Opposition

Père Lachaise Cemetery was engulfed in flames. Through the cracks in the ruins, one could see Fire Dragon and Phoenix sweeping past. The deep blue flames were like waves rising from hell, unrestrained and frenzied, just like Grindelwald's joyful and flamboyant figure in the center of the circular square.

Cyril Marshall, the leader, and the Pure-blood families wizards named by Grindelwald have all been reduced to ashes, and the remaining people are desperately resisting the attack of the demonic flames.

The two most relaxed on the field are Newt and Sean. Newt is the strongest and has experience dealing with Magma Flame. As long as Grindelwald doesn't have time to focus all his efforts on him, the Care of Magical Creatures teacher can handle the situation with ease.

Sean was protected by James and Sirius, and no one else could sense it. Sean, who also knew the spell, knew very well that Grindelwald had deliberately controlled it. The flames around them flickered wildly, but the attack was not strong.

This was a preferential treatment given to James and Sirius, as Grindelwald knew he was acquainted with them and was showing them considerable respect. If it were any other wizard, even if they were protecting Sean, the Demon Flame wouldn't show the slightest pity, because—even if everything here turned to ashes, Grindelwald's Demon Flame, fused with the Fidelius Charm, wouldn't harm Sean.

The two with the most leisure time looked up at the crack above their heads, following Grindelwald's laughter.

An old man dressed in a milky-white robe slowly revealed himself. He waved his wand, and mud and stone pillars twisted and changed, while various shields protected him from the incoming flames.

"Professor Dumbledore ..." Sean murmured to himself.

He guessed that Dumbledore would come, and he felt that the other man should come. But for some reason, he had a bad feeling about it.

"Dumbledore's here?" James, who had just cast the spell, heard Sean's mutterings. He turned around and his face lit up with excitement.

"If we don't come soon, we'll really burn to death here—do you think we can become ghosts after being burned to ashes?" Sirius was still joking around.

Grindelwald ignored everyone else on the court, looking up at the other person with a cheerful expression, his voice filled with joy.

"Oh, Albus, I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Dumbledore landed slowly, enveloped by his shield, his eyes filled with a sorrow that Sean couldn't decipher. "Gellert..."

"No, don't speak yet," Grindelwald waved his hand happily, "Let me guess, are you trying to persuade me to stop here?"

"Gellert ..." Dumbledore repeated the other person's name.

"Tsk, let me think," Grindelwald feigned distress. "It's definitely unrealistic to expect you to cooperate with me. We're both stubborn and annoying old guys—oh, oh, are you thinking of taking your people back?"

"Gellert." Dumbledore's tone became more forceful.

Grindelwald didn't look at the other person's face. He seemed to be talking to himself. "To be honest, that freak who got along so well with Magical Creatures —well, now he's a weirdo. Mr. weirdo made me not very happy. I was originally going to apologize to you at his funeral, but since you're here, I think our friendship is even more precious. Well, you can keep your eulogy."

Dumbledore stared straight at the other man.

Grindelwald still smiled and said, "Let's go, I'm giving you face."

"Gellert".

"Come on," Grindelwald's smile faded, "I'm giving you this—opportunity."

"Gellert!"

The joyful, arrogant smile on Grindelwald's face had vanished; he was now as calm and indifferent as a lake under the moonlight.

"Albus," he began slowly, "I am Gellert Grindelwald. I have lived for over a hundred years since Years. I have killed and saved, but I have never felt that I have wronged anyone—except you."

Dumbledore didn't speak; a slight pain appeared on his face.

"I thought that you and I, the two most outstanding geniuses in the world, could join hands to create a brand new world, but fate is not always in accordance with human will. We went our separate ways and fulfilled the promises we made when we were young in our own ways, but loneliness always makes people feel lonely, doesn't it? Fortunately, the trajectory of the world has changed, and we have come back together again - tsk, how exciting."

"Stop talking," Dumbledore said.

Grindelwald didn't stop. "I don't care that you sent our little Newt to testify against me, and I don't care that you ignored the plans behind this damn Guard Corps. But I don't understand why you came to see me today?"

