"Greater Good…" Howl murmured softly.
Then he shook his head, stepped onto the stairs, and constantly crunched the dry fallen leaves on the steps, making rustling sounds.
Creak—
The huge wooden door was slowly pushed open by him, emitting a harsh sound. What followed was extreme silence.
He slowly paced on the large, smooth marble tiles, looked around, and then gently pushed his hand forward.
Just as Howl told Harry, the Wizards Hand is flexible and versatile.
Invisible and colorless soft waves spread outwards, and each feedback upon touching walls and debris was accurately mapped in his mind.
Like a bat's echolocation.
This technique only requires a tiny bit of magic, releasing a small "wave."
It also only requires "a little bit" of information processing ability.
Before long, he found a dynamic feedback from the upper part of the Castle.
A hunched, emaciated old man.
Thinking this, he slowly turned and walked towards the stairs.
Soon, he ascended several floors and arrived at a dark corridor. There were many rooms here, but it was extremely empty, with nothing left but some feathers from birds, or fallen leaves that had flown in from who knows where.
The thudding footsteps echoed continuously in the corridor.
Then, he slowly stopped in front of a room.
The door was open, without a lock. The empty window continuously blew wind, making a wailing sound.
Inside the room, there was a low table with several old, old parchment papers on it; clearly, its owner had repeatedly flipped through them.
The rest was an iron-barred bed. The bed only had a yellowed mattress, and the bedsheet… was torn, with only half remaining.
A withered hand reached out and placed the parchment into the lining of his tattered clothes.
The hunched old man squatting in the corner slowly stood up.
He lifted his head, and a face was faintly visible amidst his messy, knotted hair.
Howl was stunned, muttering, "Jack?!"
"Who?" The figure spoke, his voice hoarse and unpleasant, and a bit sticky, as if he hadn't spoken in a long time.
"Not Jack." Howl couldn't help but shake his head, smiling helplessly. He hadn't expected to mistake someone either.
For no other reason, this guy in front of him was simply too similar to Jack Sparrow, especially that greasy, knotted long hair.
Only an older version.
However, after he observed carefully, he still found many differences between the two.
"I thought it was Riddle…" he said.
Howl was a little confused: "Who is Riddle?"
"That's Lord Voldemort." The guy said, his eyes filled with a mixture of admiration and regret: "I didn't expect another young man to come here."
"Here? This Castle?"
"Not this Castle, but—this level." He said slowly, his eyes wandering, seeming a little crazy.
"You are better than Riddle," he said.
"When he came, he was tall and handsome, with a fake smile on his face to hide his arrogance and ambition.
At that time, he stood right where you are now, proudly declaring his manifesto in front of me."
"What manifesto?" Howl became interested, leaning against the wall, watching the old man with great interest.
Of course, he could also call him Gellert Grindelwald.
Grindelwald waved his hand in the air, his eyes vacant, a sneer on his lips: "He said he would start from where I failed and let me witness his success!"
Howl nodded slightly, pondering: "Is this why Lord Voldemort directly launched the pure-blood revolution in Britain? What if he could achieve such a grand momentum in other places, just like you did back then?!"
"Of course he could, he truly is smart enough and capable enough!!" Grindelwald said emphatically.
"When he came to see me, he was not yet thirty years old, but he had already stepped halfway into our level, yours and mine.
However, precisely because of this, he was also more arrogant than me, than Dumbledore, and than others."
"How arrogant?" Howl asked curiously.
"Even more so than you. You also always have a smile on your face, just like him. But clearly, your smile is much more relaxed, carrying a playful attitude towards life.
And he, on the other hand, simply used that gentle smile as a skill to gain others' trust."
Howl flatly denied: "I am not arrogant at all. Everyone knows my biggest flaw is being too humble."
However, his hand was placed on the corner of his mouth, and he muttered to himself: Playing with the world… mentality…
Grindelwald looked at him expressionlessly and said casually, "No one who reaches this point doesn't possess an arrogance beyond ordinary people. You, I, Albus, Riddle, and even Aberforth, who had not yet given up magic—we are all the same, no need to hide."
After speaking, he seemed not to want to continue the topic and casually sat on the bed: "What should I call you?"
"It seems you don't like prophecies much? Mu En Jones!" Howl nodded slightly.
"I haven't prophesied in a very, very long time. There's no need. It would only make me realize deeper despair!" He lifted his head, his shoulders slumped.
"What are you here for? If you just want to declare your power to me, you can start now."
Howl spread his hands: "No, I just happened to be passing by, so I came to take a look. Of course, it would be even better if you could satisfy some of my curiosity."
"Cats are always curious."
"This is a Curse, don't rub salt in the wound, old man." Howl said helplessly.
Grindelwald was instantly choked, and after a good while, he nodded wearily: "Alright, but… do me a favor."
"Why ask me instead of someone from the Ministry of Magic in Europe or Germany? I don't do illegal things. Of course, two people would be fine too!"
"It's nothing major, it's just that their fear of me is deeply ingrained, they don't even dare to communicate with me." Grindelwald said, his tone flat but full of presence.
"Alright, help you with what?"
"Help me get some stationery, other than that, I ask for nothing. My bedsheets are almost completely torn." He said.
"I didn't expect you still needed to write letters."
Grindelwald's eyes held a dim, bitter look: "Of course, though he hasn't written back in a very, very long time. I don't even know if he reads my letters."
Howl looked at the sky outside and waved his hand helplessly: "Alright, then it's settled. I'll bring you some stationery tomorrow morning."
"Alright." Grindelwald nodded: "We can talk more then…"
Howl nodded, then turned and left the place.
Grindelwald sighed, memories flickering in his eyes. Suddenly, he supported his knees and, with some difficulty, got up and walked out of the room, quickly shouting, "Wait!"
Howl stood at the corner, looking at him confused.
"Help me cross out the words on the main door." His voice grew softer and softer, until it became a monologue.
"I was wrong…"
Howl only heard the first sentence. He nodded.
"Okay!"