Chapter 782: Chapter 782

It seems that Grindelwald was only demonstrating to them—the International Confederation of Wizards and the various Ministries of Magic—and it must be said that he achieved his goal. It has only been a few days, and Grindelwald has quietly gathered so many people, even though most of them, according to Grindelwald himself, came just to spectate. But this level of appeal was enough to make them feel a sense of caution without daring to make any moves.

Grindelwald approached, extending his hand to Felix. Felix hesitated for a moment before grasping the offered hand.

Both men felt the enchantment in each other's arms. And something else.

"I know what you're up to! You'll become the enemy of all wizards," Felix whispered, his eyes fixed on Grindelwald, his body riddled with wounds. No wonder he was so anxious!

Grindelwald was taken aback. Then he slightly bowed.

"I am deeply honored," he said. "Oh, by the way—" his hand suddenly became scorching hot, "it's unfortunate that I disrupted your plans with Dumbledore. But Dumbledore overestimated himself. How can a good person be more intimidating than a thoroughly evil one?"

He said, walking towards Akingbade.

"Grindelwald!" Felix called after him, "Will innocent people die today?"

Grindelwald halted in his tracks.

Felix remained in place, Professor McGonagall called out to him, and he followed. He opened the hand that had just shaken hands, staring at his palm where a blue flame had solidified into a petal. Felix silently crushed the petal, a spell appearing in his mind.

It was a magic to summon saints.

Felix let out a long breath.

The alarm was lifted, and there was an additional person attending the funeral. Apart from the Hogwarts students who had spent a year with Grindelwald feeling uncomfortable, the others did not show much of a different expression. Neville wanted to step forward to question the trick with the mirror, but was firmly held back by Seamus and Dean.

"Don't be rash, Neville," Harry whispered softly, though his mood was also very complex.

Akingbade briefly spoke, indicating that Grindelwald was invited by himself, and after the funeral, they would engage in further negotiations, with peace just around the corner. Grindelwald, standing beside him, remained expressionless.

The funeral continued. When Akingbade returned to his seat in the front row, Grindelwald did not follow, but approached the short man with thick hair and a black wizard robe. He politely asked, "Excuse me, is it time to narrate the deceased's life?"

"Yes, yes," the short man stammered.

"Then leave it to me. I believe there is no one in this world who knows Dumbledore's strengths and weaknesses better than I do."

The short man's expression froze, seeking help from the prominent wizards in the front row, but no one spoke up. Awkwardly, he stepped aside. Grindelwald glanced at the white stone table where the body lay, Dumbledore seemed to be peacefully asleep.

He turned around and slowly began:

"I met Dumbledore much earlier than you might imagine. At that time, Dumbledore had just graduated, and I was expelled from school for researching dark magic. Fate brought two troubled young men together in Godric's Hollow. We hit it off immediately, and our relationship quickly became closer than that of blood brothers, because brothers are only connected by blood—think about how many family relationships are broken in reality—and we are extremely compatible in ideology..."

He had only just begun when there was quite a stir. But Harry knew it was all true.

"Dumbledore has many virtues, but aside from those dull academic studies, his most commendable contribution is his staunch defense of the rights of Muggle-born wizards and Muggle families. It's tragic that he himself was once a victim of Muggles, oh, poor Aberforth, his family torn apart by a few Muggles. Of course, our law enforcement agencies and the 'Secrecy Law' also played a part."

McGonagall was uneasy, wanting to stand up, but was held back by Felix.

"Let him speak," Felix said calmly, his expression as if watching a dead man.

"...Victims have the right to seek revenge against the perpetrators—in any way possible. But Dumbledore gave up. This experience may seem to have left no damage to Dumbledore's greatness in the eyes of some, but instead endowed his personal image with a heroic tragic color, cheering for his kindness and compassion. But I see his weakness and cowardice."

"We talked about everything, so I know the little secrets Dumbledore buried in his heart. He hoped that wizards and Muggles could live together in harmony, as close as family, what a noble ideal! Unfortunately, he only wanted the result, but feared the price he had to pay to achieve it..."

