Albus Dumbledore
Albus took a seat in the central part of the tiered stands that occupied most of the hall. His position, located to the right of the Minister, represented both his power and status within the Wizengamot and a show of confidence from the Minister.
Naturally, the last to sit was Cornelius Fudge in the large central chair. Albus's opinion of him was mixed.
On one hand, his government had been peaceful. As a seasoned politician, he had managed to balance the political factions—no easy task given the influence of the the parties.—even going so far as to request Albus's counsel on several occasions. On the other hand, this year Lucius had temporarily managed to get his way with the school board, and that could only mean one thing: Cornelius had chosen the easy path by turning a blind eye.
A day would come when Cornelius would have to choose between doing what was right and what was easy. Albus could only hope that the weight of the lives would tip the scales toward the former.
Pam! Pam!
"Witches and wizards of the Wizengamot, as you have already been informed, we gather here today to discuss several matters of importance, among which are the breach of the Ministry, the discovery of a new intelligent species, and the possible invasion of unknown forces from a different world. I now give the floor to Madam Bones, who will give us a detailed report on the situation."
The woman in question stood up quickly, ignoring the nervous murmurs. "Today at 3:27 PM, an individual from a species nonexistent in our world crossed the 'Veil of Death'—an artifact whose true purpose had until now been unknown, located in the Department of Mysteries—effectively invading the Ministry."
Albus could only sigh as he watched people begin to murmur and create a fuss, even though they should have already read that in the report.
Without allowing the rabble-rousers to gain strength, the woman continued her report in a military tone. "Immediately after, the individual, a powerful sorceress of the 'elf' race named Frieren, incapacitated an entire squad of Aurors, who had initiated hostilities upon witnessing what we now understand was a translation spell manifested with the intent to establish communication. Once hostilities ceased, she surrendered voluntarily and without resistance to the authorities, where she was questioned about her intentions and her world."
If before there had been unrest, it now erupted into complete chaos, with everyone voicing their own questions, concerns, and interests.
"Has she been imprisoned already?"
"Are we going to suffer an invasion?!"
"Why has this witch come here?! Is she a spy?"
"How powerful is she?!"
"What are her intentions?!"
"We should use Veritaserum to extract her secrets!!"
Dozens of shouts and demands exploded in the hall, mostly fueled by dark thoughts and genuine concern.
"Order! Order!!!" shouted Cornelius, silencing the elite of wizards who now resembled a group of unruly teenagers.
"Questions will be asked in the usual established order. Respect your turn or leave this hall!"
"Thank you, Minister," said one of the wizards sitting at the far left of the room. The stitching on his robe revealed his alignment with the gray faction—those who did not fully align with either the dark faction led by the Malfoys and their pure-blood supremacy, or the white faction advocating for complete equality, led by Albus.
Most were families of wizards who had mingled their bloodlines with half-bloods and Muggles but were not willing to lose the privileges they currently held. They wouldn't be destroyed if either of the other two sides gained control, but they benefited more from the status quo.
To Dumbledore, they were a group that alrought he disliked yet knew would never cease to exist. After all, few things were more common among humans than greed or selfishness.
"I believe the first question, and the one that should concern us all the most, is... what can we expect the future to hold? Are we going to be invaded by forces from the other world?" he asked with no small amount of concern, looking directly at Amelia.
Unperturbed, the head of the department addressed the room again. "Unfortunately, we have very little verified information at the moment. What we do know is that the 'Veil of Death' is designed for individual use, which greatly limits its potential military or commercial application. " She paused to let them absorb the information before continuing.
"Furthermore, the reactivation of the artifact in the near future is minimal to nonexistent, as according to reports from the Department of Mysteries, it appears to have lost almost all of its magical charge and will take years or even decades to recharge."
What went unspoken but Albus knew very well was that in the magical world, certain individuals could be more dangerous than entire armies. And based on what Frieren had shared with him about her world, not only the British Ministry but the entire International Confederation of Wizards would be in danger if the wrong individual crossed through the portal.
To tell the truth, he wasn't even sure he could face Frieren himself. Throughout his long life, he had developed the rare ability—or sixth sense—to feel the magical potential in others. Not many wizards had that talent, even fewer trained it. And the sensation he had gotten from her…
Albus had met many powerful wizards, thanks to his own power, titles, and position in society.
Few could rival him.
Grindelwald…
And fewer still could surpass him.
