe and was sitting in a high-backed chair behind the desk with his eyes closed, looking just like the old principals in the picture frame. The gilded perch behind the door was empty, and Fawkes, the phoenix, was missing.

After hearing the sound of the two people opening the door and coming in, Dumbledore suddenly opened his eyes, his sharp gaze slowly swept over the two people's faces, and a smile slowly appeared on their faces. He raised his right hand and made a "please" gesture, indicating that they should sit down across the table.

Owen smiled and nodded to him. He easily pulled out the chair and sat on it. He silently glanced at Dumbledore's smooth and white right hand and the ugly cracked black gemstone ring on his index finger. Then He met those interested light blue eyes.

"Would you like something to eat?" Dumbledore asked. Before the two of them could answer, he took out his Elder Wand and tapped the table lightly, and all kinds of food appeared on the table out of thin air.

"Sir, is your hand okay?" Harry stared at his right hand, his expression relaxing.

"Of course, that's just a trivial problem." The smile on Dumbledore's face faded, and then he narrowed his eyes and smiled again.

Hey, that's weird. While Owen was cursing in his mind, he consciously took some baked fries and ate them slowly.

During the meal, he kept observing quietly and discovered more obvious abnormalities. In addition to the missing Fawkes, there was something amiss about the Sorting Hat sitting on a shelf behind the desk, and Dumbledore himself - in addition to his intact right hand - his food choices.

Dumbledore had a good appetite and ate a piece of grilled pork chop smeared with thick sauce, a large pork sausage, a bowl of sour roast chicken and a plate of pea shoots. He also drank two glasses of butter beer, his movements were reserved and elegant. He wasn't slow at all, but he didn't touch the plates of desserts on the table.

After Owen finished a plate of roast beef, he pushed a plate of jam pudding in front of him with a smile and said politely: "Sir, would you like some dessert?"

"Ah, I plan to change my taste recently." Dumbledore picked up a napkin and wiped his mouth, and said with a smile, "I think I have discovered the joy of meat just like you. I also plan to go to Diagon Alley tomorrow. Try that famous black pepper steak. You always have to try something new, right?"

Owen smiled in agreement and gently ran his fingers over the edge of the plate in front of him. With his mouth full, Harry listened to the conversation between the two with an innocent expression, nodding his head from time to time to show that he was not just here to work.

After the dinner was over, Dumbledore gently touched the black gemstone ring on his finger and said calmly: "Harry, I need to borrow your invisibility cloak." Although he said it was borrowing, his tone was full of emotion. Undoubted meaning.

Owen blinked and glanced at Dumbledore's ring again. In this way, he would have collected three Deathly Hallows.

Naturally, Harry would not object. He took out the invisibility cloak he carried with him without hesitation, handed it to Dumbledore, and then said with some embarrassment: "Sir, can I ask how long you need to use it? ?I mean, I might even use it to catch Peter Pettigrew..."

Dumbledore lowered his head and stroked the shiny silver invisibility cloak. Hearing this, he said without raising his head: "Tonight I will teach you the Disguise Charm."

"Oh..." Harry nodded obediently. Why did he feel that something was wrong with Dumbledore tonight? He couldn't help turning his head to look at Owen, but found that the other person didn't look at him at all... there was no tacit understanding at all.

In the following time, Harry studied the Disguise Charm with Dumbledore seriously. Owen watched boredly, looking at the Sorting Hat behind the table from time to time. The old, dirty and black hat had now turned gray-white and slumped there.

After explaining the key points of the Disillusionment Curse, Dumbledore, who saw that Harry had tried many times without making any progress, stared at him with a serious expression for a while. After Harry became at a loss, he waved his hand impatiently: " Go back and practice hard, and I will check your progress next time you teach. You can go back now."

He strode to his high-back chair, suddenly stopped, turned his head and stared into Harry's eyes: "By the way, I plan to leave the matter of the tiara in school to you, Harry."

Harry's mouth fell open in surprise. What's the meaning? You don't do anything anymore? But you are the principal...

"I had arranged everything originally, and I could find the crown as long as I followed the plan." Dumbledore curled his lips, and then walked slowly to Harry's side, giving people an inexplicable pressure, "But later, I Abolish all my arrangements. That is Voldemort's Horcrux, Harry, and it is your whetstone. As the prophesied savior, I want to see you grow."

"What I need is a brave and resourceful savior, not a weak person who only relies on me." He leaned down, patted Harry's shoulder heavily, and said softly in a voice full of expectation and encouragement, " You are my most promising student, Harry, and I hope you will not disappoint me."

"Yes...yes, sir, I will try my best!" Harry said with a red face as he was coaxed into a coma.

"Very well, you can go back first." Dumbledore smiled quickly at him. "Owen, stay here first. I want to talk to you alone."

Watching Harry leave the principal's office with three turns, Owen put on the most appropriate smile on his face and watched Dumbledore sit back on his chair with an innocent expression.

"I'm curious, will you help Harry?" The smile on Dumbledore's face disappeared instantly, and after staring at Owen with a faint expression for a while, he said calmly. At this time, he carried an oppressive power.

"At least until now, I have been helping him." Owen pondered for a moment, and then spoke truthfully after considering his words. His back was straight, his muscles tense, and a terrible sense of danger set off alarm bells in his heart.

Dumbledore stared at him expressionlessly. After a while, he showed a kind smile again: "What is your ideal, Owen? Strength, power, or something else?"

Looking at the smiling face in front of him, Owen's sense of crisis did not recede at all. He took a deep breath and showed a beautiful and charming smile: "I am pursuing inner freedom and self-liberation, sir. Of course, I also I want the world to be a better place.”

"This is an interesting ideal." Dumbledore said with a smile, his temperament became gentle and wise, and the dangerous sense of oppression disappeared without a trace in an instant. He said amiably: "Every Friday night at seven o'clock, you can come here to see me. I will answer for you any confusion you encounter in your studies...anything."

Owen's stiff body slowly relaxed, and he said with a cheerful smile: "I understand, thank you, Mr. Dumbledore." When calling the other person's name, he emphasized his tone slightly.

"I think we'll get along very well," Dumbledore said with a gentle smile, crossing his hands on his chest.

"Before I leave, can I ask you a question?" Owen tilted his head and pointed to the Sorting Hat on the shelf, "This is the Sorting Hat..."

Dumbledore glanced at the patched gray-white pointed hat, and a smile flashed in his eyes: "I just suddenly felt that its dirty appearance was very unpleasant, so I cleaned it up."

"I have the same idea, sir." Owen kept smiling, "Speaking of which, where is your phoenix?"

"Well, last night I had a sudden idea that I wanted to taste the phoenix." Dumbledore smacked his lips and said jokingly, "So I baked it."

"How does it taste?" Owen raised his eyebrows.

"A bit of trouble." Dumbledore shook his head slightly.

"Well, I'll take my leave now, Mr. Dumbledore." Owen said goodbye politely, and then walked out of the principal's office unhurriedly.

After leaving the eighth floor, he breathed a sigh of relief and twitched the corner of his mouth sarcastically. Dumbledore...ah, Dumbledore.

"It's hard to deal with this guy's attention." Owen was a little troubled. Although this guy looks amiable now, he may turn his face and become ruthless without hesitation.

He suddenly felt that Voldemort was actually quite cute.

Thanks to Baba Babatola for the 20,000 starting coins, I worship you, thank you very much! I'll see if I have time to add another chapter later, thank you for your support~