Chapter 683 Nocturne

Neither Felix nor Professor McGonagall showed up for dinner. They were discussing intensely in the office, but could not make up their minds. The clone magic that Felix learned from the North Pole was not flawless. He only had one magic book, which was equivalent to his wand, and could fully exert his combat power.

If Grindelwald insisted on making the news of Dumbledore's death public, there was actually very little they could do.

The original plan was based on the premise that "Dumbledore" would fade out of the public eye, and only occasionally show up in the future to prove that he was still alive. The entire wizarding world would slowly adapt to the fact that he was "retired". Even if the wizarding world was forced to make it public in a few years or even a dozen years, his name could serve as an important deterrent.

Deterrence was indeed enough.

With Felix standing in the foreground to show his strength, Dumbledore, who became famous a hundred years earlier than him, was highly respected, had outstanding achievements, and was recognized as the greatest white wizard, would become an unfathomable existence in the minds of ordinary people.

No one wanted to anger such an old man and force him to go to the battlefield.

And the ingenuity of this plan is that even if some wizards have doubts, they don't have the courage to question, let alone publicly "curse" Dumbledore's death, as the spit will drown them: an old man who has devoted most of his time to the magic world has the right to enjoy life and not to ask about official business. Felix can also cooperate to let "Dumbledore" show up and say a few words of advice in public, which will not affect the overall situation at all.

There are many benefits, and the cost is almost zero. The only one who is harmed is Dumbledore himself.

Unfortunately, Grindelwald jumped out.

Felix is ​​not arrogant enough to think that his attainments in Transfiguration can be comparable to Dumbledore. If "Dumbledore" appears in the last second and Grindelwald challenges him in the next second, their approach is likely to be exposed on the spot in full view of the public.

In a short period of time, the only way Felix can think of is to use the excuse that Dumbledore is injured and fight on his behalf.

But the viciousness of Grindelwald's plan is that even if they solve the current dilemma, it does not mean that the problem is completely over, but the beginning of a series of troubles - because no matter how clever the lie is, it cannot withstand repeated doubtful eyes.

A magic trick will make people linger and never forget it after watching it for the first time. But if it is performed countless times, even if no flaws can be found for a while, the public will subconsciously accept the fact that it is "fake". The magician's hard work will only attract more suspicion and harsh eyes, causing things to get completely out of control.

"Felix, let's go back and think about it carefully, and discuss it tomorrow." Professor McGonagall said tiredly: "I'll let the students go to bed first." She left, and soon there was a reluctant shouting from the students. They all wanted to know the truth, but Professor McGonagall said in a tough attitude that it was too late today and everything would wait until tomorrow.

She turned around and exchanged a complicated look with Felix, knowing that this matter could not be concealed for too long, and she had to come up with a convincing explanation. In the corner, Snape grew in the darkness like a silent plant, his face expressionless. Not far from him stood Sprout and Flitwick, who was stammering something in a sharp voice.

Felix felt sad and annoyed. In this situation, the magic he was proud of was completely powerless.

He couldn't help but think of Dumbledore. How many times in his long life had he truly felt this powerlessness?

The castle gradually became quiet. Felix climbed up the spiral staircase and came to the corridor where the headmaster's office was. The stone monster did not stop him. He pushed open the door of the headmaster's office.

It was almost the same as when he first came here.

He could almost recall all the details of his interview.

The exquisite silverware made funny clacking sounds on the thin-legged desk, and puffs of white smoke were emitted in the dark; behind the beautiful brown headmaster's chair was Dumbledore's private collection of books; the Sorting Hat lay quietly on the partition; the Pensieve was hidden behind the black cabinet door; the Sword of Gryffindor was in a transparent glass box; the golden perch behind the door was empty, where the phoenix used to be.

The headmaster's portrait on the wall had an additional golden frame, and Dumbledore was sleeping quietly and peacefully.

Felix stared at Dumbledore's portrait.

"It will take him some time to wake up." A yellow-faced wizard with black hair and short bangs on the wall whispered, "In order to connect with the entire castle, so that we can exist for a long time."

Felix nodded at him and turned around and left the headmaster's office silently.

He suddenly thought of Classroom 7, where there was a 17-year-old Dumbledore. He walked through the long corridor and suddenly stopped. The thinking hut was released instantly, but it was blocked, as if there was an invisible barrier blocking it.

