newbobooks Chapter 130, Page 129: The Cycle of Truth, Siblings Reunite
Chapter 130, Page 129: The Cycle of Truth, Siblings Reunite
Chapter 130, Page 129: The Cycle of Truth, Siblings Reunite
Grindelwald may not have truly deceived Dumbledore, but he certainly deceived some little wizard who looked at him with a horrified expression, as if he were looking at something dirty.
What a Grindelwald!
What? There's a secret way to communicate with Dumbledore? He just notified Dumbledore. After all, this is Dumbledore's school. It's all just a lie to keep the young wizard in check!
The First Generation leader spoke even less truth than Tom!
"No wonder they came to intercept me in the women's restroom in the middle of the night! They wanted to grab me to curry favor with Dumbledore!" Ian realized he had been tricked by the current professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts.
He couldn't figure it out.
How could someone be so treacherous and cunning!
"No, this is just to give our headmaster a chance to be redeemed," Grindelwald countered Ian's statement, though his words couldn't hide the fact that he was simply trying to take credit.
How could this not be considered taking credit?
Ian bet that if Grindelwald were to conjure a tail right now, it would wag so violently that even the little bastards leading the Imperial Army wouldn't be this obsequious!
As someone who knows the past of the two and has seen that memory, the young wizard can guess the reason, since the two parted ways starting from Ariana's death.
This may not only be a knot in Dumbledore's heart, but also a setback that Grindelwald finds hard to let go of.
"What Gellert said—is it true?" Albus Dumbledore's slightly swollen eyes suddenly became unusually suspicious as he listened to Ian and Grindelwald's conversation.
"It's the Patronus Charm, Professor. I've found a special way to cast it." Ian said, pulling out his wand. He had never seen the headmaster's pupils gleam so intensely before.
"I thought you had given me enough surprises—Mr. Prince." Albus Dumbledore's raised hand trembled, making his phoenix slightly unsteady on his arm.
So, naturally, Ian's head once again became a makeshift chicken coop, or perhaps a phoenix nest. Thinking about it, Ian didn't take out his own phoenix eggs to try and hatch Fox's again.
"Why do I have a feeling that there's some secret between you two that I don't know?" Now it was Grindelwald's turn to be a little confused, his gaze shifting back and forth between Ian and Albus Dumbledore.
His brows were now completely furrowed.
"It seems you really do have some big secrets that I wasn't even aware of," Grindelwald said to Ian again, his tone full of surprise.
"Fuchsia!"
Ian doesn't usually bottle up his anger; if he's angry, he knows to vent it on the spot. He was outmaneuvered by Grindelwald.
The young wizard immediately pointed his wand at the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.
"They're not only hiding secrets, but they're also getting bolder and bolder."
Although Grindelwald had not anticipated Ian's sudden attack, he still managed to dodge Ian's magic at the first moment and gave Ian a sarcastic evaluation.
"If I said that I lost control of my behavior because of the intense emotional stress I experienced tonight, Professor, would you be willing to forgive my sudden outburst?"
Ian looked like he immediately backed down and admitted his mistake.
However, although he had already put down his wand and was bowing his head in a guilty self-examination, his eyes, which were looking at the ground, reflected the scene behind Grindelwald—the magical beams that Grindelwald had dodged were about to hit the wall, but then silently turned around and continued to aim at Grindelwald's back.
To minimize movement and noise, the magic's flight speed is like that of a stealthy assassin. While Ian may not have yet fully mastered the Avada Kedavra chain, he has devised numerous techniques during the research process, such as the previously launched Killing Curse and this now curved magic.
"That's a pretty good little trick."
Grindelwald was clearly not the kind of wizard who would resort to underhanded tactics. Despite being perfectly quiet, he somehow sensed something amiss behind him, turned around abruptly, and prepared to pick up his wand to annihilate Ian's magic.
however.
Just as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's wand glowed and he calmly dealt with the magic, something unexpected happened that neither Ian nor he had anticipated.
"I think we shouldn't argue with children so much."
Grindelwald's hand was pressed down by another hand beside him, and the timing of that hand's sudden lift was perfect, causing Grindelwald, who had been maneuvering with ease, to be instantly struck by the magic.
next second.
Ian's achievement of defeating the Dark Lord was accomplished unexpectedly by the First Generation, leaving even Ian himself feeling quite surprised, with a dreamlike and incredulous expression.
Of course, Grindelwald found it even more unbelievable. His heels were suddenly pulled by some force, and he was hung upside down in the air, his robes drooping messily.
"Albus, you—well, I should have known." Grindelwald kicked his legs hard into the air, and the old headmaster lying on the ground in his line of sight was smiling.
"That should be enough to vent your anger." Albus Dumbledore looked at the young wizard not far away. "You must forgive our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor; he can be quite infuriating at times."
He could roughly guess what had happened between Grindelwald and Ian from their previous conversation.
"I think so too."
Ian had already taken out his camera, but when he was about to take a picture, he realized that this would only prove that he had defeated Gilderoy Lockhart, not that he had defeated the Dark Lord.
His bragging rights instantly diminished considerably. Who would want to hear his story of defeating a famous author? That wasn't a feat that would make the young wizards cheer for him.
There's no guarantee that it won't incur the secret resentment of some Lockhart die-hard fans.
"The golden bell falls to the ground."
Ian sighed and put down the camera. He certainly wouldn't dare leave Grindelwald hanging upside down forever. Any smart person would know that Grindelwald was keeping himself upside down to give Dumbledore face.
The other person kept the wand in their hand the whole time and never let it go.
