Chapter 355: Safeguard

Headmaster's Office.

Dumbledore was sitting behind the large oak desk, looking at the Horcruxes neatly arranged on the table.

Only three: the diary, the pendant box, and the ring.

The diary had a hole, the Resurrection Stone on the ring had been dug out, and only the pendant box still gave off an ominous aura.

The crown and the Gold Cup were both destroyed in front of Voldemort, and burned to ashes by the Fierce Fire.

As the goal of destroying all Horcruxes drew nearer, Dumbledore couldn't feel happy at all.

"Still worrying about that child's affair?"

Another voice suddenly came from the small loft on the second floor of the office.

Dumbledore didn't lift his head, just sighed helplessly.

"Gellert, I told you not to just come find me whenever."

"You didn't lock the door; isn't that welcoming me to come in anytime?"

The figure on the loft appeared—it was the well-dressed Grindelwald.

He slowly walked down from upstairs; Fukesi saw Grindelwald and let out a soft cry.

"Long time no see, old buddy."

As Grindelwald passed by Fukesi, he raised his hand and lightly stroked its burning-like tail feather.

Fukesi's feather trembled slightly, but it did not dodge.

"Look, this bird likes me."

"No, it's just simply frightened by you."

Grindelwald: "......"

Dumbledore finally raised his eyes; a long-lost smile appeared in his blue eyes as he asked, "How are Lu Xiu Si and them doing at the Kelaoer House?"

"Not bad; I see those two girls get along well."

"It's just that Lu Xiu Si's kid stays in his room all day, meals still need to be brought to him."

"Then I found him unpleasant, so I dumped him in the wilderness; it's almost been a week, the girl keeps begging me, she's begged so much I'm annoyed—I'll bring him back on the way later."

Hearing Grindelwald's words, Dumbledore's smile deepened; he couldn't help but say.

"Looks like you're doing a decent job as a nanny."

Grindelwald snorted, stared at Dumbledore and said, "I'm someone who has even managed Albus Dumbledore; managing a few brats is nothing."

Dumbledore didn't refute; he just withdrew his gaze and shook his head helplessly.

Grindelwald also put away his smile and looked at the Horcruxes on the table.

He casually picked up the pendant box; being versed in Dark Magic, he could instantly feel a negative energy inside the box constantly eroding his mind.

However he paid no attention, showing disdain as he said.

"Seeking immortality, unaware that the more one flees, the more death follows like a shadow."

Dumbledore also murmured softly, "We will eventually walk toward it, just like walking toward a mirror that reflects the soul."

"But Voldemort personally smashed that mirror to pieces."

"And accidentally embedded the shards into an innocent child's body."

Grindelwald looked at the worried Dumbledore; although he wanted to mock the omnipotent Dumbledore also having helpless moments, he ultimately softened.

"You've already made preparations, haven't you?"

"Hmm, but I can't be sure that this guarantee is foolproof."

Dumbledore let out a light sigh.

"Well, nothing is ever foolproof." Grindelwald beside him, as if recalling something, let out a soft snicker.

"Just like the blood oath, I thought it could bind us forever, but it easily shattered."

Dumbledore remained silent for a moment, not taking up Grindelwald's topic.

Grindelwald also knew the past is past, so he didn't bring it up again, turned his head to look at Dumbledore.

"I can't give you a guarantee, Albus, but I can add a safeguard to your plan."

"What safeguard?" Dumbledore, upon hearing, looked again at Grindelwald and asked doubtfully.

Grindelwald chuckled lightly, didn't answer immediately, but turned his gaze to the Elder Wand on Dumbledore's desk.

Dumbledore followed his gaze to the Elder Wand, that wand which once belonged to Grindelwald and now is his own Deathly Hallow.

"Is the safeguard you mentioned related to the Elder Wand?"

Grindelwald nodded: "Exactly."

He directly picked up the Elder Wand, holding it in his hand to play with.

"It seems these years you haven't properly understood this unique wand."

"It follows you—what a pity."

Dumbledore slightly frowned, then said slowly, "I never intended to understand it."

"This wand has already brought too much bloodshed; I hope I am its last master."

But Grindelwald shook his head and smiled: "Then you are destined to be disappointed."

Saying that, he waved the Elder Wand, a blue flame coiled around its tip.

"Albus, let me ask you a question."

"Now the Elder Wand is in my hand—who is its master?"

Hearing this sudden question, Dumbledore furrowed his brows, but still said: "It's me."

"But it is currently obeying my commands."

"Then it's still me."

Dumbledore said firmly.

Grindelwald nodded and continued, "If I take the Elder Wand and attack you, its master, how do you think the Elder Wand would respond?"

At this point, even someone as clever as Dumbledore finally realized.

"You want to rely on the Elder Wand's master-recognition trait to increase security?"

"That's right." Grindelwald said slowly, "The Elder Wand will refuse to harm its true master; although sometimes it has no choice, but as long as it has a choice, it will instinctively deflect killing intent to avoid harming the master."

"As long as we find a way to make that child the master of the Elder Wand, and then, with the master unchanged, have the Elder Wand appear in Voldemort's hand, we can carry out this plan."

"This is the second safeguard I've set up for you, Albus?"

Dumbledore frowned slightly, beginning to think.

"This is indeed an ingenious design, although still not a hundred percent certain, but it's better than doing nothing...."

"That's right, now it's up to fate; see if that boy who survived a great calamity can once again snatch his destiny from the hands of the Death God."

Grindelwald nodded while dispersing the blue fire, and gently placed his wand back on the table, saying.

But then, as if remembering something, he asked, "But how do you plan to tell the child about this? What if he backs down?"

Upon hearing that, Dumbledore fell silent again, and finally gazing out the window at the deepening twilight, he said slowly, "That too is a choice of fate; I will not interfere."

Grindelwald also looked out the window, as specks of firelight came from the direction of Hogsmeade Village.

They were the children who had gone to Hogsmeade Village to let off steam, returning.

Among them were John and Harry, etc.

Well, if I say so, even if the child doesn't cooperate, it's fine.

Since Voldemort can't be completely killed, we'll just keep killing him; each time he revives, we kill him again, until we can't kill him anymore.

When we can't kill him anymore, isn't there still that little brat Meilik to take over?

Moreover, as long as we are determined to stop him, his revival won't be that easy.

Wait until that boy who survived a great calamity dies a natural death, and Voldemort will die along with him.

Hearing this, Dumbledore was speechless.

But you'd better not say it; you really shouldn't.

It's just a bit of torment for John.

What he wants is a permanent solution, rather than repeatedly pushing the burden onto successors.