Austria.
Nurmengard.
A towering fortress loomed against the sky, a grim prison once feared throughout the wizarding world.
Above its entrance were carved four familiar words: For the Greater Good.
The wizarding prison had been abandoned for half a century.
Only a single prisoner remained within its walls— Gellert Grindelwald, the first Dark Lord.
The legendary wizard who had once plunged all of Europe into chaos now resembled nothing more than a frail old man.
His hair had grown thin.
His body was gaunt and weak, as though even a gentle breeze might knock him over.
He was confined to the highest room of the tower.
Inside, there was only a stone bed, a tattered blanket, and a narrow slit carved into the black stone wall that served as a window.
Just as he was about to fall asleep, he suddenly sensed something.
His heterochromatic eyes—one blue, one gold—flared with light.
His gaze pierced the prison walls, staring into the gloomy sky beyond.
Thunder rumbled overhead.
A flash of lightning illuminated the dark chamber through the narrow opening.
Grindelwald’s entire body began trembling violently.
Unknown visions surfaced within his eyes.
Drip…
Drip…
Blood trickled from both his eyes and nostrils, splashing onto the cold stone floor.
No one knew how much time passed before he finally raised his head.
The lifeless expression on his face was replaced by excitement beyond words.
“…The Fool.” “…Hogwarts.” “The future has changed.” “Everything is different now.” Grindelwald slowly rose to his feet.
Though his appearance remained largely unchanged, the aura surrounding him was completely different.
The lifeless air that had clung to him for decades had vanished.
“Guqi.” Pop!
With a muffled crack, an elderly house-elf appeared inside the room.
“Master, did you summon Guqi?” “I need paper.” “And a pen.” “I’m going to write a letter.” “A…
a letter?” Guqi’s voice trembled.
“Master…
have you forgotten?” “None of the letters you send can ever reach him.” “Only when his letters arrive can you reply.” Grindelwald let out a quiet sigh.
He had almost forgotten how many years it had been since he had last written a letter.
“…Forget it.” “Bring me my wand.” “M-Master!” “Have you finally decided to leave?” Guqi became so excited he could barely speak.
“Wonderful!” “Guqi always knew this prison could never hold you!” “No.” “Not yet.” Grindelwald shook his head.
The excitement on the house-elf’s face disappeared as though cold water had been poured over him.
He bowed respectfully before disappearing.
Several seconds later, he returned, carrying a black wand.
Grindelwald accepted it.
The instant his fingers closed around the wand, immense magical power erupted from his frail body.
Boom!
The entire wall exploded apart.
Broken stones rained from the tower.
Spreading his arms wide, Grindelwald stood motionless as the wind and rain poured into the room.
“Master…” Guqi looked at him anxiously.
“This isn’t good for your health.” “Please return to the manor.” “It’s much warmer there.” “I said…” “…Not yet.” With a casual flick of his wand, Grindelwald restored the shattered wall as though nothing had happened.
He then tossed the wand back to the house-elf.
“Go home for now.” “He’ll be here soon.” “Yes, Master.” Sure enough…
Not long after Guqi departed, another elderly figure arrived at Nurmengard.
Wrapped in a cloak, Albus Dumbledore entered the prison.
Raindrops clung to his long silver hair and beard.
The wall silently parted, forming an archway through which he stepped before stopping in front of Grindelwald.
“It’s been decades since we last met, Dumbledore.” Grindelwald’s voice was hoarse, yet carried an unmistakable trace of relief.
“I thought you were dead.” “When I sensed the prison had been damaged.” “Disappointed?” “No.” “I’m relieved you’re still alive.” “Then again…” “There’s no one in this world capable of killing you.” Dumbledore spoke calmly.
He understood Grindelwald’s abilities better than anyone.
This prison had never truly been capable of holding him.
For decades, Grindelwald had remained here of his own accord.
In one sense, it was self-inflicted punishment.
More than that…
It was the acceptance of a man who had lost a wager and willingly honored its outcome.
“So…” “What could possibly be important enough for you to summon me in this manner?” Dumbledore got straight to the point.
The two had parted ways decades ago.
Though they still maintained occasional contact, reminiscing about the past served no purpose.
If he allowed himself to pity Grindelwald…
He wasn’t certain he could keep his emotions under control.
The consequences would be even more terrifying than Lord Voldemort’s rise.
Compared to the first Dark Lord…
The second was little more than an inexperienced recruit.
“I foresaw…” “…a new future.” Dumbledore’s expression immediately turned serious.
“What kind of future?” “One person.” “Someone capable of standing alongside Merlin…” “…or perhaps even surpassing him.” “Someone who could influence not only the entire wizarding world, but the course of the whole world itself.” A meaningful smile spread across Grindelwald’s face.
“Perhaps…” “He’ll accomplish the dream that we never could.” “That would be truly terrifying.” Grindelwald burst into laughter.
He laughed so hard he nearly lost his breath.
“Dumbledore…” “After all these years…” “You’re still such a worrier.” “Gellert.” “I’m not joking.” “Very well.” Grindelwald coughed twice before continuing.
“Then guide him.” “Hopefully he’ll grow into the sort of person you wish him to become.” “But Dumbledore…” “I’m rather concerned about your ability to teach students.” “The future may not unfold as you hope.” “Student?” Dumbledore immediately caught the key point.
“You mean…” “He’ll become one of my students?” “Possibly.” Dumbledore fell silent for a long moment.
“What exactly did you see?” “A figure.” “A figure shrouded in endless mist.” “High above everything.” “Detached from the world.” “Quietly observing the world in which we live.” “You know that’s not what I meant.” “Of course I do.” “But…” “…Look.” Grindelwald brushed aside the white hair covering one of his eyes.
Dumbledore couldn’t help drawing in a sharp breath.
The white of that eye had been almost entirely stained crimson with blood.
More than one-third of the once-golden iris had turned into a lifeless gray.
“I wanted to know who he was as well.” “But my eyes couldn’t penetrate that sea of mist.” “And…” “He merely looked at me once.” “I nearly went blind.” Dumbledore’s heart grew even heavier.
He had lived for well over a century.
He had believed there was little left in the world capable of shaking his composure.
Reality had proven him wrong.
No one understood Grindelwald’s strength better than he did.
Very few living wizards could stand against him.
Yet someone separated from him by the river of time had nearly blinded him with nothing more than a single glance.
Even if Grindelwald was no longer at his peak…
That alone spoke volumes.
Another genius had appeared in the wizarding world.
One who might come along only once in a century…
Perhaps even once in a millennium.
If guided properly…
He could become a blessing to the entire world.
If guided poorly…
He could bring about an unprecedented catastrophe.
“Did you see anything else?” “He was looking toward Hogwarts.” “And…” “He is the Fool.” “Don’t ask me what ‘the Fool’ means.” “All I felt…” “…was an overwhelming sense of reverence.” “I understand.” “The last once-in-a-century genius I failed to guide.” “He became Lord Voldemort.” “This time…” “I won’t make the same mistake.” “If you need my help…” “Just send me a letter.” Grindelwald chuckled.
“I may have no experience teaching students…” “But at least I wouldn’t raise him into a psychopathic murderer.” “That won’t be necessary.” Dumbledore turned and walked away.
As he stepped outside, the stone archway slowly closed behind him, once again becoming an unbroken wall.
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