Chapter 185 "This Is Our World"

"Horace... he... unexpectedly..." Professor Rosier's voice quivered with disbelief.

Her astonishment mirrored the incredulity on the face of Gellert Grindelwald, who appeared visibly weary.

"Yes," Grindelwald's voice was heavy with the weight of the revelation. He nodded, his expression laden with a mixture of grief and determination. "Horace Slughorn was the last phoenix, the last safeguard the Order of the Phoenix had hidden among us. He is no more..."

Professor Rosier's usually composed visage displayed subtle emotions.

Having been "colleagues" with the former Potions Master and Slytherin Head for half a century, the news weighed on her heavily.

"The last phoenix is gone, and the Order's key members are now in custody. The rebellions of centaurs, house-elves, and house-elves have been quelled," Grindelwald spoke with an air of finality.

"Anything that stood in our way has vanished," he declared, the weariness giving way to a sense of triumph. "Now, it is time to embark on our ultimate mission..."

His tone conveyed a sense of relief and anticipation, his gaze locking onto the horizon.

"To realize our most cherished ambition!"

"Lord Grindelwald," Professor Rosier's eyes appeared to glisten with tears. "For all these years, I have yearned for this day."

Grindelwald's stern countenance showed a hint of satisfaction. "Yes, today is the day."

With a wave of his wand, a colossal, black, curtain-like entity descended from the sky, shrouding them beneath its immense shadow.

This dark, sprawling figure, seemingly thin as a half-inch, nevertheless stretched to nearly the size of Hogwarts Castle.

Rising to his feet, Grindelwald directed the colossal entity to ascend once more.

A profusion of pale blue beams radiated from its form into the sky.

These blue lights initially converged before scattering once they reached a certain height, fanning out in diverse directions as if extending to every corner of Europe.

...

"What is that?" Neville squinted at the looming dark shape in the sky.

The sky above them was almost engulfed by the imposing, colossal figure.

An eerie chill emanated from the sky, almost causing the three young individuals to shiver.

"It's a Voldebat," Hermione whispered, her voice trembling. "I can hardly fathom its size... There have been rumors that Grindelwald was harboring a giant Voldebat in secret. Could it be..."

"It's possibly the most terrifying creature I've ever laid eyes upon, barring perhaps the Dementors," Neville commented in a hushed tone.

"Like Dementors, Voldebats exude fear... Only an accomplished Patronus caster can confront them," Hermione explained, her voice quivering with unease.

"We must leave, and quickly," she continued, "I can't take much more of this."

Neville concurred swiftly, and they made for the Forbidden Forest with haste.

Fortunately, the immense Voldebats circling above Hogwarts didn't linger for long. After a few passes, they veered southward.

Once the trio reached the forest's outskirts, they paused to catch their breath, inhaling the cool, refreshing air.

"Students of all years!" Professor Rosier's voice resonated across the sky. "Hogwarts Castle is secure; the intruders and insurgents have been vanquished. Please assemble at the castle gate."

Neville and Hermione exchanged glances.

"Let's return, Matthew," Neville proposed. "It seems that we've witnessed nothing, and the danger has passed..."

But Matthew shook his head with unwavering determination.

"No," he asserted resolutely, "You two go ahead... I must find something."

In truth, Matthew's condition had been slightly off since the strange encounter with the Flor flower.

Neville considered arguing, but Hermione signaled for him to desist.

The two friends left Matthew behind and hastened toward the castle.

Five minutes later, Matthew reached his destination, guided by Flor Flower.

Close to the greenhouse, Matthew discovered a boulder that drew his attention.

The soil beneath the rock appeared softer than the surrounding ground, suggesting that someone had recently disturbed it.

Furrowing his brow, Matthew examined the Flor flower in his hand.

The rhizome of the Flor flower unmistakably indicated this location.

With no one in sight, he quietly removed the top layer of soil.

His digging was not deep, but he quickly unearthed a small wooden box.

A few Flor flower petals had sprinkled onto the box's surface.

Remaining composed, Matthew opened the small container, revealing a single letter inside.

Just as he examined the letter, Professor Rosier's voice echoed through the sky once more, urgently summoning the scattered students back to the castle.

Quickly, Matthew placed the letter in his pocket and made a dash toward the castle.

...

As for the events transpiring at Hogwarts, they will remain untold for the time being.

On the other side, an hour later, Grindelwald, accompanied by his Voldebat, descended upon London.

He stood tall atop the Tower of London, but he wasn't alone. Hundreds of wizards, a diverse assembly in terms of gender, race, and skin color, had gathered.

These wizards hailed from various corners of Europe, renowned figures within the magical world of their respective countries. Many held prestigious positions.

However, now they all stood humbly before Grindelwald. The principal of Hogwarts was among them, and their eyes brimmed with anticipation.

"Lord Grindelwald!" At the front of the assembly, an elderly man with a toothless grin exuded intense excitement. "I've longed for this day..."

"You've not waited in vain, Vance," Grindelwald responded with a smile.

"Nearly everyone is here!" He surveyed the gathering, his voice calm.

These hundreds of wizards comprised Grindelwald's most unwavering and potent disciples, who had been with him during the First Wizarding War.

They referred to themselves as "saints."

