Caesar had initially thought time was of the essence, since it might take an ordinary person several years to complete the entire History of Magic curriculum.
As it turned out, he needed less than forty days.
Caesar had mixed feelings about the result.
The good news was that the Genius Scholar talent was truly extraordinary. It let him remember almost everything he read, and he had indeed found some viable ways to deal with a legendary wizard.
The bad news was that those viable methods weren't in the history books in his office. The books said very little about the most vicious curses in the world, so he would have to search the library, or even venture beyond the school, to see if he could find traces of these forbidden curses.
[You soon discovered another perk of being a teacher: unlike students, you didn't need to apply for permission to borrow any book in the library. But as time went on, you noticed your colleagues' gazes growing increasingly strange.]
[After observing things for a few days, you realized what the problem was—although teachers had the freedom to borrow books, they weren't entirely unrestricted. Hogwarts had a system of mutual oversight among colleagues, and your extensive borrowing of books unrelated to History of Magic had already made some professors wary.]
[You immediately adjusted your strategy. In everyday conversations, you deliberately mentioned that you were researching the history of Dark Magic during Grindelwald's era. When borrowing books, you made sure to include relevant historical texts, making your research seem academically respectable.]
[The tactic worked quickly. At Hogwarts, as long as a professor could give a reasonable explanation for his actions, most colleagues were willing to trust his professional integrity.]
[Your worries gradually eased, and you returned to your research into forbidden magic. Time slipped by, and your understanding of various kinds of magic grew ever deeper. By now, anyone who still considered you an ordinary teacher would pay dearly for the mistake.]
[One late night, as you lost yourself in a sea of books and lost track of time, Dumbledore arrived unexpectedly. Your in-depth research into Grindelwald had evidently caught his attention.]
"Headmaster Dumbledore!"
Caesar's gaze immediately shifted from his book to Dumbledore.
The legendary wizard of the magical world stood in the doorway to his office, his blue eyes gleaming with insight behind his Half-moon Spectacles.
Faint traces of magic still lingered in the air.
"I hope I haven't interrupted your precious reading time, Professor Caesar."
Dumbledore's voice was gentle as he walked closer. His long silver beard nearly brushed the hefty volumes on ancient Dark Magic and modern European magical history lining the bookshelves.
His gaze swept over the several notes spread across Caesar's desk. Clearly written on them were "Gellert Grindelwald," "Evolution of the Deathly Hallows Symbol," and "Early Architectural Plans and Magical Defenses of Nurmengard."
"Of course not, Headmaster. Is there some urgent matter at Hogwarts that brings you here so late?"
Caesar closed his book and shifted slightly, almost imperceptibly, to block several more private research notes concerning the Blood Pact and the Obscurial.
He wore an expression of just the right amount of surprise and respect, but his mind raced as he assessed Dumbledore's true purpose.
Dumbledore didn't answer at once. He extended a slender finger and gently brushed the cover of an open ancient tome.
By coincidence, it bore a magical photograph of Grindelwald giving a speech in his youth.
"I simply happened to recall that lately, you seem to have devoted considerable enthusiasm to studying a... rather sensitive period in history."
"Do you mean Gellert Grindelwald, Headmaster?"
As the words left his mouth, Caesar noticed that when Dumbledore's usually composed gaze fell on the photograph, faint flames flickered in his deep blue eyes.
The feeling those flames gave him wasn't anger. It was an immensely complicated emotion, one that seemed to escape Dumbledore without his realizing it.
But in the blink of an eye, the flames vanished completely.
He's a formidable man.
Whatever the outside world thought of this legendary wizard, that was Caesar's first impression.
In his view, there were two kinds of formidable people in the world.
Some were ruthless toward others, like Grindelwald.
Others were ruthless toward themselves, and Dumbledore belonged to the latter kind.
Anyone who wanted to destroy Hogwarts would have to deal with this legendary wizard.
Dumbledore's gaze returned to Caesar's face. His tone was gentle, but his words carried an undeniable, penetrating force.
"Gellert Grindelwald, a name filled with talent and tragedy.
"I'm curious. What drew a promising young professor of Ancient Magic to take such a keen interest in this dangerous historical figure?"
It was as if invisible threads had tightened in the air. Dumbledore's question seemed casual, but it precisely targeted the core of all Caesar's recent research.
Caesar could tell this wasn't a chance inquiry. It was a gentle, yet utterly serious, test.
He met those blue eyes that seemed able to see into people's hearts and smiled faintly. His voice was steady. Rather than answering, he asked, "What do you think the meaning of history is, Headmaster?"
Dumbledore's gaze flickered faintly behind his Half-moon Spectacles. He brought his fingertips together, as if weighing his words.
"History."
He spoke slowly, his voice hoarse and wise as ancient parchment. "For most people, history has nothing to do with their lives. But to me, history helps us understand where we came from and avoid repeating the same mistakes."
"I completely agree."
Caesar paused, deliberately giving his words the air of an academic discussion, then said with a smile:
"As you often say, those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. Learning from the past has been the guiding principle of my life's work.
"Headmaster, isn't the meaning of history precisely that it can shed light on the present and the future?
"Grindelwald's rise was no accident. His ideas, his power, his ability to control people's hearts...
"Understanding him may help us overcome a similar shadow that could threaten our own era."
"A shadow..." Dumbledore listened quietly, tapping his fingers lightly against the desk with a faint, rhythmic patter.
The room was so still that the crackling of the fire in the hearth could be heard.
After a long while, he smiled as well, but beneath the smile lay a hint of weightiness and reminiscence that was difficult to detect.
It was an emotion entirely different from the one he had shown when Grindelwald was mentioned.
It belonged to another Dark wizard: Tom Riddle.
"Very profound insights, Professor Caesar."
Dumbledore nodded and said softly, "But some flames, while trying to light the way ahead, can easily burn the person holding the lamp. There's nothing wrong with studying history, but please be sure to keep your distance."
With that, he nodded to Caesar just as he had upon arriving, then turned and walked away. The long hem of his robe slid over the floor without making a sound.
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