Chapter 441
Strength lies in restraint
Chapter 441 Strength lies in restraint
"Grindelwald," Dumbledore said in a cold tone, "I haven't seen you for many years. The first thing you did after leaving Nurmengard was to attack a child. I really didn't expect that."
Grindelwald laughed, and his laughter echoed through the ruins.
"Dumbledore... Albus! What high expectations do you have of my morals? You know, if there is a need, even for a baby..."
His voice stopped abruptly because Dumbledore suddenly took a step forward, with the Elder Wand pointed steadily at his heart, the tip of the wand faintly flashing with golden-red light.
That kind of hidden, powerful force is like a blade, which makes people feel the pain of being cut before it is even unsheathed.
Grindelwald raised his head slightly, with a smile on his face.
"Why are you avoiding me, Albus? You know what I have done recently, why don't you question me on behalf of those Muggles who were killed? Why don't you accuse me of destroying the balance and peace between the wizarding world and the Muggle world?"
"You always stand on the side of those weak and stupid guys. You always go against me to protect them... Why don't you mention it this time?"
Grindelwald's smile grew.
"Because you also think that what I did was right, right? In your heart, you also think that these guys deserve to die! The world is decaying, and the Muggles are creating the apocalypse. What I am doing is saving it!"
"And you, Albus, you are made into a saint, hiding your weakness with pathetic kindness! But we all know that you were also ..."
When talking about the past, Dumbledore's face looked as if he had been punched. He was caught off guard and looked a bit embarrassed, with a painful light flashing behind his half-moon glasses.
Grindelwald swallowed the rest of his words abruptly. His heart was agitated, his magic power was surging, his chest was aching, and deep red blood flowed from the corners of his mouth again.
The two were silent for a long time. The cold winter wind carried tiny ice crystals and rolled over the unrecognizable ground.
After a long moment, Dumbledore asked coldly, "Where is Vader?"
"Kill me and you can take the child back."
Grindelwald took a step forward and pressed the tip of the Elder Wand to his heart, digging deep into clothing and flesh.
Dumbledore's arm remained motionless, and Grindelwald reached out and grasped the other end of the wand, with inexplicable fanaticism and murderous intent flashing in his eyes.
"Kill me, Albus, just like you've always wanted to do... Don't worry about it being beneath your dignity, it was me who killed Ariana, and I deserved it."
Dumbledore's eyes suddenly widened, his pupils dilated slightly, and a flash of pain flashed across his face. In addition to shock and sadness, he suddenly felt a sense of relief and ease.
Many years ago, a violent conflict broke out between Dumbledore, Grindelwald and Aberforth. The quarrel quickly turned into a duel, and Grindelwald even used the Cruciatus Curse on Aberforth.
Amid her brother's shrill screams, the mentally unstable little sister Ariana was stimulated and the Obscurus in her body instantly went out of control.
Such a terrible and destructive force suddenly erupted beside them. The teenagers had to try their best just to survive. They used the most powerful spell they knew to resist Obscurus... After a period of chaos that no one could explain, Obscurus disappeared and Ariana also died.
This was the deepest scar in Dumbledore's heart and what he feared most... He was afraid that it was he who delivered the fatal blow to Ariana, and he was afraid that he had killed his sister.
Hearing these words from Grindelwald, Dumbledore felt as if a mountain that had been pressing on his back for a hundred years had been removed. His breathing stopped briefly, and for a moment he even had the urge to cry.
But he couldn't avoid thinking of a question -
Grindelwald knows what he fears most... Did he say that on purpose? Is this the truth?
The two looked at each other in silence, their similar blue eyes covered with the shadow of time, and deep in their eyes there seemed to be a ruin.
Time seems to have stopped at this moment.
"professor."
A soft call broke the picture.
Wade, who had also Apparated to a distance to avoid the attack, came to a place not far behind Dumbledore and spoke softly.
Dumbledore blinked, turned his head to look at Wade, his eyes moved slightly, and his tense expression relaxed.
"Are you okay, Vader?"
"I'm fine, Professor." Wade replied, and after a pause, he added: "Is there anything you want to ask me?"
After Dumbledore took him to see the memory illusion related to Grindelwald, Wade said exactly the same things to Dumbledore.