"This doesn't count. We'll start over next time when you're out of help." Grindelwald landed smoothly and said this to Ian with a smirk.
He then straightened his disheveled robes, giving Dumbledore a rather annoyed look. "You should know that I'm the one who told you, little fellow, what secret I was hiding, shouldn't I?"
The current professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts spoke with considerable dissatisfaction.
"But you're not the one who holds this secret. I was planning to go see Headmaster Dumbledore anyway." Ian's words left Grindelwald speechless for a moment.
The old principal remained silent.
sometimes.
Silence can also represent acquiescence.
"Show him! Show him!" Grindelwald urged Ian, his expression showing considerable displeasure, not because of Ian's sneak attack.
Just as Ian was about to cast the spell.
"I don't think that child would want you there, after all, it would bring back some not-so-pleasant memories," Albus Dumbledore interrupted Ian.
His gaze fell upon his old friend.
"Very well, very well, the Dumbledore family!"
Grindelwald realized that he might have been better off not informing Dumbledore at all.
It's truly rare to see this Defense Against the Dark Arts professor so enraged; even his followers and saints have probably never seen him so emotional.
"As expected of the ruthless Albus. Damn it, I didn't cast that curse." Grindelwald muttered as he walked toward the bathroom door.
"Professor! The underground palace! The underground palace matter hasn't been dealt with yet!" Ian didn't want to see Grindelwald leave, after all, only this man could pry open Ronnie Ehrlich's mouth.
"What underground palace?"
Albus Dumbledore's eyes narrowed slightly. Sure enough, he had received Grindelwald's message long before Ian mentioned the Hogwarts dungeons to Grindelwald.
"Right down here, I found one—"
Ian repeated what he had said to Grindelwald, and Albus Dumbledore's expression grew increasingly grave as he listened.
Just as Ian was about to bring up the matter of time loops.
The old principal spoke first.
"So that's how it is. So that's the source of the strange thing about you." Albus Dumbledore seemed to have figured something out and looked at Ian with a slightly strange gaze.
"Tell me honestly, son, how many times has this happened?" Albus Dumbledore shocked Ian once again, making the young wizard realize that there was indeed a reason why some people thought this old man was omniscient.
"I think this should be the first cycle?" In fact, Ian didn't even know if he would actually go through the cycle. He found that the principal in front of him seemed even more certain than he was.
"Time is invisible and intangible, but it leaves its mark. You don't belong to this time at all." Grindelwald, who had returned, had cleared up Ian's doubts.
This also made Ian understand why the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor didn't show any surprise or shock after hearing his outrageous remarks—after all, they were two of the greatest wizards of the century, and some things were indeed hard to escape their notice.
Upon closer reflection, Grindelwald's previous statement, "I don't believe it, you have to prove it to me," seems to suggest that this first-generation leader was simply stalling for time, waiting for the old headmaster to return.
of course.
The feeling of teasing Ian while doing it also became more and more obvious the more you experienced it.
Ian realized it too late.
I finally understand what it means that only people with bad acting skills go to Hollywood.
"Actually, I thought you just got a time converter, but I didn't expect your experience to be so interesting." Grindelwald's words did not comfort Ian.
"This isn't just about time travel, Gellert." Albus Dumbledore examined the back of Ian's raised hand; his knowledge of time might indeed be more extensive than Grindelwald's.
"What do you mean?"
Grindelwald stepped forward, his tone slightly strange.
"I don't think there's a second Ian Prince in our school right now." The old headmaster raised the old wand that originally belonged to Grindelwald.
With a wave of his hand, a map even more detailed than Ian's Marauder's Map appeared before the three of them. The map, woven from light and shadow, not only contained the names of all the young wizards.
There's even a name, Tom Riddle, superimposed on Quirrell's name. The two names seem to overlap, and someone unfamiliar with the situation might think they're engaged in a vigorous forbidden fruit-tasting activity.
"I want to learn this magic, Professor!"
Ian was amazed by what he saw.
"Of course, you will also possess this magic in the future." The old headmaster turned to look at Ian with extremely gentle eyes, and his calm tone carried a profound meaning.
"Indeed not—but it's not impossible for a future consciousness to return to its past body." Perhaps only Grindelwald was seriously examining the map and pondering the problem.
His words were acknowledged by Albus Dumbledore, but after nodding, the old headmaster continued speaking as if reminding Ian or seeking confirmation.
"But this is clearly not the case with our Mr. Prince; his thoughts, like himself, do not belong to our time or our space."
Albus Dumbledore's voice carried a certain certainty.
Grindelwald heard this.
He looked at Ian with a strange expression.
"I find it hard to believe that you could have noticed so many things without even checking my memories." In fact, Ian had already noticed this unusual occurrence long ago.
When Ian pulled out the Marauder's Map in the hallway, he was certain there was no one else like him in the school. And apart from the ring he gave Ariana, everything he had created and acquired after that day in his own timeline was still in his purse.
This is clearly an extremely unusual situation, involving time loops and time travel.
"Your height, child, I must say, you've grown quite a bit." Albus Dumbledore chuckled, stating his basic judgment as the renowned detective Dumbledore.
Just as Ian was about to ask what had happened to him...
"If that's really the case—"
As if remembering something, Grindelwald raised his wand somewhat impatiently and simply tapped the washbasin in front of him.
"~"
The washbasin was blasted open by his magic, shattering the pipes inside. Amidst the gushing water, the secret passage Ian had previously crawled into came into view of the three.
"Forehead·---"
Ian was hesitant to comment on this act of vandalism. He felt that Grindelwald was really using this as an excuse, so he gave Albus Dumbledore a look that said, "Look at him."