Dumbledore closed his eyes with pity. "Gellert, surrender."

Sean felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

Dumbledore know all of this? Not only did he know, but he even helped him?

Sean stared incredulously at the two elderly men in the center. He had never understood why the Wizarding United Guard dared to attack Grindelwald. Even if Years had worn away the nightmares in some people's hearts and made some fools arrogant, it was impossible for such a large organization to be without a single intelligent person behind it.

The answer is now obvious: they've always had a backup plan; they have the only wizard in the world who can rival Grindelwald.

Why would Dumbledore do that? Sean couldn't understand it at all.

Grindelwald willingly accepted the role of headmaster, and he even provided the Wizarding World with outstanding talents for decades. What good would it do him, Sean, the students of both schools, and the entire Wizarding World to push the other side to the opposite side of himself and even the world?

He suddenly recalled the scene when Dumbledore arrived here, fighting against the demonic flames... he was fighting against the demonic flames...

Sean suddenly remembered that, apart from their first meeting, Grindelwald had never worn that strangely shaped lapel pin, which was the Blood Pact Artifact!

He didn't see it again. Sean originally thought it was Grindelwald's baby thing, something he wouldn't normally wear. But now that he thinks about it, maybe the Blood Pact was no longer in Grindelwald's hands after that.

Grindelwald looked at Dumbledore: "Give me a good enough reason, Albus."

Dumbledore slightly lifted his eyelids, obscuring the pool of water hidden in his lake-blue eyes.

"This is the price."

Grindelwald chuckled dismissively, "Price? As expected of the selfless Albus Dumbledore, such a harsh word sounds pleasant coming from your merciful mouth."

"The crimes you have committed cannot be covered up."

"Oh? Wasn't it you who vouched for me back then?"

"Therefore, I will also accept sanctions."

Grindelwald became unusually angry, wildly waving his wand, causing the already raging demonic flames to become even more frenzied.

"You've been smart your whole life, yet you always make stupid mistakes at crucial moments! Albus! Do you think I didn't know? You've connected with those guys, and I didn't care. I thought your brilliant mind could figure it all out!"

"Gellert, you don't understand," Dumbledore, his head bowed.

"Yes, I don't understand. It is precisely because I don't understand that I relinquished the Blood Pact and handed the choice over to you, Albus. Let me tell you, since I have chosen to hand it over to you, I will not criticize your decision, but I must say something."

Grindelwald's voice was cold.

"I am very disappointed, extremely disappointed."

"Of course." Dumbledore didn't argue.

"Was it your betrayal?" Grindelwald moved closer. "No, no, it was your stupidity. You chose to believe those inhuman bastards, and you thought you were saving the world?"

Dumbledore remained silent.

Grindelwald pointed at Sean: "Look! Look at that kid! Isn't he the key?! Isn't he doing well enough?! Isn't he moving in the right direction?! But what happened? You were the one who stopped me from detonating this bomb, yet you've always thought he was the bomb."

"How can a bomb possibly extinguish the fuse that's spreading from its own body? Albus, that's what you've always thought."

Sean's chest rose and fell slightly as he slowly exhaled, calming his turbulent emotions.

A bomb... I am indeed a bomb... But did Professor Dumbledore also always think I was a bomb?

He gleaned some information from their conversation.

Sean had always believed himself to be the key to the Prophecy, and indeed he was. But Dumbledore's attitude was not what he had imagined...

Sean always felt that Dumbledore and Grindelwald were guiding him in their own ways so that he, this bomb, could control himself.

But now it seems Dumbledore doesn't think so... Yes, a bomb is still a bomb, and it's made of gunpowder. How do you guide it? It still requires external intervention...

That external force was probably the group of inhuman beings that Grindelwald was talking about.

Even though Sean tried to calm himself down and kept telling himself that the truth of the matter had not yet been revealed, and that there might be some misunderstanding between Grindelwald and Dumbledore, he could not draw conclusions based on just a few words.

But an overwhelming feeling of sadness still welled up inside me.

