HP: Wormwood and Lightning Wood

West stood in front of a dilapidated house.

This house is nestled in a dark valley, its rotten wooden walls covered with bluish-gray moss, and its roof tiles broken and exposed, revealing black rafters that look like fangs.

The door hinges were half-open, and a faint musty smell wafted out.

"This is Gaunt's old house," Dumbledore said.

West frowned almost imperceptibly, took a few more steps forward, and stopped at the entrance of the Gaunt mansion.

Centered on the old house, a powerful surge of dark magic slowly emanated. Voldemort had taken extensive precautions for the house, but unfortunately, it was currently facing the first Dark Lord, the most powerful white wizard, and the only survivor of the Dark Curse.

Breaking through these defensive spells was not difficult for them at all.

"Some defensive magic and dark magic curses," Grindelwald said. "Do you need my help, Al?"

West consciously stepped aside. Grindelwald wanted to steal the spotlight, and he wasn't keen on getting involved.

Dumbledore nodded and handed the Elder Wand to Grindelwald. "Be careful, Gale."

Despite being confined to Nurmengard for so many years, Grindelwald's strength has only increased rather than decreased.

The Elder Wand acknowledged Grindelwald and accepted his use.

Grindelwald casually waved the Elder Wand, drawing golden runes in the air.

In just a short while, black mist flowed out from the cracks in the tiles of the old house in Gunter and dissipated into the air.

The dark magic curses and defensive spells left by Voldemort were completely broken.

West was the first to step across the threshold, the decaying floorboards creaking under their feet.

The house was filthy and filled with an atmosphere of poverty and dilapidation. Unidentified bacteria grew on the walls, and black mud filled the cracks in the floor.

With a dark expression, West cleaned the room several times before finally starting to investigate.

The tip of the lightning-struck wooden wand emitted a silvery light, which began to flash wildly as the three passed by.

West's gaze fell on the floor. He half-squatted down, pointed his wand at the floor, and sure enough, the wand's light flashed more frequently.

Just in case, West released a magical barrier in front of him before using magic to pry open the floorboards beneath his feet.

A golden box was revealed underneath.

"Let me do it," Dumbledore said, stepping forward, only to find West had already picked up the box without batting an eye.

Dumbledore frowned helplessly, stopping in his tracks. "Beware of dark magic."

"The box doesn't contain any dark magic," West stood up, opened the box, revealing a ring inside, "but the ring does."

The ring is entirely black, with a thick and wide band and a black gemstone set in the center.

"This is...?" West noticed the emblem on the black gem and was about to examine it closely when Dumbledore said in a hoarse voice, "This is the Resurrection Stone, one of the Deathly Hallows."

Grindelwald noticed Dumbledore's momentary lapse in concentration, and grasped his outstretched hand. "Al, don't think about it."

Dumbledore snapped out of his reverie, his eyes clouded with an unreadable emotion. He looked at the ring and asked, "Can I have it, West?"

West and Grindelwald exchanged a glance, then decisively closed the box. "No, it's still enchanted by dark magic. We'll have to wait until I decipher it."

Dumbledore gave an awkward smile. "...Alright."

The three returned to Somerset with the ring. In front of the other two, West threw the ring and its box into a specially made brazier, flicking a burst of Fiendfire from the tip of his staff. Unfortunately, due to the curse, the Fiendfire could not damage the ring.

"We need greater power." Dumbledore's eyes gleamed.

"For example?" West asked.

"Gryffindor's sword plus the basilisk's venom," Dumbledore said. "Harry killed a basilisk with the sword in the Chamber of Secrets during his second year—I need to go back to Hogwarts."

The Fiendfire was still raging, burning the box to reveal the ring inlaid with the Resurrection Stone, which gleamed in the firelight.

"There's another way," West said, shrinking his body and suddenly transforming into a black snake, its massive head almost touching the ceiling.

The black snake hissed and flicked its tongue, staring at Dumbledore and Grindelwald below. It shrank a size, and when it stood up, its body was just above their heads.

He bared his sharp fangs at Dumbledore.

Dumbledore understood, picked up the teacup on the table, and held it against the snake's fangs, letting the venom flow into the bottle.

He then poured the venom onto the ring. Upon contact with the venom, the Fiery Blaze quickly enveloped it, and after several tumbling motions, it turned into a strange, almost inky green.

The ring twisted and hissed in the flames as it was corroded by the venom, and cracks appeared on its surface.

Before long, only one resurrection stone remained in the Fiendfire, shining even brighter under the forging of venom and Fiendfire.

After the flames died down, West picked up the resurrection stone and threw it at Dumbledore.

Dumbledore caught the Resurrection Stone, somewhat surprised, and asked, "For me?"

"I don't need it," West said indifferently.

Dumbledore looked at the Resurrection Stone lying in his palm. The smooth surface of the gem was like a mirror that saw right through him, reflecting his resentment and longing.

He stared at the Peverell emblem engraved on the Resurrection Stone, recalling that summer.

Shattered glass windows, Ariana's fallen figure, the tower of souls collapsing with a deafening roar.

"Albus."

Dumbledore heard Grindelwald's call and looked up at him.

The man before him was already as old as he was, his once handsome face etched with the marks of time, and his somewhat cloudy eyes were staring at him with deep concern.

His appearance has changed with the years, but his soul remains the same, and has even become more composed and insightful through the passage of time.

Dumbledore suddenly realized that such a vibrant, real soul could never be brought back by the Resurrection Stone. This is the cruel truth about the Resurrection Stone.

Dumbledore sighed deeply and handed the Resurrection Stone to West.

"Hmm?" West took the resurrection stone and snorted in confusion.

"It is not enough to atone for my sins," Dumbledore said, his face now calm and mysterious, but West, unusually, did not mock him.

"How many Horcruxes have been destroyed so far?" Dumbledore started a new topic.

"Four. If Voldemort did indeed create six Horcruxes, then there are two left, plus Harry," West said after a moment's thought.

"Slytherin's locket..." Dumbledore murmured, "This should also be one of the Gaunt family's treasures... I'll continue my investigation."

Dumbledore adjusted his slightly slipped half-moon spectacles. "That's enough for today, I'm getting a bit tired." He took Grindelwald's hand. "Shall we go home, Gale?"

Grindelwald let Dumbledore hold his hand, struggling to suppress the trembling in his fingertips, and chuckled softly, "Alright."