Chapter 15: The Prophecy

The Ministry of Magic was a spacious building. But, almost all of that space was filled up by people which was why it was always crowded.

Through a corridor full of chimneys on the side, wizards appeared, some of them coughing from the magical dust while others joined the rest of the wizards busy hurrying to their jobs.

Statues of wizards who had contributed to the Wizarding World stood with fountains around it.

And last, but not least, on all sides of the atrium rose floor after floor, until maybe the 30th over which the sky could be seen and over a glass ceiling.

Owls were flying around, causing chaos around wizards who were in a hurry to their jobs or simply were here on business.

Among those wizards, two stood out the most.

Theseus Scamander and Albus Dumbledore were on their way to his office.

He was working as Head of the Auror Office and was currently investigating Grindelwald. He was also a member of the 1st Order of Phoenix and had known Dumbledore for a long time since he was a student at Hogwarts.

"Professor Dumbledore! Is something the matter?", Theseus asked.

Dumbledore didn't reply and just kept on walking.

"Uhh.. Professor Dumbledore?", Theseus asked again yet Dumbledore ignored him and kept on walking.

Theseus glanced at Dumbledore's face and noticed that he had an extremely serious expression. He also knew something had to be very wrong if Dumbledore was acting this strange in front of all of them. For all the years he had known him, he had never seen him like this.

They took the elevator and after a floor up, the door opened and a female voice from the inside of the elevator announced: "Level two, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, the Improper Use of Magic Office, Auror Headquarters, and Wizengamont Administration Services.". 

Theseus and Dumbledore came out of the elevator and walked through a big room filled with glass cubicles inside of which Aurors were doing their work.

"Hey, Corno?"

"Yes?"

"Did you catch the Ferno guy?"

"Yes!"

"Oh! Did you cross his picture?"

"Oh no! I forgot! Thanks for reminding me."

Pictures of different dark wizards hung from the walls, ones that were already captured had a big red 'X' across their faces, and others who were pending.

As if on purpose, right then they passed through the picture of Grindelwald.

Dumbledore looked at it and immediately looked at his feet. He did not want to look at that face for a long time, or maybe even forever.

But, there was a problem.

He was probably the only person who could defeat him.

Sighing in defeat, Dumbledore shook his head to clear his thoughts away and continued walking.

Stopping in front of a big black door, Theseus took his wand out of his black suit and swung it at the door.

As if recognizing the magic of the wand's master the door opened immediately.

They walked inside a big room with a mahogany desk.

If he was in a mood, Dumbledore would smile at the contrast between Newt's chaos and Theseus' organized existence.

But not now. Especially, not right now. He had much more urgent matters to deal with.

"I know you're here to look for something important, but I wanted to talk to you for a moment.", Theseus looked at Dumbledore with a worrisome expression and said, "In the past few days, you've been somebody else. Quiet. Even now. You didn't even hear me talking to you. You looked as if your mind was somewhere else.

He picked up a key from one of the drawer's desks and asked, "What's going on? I know you don't tell your plans to anyone until you've developed them completely, but is whatever you have discovered that bad?"

Dumbledore rubbed his head on his forehead and sighed tiredly, looking 10 years older than his age, "I cannot say anything until I have confirmed what I have discovered. It will ensure panic and hysteria. Nothing else."

Theseus sighed in return and said, "Just promise me that whenever you know for sure that what you have discovered is true, you will tell all of us. You can't be the only one who carries the burden of dealing with Grindelwald. Me, Newt, Tinnie, Jacob, Queenie… all of us are here to work alongside you, not for you."

Dumbledore stared at Theseus with a fatherly expression and nodded with a smile, "Of course. I promise that I'll tell you everything once I've confirmed it."

"Good. Is this all?", Dumbledore looked ready to fly out the door any second.

"Yes… for now.", Theseus looked at him, that worry still lingering on his face.

They left the room with Theseus locking the door with his wand. They walked back to the elevator and the door closed behind them.

A couple of floors up, that female voice from the inside of the elevator announced: "Level 9, Department of Mysteries." 

The door opened and they started walking in an empty corridor with black brick walls. There was only one door at the bottom with no inscription in front of it. When they reached it, the door opened on its own and let them inside a room full of clocks and time-turners.

The walls were painted in black colors and warmth came from under their feet.

This was... The Time Room.

"I wish our final destination is this room.", Theseus said, "I don't like where this is going."

 "I wish so too. But there is no other way for me to confirm what I've discovered except for the room we are going to enter next.", Dumbledore replied.

Another door opened and they entered a room that was high like a cathedral and full of nothing but towering shelves containing small glass orbs. They glimmered dully in blue.

Theseus exhaled and upon seeing his breath turn frosty, he said, "I don't like this room. Particularly because of this coldness and dullness. It creeps me out."

"Yes, but this is also where we will find what we are looking for.", Dumbledore replied as he looked around the room.

"And..", Theseus asked, "What are we doing in the Hall of Prophecy anyway?"

"We have to walk near row 97. What I'm looking for is in there.", Dumbledore looked at Theseus and said.

Theseus looked back and nodded, restraining himself from putting his hands around his shoulders because of the cold.

They walked and walked for at least 15 minutes, both of them silent except for the sounds of their breathing.

When they finally reached row 97, Dumbledore turned right and faced one of the small glass orbs. It was gleaming brightest than the other ones.

Under it, there was an inscription: "For The One Who Was Born In Light and The One Who Was Born in Darkness!"

Theseus looked in shock as he read the inscription and exclaimed,

"Oh…my…God!"