Sean leaned back in his chair, following Grindelwald's example, and asked.
"That at least proves that Professor Dumbledore didn't betray you. I failed when I tried to summon the phoenix that night. Is it because of that?"
Grindelwald reached out and grabbed a bottle of red wine out of thin air. With a wave of his hand, the cork popped out.
After casually taking two sips of wine, he said, "It's a possibility. I had some suspicions before but didn't choose to go into it. Unexpectedly, Albus still cooperated with those guys."
"Cooperation?" Sean asked puzzled.
Grindelwald turned his head and glanced at him, "Sean, do you think that the whole thing is a game set up by me and Albus?"
"Isn't it?" This made Sean a little confused.
"Wrong," Grindelwald shook his fingers, "It was Albus's plan, and it had nothing to do with me. After what happened that night, I didn't feel his killing intent, so I played along with him."
Hearing this, Sean frowned all of a sudden.
"After that, have you contacted Professor Dumbledore?"
Grindelwald smiled, "Since he didn't tell me in advance, why should I go to him afterward?"
Sean's eyes twitched.
"So I failed to summon the Phoenix, and you also know the situation of Phoenix and Arianna." Sean said.
Grindelwald waved his hand to signal him to shut up and took another sip of wine before continuing, "You don't need to guess what it could be. Whether the great Albus Dumbledore is being blackmailed or his self-sacrifice is making the move. I really don't care which one. I just need to let him explain it to me."
Sean sighed with a headache.
Knowing that he couldn't ask or persuade, Sean simply changed the subject, "Who are the group of 'neither people nor ghosts' guys you mentioned before? Is it related to the theft of the key to Misty Land? "
Grindelwald sat up a little bit, and his tone was not so casual.
"' Returners', this is what I call them. In fact, there were some signs before the key was stolen. A very strange group of guys are like ghosts, but they can really affect reality."
"Returners..." Sean thought on the meaning of the word and asked, "Are they all dead people? I heard you mentioned the names of several ancient Greek seers."
Grindelwald nodded, "At present, all of them are long-dead wizards, and they have returned to the real world in an unknown way. The strange thing is that at the beginning, all the Returners I came into contact with were insane, and even the well-known kind wizards in history have become lunatics. But their strength is not strong, and they can only affect reality on a small scale."
"It's just that I have seen a vague future. If they are allowed to exist in the real world in this state, it will cause a lot of irreversible disasters. Unfortunately, I have no good way to deal with them, so I leave these matters to Albus."
Grindelwald showed some regret for the first time, "I didn't care at the time, but now that I think about it. The key theft may have caused unpredictable changes, and Albus didn't know what was happening. Things went on. It became me being the hunted one."
"Back then, I kindly extinguished the flames, but because of human nature," Grindelwald sneered, "those stupid wizards, although they have the same noble blood as mine, I had already expected their moves."
Sean raised his eyebrows, "So, that's why you planted those 'bombs'?"
"Well, isn't it reasonable?" Grindelwald spread his hands with a smile, "I didn't know that the ancient pure-blood family was connected with those Returners. I thought they wanted to suppress me to regain the power of thousands of years ago. But I know things are going to end weird once Newt shows up. That boy only listens to Albus, and Albus has always been in charge of taking care of the Returners."
"Why did that group of people appear, and what is their purpose?" Sean asked.
"Who knows? Probably, this is why our great Albus Dumbledore made these weird plans. Of course, it probably has something to do with you. After all, you are the one in the prophecy." Grindelwald winked at him.
Sean ignored Grindelwald's joke. He crossed his arms and said to himself, "If it has something to do with me, maybe it's because you want to use the power in my body?"
"Don't worry," Grindelwald said with an indifferent attitude, "You just need to remember that no matter what, the Pride will always be inside you."
"So, maybe they're coming to get me?" Sean asked.
Grindelwald stretched out his hand and was knocked out of thin air, and Sean only felt a pain in his head.
"Stupid. Remember, Sean," Grindelwald narrowed his eyes slightly, "What is a wizard? Our blood represents something, Miracle. Huge and incomparable power? Wizards are best at digesting great power and creating miracles."
He smiled with extreme confidence, "Controlling Pride is something else."
Sean couldn't help but laugh.
"Should I thank you for trusting and valuing me, sir?"
"You're welcome." Grindelwald took a sip of red wine and leaned back comfortably, "But also remember that what to do next requires you to think and decide on your own."
Sean nodded thoughtfully. He understood what Grindelwald meant.
He is not the Riddler. Grindelwald is like himself. He is a pragmatist who obeys his will. If he has effective suggestions, he will definitely not hide them.
However, Pride's power and the prophecy point to the wizard's essence. The idea of a miracle. The ability of the Seer is not omnipotent, and many hidden dangers cannot be avoided.
Sean raised his head and asked, "Merlin's Weekly Newsletter, is it part of your plan?"
"Of course," Grindelwald smiled casually, "To be precise, I was the founder of that newspaper about a hundred years ago. The current editor-in-chief is the heir of my old subordinate. Times are always changing, and wizards have always needed to put on a show."