Dumbledore didn't look at Sean; he simply looked at Grindelwald calmly and sadly. "I've never thought of it that way."

Grindelwald raised his chin slightly, floated up, and looked down at Dumbledore: "It's just self-deception, Albus. I can even guess what you're thinking: 'a perfect plan,' 'another option,' 'I need to have a backup plan,' 'I need to guard against the unexpected.' You always think like this, deceiving yourself with the greatest and cowardliest part of your character."

As he spoke, he chuckled, a laugh that sounded both self-deprecating and mocking, "Life is so tiring."

Dumbledore slowly raised his wand. "Gellert, if I could, I would not hesitate to sacrifice myself for you, but..."

Grindelwald rudely interrupted him, "Come on, tell me what I've gained as an old man with one foot in the grave? I'm not keen on using myself to do a losing business."

Dumbledore did not answer directly, but said softly, "You will not be harmed, nor will you be sent to Azkaban."

Grindelwald gave a strange smile, "Albus, do you think a prison can hold me? And before that—"

He swung his wand forcefully, and a giant flaming bird with a cry shot from its tip as it charged toward Dumbledore.

Do you think you can defeat me?

Dumbledore reacted swiftly; he flicked his wand, and the surrounding ruins seemed to writhe at his fingertips like clay, creating a massive shield that blocked the incoming Fire Bird.

The Fire Bird crashed into the shield with a loud bang, sending stones flying all around before they quickly flew back and transformed into sturdy bars, trapping the Fire Bird firmly in its cage.

"Damn it..." Sean had no time for sentimentality. Grindelwald was fighting Dumbledore with all his might. The deep blue flames were no longer under control. They broke free of their restraints and frantically pounced on James and Sirius.

"Protego Diabolica!" Sean pulled out his wand, and bright blue flames erupted, enveloping the three of them.

"Huh?!" James and Sirius both stared wide-eyed at Sean. Wasn't this Grindelwald's signature spell? How come you know it too?!

It seems the Fire Dragon challenge in Newmontgard hasn't spread too far. You two should at least keep up with the Wizarding World's news... Sean muttered, then controlled the flames to rise even higher.

Grindelwald's flames seemed to deepen, with deep blue flames clashing against bright blue flames, sometimes merging and sometimes clashing, but none of them broke through Sean's fire circle barrier.

Thankfully, it worked, otherwise James and Sirius might have been done for... Sean wiped the sweat from his brow. Grindelwald's magic flames also had an Anti-Apparition Jinx effect, so they couldn't leave now and could only wait for this to end.

The Guard Corps, who were struggling against the increasingly violent demonic flames, saw this scene and moved closer while casting spells.

Sean didn't stop them; if the remaining dozens of people all died, things would be even worse.

The members of the wizard's Guard Corps moved closer, forcefully repelling the demonic flames, and then, at the signal of James and Sirius, dashed through the ring of fire.

The first person to enter took a deep breath, and the others, seeing that he was unharmed, followed suit.

One by one, the small circle of fire was crowded with people. Among the last few, a young white wizard gritted his teeth and leaped into the air. However, the bright blue flames did not burn as fiercely as before.

The man's eyes widened in terror. He staggered backward, but the flames clung to him like a leech. At that moment, another deep blue flame enveloped him. After a short scream, he was quickly reduced to ashes.

The Guard Corps witnessed this scene, and a man who appeared to be the captain instructed, "Be careful when you come over, and don't get touched by Grindelwald's flames!"

Only Sean raised an eyebrow coldly, guessing that the guy was also related to the person Grindelwald had mentioned before, and that he harbored malicious intentions towards him.

He stopped caring and looked up at the center.

Flames raged, completely tearing open the ground of Père Lachaise Cemetery. Dumbledore floated up into the flames, and a torrential rain began to fall from the night sky, enveloping the flames but unable to extinguish them.

Grindelwald stood there for a moment, then let out a wild and unrestrained laugh.

As he floated up, the Fire Dragon and Phoenix that had been soaring around the cemetery cried out and rushed toward another old man in the sky!