Tom…Nicolas
Nicolas Flamel was the only wizard who had ever truly completely outclassed him in terms of raw magical power. Unfortunately, his decrepit body, barely sustained by the now-destroyed Philosopher's Stone, could no longer keep up, preventing him from using that vast magical capacity effectively. Body and soul—two key factors in magic use. In youth, the body is strong, but the soul is small, lacking the experience and wisdom that come with age. In old age, the soul is grand, but the body is weak, incapable of keeping pace. More than six hundred years had given Nicolas more power than dozens of wizards combined, and even so... Albus suppressed an instinctive shiver as he recalled the way the hairs on his body had stood on end when approaching the small elf.
Refocusing on the room and Amelia, he caught the end of her response:
"...the wizards in the Department of Mysteries are already working on countermeasures and blocks to avoid future surprises or unwanted guests. Next question?"
As if those words had summoned the devil himself, Albus heard a deliberately annoying cough that silenced the murmurs.
"Ahem, ahem. I believe I speak on behalf of everyone when I ask: how are we going to punish the intruder who violated our laws and illegally entered the Ministry? Such an act cannot go unpunished. I propose a stay in Azkaban," said Dolores Umbridge with a false smile.
Instantly, the room erupted again in arguments. Dolores Umbridge was well known to Albus for her constant proposals and attempts to pass increasingly restrictive and abusive laws against non-humans. But she was far from the only one with such thoughts. The truth was that humans had tense or outright hostile relationships with most other intelligent beings—goblins, giants, vampires, merfolk, and more.
"You want our first interaction with another world to be condemning one of their own? Are you mad?!" said a member of the gray faction.
"We should take her magical focus like we do with goblins, so she's no longer a threat!" responded another from the human supremacist faction.
"She doesn't know our laws, she didn't even initiate the conflict. She has rights. Give her a second chance—or at least the opportunity to defend herself!" intervened an ally from Albus's faction.
Lucius Malfoy stood up, his face full of scorn and irritation. "Rights? What rights? She's just another variant of a filthy house elf. She should serve humans like the rest of her damned kin!"
He seems to be taking this personally... You really got under his skin freeing Dobby, Harry. Thought Albus with amusement.
"SILENCE!!" Cornelius roared, quieting the room for what he hoped would be the last time.
"Madam Bones, please present the known facts and the results of your interrogation. After that, we'll vote accordingly."
"As I've mentioned before, the mage Frieren arrived in this world completely unaware of what she might encounter and with no intention of causing harm. The conflict was the result of a misunderstanding that has since been resolved. And while ignorance of the law does not exempt her from following it, I believe in this case we should be more lenient. According to her own words, she is one of the greatest mages of her world and a respected heroine. I propose that she be designated as a provisional ambassador of her world and assigned several caretakers to monitor her."
"Very well, all those in favor of Madam Bones's proposal, raise your wands." Slowly, hands began to rise—Albus's among them.
It wouldn't be enough; they wouldn't let her go so easily.
Just as Albus predicted, only 17 of the 50 hands were raised. As unpleasant as it was to think this way, Frieren was a new piece on the board, and they would not release her without some form of control.
He couldn't blame them—not when he was planning to use her himself for his own benefit. Once again, this world pushed him to set aside his morality to achieve his goals, further withering his already weary and aged heart.
Life had been harsh with Albus; much time had passed since that Qilin had recognized his soul as pure and he had long ago decided that if condemning his soul would prevent his mistakes from harming the innocent, he would do it.
He would not lie to himself. No matter how noble his final objectives, he wanted Frieren on his side when the dark times arrived, putting her in danger and involving her in a war that had nothing to do with her. And for that, when the time came, he would pay for his actions.
Focusing on the present, Albus had to be careful now. He had as many friends who would support him as he had enemies who would oppose him without even listening to his proposal, merely for being who he was—like the Malfoys or the Averys, who had escaped punishment for their ties to Voldemort by using the Imperius Curse as an excuse. For the moment, the best course was to keep a secondary role.
A quick exchange of glances with Victor Greengrass, the de facto leader of the gray faction, calmed Albus's worst concerns. He had contacted him shortly before the meeting to call in one of the many favors he had accumulated over his life.
"If I may, Minister," Victor said as he slowly stood. "I would like to offer a small variation to the procedure."
For a moment, Cornelius looked at him doubtfully, as if not expecting his direct participation. More than one tried to guess what his angle might be. "Go ahead."
"Thanks... I do not doubt Madam Bones's judgment regarding our guest and that she is devoid of malice. However, she is undeniably an unknown and potentially dangerous asset. I believe we would all sleep better if a juvenile magic tracker spell were placed on her."
The atmosphere in the room began to shift again, moving away from the indignation and rejection of Amelia's proposal. Placing a tracking spell on an adult as if they were a minor was a great humiliation and an invasion of privacy. Not even those wizards barely exonerated from complicity with the Dark Lord had been required to carry it for more than a few years.
