— — — — — —
"Albus Dumbledore!"
Another furious shout shook the Great Hall. People finally snapped out of their shock as Dumbledore shot to his feet.
"Heads of House, take your students back to your dormitories. Immediately. Right now. No one comes out without my permission!"
Before McGonagall could even open her mouth, Fawkes landed on Dumbledore's shoulder. A burst of flame flashed — both of them vanished.
Tom slipped through the half-open doors while everyone else was still stunned, and contacted Grindelwald through the study space.
"Old G, what the hell are you doing?"
"Why are you suddenly at Hogwarts?!"
Tom's voice roared through the space, instantly dragging the other three consciousnesses over. Grindelwald's awareness was yanked in as well.
"What's happening?" Andros looked between them. "Grindelwald came for you?"
"For me? He's looking for Dumbledore!"
Grindelwald lifted a shoulder. "Tom, didn't you say that since there was nothing urgent, I could move freely?"
"I also said you should be gathering the Acolytes!"
"I am gathering them," Grindelwald replied with a faint smile. "Power inspires obedience. Strength brings worship. Do you know why the world is still relatively calm?"
"It's because I still haven't shown real power. Deep down, many people have started wondering whether I've become a decaying relic trying to make one last desperate move. Most of the Acolytes think that way too."
"So I need to shatter their doubts. Show the world I'm still the Grindelwald they fear — not weaker, but even stronger. And the only effective way to do that… is to fight Albus Dumbledore."
"You just want to see your old lover," Tom said, half exasperated, half amused.
Not that Grindelwald was wrong. He wasn't wrong at all. In fact, he was absolutely right.
If you don't flex, how are you supposed to attract new followers?
"Fine. Fight him. If Dumbledore kills you, I'm not saving you."
Tom exited the study space, leaving the shared vision open.
Grindelwald only laughed.
Die? His soul was anchored to Tom — and to the strange space. The space itself functioned like a horcrux. If his body died, his soul would snap back into the space. All Tom needed was to grow him a new body.
As long as Tom was alive, Grindelwald was essentially immortal.
---
Across the long stone bridge, Dumbledore strode forward with a grave expression. The distant sky shimmered with a strange silver-blue light. With a soft crack, Tom Apparated in beside him.
Dumbledore frowned immediately. "Tom, did I not order all students to return?"
"Professor, it's Grindelwald, isn't it? Only he or Voldemort could make you look like that. I want to see the man who once shook the world."
Tom didn't bother hiding his intentions. He wanted front-row seats to the fight.
"This will be extremely dangerous."
"I'll be fine. You two fight. I'll stay back."
Tom retreated to the center of the bridge. Once he set foot there, he was inside the anti-Apparition barrier. Dumbledore relaxed a little at that.
Letting Tom witness their battle might be a good thing. It would teach him what true power looked like, remind him to stay humble, and prevent arrogance from putting him in danger someday.
Consider it a real-life demonstration lesson.
"Albus!"
The sky ripped open with the next thunderous shout as Grindelwald finally appeared. Three massive Stymphalian firebirds swooped in behind him, each one forged from Protego Diabolica. Their wings spread wide enough to block out the sky, turning the night into a raging blue inferno.
"Albus, long time no see. I couldn't wait for our little Christmas get-together. Thought we might start early. Don't you think so?"
Grindelwald stood at the heart of the blue blazing sea, looking down at Dumbledore from on high. His eyes held amusement and mockery… and a kind of superiority Dumbledore couldn't decipher.
Though it wasn't superiority, not really. Grindelwald mostly felt pity for him — and a quiet thrill at the enormous gap in information between them.
After all, the one actually pulling the strings… was standing right behind him.
Still, Grindelwald wasn't particularly worried about Dumbledore's safety. If anything, dying might even be convenient. Who knew, maybe someday the old man would show up in the space too.
"Gellert," Dumbledore called out, "so you're still incapable of staying quiet. Flight magic? Is that what you've been working on all these years?"
The odd look Grindelwald gave him bothered Dumbledore, but he didn't let it show. He answered sharply.
"Albus, I told you before... I've never believed I did anything wrong. I only lost."
Grindelwald's expression sharpened with arrogance, tinged with a hint of madness. "I'm here today to see whether the great Albus Dumbledore has spent the last few decades standing still!"
"..."
"Let's end this," Dumbledore said coldly. "Your existence has always been the greatest threat to this world, Gellert."
Wind whipped his robe in spirals, sending his white hair and beard flying wildly. Sparks glinted in his eyes. The Elder Wand appeared in his hand without warning.
Grindelwald burst into manic laughter. "End it? Look at us now, both alone. I hear Scamander's run back to England. Tell me, Albus… who's left who still loves you?"
