It had to be said—when it came to strategy, Dumbledore was second to none.
As for first place? That was undoubtedly Erwin.
After morning exercises, the young witches and wizards had stretched their weary limbs. The Beauxbatons girls, in particular, looked rather worse for wear, though nothing else particularly noteworthy occurred.
In the Great Hall, breakfast was underway. The Beauxbatons students were muttering complaints. They usually maintained impeccable appearances and had even bathed that morning to present themselves well. Now, they were covered in sweat—an ordeal for these young women who valued elegance.
They grumbled among themselves.
Fleur frowned, her patience wearing thin. "Enough! Stop complaining. Look at the students from the other schools. None of them are whining, and that includes the girls. Has life at Beauxbatons become so comfortable you've forgotten you're witches? There are still dangers in the magical world!"
"Why are we so tired? Because our bodies are too weak! If we're this frail, why don't we train? Do you really want to wait until we face an enemy at close range, only to be helpless?"
Fleur held a high position at Beauxbatons—not only due to her family's wealth but her own capabilities. When she spoke with such conviction, the girls quieted down and began to consider her words. It seemed they genuinely hadn't thought about it this way.
On the staff platform, Madame Maxime watched Fleur with visible pride. Dumbledore said sincerely, "Olympe, you have an exceptional student."
Maxime smiled. "Yes, though not quite like Erwin, she is excellent. After all, there is only one Erwin."
Dumbledore smiled but didn't reply. Honestly, he agreed that Erwin was capable and exceptional. However, their relationship was strained. Erwin had long deviated from Dumbledore's plans, and now everything was being orchestrated by the boy. Dumbledore was largely powerless to stop it.
After breakfast, classes officially began. Coincidentally, Slytherin's first lesson was Defense Against the Dark Arts with Ravenclaw.
The students from the other three schools were evenly distributed among the four houses, attending classes with them. This didn't affect Erwin and his immediate circle, however. All the visiting students were seventeen or older—upperclassmen, naturally attending classes with the older students. This saved Erwin and his friends considerable inconvenience.
In the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, Hermione and Pansy sat on either side of Erwin like two sentinels. The two had actually argued over who should sit on Erwin's right. If Erwin hadn't intervened, they might have settled it with wands.
Some of the younger witches watched with envy. A seat next to Erwin was highly coveted, but they couldn't compete with Hermione and Pansy. Unbeknownst to Erwin, a silent competition had circulated among the younger girls regarding who would secure that spot. Based on sheer skill, Hermione and Pansy emerged victorious.
Before the bell rang, the classroom was packed. Everyone was curious about the legend before them. His abilities and reputation were enough to fascinate anyone, and now this legend would be their professor.
Hermione asked, "Erwin, what sort of person is Professor Grindelwald?"
Erwin paused at the title—it sounded odd to him. "Him? How should I put it? He's powerful, knowledgeable, and possesses immense charisma. His perspective on problems is completely different from others. He seeks unconventional solutions."
Hermione and Pansy looked thoughtful.
Pansy asked carefully, "Did he truly want to subjugate all Muggles back then?"
Erwin laughed. "Think about the numbers, Pansy. I told you to study Muggle history. Why did Grindelwald target them? As a master of divination, he foresaw the threat Muggles posed to wizards. He wanted to create a way forward. He never intended to wipe them out—he knew that was impossible. He wanted wizards to rise above Muggles or establish dominion over them. The purpose was to ensure a space for wizards to survive."
Hermione said quietly, "Is that so? Muggle weapons are indeed terrifying these days. Perhaps Professor Grindelwald's concerns weren't unfounded."
Erwin nodded. "Yes. Both Dumbledore and Grindelwald saw the threat. However, their approaches differed, leading to their conflict. But their goal was the same: to ensure the survival of the wizarding world in an age where Muggles grow stronger."
Pansy asked, "Then, sir, whose side do you favor?"
"I don't favor either side," Erwin said. "In my opinion, they're both mistaken. Whether it's Dumbledore's suggestion to hide the wizarding world completely, or Grindelwald's idea of establishing wizarding superiority over Muggles, I think they're both wrong."
"Why do humans progress? Because we have a desire to explore the unknown. Just as people thousands of years ago could never imagine flying without wings, exploration is the fundamental driving force of development. Only through continuous exploration can humanity become more comprehensive, understanding and mastering more.
"Dumbledore's idea makes sense on the surface: completely hiding the wizarding world prevents it from being threatened by Muggle power. However, he overlooked one problem—the Muggle world is developing too rapidly. Their technology, their grasp of fundamental principles—it's advancing at an overwhelming pace. Meanwhile, wizards, confined to their own world, can only stagnate, dreaming of past glories and fantasizing about superiority."