Harry Potter and the Secret Treasures

Chapter 1096: Dumbledore and Grindelwald

“That was the most painful day for me. After Ariana fell to the ground, the three of us stopped and looked at everything in disbelief,” said Dumbledore in a sad tone. “Later, Grindelwald fled, without hesitation, as anyone but I could have predicted. He vanished, with his plans for seizing power, and his schemes for Muggle torture, and his dreams for the Deathly Hallows, dreams in which I had encouraged him and helped him. Ultimately, I was left to bury my sister, and learn to live with my guilt and my terrible grief, the price of my shame.”

Knowing Dumbledore’s feelings for Ariana, the reason why Grindelwald ran away might be because of guilt, or because he was afraid of taking responsibility for the murder, but in short, he walked away and let things develop in the worst direction.

If he had stayed at that time, the landscape of the Wizarding World would have undergone earth-shaking changes…

“Earth-shaking changes!” Evan repeated.

Speaking of which, the wizarding world did need reform, but it should not be driven by careerists like Grindelwald.

And certainly not by terrorists like Voldemort, whose horribly backward concept of pure-blood glory should have been eliminated long ago.

Dumbledore was originally the most suitable person, but he had no intention of doing so. He was afraid of power and that he would make mistakes in the future. Moreover, he was too old and had spent too much energy on maintaining peace and stability in the Wizarding World.

After Ariana’s death, the two wizards who had once fought for the same goal took two completely different paths.

Dumbledore had lost his sister, paid a heavy price, and finally understood the meaning of love. At the same time, he also voluntarily gave up the pursuit of power and the idea of ​​reform, and instead maintained and improved the existing order.

Grindelwald continued to move forward according to the original concept, bringing terrible disasters and endless pain to the world.

“Years passed,” Dumbledore continued. “There were rumors about him. They said that he had procured a wand of immense power. I, meanwhile, was offered the post of Minister of Magic, not once, but several times. Naturally, I refused. I had learned that I was not to be trusted with power; I had proven, as a young and vigorous man, that power was my weakness and my temptation. If I were allowed to having power, it would lead to great folly.”

“Professor, you’d have been far better than Fudge. If you were to become Minister for Magic, perhaps you could lead the Wizarding World through reform,” Evan paused for a moment, adding, “Well, in a completely new way, not through war or the current methods…”

Evan still had the same point of view just now. There was no doubt that with the rapid development of Muggles, the Wizarding World did need changes.

Society was evolving, times were progressing. Maintaining the status quo would lead the Wizarding World to decline. However, the ambitions of individuals like Grindelwald and Voldemort, who sought to conquer the world, mixed with their personal viewpoints, were destined to fail. Using mild means to change traditional Wizarding concepts, discard backward traditions, and ultimately achieve integration with the Muggle World was the right direction.

“I am not so sure, but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it, because only in this way will they not be lost in power,” said Dumbledore. “Evan, you and Harry are both such people. If possible, I believe you could do even better.”

“I can’t!” Evan shook his head hurriedly. “I’m not interested in power. If you ask me, Hermione is the most suitable candidate.”

She was very smart, not greedy for power, not lost, and knew what she needed.

Just like the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare she led, this was a joke to many people, but liberating house-elves, improving their rights, setting up an organization, and putting it into action was not something anyone could do.

If Hermione were to become Minister of Magic, she would definitely bring new and good changes to the Wizarding World.

Evan firmly believed in this, and he could also help Hermione.

“Miss Granger is indeed outstanding, but she still has a long way to go before taking on a leadership role,” said Dumbledore. “However, she also fits the criterion I mentioned—never seeking power. Only such people are best suited to wield it. As for someone like me, better stay away from the centers of power. I was safer at Hogwarts. I think I was a good teacher…”

Evan didn’t speak; Dumbledore was indeed the best teacher and the best headmaster.

But it was undeniable that his desire to control power was still strong.

Even after such a long time, he still hadn’t gotten rid of his weaknesses. He was still a Machiavellian at heart.

This was Evan’s evaluation of the headmaster when he was in first year, and it remained true to this day.

Dumbledore wouldn’t tolerate anyone, anything, or any factor that transcended his control. He would do everything possible to understand everything.

Under his gaze, perhaps he wouldn’t do anything directly harmful to you, but it felt unsettling.

And history had proven that for a wizard like Tom Riddle, this kind of attention was actually ineffective, or could have the opposite effect. There was no way to prevent him from falling step by step into darkness.

“Anyway, while I busied myself with the training of young wizards, Grindelwald was raising an army,” Dumbledore looked at Evan. “This brings us back to the previous topic. People said he feared me, but less, I think, than I feared him.

“Not his magic, nor his power. I knew that we were evenly matched, perhaps that I was a shade more skillful. It was the truth I feared. You see, Evan, I never knew which of us, in that last, horrific fight, had actually cast the curse that killed my sister. You may call me cowardly: You would be right. I dreaded beyond all things the knowledge that it had been I who brought about her death, not merely through my arrogance and stupidity, but that I actually struck the blow that snuffed out her life.”  

“But …” said Evan. “it might have been Grindelwald, so he ran away!”

“I think the reason why he ran away was because of me. He knew what frightened me. He understood me and didn’t want me to know the truth. He kept the secret in his heart forever and didn’t tell it until the end,” said Dumbledore, wiping tears with his sleeves. “And I, like a coward, delayed meeting him until finally, it would have been too shameful to resist any longer. People were dying miserably, and he seemed unstoppable, and I had to do what I could. At that time, I was the only one who could stop him…”

Evan was silent, he thought a lot, but never knew the truth would be like this.

Was Dumbledore’s theory true? Grindelwald ran away because he was afraid of letting him know the truth?

Thinking about it carefully, these two people really…

Evan couldn’t find the words to describe them. He could only say that they really understood each other and were willing to consider each other’s feelings.

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