He didn't wait for an answer. Spells replaced words. Dumbledore swung his wand like a whip, unleashing a blast straight into the sky.
Grindelwald could've dodged easily at this distance, but he didn't. And Dumbledore knew he wouldn't.
The spells collided in midair, sending a blinding burst of lightning through the night. Even as they clashed, both men were already preparing their next moves.
A piercing screech tore the sky. Three massive Protego Diabolica firebirds dove downward roaring.
With a clear, ringing cry, Fawkes shot upward to intercept them, colliding with the Protego Diabolica beasts in a blaze of golden-blue light.
Fawkes was hopelessly outmatched in size and number, yet he held them at bay. His wings scattered golden fire that resisted the Protego Diabolica's corrosive heat and even seemed to purify it, feeding his own flames.
Grindelwald descended to the ground. The magic storm he stirred spread lightning across the sky, turning the high altitude into a danger zone. Fighting in the air now favored the one below.
Beams of magic lashed across the battlefield. Each clash sent powerful shockwaves rolling out. The two figures blinked across space, their wands cracking like exploding fireworks.
On the bridge, Tom had claimed the perfect spectator's seat. He'd produced a bag of sunflower seeds from who-knew-where, munching happily.
A minute ago he'd been annoyed at Grindelwald's sudden attack… but now?
Honestly, great timing.
How else was he supposed to enjoy the show? With Eagle Eye activated, he could see both duelists' mouths rapidly moving, though he couldn't hear a thing.
"Should've learned lip reading," Tom muttered regretfully. "Pa—"
He stopped mid-call. He'd been about to summon his house elf, Pala, to bring snacks, but in this kind of magical turbulence no elf could pop in. The air rippled, the ground trembled, and apparition was nearly impossible in the area.
Well… impossible for anyone except Tom. And the two men fighting.
Inside the Study Space, Andros, Ariana, and Ravenclaw were also watching.
"Dumbledore's technique is brilliant," Andros said, nodding repeatedly. He wasn't a finesse-based fighter himself, but he knew quality when he saw it. "Even ordinary spells turn extraordinary in his hands."
Ariana couldn't follow the technical details. Watching them fight only brought her mind back to a certain summer day years ago.
Ravenclaw, meanwhile, analyzed the duel like a historian, comparing their techniques and styles to a millennium of magical evolution, verifying her knowledge against what she saw.
Not that any of the three were doing anything other than enjoying the spectacle.
"These two really were… you know?" Ravenclaw asked hesitantly.
"Yeah," Andros said, unsure why she doubted it. "Didn't Tom explain it clearly?"
"But they're trying to kill each other." Ravenclaw looked thoughtful. "Love turning into hate?"
You couldn't blame her for wondering. The two were fighting with real intent to kill. Even Tom clicked his tongue in surprise.
In the original timeline, Dumbledore never killed anyone, and firmly believed death never solved anything.
If it solves nothing, why are you trying to solve him?
Dumbledore himself was stunned. He flicked away a spell aimed right at his face and stared. "You're actually trying to kill me?"
"Aren't you doing the same?" Grindelwald grinned wickedly. "It's not easy to provoke murderous intent from you. I don't think I ever managed it before."
"Careful now, Albus. One slip and I really will kill you… Avada Kedavra."
Spoken with proper incantation, the green light shone brighter than usual. Yet it sliced through the air silently, like death itself drifting forward.
Dumbledore raised his wand. The ground split and a massive slab of earth rose before him. The green light pierced it like paper, completely unhindered. The chunk of earth crumbled to dust.
A golden Golem blocked its path next, forcing the curse aside before hurling its spear.
At some point Dumbledore's Severing Charm had coated the spear like a blade.
...
Tom watched, thoughtful.
Spells cast with this kind of instinctive flow… that was a hallmark of a Century King. Ordinary wizards use technique, even if they're not stiff about it. But a Century King fights with pure natural ease, every movement seamless and free.
His teachers had all explained this to him, but understanding it wasn't the same as achieving it. It was like reading an ancient master's manual: you saw the words but gained nothing but a headache.
Tom now possessed many abilities even Century Kings and legends envied, but weaving them into a unified system would take real work.
---
Meanwhile, under the night sky, the four Heads of House finished securing the students and raced toward the battlefield.
...
Inside the Study Space, Ariana suddenly froze.
"Wait… where's Aberforth? With all this noise, he should've heard it from Hogsmeade."
Humans really shouldn't mention people's names lightly. Speak of the devil, and Aberforth Dumbledore appeared like an avenging spirit. His voice cut through the flames with murderous fury.
"GRINDELWALD! You broke out of prison and you dare show yourself in front of me!"
"Tonight I'll—" his words dissolved into incomprehensible rage "—kill you!"
Tom straightened instantly.
This show just kept getting better.
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