Hogwarts Wasteland: The Witch from the Borderlands

Just as the students were engrossed in the upcoming Quidditch House Cup, an uninvited guest suddenly arrived at the school.

It was an evening when Dumbledore made a rare appearance at the teachers' table. Ever since he regained his ability to move freely, he had enjoyed coming to the Great Hall in his spare time. Even though he no longer needed to eat, watching the students eat with such enthusiasm made him feel as if he were still alive.

But suddenly, the door opened, and Filch strode in with a serious expression. He leaned close to Dumbledore and whispered something.

Dumbledore's expression turned serious, but he quickly regained his composure: "Please let him in."

Filch responded and went out. Soon, a well-dressed, plump wizard in a suit and tie entered, led by him.

He wore a warm smile as he looked around, returning the gaze of every student with a friendly smile, as if this were his home. In fact, he had indeed graduated from Hogwarts.

"Who is that?" Hermione asked Harry beside her as she ate a snake pie.

But the latter looked unwell; he seemed to recognize him but didn't want to speak.

"Little Pettigrew! What are you doing here!" The voice did not come from a student, but from Mrs. Potter, who was sitting in the teachers' seat.

She stood up in disgust, glaring at the fat man in front of her; her loathing was so intense it was as if she was about to pull out a magic potion.

"Don't get excited, Lily. I'm here on behalf of that person." The latter didn't seem afraid of Lily at all, and even though he knew that this Potions Master could go toe-to-toe with Snape, he wasn't flustered in the slightest.

Hermione looked at Harry in surprise, and the latter reluctantly said, "Wormtail, a former friend of my father's, was also a despicable traitor! He succumbed to the Dark Lord's power and joined the Vigilantes."

"If James and the others were here, you probably wouldn't have had a chance to say a complete sentence," Lily said coldly.

Because of her clearly unwelcoming attitude, the students also began to look at this fat man who looked more like a Muggle than a wizard with a sense of rejection.

His eyes were confident and bright. Although he was fat, he was not ugly. His hair was neatly combed to one side, and he looked energetic and full of vitality.

Just as everyone was wondering what kind of grudge he had against Professor Potter, Dumbledore spoke up.

"Alright Peter, let's get straight to the point. I don't think Gellert sent you here to argue with Lily."

Upon hearing the Dark Lord's name, everyone gasped. This person was actually that person's subordinate, and what was he doing here? Hogwarts had just experienced a great battle. Although they had repelled Voldemort, they did not believe they could be just as lucky as the Witches.

Pettigrew bowed respectfully and took out a bottle of potion from his pocket: "My master is very concerned about your injuries. After learning of Voldemort's audacity, he has sent Lady Rosier to punish him."

"He originally ordered me to bring some tonics, but seeing your current condition, it seems that the master was worrying unnecessarily."

Dumbledore stared at the medicine bottle before him, then waved his hand to lift it up, letting it slowly land on the table. "If you only wanted to find out about my condition, then you've achieved your goal. Thank Gellert for me, and tell him to take care of himself and not die before me."

The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. No one dared to speak as they watched Dumbledore negotiate with the Malays.

"In that case, my mission has been accomplished, so I will take my leave." He straightened up politely.

He glanced around and then looked at Lily: "Give my regards to James and the others."

He even winked at Harry after he saw him.

All he received in response was Lily's cold gaze.

The next moment, Little Pettigrew transformed into a flying squirrel no bigger than a palm and swiftly flew out of the castle. However, the lively atmosphere in the Great Hall lingered, and Dumbledore stared at the potion before him, lost in thought.

Outside the castle, Peter Pettigrew flew in the still biting wind, but his attention was entirely focused on a voice within his mind.

"My lord, Dumbledore seems to have completely healed the injuries you sustained. Does this mean he will once again become an obstacle to our great cause?"

On the other end of the mental link, the long silence made Peter begin to worry. Had he said something wrong? After all, everything he had seen since entering Hogwarts had been shared with his master in real time without reservation. He was indeed, as Dumbledore had said, Grindelwald's eyes sent to gather intelligence.

News of the trial at Malfoy Castle spread throughout the wizarding world. Dumbledore's reappearance not only greatly excited the wizards who considered themselves to be on the side of justice, but even Grindelwald was puzzled by it.

He knew all too well how much he had hurt him. Even he himself couldn't think of a better solution to that obscure, dark magic. Unless he, the caster, died, that ancient and powerful curse would torment the victim like a persistent affliction until his death.

Dumbledore would use the Philosopher's Stone and other methods to prolong his life, which was already part of his calculations. He understood his opponent as well as he understood himself. The White Wizard had too many responsibilities to let go of and too many things to protect. He would do everything he could, even if he was forever bound to Hogwarts, to continue living.

But this does not include his ability to appear fully and powerfully in Malfoy Castle, thousands of miles away.

Grindelwald will not allow him to thwart his plans again, and he will defeat him once more if necessary!

"He has taken a step toward death." After a long silence, Grindelwald's deep voice came from the other end of the telepathic link.

"Yes, those who obstruct the master will be crushed!" Pettigrew immediately replied, unaware that Grindelwald meant something else entirely.

With the eyes of a prophet, Dumbledore, as the most powerful holder of the Heavenly Eye in the world, could not be fooled by his disguise. Even through Pettigrew's eyes, he could see at a glance the cold soul beneath that exquisite Transfiguration.

Although the type of magic is unknown, it is clear that Dumbledore transformed himself into some kind of ghost-like being in order to fight against him.

"Did you give up your chance to live just to stop me?" he asked himself.

"The tower... the tower..." Even though he knew that after that great battle fifty years ago, he could never win that person back, it was only today that he truly felt the dull pain of that loss.

My beloved and I both perished in the tower…

"Master, shall we make a move against Hogwarts?" Pettigrew's eyes flashed with a fierce light. With the Dark Lord as his backer, he was not afraid of Dumbledore at all. Moreover, the Witches were the most powerful force in the world. Whether Muggles, goblins, or wizards, they all trembled under the power of the saints.

"No need. He can't cause any trouble. Let him be." Grindelwald suddenly felt bored. He didn't want to do anything to a dead man.

"Yes! For the greater good!" Peter echoed, his small figure gradually disappearing into the sky.