Hogwarts: A Chinese-Style Professor

Chapter 315 Extraterrestrial Visitors
Easter is just around the corner.

During this period, Dumbledore's changing image embroiled him in a huge public opinion storm, and even hinted at something ominous.

Because of his silence and the Ministry of Magic's underhanded encouragement, some people in the wizarding world have begun to believe that Dumbledore might be doing something dangerous.

Rumors then spread like vines.

For a time, the entire British magical community was plunged into a state of inexplicable fear.

However, because he needed to focus all his attention on dealing with Voldemort, Dumbledore prepared almost in seclusion.

During this time, he didn't go anywhere but stayed at Hogwarts, enjoying the energy brought by the children and adjusting his own state.

Hogwarts now fills him with overflowing joy, which in turn transforms into a calm and steady strength that lingers in his heart.

If he was still thinking about whether there was a better way before, now he is determined to protect Hogwarts, even if it means making some sacrifices!

The door hinges clicked softly, and Dumbledore reached out and pushed the door open, his fingertips still damp with the morning air.

Just as he was about to instinctively return to his seat, he looked up and froze on the spot, his heart feeling as if it had been squeezed tightly by an invisible hand!
The spot that originally belonged to him now has a new owner.

The cold light from the window fell on him, illuminating his long, silvery-white hair that fell over his shoulders. His thin, well-defined face revealed a sharp edge, and his equally azure eyes held a fleeting moment of panic and trembling as he boldly looked directly at his former friend.

However, there was no smile on his face.

"Albus, you're getting more and more interesting as you get older."

Gellert Grindelwald, the Dark Lord who once stirred up turmoil throughout the wizarding world, arrived quietly and abruptly.

His drab prison uniform couldn't conceal the arrogance in his bones. As his fingertips casually caressed the griffin pattern on the chair, a hoarse and seductive voice flowed like water, like a clear spring flowing into Dumbledore's heart.

But his face remained expressionless, and gradually became terrifying.

Grindelwald clearly sensed his anger and, before the other man could decide whether to uphold justice and betray his family, spoke up:
"I'm sorry, I broke my promise—I spent three days reading the Daily Prophet in Nurmengard, going through all those absurd speculations, but I still felt it was better to come and ask you in person—what exactly happened?"
Knowing the answer, I can die immediately—I promise you.

Dumbledore looked at Grindelwald, who had aged to the point of resembling an old man, and at the 'ugly' age spots on his face. Combining this with what the man had said earlier, Dumbledore's eyebrows, eyes, and facial muscles all twitched in pain.

He approached step by step, his movements so slow it was as if he were about to traverse centuries.

But after a 'long' journey, he simply uttered a heavy, deep sigh: "Gellert."

After that, he was unable to say anything more.

Grindelwald sensed his complex emotions, and the muscles in his face twitched.

Although his feelings were several times more complicated than Dumbledore's, he still managed to control himself and spoke first:
"I've read your letter—how's it going with that Li Wei?"

"You didn't come here to ask that, did you? Just tell me your purpose—that way I can decide whether or not to end your life here."

His voice was soft, but the meaning behind his words was heavy, so heavy that Grindelwald fell silent once again.

After a pause, he continued:
“I made my intentions clear from the beginning—I want to know clearly what happened to you at the end of my life, not in that cell where I am alone, but to see you with my own eyes and hear you tell your reasons, that’s all.”

This time, it was Dumbledore's turn to be silent. He didn't know how to respond to the question.

Because of Li Wei? Absolutely.

But what are the reasons and causes? They can't be explained in a few words—but if such a thing isn't explained clearly, it will undoubtedly cause a huge misunderstanding.

He couldn't let Gellert die with a misunderstanding.

Seeing that Dumbledore remained silent, Grindelwald wasn't in a hurry. He chuckled and naturally changed the subject:
Did you ever imagine you'd see me here? Were you surprised?
Answer me easily—I just need half an hour, okay? Give me the last half hour of my life, and after I'm done, I'll leave, leave this place, or this world, it doesn't matter.

Anyway, since leaving you, I've already lost everything.

Dumbledore reached out and grasped the wand in front of Grindelwald, his expression still serious, but he spoke:

"I've imagined countless scenarios of saying goodbye to you."

His voice trembled almost imperceptibly.

"Perhaps we'll be in our cell in Nurmengard, exchanging a few meaningless words through the iron bars of our bars."

Perhaps it is because you broke your vow that we are forced to face each other with swords once again.

Or perhaps, it's me, at the end of my life, going to see you one last time.

He looked up at Grindelwald, his eyes swirling with complex emotions—guilt, melancholy, and a hint of relief that he himself didn't even realize.

“I’ve thought of a million possibilities, including this one—you escaped from your cell just to ask me a trivial question.”

“Irrelevant?” Grindelwald scoffed, then suddenly stood up and walked briskly to Dumbledore. “Albus, you’ve never been one to go to such lengths for your appearance—I even think you’ve become increasingly cunning, always using that look to lower people’s guard.”

"Back in Godric Valley, you were too lazy to even bother with your hair when it was messy. Now that you've dyed it this color and made yourself look younger, there must be a very important reason for it."

His tone was unwaveringly certain, as if he could see through all of Dumbledore's pretenses.

"Is it for that brat who only picks up my leftover ideas and hides in the shadows to do dirty tricks?"

No—he's absolutely not worth you going to such lengths?

So, it's because of that young man named Li Wei? He did a pretty good job, didn't he?
However, he clearly overlooked a fatal problem.

Dumbledore's brow furrowed even more when he heard the 'fatal question'.

