Hogwarts: Chill, I'm Not That Riddle-Chapter 514: Ariana Dumbledore, a Reserve Dark Lord?

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"The Elder Wand only answers to the one who conquers it. It chases strength, always. Last night... both Grindelwald’s wand and mine were knocked out of our hands by you. Ever since then, it’s felt... resistant. You’re its true master now."

In the past, Dumbledore might have let it go without hesitation. The Elder Wand was a burden as much as a weapon. If Tom had surpassed him, then fine. He could have it.

But not now.

No matter how much he disliked the wand, he couldn’t deny the power it granted. Ariana’s resurrection was wrapped in mysteries far too deep. He couldn’t afford to weaken himself.

Not only could he not give it up, he had to grow stronger. Otherwise, how would he protect his family?

So here he was, asking Tom for help.

They only needed to put on a little show. That would be enough to shift the wand’s allegiance back.

"I see..." Tom nodded, playing along, his gaze settling on the Elder Wand, pale and knotted like an ancient spine. Dumbledore offered it without hesitation.

After all, Tom was technically its master now.

Tom didn’t refuse. His long fingers closed steadily around the legendary wand.

The moment his skin touched it, a strange sensation surged through him. Cold and burning at the same time. Then came an almost intimate smoothness, as if the wand were simply an extension of his arm.

He could feel it clearly, the ancient, violent power coiled deep within the core, trembling with delight.

The Elder Wand quivered in excitement. It sensed the vast ocean of magic within its new master. None of its previous owners had ever tasted anything like this.

Dumbledore? Please. Irrelevant. The new master was the only sun worth orbiting.

But the wand’s joy didn’t last long.

Hakuna Matata felt the provocation.

It trembled in fury.

Whoosh!

The Elder Wand flew straight out of Tom’s hand, grazing Dumbledore’s hair as it shot past and embedded itself into the trunk of an old banyan tree, sinking deep.

"...Ah."

Dumbledore looked down at the cheerful little wand in Tom’s hand, stunned.

Where on earth had this thing come from? It could even drive off the Elder Wand?

Before obtaining the Elder Wand, Dumbledore had used his own wand for decades. But once he became the Elder Wand’s master, his original wand had been suppressed. Their compatibility dwindled until he’d had no choice but to seal it away.

What exactly was Tom’s wand?

Could it be the legendary snakewood wand said to have belonged to Salazar Slytherin? No... the material didn’t even look like wood.

Tom gave the Hakuna Matata a light shake. "Professor, I have good character. It’s normal to run into a few lucky encounters, right?"

"Yeah... reasonable," Dumbledore said with a strained smile.

"Behave," Tom murmured, patting the wand before putting it away. Only then did he extend his hand.

The Elder Wand shot back into his palm with an eager hum.

This feeling...

It was like a lovesick fool who’d been rejected a thousand times but still came running.

"Professor," Tom said suddenly, "mind if I borrow it for a few days?"

Dumbledore blinked. "Tom, you already have a stronger wand. The Elder Wand shouldn’t hold much value for you."

"It’s still one of the Deathly Hallows," Tom replied, running a thumb along the pale wood. "Harry’s Invisibility Cloak is with me. Add the Elder Wand, and if I find the Resurrection Stone... wouldn’t that make me the Master of Death?"

In the original story, only Harry had ever possessed all three Hallows at once. The Elder Wand in Voldemort’s hands, the broken Resurrection Stone, and the Cloak that had always belonged to him.

It seemed like nothing happened.

But the moment the Hallows were united, Voldemort’s defeat was already sealed. Blood connection or not, he never would have won.

Youthful curiosity.

Dumbledore knew that once Tom’s curiosity was piqued, there was no getting the wand back today. They agreed on one month. Whether Tom made progress or not, he would return it after that.

Still, Dumbledore felt uneasy.

It wasn’t that he doubted Tom’s promise.

It was Grindelwald.

Without the Elder Wand, he held no advantage against him.

---

About an hour later, just before classes began, Tom, Ariana, Dumbledore, and Grindelwald finally appeared together in the Great Hall.

Students who had been halfway out the door froze, then sprinted back to their seats at record speed, eyes glued to the two legendary figures striding toward the high table.

If you looked closely, faint bruises and lingering cuts were still visible on Dumbledore and Grindelwald’s faces.

Tom and Ariana, walking a little behind them, were completely uninjured.

The two stood close together, speaking softly. Ariana’s face was lit with bright laughter.

Daphne’s eyes went wide. She started stammering.

"Th-this... it’s only been one night and they’re already a thing?"

"Daphne!" Astoria tugged at her sister’s sleeve, her own expression not much better. "At least phrase it more politely next time."