Placing Frieren under the effects of the spell would allow the Ministry to locate her at all times and know when she used magic. It also didn't go unnoticed that no specific time period was mentioned for its removal.
Sorry, Frieren. It's the best option…
Reading the room, Cornelius didn't waste any more time. "Very well, those in favor, raise your hands again."
Much faster and in greater numbers than before, the hands began to rise—this time with many members of the gray faction and even some from the dark faction.
"33 votes in favor. I hereby declare the procedure regarding the witch Frieren approved. A tracking spell will be placed on her and a guardian assigned to watch over and supervise her."
Once the main topic was settled, the meeting moved on to less pressing matters, such as the little they knew about this foreign world. Everything seemed to indicate it was a technologically underdeveloped feudal world. Yet surprisingly, its inhabitants had managed to make wizards and witches live alongside Muggles as equals—something fascinating to Albus due to his past and something he would be delighted to learn more about when the opportunity arose.
Ultimately, just as Albus predicted, most concerns and fears, as well as interest in the world connected by the portal, were arrogantly dismissed and diminished by the other witches and wizards once they learned of its "underdeveloped" state. He had no doubt that global supremacist sentiment would become an unpleasantly common view among those aware of the other world.
A mistake so deeply rooted in their society that even Albus had been unable to erase it over the years. People would always find a way to feel superior to others—by race, origin, and now, by world.
Soon after, the meeting began to lose cohesion. Some, like Cornelius Fudge and Amelia Bones, left the room to attend to other matters, while others stayed and formed cliques with their respective factions to chat.
Albus didn't take long to leave the room after greeting and chatting with his acquaintances. He headed toward the ministerial office. He had to make his move quickly before someone else beat him to it and ruined his plans.
Knock, knock.
"Come in," came Cornelius's voice from within the room.
Entering the office, Albus could see Cornelius already buried in paperwork—one of the many reasons he himself wasn't interested in being Minister. His time was already too limited; not even all the magical quills in the world could change that. He couldn't waste more time on useless bureaucracy or trying to keep everyone happy.
The office was cozy, personalized, and decorated with living portraits of previous ministers as well as what he assumed were family members. A pity that the main ministerial office was underground and didn't allow for windows overlooking the city above like the secondary one—a point in favor of his office at Hogwarts.
"Cornelius, I see there's no rest for the wicked—or the politicians," Albus said in a friendly tone, closer than he truly felt toward the man.
"Ho ho ho, surely you're not having it easy either, Albus. I've heard things have been difficult. Let me apologize again for this year—Lucius pressured the board to suspend you. I really couldn't do anything. My hands were tied," he said, as if he truly regretted it.
A half-truth, of course. While he had no opinion on the school board matter, there were many ways he could have delayed Lucius or warned Albus in advance—and they both knew it.
Fear? Bribery? Or something else…
For now, it didn't matter. What did matter was that Cornelius would be far more receptive to a request if it meant compensating and keeping the peace with him. Albus Dumbledore's opinion carried great weight, especially among ordinary magical citizens. Cornelius couldn't afford to have him as an enemy if he wanted to win his next election.
"Tell me, what can I do for you?"
There it was—the peace offering.
"Ah, it's a small thing… I just came to offer my humble help. You see, this matter of Ambassador Frieren has caught the attention of these old bones, and since someone needs to supervise her, who better than someone with my capabilities and resources… don't you agree? Surely, you don't know a wizard more capable of supervising her, right?" Behind his grandfatherly smile, Albus could see Cornelius's calculating eyes briefly weighing the pros and cons of refusing him.
"N-no, certainly, I don't know a more capable wizard for the task… but may I ask, why your interest in her?"
"As you know, I am an old man. Few things matter more to this weary soul than curiosity, and I believe I have found a kindred spirit in Miss Frieren."
"Mmm… I can hardly fault you for that. There is no record of anything like this ever happening before. Many researchers are already salivating over the event, and I do not doubt the International Confederation of Wizards will also take an interest... Very well—I shall allow it. I trust you will reach out to them as well, and see to it that our guest is properly cared for."
"Of course."
"Well, enough of serious talk— a drink?" he asked, pulling a small bottle of liquor from the drawer along with two glasses, making a move to open it.
Standing slowly, Albus shook his head. "Thank you, but I'll pass. This body is not what it once was, and you're not the only one with tasks awaiting."
"Ho Ho Ho, right, right. Merlin knows I should stop postponing mine. See you, Albus."
