allendalepharm Chapter 174 For a Greater Good!
Chapter 174 For a Greater Good!
Chapter 174 For a Greater Good!
The castle of Nurmengard before us looked extremely eerie and sinister.
Nestled amidst a range of mountains, a towering castle with a more modern, minimalist style evokes a unique feeling of darkness and coldness, with an uncontrollable chill constantly rising from the depths of one's heart.
This is a prison built by Gellert Grindelwald during his time in power to imprison his opponents.
Ironically, it was Grindelwald himself who ended up in prison.
"Sometimes I think the reason why Headmaster Dumbledore has such high prestige is because he didn't kill Grindelwald, but instead locked him up."
Lockhart looked up at the towering building that seemed to pierce the clouds and sighed, "Of course, that's just malicious speculation. I know something about what happened behind the scenes."
But sometimes that's just how things are. Lockhart thought that if Harry Potter hadn't killed Voldemort, but instead imprisoned him in a castle that only he could control, wouldn't he at least have become Minister of Magic?
Emmm...
Lockhart chuckled and shook his head, rejecting the idea himself. Harry's inner weakness and relatively low level of magical achievement were insufficient to justify such a thing.
But this is just one possible approach.
Because Voldemort's most unique Horcrux, the diary, was in his possession.
Harry can't do it, but he can!
"Vincent, tell me, how do you get an extremely powerful wizard to change a decision and belief that he has held for nearly fifty years?"
Crabbe was a little confused, wondering why the professor was asking such a question. He shook his head and said, "I don't understand, but you said that we should look for solutions based on characteristics. I guess that's the idea."
Lockhart laughed heartily, looking with great satisfaction at the student who seemed clumsy but was actually quite insightful. "Yes, a perfect answer."
Rescuing Grindelwald from Nurmengard will not be an easy task. Grindelwald has never been a peaceful person, and this would undoubtedly rashly and completely change the entire world order, and would also thoroughly anger Dumbledore.
The relationship between Dumbledore and Grindelwald is not just about affection; the political lines and influence behind it involve countless wizards, making it a far from simple matter.
This has touched upon Dumbledore's fundamental interests and bottom line. If he dares to mess around, Lockhart believes he might really be killed by the angry old Dumbledore.
That's why Lockhart told the still somewhat naive forest witch that he could only say he would try his best, but he couldn't guarantee anything.
In fact, the answer to how to release Grindelwald from Nurmengard was already obvious.
right in front of you.
Lockhart smiled and looked up at the words above the main gate of the prison castle: "For the greater good!"
Everyone knows that this is Grindelwald's idea, but few people know that it was proposed by Dumbledore.
Find solutions to address these specific characteristics!
Perhaps at some point, for a greater good, Dumbledore will release Grindelwald on his own initiative!
What are the characteristics?
It was Dumbledore's weakness!
Lockhart keenly sensed Dumbledore's weariness—a weariness stemming from being overwhelmed by the times, from being unable to withstand the various treacherous schemes of the evil Voldemort, and from having little expectation for the future.
But such fatigue was clearly not enough. Although the times had not developed much under Dumbledore's influence, they were still moving in a positive direction. Voldemort was also having his Horcruxes removed one by one. As for the so-called future, Dumbledore was more eager to embark on a new journey after death.
So it's not enough.
The situation had reached a point where Dumbledore realized he couldn't handle it, prompting this seemingly powerful figure to consider whether to release Grindelwald to help.
"I am influencing this era..."
"I'm also influencing the mysterious person..."
Lockhart's lips curled slightly. "And now, it's time to influence them themselves. Even the strongest fortress is often easily breached from within."
Me, the little mouse~
He really is a villain.
"Let's go, we're going to meet a powerful wizard who could change the course of history."
……
There was no one else in the castle except Grindelwald, but people need to eat, drink, and relieve themselves. If there really wasn't anyone else, Grindelwald would have starved to death in the castle long ago.
Even the most powerful wizard cannot live by breathing alone.
A house-elf led Lockhart into the castle.