"Our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor has realized a problem he cannot accept, which is understandable." Albus Dumbledore chuckled as he watched Grindelwald crawl inside.
"Let's go in too, and see our Professor Ronnie Ehrlich who's come back from the dead." With that, Albus Dumbledore led Ian into the secret passage. He turned around and used magic to repair the damaged entrance to the passage, essentially cleaning up the mess for his old friend.
"Will you lead the way?"
Albus Dumbledore looked ahead at the downward passage.
Grindelwald has already disappeared.
"Okay, okay." Ian felt a little confused, wondering what Gellert Grindelwald couldn't accept in his time loop experience.
Just as Ian lit his wand, Dumbledore took out a small box. When he opened it, the light sources inside would automatically float out and hang on the wall.
"A lights out?"
Ian was utterly astonished.
"No, this was originally a Christmas gift I made for you." Albus Dumbledore smiled and winked at Ian.
He was clearly aware of Ian's habit of going out at night.
Everything remains unrevealed.
"Alas! I don't know how much longer it will take for me to reach my Christmas." Ian could tell that the prop in Albus Dumbledore's hand seemed simple in function, but the principle of its manufacture was quite profound, which also showed that Albus Dumbledore's alchemy skills were indeed remarkable.
"Don't worry, we'll help you."
Albus Dumbledore's words seemed to have a calming effect. As the two descended the pea-shaped staircase, new lights appeared one after another on the walls.
These are all small boxes from Dumbledore's possession. They will gradually dim and disappear after a period of time, which saves the trouble of having to collect the light source.
Albus Dumbledore said he was following behind Ian, and indeed he maintained that pace the entire time, leading Ian closer and closer to the ancient and mysterious dungeon.
"There are indeed many secrets about Hogwarts that I have not yet touched or known." Albus Dumbledore's gaze would occasionally drift to the side paths between the staircases.
They clearly lead to other places, but Ian has not yet explored them, and as the headmaster with the highest authority at Hogwarts, he can only determine the possible directions of most of the secret passages.
"I've heard that Hogwarts wasn't originally founded just as a school." Ian also paid attention to the different forks in the road along the way.
"Yes, the living conditions for wizards in that era were extremely harsh, and this place served as a sanctuary for them."
The considerations naturally go beyond just how to teach students and impart knowledge.
P
Albus Dumbledore agreed with Ian's statement.
"In fact, many of the secret passages have a story behind them. And in my opinion, the four leaders are always prepared for a large-scale attack on Hogwarts."
He also shared his views on the design of Hogwarts Castle.
"A war fortress?"
Ian seemed to be deep in thought.
Albus Dumbledore remained noncommittal, offering neither a definite response nor a correction. The two continued walking, and the air gradually grew somewhat stale.
"Wow, he runs really fast." Ian didn't need to take care of Albus Dumbledore's legs, because the centenarian professor was actually in his prime, with good physical strength and agility.
however.
Despite rushing downwards at breakneck speed, the two still couldn't even catch a glimpse of Grindelwald's back; their descent speed was practically legendary, like a Hogwarts racing god.
"He's in a hurry to verify something, so he certainly won't be walking like we are." Albus Dumbledore was quite familiar with his old friend's way of doing things.
"He can turn into black smoke too?"
Just as Ian was pondering how to mend his relationship with Grindelwald and learn Grindelwald's methods, the two of them arrived in front of the underground corridor.
And at that very moment.
In the hidden crypt of Hogwarts, the candles, which had initially turned from blue to deep red, flickered once more, as if some unseen force had gently brushed past the surroundings.
Indeed, there were also fleeting glimpses of blue.
But it only lasted for a moment.
Then it turned back to an eerie deep red.
"Hiss! What's the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor doing in there?!" Ian dashed off towards the dungeon where he had skipped class, while Albus Dumbledore, following closely behind, was clearly shocked by the dragon skeletons found within.
"This is truly an indescribable wonder!" Albus Dumbledore's eyes reflected the dragon's skeleton, but the emotions within them were more than just shock and astonishment.
And—a fleeting moment of regret.
"Just leave it here. Its owner has given me permission to use it." Ian wasn't worried about Dumbledore taking the skeleton; he was worried that Dumbledore would hand the dragon skeleton over to Snape for safekeeping.
The little wizard dared to make a bet.
This dragon skeleton may seem enormous, but once it falls into Snape's hands, it's entirely uncertain how much he can salvage. Who knows, Snape might resign overnight and run away with the skeleton the very next day.
"Of course, no problem."
Albus Dumbledore withdrew his complex gaze. He and Ian both looked at Professor Ronnie Ehrlich, who was prostrate before Grindelwald amidst the dragon skeleton.
"I told you I'd find someone you can trust." Ian stepped forward and noticed that Ronnie and Professor Erich were staring at him and Albus Dumbledore with utter astonishment.
of course.
I'm mainly looking at Dumbledore.
"Sir! He! Why is he here too!" Professor Ronnie Ehrlich seemed quite shocked and tried to stand up, but Grindelwald pressed him back down.
"Ronnie, don't be nervous, you'll eventually find out the reason—if there's still a chance." Grindelwald's expression was also complicated at this moment. His words reassured the nervous Ronnie Ehrlich, who continued to look up at Albus Dumbledore but did not ask any more questions.
"Professor, have you found the reason for his abnormality?" Ian really wanted to know why Ronnie Ehrlich could only live in the area illuminated by candlelight.
"There's some progress."
Grindelwald gave the saint before him a deep look, then turned to Albus Dumbledore. "Albus, it seems you were right after all."
talking.
