"..."
That really was very much Grindelwald's style.
Avada kept that sentence in his heart and did not say it aloud. It would be best not to let Dumbledore know about his connection with Grindelwald just yet. That was not something easy to explain, unless he was willing to expose the fact that he was actually already a professor at Leach University...
"Of course, I did not completely lose my vigilance for the sake of that intelligence either."
Seeing that Avada did not respond, Dumbledore continued, his voice growing somewhat low.
"Naturally, I would not simply trust an organization connected to Grindelwald. Moreover, gaining support through grand but vague promises has always been one of his specialties. I fell for it once in my younger days, and paid a price for it. From the time I went to Nurmengard before Christmas until I officially began playing Grindelwald, I spent a full two months investigating Leach University and judging whether it truly was as Grindelwald boasted..."
"And the result?"
Avada appropriately revealed a hint of nervousness. After all, in name, he was already a prospective student of Leach University, and had already signed an enrollment contract. Logically speaking, he ought to be somewhat worried about whether he had fallen into a den of thieves.
"Do you not already have your own judgment in your heart?"
Dumbledore smiled.
"The fact that you were willing to sign a contract with someone who had infiltrated Durmstrang without my knowledge at least shows that you already had some trust in Leach University, doesn't it? And I suspect you should have become connected to this university even earlier. I know now that Professor Benjamin Baker, who once taught you, is also one of the university's people..."
"..."
However, Dumbledore did not seem to intend to concern himself with how Avada had come into contact with Leach University outside his line of sight, nor did he intend to interfere with his future. Avada did not know whether this was because Dumbledore trusted his abilities and judgment, or because there were other factors involved.
Seeing Avada fall silent for a moment, Dumbledore continued, "And rest assured. Even in my judgment, Leach University is indeed worthy of trust, and the people who established this school are all respectable and trustworthy... perhaps with the exception of Gellert Grindelwald himself."
"Miranda Goshawk, Damocles Belby, Professor Baker, even their founder, Nobby Leach himself... All of these people can be considered acquaintances of mine, and I also understand their characters and integrity. In truth, after learning that they had founded the university, there was not much suspicion left in my heart. The remaining time was merely used to confirm whether they had been bewitched, and whether their methods of doing things had been influenced by Grindelwald... To be honest, after confirming all of this, I was even somewhat resentful that they had not pulled me in back then."
...So they could admire your interactions with Grindelwald every day?
Avada's lips moved slightly, and he promptly smothered that sentence before it could slip out.
"Then... what about Karkaroff?"
In the end, he still chose to ask something so he could appear a little more natural.
"How did he become one of the university's people too?"
"Karkaroff..."
After saying the name, Dumbledore paused for a moment, then frowned slightly, as if he did not quite know how to describe it.
"He is rather a lucky fellow."
"Because the operating model of Durmstrang, which he took over, happened to be exactly what Leach University needed most—centuries of sustained concealment from the outside world; not being restrained by the Ministry of Magic or the board of governors; a high degree of freedom in teaching knowledge internally; and diplomatic methods that allowed its graduates to remain internationally recognized even when its reputation abroad was poor... These are all extremely valuable experiences for Leach University."
"And as it happened, Grindelwald, who once studied there and later occupied half of Europe, also knew the location of Durmstrang. Thus, they were able to influence Durmstrang internally and selected Karkaroff, who had just inherited the position of headmaster and had not yet fully stabilized his seat."
"Karkaroff himself is also someone who understands the times very well. He knew that he already carried a disgraceful history, and as a Briton at Durmstrang, he was essentially rootless. Naturally, he would not refuse a backer delivered right to his doorstep. And just like that, they established many years of cooperation through mutual benefit, which produced extraordinary results in this Triwizard Tournament..."
Avada could not help shuddering.
This couldn't be another decision Grindelwald made through prophecy, could it?
His own arrival had shattered fate. Although this was a fatal blow to ordinary prophets, for a master like Grindelwald, whose mental power was strong enough to swiftly process subtle fragments of possibility and whose prophetic talent was also among the very best, it was practically an epic-level enhancement...
"You already know everything that happened afterward. So, is there anything else you would like to ask?"
Dumbledore picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip, finally having roughly explained the scheming between their various groups over the past year or two.
"What do you plan to do with Voldemort?"
Avada asked again.
"You do not seem to have publicly dealt with Voldemort's main soul yet. Are you keeping it for some other use?"
"After this term ends, I will have him dissipate in front of all the reporters, and allow that scene to be seen by everyone."
Dumbledore stroked the front of his robes. That was probably where Voldemort's soul was being kept.
"Voldemort's complete death will undoubtedly produce an enormous impact. I hope to make as much use of that impact as possible. And the scene most suited for it is, without question, as the final blow to the collapse of the pure-blood front, completely destroying their confidence and morale."
"...That makes sense."
Avada thought for a while, then nodded. Afterward, he remembered something else.
"Right, Professor. Since everything has now more or less come to an end..."
He rummaged through his pocket and placed several former Horcruxes on the table, including the Resurrection Stone.
"You can take these things back now, can't you? Especially these relics of the Hogwarts founders..."
"...Thank you very much for being willing to return them, Mr. Ken."
Dumbledore stood solemnly. It seemed he used tremendous willpower to prevent his gaze from immediately shifting to the Resurrection Stone. Instead, he first put away the cup, locket, and diadem—these three founders' relics—then stored the diary in another place. Only then did he look at the Resurrection Stone again.
But his expression was much better than the first time he had seen it.
It seemed he had already recovered his memories?
"...As expected,"
After staring blankly at the Resurrection Stone for who knew how long, Dumbledore gave a bitter smile, then slowly extended a somewhat pale hand.
"No matter how many times I remind myself that this is not true resurrection, I still want to see them again, even if only once..."
As he spoke, he slowly slipped the ring onto his index finger, then reached his other hand toward it...
Click.
As Dumbledore's finger turned the dull gray stone set in the ring, three rays of light appeared before him out of thin air, then gradually transformed into three figures—two tall and one short.
They stared expressionlessly at Dumbledore, not even blinking.
"..."
Avada silently watched tears slowly stream from Dumbledore's eyes. Then, trying his best not to make any sound, he shifted his steps, carefully opened the door, and silently withdrew from the room.
(End of Chapter)