A day at Hogwarts.

Chapter 673 Potential Threat

"Old people often say nonsensical things, don't take it to heart."

After saying a few words, Dumbledore got up and left, climbing the stairs leading to the second floor.

The guest rooms on the second floor of Pig Head Bar are a completely different world from the noisy and bustling place downstairs.

Because many merchants visiting Farbatton Castle would stay here, Charles specially approved a sum of money to renovate the guest rooms. The style remained antique, but they were cleaner, tidier, and more comfortable than before.

Dumbledore sat on a single sofa, and sitting opposite him was Grindelwald.

Today, Grindelwald wore a perfectly tailored suit and trench coat made of expensive and exquisite fabrics. His gray hair was neatly combed. Although the knife of time had left indelible marks on his face, his eyes were still sharp. However, the fervent flame that once burned within them, almost to the point of destroying the world, had now been replaced by a deeper, more prudent, and more discerning composure.

His current position remains that of a senior advisor to the Ministry of Magic.

Although Fudge has resigned, the new minister Rufus Skrinje retained his position due to the need for certain “unique insights” about Grindelwald and his extensive and intricate network of connections in the international wizarding community.

“I have heard,” Dumbledore began slowly, his voice as calm as ever, “that Charles and Rufus had a very meaningful conversation, the core of which was the importance of establishing a systematic teacher training system in the wizarding world.”

That day, Charles and Scrimgeour discussed many issues related to education, and Scrimgeour later exchanged views on the matter with Dumbledore himself.

Dumbledore sensed that there was more to this than met the eye and wanted to know more.

Grindelwald nodded slightly, a subtle smile playing on his lips, and said, "Yes, a very forward-thinking idea."

"Perhaps, in the old Chinese saying, it's called 'mending the fold after the sheep are lost'."

"Our Minister, known for his lion-like ferocity, is an Auror by birth. His lifelong expertise lies in tracking, fighting, and maintaining order with an iron fist. He lacks both a deep understanding of education, a field that requires long-term patience, meticulous cultivation, and profound knowledge, and is naturally lacking in the necessary patience."

He leaned back and continued in an almost detached tone, "So, he naturally passed on this task, which he considered important but which he didn't understand, to the person he thought was most suitable—your current Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts, Madam Umbridge."

Dumbledore took a deep breath, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

“This is truly worrying, Gellert.” His voice carried an unusual heaviness. “Umbridge’s prejudice against non-pure-blood wizards is deeply ingrained, bordering on pathological paranoia.”

"If she were to lead the training and selection of future teachers and control the power to shape the next generation of educators, it is not hard to imagine what direction she would take this crucial teacher training in."

“Prejudice and narrow-mindedness, if instilled from the very beginning of an educator’s life, will be like the most insidious slow poison, silently infiltrating and poisoning the ideological foundation of a generation or even several generations of young wizards, with consequences far exceeding imagination.”

At this moment, Dumbledore recalled the time when Voldemort approached him to offer him the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.

Grindelwald didn't want to waste any more words on Umbridge's point of view, but he seemed to think that Dumbledore's concerns were a bit excessive, even a bit like worrying about nothing.

He casually picked up his teacup, took a sip, shook his head, and said, "Albus, are you being too tense?"

"Realistically speaking, there are only so many core professorships at Hogwarts: McGonagall, Flitwick, Sprout... Although they are no longer young, they are all energetic, experienced in teaching, and far from retiring."

“As for young Snape,” he gave an ambiguous hum, “as long as he doesn’t want to leave, or the Dark Lord doesn’t urgently summon him back to serve, and as long as you think he’s still useful, then his position as Professor of Potions is very secure.”

"Not to mention other professorships, they're either too young or too old to retire."

"Where does Hogwarts need so many new professors in the short term?"

"This so-called teacher training program is unlikely to yield any substantial results during Scringer's entire term as minister."

"It's more like a political gesture to appease people, a mere facade."

“I even suspect that Charles brought this up in order to take advantage of Scringer’s unfamiliarity with education in order to achieve some ulterior motive.”

When he first heard about this, he thought it made sense.

However, he then recalled the scale of education in the British Isles and wondered if Charles was up to something.