Felix did not see the man's face, and in fact, he did not need to. There was only one person in the world who could do this.

"Grindelwald," he said happily, "I have always wanted to find you, but I didn't expect you to show up at this critical moment. Aren't those saints afraid that you will be trapped here?"

A figure in a black coat slowly walked out of the shadows, with a white rose on his chest.

"They are not children, they will not have unnecessary worries. And you are waiting for me, so I came." Grindelwald said expressionlessly, looking out the window at the scenery facing the Forbidden Forest, the moonlight was bright and clear. "It's only been a few days, and you have changed the protective magic outside the school - it should be Flitwick's work. Are you guarding against me? It's a pity that it didn't work."

"You should be able to figure out the deeper meaning without me saying it, that is, you are no longer welcome here." Felix said.

"You make me a little sad - except for that cold and damp room, this is the place where I have spent the most time. Even the houses on Privet Drive are not available, even though I have paid rent for several years... Where are you taking me?" Grindelwald suddenly asked with great interest.

As the two talked, the walls around them became blurred, as if covered with a layer of fog, and the scenery began to overlap. They seemed to be in Hogwarts Castle and in a completely different place. The sobbing of the night wind and the wailing of crows came to my ears.

"A cemetery, it's open enough there," Felix said calmly, "convenient to talk about things."

Grindelwald made a "tsk", "Talk about things? After talking, do you want to fight? I didn't come here to fight today." He tapped the dry hand with his wand, and the castle became clear again. The two people's eyes fell on the windowsill of the corridor, where a branch silently appeared, as if it appeared out of thin air, and a group of ants climbed up the cold wall along the branch.

"If you like, it's the same here - I thought you would come to me first." Felix said.

His heart sank. Grindelwald was quite strong, and he couldn't test him any further. The school was not a place for a full-scale battle, and the two were so close that the talisman on his wrist had no effect at all.

"Oh, I did think so." Grindelwald smiled and stroked his chin. "But then I changed my mind. Although I look down on Babajide Abaginder, at least on the surface, he is the one who stands at the top of the wizarding order."

"Do you value his identity?" Felix said cleverly, "Use him to achieve your goal?"

Grindelwald's eyes flashed.

"Of course I can stand up publicly, but why bother? His words are much more convincing than mine. No magical newspaper will refuse to publish his speech. All I have to do is tell some truths - you know, Felix? Abaginder is an orphan of the last wizard war. He has enough reasons to hate me, but the fact is that he compromised and agreed to negotiate with me for a false peace. I only found out about it recently."

"It sounds a bit bastard, so you deceived him?" Felix was surprised. Babajide would not believe his lies so easily, right?

Grindelwald shook his head slightly and laughed maliciously. Felix waited for him to stop, and Grindelwald sighed:

"Do you think I can only convince others by deceiving them? I made him an offer that he couldn't refuse, and the temptation was so great that he lost the ability to think calmly - I don't need to waste my words, he can convince himself and act according to my ideas."

"I'm very curious about this. Can you give me a hint? Maybe I will have a chance to use it." Felix said lightly.

Grindelwald looked at him for a moment, grinned, and silently made a mouth shape.

Felix opened his eyes wide.

"Unbreakable oath?" He said in a lost voice. He was extremely shocked. His eyes subconsciously glanced at Grindelwald's wrist, and he was slightly startled when he saw that his left hand had become charred, and then moved his eyes to the hand holding the wand.

"Of course it hasn't been signed yet," Grindelwald glanced at him strangely, "The statement he issued today is the premise for the oath, but - well, I will go to him after talking to you, and maybe I can meet your little girl minister. A lot of magic ministers and representatives will be witnesses - I believe Abaginde will do this - the binding force of the oath will be incredible."

Felix pursed his lips and swallowed his saliva.

"Oh, I understand." Grindelwald said slowly: "People like us are not used to leaving our fate to others, but this is more convincing, what do you think? For example, if I tell you now, can you stop it?"

"What oath are you going to take?" Felix said with some difficulty.

"Probably not to kill people casually and not to take the initiative to provoke a wizard war." Grindelwald said vaguely, he acted nonchalantly, as if he thought there was nothing to care about.

