Chapter 670: The Jailer
Felix returned to the Ancient Magic Office expressionless, his steps heavy as he sank into the sofa. Valen yawned and handed him a bottle of juice he had mixed himself.
But soone blew air into the straw, creating bubbles in the juice, which irritated Valen, prompting him to nudge Felix with his paw.
Felix chuckled and ruffled Valen's soft fur, watching cartoons of cats and mice with him. After a while, his mind started to lighten up too.
He found it amusing how much the bulldog Spike resembled Dumbledore, though he knew it was purely psychological. Then who would Grindelwald be? Surely not the unlucky Tom Cat.
Valen looked at Felix strangely, wondering why the Dark Lord found his joke so funny.
Could the Dark Lord have projected himself into the cartoon blue cat? Well, that wouldn't be bad at all. It often took the perspective of the mouse, as Jerry always managed to defeat opponents much larger than himself. Unfortunately, this episode was about the blue cat teasing a big dog.
Back in his bedroom, Felix lay on his bed, scenes from the Headmaster's office replaying in his mind.
Dumbledore had solemnly explained the binding curse placed on Grindelwald. Before Voldemort's appearance, Grindelwald was considered the most dangerous Dark Wizard in history. Even now, in the eyes of so (especially outside British magical authority), Grindelwald's threat still surpassed Voldemort's.
Dealing with such an enemy required extre caution.
After the legendary duel, the Arican wizarding delegation proposed executing Grindelwald imdiately to eliminate future risks, as no existing prison could hold him. This proposal had garnered the support of more than half of the representatives at the ti, but Dumbledore had vehently opposed it.
His reasoning was that the duel's existence was based on mutual promises; the loser automatically beca a prisoner, completely (or passively) abandoning their ideals.
Moreover, there were more practical reasons.
The war had not ended, and the scattered forces of the Saints were still formidable. If news of their leader's execution spread, they would undoubtedly incite riots everywhere.
The magical world had only just glimpsed hope for peace, so it was logical to adopt a conciliatory approach rather than escalate conflicts. Therefore, not only could Grindelwald not die, but the International Confederation of Wizards also had to actively spread the news of his continued existence to prevent the Saints from selecting a new leader.
At that ti, Dumbledore's reputation was at its peak, and combined with the turbulent situation, this thod was eventually adopted.
But new problems arose.
Officials from various magical ministries realized that simply confiscating wands or using magical barriers would not be enough to contain Grindelwald. They had to design entirely new and powerful imprisonnt asures to prevent Grindelwald from breaking his parole.
An African wizard offered a solution.
The Vagadu School of Magic, located on African soil, had preserved ancient gesture spells, so losing a wand did not render dark wizards powerless there. They naturally had unique solutions, such as a binding curse specifically targeting finger joints.
But Grindelwald's power far exceeded that of ordinary dark wizards, and his treatnt was naturally extraordinary. The African wizard ntioned an extrely powerful imprisonnt magic, a na that sent shivers through the local wizarding community, akin to a terrifying legend.
Felix recalled Dumbledore's evaluation of it:
"It's more of a malicious curse than an imprisonnt spell. Once afflicted, it festers in the wizard's flesh like a gangrene, continuously draining the victim's magic, rendering them unable to cast spells, essentially becoming a squib."
"I've modified it—eliminated the aningless, punitive pain, and added a key and a window. If Grindelwald attempts to break the curse, I'll know imdiately."
"And because it uses my own magic, I can roughly sense his location and condition. Of course, the farther away he is, the more vague the feeling..."
"So, the imprisonnt at Nurngard is just a facade; you yourself are the jailer of the prison." Felix suddenly realized, hitting the nail on the head.
Dumbledore did not respond, but lowered his eyelids, examining his hands. After a while, he continued to murmur:
"My soul and magic underwent unforeseen changes in studying the secrets of the Resurrection Stone. I am no longer—how shall I put it—fit to serve as the jailer anymore. We must find soone new to take my place."
"You're too obsessed with the Resurrection Stone, Albus, even for Harry's sake—"
"And for Ariana," Dumbledore interjected. "One could even say that the entire plan was initially formulated for her. It gradually took shape in my mind since I obtained the Resurrection Stone. In the days that followed, I constantly suppressed this idea, because Voldemort was still there, and I had to convince myself not to wear the ring. I endured for years, only daring to act freely after Voldemort's final downfall."
Felix stared at him, realizing how deeply hidden these thoughts were. Dumbledore mischievously smiled at him.
"So you thought of ?" Felix raised his voice slightly.
Dumbledore's eyelids trembled a few tis, and he said in a low voice, "I know you dislike being restrained, Felix. I can assure you, after the curse is transferred, you will not be troubled in any way, quite the opposite. From now on, Gellert will never be a problem for you."
A brief silence ensued. Felix wavered between excitent and resistance, unable to decide.
If Dumbledore was telling the truth—and Felix believed he wouldn't deceive him, not just out of trust but also due to the consequences—becoming the new jailer ant having complete control over Grindelwald's fate. Although there were no direct benefits, removing a huge threat: at least Felix wouldn't have to worry about waking up surrounded by a hundred thousand Saints.
The threat was still real and effective. After a heated argunt, the old man had once threatened him with this, just like that woman nad Noel.
Felix was confident he wouldn't be defeated or captured—he had a combat system that restrained large-scale human tactics. But everything had its limits; being able to escape from a wizard army unscathed didn't an he could withstand the continuous magical assaults of several thousand people at once.
And, unconsciously, he had also co to see Hogwarts as a part of himself.
He could run, but Hogwarts couldn't. And even Dumbledore couldn't.
In the darkness, Felix's blue eyes stared at the ceiling. Valen chattered in his crib, unconsciously speaking in his sleep. Fox? Catch fish? It seed interesting...
So thoughts surged again.
"Why not accept Grindelwald's offer? From his speech at the breakfast table this morning, he seems to have remorseful thoughts, or at least signals of compromise. I don't believe you can't see that."
"I hope it's true. I hope he realizes how terrifying and shaful his actions were. Perhaps he wants to make ands for his past mistakes... But our entanglent runs too deep, Felix. I can't judge the authenticity, can't bear the cost of a misjudgnt, and neither can the entire magical world..."
These words almost pronounced Grindelwald's future coback.
"...Well, I understand your thoughts now. Why choose
to transfer the curse?"
"Ordinary wizards can't handle this power. Just like their Animagi can't integrate magical items into themselves— I suppose you don't have this problem?"
"Tch, you've got
figured out." Felix smirked.
"You can take so ti to consider," Dumbledore earnestly said at last. "I hope you agree, not as a command, but as a plea... If the people of the International Confederation of Wizards know about this, Gellert will find it difficult to survive."
...
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