Struggling to survive at Hogwarts

Chapter 274 Fellow Inmates

A zombie?

That's an interesting point.

Dumbledore didn't immediately understand the meaning of the word, but considering Thea's context, he could easily guess what it meant.

After his initial shock, Dumbledore didn't hesitate. He turned and retreated into the darkness, then watched as "Dumbledore" used Vulcan to clear a path, and Harry helped "Dumbledore" away.

Only when he could no longer hear any footsteps outside did Dumbledore slowly emerge from the darkness.

At this moment, he had no time to joke about Thea's acting skills, but instead began to worry about where he would end up next.

Godric Valley?

To be honest, this was the first address that popped into Dumbledore's mind.

Even though he was left with indelible scars there, it cannot overshadow the fact that he spent a rare period of leisure time there.

After enduring the agonizing memories that had just been like purgatory, Dumbledore realized that those memories, which should have been left to rot and decay in dark corners, had already seeped into his very bones.

He was a little homesick.

But he couldn't go back. The Dumbledore family had left too much blood and tears there, and he didn't want to add anything more to it. Even if it was just a possibility.

Is this Pig Head Bar?

Being closest to Hogwarts, while posing a significant risk of exposure, also means better access to information.

The only bad thing is its owner:

Perhaps Aberforth would have preferred to shoo him out with a broom the very next second after he made the plea for lodging.

Thinking of his brother's fiery temper, Dumbledore reluctantly gave up the idea.

There are very few addresses left.

The Order of the Phoenix?

not good.

After Dumbledore's death, Harry became the center of the Order of the Phoenix, so the news that he was still alive had to be kept strictly confidential.

Join forces with Nicolas Flamel?

Well, an old friend's life is also a life. Dumbledore can't expect him to keep the news, given his old bones.

After careful consideration, it needed to be both sufficiently concealed and highly secure, not only well-informed but also have room to escape...

It seems that only that place can meet these requirements.

Thinking of that "old friend," Dumbledore sighed softly.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Thea's door key was of excellent quality, but it was still no match for the restrictions placed by the greatest white wizard of our time at his peak.

Therefore, Dumbledore had no choice but to walk the last leg of the journey to the tower.

The closer Dumbledore got to the tower, the slower he slowed.

Perhaps the medications failed to completely eliminate the remaining toxins in his body, which is why his heart began to ache slightly after walking only a few hundred meters.

But he was still the number one wizard in the world.

He slowly walked forward, ignoring the weathered but still clearly visible slogan on the wall: "For the greater good."

He walked straight up the long, seemingly endless staircase—no prison could stop its builders.

Good evening, fellow inmate.

Dumbledore greeted his "old friend" without any hesitation, and was even pleased for a second by the undisguised surprise in the other's eyes, just like a child who suddenly realized that he had beaten his friend.

“Let me introduce myself,” Dumbledore said, extending his hand as he had done when they first met years ago. “I am Albus Dumbledore, your new cellmate.”

"If nothing unexpected happens, please continue to guide me in the coming period."

The heterochromatic eyes scanned Dumbledore from head to toe several times, until Dumbledore almost lost his composure and became polite, until a hand covered in scars and frostbite, as ferocious as a murderous demon, gently grasped his.

The next second, a rough voice rang out, "Long time no see, my old saint."

The moment their eyes met, Dumbledore saw through the consequences of his "old friend's" years of imprisonment.

Just like the slogans still clearly visible on the wall, he has no regrets about anything he has done, nor does he feel guilty towards anyone.

The familiar wording instantly transported Dumbledore back to that earth-shattering duel half a century ago.

"You are about to make a name for yourself, my old sage."

The final outcome was revealed, and he stepped over the bones of his former lover to ascend the throne as the "Number One Wizard," and for the next half-century, wherever he went, all bowed down in submission.

Their hands touched briefly before parting, and their gazes never met again.

Grindelwald returned to his usual corner, and Dumbledore also found a relatively clean spot to close his eyes and rest.

He has a lot to do and shouldn't be distracted.

The tower, which had come alive for a moment because of Dumbledore's arrival, fell silent again as the two remained silent.

But Grindelwald knew things were different now.

From the moment he climbed the tower, or even earlier, when he entered the orphanage, everything changed.

"Long time no see, my... old sage."

In the deathly silent tower, only Grindelwald heard his own inner voice.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Thea, why are you up again? How long have you been asleep?"

In the basement, Gella glanced at the person who had just been lying obediently on the bed and then slipped out of bed to get dressed, looking like he was about to go out!

"That's about enough. I can't lie down anymore; I'm not used to sleeping for too long."

Thea succinctly described why she got up, and also mentioned the purpose of her trip.

"I just suddenly remembered something, I almost forgot about it."

"I need to go back to the cave."

"Someone is waiting for me there."

"I have to take him home."