## 186. Dumbledore and Grindelwald
As the two boys walked, the scene subtly changed. It seemed to be a new day, and their clothes had shifted slightly too.
They stood beneath a tree, the orange glow of the setting sun reflected in their eyes.
"'For the Greater Good'… I really like that phrase of yours."
Blonde-haired Grindelwald lay relaxed on the grass, reaching his hand towards the sky, as if wanting to hold the entire world in his grasp.
"Albus, only you understand my vision, only you can comprehend what I truly desire."
"I want to abolish the Statute of Secrecy, to let wizards rule the world, to let all wizards freely use their abilities! Not to be oppressed, hidden away, forced to endure the Muggles' disgust and scorn!"
"Don't forget, rulers should be responsible for all people," young Dumbledore emphasized. "Not just wizards, but most Muggles too."
"Those greedy, foolish Muggles?" Grindelwald sneered, curling his lip. "Think about what they did to your family."
"I know, and I dislike, even hate, some Muggles."
The younger Dumbledore frowned.
"But we must admit, most Muggles aren't evil; they possess remarkable intelligence and abilities. Even if we gain ruling power, we should maintain social stability and treat Muggles fairly."
"We are fighting for the future of wizards; we won't cower. But blind slaughter is also unacceptable. Gellert, we should minimize casualties, no matter which side."
"You're a bit too naive, Albus."
Seeing his companion's displeased expression, young Grindelwald smiled conciliatorily.
"Of course, I won't become a foolish murderer. Muggles have their own value… If they are willing to accept my rule, I can treat them kindly too."
Young Dumbledore smiled, seemingly unafraid that Grindelwald would be perfunctory or deceive him.
"Then, Ariana can live more freely too, instead of always being confined."
He said with a smile, "If possible, I'd rather she be cured. Perhaps I can find a way to help her recover…"
"If we can find the Hallows, then anything is possible!"
Grindelwald said optimistically, with a tone of enticement:
"Just think! Bringing the dead back to life, curing the sick, establishing a new order for the Wizarding World, our ideal society…"
"As long as the two of us are together… Albus, as long as we join forces… there's nothing we can't do… nothing can stop us…"
The two of them envisioned their future, discussing how to seize power after leaving Godric's Hollow, where to find the Hallows, and how to achieve their goals.
They wore confident smiles, full of self-assurance in each other, as if victory was within easy reach.
Until a voice interrupted everything.
"Albus."
A disheveled, gaunt, tall boy glared at Grindelwald with an unfriendly look, then looked at young Dumbledore and said, "Ariana wants to see you."
Grindelwald showed a look of disdain.
Interrupted during their conversation, young Dumbledore looked a little displeased, but he immediately stood up and walked towards the other boy.
"Has Ariana thrown a tantrum?" he asked.
"Yes," the gaunt boy said. "I've calmed her down; she missed you."
The two left side by side. Behind them, Grindelwald's expression turned very ugly.
…
"That's my brother, Aberforth."
At this moment, Wade heard the elderly Dumbledore next to him murmur, "Ariana was our younger sister. Wade, do you know about Obscurials?"
Wade nodded and said, "I learned about them from Mr. Scamander—"
"Children with magical abilities, if abused and hateful of their own magic, can generate a parasitic force called an Obscurus. It's an unstable, uncontrollable dark force."
"An Obscurial usually doesn't live past 10 years old, and they aren't the same as an Obscurus. But in extreme cases, an Obscurial can completely transform into an Obscurus."
At Scamander's home, he had seen books about Obscuruses before.
It was said that when Newt Scamander was young, he had even preserved an Obscurus using a special method, but Wade hadn't seen it there.
Dumbledore nodded and said, "Newt is probably one of the people in this world who understands Obscuruses the most."
He was silent for a moment, then said, "Ariana was an Obscurial. When she was young, she accidentally displayed her magical power and was cruelly abused by three Muggle boys. From then on, she lost control over the magic within her…"
…
Wade also saw the little girl.
She was actually older than Wade's current physical age, but she looked timid, with clear blue eyes like pristine lake water, appearing innocent and pure, like a child.
The girl huddled in a corner, hearing the three boys in the room erupt into a fierce argument.
"Impossible! You can't take her with you! In her condition, are you really going to make her travel long distances with you two?! Are you out of your mind?!"
Aberforth roared, "You'd better give up your foolish plans sooner rather than later! I absolutely won't allow it!"
Dumbledore didn't speak, and Grindelwald mocked, "You foolish little boy, you don't understand how excellent your brother is at all, and you're determined to be a stumbling block for him and me!"
"Don't you understand? Once we change the world and put Muggles in their place, Wizards won't need to hide anymore, and your sister can live openly."
"Get lost, you Durmstrang bastard!" Aberforth cursed without hesitation. "It's you, you despicable, vile madman, who twisted my brother's mind and made him think your wicked plan was a good idea! Get out of my house, Grindelwald!"
"Shut up, Aberforth!" Dumbledore snapped.
But Grindelwald's expression had already turned terrifying. He didn't hesitate to draw his Wand and point it at Aberforth—
"*Crucio!*"
The thin boy was caught completely off guard. He fell to the ground, letting out a piercing scream.
"Gellert, stop! Stop it now!"
Dumbledore drew his Wand, striking down the enraged Grindelwald, and reached out to pull his brother up.
But Aberforth roughly pushed him away and immediately drew his own Wand, firing a Spell at Grindelwald.
Amidst a loud bang, the few of them began to brawl. Dumbledore tried to stop them, but the two, blinded by rage, refused to cease.
Aberforth clearly resented his brother for not siding with him, even firing a Spell at Dumbledore, which further enraged Grindelwald.
Spells crisscrossed, and screams and roars continuously erupted.
They had no desire to listen to each other, only to vent their emotions.
"No… no…"
Huddled in the corner, Ariana's face was covered in tears, her body trembling violently, and her eyes gradually turned white. Her condition was clearly very wrong, but the people in the room paid no attention.
Black mist poured out from her body.
Wade suddenly grabbed Dumbledore's hand beside him and whispered, "You know… you don't have to relive this."
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