Watching Grindelwald being surrounded and escorted away by the crowd like a triumphant victor, Dumbledore's gaze was unusually complicated.
He understood that from this day on, the Grindelwald he would be facing was no longer the sa as before.
A Grindelwald completely transford—more dangerous and troubleso than ever.
Wade Reynolds and Tom stood silently behind Dumbledore, likewise staring at the now-glorious and confident Grindelwald in the distance.
This ti, he wasn't even holding a wand.
"Let's go back…" Dumbledore said quietly.
Wade tugged on Dumbledore's robe and pointed toward Picquery. "Aren't you going to say sothing to her?"
Dumbledore turned to look at the now dazed and devastated President Picquery.
After being played like this by Grindelwald, her position as president was essentially finished.
Even if she technically remained in office, once she was completely sidelined, there'd be nothing she could actually do.
Dumbledore let out a long sigh. "In her current state, I doubt she'd hear anything from anyone…"
A powerful woman who had held authority for so long suddenly lost all of it within a few hours... And even ca to realize that the power she once held might have been an illusion all along.
The blow was indescribable.
For a witch like President Picquery, with her kind of temperant, any words of comfort at a ti like this would feel no different from mockery.
"If she hadn't planned to stab her allies in the back, maybe she wouldn't have ended up like this," Tom said calmly.
He felt nothing for Picquery's downfall—only that she deserved it.
Because what he hated most was soone who would betray their allies on a whim.
Especially after he had once put himself in Dumbledore's shoes to think things through…
It wasn't just Picquery—Tom couldn't understand Dumbledore's willingness to allow himself to be betrayed either. Even more so if it was voluntary.
Frankly, he thought if the old man really did get stabbed in the back one day, he'd deserve it.
Dumbledore looked at Tom with so surprise, seemingly not expecting soone his age to already understand the underlying stakes.
Being stared at, Tom imdiately realized he had been a little too chatty today.
Just as he was thinking of how to shift Dumbledore's attention over to Wade—"This is for you, sir."
Suddenly, soone walked over and handed Dumbledore a piece of parchnt.
The person was wearing a top hat with the brim pressed low, making it hard to see his face.
Dumbledore unfolded the parchnt and imdiately recognized the familiar handwriting…
He was montarily stunned, and in that brief lapse, the ssenger had already disappeared into the crowd.
Wade craned his neck, poking his head out from beside Dumbledore's arm for a look.
It was actually a note from Grindelwald!
[Dumbledore, I'm glad you were here today, and even brought two little ones along to witness my rebirth...
By the way, how's my wand working for you?
Alright, that's enough small talk.
I almost forgot to tell you—Heh,
A few days ago, your two friends wanted to join our little gathering.
But I thought it best if they didn't show up, so… I had to invite them to spend a few days elsewhere as guests.
You can go and release them now.
Oh, they're currently in the Magical Congress's dungeon.
Go on in—no one will stop you this ti.
What a sha—you actually failed to notice them when you snuck into the dungeon that day.
I gave you the chance, Dumbledore. You simply didn't take it.
Until next ti.
Yours faithfully,
Gellert Grindelwald.
P.S. Now then, Dumbledore… who's the true winner in the end?]
"Professor… Grindelwald captured your two friends?" Wade asked curiously.
Dumbledore folded the note, his expression turning grave. "Follow ."
With that, he led Wade and Tom against the flow of the crowd, heading toward the Magical Congress's dungeon.
This place had originally been ant for the temporary holding of prisoners awaiting trial.
So under normal circumstances, there weren't many guards stationed here.
It was only after Grindelwald's arrival that the number of guards had increased.
At the mont, those guards had yet to be dismissed.
However, when the guards saw Dumbledore, they didn't even ask a single question—they just opened the door for him.
Dumbledore sighed helplessly once again.
There was no doubt now: the majority of the dungeon guards were also under Grindelwald's influence.
Which ant that during his last visit to the dungeon, he could've left anyti he wanted.
But it made sense. If Grindelwald could win over Aurors and even high-ranking officials, what were a few dungeon guards to him?
Sure enough, the three of them encountered no obstacles as they made their way inside.
And to keep them from getting lost, so guards even kindly pointed them in the right direction along the way.
Even Dumbledore, usually calm and composed, was looking grimr by the second.