He then pulled aside the robe worn by Ronnie Ehrlich, who was lying prostrate on the ground, and saw that on Ronnie Ehrlich's back were a large area of bizarre patterns. These patterns intertwined to form figurative designs, covering almost half of Ronnie Ehrlich's back.
Albus Dumbledore stepped forward and gently patted it.
"What is this?"
Ian also moved closer to Ronnie Ehrlich.
"Little wizard, you're right, I should indeed be dead." Ronnie Ehrlich lay on the ground sighing, his tone filled with melancholy and heaviness.
"I told you, but you didn't believe me. It still takes Grindelwald—"—the professor to step in. Ian added a respectful title, afraid that Ronnie Ehrlich would scratch his youthful face if he didn't show enough respect to Grindelwald.
"I have a feeling, little guy, that I've ended up like this because of you." Ronnie Ehrlich's tone was calm, but his eyes held a hint of resentment.
"Professor, your mouth is really dirty."
Ian looked away, feeling a little guilty.
"But it doesn't matter. Compared to dying in confusion, it's not bad to know some of the truth now." Ronnie Ehrlich didn't seem to have any fear of death.
He strained to tilt his head and glance at Grindelwald and Dumbledore, who were examining his back. The fact that the two were getting along so peacefully still seemed quite unbelievable to the saint.
"Here lies the Eye of Horus." Grindelwald pointed to a corner of the intricate pattern, where an eye-like design could be seen hidden within.
"The Eye of Horus?" Ian's curiosity was piqued. "Isn't this within the realm of ancient alchemy? It holds extremely important symbolic significance in history."
Ian knew little about what Grindelwald had mentioned, as his ancient alchemy was inherited from Morgan, and the Eye of Horus was used in an era much earlier than Morgan's.
The Eye of Horus, also known as the Eye of Ugart, is said to be the eye of the falcon-headed god Horus. It represents divine protection and supreme royal power. At the same time, the Eye of Horus also symbolizes sacrifice, healing, restoration, and protection, belonging to a magical realm different from that of the European continent.
"The method is ancient, and in a traditional sense, it may be the basis for Professor Ronnie Ehrlich's resurrection here," Albus Dumbledore said softly.
indeed.
The ancient Egyptians also believed that the Eye of Horus could play a role in their resurrection and rebirth. In the world of sorcerers, it was also a ritual medium for sorcerers to study immortality or resurrection.
"This thing is actually useful?" Ian had some knowledge of this aspect of alchemy, but he clearly didn't expect the Eye of Horus to actually work.
He initially thought this thing, like other attempts to bring the dead back to life, was just empty talk. After all,
Regardless of where they came from or whether they were wizards or not, everyone longed to gain the power to control life and death.
however.
all the time.
No one succeeded.
"The facts are right before our eyes." Albus Dumbledore's gaze shifted to Ronnie Ehrlich himself, who had personally examined the professor's body and the process of his death.
"Why didn't Voldemort think of this method?" Ian continued curiously. After all, given Tom Riddle's personality, he would definitely learn and collect anything that was truly useful.
"Such a ritual has not been passed down in its entirety. In fact, even I believe it has never truly succeeded; the few cases in history that have been resurrected only resulted in the living dead." Albus Dumbledore's deep voice remained steady. "Riddle doesn't just want to be a living dead."
His answer made Ian realize something.
Perhaps Voldemort, without a nose, never truly believed in foreign magic? Of course, the lack of successful cases certainly played a part, otherwise Tom Riddle would have been desperately searching for it.
"You've overlooked the most crucial point, Albus." Grindelwald looked up at Ian, a slight glint in his eyes.
"Some magic requires qualifications to use, children. Even if you tell the Dark Lord the whole ritual, he still doesn't have the qualifications to make it succeed."
Grindelwald's tone was filled with disdain and contempt for Tom Riddle.
Done.
He then pointed to a corner on Ronnie Ehrlich's back, "Here, Albus, this is the key."
This is also one of the pieces of evidence to verify what you said earlier.
"It represents seizing destiny —"
Grindelwald hadn't finished speaking.
Albus Dumbledore raised his hand to interrupt him, then spoke to Ian in an unyielding tone, "Mr. Prince, could you please wait for me in my office?"
He seemed to want Ian to stop staying there.
"what?"
Ian felt that he might not be able to solve his problem without being there, so he looked at Dumbledore, who had suddenly spoken, and Grindelwald, who seemed a little speechless, with some doubt.
"I'll explain everything to you later. Trust me, what's about to happen is not something a young wizard like you should be watching up close."
"That will damage your mind."
Albus Dumbledore's tone was gentle and calm.
"He knew the Killing Curse in his first year, and he did it silently. You're telling me he still has a mind?" Ronnie Ehrlich, lying on the ground, finally managed to say something to Dumbledore.
He spoke with resentment.
This tendency to tattle is probably something he learned from Grindelwald, or perhaps he genuinely resents Ian, since he sees his current state as entirely due to Ian.
Perhaps, that's not wrong.
"Besides this issue, we should have another conversation, and I think my office would be the most suitable. If possible, could you please clean the room for me?"
Albus Dumbledore seemed not to hear Ronnie Ehrlich's words. Despite being right next to him, he acted as if he were deaf to them, and continued to give Ian his instructions and requests.
"All right."
Seeing the old principal's determined gaze, Ian could only turn away somewhat reluctantly and head towards the stairs—he estimated he'd lost at least a pound from all the walking he'd done today.
They watched as Ian's figure disappeared into the corridor outside the underground palace.
"You don't need to do that, I won't hurt her, Albus."
