[78] Echoes of Nurmengard

On the third day, after a long and anxious wait, Vita Rosier finally located Grindelwald and Nurmengard Castle.

The information came from a distant relative of the Rosier family — a platinum-haired man obsessed with making money, currently expanding his influence in the international wizarding world.

Dumbledore had been at the school attending a meeting of the Board of Governors. He not only had to handle various matters — teacher assignments and funding applications for the next academic year — but also a more daunting challenge: how to conceal Nurmengard Castle.

As one of the Board of Governors, Lucius Malfoy was naturally among them, and he unexpectedly discovered the castle's existence.

Dumbledore planned to hide Nurmengard for now and deal with the problem after the meeting. But concealing such a massive castle was no easy task — even a powerful wizard like Dumbledore would find it challenging. He agreed to Hall's suggestion to use a magic circle to hide Nurmengard.

However, drawing the circle took time.

It was this delay that gave Malfoy, who had arrived at school early, an unexpected discovery.

His eyes gleamed with excitement, as if he had found some precious treasure. Upon returning to Malfoy Manor, he eagerly wrote a letter to a distant relative he hadn't contacted in years — Vita Rosier, the current head of the Rosier family.

The Rosier family was a pure-blood family with a long and distinguished history in the wizarding world. One of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. Vita Rosier, as its leader, was renowned for her astonishing wealth and influence. She was even more famous for her past romance with the first Dark Lord, Gellert Grindelwald.

For Lucius, there might not have been a suitable opportunity to contact this distant relative before, but this opportunity was a gift from Merlin. He knew if he missed this chance, he would regret it immensely.

Three days after the disappearance, an unexpected message arrived.

On the morning of the third day after Grindelwald and Nurmengard's disappearance, a very conspicuous white peacock delivered a letter to the Rosier family.

Such an ostentatious style could only come from the Malfoys.

Vita Rosier disdainfully twirled the letter. The Saints had caused such a commotion throughout Europe that it had already attracted widespread attention in the international magical community. The Malfoy family, as an old aristocratic family in the British magical world, certainly wouldn't be unaware.

At this juncture, the Malfoys, who rarely contacted her, suddenly sent a letter. It couldn't just be a greeting, could it?

Vita Rosier, struck by a sudden realisation, tore open the letter.

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The moment she saw its contents, her pupils contracted. She felt an unprecedented sense of insult and rage. She slammed the letter on the table, the veins on her palm bulging.

"Dumbledore!" She practically gritted her teeth. "You've gone too far!"

This was Dumbledore's insult and provocation to Grindelwald, and a challenge to the entire Saints organisation. How dare he!

Vita Rosier's eyes turned fierce as she looked across at the four equally grey-haired elderly men sitting opposite her. She gave them her order.

"To England!"

Just as the Austrian Ministry of Magic was trembling with fear, they suddenly discovered that the Saints had begun to move. Based on their route, the Austrian Ministry was relieved to find they were heading toward England. That was Dumbledore's stronghold.

Such a large-scale operation naturally alerted the British Ministry of Magic as well. The Saints, shouting that Dumbledore had gone too far, moved toward the British wizarding border.

After contacting the Austrian Ministry, the British roughly learned what had happened. What baffled them was that they could understand Grindelwald's disappearance — but Nurmengard was missing? That was a castle. An immovable building. How could something like that just disappear?

The British Ministry unanimously believed this was a plot by the Saints to invade Britain.

Deep in the forest near Hogwarts, Hall questioned Dumbledore's plan.

Deep in the forest near Hogwarts.

It was already the third day. Hall was confused by Dumbledore's plan. "Really, we don't need to send him back? It's not that complicated. We just need the coordinates."

But Dumbledore shook his head. Grindelwald's words about Hall still made him uneasy. And the best way to resolve this, Dumbledore felt, was to keep both of them under his watchful eye.

Hall was a good boy, but still young. What if he were bewitched by Grindelwald? Dumbledore had a responsibility to his student.

Thus, Hall painfully ended his summer holiday early. He began a life of spending his days at Hogwarts and returning to the Burrow at night via the Floo Network.

Grindelwald still wanted Hall to inherit the Saints, believing Hall could bring about a different kind of wizarding world — and that the Saints, riding on Hall's coattails, could be completely redeemed, no longer needing to hide in the shadows.

But the boy's mind was filled only with Galleons. Even worse than the Nifflers Grindelwald had encountered years ago.

Grindelwald decided to stay. First, to continue persuading Hall. Second, to test him. The boy's magic no longer needed testing — the castle and Grindelwald himself were the best proof. But he wanted to see Hall's abilities and character firsthand before entrusting the Saints to him.

There was absolutely no other selfish motive.

For various reasons, Dumbledore ultimately decided that Nurmengard would be officially located deep within the Forbidden Forest of Hogwarts, concealed. The castle was moved deeper underground, a larger magic circle was arranged, and Madam Pomfrey was tasked with helping Grindelwald recuperate.

Four days passed before all these tasks were completed.

Minister of Magic Fudge knocked on the doors of Hogwarts. Twelve Aurors stood behind him.

Dumbledore was full of questions but maintained a friendly smile. "Fudge? What can I do for you?"

Cornelius Fudge smiled obsequiously, his tone humble yet tinged with fear. "Headmaster Dumbledore, the Saints are searching for you everywhere. They say they want to settle scores with you. You are an important figure in the wizarding world. Please rest assured."

He stepped aside, revealing the Aurors.

"You see, I specifically sent twelve Aurors. They will stay at Hogwarts 24 hours a day to protect your safety."

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