"That's not necessary," Dumbledore replied calmly. "I only hope that when you sit in on other professors' classes, you refrain from disrupting them. Whatever opinions you have can wait until after class."
"Of course," Grindelwald replied.
"Then… since you've finished observing my lesson, if you have any suggestions, you can share them now," Dumbledore said.
"Without a doubt, your lesson had almost no flaws… however…" Grindelwald mused.
"However what?"
"How much funding does Hogwarts receive for education each year?"
"Why are you asking that?"
"I just think that for a class like Defense Against the Dark Arts, no matter how engaging the lecture, it still lacks something," Grindelwald said with a smile.
"You mean… a lack of practical experience?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes, it certainly lacks practice," Grindelwald said, closing his notebook.
"Our curriculum includes practical lessons as well, it's just that—"
"Just that they're not part of every class, right? I'm guessing you only do hands-on practice when teaching students how to deal with something like a Boggart, isn't that so?"
"That's true. Boggarts are relatively easy to obtain. After all, I can't exactly bring every dark creature from the textbook into the classroom…"
"Why not?" Grindelwald smiled. "Students only truly learn when they're facing the real thing. You and I both know that. Illustrations and text alone can never leave a deep impression."
"That's not acceptable—it's far too dangerous!" Dumbledore frowned.
"With you as their professor, what dark creature could possibly harm a student under your supervision?" Grindelwald replied pleasantly.
"We couldn't possibly gather that many dark creatures…"
"Collecting them as teaching material isn't difficult. What's difficult is their maintenance afterward—and that takes money. That's why I asked how much funding you receive."
"We don't have the manpower…" Dumbledore was still trying to find a reason to refuse.
"The Ministry has already expanded its staff. Hiring a few specialists to manage these creatures shouldn't be an issue." Grindelwald's face remained smiling, but his tone was firm.
"So this is your idea of reform, Grindelwald?" Dumbledore said unhappily.
"Yes. I believe students should learn real skills," Grindelwald replied calmly.
...
"Armando, I think he's actually gone mad…"
In the Headmaster's office, Dumbledore spoke with a frown.
He had just finished explaining everything that had happened that day to Headmaster Dippet.
"Hmm… and where does he plan to keep those creatures?" Dippet asked.
"He said there are plenty of places in the Forbidden Forest… Wait, Armando, you're not actually considering agreeing to this, are you?" Dumbledore couldn't help asking.
He had assumed Dippet would join him in finding a way to stop Grindelwald, but to his surprise, the Headmaster hadn't even considered it that way.
"His proposal isn't entirely unreasonable," Dippet said leisurely.
Dumbledore said nothing, just kept staring at him.
"What is it? You think I've gone senile and you're eager to take my seat? That's wonderful! I've wanted to retire for ages!" Dippet said cheerfully.
"Oh, please. You're still a few years shy of two hundred—you're in your prime," Dumbledore replied irritably, waving a hand.
Dippet looked at him in mock shock. "Ah… so cold and heartless! All right, no more jokes. Objectively speaking, Grindelwald's idea isn't entirely without merit."
"That's far too dangerous…" Dumbledore said.
"Albus… we must remain objective. No matter his past misdeeds, we can't reject every decision he makes solely because of what he's done before," Headmaster Dippet said, frowning. "Besides… even assuming the worst intentions, I don't see how he could manipulate this situation for his own gain. Strictly speaking, he's already made his move, just not completed it yet. We might as well wait and see how things develop. At the very least, we haven't yet needed to use our final measures—that's good news, isn't it?"
"Hmm… for now, that's all we can do…"
"Or… you could give in, take that Ministry position with the welfare office, and then—"
"Armando."
"All right, all right. Seems you're still more interested in my position than that one."
"Armando, you're still in your prime."
"Ha! Don't try to flatter an old man! Did you talk to Wade yet?"
Dumbledore looked at him in surprise. "You haven't spoken to him?"
"What? I thought you did! You can't expect me to handle that, I'm just an old man! You're far more suited for it. That boy's always respected you greatly!"