Grindelwald then reluctantly spoke to Albus Dumbledore.
"Just in case, it's safer to do it this way, after all, your reaction just now was quite strong." Albus Dumbledore's face once again put on a smiling expression.
"For you, it might be a future that allows you to reconnect with family, but for me, it's a much bigger prospect, so it's not just you who's willing to sacrifice for it."
Grindelwald's tone was more serious than ever before.
Albus Dumbledore has not yet responded.
"So, I guessed right, didn't I, sir?" Ronnie Ehrlich, who was lying on the ground, heard the conversation between the two and finally confirmed his guess.
"The little wizard from earlier is the reason you brought me here." He spoke with a hint of relief, as if he had finally found the answer to his confusion.
"Ronnie, Albus and I won't really die, but you will, or rather, you've already sacrificed yourself for it," Grindelwald replied softly, tinged with sadness.
"It's alright, sir. Knowing the answer is enough; it's worthwhile." Ronnie Ehrlich smiled broadly.
He glanced at Grindelwald and Dumbledore again.
"For the greater good."
His tone was resolute.
There was no fear in them whatsoever.
"You've already killed him here once." Albus Dumbledore frowned at Grindelwald, gleaning from Ronnie Ehrlich's expression some information he hadn't witnessed.
While he and Ian were still on their way, a bloody test took place here.
"Just like Ronnie said, Albus, this is so that the little wizard can go back to where he belongs and do the things he is destined to do."
Grindelwald sighed and stood up.
Seeing Albus Dumbledore's serious expression.
"This is a trick your founder pulled, so how can you blame me? You, Ronnie, Ian, and I were all dragged into this game by that guy."
His gaze fell upon the enormous stone statue on the wall.
"Your description is quite accurate."
Albus Dumbledore also looked over, and the huge stone statue, like the Thinker, was shining with an eerie luster. He had no way of knowing why the founder from a thousand years ago would create such a mystery.
but.
One thing is certain, and both he and Grindelwald were very convinced that they could create such a game.
Salazar Slytherin was probably no ordinary man.
"This has actually helped me understand some things about Ronnie's death that I couldn't foresee." The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's black robes trembled slightly in the draft.
He looked back.
His eyes held a clear understanding, as if he had already seen through the mystery.
"The intervention of Salazar Slytherin, who lived a thousand years ago—"—Albus Dumbledore, in this area of prophecy, clearly knew less than Grindelwald.
Both are more knowledgeable than the other.
"No, no, no, it's not Salazar Slytherin from a thousand years ago."
Grindelwald spoke lightly, his face beaming with excitement and eagerness, showing no sign of nervousness whatsoever. He was completely different from Dumbledore, whose expression grew increasingly serious.
"What do you mean?"
Dumbledore had a bad feeling.
"It means you better not mess up and be serious. After all, my friend, the guy we're teaming up to challenge now is the real impossible miracle."
"One, still alive—a thousand-year-old legend."
Inside the underground palace.
Grindelwald's voice echoed softly.
With a hint of melancholy.
There was also undisguised excitement.
The pendulum of time is swinging.
After leaving the underground palace, Ian pondered what the two old men had discovered.
"It must be related to you. Are you not just a time looper?" Ian raised his hand and looked at the curse mark on the back of his hand. He suddenly spoke up thoughtfully.
"Marks concealing the power of time, reveal your true power before me! Prince, who made the pact with you, commands you to break each seal!"
Ok.
There was no reaction at all.
Feeling disappointed, Ian walked up to the eighth floor.
Since he hadn't received Dumbledore's permission, Ian could only continue kicking the monster statue a few more times. Fortunately, the monster statue immediately jumped away, allowing him to step into the headmaster's office.
"It's really chaotic."
Ian looked around the room, which was even more cluttered than when he had been there before. Fox, which had been perched on his head, immediately flew away from its temporary nest above Ian's head upon seeing his golden branch.
"You don't love me anymore."
Ian plucked a few phoenix feathers, but Fox continued to sway his long tail feathers, looking at him with friendly eyes, showing no anger or resentment at being plucked.
then.
Ian slammed his fist down even harder.
"Clang, clang, clang!"
Realizing something was wrong, Fox flapped his wings and flew away from Ian, landing on the chandelier above his head and refusing to come down, even when Ian took out a potion to try and lure him down.
"You have amazing self-control."
Ian picked up the large handful of phoenix feathers in his hand with some emotion. He couldn't understand what the phoenix above his head was saying, but the continuous "clang clang clang!" sound didn't seem to be anything good.
Perhaps it was Ian's interaction with the phoenix that disturbed the non-humans who were sleeping in the office.
"Oh, what's wrong with you, you annoying cat!" The Sorting Hat, awakened from his nap, let out a very loud exclamation the moment he saw Ian.
"La la la~"
Ian showed the Sorting Hat, who had blurted out something and failed to manage his language skills, his recent learning success: he could now wash the Sorting Hat without needing to use the sink.
"You wicked little wizard! Dumbledore! Where is Dumbledore!" The Sorting Hat floated in mid-air, being swept up by several streams of water and spinning continuously.
"Dumbledore is having a crazy party in the dungeon."
The young wizard remained unmoved.
"Can you feel my progress?"
Ian increased the flow of water and the speed at which it swirled on the Sorting Hat, causing the Hat to bubble and fizz in the water, as if an invisible washing machine had appeared out of nowhere.
"Yes! Of course I can! I was wrong! Mr. Prince! Please forgive me!" The Sorting Hat didn't dare to say no; after being tossed around, it was moved back to its original position, dripping wet.
"Seriously, when the younger students enroll, they'd better not praise Merlin anymore; they should praise me instead."
