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Chapter 1095: The Only Weakness
🕑 Added 2024-04-27 19:27:33 +0000 UTCSuch a tragic experience was enough to crush anyone.
Especially for a gifted wizard like Dumbledore, his childhood was not much happier than that of Tom Riddle.
He had plenty of reasons to hate Muggles, and at the same time, he had enough power, conditions, and potential to become an evil Dark wizard.
Not to mention, he was surrounded by many opportunists.
These people advocated for pure-blood, believing that the glory of bloodline and Wizarding glory needed to be established on the oppression and conquest of Muggles.
Because of the pure blood, the family's reputation, and what happened to Dumbledore's father and sister, they took it for granted that Dumbledore was also a Muggle-hater, and even praised his father's actions with relish. They wanted Dumbledore to become their leader.
Just like Voldemort did, become the leader chosen by these people and lead them to regain their former glory.
In fact, for a time, Dumbledore did have this tendency.
Fortunately, he was Dumbledore, and he woke up at the critical moment. This was one of his great qualities.
Perhaps, character was really innate. Regardless of fate and environment, some people were naturally inclined towards the light, while others would only complain about the unfairness of fate, sinking step by step, and doing evil things as a matter of course.
They chanted loud slogans and felt comfortable harming others for the Greater Good.
Just like Voldemort, his so-called pure-blood theory just turned him into a monster that everyone was afraid of.
But Dumbledore was not such a person. He knew what love was, and he firmly believed that some interests were far more important than others.
"I do not want to portray myself as great, Evan, nor do I want to make excuses for my father's crime," said Dumbledore. "But I must admit that at the time I resented all this, and I thought fate was unfair."
Dumbledore stated it baldly, coldly. At this moment, his eyes passed over Evan’s head, still looking at the top of the tower.
A narrow window opened at the highest point of the tower, and Evan didn't know if Grindelwald was there.
Did he notice Dumbledore's arrival? Was he looking at his old friend there?
They hadn't seen each other again for so many years since the battle of the century.
But it was certain that they cared about each other because they had once shared common ideals; or rather, something beyond ideals, more pure emotions.
"At that time, I resented the injustice of fate. I was gifted, I was brilliant, I wanted to escape, escape from my responsibilities. I wanted to shine, I wanted glory," Dumbledore continued, and pain crossed his face so that he looked very old again. "But do not misunderstand me, Evan. I loved them, I loved my parents, I loved my brother and my sister, but I was selfish, far more selfish than the world could possibly imagine.
"According to the tradition at that time, after graduating from Hogwarts, young wizards would travel around the world, visit and observe wizards abroad, visit famous wizards and learn from them, and then pursue their respective careers," said Dumbledore in a sad tone., "But I had no way to start. On the day I graduated, my mother died. From then on, I was left the responsibility of a damaged sister and a wayward brother. I returned to my village in anger and bitterness. Trapped and wasted, I thought! And then, of course, he came..."
"Was it Grindelwald, Professor?" Evan asked softly.
"Yes, Grindelwald, you cannot imagine how his ideas caught me, inflamed me. We were attracted to each other, and I must admit that he was the one destined for me. We shared the same ideals, lofty dreams, and everything he had complemented my shortcomings perfectly.
"For the Greater Good," Dumbledore repeated. "This phrase was what I proposed at the time, perhaps slightly different from what you imagine. I initially assuaged my ridiculous conscience with these empty words. It would be all for the greater good, and any harm done would be repaid a hundredfold in benefits for wizards. To be honest, did I know, in my heart of hearts, what Gellert Grindelwald was? I think I did, but I closed my eyes. If the plans we were making came to fruition; all my dreams would come true.
"As you may already know, we had many schemes, but the most central one was the Deathly Hallows! How they fascinated him, how they fascinated both of us! The unbeatable wand, the weapon that would lead us to power! The Resurrection Stone — to him, though I pretended not to Know it, it meant an army of Inferi! To me, I confess, it meant the return of my parents, and the lifting of all responsibility from my shoulders."
"And the Invisibility Cloak..." Evan reminded.
"Yes, and the Invisibility Cloak, but somehow we never discussed the Cloak much. Both of us were powerful wizards and could conceal ourselves well enough without the Cloak," said Dumbledore. "The Cloak would not offer us significant help, and we overlooked the most intelligent of the three Deathly Hallows. The true magic of the Cloak, of course, is that it can be used to protect and shield others as well as its owner. I thought at the time that, if we ever found it, it might be useful in hiding Ariana, but our interest in the Cloak was mainly that it completed the trio, for the legend said that the man who united all three objects would then be truly master of death, which we took to mean ’invincible.’
“Invincible masters of death, Grindelwald and Dumbledore! I was so fascinated that I traveled around the world with Grindelwald to find information, filled with cruel dreams, neglecting the only two members of my family left to me.
"And then..." Dumbledore shook, and Evan hurriedly grabbed his arm. "And then, reality returned in the form of my rough, unlettered, and infinitely more admirable brother. I did not want to hear the truths he shouted at me. I did not want to hear that I could not set forth to seek Hallows with a fragile and unstable sister in tow.
"The argument became a fight. Grindelwald lost control. That which I had always sensed in him, though I pretended not to, now sprang into terrible being," said Dumbledore simply, tears once again dampening his eyes. "And Ariana … after all my mother’s care and caution … lay dead upon the floor."
Evan held Dumbledore tightly; he knew this was the truth Dumbledore feared to acknowledge.
After facing so much, this had become the only weakness in his soul.