Having turned already, Albus exited the room only to almost bump into someone unexpected.
"Malfoy," he nodded.
"Dumbledore," he could almost hear the venom in Lucius's tone. "If you'll excuse me, I have matters to attend to with the Minister."
You're late, Malfoy…
"Go ahead, I was just leaving…"
---
Frieren
1 day since Frieren arrived on Earth, British Ministry of Magic, 10/8/1993
"Welcome," she greeted the old Headmaster who had come to visit her once again.
One of the young wizards assigned to guard her had woken her at midday to inform her that she would soon receive news of what the Ministry had decided to do with her. She had not expected another visit from him; by his own words, being Headmaster was a busy position.
"Miss Frieren, I hope I haven't interrupted your analysis of the defensive spells," he smiled with a touch of mischief.
"Don't worry, I can't really decipher it without understanding the magical system it's based on," she replied, returning the gesture.
He looked at her as if he didn't entirely believe what she was saying, only to dismiss the thought and nod lightly.
"I'm not concerned. I know that if you wanted to leave, you could have. I appreciate that you are cooperating to avoid panic and make things easier."
Oh? Perceptive…
"I usually follow the laws of the places I visit out of respect—and because it's a hassle to avoid a place until everyone looking for you has either forgotten or died of old age."
She thought of that magical thread demon servant of Aura, how it had almost accidentally implicated her in killing the guard, or all those nobles who tried to use the law to take advantage of her group during her journey with Himel. Sometimes running away saved a great deal of trouble.
Unaware of her thoughts, Albus sat in the chair opposite, in good spirits, just like last time.
"I suppose you've already been informed, but the Ministry has made a decision regarding you."
"So I've heard. I didn't expect you to be the one to inform me."
"I wanted to do it myself—it'll make things easier. First, allow me the honor of being the first to congratulate you: the Ministry has decided to name you as the provisional ambassador of your world, so you can expect many people to come and ask you about it, both out of curiosity and for research..."
Something must have shown on her face, as the old Headmaster let out a soft chuckle before continuing:
"...Though I suppose we can find a way to limit and organize those meetings. However, not all the news is good. Unfortunately, as an unknown foreign witch of great power, the Ministry fears leaving you unsupervised. For that reason, they have decided to assign someone to watch over you, and apply a tracking spell on you to monitor your movements."
He watched her, likely analyzing her reaction—which was minimal. Honestly, she had expected worse. Nobles in general tended to be much more delicate about such matters, especially when you invaded their property and disabled their guards.
That didn't mean it wasn't a nuisance. There was a whole world out there to explore—not to mention the thousands of spells waiting to be recovered under her tender care.
"And you are the person assigned to watch over me." There was no accusation in her voice, only acceptance and gentle contemplation, awaiting the old Headmaster's game.
"That is the case... When I spoke with you the other day about magic and your student, I felt a familiarity and curiosity that are rare these days. That is why I would like to invite you to stay at my school.... I have no intention of forcing you to remain, and I would understand if you're against the idea. I'd gladly help you find a compromise that satisfies both you and the Ministry if that's the case. You mentioned your nomadic lifestyle and curiosity about this new world; however, I truly believe it would be wise to stay in Hogwarts at least for a while—if only long enough to learn how to travel peacefully through this world."
She was listening Frieren still didn't know much about this world and hadn't considered that perhaps things might function very differently here compared to her own.
A sigh escaped the old man. "Even if you left right now, you wouldn't be able to enjoy this world with the tranquility and calm that surely accompany an infinite lifespan: documents, permits, local currency... learning a bit about the culture and modern society while you wait to obtain those things won't hurt you."
Frieren felt her bones soften. She already missed Fern, who would have helped her navigate the complexities of an unfamiliar society.
"Mmm... I don't really mind waiting a few months or years. For now, I'm trapped in this world, and if there's one thing I have in abundance, it's time... but what do you want in exchange? You weren't lying when you spoke of familiarity and curiosity, but I think there's something more." The room seemed to drop a few degrees in temperature when she fixed her gaze on the old man.
For a few seconds, Albus Dumbledore stood still like a child caught red-handed, Just so that acceptance would show in her eyes — there, behind that calculating gaze, Frieren could see the weight of someone on whose shoulders many lives depended. For a moment, it reminded her of the Hero of the South.
"Unfortunately, pure altruism is not what drives my actions... dark times are coming. A Dark Lord is returning. That, I know for certain. And I could never forgive myself if I didn't do everything in my power to shift the odds in our favor."
