Harley waved her wand, conjuring a handkerchief and a cup of honey water.
"Professor..." Harley said softly, handing them over.
Dumbledore took the handkerchief and gently wiped away his tears, then drained the honey water in one go.
After a short rest, Professor Dumbledore got to his feet and dusted himself off.
The cup and handkerchief had already vanished into thin air.
Harley, who had been crouching in place with her arms around her knees, stood up too.
"Harley, I think you can guess what happened next." Professor Dumbledore's voice trembled.
"You returned to Hogwarts to teach, living out your days in remorse and imprisoning yourself within Hogwarts."
Harley thought for a moment, then asked tentatively,
"Meanwhile, Grindelwald established the Acolytes of Grindelwald in Europe and launched a war that swept across Europe and spilled into the Americas, until you defeated him."
"Exactly." Professor Dumbledore nodded.
"After the day Ariana left, I learned to spend my days consumed by guilt and overwhelming grief. It wasn't until I became a professor at Hogwarts that the pain in my heart eased somewhat."
"And from then on, I began reflecting on my past, and on the ideals Grindelwald and I had shared."
"I began to waver, and eventually I took a stand against him."
"Finally, he and I dueled."
"He lost."
"The International Confederation of Wizards wanted to execute him outright, but I fought against their decision and demanded that they imprison him in Nurmengard, the cage he had built with his own hands to hold his enemies."
"And I was the only guard in that cage."
"I don't know if you can understand, Harley, but this has become an obsession of mine."
"I want the Resurrection Stone. No, I want all the Deathly Hallows."
"I want to become Master of Death. I