His performance was observed by Grindelwald. While he felt proud, he also felt a sense of dissatisfaction.

“I changed my image to change the past—Gellert, just as you realized the mistakes of the past, I also realized my mistakes.”

Dumbledore answered Grindelwald's questions candidly.

“It was indeed Li Wei who made me make this decision—he said I couldn’t be annoyed by him like a grumpy old man every day—what else could I do when a young man disliked me to this extent?”

"Did he really say that?" Grindelwald asked meaningfully, confirming the question.

But he quickly changed the subject, continuing before Dumbledore could answer:
“We are indeed getting old—but in my eyes, you have never grown old—Albus, I.”

His throat suddenly felt blocked.

Dumbledore didn't say anything either.

"Shouldn't I still have some time left? Could you tell me more about the remaining time?"

"Having everything clarified will help me leave with peace of mind."

"No—I have already answered your question—you should leave."

Dumbledore shook his head, refusing to be further swayed by Grindelwald. But looking at his old friend, who was unbelievably aged, and remembering what Livy had told him—that appearance reflects the heart—Dumbledore believed that Gellert had indeed realized his mistake.

Just as he once said in a letter:

I've been having nightmares lately—Muggles screaming in my dreams, and I keep thinking about rows of bodies I've killed, their grieving families, and the buried corpses.

There was also a little girl wearing a red shawl who kept screaming. She had been dead for fifty years, but she had not stopped screaming.

Do you know why I hold you so tightly? Because you're better than me in some ways.

Therefore, Dumbledore didn't really intend to kill him—in fact, he had already forgiven him the moment he saw Gellert.
It wasn't that he was soft-hearted, but Levi had genuinely changed his mind—the past was the past, and one should look forward; he and Gellert...
Tom's matter was nearing its end. Originally, Dumbledore was preparing to leave. But now, he suddenly felt that he still had two close friends in this world. One was young, and the other was old and frail.

Neither of them made him feel at ease.

In particular, what exactly is the fatal problem that Gellert just mentioned?
He had to admit that he was far less visionary than Gellert in some matters.

“Leave?” Grindelwald murmured the word, then a bitter smile appeared on his face.

“You’ve found new friends, and Hogwarts is doing very well. I can feel the magic emanating from the children just by looking at them through the window.”

Now, you don't need a friend like me anymore.

Dumbledore closed his eyes, unmoved.

"Albus—I let you win that duel because I thought you would save me. You traitorous bastard, you abandoned me and left me to rot there."

I know you only care about that boy and Li Wei!

But I will not be destroyed by you—you cannot destroy me—unless you kill me right here and now!

Grindelwald spread his arms and suddenly unleashed an aura as powerful as a roaring mountain and sea!

"Let me keep my promise and kill me! That will put your mind at ease!"

“Gellert, you’re tired.” Dumbledore looked him over calmly and said, “It seems you haven’t had a good year.”

I'll ask my house-elves to take extra care of you.

“I don’t need care! Albus, if I had to choose how I die, I would prefer to die at your hands, not to die of old age in that prison.”

Dumbledore fell silent again.

He was silent far too many times today, more than he usually is, and there's also Li Wei.

Thinking of the other person, Dumbledore's brow furrowed subconsciously, but soon he thought of another aspect. Were he and Gellert old?
Undoubtedly.

The events of the past have already instilled a deep weariness in their bodies and souls, a weariness that cannot be removed by any means—making them age prematurely.

Whether it's the body or the soul.

But as Livy said, they were actually only a little over a hundred years old. In terms of a wizard's lifespan, they were actually quite young.

Is this the end of it all?

Or should I muster the courage to embrace a new life?
Can they do it?

Dumbledore's Adam's apple bobbed.

"Wait," he said with difficulty to Gellert, "until it's all over."

He made it even more difficult for him to say.

It felt as if every word had to be squeezed out of the throat with great force, struggling against resistance comparable to a Category 12 gale.

"I will come to find you. Perhaps then, we can find the beauty that was once destroyed."

Grindelwald was stunned.

He looked at Dumbledore in disbelief.

There were already tear stains on the other person's face.

"Can we still find it?"

"It's okay if we can't find it—we have plenty of time, enough to make us bored and weary of everything—"

"Never get bored"

Grindelwald gave Dumbledore a deep look.

He could clearly sense the difference in the other person—his friend, who used to be so hesitant, seemed to have gained a new kind of courage.

He has indeed changed—compared to other changes, perhaps his physical appearance is the least significant.

"What are you planning to do next? Are you brewing a big plan? Can I help you?"

"No—you staying put in Nurmengard is the best help you can give me."

Trust me, this won't take long.

“Okay—okay,” Grindelwald said dryly.

But soon, he started laughing.

The smiles were filled with unparalleled, irrepressible joy, yet tinged with indescribable sorrow. After experiencing immense pain, these two scarred old people could still communicate like this, even radiating vitality for life.
This redemption, though late, is never too late.

Grindelwald left.

The laughter lingered.

Dumbledore's body suddenly went limp. He struggled to his feet and sat down in the seat that was once again his.

His hand rested on the same carved pattern, and he leaned back in his chair, lost in thought.

He actually said it. He would actually guarantee something he wasn't sure about?

The preparations Dumbledore had made these past few days were like fuel thrown into a fire, which quickly burned out.

But at the same time, an even stronger determination ignited within him.
He and Levi will kill Tom, resolve Harry's problems, and then...
He could step down as principal and hand the position over to Minerva or Li Wei.

As Gellert said in his letter, and as he himself had just promised, they sought their own salvation in the long, tedious course of time.

He will do it.

(End of this chapter)