"There’s going to be a next time?" Daphne’s voice practically cracked.

The other girls didn’t look much better. The way Tom and Ariana stood so close, so familiar with each other, you’d think they’d known each other for two and a half years already.

...

"Huh?"

When Ariana suddenly noticed the Durmstrang students sitting at the Gryffindor table, her expression darkened.

She walked straight over to a girl and asked, clearly displeased, "What’s going on? Didn’t I say to choose Slytherin? Why are you sitting here with Gryffindor?"

"In their eyes, a group of pure-bloods like you are barely better than Slytherins. Even if you’re not enemies, you’re close enough. Why would you come here just to make yourselves uncomfortable?"

She didn’t bother lowering her voice. In the suddenly silent Great Hall, her crisp tone carried clearly.

The Gryffindor students flushed red instantly, like they’d been slapped in public.

Dumbledore’s steps faltered. His sharp gaze swept toward Grindelwald, who wore a faintly amused smile.

"Is there a problem?" Grindelwald asked mildly. "Supporting pure-blood traditions has always been Durmstrang’s custom. Ariana comes from a distinguished family. Her future achievements are limitless. I see nothing wrong with her protecting her own class."

Dumbledore didn’t reply. He ascended the platform, and Grindelwald took the seat at his right without hesitation.

Though inwardly, Grindelwald felt a flicker of annoyance.

Next time. The next time Dumbledore visited Durmstrang, he would make sure Dumbledore sat in that position.

"I sincerely apologize," Dumbledore’s voice rang clearly through the hall, "for allowing personal matters to disrupt yesterday’s welcome banquet."

He inclined his head to the students, then offered an apologetic smile toward the headmasters and professors from the other schools. Madame Maxime and the rest hurried to smile back, insisting it was nothing.

Last night’s battle had been more than a duel. It was a demonstration.

It made them realize that while they all held the title of headmaster, Dumbledore and Grindelwald lived in entirely different worlds.

If it were a matter of fundamental interests, perhaps they would argue. But this? It was just a fight. The damaged property wasn’t theirs. Why should they be the ones upset?

"Thank you for your understanding," Dumbledore said again, before turning back to the students.

"I know you’re all curious about what happened."

His gaze fell on Ariana, who was sitting rather unwillingly near the Gryffindor table. He smiled warmly.

"Ariana Dumbledore is indeed my sister. My younger sister."

The hall exploded.

He admitted it!

At that moment, the Hogwarts students all shared the same thought: the Dumbledore family was absurdly mysterious. Every so often, someone new would pop out of nowhere. First the Hog’s Head bartender. Now a Durmstrang prodigy under Grindelwald.

Who would it be next?

Dumbledore paused briefly.

"Many years ago, when I had not yet graduated, Ariana suffered a terrible accident. We used an extremely ancient form of magic to seal her away, hoping that one day we would find a way to save her."

He allowed a trace of sorrow to show.

"During the unrest of that time, we were separated. As for how Headmaster Grindelwald found her and successfully cured her, I do not know. Yesterday truly gave me... quite the surprise."

It was the explanation they had agreed upon that morning.

Claiming outright resurrection would never do. That would invite endless attention toward Ariana.

Fortunately, very few people had ever known of Ariana’s existence. It required little effort to keep their story consistent.

Just as Dumbledore finished speaking, Grindelwald rose with a smile, and the murmurs that had just started quickly faded.

The Dark Lord always carried more pressure than the White one. Anger him, and he truly might kill you.

"Headmaster Dumbledore is correct," Grindelwald said calmly. "Ariana is not only my prized student, she is the finest student in Durmstrang’s history. Far surpassing even myself." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Under Dumbledore’s death glare, Grindelwald’s smile widened.

"She will represent my school in the tournament. And if she wins the final championship, as her reward, I will allow her to take over the Acolytes early and become their new leader."

The hall detonated.

Every eye swung toward Ariana, who showed little reaction.

The Gryffindors looked horrified.

Wait. What?

Are we sitting with a reserve Dark Lord?

"Grindelwald, what do you mean by this?" Dumbledore looked openly betrayed. That had not been part of the morning’s discussion.

"Nothing special." Grindelwald shrugged. "I’m offering my student a reward. Do I require your permission?"

"Fine. Very well."

Dumbledore knew this was not the moment for an argument. He shot Grindelwald a sharp look before addressing the students again.

"That concludes any discussion of my family. Now, a few matters regarding the tournament."

"The students from Uagadou will arrive at Hogwarts this evening. The appointed judges will also be in place. At that time, the criteria for selecting the champions will be announced."

With that, Dumbledore gave Grindelwald a meaningful glance and stepped out of the Great Hall first.

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