"I… sigh, that's exactly why I don't know how to bring it up…" Dumbledore said bitterly.
…
From that day on, aside from Dumbledore's classes, Grindelwald began appearing in other professors' lessons as well.
Sometimes he appeared in the lower-year classes, sometimes in the upper-year ones.
He even showed up in the career counseling sessions for the graduating students, introducing next June's Ministry recruitment opportunities to those about to finish school.
Every time he attended a lesson, he would take careful notes, then ask the professor questions or offer his own suggestions.
He was also often seen in the corridors, the Great Hall, and even on the Quidditch pitch, chatting with students to learn more about their lives.
To anyone watching, he looked every bit the devoted Head of the Department of Education, not a scheming man with hidden ambitions.
As time went on, the students' initial wariness toward Grindelwald began to fade. Some even started to develop a fondness for the amiable, soft-spoken official.
…
By mid-October, the weather had already grown chilly.
That day, Wade walked around the club's activity room.
After overhearing a few students praising Grindelwald, he turned on his heel and headed straight for the door.
Tom asked suspiciously, "Where are you going?"
"The time has come, Tom," Wade said with delight.
"What time?" Tom frowned. "Does this have something to do with what they were just saying?"
"Of course… when they start saying things like that… Heeh.." A faint, unreadable smile appeared on Wade's face. "Tom, I need to go see Professor Dumbledore. Want to come along?"
"I… I haven't even started learning Occlumency yet…"
"That's fine. You don't know what I'm thinking anyway, and Dumbledore isn't the type to go rummaging through someone's mind," Wade said, waving his hand dismissively.
Tom stared at him in surprise. Was this… the first time he hadn't been rejected by this guy?
"Just follow my lead later. Whatever expression I make, you make the same one. Hmm, you're pretty good at imitating me, aren't you?"
"…Fine," Tom muttered, his curiosity now thoroughly piqued.
…
Dumbledore stood in front of the warm fireplace, letting out a long sigh.
He knew he couldn't delay any longer.
Over the past days, he had clearly noticed the changes among the students.
And yet, Grindelwald hadn't done anything openly inappropriate. Even Headmaster Dippet had no idea how to stop him.
Dumbledore was certain that in time, once the students' caution and fear toward Grindelwald completely disappeared, that would be when he'd start instilling his ideology into them.
So… even if Grindelwald hadn't revealed his true intentions yet, they couldn't afford to wait any longer. He had to talk to Wade Reynolds today.
Dumbledore turned toward the door, and just as he opened it, he was startled to find Wade and Tom standing right outside—both of them looking anxious.
"Wade, Tom… what's wrong? Did something happen?"
For a split second, Dumbledore thought Grindelwald might have finally lost control and attacked the students.
But he quickly dismissed that absurd thought.
Although, if Grindelwald had done that, it would've actually made things easier to deal with…
"Professor, how can you all have no reaction at all?" Wade said urgently.
Tom had no idea what Wade was talking about, but that didn't stop him from nodding along with the same anxious expression.
"What?" Dumbledore asked, puzzled.
"Professor, I went to the club today—do you know what I heard?" Wade asked.
"Calm down, Wade, Tom. Let's go inside first. You can explain everything slowly," Dumbledore said, stepping aside to let them into his office before closing the door behind them.
"Please, sit down. Don't rush, just tell me everything." Dumbledore calmly pulled out two chairs for them, then poured each a drink.
"I heard everyone praising Grindelwald!" Wade said after taking a sip of the drink Dumbledore had handed him. "A month ago, that would've been impossible! That man—everything he's been doing lately is just to gain everyone's trust. Before long, he'll start pushing his ideology on them! Why hasn't the school reacted at all?"
Tom kept his head down, quietly drinking, not daring to meet Dumbledore's eyes. But when he heard Wade's words, he couldn't help feeling startled.
From Tom's perspective, wasn't Grindelwald's activity something Wade had tacitly allowed? Why was he suddenly going to Dumbledore about it now? For a moment, Tom felt completely confused.
Dumbledore looked at Wade with approval. "Very keen insight, Wade."
_________
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