A Professor of Magic at Hogwarts-Chapter 623: Key Figures - (1)

Chapter 623: Key Figures

Ten minutes passed quickly.

The bell rang, and the students turned their heads silently, looking at the three professors behind them. It was the first time they had encountered such a situation, with the professor who conducted the class missing, but the number of other subject professors far exceeded the norm.

Professor McGonagall stood up from the back of the classroom. "You may leave, students. As for homework—" She tightened her lips, the gaze behind her square glasses hesitating slightly, clearly reluctant to take over the responsibility, especially considering her dissatisfaction with the class.

"You can ask the professors yourselves," Felix interjected, "but if you want to keep this mystery until the next class, that's also a good idea."

McGonagall's protest was instantly drowned out by cheers and the chaotic noise of packing up. In the blink of an eye, a third of the classroom was empty, and the members of the front-line lookout stations moved quickly, showing remarkable agility as they rushed out.

"Oh, uh—" Hermione stood at the doorway, looking around as if hoping to see the new professor coming back at the last moment, but her roommates Lavender and Parvati flanked her and led her away.

Cheers echoed in the corridor.

The Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom was a mess—chairs askew, papers flying. Professor McGonagall glared at Felix with a serious expression, but evidently, she had more important matters to attend to. She stood up, tapped a parchment covered in scribbles with her wand, and the parchment folded itself up automatically, then she stuffed it into her pocket.

Felix glanced at the parchment, filled with Grindelwald's outrageous remarks in class. This Transfiguration professor seemed to be the most well-prepared; he estimated that McGonagall would soon appear in the headmaster's office with this piece of evidence.

Grindelwald was indeed unbridled.

Felix couldn't help but think. A few tweaks to his words, and they could turn into a decent wizard's declaration of war against Muggles. The sudden shift from festive celebration to cold-eyed hostility was a clever touch, accurately grasping people's hearts and emotions.

But in doing so, he angered Dumbledore. Although he clearly backtracked towards the end, none of the four professors who came to class today were fools, and they all understood the implied meaning.

As McGonagall's checkered robe disappeared, Snape's upper lip curled up, maliciously eyeing Felix.

"You've encountered a competitor," he remarked.

Felix rolled his eyes. "As you said, just a competitor. He's in trouble not just with me; maybe he's currently being reprimanded by the chilling wind." He speculated with equal malice. Today, Grindelwald twisted the original meaning of his book, undoubtedly adding another grudge in Felix's mind.

In summary, the relationship between the two was sometimes good and sometimes bad. When it was good, they could open up, talk without reservation, exchange views on the situation; when it was bad, they bluntly exposed each other's weaknesses.

One accused the other of being immature and lacking responsibility; the other slyly asked how he managed to lose a hundred thousand followers.

On top of the Astronomy Tower.

This was the highest point of Hogwarts Castle, offering a wide view. It was usually open only when students had Astronomy class at night, rarely visited during the day.

So, it was also a good place for conversations.

Dumbledore stood at the edge of the tower's parapet, overlooking half of Hogwarts Castle and the Forbidden Forest. It had rained yesterday, but now the sky was clear without a cloud, and the sunshine was bright, unobstructed.

Grindelwald stared at his back, seemingly contemplating how to push Dumbledore from the heights.

But he just walked leisurely over, the light of reminiscence flickering in his eyes.

When they first met, both were at a low point—not referring to the Godric's Hollow valley. Dumbledore's mother had just passed away, and Grindelwald had been expelled from school for engaging in dangerous dark magic research. Of course, for him, it might have been a good thing, as Grindelwald didn't think he could learn anything more from school. He felt a bit gloomy but immediately headed to where his aunt was living.

There, he was said to find clues about the Deathly Hallows.

Regardless, he intended to try. Not to mention, his aunt Bathilda Bagshot, who wrote "A History of Magic," could provide significant help in terms of intelligence.

However, what Grindelwald never expected was that his aunt would introduce him to another equally talented boy, the just-graduated and deeply troubled Dumbledore. They clicked instantly, like pot and kettle, two young people, only a year apart, drawn together by dreams of establishing a new wizarding order and unparalleled talents. Their relationship grew closer every day, finally culminating in a blood pact made in a barn, pledging 'never to harm each other.'

But this relationship came to an abrupt end at its peak.

The love-hate entanglement between them spanned nearly a century, influencing each other at crucial points in their lives, like a pair of inseparable gears. While wearing away each other's lives, they left a deep, eternal mark.

Now, both of them were old.

"You brought me here just to enjoy the scenery?" Grindelwald asked slowly.

"You should know that people have just emerged from the shadows of war, and peace is hard-won," Dumbledore said calmly.

Grindelwald's mouth curled up in a mocking arc, standing side by side with Dumbledore, gazing down at the students crossing the grounds, the stone bridge, and the figures passing by the castle corridors from the windows.

"False peace. You and I both know it, Dumbledore. Otherwise, you wouldn't let me stay—speaking of which, convincing you was easier than I imagined. I just showed you that image, and you almost immediately agreed."

Grindelwald speculated with a hint of malice. The International Confederation of Wizards must have made Dumbledore feel threatened, and he was demanding more rights from Grindelwald.

"They humiliated me, and you just stood by!"

"That's the only way to get them to agree to let you stay at the school," Dumbledore solemnly said.

This incident happened during the summer when Felix left for Ilvermorny, and the International Confederation of Wizards secretly sent a team to conduct a strict examination and evaluation of Grindelwald's physical condition.

A moment of silence.

"Just one year?" Grindelwald suddenly asked.

"Just one year," Dumbledore said.

"Oh, I see," Grindelwald smirked, revealing neat teeth that didn't quite match his face, "you must be dissatisfied with the Muggle professors at the school."

"Professor Babbling is doing an excellent job," Dumbledore said gently.

"Really? Are you referring to her obsession with plants and flowers?" Grindelwald sneered, "Perhaps it wouldn't have mattered before, but at this time, she's completely inadequate. Look at the outdated textbooks she's using, utterly lacking in innovation, as if her understanding of Muggle society is still stuck in the last century."

"Kerrydi needs time."

"But you don't plan to give her time, so here I am

, Dumbledore. What are you in such a hurry for?"

Dumbledore closed his eyes, as if falling asleep. When he heard footsteps moving away from him, he said coldly, "Remember, Gellert, I can send you back anytime." The footsteps paused slightly.

"So ruthless."

The Astronomy Tower was now only occupied by Dumbledore. After a while, he slowly opened his eyes, recalling the prophecy scene Grindelwald displayed during the interview in his mind.

"Rita Skeeter," he murmured, "why did you appear in the parade, and why do you look so young, almost unchanged from now? Does this indicate the inevitable exposure of the wizarding world, and within a few years?"

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