“You don’t understand Umbridge,” Dumbledore shook his head firmly, his gaze fixed on Grindelwald like a sword. “As long as she believes something can consolidate her personal power and expand her influence and power in the Ministry of Magic and the entire education system, she can spare no effort to create the conditions she needs, just like the most adept at digging holes and getting into every nook and cranny.”

"She is never lacking in creativity and astonishingly ruthless methods when it comes to achieving her goals."

He paused, as if carefully organizing his thoughts, before throwing out a dangerous conjecture: "Moreover, as far as I know, Charles and Rufus's conversation also touched on another, more easily overlooked but potentially far-reaching area—the early education of young wizards."

“Currently, the vast majority of young wizards receive fragmented and unsystematic magical education at home before they turn eleven and receive their Hogwarts acceptance letters.” “I worry that Umbridge will keenly find the breakthrough she’s been dreaming of in this blank space.”

A flicker of genuine interest, or rather, an interest in something, finally crossed Grindelwald's usually indifferent and detached face.

He leaned forward slightly, his heterochromatic eyes flashing rapidly like a predator catching its prey, and asked earnestly, "Do you think this could be Charles's goal?"

Dumbledore looked at him, puzzled, and asked, "What does this have to do with Charles?"

Grindelwald crossed his arms and said calmly, "I guess Charles is preparing for his child."

Dumbledore's lips twitched, as if he was about to say it was utter nonsense, but he could only open his mouth and not utter a word.

Although one of the goals of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is that no girl should give birth and no boy should die, we really don't know what Charles's situation is like outside of school.

Maybe he's currently spending time cuddling with some girl...

Grindelwald said nonchalantly, "We'll ask him about it when the time comes."

"In preschool education, children aged six to eleven have minds like the purest blank sheets of paper, not yet formed, and easily smeared..."

He repeated the keyword in a low voice, his fingers unconsciously tapping rhythmically on the armrest of the sofa, and continued, "Yes, she could take this excellent opportunity to quietly win over and cultivate a group of wizards who share her ideals and are equally fanatical in their belief in the supremacy of pure blood, and transform them into mentors for these young wizards."

"At the age when children are most easily molded and least able to discern, they are systematically instilled with specific ideas, specific stances, and specific historical perspectives..."

"This is far more effective, and far more covert and insidious, than competing with us, the 'old fogies' and 'stubborn' people she sees, for those teenagers who are beginning to develop independent judgment!"

"Hey, I'm starting to get tempted."

He had to admit that Dumbledore still possessed a keenness and foresight that was difficult for him to match in discerning the darker side of human nature and the potential pathways of power.

Dumbledore nodded heavily, his worry deepening: "This is exactly what I fear."

"Education is of utmost importance. If it unfortunately falls into the wrong hands, the harm it causes will be no less than that caused by ten of you."

(Grindelwald rolled his eyes at him.)
"It destroys not flesh and blood, but the very foundation of thought and soul, and distorts the future of the entire magical world."

A brief, almost suffocating silence fell over the room, the whooshing sound of the magic heater on the wall standing out starkly in the stillness.

Finally, Dumbledore looked intently at Grindelwald, his tone regaining its usual composure, and with an undeniable force, said, "Gellert, I need you to remain in the Ministry of Magic and use your position and influence to closely monitor all the movements of Scrimgeour and Umbridge, especially any policy proposals, funding flows, and key personnel appointments related to educational reform and preschool education."

"As for how to deal with this potential threat... I will handle it personally."

“Every little thing that happens is of great importance.”

"In the crucial field of magic education, I think my voice is ultimately a little louder and more credible than others."

Grindelwald nodded.

Now he wants to try an unprecedented form of wizarding rule, which requires the integration and further stratification of wizards and Muggles. The theory of bloodline will be an obstacle, and this outdated concept must be abandoned.

From this perspective, he has reason to eliminate Umbridge.

However, Umbridge is now a professor at Hogwarts, and directly attacking her would be tantamount to slapping Dumbledore in the face, so they need to think of a way.

After a moment's thought, Grindelwald decided that the easiest way was to encourage her to pursue Jack, thus achieving his goal of using someone else to do his dirty work.

However, there are drawbacks: you will die, and die a horrible death.

So, what if we change our target and stir up conflict between Umbridge and Charles?

Grindelwald quickly abandoned the idea; Charles was no pushover, and he would die anyway, and in a much worse way.

This put him in a bit of a dilemma; it wasn't easy to slack off.

(End of this chapter)