Hogwarts Raven

Chapter 299: 298: Interlocking, Death's Trick
The fanatical voice fell.

The scene seemed to be distorted to a specific moment. That day seemed to have moved forward for a while. Under the night sky, the sky was as dark as ink, with dark clouds pressing down on the sky. The air was filled with the smell of dampness and death. In the small house of Dumbledore, the candlelight flickered, and Ariana's screams tore through the silent night.

"Is there another problem?"

Albus Dumbledore burst into his sister's room.

"I should still agree to the deal. We really can't find any other solution. Ariana, don't be stubborn. This is all for you and our family."

Young Dumbledore saw his sister's body suspended in mid-air, with violent magical turbulence surrounding her. The furniture was shattered and the walls were cracked by the invisible force.

"She's dying... We've tried everything... The magic in her is too unstable, tearing at her soul like a storm."

Aberforth was thrown to the ground, blood gushing from his forehead.

"I don't accept this ending! I won't watch her die!" Young Dumbledore refused to accept this. At this moment, a dark shadow slowly emerged from the corner, as if walking out of the void. It had no face, only two bottomless eye sockets, and its voice was low and cold.

“She won’t make it through the night.”

The hoarse voice was chilling to the bone.

Albus whirled around, pointing his wand directly at the newcomer - a tall, thin figure in ragged black robes. There was no face beneath the hood, just a swirling darkness, like the abyss itself.

"grim Reaper……"

Albus' voice was tight with fear.

“Yes, you can call me the God of Death.” The shadow laughed softly, his voice sounding like the wailing of countless dead souls, “You obviously know a way, and you know that I can save her.”

“It just comes at a huge cost.”

The Grim Reaper, who was materialized by the illusion, spoke in a low voice.

Dumbledore's expression was conflicted.

"A million souls, I know, I have found the solution, but Ariana..." Obviously, a message was revealed from this conversation.

Ariana had previously rejected Dumbledore's offer of one million souls in exchange for one life - this scene made the dazed old Dumbledore burst into tears.

In his mind.

This is indeed Ariana's choice.

"Don't worry about what she thinks. What she thinks has nothing to do with your choice. You know, if she's gone, her opinion is equally meaningless."

"I'm already here, ready to take her life at any moment."

Death spoke calmly.

Young Dumbledore looked desperate.

"Don't let me watch it, please, don't let me continue watching this." The elderly Dumbledore knelt in the scene presented by the bronzes. His heart had been shaken by these illusions again and again.

The old Dumbledore looked at his younger self, watching the scene of sacrifice. The surroundings were silent, and no one could comfort him, just like the moment when he was forced to drink the potion on the original timeline, without Harry Potter handing him the antidote - and he had already realized what would have happened if he had encountered such a moment.

How the balance will tip.

as predicted.

"A million souls?"

Young Dumbledore gritted his teeth, his eyes flickering.

"Yes." The Grim Reaper replied, "You can obtain it in any way, war, plague, magic - as long as you can fulfill the contract, she can live forever."

A deathly silence fell in the room.

Aberforth looked at his brother in horror: "Albus, are you listening? He said he wanted a million souls! That means destroying so many families!"

obviously.

Aberforth still had some sense.

however.

The young Albus Dumbledore's gaze had changed, from sad to determined, and then to grim.

Albus' pupils suddenly contracted.

"Deal," he said without hesitation.

Instantly, the Grim Reaper reached out his hand and touched Ariana's forehead with his fingertips. Her body shook violently, then she calmed down, her breathing became steady, and her face regained its long-lost color.

"She will live," Death whispered, "but your soul is no longer your own."

The shadow disappeared.

All that was left was the empty look in the young Albus's eyes.

"This is definitely not a wise choice." The elderly Dumbledore muttered to himself as he looked at the scene that was both real and unreal, but he knew that if he were younger, he might really make this choice.

after all.

This is an interest that is far more important to him than the souls of a million people.

Illusions are not scary.

The scary thing is that it presents another reality.

