"That's the difference between revolution and politics, Albus..."

Grindelwald stood up, walked to the fireplace and poked at the coals inside, making the room warmer.

"When people have to contend with reality for the sake of ideals and the future, they often have no room to retreat—for the wizards who follow me, retreating one step means losing love, freedom, respect, truth...; for the Soviets huddled in the ruins of Stalingrad that winter, retreating one step means losing the entire future..."

The first-generation Dark Lord reached out and touched the white frost condensed on the window, his eyes becoming extremely complicated.

"But politics is different. The essence of politics is to achieve balance through constant compromise."

"Humans are such a contradictory and greedy existence. In a stable environment, they always expect more."

"And when the former shelter becomes a stumbling block, compared to changing and adapting little by little, most simple-minded fools tend to directly and completely deny it, and then reshape a brand-new rule—obviously, in their eyes, the latter is much easier and simpler than the former... Heh..."

Grindelwald paused, letting out a rather muffled chuckle.

"Back then, it seems I thought the same way... Breaking everything and starting over always gives people a sense of inexplicable sublimity and mission. After all, any smart person can see the inadequacies and ugliness of this world, as well as the shortest and fastest path to the 'correct' direction. Albus, do you now understand where that discordant sense of déjà vu comes from?"

"..."

Dumbledore was silent for a while, quietly looking at Grindelwald's back, his voice a little dry.

"Gellert, I still believe... the Soviet Union, those Muggles are different. They are very powerful, aren't they?"

"Unfortunately, this is not a war, let alone a simple comparison of size. It doesn't rely on life and strength."

Grindelwald shook his head, looking at the blurred reflection on the window with a gentle smile.

"When there are more ideas, there are more smart people. The more smart people there are, the more fools there are. And the one thing that is never lacking in every era is smart people."

"You know what? Albus. What this world lacks is incurable fools and idealists like you, who know the problem but still insist on choosing the most difficult and thankless detour—just like the earliest version of me, and like that little fool who insisted on pulling those Muggles out of the mire."

"This is not the same thing, Gellert. Muggles and wizards are different."

Dumbledore stood up and walked to Grindelwald, casually taking a robe from the wooden rack and placing it on the old Dark Lord's shoulders. There was a rare hint of hesitation in his tone, before it became firm again.

"I'm sorry, I still can't fully agree with what you want to say! Everyone is free. We can't forcibly impose what we think are correct ideas and behaviors on them. Hogwarts is not a kidnapper's den."

"This is the same thing!"

Grindelwald turned his head, staring at Dumbledore, who was slightly shorter than him, and said earnestly.

"Since we are in human society, there can never be so-called complete freedom. Of course, I don't deny that there is indeed that kind of pure freedom in nature—beasts without the constraints of order are free."

"If they shatter order for the sake of so-called freedom, then they may not even be considered human."

The first-generation Dark Lord's pupils burned with aggressive flames, and the corners of his mouth raised slightly.

"Let's make a bet, Albus. Two months, less than two months, without us doing anything, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus... all these countries will fall into a cruel age of chaos. If things really develop to that point, then don't interfere or question this matter in the future."

Faced with Grindelwald's rare aggressive gaze, Dumbledore's lips moved slightly, falling into a moment of silence.

After a long time, Albus Dumbledore took the initiative to look away, taking a deep breath.

"But... why? This is not your personality, Gellert. Did that child talk to you about something in private?"

"No, her little brain can't think of these things."

Grindelwald grinned, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes, shaking his head dismissively.

"Perhaps in her mind, she hasn't even considered the possibility that the great Hogwarts Headmaster might temporarily change his mind on the planned day of action—but there are always people who have suffered losses who will remember this, aren't there? Professor Dumbledore."

Dumbledore sighed bitterly, saying nothing.

The first-generation Dark Lord glanced at the silent old man, his left hand moving slightly, as if wanting to raise it, but before his wrist was fully turned, he lowered it again, pretending to casually turn his head to look out the dark window.

"I know you're confused as to why I value Illyana's plan so much, even more than she does."

Grindelwald gazed at the darkness in the distance, his voice gradually calming down, and said slowly.

"Of course, it's not because I've started to like Muggles, let alone because I think what that little girl, Illyana, said about Muggle science is so important, so powerful—in fact, I don't understand what she was babbling about at all."

"I just suddenly thought, if the entire human world really collapses in the face of such a behemoth that could become a civilization's holocaust, as Illyana saw in her prophecy, and all that swarms around are hyenas who are going to divide the spoils and kick people when they're down. Then one day, when the magical world faces a catastrophe, will there really be anyone in this world who thinks about leaving a spark of civilization for magic?"

"Admit it, Albus. Magic is indeed dying, and the time and opportunities left for wizards are running out."

"Illyana is not wrong in saying that the flesh and blood left behind by the dead Soviet Union is enough to save any world on the verge of collapse—whether it is the non-magical world or the magical world. If we fail this time, then we may never get another chance to come back to life, unless we take a desperate gamble..."

"...Gellert, you may be thinking too pessimistically."

After a long while, Dumbledore took a deep breath, his voice a little hoarse, "You have indeed changed a lot in recent years... If you could have... Alas... But that so-called day is just the worst-case scenario, isn't it..."

"Albus, I did make too many mistakes back then..."

Grindelwald shook his head, raised his hand and placed it on Dumbledore's shoulder, his eyes a little confused.

"What I'm doing now is not for some greater benefit. In the end, it's just about making up for as much as I can before I'm buried in the ground—after all, those decades of war almost destroyed magic and the magical world..."

The old man sighed, saying nothing more.

After another extremely long silence, Dumbledore gently patted the back of Grindelwald's hand on his shoulder.

"Perhaps, we are both thinking too much."

Dumbledore's gaze swept over the pile of manuscript paper left on the table by the girl, and said softly.

"The Soviet Union is a very powerful country. Since they marched past Moscow's Red Square in those years, endured the siege of Leningrad, and survived the street fighting in Stalingrad... there's no reason why it would fall before this Christmas, which isn't considered a severe one. Even if it eventually disintegrates and becomes independent countries, each one is still extremely powerful."

"Maybe Illyana's predictions and deductions are not accurate. Maybe the two of us will end up working in vain because of that little girl's willfulness. The non-magical world will survive that upheaval without any danger. There won't be so many people starving to death, and there won't be any wars or displacement. Stupid things can't happen continuously..."

"Oh, is that so." Grindelwald replied softly, "Yes... and then the magical world also found another correct path that allows itself to continue to maintain its mystery and continue to progress? That would be the best situation, of course..."

In the Hogwarts Headmaster's office, the exhausted two stopped talking, silently watching the flames tumbling in the fireplace.

What will the future be like...

This is no longer something that can be controlled by one person, or two people. There is less than a month left. According to Illyana's "prophecy," everything will be settled before Christmas Eve, and when that time comes...

Dumbledore silently opened the drawer of his desk, took out two small brown medicine bottles from it, held one in his own hand, and handed the other to the equally preoccupied first-generation Dark Lord. Neither of them spoke again.

Time really changes too many things.

Now, it's just that I stayed up a little late, and my heart started to feel uncomfortable again...

...

Meanwhile, at the Ministry of Magic.

Cornelius Fudge repeatedly confirmed the note in his hand, his face alternating between fear and ecstasy.

"...Hogwarts, Dumbledore, Hogwarts... Gringotts, the goblins, the Ruble... ha..."