Sure enough, Grindelwald's influence is actually all over the world, but he has been serving as the principal to cover up his plans.
"Then, I saw that new report. How did you get the photo of the scene? Why doesn't anyone notice the camera?" Sean asked with great interest.
Grindelwald grabbed the thin air again, and a huge camera appeared in his hand. He pressed the shutter casually, and the flash and smoke burst out together.
"There. Do you think the hunting team will be able to detect the movement if you press it now?"
"Of course—" Halfway through speaking, Sean showed a look of sudden realization.
What is one of Grindelwald's most recognizable things? That is his unique Transfiguration technique. Therefore, he doesn't need to be in the scene. All he needed to do was just to recreate the whole scene.
"Who is that person?" Sean asked about another topic that interested him.
Grindelwald smiled quite, "Let me just show you."
He didn't take out Sean's wand and still cast spells silently without a wand. Immediately afterward, Sean saw a line of writing made of blood forming in mid-air.
"There is a Returner who is offering help. He is currently monitoring the treatment floor at the secret location of the headquarters."
Sean cast a puzzled look over.
"Marshall was rescued. To be honest, I didn't expect that the Returner has a way to save them, using the goblin's waterfall water."
"Isn't that something only in Gringotts?" Sean asked.
Grindelwald explained to him, "Actually, the Water is a magic potion specially used to rinse off a spell, but the manufacturing technique is only known by the goblins. I wanted to borrow some for research back then, but the goblins didn't allow me to get some."
"What are you going to do next? Do you need my help?"
Grindelwald glanced at Sean strangely, "You are very enthusiastic, but the current situation is unknown, and you are not needed for the time being. Don't worry. If necessary, I will ask you for help."
"What's your next step?"
"Next step?" Grindelwald showed a smile, "Since the great Dumbledore didn't give any hints, I have no choice but to complete the unfinished business."
He thought about provoking a war against the Muggles.
Probably seeing Sean's helpless expression, Grindelwald laughed loudly, "Sean, I forgot to tell you, my dream has temporarily changed."
"Huh?"
"What?"
In the Room of Requirements, the two stared at each other. Sean, who had been waiting for Grindelwald's answer, felt awkward waiting for a while.
"Tell me then." Sean said.
Grindelwald laughed, "Wouldn't knowing the answer in advance is boring? Let's just wait until the right time. It might add some surprises to your boring school life."
Seeing Sean rolling his eyes, Grindelwald smiled happily. He looked up, drank the remaining red wine, and threw a bottle over.
Sean received it in his hand. It was a bottle about 30 centimeters high, light blue but the material didn't seem to be ceramic or glass.
"What's this?"
"The Waterfall Water." Grindelwald replied casually.
"Huh?" Sean's brows frowned.
Grindelwald licked his lips and let out a wild and happy laugh, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Before I came to Hogwarts, I went to find the goblins. My kindness should move my God, Albus." I just took the goblins' inventory and gave those cute little ones a delayed blast spell."
Sean has nothing to say.
"It's not bad. It can wash away all magic. Camouflage, defensive magic, and curses. It can be used offensively or defensively. After you have used the Water for 24 hours, it will no longer have any effect on you."
Sean immediately thought of the greatest use of this thing.
Grindelwald continued, "I'll give it to you to play with. By the way, this thing needs to be used quickly after the cork is opened, and it is usually kept in a place where the sun didn't shine on it."
After speaking, he stood up and walked towards the Vanishing Cabinet.
"Professor, are you leaving?" Sean also stood up.
Grindelwald waved his hands without looking back, "Someone came to me to talk about the old days. I'm busy."
"When's the next time we meet?" Sean asked.
"You'll know. Good night, child. I am happy today that I met you."
Grindelwald walked into the Vanishing Cabinet, turned around, smiled at Sean, and then closed the cabinet door conveniently.
When Sean walked over and opened the cabinet door again, it was already empty.
"He really is an old man who does whatever he wants..." Sean muttered.
He looked at the Water in his hand and then directly hid it in the ring. This thing should be quite useful in critical times. By the time Sean tiptoed back to the dormitory and climbed into bed, it was already two o'clock in the morning.
"Tomorrow is a free day. I can sleep a little longer." Sean yawned and covered himself with the quilt.
At this moment, a sudden wave of magic power came from the inside of his left arm.
It was the Dark Mark.
Sean pressed the Dark Mark and felt its contents.
Barty Jr knelt on the ground on one knee and said respectfully, "Master, I'm sorry to disturb you in the middle of the night, but I think there is some news I must tell you."
"I hope your news is as important as you say, my friend," Sean said with no joy or sorrow.
Barty Jr buried his head deeper, "Master, I have controlled my father with the Imperius Curse."
Sean raised his eyebrows, wrapped the quilt tightly, and said coldly, "Good job."
"This is all master's plan." Barty Jr flattered him first, "I learned a piece of news from him about the secret information I mentioned to you last time when the minister handed over."
"Oh?"
"The ten levels represent the degree of danger, and the degree of danger is ranked from top to bottom. The degree of danger of the Blood Pact in the secret information of the Ministry of Magic—"
"Is the highest level, numbered ten."
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