……

The scene is still changing.

Ten years have passed.

Dumbledore saw what life was like for Ariana after she recovered from her illness.

She learned simple spells and had a happy smile on her face, but Dumbledore knew that behind this smile was an unspeakable pain in his heart.

"Brother, I'm so happy, thank you for saving me." Ariana threw herself into his arms in her dream, her voice clear and crisp.

"Ariana, as long as you are healthy and happy." Young Dumbledore gently stroked her head, but his eyes were full of guilt.

at this time.

Albus Dumbledore has become the youngest spells professor at Hogwarts. He is talented, elegant, and well-loved by students. But there is no light in his heart, only a path leading to the abyss. At night, he studies the ancient forbidden magic alone in his office, trying to find a more efficient way to harvest souls.

"You know it's time."

The voice of death rang in his ears.

"I know." Albus responded coldly, "but I still need time."

"You have delayed too long." Death warned, its figure existing where only Dumbledore could see, "You still have 999,000 souls."

"I will do it." Dumbledore looked up, his eyes cold, and he was completely different from what any real wizard thought of him. "I promise you."

The reflection of the Grim Reaper in his pupils disappeared with satisfaction.

At the same time, his good friend Gellert Grindelwald is starting a revolution in Europe.

He advocated that wizards rule over Muggles and build a new world dominated by magic. At first, Albus supported him and even provided him with theoretical support.

But during a late-night conversation, Grindelwald finally noticed the change in Albus.

"You have changed." Grindelwald frowned. "You used to always talk about love, freedom and peace, but now you speak... like a judge."

Albus was silent for a moment, then chuckled: "Maybe I have indeed changed."

"What did you do?" Grindelwald demanded.

"Nothing." Albus stood up and walked to the window, "Just did something necessary."

Grindelwald stared at him for a long time, and finally shook his head and sighed: "I once thought that we would change the world together, but now... I begin to doubt whether you are still worthy of that ideal."

Their friendship was completely broken at this moment.

……

Time continues to pass.

The 33-year-old Dumbledore stood at the edge of the trench, looking at the smoke-filled battlefield in the distance, his black robe fluttering in the wind, with the International Confederation of Wizards' highest medal of honor pinned on his chest.

“How much do you need today?”

Dumbledore asked quietly.

He no longer asked himself how much he owed.

It seems like I have already adapted to this kind of life.

"Five thousand." The voice of the god of death whispered in his ear, "Muggle wars are best suited for harvesting." Albus raised the old wand and chanted a spell that had never been recorded in any magic book - "Soul Transfer." This was part of the power given to him by the god of death.

Yes.

Because of long years of loyalty.

Dumbledore received a gift from Death.

At least.

In his view, it was a gift.

Accompanied by the use of magic.

In an instant.

All the dying soldiers on the battlefield froze at the same time. Their souls were pulled out of their bodies by invisible chains, turning into faint blue points of light, which gathered into a rushing river of souls.

They poured madly into the silver coins in Albus's hand.

"elder brother?"

A crisp voice came from behind. Albus quickly put away the silver coins, turned around and showed a gentle smile.

Ariana stood behind him, seventeen years old, slender and graceful, with long golden hair fluttering in the wind. Her magic power had long been stable, and she even became the youngest healer in the Ministry of Magic.

“It’s time to go home.”

Albus said softly, taking her hand.

Ariana smiled and nodded, not noticing the five thousand soldiers who suddenly died on the battlefield in the distance - it was obvious that Ariana, who had been healed by the god of death, was also seriously affected.

only.

Dumbledore was unaware of this scene.

Don’t you want to?
Still unwilling?

"Okay! That's it!" The elderly Dumbledore saw something he absolutely did not want to see, but his scolding did not affect the operation of the bronze door.

The operation of this door seemed to tear his heart apart bit by bit.

……

Another new scene change.

Grindelwald stood on the top of the tower, his soft hair flying in the wind, his eyes burning with anger. He looked directly at his old friend in front of him and spoke with great rage.