The mood had darkened a little. Technically, this wasn't Frieren's business—this wasn't her world; she hadn't even been here a week—and fighting someone strong was always a hassle. She just wanted to enjoy herself and collect spells until the portal reactivated… however
"You've told me your story, and my own instincts confirm it. I know your mere presence on our side will save many lives. But I have no right to ask you to stay and fight—not so soon after meeting, not when this isn't even your world. That is why I would like to offer you a different kind of deal. I couldn't stop thinking about the part of your story where the brightest wizards of your world came together to decipher magic that had once been unstoppable and lethal."
"Zoltraak" Frieren added. "The magic that once meant instant death, now reduced to the most basic of battle spells."
Nodding, Albus continued, "I want to do the same, and I'd like to count on your help to achieve it. In this world, there are three Unforgivable Curses, banned by the International Confederation of Wizards due to their cruelty and malice, but most of all, because of how difficult they are to block: the Imperius Curse, which allows you to control your opponent like a puppet; the Cruciatus Curse, which causes suffering so brutal it can drive the victim mad or even kill them; and finally, the Killing Curse, Avada Kedavra, which causes instant death."
This wasn't her problem…
And yet she knew what He would have done. And how he would probably scold and punish her once they met up in Aureole if she simply ignored everything.
"I've already told you… I don't know your magic system; I wouldn't be of any use on this project…"
"I am aware of that," he replied, "and I am also aware that if you are truly the mage your titles and deeds suggest, it will not take you long to adapt."
Frieren stayed there under the director's gaze; in truth, she had already made her decision.
"I don't work for free," Frieren said with a smile—a half-truth.
"I would never ask you to," the old man replied. "If you accept, not only will I grant you unrestricted access to my personal library and the school's facilities, but I will also use my connections to expedite the processing of your documentation. I will also keep you informed about the portal and any progress regarding its reactivation. And though I may no longer be what I once was, a good word from me will open doors to incredible places in this world that I am sure you will want to visit, whatever spell you want to learn, tell me and I'll get it for you," replied the old man, stroking his beard smugly
"Who knows…" he said as he leaned his arms on the table, "perhaps some of my professors will even teach you their fields if you lend them a hand in their classes."
Frieren and Albus exchanged glances—it was a good offer. One she would not mind accepting for a few years, and to be honest, she likely would have accepted anyway, regardless of payment. Frieren had already decided to help with this mysterious dark lord. Only one thing remained to be clarified…
"Whatever spell I want, hmm… Tell me, what spells do you teach your first-year students at your school?" she asked, wearing the most serious expression she'd shown during their entire conversation.
Whatever the old wizard had been expecting, it wasn't that. Her answer seemed to trigger a coughing fit mixed with a laugh that echoed through the room. "You want… to learn the magic we teach the students?" he asked, a blend of incredulity and delight.
Striking her most haughty pose, chin tilted up and exuding the arrogance of an adult speaking to a foolish child, Frieren imparted a bit of her peerless millennial wisdom: "The most enjoyable part of learning magic is the process of pursuing it. You want me to attend your school, don't you? Then it's only natural that I'd want to learn what you teach." Anything else would have felt wrong.
"The process of pursuing it…
"..."
"...mhm, I can still remember the joy you're talking about." His voice sounded nostalgic, as if recalling fond memories.
Frieren nodded, pleased that someone else appreciated her wisdom. 'Now then… what kind of legendary spells are taught within your school's walls?"
Joy flashed again in the headmaster's eyes, and a shrewd, conspiratorial look settled on his face. "Legendary magics, you say… I suppose you mean the mighty transformation spell capable of turning a rat into a goblet? Or perhaps the mythical spell to slowly lift things near you?"
Time seemed to freeze for a second before Frieren reacted.
'What are we waiting for? Let's go to that school of yours—quickly!' she replied, getting up from the tableready to head out toward the mentioned magical school.
"Ho ho ho," the old director chuckled warmly. "First, I must ask you… do you have any method of concealing your features from the Muggles?"
"Muggles? What is that?" she asked, coming to a sudden halt.
"Muggles are…well, let's say they are humans without the gift of magic... You see, unlike in your world, centuries ago the survival of magical beings here was put in jeopardy when Muggle governments began hunting down anyone who showed even the slightest signs of magical ability. Children, elders, adults—none were spared from the persecution. That is why the witches and wizards of the time made the difficult decision to hide from common people's view, masking our society behind a veil and altering the memories of anyone who discovered the secret, all to protect ourselves..."
Frieren was left speechless.
And so came the first great revelation—the first cultural shock.
This world had never accepted magic.
This world had never seen her master's dream come true.
This world… never had the legendary mage Flamme to unite both societies.