Under Lord Grindelwald's leadership, they triumphed in the Wizarding War, vanquishing all opposition from the Ministries of Magic in Europe.

Until the climactic duel in 1945, when Grindelwald was defeated by Albus Dumbledore, and victory was declared.

Now, nearly half a century had passed...

Nearly fifty years had elapsed since their last reunion.

Following their "victory" half a century ago, Lord Grindelwald informed them that true triumph was still a long way off.

Upon his orders, they dispersed across Europe, infiltrating the magical communities of different European countries.

This was not a daunting task since these Ministries of Magic had been shattered during the Wizarding War.

Fifty years later, the "saints" had risen to prominent positions.

Some held ministerial roles in their respective Ministries of Magic, while others occupied key positions in the magical world of European countries.

Even in the most challenging circumstances, they persevered, with many new disciples joining their ranks.

They had waited for half a century, and today, their patience was rewarded. They had finally witnessed the moment when Grindelwald would reconvene them.

...

"My brothers, my sisters, my friends!"

"I am profoundly grateful. Once again, you've answered my call and rallied with me!"

"Nearly fifty years have passed since our last victory, and I told you then that it was not a complete triumph..."

"We have not succeeded in making the wizarding world of Europe fully embrace our ideals, nor have we entirely vanquished the defiant wizards."

"But times have changed!"

"I see the brilliance in your eyes, and I hope you don't lose your fighting spirit!"

"We haven't forgotten!" shouted a French witch, her voice resounding and sparking a round of applause.

Grindelwald smiled at her, nodding, and continued:

"With your assistance, wizards and witches across Europe, young and old, have come to know and accept our beliefs..."

"...A wizard's soul is noble; magic's prosperity will only be within a few souls, granting those with more advanced understanding... We are destined to build our world, representing the most advanced power in the entire realm."

"At the same time, thanks to your support, all opposition in Europe has been completely eradicated...the dissenting voices are dwindling, and we now hold the upper hand!"

Grindelwald paused in his speech, and the entire rooftop of the Tower of London fell silent, save for the sounds of Muggle vehicles below.

"And now, I'd like to recant what I stated fifty years ago... This time, we have achieved a total victory... A resounding triumph in the wizarding world!"

As soon as his voice fell, jubilant cheers erupted around him.

One by one, the loyal and aged faces of believers were tearful at this moment.

"Long live Lord Grindelwald!"

"Long live the wizard!"

"For the greater good!"

...

The thunderous cheers drew the curiosity of nearby Muggles, causing them to cast sidelong glances, wondering about the commotion.

Grindelwald raised his hand again, restoring quiet to the rooftop.

"Like you, I am filled with immense excitement... very, very excited," Grindelwald's face radiated a smile.

"One hundred years of unwavering resolve... one hundred years of struggle... at last, we have achieved it!"

He took a deep breath, his voice suddenly becoming impassioned:

"Now, I implore you to heed my commands... Concentrate all your strengths!"

"It is time to shatter the barrier between the wizarding and Muggle worlds... We must reveal the advanced might to the backward and ignorant Muggles!"

"From their highest echelons... control them, mislead them, and silence those Muggles who oppose us..."

"Let me witness what you have accomplished over these past fifty years... Let me see how well you understand the Muggle world... Let me see the extent of your magical prowess in manipulating a select few Muggle leaders, with thousands of Muggles at their mercy!"

"The wizard is the true master and the true ruler of this world!"

"At this moment, we shall no longer dwell in the shadows, and no longer have need to do so..."

"We can openly manifest ourselves in any corner of this world... We shall not tolerate Muggles insulting us and encroaching upon our domain!"

"The future of this world must be forged by wizards!"

Grindelwald forcefully waved his hand toward the distance.

"Apparate, and commence your journeys from this point, spreading this message throughout Europe!"

"The war between wizards and Muggles has begun!"

"No, this is not a war... but a conquest!"

"Let all of Europe come under our dominion... let them tremble!"

"For... this is our world!"

...

A series of dark whirlwinds surged from the ground.

The "saints" remained silent, obediently carrying out Grindelwald's precise instructions.

They Apparated away, returning to their homelands, and began dismantling the intricate schemes they had spent fifty years crafting.

"This is our greatest triumph!" Grindelwald shouted, his voice growing hoarse.

A few minutes later, he stood alone atop the Tower of London. The "saints" had all vanished.

They departed, each set their sights on realizing the grandest rewards.

A smile crept to the corner of Grindelwald's lips.

To this day, he had waited for almost a century. It had culminated in a perfect conclusion.

Struggling to his feet, he realized that, for the first time in decades, his appearance aligned with his true age, that of a man over a hundred years old.

In the distance, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace were shrouded in the ebb and flow of magic.

A new conflict, or perhaps a new conquest, had begun.

Yet Grindelwald had no concerns for these matters now because he had one final task to complete.

In a wisp of pale blue smoke, he disappeared, reemerging in Austria—

Europe's most heavily fortified prison is at the uppermost floor of Nurmengard Tower.

Grindelwald strode in, unreservedly entering the cell of the world's most dangerous dark wizard.

The aged Dumbledore raised his head, his expression profoundly serious.

Grindelwald declared to him with pride:

"I have won!"