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Grindelwald had already vanished into the darkness.
"Alright, alright." Ian sighed, still somewhat disoriented by the idea that, in all his experiences with time's anomalies, there could be something even Gellert Grindelwald found difficult to accept.
As Ian raised his wand to cast 'Lumos', Dumbledore retrieved a small, ornate box from his robes. He opened it, and from within, tiny spheres of light floated out one by one, drifting to affix themselves along the passage walls.
"Put-Outer lights?"
Ian blinked in surprise.
"No, no. These were actually my latest creations— meant to be your Christmas gift." Dumbledore smiled, a twinkle in his eye as he gave Ian a knowing wink.
Clearly, he was well aware of Ian's penchant for sneaking about at night.
"Well, that's all well and good," Ian muttered, "But who knows how long it'll be before I even reach my Christmas?" He could tell from the craftsmanship that, while the devices seemed simple in function, their underlying magical principles were anything but, proof of Dumbledore's formidable skill in alchemy.
"Don't worry," Dumbledore assured him gently. "We'll see you through."
Something in his voice was oddly reassuring.
As they descended the winding staircase, the floating orbs of light continued to appear, illuminating the walls just long enough to guide their way before gradually dimming and vanishing, a seamless enchantment that spared them the trouble of collecting them afterward.
Dumbledore had said he would follow Ian's lead, and true to his word, he did, keeping pace as they ventured deeper into the ancient, hidden chambers beneath Hogwarts.
"Hogwarts certainly holds many secrets that I have yet to uncover," Dumbledore mused, his gaze occasionally drifting to the various forks in the staircase.
Each path clearly led elsewhere, yet Ian had not ventured down them, and even as Hogwarts' headmaster, Dumbledore could only speculate about the destinations of most of these hidden passages.
"I heard that when Hogwarts was first founded, it wasn't solely intended to be a school," Ian remarked, taking note of the diverging paths as they descended.
"Yes. In those days, the world was far less kind to wizards. This castle was built as both a sanctuary and a stronghold, not just a place of learning."
Dumbledore nodded in agreement.
"Many of these secret passages have stories of their own. And in my view, the four founders always anticipated that Hogwarts might one day come under siege."
He shared his thoughts on the castle's defensive design.
"A fortress of war?"
Ian considered the possibility.
Dumbledore neither confirmed nor denied it. He simply continued walking, his expression unreadable. The air around them was growing stale as they descended further.
"Merlin, he moves fast." Ian marveled. He had no need to slow down for Dumbledore; despite his age, the headmaster was surprisingly spry, his agility undiminished by time.
However—
Despite the steady 'thud, thud, thud' of their descent, they had yet to catch even a glimpse of Grindelwald. The man moved with such speed that he could have won a Hogwarts underground stair-racing competition.
"He's eager to confirm something. He wouldn't be taking a leisurely stroll like we are," Dumbledore observed, well aware of his old friend's impulsive nature.
"Can he turn into black smoke as well?"
Ian wondered aloud. As he contemplated how to mend his relationship with Grindelwald and perhaps persuade him to teach this particular skill, the two of them finally arrived at the entrance to the underground corridor.
At that moment—
Deep within Hogwarts' hidden underground chambers, the blue candle flames suddenly shifted, flickering into a deep, ominous red as if an unseen force had swept through the space, brushing against the ancient stone walls.
For the briefest moment, a flicker of blue light attempted to return.
But it lasted only an instant.
Then, all at once, the eerie red glow reasserted itself.
"What in Merlin's name is our Defence Against the Dark Arts professor up to in there?!" Ian exclaimed, sprinting toward the hidden chamber. Meanwhile, Dumbledore, who had been prepared for many things, was nonetheless momentarily taken aback by the sight that awaited them— a massive skeleton of a dragon.
"This is… beyond words," Dumbledore murmured, his blue eyes reflecting the ancient bones. But within his awe, there was something else, a flicker of emotion that passed too quickly to decipher.
Perhaps… regret?
"Just leave it be. Its owner gave me permission to use it," Ian assured him, not out of fear that Dumbledore would take the skeleton, but rather that he might entrust it to Snape for safekeeping.
Ian would wager that, despite its immense size, Snape would find a way to reduce the dragon's remains into an unknown quantity of potion ingredients. In fact, it wouldn't even be surprising if the next morning brought news that Snape had resigned overnight and fled with the entire skeleton.
"Of course. No problem," Dumbledore replied, withdrawing his contemplative gaze.
Together, they turned their attention toward the great skeletal remains where, at that very moment, Professor Ronnie Ehrlich was crouched in front of Grindelwald.
"I told you I'd bring someone who could convince you," Ian announced as he stepped forward, only to be met with an utterly astonished expression from Professor Ehrlich.
Of course.
His shock wasn't directed at Ian.
He was staring at Dumbledore.
"Sir! He! How did he come here too?!" Professor Ronnie Ehrlich looked utterly shaken, scrambling to stand up, only to be firmly pressed back down by Grindelwald.
"Ronnie, don't panic. You'll understand soon enough… if there's still time." Grindelwald's expression was unusually complex, and his cryptic words seemed to quiet the professor. Though still tense, Ronnie Ehrlich kept his eyes fixed on Albus Dumbledore, resisting the urge to question further.
"Professor, have you discovered what's wrong with him?" Ian asked eagerly, his curiosity burning. He was desperate to understand why Ronnie Ehrlich could only exist within the glow of the candlelight.
"I have some ideas."
Grindelwald cast a lingering look at the Acolyte before shifting his gaze to Dumbledore. "Albus, it seems you were right after all."
With that, he reached forward and pulled aside the fabric of Ronnie Ehrlich's robes, revealing an intricate and bizarre pattern carved into his back. The markings twisted and intertwined, forming a single coherent image that sprawled across most of his skin.
Dumbledore stepped closer, running his fingers lightly over the design.
"What is this?"
Ian, unable to resist, leaned in as well.
"Little wizard," Ronnie Ehrlich sighed, his voice tinged with both melancholy and resignation, "You were right. I should have died."
"I told you, but you wouldn't believe me. Of course, it had to be Grindelwald— 'Professor' Grindelwald to convince you." Ian hastily corrected himself, fearing that Ronnie Ehrlich might take offense at any perceived slight against the Dark wizard.
"I have a feeling, little one, that my downfall is somehow tied to you." Though his tone was calm, there was a flicker of resentment in his gaze.
"Professor, that's a bit unfair," Ian muttered awkwardly, averting his eyes.
"Perhaps," Ronnie Ehrlich admitted, "But in the end, it doesn't matter. Compared to dying in ignorance, learning the truth is a better fate." He didn't seem afraid of the prospect.
Making an effort to glance back, Ronnie Ehrlich observed Grindelwald and Dumbledore as they scrutinized his back. Seeing the two of them working together so peacefully still struck him as utterly surreal.
(To Be Continued…)