I'm the one safeguarding the cleanliness and health of the campus!
There might be some self-praise in Ian's words, but objectively speaking, it may not be entirely untrue; the Sorting Hat is much cleaner now than it was at the beginning.
"Look, I've even outsourced the cleaning of the principal's office." Ian waved his wand as he began tidying the room, putting the messy books back in their places.
have to say.
Dumbledore's book collection was truly extensive, including not only a variety of highly specialized books, but also numerous magazines and periodicals, most of which published a large number of Dumbledore's articles.
Even in recent years, the number of submissions from Dumbledore to magazines has not decreased but increased. It's hard to imagine that Ian could easily find Dumbledore's innovative research on magic by flipping through a magazine.
These journals are almost equivalent to SCI journals in the Muggle world. An ordinary wizard might be proud to publish one in his lifetime, but Dumbledore seems to be shipping these journals in bulk.
"Dumbledore has supported half of the wizarding academic world." Ian felt once again from these magazines and periodicals that Dumbledore's greatness was definitely not limited to his powerful magical abilities.
This contribution to the development of the wizarding world is definitely one of the reasons why he is celebrated.
"Yes, that's partly because the old headmaster is so rich." Ian looked at the dazzling array of precious collections in the office. If he weren't not a petty thief, he probably would have been tempted to take some.
"It's also because my skin color is wrong. Michael's skin color is correct, but he obviously doesn't understand the significance that dark skin gives him." Ian touched a piece of pure gold jewelry.
The cleaning work, which utilized magic, continued.
Dumbledore had some leftover food by his bedside, which he had put into a small bag—a space bag he had made—containing scraps of food.
Ian's ingrained frugality and thrift made him unwilling to waste anything, so he decided to give it to Ron for free next year, so that Ron would never have to worry about Banban's diet again for the rest of his life.
"Having a senior like me is a blessing for the younger students." Ian's cleaning of the office was quite noisy; he even polished and waxed the portraits on the wall.
This also disturbed the principals who were closing their eyes, perhaps sleeping or pretending to sleep.
"What is he doing?"
"It looks like they're cleaning Dumbledore's office."
"Is this little guy about to move in? Isn't it a bit too early?"
"I knew Dumbledore was unreliable! He must be locked up in Azkaban! Otherwise, this little guy wouldn't have been able to take over the headmaster's office."
"But McGonagall is still here—"
"McGreyson is definitely in there too! Gryffindor's destiny is Azkaban! Except for us Slytherins! Whoever becomes headmaster should be thrown into Azkaban!"
Finally, the headmaster, who kept letting out deafening roars, was definitely rubbing salt in the wound. Ian had already been tricked by Slytherin, and yet he dared to proclaim Slytherin supremacy in front of Ian.
"Hey principal, would you like to have a zombie maid in your portrait as a Christmas present?" Ian pulled out a sketch he had created during class.
I will not comment on the content.
In short, the principals on the wall scattered like birds and beasts upon seeing this, while the principal who had been sold the zombie maid turned green with rage and fled his picture frame faster than the other principals.
Nobody wants to be late.
It was getting late, and I was worried that I would actually be drawn as a zombie maid—after all, I was a first-year wizard, and wizards of this age could do anything except for OWLS exam questions.
"Portraits devoid of artistic talent—" Ian put away his masterpiece with a bored expression, and then, just as he was getting a little bored and preparing to wax Dumbledore's bench as well.
"Click~"
The office door slowly opened, and a weary-looking Albus Dumbledore walked in. Before Ian could even put away his waxing tools, he asked how things were going.
The Sorting Hat, who had been feigning death, jumped up from his chair.
"Dumbledore! You're finally back! It's this little wizard! He's been causing all sorts of trouble in your office, tormenting me and the headmasters to the point of near death!"
It knows how to complain.
His words were harsh and his tone was filled with grief and indignation.
"He didn't, don't talk nonsense."
"Yeah, the Sorting Hat might have lost its mind."
Will we be able to see it next year?
however.
Although the Sorting Hat raised the banner of the headmasters, the headmasters did not stand on the same side as it, after all, they were all people who had lived before and were not unintelligent.
It doesn't look like the Sorting Hat.
Stubborn and unafraid of retribution later.
"Alright, stop fooling around." Albus Dumbledore was clearly worried. He grabbed the wet Sorting Hat and stuffed it directly into the cupboard.
Ian noticed that the back of the old headmaster's robe was stained with a lot of blood.
"Hiss, what did you and our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor do in the dungeon?" Ian's mind raced, and he could sense that Professor Ronnie Ehrlich's fate was probably not good.
"Ronnie Ehrlich is still alive."
After closing the cabinet, the old headmaster turned to Ian and said, "That's the crux of the problem. He seems to be immortal; no matter how he dies, it doesn't affect his ability to be resurrected."
Such remarks truly gave Ian a chilling feeling upon closer examination. The young wizard seemed to be able to imagine that the two old men had tried many ways to kill Ronnie Ehrlich in the underground palace.
This is really a weird party!
"So, what does this mean?" Ian didn't dare to use his imagination too much; his biggest concern right now was whether the two extraordinary wizards had found any useful information.
"This shows that he is not truly alive; his current state of 'existence' is not real." Albus Dumbledore stood in front of the cabinet without beating around the bush.
He began explaining directly to the young wizard, "Ronnie Ehrlich's memory stops at the moment he received the letter from our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Of course, the letter he received was forged, but that's not important for now; we're only talking about the last point in his memory."
"At this point in time, Ronnie Ehrlich had not yet been attacked or died, and it was at this very moment that he was taken to the underground palace of Hogwarts."