Interestingly, Lockhart recognized it, "Mengduoduo?"
Yes, this house-elf is named "Mondodo," a house-elf from Hogwarts who came to his office to help collect the laundry.
"You still remember my name?" Meng Duoduo was clearly pleasantly surprised, a happy smile spreading across her face. Then, realizing her lack of respect, she quickly bowed and said, "Professor Lockhart, hello."
"Hello, hello." Lockhart greeted Mondodo as he walked forward, chuckling, "So, the operation of Nurmengard is actually funded by Hogwarts providing the resources?"
Mengduoduo, clearly unaware of the subtle nuances in his words, nodded. "Yes, we'll take turns sending some elves here to clean and repair, and bring food here every day."
Despite the seemingly vast distances between Hogwarts in the Scottish Highlands and Nurmengard in Austria, the powerful spatial abilities of house elves mean that meal delivery is actually not much different from that between the Hogwarts kitchen and the headmaster's office.
"Does Dumbledore come here often?" Lockhart asked with interest.
Mengduoduo looked around in terror, even though there couldn't possibly be anyone else there. She shook her hands and head violently. "Professor, you can't ask me such a question. I can't answer it."
"Alright." Lockhart didn't make things difficult for the house-elf, and smiled gently as he had it lead the way.
Experiencing the prison castle up close, he could clearly feel the powerful magical energy permeating the place—a unique castle magic, perhaps even a combination of several.
This kind of magical knowledge is generally inaccessible to wizards; it is almost always held by ancient pure-blood families, who never aspire to spread it.
For example, not every member of the Hogwarts Castle's protective magic knows about it. Sometimes, if a member is hostile to the headmaster, they can't even enter the school without an invitation, and even if they know the school's true location, they'll only find ruins.
Walking through the Nurmengard prison castle, one is surrounded by powerful magical energy.
A terrifying chill constantly rose from the depths of their hearts, tormenting the minds of all living beings in this place, even affecting house-elves like Mondodo.
It involuntarily chose to approach Crabbe, and felt the relaxation brought about by this magical confrontation amidst the ground flame patterns of the opponent's "Soul Campfire".
Finally, after passing one magical guard after another (similar to the sculpted guards at the entrance to the Hogwarts Headmaster's office) and climbing one stone staircase after another, we finally arrived at the highest prison.
The prison was not large, just a small room with stone walls on all four sides. There was only a stone bed and a tattered thin blanket. The windows in the walls were so narrow that they looked like cracks in the stone.
A somewhat thin old man sat quietly on the stone bed, staring at the sky through the cracked window, motionless.
Lockhart frowned, glancing at Mondodo beside him. "Dumbledore just locked him up like this?"
Having lived in such an environment for nearly fifty years, he asked himself honestly, "If it were me, I probably would have gone crazy!"
If he were truly insane or mentally twisted, he really wouldn't want Dumbledore to release this great villain. Grindelwald is far more terrifying than Voldemort!
Meng Duoduo quietly gestured to the cell door, which was not locked at all, and then quietly pointed her long finger to the floor below.
Oh~~~
understood.
nerve!
It almost made me burst out laughing.
Are you playing house?
So this place can be considered Grindelwald's reception room in Nurmengard? A window to showcase his public image?
Politicians are truly filthy; whatever they want to express is already ingrained in their very being and in every detail of their lives.
Lockhart rolled his eyes, speechless.
"Greetings, Mr. Grindelwald!" Crabbe stepped forward and opened the door. Lockhart went in and gave the old man a standard wizard's salute.
Grindelwald turned around, smiling at him. One of his strange, heterochromatic eyes gleamed, and a slight smile played on his lips. "Now it's finally confirmed. I see a different future in you!"
Lockhart's gaze sharpened, and he realized that the person before him was the most special 'prophet' among wizards.
He didn't know how powerful the Prophet was, but he had experienced "time adventures" twice. Once was when he used the power of the Cobben bloodline, during which Voldemort inexplicably gained an old friend. The other time was with Snape's potion, during which Snape broke free from the shackles of time and had the possibility of a new life and a potion to undo the past.
