As the two young boys walked, the scene silently transformed. It seemed like a new day, and their clothing had also changed somewhat.
They stayed under a tree, the orange-red glow of the sunset reflecting in their eyes.
"For the greater good... I like your wording."
Blonde-haired Grindelwald lay relaxed on the grass, reaching a hand towards the sky, as if wanting to grasp the whole world in his palm.
"Albus, only 'you' understand my thoughts, only you can understand what I want."
"I want to abolish the Confidentiality Law, let wizards rule the world, allow all wizards to freely use their abilities! Instead of being oppressed, hidden, forced to endure the hatred and disdain of Muggles!"
"Don't forget, rulers should bear responsibility for all the people," young Dumbledore emphasized, "not just for wizards, but also for the majority of Muggles."
"Those greedy, stupid Muggles?" Grindelwald scoffed disdainfully, "Think of what they've done to your family."
"I know, I also dislike, even hate some Muggles."
The young Dumbledore frowned:
"But we must admit, most Muggles aren't evil, they possess remarkable wisdom and ability. Even if we gain the power to rule, we should maintain social stability and treat Muggles fairly."
"We're fighting for the future of wizards, we won't cower, but blind slaughter is also inadvisable. Gellert, we should minimize sacrifices, regardless of which side."
"You're a bit too naive, Albus."
Young Grindelwald saw his companion's displeased expression, and compromised with a smile:
"Of course I won't become a foolish murderer, Muggles have their own value... if the Muggles are willing to accept my rule, I can be merciful to them."
The young Dumbledore smiled, seemingly not worried that Grindelwald would be perfunctory or deceive him.
"By then, Ariana could live more freely, instead of always being confined."
He said with a smile, "If possible, I'd rather find a way to cure her... perhaps I could find a way to heal her."
"If we could find the Holy Artifact, then anything is possible!"
Grindelwald said optimistically and seductively:
"Imagine it! Reviving the deceased, curing the sick, establishing a new order in the Wizarding World, our ideal country..."
"As long as the two of us together... Albus, as long as we join forces... there's nothing we can't do... nothing can stop us..."
The two envisioned their future, discussing how to seize power after leaving Godric's Hollow, where to find the Holy Artifact, and how to achieve their aims.
They wore confident smiles, fully confident in each other, as if tomorrow's victory was within reach.
Until a voice disrupted it all.
"Albus."
A tall, scruffy and thin boy glared at Grindelwald with a hostile gaze, looked at young Dumbledore and said, "Ariana wants to see you."
Grindelwald showed a disdainful expression.
The conversation interrupted, young Dumbledore looked somewhat displeased but immediately stood up and walked toward the other.
"Did Ariana throw a tantrum?" he asked.
"Yes," the thin boy said, "I calmed her down, she misses you."
The two left side by side, behind them, Grindelwald's face turned very unpleasant.
…
"That's my brother, Abeforth."
At this moment, Vid heard the elderly Dumbledore beside him say in a low voice, "Ariana is our little sister. Vid, do you know about Obscurial?"
Vid nodded and said, "I've learned from Mr. Scamander—"
"Children with magical ability, if abused, who hate their magic, may develop a parasitic force known as Obscurus, which is an unstable, uncontrollable dark force."
"An Obscurial typically doesn't exceed 10 years old, and they can't be equated with an Obscurus. But in extreme circumstances, an Obscurial might fully transform into an Obscurus."
At Scamander's home, he had seen books about Obscurus.
It's said that when Newt Scamander was young, he used special methods to preserve an Obscurus, but Vid hadn't seen it there.
Dumbledore nodded and said, "Newt might be one of the people who understands Obscurus the best in the world."
He fell silent for a while and said, "Ariana is an Obscurial. When she was young, she unintentionally displayed her magical power, was cruelly abused by three Muggle boys, and since then, she's lost control of the magic within her..."
…
Vid had also seen the little girl.
She was actually older than Vid's current physical age, but her demeanor was timid, her blue eyes like clear lakes, appearing innocent and pure, like a child.
The girl shrank in a corner, hearing the room's three boys erupt into a fierce argument.
"Impossible! You can't take her with you! In her state, you want her to travel long distances with you! You're insane!!"
Abeforth roared, "You better give up on your foolish plans! I absolutely won't allow it!"
Dumbledore said nothing, Grindelwald mocked, "You foolish little boy, don't realize how brilliant your brother is, and want to be a stumbling block for him and me!"
"Don't you understand? Once we change the world, make Muggles behave, wizards won't need to hide, your sister can live openly."
"Go away, Durmstrang's bastard!" Abeforth cussed unapologetically, "It's you, this vile, filthy lunatic, who bewitched my brother, making him think your evil plan is a good idea! Get out of my house, Grindelwald!"
"Shut up, Abeforth!" Dumbledore shouted sternly.
But Grindelwald's expression had already become scary. He unhesitatingly drew his wand pointing at Abeforth—
"Crucio!"
The thin boy, completely unprepared, fell to the ground, letting out a heartrending scream.
"Gellert, stop! Stop it!"
Dumbledore drew his wand, knocked down the sinister-faced Grindelwald, reaching to help his brother up.
But Abeforth rudely pushed him away, and immediately drew his own wand, firing a spell at Grindelwald.
With a loud bang, they burst into a chaotic fight, Dumbledore tried to stop it, but those two enraged individuals refused to halt.
Abeforth apparently resented his brother not siding with him, even firing a spell at Dumbledore, further infuriating Grindelwald.
The light of spells crisscrossed, screams and roars continuously exploded.
They didn't want to listen to each other, just venting their emotions relentlessly.
"No... no..."
In the corner, Ariana was full of tears, trembling violently, her eyes gradually turning white, her condition evidently very wrong, but no one in the room noticed.
Black mist surged from her body.
Vid suddenly grasped the elderly Dumbledore's hand beside him and said softly, "You know... you don't have to relive these."