Hogwarts: Third Dark Lord

"Surely no one's actually eaten an owl, right?"

Dumbledore glanced at McGonagall, who showed no trace of a smile, and felt a small shiver run through him. Fortunately, McGonagall shook her head quickly in denial.

"You guessed wrong, Dumbledore. It's not that at all. We've encountered a mistake at Hogwarts! Just moments ago, the Quill of Acceptance inscribed another name in the Book of Admittance. And that child is set to join this year's incoming class!"

Hearing McGonagall's explanation, Dumbledore let out a long sigh of relief. With a dismissive wave of his hand, he said:

"Oh, I see, Professor McGonagall. No matter—there's still plenty of time before term begins. We can simply send an owl now. A spell to speed up its flight will ensure everything proceeds without a hitch."

As he spoke, Dumbledore, seemingly dissatisfied with the sweetness of his chilled lemonade, produced a jar of honey from nowhere and added some to his glass. He gestured to McGonagall, offering her some as well.

McGonagall declined with a shake of her head, her sharp eyes fixed on Dumbledore. She spoke meaningfully:

"Dumbledore, the issue isn't time—it's the child's lineage. You know his family."

Dumbledore smiled warmly, his tone lighthearted.

"Ah, Professor McGonagall, you know how it is. The longer one lives, the more people one comes to know. Which old acquaintance's child is it?"

"Given that they've been waiting so long without receiving an owl, their family must be beside themselves with worry. Poor child! When they arrive at Hogwarts, I'll have to make it up to them."

Dumbledore stirred his lemonade leisurely, raising it to his lips just as McGonagall dropped the name.

"The child's name is Wentworth. Wentworth Grindelwald."

Dumbledore's hand froze mid-air, his gaze turning vacant. The lemonade floating before McGonagall nearly toppled to the floor, saved only by her quick reflexes.

Seeing Dumbledore's stunned expression, McGonagall couldn't help but feel a sudden lift in her spirits. She raised her own glass of lemonade and took a slow, deliberate sip.

"Grindelwald? When… when did he have a child?" Dumbledore murmured to himself, struggling to believe what he'd heard.

Noticing his misunderstanding, McGonagall hastened to clarify:

"No, it's not his child, but a descendant of his younger brother. Still, they are part of the Grindelwald family, aren't they? If word gets out that we've admitted one of his descendants into Hogwarts, then…"

Before McGonagall could voice her concerns, Dumbledore interrupted firmly:

"Write the letter, Professor McGonagall. Any child whose name is recorded in the Book of Admittance shall receive an acceptance letter from Hogwarts. This has been our tradition for a thousand years, and it will not change, no matter who their relatives are."

"Their family may choose to refuse Hogwarts, but we cannot fail to notify them."

McGonagall paused, momentarily taken aback by Dumbledore's resolute tone. Then, with a thoughtful nod, she replied:

"Very well, Dumbledore. I'll send the owl immediately, with a spell to speed its flight. Let's hope for a prompt reply."

After McGonagall left, the headmaster's office was filled only with silence and the murmurs of the portraits of past headmasters lining the walls.

They had all heard McGonagall's words and were now deep in discussion. Remarkably, the portraits were unanimous in their support of Dumbledore's decision. Hogwarts' policy, they agreed, must not waver based on a student's identity or background. It was a point of pride as well as tradition.

Dumbledore, however, ignored their chatter. He stood alone before the Pensieve, lost in thought. After a long while, he murmured softly:

"Gellert, did you foresee this day?"

Meanwhile, an owl had already reached Wentworth's window. Its unexpected arrival startled the room's occupants, but the realization of what it carried soon sent everyone into a frenzy.

Wentworth, on the verge of jubilantly opening the window to let the owl in, froze mid-step. The window shattered with a crash, and the owl flew into the room, only to be seized roughly by Rosier.

Rosier, abandoning all semblance of elegance, tore the letter from the owl's grasp and discarded the bird unceremoniously. He and a group of elderly figures immediately huddled together, examining the letter with intense scrutiny.

Left standing in the room, Wentworth watched helplessly, unsure what to do. The owl, now perched on a splintered beam, awaited a reply but seemed thoroughly unnerved by the bodies of those slain by the Killing Curse scattered around the room.

For a moment, the boy and the owl locked eyes. The cold night wind blew through the broken window, ruffling the boy's hair and the owl's feathers alike. The tension was palpable.

Rosier skimmed the letter quickly. As expected, it was an acceptance letter from Hogwarts. However, when his gaze fell on the list of titles beneath Dumbledore's name, a sneer crossed his face.

"This acceptance letter is as dull and lifeless as Dumbledore's Hogwarts. Mark my words, it won't be long before Durmstrang takes its rightful place as the world's foremost magical school."

"Please, everyone knows Ilvermorny is the best magical school," someone interjected.

Ignoring the ongoing argument, Rosier called Wentworth over and handed him the acceptance letter. Despite his disdain for Dumbledore, Rosier spoke to Wentworth in a gentle tone:

"Take a good look, Wentworth. This represents a new world opening its doors to you. It's a day worth remembering, isn't it?"

Trembling slightly, Wentworth accepted the letter. Though he already knew its contents by heart, seeing the Hogwarts crest—a shield adorned with a lion, eagle, snake, and badger—filled him with indescribable excitement.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class; Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot; Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Grindelwald,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

The term begins on September 1. We await your owl no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

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