But this is "present-to-past," while the prophet is "present-to-future," and Lockhart really didn't know what this magical power was like.
He had experienced a similar magical power once before, namely the prophecy of Sybil Trelawney, which foretold his death and the death of Voldemort.
It's terrifying and incredibly bizarre!
Lockhart remained expressionless, revealing a gentle smile. "Really? That's wonderful. It means I've truly forged my own magical path. Magic is life, and life is full of adventures. Naturally, the future will be different."
“Yes, it’s different now.” Grindelwald gestured to a stone slab embedded in the wall opposite him, resembling a table or bench, and gestured to Lockhart and Crabbe, “Please sit down.”
"Magic is life, an interesting saying."
He sighed, setting aside the book on his lap, "Voldemort the Mysterious Man: A Pureblood Supremacist with a Muggle Father?", which was covered in bookmarks. He glanced with interest at the soul fire burning beneath Crabbe's feet, nodded, and looked at Lockhart again. "Magic supremacy, that's the most interesting slogan I've heard in decades."
A strange smile involuntarily crept onto his face. "I can imagine how much of a headache Dumbledore would have for you. Magic supremacy, ha, that touches on the sore spot of this era more than any 'wizard supremacy' or 'pure-blood supremacy'."
“Oh, no, that’s not it,” Lockhart retorted. “Mr. Grindelwald, this isn’t a political line; it’s simply a passionate love for magic. It should be pure.”
Grindelwald said sarcastically, "Let's assume you're right, but your followers won't see it that way."
Lockhart shrugged nonchalantly. "I won't be kidnapped by anyone. I don't want to, and nobody can force me to do it!"
"Interesting!" Grindelwald smiled, nodded, and carefully examined the young man before him. "As a prophet, I am willing to search for answers in the river of time and offer you guidance, one about life and the other about magic."
Lockhart paused for a moment, and for some reason thought of Professor Trelawney's prophecy to him. He quickly interrupted her, "Oh, no, I think I can walk my own path. I think my magic will naturally blossom in life."
"Too late!"
Grindelwald raised his hand with a smile. "It was too late from the moment you made your promise to my follower, Lady Benitez (the Forest Witch)."
Bang!
Powerful magical energy distorted the entire space, and beams of joyful yet eerily strange silver-white light were pulled from Lockhart's body, constantly bursting with lightning in mid-air like wriggling, grotesque slime.
That was a guardian spirit, almost like an Obscurus, created by the Guardian Charm that Lockhart guided Tom to unleash!
Lockhart jumped to his feet, raised his wand, and shouted, "Forget everything!"
The powerful magical forces quickly clashed with Grindelwald's.
Outside the prison castle, the rolling dark clouds in the sky suddenly burst into streaks of lightning. Beside him, the little golden-haired boy, wearing a red cloak, appeared. A wisp of black smoke flew out of his pocket and crashed to the ground, transforming into a tall, upside-down god-corpse wielding a huge axe. The werewolf's invisibility appeared on the wall. In the silver light, a pegasus tore at the silver-white light in mid-air, preventing Grindelwald from separating it.
More importantly, the winged demon had silently appeared on Grindelwald's arm at some point, opening its eyes and staring intently into Grindelwald's eyes.
"Oh! That's terrible!"
The house-elf Mengduoduo, standing at the prison gate, watched this scene in disbelief.
Unbeknownst to it, a long-bearded old wizard stood silently watching the scene from a dark corner in the corridor outside the prison.
Nearly fifty years have passed, he's been imprisoned for nearly fifty years, and Gellert hasn't changed at all, he's still not at all restless.
It's quite amusing that such a restless old man has encountered a restless young man.
Dumbledore grabbed a pile of cockroaches from the plate he was holding and threw it into his mouth, watching the magical duel between the two with great interest.
They chewed with relish.
boom!
A bolt of lightning struck outside the iron-barred window next to him, the flash illuminating half of his face, which was now filled with a smile.
(End of this chapter)