This sentence not only shows that he is Weed Grey himself, not an imposter who uses Polyjuice Potion; it also shows that he is still himself, his thoughts, his honesty and trust in Dumbledore, have not changed as before.
Dumbledore showed a hidden smile in his eyes and said, "When we get back, I want to hear the part you are willing to tell me."
"Okay." Wade nodded and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
When he saw the principal appear, he suddenly realized that although he had not been treated unfairly in life before, he was indeed under indescribable pressure in his heart.
But when he looked up, Wade found that Grindelwald was staring at him deeply, with the corners of his mouth drooping slightly, looking very unhappy.
Wade's eyes flickered, avoiding the gaze, and he had a thousand things to say in his mind.
Dumbledore raised his left arm, motioning for Wade to grasp it, and slowly lowered his wand.
"I won't kill you, Grindelwald. Violence can't solve problems. Killing has never been my choice - even if it's you, I won't end everything with death."
Dumbledore looked deep in his eyes and sighed:
"If you think you are right, then go ahead - maybe the world really needs people like you..."
His eyes swept across the remaining buildings around him, and the tragic scenes he had seen flashed through his mind.
"But I hope... I hope you understand..."
Dumbledore said: "True power lies in restraint, in choosing not to harm others even when we have the power to do so... and in choosing to protect others from harm, which is the responsibility of those who have power."
Grindelwald sneered, "Don't hold me hostage with your ridiculous morality! My thoughts... my ideals have never changed from the beginning to the end!"
"It doesn't matter if you are sincere or pretending. You are actually doing something beneficial to others now, not just brutal killing."
Dumbledore said calmly but forcefully:
"I never thought your ideals were completely wrong, only the means were wrong."
"After so many years, you should have understood that the way we used to do things in the past would only bring destruction. Changing the world does require strength, but it requires wisdom and kindness even more."
Dumbledore looked at the other person with a hint of regret in his eyes:
“Even for the greater good, tolerance, concession and compassion are necessary.”
"Grindelwald, if you only want to deceive the world now, but still choose to rule and oppress with violence in the end, then no matter how many times you repeat it, you will definitely fail."
"I hope you understand that."
Hearing his words, Grindelwald's eyebrows jumped and he said loudly: "Is that why you teach that child like this? If you had told me this before, wouldn't I have..."
"Snapped!"
Dumbledore had no intention of debating with him. After saying what he wanted to say, he Disapparated away with Wade.
The loud bang was like a slap in Grindelwald's face, causing his expression to twist instantly.
The wind blew up dust and frost, and blew a whirlwind in front of Grindelwald, giving him a very arrogant laugh.
Grindelwald: "..."
The witches were overjoyed to see that the battle was over and Grindelwald was not killed. They all came to their leader. Then they saw Grindelwald sneer, with a cold light in his eyes, and raised his wand to point at the ruins of the manor in front of him.
"Destroy it!"
“The saints live forever!”
The Wusu Party shouted slogans and rushed into the manor, following the cracks in the ground and entering the underground. Soon, the sound of fighting could be heard from inside. The soldiers of the organization had just been shocked by the destructive power of the two men, and now they had lost all their fighting spirit. The Wusu Party easily gained the upper hand and advanced with great momentum.
Delane came to Grindelwald, took out the potion and handed it to him, and asked worriedly: "Sir, how do you feel now?"
"Me? I feel great!"
Grindelwald drank the potion in one gulp and spoke through gritted teeth.
Delain stood by his side worriedly, but he saw that Grindelwald's thin body seemed to be injected with an invisible force, or perhaps the boiling anger became a new pillar, making him even forget the discomfort of his body, and the light in his eyes rekindled.
——This is definitely not the power of the potion.
Delain muttered to himself, and thinking of the feeling just now, as if the sky had fallen, he sighed silently.
……
The few remaining cameras stubbornly stood their ground, slowly turning and recording the scenes on the ruins.
Despite many twists and turns, the leader of the organization was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes when he saw the wizards finally enter the manor as they wished, and he wanted to kneel down to thank God.
His colleagues around him cheered, slapped their hands on the table and shouted, "Great!"
The calmer ones were still admonishing: "Wait a moment... wait until most people come in."
"Of course, I understand."