Wade couldn't help but marvel inwardly. Grindelwald truly lived up to his na.
Even now, he hadn't missed the chance to show off his grip on power—just to pressure Dumbledore a little more.
-Look, the Arican Magical Congress is already under my control! I can open the dungeon remotely! I don't even know how I'd lose!-
At last, the three of them stopped in front of a cell.
Through the iron bars, they could see two n sitting on the ground, back to back, staring blankly into space.
One of the n was thin, with freckles on his face, while the other was short and stout, sporting a pair of small mustaches.
What stood out the most, though, was the Bowtruckle beside them—tied to a pillar with thick iron chains that were even bulkier than its arms and legs. The chains faintly glowed with a reddish hue.
Wade was stunned. What cri did this little thing commit to deserve such treatnt?
"Dumbledore?!"
Upon seeing Dumbledore, the two n ran over excitedly.
A guard stepped forward and unlocked the cell door.
The thin man rushed up and yanked the door open.
"Is it finally our turn to testify now?"
"Yeah, we had just arrived when the Aurors arrested us… They said Newt entered the country illegally and that I was a Muggle trespassing in the Magical Congress… Has it all been cleared up now?"
"Newt… Jacob…" Dumbledore looked at them with a helpless expression. "The trial's over. Grindelwald… was acquitted."
"What?!" Newt froze completely.
Jacob's face turned pale. "You an… that evil guy… got released? What is the Arican Magical Congress even doing? I've seen house-elves who could run things better than them!"
"How could this happen…" Newt murmured. "If we had arrived in ti…"
"You actually did arrive in ti… It's just that you didn't know. The Arican Magical Congress had been infiltrated by Grindelwald's people long ago…" Dumbledore sighed. "In fact, I only just found out that you two were being held here… I thought maybe sothing happened and you missed it."
"Miss it? That's impossible! We set out the mont we got your letter!" Newt said anxiously. "So, we were secretly imprisoned by Grindelwald's people? He… How could you just let him get away with it?"
"This ti Grindelwald used a different approach, Newt… We had no evidence to prove he committed any of the cris…" Dumbledore said. "And I… because of certain complicated ties between us, my testimony wasn't accepted…"
"We… well, we got caught. Like two poor Nifflers drugged and tied up." Jacob sighed. "Too cruel… Look at him…"
As he spoke, Jacob pointed to the pitiful Bowtruckle. "rlin's beard, there isn't even a keyhole! The little guy couldn't have picked the lock if he tried!"
At that mont, a nearby guard drew his wand and pointed it at the Bowtruckle.
Clank! The chains around the Bowtruckle loosened instantly.
Newt quickly stepped forward and gently scooped up the weakened little creature, returning it to the safety of his pocket.
"We can still testify! We can refile the charges!" Newt said firmly.
"At least… not with the Arican Magical Congress," Dumbledore replied. "The fact that he let release you both proves that he's not afraid of your accusations in the slightest…"
Hearing this, even Jacob, who was usually full of words, fell silent.
"In any case, let's leave here first," Dumbledore said.
At that mont, another guard approached carrying a suitcase.
Newt snatched the suitcase at once. "Did you feed them?"
"Feed what?" the guard asked, confused.
Newt's eyes widened. "Oh! rlin! They haven't eaten in days!"
As he spoke, he opened the suitcase lid and climbed in himself.
Monts later, wild roars and howls of beasts echoed from within the suitcase...
Tom stared at the pitch-black suitcase, looking a little confused. "Did… did the suitcase just eat him?"
"Oh, of course not. Actually, he just keeps so adorable creatures in his suitcase… yeah, very adorable… so don't worry, he's fine," Jacob said after a pause. "You'll get used to it if you know him long enough."
"He keeps animals… in a suitcase?" Tom was a bit surprised. He'd seen the Undetectable Extension Charm before, but he'd never seen anyone take it this far!
"Nice to et you, I'm Jacob Kowalski! Unlike you lot, I'm a No-Maj! Oh… you're little wizards from Britain, right? Then maybe you don't know what a No-Maj is—it's just what we call non-magical folks here in Arica. In Britain, you'd say—"
"I know what a Muggle is," Tom cut in, waving his hand impatiently. "My grandfather is a Muggle."
"Ah! Is that so…" Jacob nodded repeatedly, though for so reason, that sentence felt oddly familiar to him.
________
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