Felix raised his eyebrows.

"Have you found a way to crack the 'unbreakable oath'?"

"..." Grindelwald was silent for a moment, and asked curiously: "Why do you think so?"

Felix also fell silent. Is

this a wrong idea?

Is Grindelwald really going to take the oath? Is he out of his mind? An idea flashed through Felix's mind, and he tried to remind him: "Do you hope Dumbledore can get a funeral worthy of him?"

Grindelwald immediately shrugged his nose as if he smelled rotten meat, with a look of disgust on his face.

"You reminded me," he said in a vicious voice, with a smile hidden in the shadows: "Where did you bury him? There are some things I can only say to his tombstone. Don't tell me that he hides his name and dares not see people. I know everything - but it's good for him to be alive. I just want to see his regretful expression."

A moment of silence. Felix raised his left hand, and the emerald ring on his hand lit up. Letters flew out of it and flew in front of him.

Grindelwald's expression froze.

"What is this?" He asked carefully. Felix seemed to be able to sense the heartbeat on the other side, but Grindelwald's eyes were like a bottomless dry well, without any emotion.

"If you were still in Nurmengard, you would receive one of these every two or three months, which would last for about twenty years. But you don't need them now." Felix said, letting the letters fly towards Grindelwald like dove feathers. Grindelwald stretched out his hand and the letters were instantly snatched away.

There was another silence. Felix suddenly asked, "By the way, if I go to classroom 7 now, can I see a-"

"No need to say!" Grindelwald shouted decisively, his nails digging into the flesh, but he immediately regained his composure, as if the momentary loss of composure just now did not exist. "Felix, there is something missing in you, so you can't stop me. I can teach you a trick:" He said coldly: "You have to burn yourself."

Grindelwald left.

Felix fell into deep thought, and walked back to the office with heavy steps. He looked up and saw a huge black shadow leaning against the door.

"Hagrid? Why are you here?"

Hagrid was awakened. His face was wet with tears, his eyes were red, and he unconsciously grasped a dirty handkerchief in his hand.

"I... I've been waiting for you, Felix." Hagrid said a little confusedly, then his eyes became fearful, and his voice choked, "I saw it in the newspaper... Dumbledore... told me it's not true."

Felix hesitated, how should he answer, continue to lie? When Abakinde and Grindelwald formed a close bond based on the unbreakable oath, this matter could not be concealed.

He tiptoed and patted Hagrid's shoulder.

Hagrid's expression was dull, and suddenly he let out a beast-like howl, and tears rolled down in big drops, seeping into his hairy beard. He rushed over and hugged Felix, Felix groaned, put on the human armor charm, and the spell was shaky; he cast a whispering charm to prevent Hagrid from waking up everyone in the castle.

When Hagrid was tired of crying, Felix was like being fished out of the water. He took Hagrid to the office and let him sleep on the sofa. The next morning, Valen and Felix, who had not slept well the whole night due to the deafening snoring, left the office and found Professor McGonagall to tell her what happened last night.

Professor McGonagall was shocked when she heard it.

But not long after, Ms. Bones sent a message: all this is true. Just last night, hundreds of Aurors were on standby, and the Ministers of Magic of more than ten countries were on the scene to witness the scene of Abaginde and Grindelwald signing the contract. The

next morning, Professor McGonagall sadly (and relieved) announced the news of Dumbledore's death to all teachers and students.

The students were extremely shocked and immersed in great grief. Professor McGonagall hurriedly announced the last wish of Headmaster Dumbledore, and then hardened her heart and prepared Dumbledore's funeral in a hurry. Since it was no longer a secret, she hoped to let the students attend the funeral before the holiday to express their grief for Dumbledore.

Almost in the blink of an eye, Hogsmeade was filled with wizards from all over the world. These people actually heard the news announced by Abaginder, and before that, they set out to bid farewell to Dumbledore's body.

That night, it rained heavily, with lightning and thunder.

Everyone felt heavy in their hearts, as if they were wet by the rain. The next day, the sky cleared up, the gates of Hogwarts were opened, and wizards and witches from all over the world poured into the school. Felix's eyes wandered among the crowd, he was looking for someone, he knew Grindelwald would definitely show up.

All of Grindelwald's plans will be revealed today.