"I didn't know you put so much faith in prophecies, Albus." Grindelwald looked surprised.
Dumbledore did not answer directly. "Their fates are too deeply entangled. Harry must face Tom."
"I always thought you scoffed at fate and prophecy." Grindelwald pursed his lips, plainly displeased, then turned to Will. "Will, would you like another cup of tea?"
Will held out his cup. "Of course, Professor Grindelwald."
Dumbledore sipped his tea—if the thick substance could be called "tea"—then said with a hint of resignation, "Gellert, I've never disbelieved prophecies. It's just that we may disagree on how to interpret them."
"If you really believe in prophecies that much, why interfere with Harry Potter now? He's destined to be Tom's opponent anyway."
"Because Harry is also a Horcrux. Part of Tom's soul is inside him."
Grindelwald's hand trembled slightly as he poured Will's tea—not from surprise. He had simply understood at once why Dumbledore had said Harry was Voldemort's destined opponent, and what Dumbledore intended to do.
"So you want Tom Riddle and Potter to fight in the end, wiping out Tom Riddle and all his Horcruxes for good."
Dumbledore nodded, looking exhausted. "But if I haven't dealt with every Horcrux, a battle between Harry and Voldemort will be meaningless."
"Albus." Complicated emotions flickered through Grindelwald's mismatched eyes. "You haven't changed since those days."
Dumbledore said nothing for a long while.
Will sensed the delicate atmosphere in the room. He did nothing to break it, behaving like a young wizard who knew nothing at all.
For a time, only the sound of tea being drunk and the occasional sigh filled the room.
At Hogwarts, Snape tucked a report on Origin Spells into a potion box containing two small bottles of Invigoration Draught.
It was something of an advance notice. In a few