Standing before the huge hole blasted open by the meteorite, Dumbledore gazed toward the cliffs beyond the Hogwarts grounds. Tears streamed from his blue eyes, rolled down his cheeks, and dripped into his beard.
The distance through space seemed compressed as their gazes crossed the sea of fire.
Though neither could truly see the other, blue eyes and silver eyes reflected each other's aged faces, weathered by time.
One summer of joy, a lifetime of regret!
Half a century had passed. The storms, grudges, debts, and affections of old had all been ground away by time, leaving behind only faces battered by the elements.
"Gellert—"
Dumbledore murmured, gazing toward the cliffs, his voice brimming with emotion.
"I'm here, Albus—"
The proud smile of the man on the hillside had not faded despite the passage of years. He said,
"This time, I've come to protect what you cherish."
A creaking sound rose from the void. The immense trunk of the Whomping Willow, towering into the clouds like the World Tree of legend, swayed as if moaning in grief!
Two dazzling streams of light shot out through the hole, then split apart in different directions.
The golden one flew toward the Forbidden Forest, while the azure one flew toward what remained of the Black Lake.
"Let me see it!"
Amosta hovered in midair, his gray hair whipping wildly. The chilling pressure radiating from him even distorted space!
He looked up at the Isle of Avalon, which blotted out the sky and sun. The brilliant light blazing from his eyes was painful to behold. His thunderous shout rang out like a great bell,
"The divine might of the ancient legendary wizards!"
Roar!
Roar!
Roar!
Within the roaring world, furious howls filled with the determination to stake everything rang out one after another.
Boom!