Do You Believe in Fate?

"Just as I thought."

Seeing Klein's choice, the portraits of past Headmasters on the wall couldn't help but look disappointed and conflicted.

The more gifted a wizard was, the more easily he became enamored with powerful magic and lost sight of himself.

Tom had been like that once. Now Klein was the same.

"How cliché."

Ignoring the gazes behind him, Klein opened the thick black book and secretly shook his head. These spells were ancient and primitive, with nothing worth learning from. If this was the extent of Dumbledore's private collection, it was truly disappointing.

"Klein!"

Watching a promising young Slytherin stray further and further down the wrong path, Phineas Black's heart sank. He couldn't help calling out to Klein.

"What is it, Headmaster Black?"

Klein put down the book and turned around with feigned confusion.

"Uh... that book is a little advanced. I suggest you read something else."

Meeting those sapphire-blue eyes, Phineas Black wasn't sure how to begin, so he could only come up with a flimsy excuse.

After all, it wouldn't look good for a group of old men to scheme against an eleven-year-old boy.

"Advanced? I think it's fine."

Klein's lips curled into a meaningful smile. The wand hidden in his sleeve settled firmly into his palm.

"Ghouls Summon."

A cloud of dark gray smoke burst from the Purple Sandalwood Wand. As the portraits of past Headmasters stared in horror, a hideous, two-meter-tall monster appeared out of thin air!

"What are you doing?!" "Merlin's beard!" "Klein, stop!"

The Headmasters panicked and cried out. They had never dreamed that someone could learn a genuine piece of Dark Magic in just a few minutes—especially when that someone was an eleven-year-old child.

Even Tom Riddle hadn't been this ridiculous, let alone Merlin!

"Squawk!"

At the sight of the terrifying ghoul, the "Bald Chicken," which had been pretending to be dead in the corner of the office, suddenly shrieked. Its small, skinny body trembled, and its round eyes brimmed with loathing for Dark Creatures.

"A Phoenix. How unusual."

Klein looked at the "Bald Chicken" with interest. He even waved at the trembling old bird as if nothing were the matter.

"Klein, cancel the spell!" "Send it back where it came from!" "Whatever you do, don't let it leave the office!"

Klein could casually tease the Phoenix, but the portraits of past Headmasters were desperate to leap out of their frames and deal with the terrifying monster in the office.

They frantically tried to warn Klein, their eyes practically spitting fire.

"Don't worry. It's nothing serious."

He had already achieved his aim, and Klein raised his wand again.

"All Return to Silence."

This time, a spirit crow wreathed in blue flames appeared. The moment it emerged, an expression of fear crossed the ghoul's face.

"Fiendfyre!"

It was over. Everything was over.

The Headmasters were at a complete loss for words.

Fiendfyre was the most evil of magical fires. Furniture, walls, the office, students—it would devour everything!

"All Spells Dissipated!"

Just then, Dumbledore burst into the office and immediately cast a Dispersal Charm.

But unexpectedly, after devouring the ghoul, the blue Fiendfyre spirit crow wasn't dispelled by Dumbledore's spell. Instead, it lazily flew to Klein's shoulder and lightly pecked at its nonexistent feathers with its flame-formed beak.

The atmosphere turned strange.

"Professor Dumbledore, I've been using Confundus Charms and Obliviate to manipulate Muggles and travel the world since I was six. Your test was far too simple."

Klein stared into Dumbledore's dark brown eyes, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

"I'm curious. Does your failure to dispel my Fiendfyre mean I've won? In that case..."

He beckoned toward Dumbledore.

"Whoosh!"

The oddly shaped wand seemed to answer a summons. It flew straight out of the old man's palm and landed in Klein's hand.

"Hah. The Elder Wand doesn't feel all that special."

He casually tossed the Elder Wand onto the desk behind him, then nonchalantly dispelled the Fiendfyre.

"An unbeatable wand is a joke, wouldn't you say?"

"Of course. That's obvious."

Dumbledore stood quietly where he was and tucked his hand back into the wide sleeve of his robe. Even though his wand had chosen a new master, there wasn't the slightest trace of panic on the old man's face.

"I can tell from your expression what you want to say. Don't bother guessing—I really am Klein Will Grindelwald, the last descendant of the Grindelwald family."

Klein lowered his wand and positioned himself as Dumbledore's equal. He stepped aside and asked,

"Shall we sit down and talk, Professor?"

"Of course."

Dumbledore paused, then smiled easily and walked toward the desk without a hint of caution.

One step, two steps, three steps...

The distance between them grew smaller and smaller. The Headmasters' portraits clapped their hands over their mouths. Given Klein and Dumbledore's magical prowess, either one of them could very well kill the other if he struck first.

The atmosphere was practically freezing over!

But...

The scene they had imagined never came to pass.

Dumbledore made it back to his armchair without incident, while Klein brazenly hopped onto the desk and sat down.

"You know, you're the first person who's ever dared to sit on my desk. And move over—you're going to crush my wand!"

Dumbledore sounded a little annoyed, his feelings plain on his face like those of a grumpy old child.

"This isn't right!"

The Headmasters were screaming inwardly. They wanted nothing more than to burst out of their frames and remind Dumbledore that the person before him wasn't a child, but a demon who wielded Dark Magic as effortlessly as breathing!

"That wand is mine now. But since you insist... fine, I'll let you borrow it for a while."

Klein shrugged and picked up the Elder Wand, handing it to Dumbledore.

"Remember, it's a loan, not a gift."

"All right, you stingy Mr. Grindelwald. I'll be careful."

Dumbledore took the Elder Wand and gave it a casual wave.

"It worked!"

The Headmasters cheered.

They didn't know why Klein had made such a foolish move, but victory belonged to Hogwarts. Dumbledore had won!

The next moment, something that left them dumbfounded happened...

A steaming pot of Honey Tea floated over~

Dumbledore had actually used what might have been his only precious chance to brew a pot of tea?

Had he lost his mind?!

"Well then, Mr. Grindelwald..."

Dumbledore looked at Klein's strange expression and began slowly.

"Professor, call me Klein."

After a few seconds of thought, Klein put down the drink that looked suspiciously like concentrated honey and replied without looking up.

"Then, Klein, I'm listening."

Dumbledore took a sip of the drink. He felt an immense sweetness melt across his tongue. Setting down the wand, he looked at Klein like a patient listener.

"I like dealing with clever people."

Klein blinked and leaned forward slightly.

"Professor, do you believe in fate?"