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

Grindelwald stood up and walked over to the fireplace to make the room a little warmer.

"When people have to contend with reality for the sake of their ideals and their future, they often have no room to retreat - for the wizards who follow me, if they take a step back, they will lose love, freedom, respect, truth, ......; For the Soviets, who huddled in the ruins of Stalingrad that winter, what they lost by taking a step back would be the entire future ......"

The original Dark Lord reached out and touched the hoarfrost that had condensed by the window, and his eyes became extremely complicated.

"But politics is different, and the essence of politics is to strike a balance in constant compromise. ”

"Human beings are such a contradictory and greedy being, and in a stable environment, they will always expect more. ”

And when what was once shelter becomes a stumbling block, the vast majority of simple-minded fools are more inclined to reject it altogether and reinvent a whole new rule than to change and adapt little by little, and then the latter is obviously easier and simpler in their eyes than the former...... Hey ......"

Grindelwald paused, letting out a rather dull chuckle.

"I think that's what I thought back then...... Breaking everything apart and starting over always gives people an inexplicable sense of nobility and mission, after all, any smart person can always see clearly the inadequacy and ugliness of this world, and the shortest and fastest path to the 'right' direction. Albus, do you now understand where that incongruous sense of déjà vu comes from?"

“......”

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

"Gail, I still think...... The Soviet Union, those Muggles were different. They're powerful, aren't they?"

"It's a pity that this is not a war, and it is not simply a comparison of size, it does not rely on life and strength. ”

Grindelwald shook his head, looking at the blurred reflection in the window with a soft smile.

"The more ideas, the more smart people, the more smart people, the more fools, and the most important thing in every era is smart people. ”

"You know what? Albus. What the world lacks is a hopeless fool and idealist like you, who knows the problem and insists on choosing the hardest and most thankless detour, just like me in the first place, and like the little fool who insists on pulling those Muggles out of the mire. ”

"It's not the same thing, Gail. Muggles are not the same as wizards. ”

Dumbledore stood up and walked over to Grindelwald, casually removed the robe from the wooden frame and placed it on the old demon king's shoulder, there was a rare hint of hesitation in his tone, and then he became firm again.

"I'm sorry, I still can't fully agree with what you're trying to say! Everyone is free, we can't force our own thoughts and actions on them, Hogwarts is not a den of kidnappers. ”

"It's the same thing!"

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

"Since we are in human society, there can be no such thing as complete freedom. Of course, I do not deny that there is pure freedom in nature—that beasts without order are free. ”

"If order is shattered for the sake of so-called freedom, then they may not even count as human beings. ”

The eyes of the original Dark Lord burned with aggressive flames, and the corners of his mouth raised slightly.

"Let's make a bet, shall Albus. Two months, less than two months, we don't need to do anything, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus...... All of these kingdoms will descend into a brutal era of chaos. If it does get to that point, you don't have to meddle and question that aspect of things later. ”

Facing Grindelwald's rare aggressive gaze, Dumbledore's lips twitched and fell silent for a while.

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

"But...... Why? That's not your character, Gail, did the kid talk to you about anything alone?"

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

Grindelwald grinned, a hint of coldness appeared in his eyes, and he shook his head noncommittally and said.

"Maybe she hadn't even thought about the possibility that the great Headmaster of Hogwarts might change his mind on a planned day of action—but someone who has suffered will remember that, won't they? ”

Dumbledore sighed bitterly and said nothing.

The first Dark Lord glanced at the old man who had fallen silent, and his left hand moved slightly, as if he wanted to lift it, but before his wrist could be fully flipped over, he hung down again by his side, pretending to continue to turn his head to look out the dark window.

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

Grindelwald stared into 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, and it's not that I think how important and powerful Elena is about Muggle science - in fact, I don't understand what she says. ”

"It just occurred to me that if it were really as Elena saw in her prophecy, when the entire human world was faced with the collapse of such a behemoth that could become a catastrophe of civilization, it would be surrounded by hyenas who were going to share the profits and fall into the well. So one day, when the wizarding world is facing a catastrophe, will anyone in this world really think of leaving a spark of civilization for magic?"

"Admit it, Albus. Magic is indeed dying, and there is not much time left for wizards to do. ”

"Elena is right when she says that the flesh and blood of the dead Soviets are enough to save any world on the brink of extinction, whether it is non-magical or magical. If we fail this time, we will probably not be able to wait for the next chance to come back to life, unless we take the risk......"

“...... Gail, you may be thinking too pessimistic. ”

After a while, Dumbledore took a deep breath, his voice a little astringent, "You've really changed a lot over the years...... If you can ...... back then? Alas...... But the 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 and put his hand on Dumbledore's shoulder, his eyes a little confused.

"What I'm doing now isn't for any greater good, it's actually about making up for it before it's even in the ground - after all, those decades of war almost ruined magic and the ...... of the wizarding world."

The old man sighed and said no more.

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

"Perhaps, we're all overthinking. ”

Dumbledore looked over the pile of papers the girl had left on the table, and whispered.

"The Soviet Union is a very powerful country, since they have walked through the military parade on Red Square in Moscow, survived the blockade of Leningrad, survived the street battles in Stalingrad...... There's no reason to fall before this isn't a grim Christmas this year. Even if it eventually dissolves and becomes an independent state, each one will still be extremely powerful. ”

"Maybe Elena's predictions and deductions are not accurate, maybe both of us will end up working in vain because of that little girl's willfulness, and the non-magical world has survived the upheaval without danger by virtue of its own strength. There will not be so many people starving, there will be no wars and displacements, stupid things cannot happen in a row......"

"Oh, yes. Grindelwald replied softly, "yes...... And then the wizarding world has found another right way to keep itself mysterious, and to keep improving......?

In the Hogwarts Headmaster's office, the tired two stopped talking and stared wordlessly at the tongues of fire churning in the fireplace.

What will the future hold......

This is no longer something that can be controlled by one person, or two people, and in less than a month, according to Elena's "prophecy", everything will be settled on Christmas Eve, and by that time......

Dumbledore silently opened the drawer of his desk and pulled out two small brown vials, one in his hand and the other to the original Dark Lord, who was also preoccupied, and neither of them spoke again.

The years have really changed so many things.

Now it's just a little late, and my heart is starting to feel uncomfortable again......

......

And on the other side, the Ministry of Magic.

Cornelius Fudge checked the note in his hand over and over again, a look of horror and ecstasy on his face.

“...... Hogwarts, Dumbledore, Hogwarts...... Gringotts, elves, rubles...... Heh......"

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(Mayes!!!)