"...Because of his timidity, he eventually stood on the opposite side of me. He betrayed his own ideals, our ideals! Throughout his life, he dared not take a step forward, even in death, he could only hold onto a cautious hope." The expressions on people's faces turned angry, and Grindelwald looked around without any fear. "That's Dumbledore. Perhaps your view of him differs from mine, but one thing is certain, Dumbledore represents an era, and with his departure, an era comes to an end."

"And a new era is about to begin."

With that, Grindelwald turned his gaze back to the stone table. Dazzling white flames climbed up the equally pristine stone table, the sky rang out with a mournful phoenix cry, the flames suddenly disappeared, and in their place stood a white stone tomb—a tomb containing Dumbledore's body and the table.

The funeral was over.

After a while, the voices in the venue gradually grew louder, and Grindelwald remained silent for a moment, staring at Felix. Felix met his gaze, nodded imperceptibly, then turned and walked towards the Forbidden Forest, ignoring Akingbade's call from behind.

Akingbade and several Ministry officials stood up, staring blankly at Grindelwald's retreating figure. "Did he just Apparate away directly? Is he giving up on negotiations?"

Felix looked up at the sky, the phoenix had vanished at some point, perhaps never to return. Another familiar figure gone forever, and what awaited him next — to borrow someone's words — was the arrival of a new era.

"Professor Harp?" a soft, cautious voice said.

"Oh, Miss Granger," Felix glanced sideways, "and Potter, Weasley, Longbottom. Please, take a seat. When is the train leaving for departure?"

"In an hour," Hermione said, casting a glance at Felix, seeming to ponder something in her mind. "It seems that the President of the International Confederation of Wizards has reached some sort of agreement with Grindelwald..."

"You mean — they've made an 'unbreakable vow' in front of a dozen Ministers?"

Harry and the others were startled, they had no idea about this news. Hermione thought for a moment and said, "Oh — I guess it's quite disheartening. From his behavior today, we can see he's not one to comply... Though we all recognize the risks, there's nothing we can do because any dissent represents standing against those people..."

"What are you trying to say, Granger?"

"Oh," Hermione murmured, "I mean, anyone in this situation would feel powerless..."

Felix chuckled, seeming to perk up and yet not quite.

"It's not Grindelwald who makes me feel powerless, but the imminent upheaval the entire world is about to face. I both long for and fear its arrival. There's no past experience to guide us."

"Professor," Harry said, "no matter what changes come, we'll stand with you." Ron and Neville nodded in agreement.

Felix straightened up, surveying them each with a scrutinizing gaze. "Well, I'll take that seriously then. Let's keep watch of the sky from now on, and wait for news from outside. Hopefully it won't frighten you — if my guess is correct," he muttered. Latest content published on novèlfire.net

Harry and the others exchanged glances.

Time passed, less than five minutes in fact, and Aurora Bonham came rushing over, her face pale with fear. She stumbled as if she might collapse at any moment, her eyes betraying unmistakable panic.

Harry had never seen her before.

"Mrs. Bonham?" asked Akingbade, who was discussing the situation with secretaries and other officials from various wizarding nations. Grindelwald's sudden departure had caught them off guard.

Bonham's face flushed, and she stuttered, "Mr. Akingbade, and everyone, G-Grindelwald — he, he—"

"Have you found his whereabouts?"

"Not yet," she looked on the verge of collapse, and many of the wizards still present turned their attention to her, "but we've confirmed the location of the people Grindelwald brought with him."

"Where have they gone? We can't let them gather en masse, Blaireo's report indicated that Grindelwald had nearly five thousand people gathered at one point, even for a protest, that's too much."

"Everywhere," Bonham said weakly.

"Everywhere!" she shouted hoarsely, "Those people, led by six or seven hundred core saints, have openly revealed themselves as wizards! Rough estimates suggest they've appeared in over two thousand Muggle cities around the world. They're using magic recklessly, flying over cities — Mr. Akingbade, the wizarding world has been completely exposed, irreversibly!"

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