Ian did not fully understand Albus Dumbledore's words.
"But we saw his body?"
Ian frowned. Not only that, but when he first entered that mysterious dungeon, he didn't see Ronnie Ehrlich hiding inside at all.
Albus Dumbledore nodded and continued, "Yes, the corpses we saw..."
That's the real Ronnie Ehrlich.
His increasingly perplexing answers left the young wizard with beady eyes.
"What is he in the underground palace? A clone? A replicant?" Ian could only use his imagination as much as possible to connect the bizarre Ronnie Ehrlich with bio-alchemy.
"It is a fragment of destiny that has been taken away, child. It will have neither a past nor a future, it will neither be born nor die. When Ronnie Ehrlich read the letter, what was taken away from him was not himself, but a fragment of destiny that was attached to him." Albus Dumbledore sighed softly.
He went back to his long table, brewed tea, and took out three cups.
"Is this why Ronnie Ehrlich can't leave the underground palace? He's not a truly existing person, and can only continue to exist under certain specific circumstances?"
Ian stared wide-eyed in utter shock. He felt a chill run down his spine from Dumbledore's words, like the feeling of having one's soul stolen without one's knowledge in those eerie stories.
"I'm sure you've also examined his memories. His memories reveal the diverse possibilities of fate, countless possibilities converged in the Ronnie Ehrlich we see now." Albus Dumbledore had clearly also examined the poor saint's memories and discovered traces of Ian's magic within them.
"Why would Salazar Slytherin do such a thing? What was his purpose?" Ian scratched his head.
I really couldn't figure out what the founder's intention was in leaving behind this legacy.
"Perhaps he's showing off his achievements, after all, he's stepped into the realm of gods, or perhaps he's conducting some kind of experiment that he wants to carry out, and we are all his experimental subjects."
1
"Of course, this is just the opinion of our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."
"I still have enough respect for our founder; perhaps he wanted to teach you something in this way," Albus Dumbledore said uncertainly.
This great wizard was indeed not omniscient or omnipotent.
"Professor Ronnie Ehrlich's situation doesn't seem to have any particular connection to my experience?" Ian raised his hand and looked at the cursed rune on the back of his hand again.
The ouroboros mark continued to flash sensitively, as if breathing.
"No, your experience is deeply connected to him, or rather, it is precisely because of Ronnie Ehrlich's existence."
That's why you and I are here talking at this moment.
Albus Dumbledore walked to the washbasin, turned on the tap to wash his face, and used magic to clean the bloodstains from the back of his robes.
"Ian, can you tell me what you did after watching Aberforth and I argue?" Albus Dumbledore's sudden question made Ian a little embarrassed.
There's an awkward situation where you're caught red-handed by the person who posted the gossip.
"I witnessed the Weasley brothers' fight with Peeves, as well as the conflict between Professor Quirrell and Professor Snape, after which I was captured by Professor Snape and made a janitor."
"It was because of Professor Snape's malice that I ended up in that dungeon by mistake. After leaving the dungeon, I discovered that I had this mark on my hand."
"I didn't think much of it at the time and continued cleaning the toilet. It wasn't until the morning that I learned it belonged to Slytherin from the door knocker on our Ravenclaw common room door."
"It said I was chosen by Slytherin or something, and it also told me that Slytherin had been researching some advanced magic." Ian recounted his entire experience in great detail.
of course.
There are instances of embellishment, but that doesn't necessarily affect the overall description of the events.
"A twist of fate?"
After wiping his face, Albus Dumbledore turned to look at Ian with a rather intriguing gaze, but he didn't delve into the matter further.
"I'll go find your door knocker to find out what's going on. It's right, this is indeed a profound magic, a realm that shouldn't be touched by us wizards."
Albus Dumbledore's tone carried a hint of emotion.
"I think you're referring to more than just time loops?" Ian stared at Dumbledore, who was starting to tidy his hair. This was the first time Dumbledore had ever paid so much attention to his appearance.
"Indeed, Mr. Prince, very keen insight." Albus Dumbledore walked back into the hall.
He sat down at his desk and put his glasses back on.
"As I just said, our meeting at this moment is not something that should have happened; it is simply a possibility of fate."
Albus Dumbledore is peaceful and powerful.
The sound wasn't loud.
But it stirred up a storm in Ian's heart.
"You mean to say—"
Ian guessed what Albus Dumbledore meant, but he found it hard to believe what he was thinking; it was even more unbelievable than a time loop.
"Yes, child, it's exactly what you think. Professor Ronnie Ehrlich's situation is the situation of all of us right now, except for you."
Albus Dumbledore's voice remained steady, "It's not just that he belongs to a segment of fate that was cut off."
Everything you are experiencing now is just a fragment of fate that has been taken from the story.
"Of course, we are better than Professor Ronnie Ehrlich; we are the possibilities that never happened."
Professor Ronnie Ehrlich, on the other hand, represents the culmination of all the possibilities he had already exhausted.
"He exists as the very foundation of this secret realm. We do not know how this magic works, but he is undoubtedly the key to your escape and return to your predetermined future." Albus Dumbledore calmly stated a fact that he should not have been able to accept.
"This is absolutely outrageous!"
Ian couldn't comprehend how surreal this magic was. He raised his hand to look at the curse mark on the back of his hand. "So, I'm not actually experiencing a time loop?"
The young wizard's doubts made Albus Dumbledore shake his head.
"It is fate, and it is time."
"You will indeed experience time loops, but what you experience is not the actual past for you."
It's simply those possibilities that weren't anchored at the right time.
