Past Me, Future Me

"Tut, tut, tut… Just as I thought, this sort of thing knows no distinction between ancient and modern times. Who says people in ancient times didn’t know how to have fun?"

Having seen part of the past of two people from the 1880s, Adam’s twenty-first-century soul could not help clicking his tongue in amazement.

Of course, shipping was one thing, but when it came to the parts where the lights should be turned off, he did not watch. After all, shipping a couple was about the atmosphere; watching any further would have been rude.

Still, young Dumbledore and young Grindelwald had actually danced the Argentine tango together. Unfortunately, they had not even finished a single dance…

Otherwise, they could lead the dancing at Hogwarts balls in the future.

Completely unaware that Adam was already considering their futures after joining the staff, young Dumbledore and young Grindelwald brainstormed furiously, but every idea they came up with was either interrupted or rejected by Adam.

"You might as well just say our only choice is to listen to you and become professors at Hogwarts!"

Young Grindelwald said angrily.

"No, you can also choose to return to the normal timeline, where Ariana gets killed, the two of you go your separate ways, and eventually die of old age without speaking to each other after a great war."

Adam spread his hands, leaving the two before him speechless.

"…All right, we accept your terms."

The moment young Dumbledore finished speaking, young Grindelwald shot him a glare. They could clearly have tried to negotiate for more!

"Besides, according to the normal timeline, I’ll be teaching at Hogwarts anyway, right? And… being with you is enough."

One sentence from young Dumbledore left young Grindelwald with nothing to say.

He really did not resemble the heartless Professor Dumbledore when facing Grindelwald at all…

Adam narrowed his eyes and could not help imagining how the two pairs of Dumbledores and Grindelwalds would react upon seeing the way their counterparts got along.

It would definitely be interesting~

The process of crossing time was not as complicated as young Dumbledore and young Grindelwald had imagined. It seemed like no more than a blink, and they had already reached their destination.

"I really think you might be messing with us…"

With a wave of his wand, young Dumbledore displayed the current date and muttered.

"Magic that is simple and efficient enough is powerful magic."

Adam clapped his hands.

"All right, let’s go over your identities once more…"

"I know. I’m Brian, and he’s Campbell. How could we forget something so simple?"

Young Dumbledore waved a hand. Those two names had originally been among their middle names; how could they possibly get them wrong?

"It’s not just about remembering them. You have to get used to them, and when someone calls out Dumbledore or Grindelwald, you cannot react instinctively."

Adam said seriously.

"Once you’re exposed and the timeline is damaged, you know the consequences, right?"

For most wizards, time was something they would never even think of studying. But that was not the case for young Dumbledore and young Grindelwald.

By this point, they had already sought many forms of power for the sake of "the greater good," even delving into myths and legends. Naturally, they had also explored the power of time.

Hearing Adam’s words, young Dumbledore’s expression became serious as well. He nodded solemnly.

"We’ll get used to it as quickly as possible."

"Mm."

Adam returned a serious nod, then could not help laughing.

"Then… let’s go to Hogwarts first. You and Ariana will be living there from now on."

If any one of the four Uthers had been there and seen the smile on Adam’s face, they would certainly have shouted:

Run!!!

However, none of the four were there at the moment, so young Dumbledore and young Grindelwald followed Adam to the Headmaster’s Office without noticing a thing.

Grindelwald, who was waiting in the office, heard the door open, turned around, and said:

"Adam, I need to take leave tomorrow. I already told Thomas to cover for me… o… one… class…?"

When he saw the two people entering behind Adam, Grindelwald’s mind completely froze. Even his mechanically spoken words became somewhat unfocused.

For the next few minutes, Grindelwald’s mind was completely blank. What he saw, what he heard, and what he thought could not connect at all.

"Is this… the future me?"

Young Grindelwald looked at the old man staring blankly at them. The corner of his eye twitched, while a hint of complicated emotion appeared in his gaze.

"That’s what happens when you get old. You have trouble accepting huge changes in the world."

After saying this with great feeling, Adam ignored Professor Dumbledore’s portrait as it stumbled out of its frame and led the two away from the office.

"I’ll take you to your professors’ quarters first. Let him process it for a while."

Although Adam had briefly mentioned the future of the normal timeline before, seeing one of the people involved with their own eyes still made the two youths feel heavy-hearted. Their clasped hands tightened until they hurt each other.

But halfway there, they began to realize something. Not about their future selves, but about Adam.

"Did you deliberately let us run into the current Grindelwald?"

"It’s Grindelwald. Don’t forget that you’re no longer Grindelwald now, but…"

"Campbell. I know."

Faced with young Grindelwald’s unrelenting stare, Adam imitated Professor Dumbledore and pulled a face.

"You saw it yourselves just now. Grindelwald came to ask me for leave; it wasn’t like I arranged to meet him. How could I have known beforehand that Grindelwald would be there?"

Seeing him like that, the two could not help looking away.

Right, right. As if we’d believe that.

Meanwhile, at Number 12, Grimmauld Place…

"Clink—"

A crisp sound rang out from the second floor. Professor Dumbledore pursed his lips, took several deep breaths, then drew his wand and cast Reparo, fixing the teacup before placing it back on the table.

Then Professor Dumbledore looked at the portrait beside him, his eyes utterly vacant.

"What did you just say you saw?"

"I saw… Adam bringing the young you… and the young… Grindelwald…"

Professor Dumbledore’s portrait could not help falling into a daze as he spoke. That sight had simply been too shocking.

Although portraits were not the wizards themselves, powerful wizards could give their portraits their memories, personalities, and even intelligence similar to their own.

Professor Dumbledore was clearly a powerful wizard, yet his portrait had still chosen to give up thinking and immediately report the news to Professor Dumbledore himself for a decision.

That in itself represented Professor Dumbledore’s attitude toward this matter—avoidance.

"…Let’s not deal with this for now."

After a long while, Professor Dumbledore spoke.

"Hogwarts will soon have its year-end exams. Once Harry graduates, the plan can begin immediately. Everything else can wait until Voldemort is dealt with."