Hogwarts: Third Dark Lord

After Snape left, Dumbledore stood alone in the headmaster's office at Hogwarts, staring blankly at a letter from Newt Scamander lying on his desk, lost in thought.

It was only after a long while that he seemed to come to a decision. Rising from his seat, he moved to another side of the office.

There, his phoenix, Fawkes, was dozing peacefully. Feeling Dumbledore's presence, Fawkes opened his eyes and nuzzled gently against him.

"Fawkes, I must trouble you once again," Dumbledore said softly, stroking the phoenix with a tender hand.

Fawkes let out a resonant cry, and with a flash of flame, both man and phoenix vanished from the headmaster's office.

In the heart of Central Europe, amidst a desolate, snow-covered wilderness, stood a towering fortress. It was here, in the cold, uninhabited expanse, that Dumbledore and Fawkes appeared.

Standing before the imposing tower, Dumbledore's eyes lingered on the inscription above the entrance: For the Greater Good.

After a moment of silence, he entered Nurmengard alone.

Ascending the steps, he reached the very top of the tower, a barren room where an elderly man with deep wrinkles and tattered clothes sat quietly, alone.

Few who saw this frail figure would associate him with the dark wizard who once brought Europe to its knees, the first Dark Lord, Gellert Grindelwald.

Dumbledore looked at the man before him, a figure with whom his life had been so deeply intertwined. Seeing what Grindelwald had become, Dumbledore found himself momentarily at a loss for words.

"Albus," Grindelwald began without turning, his voice steady, "it's been a long time. What is it now? Have you come to confirm I'm still alive? To see if I'm dead yet?"

Dumbledore stepped further into the room, conjuring a small flame to warm the chilly space.

"You've grown soft, Albus," Grindelwald remarked with a hint of scorn. "Can't even handle a little cold? It's hard to imagine the wizarding world in the hands of someone like you."

Dumbledore, unfazed by the jab, replied in kind, as if speaking to an old friend. "I'm merely worried you might be too blind to read the letter properly."

He reached into his robes and handed Grindelwald the letter from Newt Scamander.

Grindelwald took the letter with a bemused expression, scanning its contents.

"Ah," Grindelwald scoffed, "it's from that boy who parades around with a traveling zoo, isn't it? I didn't think you'd still be in contact after all these years."

But as he read further, his expression darkened. At last, he tossed the letter back to Dumbledore and stood, his piercing eyes meeting Dumbledore's in the dim light of Nurmengard.

"So, you've come all this way to ensure I've kept to our agreement and haven't left Nurmengard? Albus, you've forgotten who I am if you think I'd break my word.

"Staying in Nurmengard was my choice! Don't delude yourself—it wasn't you who defeated me. I simply decided to stop playing the game!"

Dumbledore's voice softened. "Gellert, I've never doubted you. I know you would never break our pact. There's another reason for this… and I've uncovered what it is."

Grindelwald's demeanor shifted as he asked, "Something's happened outside, hasn't it?"

Dumbledore nodded slowly. "This year, among the new students at Hogwarts, there's a boy named Wentworth Grindelwald."

"That's impossible!" Grindelwald exclaimed.

"You know as well as I do," he continued, "just as the Dumbledore family has always been bound to phoenixes, the Grindelwald bloodline is tied to prophecy. I foresaw that after me, there would be no more wizards from my lineage."

Dumbledore replied calmly, "His magical talent is undeniable, though his appearance is indeed unexpected."

"Since his enrollment, signs of Purist activity have emerged across the globe—even within Hogwarts itself."

Grindelwald interrupted, his brow furrowing. "Albus, are you certain this boy carries Grindelwald blood?"

Dumbledore nodded. "Without question. I know what you're worried about—that someone might impersonate a Grindelwald heir to manipulate your followers. But this boy is no pretender."

"The Book of Admittance and the Quill of Acceptance do not lie. Besides, the boy is the spitting image of you in your youth."

"Before term officially began, he made quite an impression on the other first-years. On his very first day, he became a beacon for Hufflepuff, and by the second day, his skill in potion-making astonished even my Potions Master."

"Gellert, he is unquestionably of Grindelwald blood. Even my new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, who seems to be one of your followers, has come to Hogwarts, likely to protect him. Your followers are not so easily deceived."

Grindelwald listened intently, nodding slowly. After a long silence, he sighed. "Good. That's… good. But my brother is long gone, isn't he? What of Wentworth's parents? If possible, send them away—far from Europe, perhaps to Asia or Africa."

"I once believed that after me, the Grindelwald name would fade from the wizarding world. But if Wentworth has returned, my old enemies will surely take notice. His parents are Muggles; it's best to protect them."

Dumbledore hesitated before speaking. "According to the records, Wentworth is an orphan. His parents died in a car accident long ago…"

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