HP: Embrace the Darkness

Back in the principal's office, Dumbledore looked at the letter on the table with a heavy expression and sighed helplessly.

He didn't want to leave Hogwarts at this juncture, but the content of the letter made him feel hugely uneasy.

It seems like there is some big conspiracy approaching the magic world.

He was afraid that Grindelwald had caused this, so he had to check it out in person before he could rest assured.

Nurmengard Tower

Grindelwald didn't know at this time that a cauldron was placed on his head. He also looked at the letter on the table with a solemn expression.

What had happened and why his Albus suddenly didn't want to see him.

After a while, he walked to the window and sent a letter out.

Looking at the owl disappearing, Grindelwald fell into deep thought.

Maybe the gift from Asseth is practical?

Aces, who was immersed in research, didn't know what was happening outside.

He stayed in the box for several days, working day and night on the instrument to search for Voldemort's soul.

It happened to be the Christmas holiday and there were no classes, so he even asked Nina to bring food to him in the box.

Fortunately, the research after getting the moonstone went smoothly, and within a week, the equipment to search for Voldemort's soul was ready.

But since he hasn't gone home for vacation yet, Asseth can't experiment for the time being.

After all, after learning that he secretly left Hogwarts to attend an underground auction, Snape had been checking to see if he was still in school from time to time.

Aces was a little regretful, it was such a pity that he could not send Voldemort back to the kingdom of death as soon as possible.

Christmas dinner day

Aces put on the new clothes Anna prepared for him, carefully tidied himself up after not taking care of himself for a few days, and then headed to the auditorium.

There were not many students in the auditorium. Most of them went home to spend the holidays with their relatives.

But all the professors stayed, except Dumbledore.

Um? Where's Dumbledore?

Asseth thought calmly, his eyes lingering at the teacher's desk.

Looking at the professors at the teacher's table, Artes suddenly realized that the professors seemed to be alone.

For them, Hogwarts is their other home.

Elise was a little puzzled when she saw that Arthas had not yet taken his seat, but looked at the teacher's table absentmindedly, but she still left a seat for Arthas.

After coming back to his senses, Asseth avoided the sight of the potion master above and sat down where Elise left him.

The Christmas dinner was lively, but Artes was a little distracted.

One moment I was worried about Dumbledore's safety, and the next moment I couldn't help but worry about whether the Potions Master had applied the potion properly. My whole body was on pins and needles.

Snape frowned and looked down at Arthas, who had been observing the teacher's desk.

What is this troll looking at? Or what are you looking for? Snape narrowed his eyes dangerously.

Looking around at the teachers' bench again, the only one absent today was Dumbledore, who had just left school.

So, he's looking for Dumbledore?

Snape's face remained unchanged, but in his heart he was thinking about Artes' suspicious behavior.

Aces lowered his head, not looking at Snape's expression, and ate in silence.

After the dinner, Asseth did not stay long and immediately left the auditorium.

When he walked to the corner, Asses felt the familiar magic power fluctuations, calmed down the expression on his face, and walked forward pretending not to know.

Sure enough, it was Snape. Seeing the man standing silently in front of the window sill, Artes didn't know how to treat him.

When the situation was urgent outside school, he was not in the mood and had no time to think about the problem.

I spent the next few days studying the equipment to find Voldemort's soul, and didn't think about this issue.

So he still doesn't have an answer to this question.

It was undeniable that he was moved when the professor blocked the attack for him.

Even if the professor later said it was to repay the herb, he was still moved.

He thought that even without the herb, this tough-talking and soft-hearted professor would protect him.

But precisely because of this, he didn't know how to face his doubts.

Forget it, it's useless to think too much. Asseth straightened his clothes and walked up directly.

"Professor? What are you doing here?"

"I don't think Mr. Cavendish is qualified to question a professor."

"I didn't mean it, Professor."

"I don't care what you want to do, you better not get caught by me."

Snape suddenly turned around and stared hard into Artes' eyes.

"I promise you, Professor, that I will not do anything detrimental to Hogwarts and you."

Aces did not avoid Snape's gaze as always.

Avoiding the sight of a Legilimency Master will only make him more suspicious.

Snape did not use Legilimency on Artes, but with his level of Legilimency, he could sense that Artes was not lying to him.

This discovery gave him some relief.

"It better be this way."

After saying that, Snape left without any hesitation, as if he appeared here just to warn and ask for a guarantee.

And Asseth looked at his leaving back, not knowing what he was thinking.

Nurmengard Castle

Grindelwald was looking at the window anxiously.

Dumbledore's long absence made him very dissatisfied.

What happened that prevented his Albus from seeing him for a month!

As the saying goes, it is easy to go from simplicity to luxury, but it is difficult to go from luxury back to simplicity. Grindelwald, who had not seen Dumbledore for a month, was almost suffocated to death.

Who was taking up his Albus time!

He was dead. Did he think Dumbledore would mourn for him?

He thought fiercely in his heart.

Grindelwald was sulking in Nurmengard, and in the end he was so angry that he left Nurmengard without stopping.

Grindelwald's idea is simple, since you don't come to see me, then I will go to you.

After leaving Nurmengard, Grindelwald headed straight to Hogwarts.

On the other side, Dumbledore, who noticed Grindelwald's departure, looked even more solemn.

He had to admit that the person who sneaked into Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic this time might be Grindelwald's conspiracy.

Grindelwald used himself to divert his attention, and then had his men infiltrate the Ministry of Magic while he had no time to care about the wizarding world.

But what does he want?

Dumbledore was puzzled.

It's not like Grindelwald could do such a thing, but there is no other explanation.

Grindelwald, who was angry and ran away because Dumbledore didn't see him, didn't know yet.

His own angry behavior made Dumbledore cover the blame even more tightly, and he accidentally guessed the truth that had been pestering him.

The truth from a certain perspective.

Aces at Hogwarts also didn't know.

The men in black who sneaked into Hogwarts to target him were eliminated by Dumbledore as Grindelwald's remnants, which also made Dumbledore suspicious of Grindelwald.

Isn't this a coincidence?