"It has a limit. Judging from the Christmas you keep talking about, it's been exactly forty-nine days since today. Our founder has brought back the fate that hadn't happened in the past forty-nine days."
D
"So, in my opinion, to break this deadlock, you need to let the right time flow again. Our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor believes that we also need to find a way to truly kill Professor Ronnie Ehrlich and destroy the core of this secret realm. Naturally, the secret realm will collapse as a result."
Every word Albus Dumbledore spoke at this moment deeply shook Ian's somewhat trembling heart, yet he remained as calm as ever, even though his emotions should have been more intense.
Grindelwald was the same.
It's hard to imagine the two of them in the underground palace discussing how to kill everyone, including themselves. After all, if Ian breaks out of the situation, everything here will vanish, and all the cycles of this time will be as if they never happened.
In the mortal world.
They are still themselves, of course.
But here, they all fall silent again as the part that was not anchored by fate, the so-called possibility abandoned by history.
"This is far more terrifying than simply playing with time—Headmaster Dumbledore, I'm not questioning your judgment, but could it be that you've been misled by Slytherin?"
Ian swallowed hard. He had never experienced anything like this in his life or his past life, let alone met ruthless people like Grindelwald and Dumbledore.
"There's no mistake, son. What truly ascertained this for me was precisely what our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor told me about the scene he witnessed in the corridor." Albus Dumbledore poured tea into three cups, the steaming black tea sending up wisps of white vapor.
"I borrowed the principle of the Resurrection Stone, and then used the Patronus Charm to help me." At this point, Ian no longer cared about Grindelwald's request to keep the secret from Dumbledore.
Moreover.
By the time he had mastered the Guardian Spell, there was no longer any need to keep this secret.
"Ian, I believe you possess talents and power beyond our comprehension. However, although I do not know your secrets, I do know the world I have lived in for over a hundred years."
"The distance between life and death is too great. Even with the help of the Guardian Charm, it is too much to try to let a soul from the other side frolic in the corridor for so long."
"Your magic is too weak; it's impossible for it to last that long." Albus Dumbledore patiently answered Ian's questions. He was probably one of the few people who could criticize Ian's lack of magic.
"Is this the evidence you're talking about?"
Ian seemed to realize something.
as predicted.
"That's right. Unless we're not in the real world right now, but somewhere very close to death, you can't do this so easily."
Albus Dumbledore spoke casually, as if he were fully prepared, his gaze fixed on the elder wand that was faintly visible beneath Ian's robes.
Ian understood immediately.
"Protect the Gods!"
Warm and hazy, shimmering mist rose from the wand, countless silver threads weaving in the air, initially just a blurry, straw-like figure.
only.
As Ian continued to channel his magic, the figure became increasingly clear.
The fine details of her face and body are also becoming increasingly fuller.
The atmosphere in the office was quite quiet.
Albus Dumbledore even held his breath, his expression no longer calm and composed, and the light in his eyes was brighter than ever before.
"How I wish I would never wake up from this dream."
Albus Dumbledore's lips and voice trembled violently.
When he saw the figure that was exactly the same as he remembered, as if time had left few traces on it, the old professor, who had been talking so eloquently just moments before, burst into tears.
"Ian? It's been two days already on our end. Is Christmas still not over for you?" The first thing the girl saw when she opened her eyes was Ian, who was still processing the information she had just received.
"So, there's no gift box for me to crawl into?" She looked around and finally saw Albus Dumbledore, who had stood up excitedly, his lips trembling but unable to utter a sound.
At the beginning.
The girl's expression was still slightly puzzled. However, she seemed to quickly see a very familiar reflection of herself in that unusually neat but undeniably aged face.
"Brother Albus?"
The girl drifted toward Albus Dumbledore.
Unexpectedly, this professor, who was not afraid of even his own death and faced it calmly, quickly and subconsciously took a step back. He even tripped on the wooden leg of the chair and almost fell.
Fortunately, Ariana managed to catch Albus Dumbledore, who was kneeling.
"Ari-Anna—"
Albus Dumbledore's voice suddenly became incredibly dry, and he raised his trembling hand as if in utter disbelief, stroking Ariana's still-childish face.
"It's me, Albus." Ariana also raised her hand to wipe away Albus Dumbledore's tears, touching the wrinkles left by time on his face.
"Brother Albus, life must have caused you a lot of suffering." Ariana took the initiative to hug Albus Dumbledore, and the blame that Albus Dumbledore had been worried about did not come.
His body was trembling.
He cautiously raised his hand, somewhat hesitant to reciprocate the embrace, or perhaps it was the guilt, unease, and regret welling up inside him that made him feel ashamed to enjoy this moment of warmth.
"You have spent your life atoning for your sins, Professor." Ian did not see Dumbledore that way; he was simply saying what Albus Dumbledore might need to hear at that moment.
"I want to say that compared to Slytherin, Ian, your magic is truly—"—a miracle. Albus Dumbledore looked at Ian's face and tears welled up in his eyes again.
He couldn't fathom the meaning behind Ian's Guardian Charm.
but.
Right at this moment.
Upon seeing Ariana again and realizing that he could still reach her, the flame in Albus Dumbledore's eyes burned with an unprecedented intensity and fervor.
He became even more aware of what he had to do.
"You have to get out of here! Ian Prince, even if Salazar Slytherin tries to keep you here, I will make sure you return to where you belong!"
"No one can stop this! Not even a thousand-year-old legend!"
The old professor's voice was still somewhat dry and hoarse.
But they were unusually determined.
[ps: The Tower, next chapter, Da Gao, here, not Hua Xu]