My Heir

Although Sean could not open his mouth, he still wore an extremely excited expression, even though he had already calmed down inside.

On one hand, as a young wizard, he felt he should try to act normally.

On the other hand, he had drawn two top-tier prizes. He really was rather excited.

Grindelwald waved his right hand, and the needle on the gramophone beside them reset itself. The melodious chamber music began playing again.

Sean chuckled inwardly. This damned sense of ceremony...

At last, the doors of the Vanishing Cabinet were pushed open.

This time, there were no surprises. White-haired, long-bearded Dumbledore stepped out of the cabinet.

He wore a reddish-brown set of wizard robes, and sharp-eyed Sean recognized them at once—they were the robes Dumbledore had worn during Hogwarts' Opening Ceremony.

"Albus—" Grindelwald slowly opened his arms, the smile on his face more blazing than the roaring fireplace beside Sean. "My dearest friend."

Dumbledore smiled as well, though his was considerably less enthusiastic.

"Gellert, long time no see."

"To be precise, we have not met in six years. You did not attend last year's Triwizard Cup due to illness. I worried about you for quite some time, Albus."

"Thank you for your concern. However, we can reminisce another time. I need to take this little fellow back. Mr. Wallop, what is your first class tomorrow?" Dumbledore looked toward Sean.

Sean was just about to indicate that he could not speak when he suddenly realized his mouth could move again.

"Uh, Herbology Class, Professor." Tomorrow was Friday, and Ravenclaw had no classes the entire morning, but Sean understood Dumbledore's hint.

"Mm, come along, child. Professor Sprout certainly does not like students being late." Dumbledore beckoned to him.

Sean could not help glancing at Grindelwald. He showed no intention of stopping him and continued to gaze directly at Dumbledore with a smile on his face.

Sean walked over to Dumbledore's side, though he kept a certain distance from the headmaster.

He did not want someone to press a wand to his throat someday in the future and ask, "What made Albus Dumbledore like you so much?"

Dumbledore gave him a kindly smile, then led him toward the Vanishing Cabinet.

"Gellert, until next time."

Just as Sean stepped one foot into the Vanishing Cabinet, Grindelwald's regretful voice sounded. "Albus, won't you stay and talk with me a little longer?"

Sean could feel the hand that had been resting on his shoulder pause.

Dumbledore stopped, a note of melancholy in his voice. "Gellert..."

"Albus," Grindelwald said, his voice carrying both regret and a strange delight, "have you still not let go of that wager?"

Sean felt his heart begin pounding violently.

A wager?! Am I about to hear some earth-shattering secret?!

Yet compared to his overwhelming curiosity, Sean was more worried that they might silence him—or curse him into an idiot...

Why don't you cast Muffliato on me? Sean wailed inwardly.

Then Sean felt Dumbledore's hand leave his shoulder, and the headmaster's gentle voice sounded beside his ear.

"Sean, go back first. Mm, could you wait for me there for a while?"

"Of course, Professor." Sean immediately entered the Vanishing Cabinet. Though it was a shame that he would not hear what came next, he still breathed a sigh of relief.

As Sean turned around, he saw Grindelwald walk over to Dumbledore. His expression held both delight and wild abandon, and he placed one hand on Dumbledore's shoulder.

Like dearest friends who had not seen each other for years.

Unexpectedly, Grindelwald turned his gaze back to Sean and asked, "Sean, I have a question."

"Uh, please ask, sir?"

Grindelwald stroked his handlebar mustache with one finger and smiled. "Why did you not choose Newmontgard back then?"

Sean glanced at the expressionless Dumbledore and slowly replied, "Maybe because the Hogwarts Head Boy who came to recruit students looked... friendlier?"

"Friendlier?" Grindelwald's smile gradually widened, as though he had heard an unbearably amusing joke. "Hahaha, very good. A very good reason. Tomorrow, I shall put Sterling in detention."

He waved his hand, and blue flames suddenly flared in the air. Grindelwald reached into the fire and pulled something out.

It was a transparent glass vial, with something gently floating inside. It seemed to be a combination of gas and liquid, a dreamlike silvery white.

The glass vial slowly floated over to Sean.

"Sean, consider this a belated gift for our meeting. I told you this would be a wonderful journey, did I not?"

Sean examined the glass vial, then turned his gaze to Dumbledore.

Dumbledore gave him a slight nod.

Since the headmaster approves, I'll accept this hush money... Sean grabbed the glass vial and stuffed it beneath his robes.

The two of them continued watching him. Sean gave an awkward laugh, then pulled the cabinet door shut himself. "I'll be going, then..."

As the cabinet doors were about to close, Sean saw Dumbledore's expression grow increasingly cold, while Grindelwald waved warmly at him.

"I look forward to our next meeting."

The cabinet doors closed.

Only the crackling of the fireplace remained in the room. The cool night wind blew in through the window, drowning out Grindelwald's next words.

"My heir."

Dumbledore's usual gentle smile had vanished completely. His expression was grave as he looked at Grindelwald.

"Gellert, you violated our agreement."

"An agreement?" Grindelwald smiled as he fiddled once more with the oddly shaped pin at his collar. "This was merely a wonderful accident. I did nothing."

"Gellert." Dumbledore's tone sharpened slightly.

Unbothered, Grindelwald draped an arm over Dumbledore's shoulders and led him to the other side of the room. With a light wave of his hand, the flames in the fireplace blazed brighter, and a small tea table appeared between the two armchairs.

"It has been so long, my old friend." He picked up the red wine on the table and pulled out the cork. "I think the first thing we should do is celebrate?"

Wine glasses appeared in their hands, and Grindelwald poured them each a glass of red wine.

He filled his own glass to the brim, while his other hand still held the bottle.

"To us." As though he did not see Dumbledore's stern, indifferent expression, Grindelwald raised his glass with a smile, then drained it in one gulp.

He set the bottle down heavily on the tea table, making several old books in the middle of the table tremble.

A sheet of parchment slipped out. Seven names were written on it in wild, flowing script—four circled in red ink, and three in green.

Grindelwald picked up the parchment and lightly flicked its surface, his voice dreamy, as if he were drunk.

"Albus, we cannot stop the dawn of a new era..."