Nurmengard,
Two centenarians are playing Gwent.
Despite having only just met, Grindelwald and Dumbledore were already evenly matched.
Gwent emphasizes layout and strategy, and these players are among the best of the best.
Dumbledore played his Dumbledore card, and Grindelwald also played his Grindelwald card.
As expected, both sides had the same strength, resulting in another draw.
"Gellert Grindelwald, true Prophecy is truly terrifying." Dumbledore put away the Gwent on the table.
As he shuffled the cards, he gazed at the full moon hanging high in the night sky outside the window.
"Do you think that if I had chosen to intervene just now, it would have changed the future?"
"Albus Dumbledore, you know the answer." Grindelwald caught the Gwent that had been automatically shuffled in mid-air.
"Prophecy is different from foresight. Although it only has one clear outcome, a predetermined future cannot be changed."
The sadness in Dumbledore's eyes gradually faded. "Just like time magic can't change the past?"
"Yes." Grindelwald placed the card on his right. "However, we can change the course of events to make the future a little better."
Dumbledore, who was shuffling the deck, paused.
He stared into Grindelwald's honest eyes, then continued shuffling the cards.
The speed was the same as before, but the look in his eyes became complicated.
The true Prophecy will surely come true; any attempt to escape it is futile.
There are many monsters that can be called terrifying, and the Dementors that dwell in the Scottish Highlands are just one of them.
Tonight is a full moon night, so there's a high chance of Werewolf.
However, those who settle in the Forbidden Forest are all able to maintain a certain level of rationality after transforming.
With a loud "smack," Dumbledore slammed the card down on the table.
It's not too late to go back now, but Grindelwald will obviously stop him from leaving.
"Sigh—" he sighed softly, "Gellert Grindelwald, did you see something through precognition?"
Grindelwald drew 10 Gwent and played the first one with a playful expression.
The card Transfiguration into Vincent, dressed in a Hogwarts uniform, wielding a wand in his left hand and Gunblade in his right.
"I don't know the content of the Prophecy, but I foresee that he will encounter danger tonight."
"Life-threatening?"
"Right."
Dumbledore silent and moved the deck to his right.
It seems they really are pinning their hopes on the future, since they don't need him to ensure their apprentices' safety.
"Gellert Grindelwald, you've really changed."
Grindelwald played his second card, "You've changed too, Albus Dumbledore."
Didn't you say you hated Divination? How come you're starting to believe in Prophecy now?
Hogwarts Castle appeared behind Vincent's card.
"I have to believe it, Gellert Grindelwald."
"Albus Dumbledore, paying too much attention to Prophecy will not lead to good results."
Dumbledore chuckled self-deprecatingly. "If I had stopped you sooner, would everything have been different?"
Grindelwald shook his head gently. "Don't blame yourself. You don't need to carry those shackles."
"Yes, Vincent once said the same thing."
The two looked at each other and suddenly burst into laughter.
Grindelwald played his third card, "Albus Dumbledore, it's good to stay away from power struggles, but there are always people who are drawn to them."
Dumbledore's smile faded. "I don't care about them, as long as they don't remove me from the Chocolate Frog picture books... and Gwent."
A round, chubby owl appeared in the West Tower of the Hogwarts Castle card.
Then came the second one, and the third one.
Grindelwald gestured for him to look at the card table.
We were chatting the whole time and didn't even notice this perfect start.
Dumbledore glanced at his hand, a look of utter disappointment on his face.
"Gellert Grindelwald, it seems you have grasped the essence of Gwent."
He didn't even say he'd let anyone have a turn, is it really okay for him to make decisions on his own?
Grindelwald shook his hand. "You know my personality. Whatever I do, I give it my all."
Dumbledore was utterly speechless.
Even after decades apart, the usual routines are still there.
No matter how much he tried to salvage the situation, Grindelwald ultimately won this game.
We won in every sense of the word.
Forbidden Forest
A dozen Werewolf came down the mountain and quickly arrived in front of their companions who were bound by chains.
Their eyes weren't blood red, but rather an orange that represented maintaining rationality.
Leading them was a Werewolf was nearly three meters tall and as strong as a bear.
"Awooo—" he howled and squatted down as if to express his confusion.
After hesitating for a moment, he reached for the chains binding the other person.
Seeing this, the Werewolf standing behind them also broke their chains, just like their leader.
Compared to his companions, the Werewolf with blood-red eyes was so thin he was practically skin and bones.
After being freed from his restraints, he quickly stood opposite the Werewolf leader and roared, "Awooo!"
This is a threatening growl that is only emitted when encountering an enemy.
Out of animal instinct, he subconsciously backed away, as if wary of his companions opposite him.
Blood-red eyes are a sign of losing one's mind, Werewolf leader, with his back hunched, tries his best to appear benevolent.
"Ouch!" The other party was clearly unable to communicate properly.
Losing one's mind doesn't mean becoming an idiot, especially when one is outnumbered and outsized.
Seeing that they weren't coming, the Werewolf with blood-red eyes seized the opportunity and ran in the direction the two young wizards had left.
The Werewolf leader howled and chased after them with his companions.
A bright light was moving near a clump of trees not far away; inside were Vincent and Hermione passing by.
Vincent's strength has recovered somewhat, and he is now able to walk with difficulty.
Hermione continued to support him, occasionally wincing in pain.
The ankle joint has been reset, but the pain will not completely disappear.
Vincent wanted to say something several times, but each time he saw the stubbornness on her face, he chose to give up.
He gave up trying to persuade him, but he hadn't given up hope.
"Look over there!" Hermione exclaimed excitedly, pointing her wand to the right front.
There was a narrow cave in the distance, very small in size, which was probably not the nest of the Acromantula.
The situation is improving; they have finally found a safe place.
"Crunch, crunch—" came the sound of rapid, hurried footsteps from behind.
They're here, the Werewolf have finally arrived.
"Run!"
Hope has not been extinguished; they may well arrive first.
Just a little faster, even faster.
"Ugh—" Hermione suddenly felt a pain in her left ankle that was far more intense than before, and she staggered and almost fell over.
Vincent quickly put his arm around her shoulder. "Don't try to hold on, it's my turn now—"
"Awooo—" The loud howl made the two men's expressions change drastically.
Turning around, I could see a familiar tall, thin figure, as well as several taller and stronger figures.
They were still some distance from the cave, and if they were unlucky enough to be caught, they might...
Vincent and Hermione stopped in their tracks almost simultaneously and spoke:
"You go first!"
"You go first!"
One hadn't recovered much strength, and the other's ankle hadn't fully healed.
Should I abandon the other person and leave first?
Their eyes met, and they both got the answer from each other's eyes.
Since we came together, we should go back together.
Vincent raised his wand high, "Suitcase, Accio!"
After successfully casting the Accio, he once again felt a sense of exhaustion, as if his body had been hollowed out.
Hermione held him tightly, even though the pain in her ankle made her face pale.
I'm not running anymore, I'm not hiding anymore.
They decided to fight the Werewolf.