Poor Albus Dumbledore

Unlike Gellert Grindelwald and Andros, who were obsessed with magical training and spent their days meditating and improving, she lived a comfortable and fulfilling life.

Aside from the two hours Tom specifically gave her each day to let her out of the house, her daily routine in this space consisted of watching TV and reading books, carefree and without a worry in the world.

Tom's animation, which is based on her memories, has a light and heartwarming art style and is her favorite pastime.

"I also have a lot of shows I haven't seen yet," Tom reassured with a smile. "I'll take you through them slowly during the holidays, and we'll catch up all at once."

"Speaking of which, I haven't even lived in my new house for a single day." Tom suddenly remembered this and didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"After buying the items, I was busy going to the United States and France, and after school started, I had even less time. I don't even know how the renovation is going."

Ariana looked up curiously. "Where does Tom live?"

"In London, in a purely Muggle neighborhood, there isn't a single wizard in the area."

As soon as she finished speaking, Ariana's smile vanished instantly, her face visibly stiffened, and a deep fear surfaced in her eyes.

Seeing this, Tom immediately softened his tone and said gently, "Ariana, not all Muggle are bad people."

The girl clutched the hem of her clothes and said timidly in a low voice, "But what if we encounter something bad?"

Tom's lips curled into a cold smile, his tone firm and obsessive.

"If we encounter bad people, then we'll be even worse than them."

"I strive to hone my magic and delve into power, not for the sake of doing good deeds or accumulating merit."

"It's so that anyone who dares to bully me will regret ever being born."

"But Albus and Mom said we shouldn't hurt others..." Ariana retorted softly, her inner constraints deeply ingrained.

"They're wrong," Tom said firmly, unhesitatingly overturning her preconceived notions.

"Kind people will only be bullied. Your gentleness and kindness will only be taken for granted, and you will only be met with further demands."

"Look at Gellert Grindelwald, so free-spirited and ruthless, how carefree and unrestrained he is!"

These words struck a nerve with Ariana, causing her to stiffen slightly.

Fortunately, her approval rating for Tom is now close to 70%, whereas normally she would have instinctively avoided him.

Tom softened his tone and gently guided, "Don't be afraid, he can't hurt you now, he's been restrained for a long time."

"Let me tell you his story afterward, and then you can make your own judgment."

"Is the rule-abiding principal happier, or the free-spirited Gellert Grindelwald more carefree?"

Tom always believed in a truth: it takes three years to learn good things, but only three minutes to learn bad things.

Creating a good person with sound values and integrity is time-consuming, laborious, and mentally taxing.

Years of guidance, countless corrections, and layers upon layers of rules and constraints can, at best, produce a superficially respectable but obedient person.

But raising a villain? That's practically an innate talent, something they're born with.

Doing good is a form of self-restraint against human nature, while doing evil is an indulgence of desires.

Practice makes perfect; the more you do it, the more addictive it becomes, almost ridiculously easy.

So Tom made up his mind to completely change Ariana's mindset.

He wanted to unleash the violence that had been suppressed in her heart for many years and release the negative emotions that had been Obscurus lurking within her.

Anyway, she's trapped in her private space and can't cause any trouble; at most, she can only give those two unlucky guys, Gellert Grindelwald and Andros, a little trouble.

In truth, Gellert Grindelwald might be secretly pleased.

If Ariana becomes unrestrained, arrogant, and rebellious, it would prove that his educational philosophy completely surpasses Albus Dumbledore's, a kind of indirect victory over his old rival.

For the next half hour, Tom leisurely recounted Gellert Grindelwald's life to Ariana.

In summary, it can be summed up in eight words: lawless and rampant.

He even deliberately brought up Albus Dumbledore a stark contrast.

While Gellert Grindelwald, disguised as Graves, was wielding immense power and influence in United States, Albus Dumbledore was under constant surveillance by the Ministry of Magic, his actions restricted.

While Gellert Grindelwald rallied his followers in Paris, Albus Dumbledore fitted with restraint devices by the Ministry of Magic and was practically placed under house arrest.

Gellert Grindelwald was riding high, just one step away from becoming the president of the International Confederation of Wizards.

Albus Dumbledore could only lead a handful of followers, sneaking around among the crowds and living a very cautious life.

Ariana was stunned, and felt inexplicably aggrieved for her older brother.

As her emotions fluctuated, the dormant Obscurus within her began to stir, and wisps of black energy quietly seeped out.

Tom glanced at it out of the corner of his eye and casually suppressed the restless black energy.

With him watching over her, this Obscurus try to manipulate or control Ariana's mind.

"But...brother still won in the end." Ariana bit her lip, trying to reassure Albus Dumbledore.

"We definitely won." Tom nodded frankly, his tone carrying a hint of clarity.

That duel was hailed as the greatest duel of the century, and everyone praised Albus Dumbledore for ridding the people of a scourge.

"But think about it carefully, he won with magic, not reason."

"Gellert Grindelwald lost because he was less skilled, not because he had any bad intentions."

He sighed slightly, and said wistfully, "Albus Dumbledore, who won, truly happy? You know better than anyone how close they were in their youth."

Ariana subconsciously pouted, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

How could she not understand? When Gellert Grindelwald appeared, he shone brightly, and even his own sister was forgotten by Albus Dumbledore.

Now Albus has personally defeated his best friend and imprisoned him in the tower for fifty years.

That feeling was probably similar to when she was a child, eating the little rabbit she had carefully raised—bitter and agonizing.

"Poor Albus," Ariana murmured softly.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg." Tom shook his head slightly and sighed with regret.

"He became a revered white wizard, adhering to all the rules, and appeared to live an upright and respectable life."

"But what was the result? Those mediocre people whose strength couldn't even compare to one of his fingers still dared to criticize him behind his back and mock him as an old madman."

"So Ariana, being a good person is too tiring; rules only trap you."

Tom slowly approached, the two of them almost touching, his deep, gentle voice slowly reaching the girl's ears.

"If we're going to do something, we'll be powerful villains."

"If anyone dares to bully us, we'll fight back fiercely until they're completely terrified and naturally bow their heads and beg for our mercy."

"If they repeatedly refuse to learn their lesson..."

Tom always leaves things unsaid, proceeds step by step, and never rushes things.

"If it were me, I would desperately hone my magic skills and personally settle accounts with Gellert Grindelwald in the future."

"Magic is never your curse; it is your talent, and it is the greatest source of confidence for us wizards."