The person in charge wiped the sweat from his palms, pressed the start button, and stared at the picture on the screen with burning eyes.
Next to him, another person made a phone call and said with a trembling voice, "The plan is going on as normal. We can start now!"
Finally, after most of the wizards entered the manor, the person in charge pressed the button hard!
……
"Om-"
The quiet machine in front of him suddenly made a humming sound, and the indicator lights on it lit up one after another. Dobby was startled, and then he quickly cut the cable in front of him.
Seeing that the light on the machine was still on, McGee pointed again. With a loud "bang", several huge cracks appeared on the surface of the machine.
"That's terrible. What did it want to say just now?" Dobby asked with lingering fear.
"It can't talk. That was the sound of the machine starting up." Donovan explained, "Luckily you stopped it in time."
Dobby smiled shyly.
McGee frowned and asked, "Are you sure this is the last one?"
"Of course. I heard this stuff is very expensive, so this is all we got for the temporary shipment."
Donovan explained as he sent a message to Dumbledore as agreed.
Dumbledore replied in seconds: [Wait a moment.]
McGee saw the friend book in his hand, narrowed his eyes, and asked suspiciously:
"Who is Donovan contacting? Did he lie to McGee?"
"No no."
Donovan had just seen how powerful the two house-elves were, so he didn't dare to offend them. He waved his hands and said:
"It's Dumbledore. Didn't I say that? I'm Dumbledore's man."
"Dumbledore?!"
McGee screamed and subconsciously tried to Apparate, but the parchment in Donovan's hand suddenly glowed, followed by a loud bang!
Dumbledore appeared.
McGee's eyes flickered, not daring to look at the principal. His fingers twisted together nervously, and he fiddled with the corner of his clothes unconsciously.
Dobby looked at Dumbledore adoringly, swallowing nervously, his big eyes looking watery.
"Mr. Dumbledore," Donovan stepped forward and said.
"Thank you for your hard work, Donovan." Dumbledore looked at the wound on the werewolf and said, "I will take you away first. This place will be breached soon."
"Yes."
Donovan naturally had no objection. He took the portkey given to him by Dumbledore and disappeared from the spot in an instant.
Then Dumbledore turned his attention to the two house-elves next to him.
"Good morning, Mr. Dumbledore." Dobby bowed so deeply that his nose almost touched the ground.
McGee next to him also quickly followed suit, praying in his heart that Dumbledore would not recognize it -
There are so many house-elves at Hogwarts that wizards never quite know which one they are, right?
"Good morning, Dobby, McGee."
Dumbledore said gently, "I want to thank you for your help. You are all very brave and loyal house-elves."
Dobby's eyes lit up instantly, his cheeks flushed with excitement, and he danced and said, "Dobby, Dobby, I'm glad to help!"
McGee secretly glanced at the principal's face from below and stammered, "Actually... that... McGee is..."
Dumbledore looked at him with a smile and said, "I understand that you left school to buy some wine for Professor Trelawney...Did you get it?"
McGee shook his head quickly.
"Then go buy it."
Dumbledore smiled gently and said, "Remember to return to school after buying it... Wade has returned safely. I think you don't have to travel thousands of kilometers to buy whiskey this time."
——That's it? No punishment?
McGee looked at the headmaster in disbelief, and even until Dumbledore reminded them to be careful and Apparated away, he still couldn't believe his good luck.
"Great!" Dobby waved his fist excitedly and said, "McGee was not punished! Mr. Gray was also rescued!"
McGee slowly came back to his senses and finally smiled.
He remembered that not long ago when he passed by a room, he saw a sign saying "Wine Cellar" on it, so he disappeared with a "pop", and reappeared soon with a bottle of whiskey in his arms that he could hardly hold.
"It's time for McGee to go back to school." McGee asked, "Would Dobby like to come along? Mr. Dumbledore should agree to take in a new house-elf."
Dobby was about to nod, but soon he hesitated again.
"Mr. Dumbledore is a very good wizard, but...but..."
Dobby's eyes flickered, and he was a little uncertain at first, but slowly became determined.
"But Mr. Grey doesn't have a house-elf... Dobby wants to ask Mr. Grey first, if he is willing to accept him, Dobby... Dobby wants to work for the Grey family..."
(End of this chapter)