"Albus! Are you crazy?" he roared, "You are killing innocent people! Not just Muggles, but wizards as well! What on earth do you want!"

In this scene.

It seems that Grindelwald has become the side of justice - when the good guys are completely corrupted, then the original bad guys may also be able to become the savior?
have to say.

Quite magical.

The scene now looks like Grindelwald is the one on the side of justice, while Dumbledore has a blank expression on his face, and the tip of the Elder Wand is flashing an ominous black light.

He became the Dark Lord.

The more terrible and terrifying Dark Lord.

"I have no choice, Gellert."

Dumbledore's voice was devoid of any emotion, as if these words were just a formality. He now had a heart far colder than Tom Riddle's.

Tom just doesn't understand love.

And he.

I have completely lost almost all emotions.

“Of course you do!”

Grindelwald's voice was almost pleading, "We can fight it together! I know that all this is because of the deal you made when you were young!"

at this time.

Grindelwald was willing to challenge the god of death for Dumbledore. Albus's eyes flickered with hesitation, but the next second, the voice of the god of death exploded in his mind:

“You know what the cost of breach of contract is.”

The threat of the Grim Reaper went straight to the heart. Dumbledore certainly knew what the price was, and that was his sister's life - Ariana's smiling face appeared before his eyes.

Thinking of this.

Dumbledore raised the model branch again.

“Avada Kedavra!”

this moment.

Green light pierced through Grindelwald's chest.

This man, who was supposed to become the Dark Lord, but in this timeline, became the hope of wizards, had no hatred in his eyes when he fell, only deep sorrow.

"Do you think you really saved her?" His soul was devoured by the silver coin in the young Dumbledore's hand, and he finally became the millionth sacrifice harvested by Dumbledore.

however.

Is the deal really over? Dumbledore stood on the top of the tower, looking at the Forbidden Forest in the distance. His right hand was completely black, as if it had been corroded by some kind of darkness.

This is naturally because of the coin in hand that carries the soul.

"Yes, the contract is complete." The voice of the God of Death sounded in his ears, with a very satisfied tone, "One million souls, not one less."

In this regard.

Albus did not answer, but just looked down at the silver coin in his hand - it had become surrounded by black mist and was extremely terrifying, with countless struggling souls imprisoned inside.

"Now, Ariana belongs to you forever." Death laughed and took the coin. However, the darkness that corroded Dumbledore's arm still remained on Dumbledore's body.

"And you'll always be mine."

The voice of the god of death was merciless.

Dumbledore slowly closed his eyes.

The illusion keeps switching.

The life of this Dumbledore flashed before the old Dumbledore's eyes like a revolving lantern. He saw his brilliant achievements after becoming the headmaster of Hogwarts, the outstanding students he trained, and the great contributions he made to the wizarding world. However, behind these glories.

It is his increasingly close bond with Death, and his soul being constantly devoured. Dumbledore in this timeline is approaching old age, and for many years he has been trying to break free from Death's control.

however.

But he could never get rid of the shackles that followed him like a shadow. The old man clenched his hands into fists, his nails dug deep into his palms, and blood dripped from his fingers onto the ground.
"I am willing to pay any price, as long as I can change all this..." Dumbledore muttered to himself, his voice full of despair. At this moment, he was like a bird trapped in a cage, no matter how hard he struggled, he could not break free of the invisible shackles. The voice of the god of death sounded again.

"I saved her life. As long as she is alive, your soul will always belong to me." These words were reflected as Ariana looked like a walking corpse.

Very old.

But still alive.

Death would not allow her to die.

"No!"

This is not the Dumbledore of Dreamland.

But it was the old Dumbledore.

He raised the old wand in his hand, wanting to completely destroy everything around him - however, he didn't know that such an action once again made him fall into a deeper abyss.

This is a trap that is linked together.

……

Just as Dumbledore was stuck in dealing with the bronze door.

at the same time.

In that seemingly ambiguous era.

Ian has also found the group of people he was looking for.

(End of this chapter)