The splitting of the spoils continued, and both the old man and the young girl were tireless in their enjoyment.
Dumbledore felt quite emotional, reflecting that the somewhat famous Mr. Skender should have been considered a respectable figure on the surface (since abusing magical creatures wasn't much of an issue for Wizards), yet unexpectedly possessed so many Dark magic items.
This sudden impulse allowed him to pick out many items that were only on the Ministry of Magic's Wanted List—finding them prevented them from circulating again; preventing their circulation saved several innocent lives and kept those vicious Black Wizards from strengthening their ranks.
This made Dumbledore very happy.
As for Mori Tsukisa, her happiness was merely due to her curiosity being satisfied.
"He carried a cabinet around with him?"
As the splitting of spoils reached the final stage, only a tattered cabinet remained... 'Bang! Bang!'
Something inside the cabinet seemed to be thrashing around; its four bent corners couldn't rest properly on the ground, and it kept rocking violently from the impacts.
"Shhh..."
Dumbledore suddenly stepped forward, shielding Mori Tsukisa and Nagini, raising the wand in his hand, and slowly approaching.
Closer.
He pressed his ear against the cabinet door... then... Bang!
"Ouch."
He was startled.
"Hahahaha! What are you doing?" Mori Tsukisa skipped over, looking the cabinet up and down: "What's locked inside?"
"Let it out quickly so we can see!"
Dumbledore leaned in to listen again, then cautiously tapped the cabinet with his wand.
After the noise quieted for a moment, it resumed thrashing wildly, the tattered wooden cabinet clattering, as if the occupant couldn't stay still for a second.
"Oh... I know now." The man stroked his neatly trimmed Sideburns, a mischievous smile flashing across his face: "Hey, little girl, want to see what you fear?"
Fear...? She hadn't felt that emotion in a long time.
Dumbledore pulled Mori Tsukisa back and began to explain.
"Boggart, a Shape-Shifter that lives in dark, cramped, and damp places."
"A very special kind of Magical Creature. It will see through your heart and transform into the thing you fear the most—" Dumbledore paused: "The prerequisite is that you must open your heart and let it take a good look."
He only said this because of the girl's inherent power: Dumbledore very, very, very much suspected that this Crazy Girl possessed a spell capable of obscuring the Boggart's mental probe.
"Just like their Occlumency (OccultoMens)."
"Eh... is it that interesting?"
Sure enough, the Crazy Girl liked the concept of the Boggart.
"I want to see! I want to see!"
Dumbledore patted her head like he was soothing a Child, aimed his wand at the cabinet—waved it, and the door opened.
A round Black Shadow quickly flew out and stopped in front of the Wizard.
Then, it began to twist and become murky, large areas of gray mixed into the Shadow, slowly stretching out to form a human figure.
It was about the same height as Mori Tsukisa.
With ordinary features and long hair, the girl tilted her head and walked forward, her eyes full of curiosity and excitement.
—It had to be said, judging solely by the expression, she truly did resemble Mori Tsukisa's usual quirky and mischievous demeanor.
The girl reached out, her eyes warm, as her palm slowly pressed against Dumbledore's face.
"Ariana..."
The wizard gazed at the girl, murmuring. His eyes, which had been spirited, were now dazed and confused, deeply lost in memories of the past... Then, blood began to seep from the chest of the Boggart's transformed body.
That flower bloomed all over the young girl's body. She stared at Dumbledore with eyes full of expectation and reluctance, slowly kneeling to the ground... and died.
"Ariana..."
"I see," Nagini suddenly spoke from behind Mori Tsukisa. "You are very..."
The woman paused, then corrected herself: "She is very much like you."
So, that's why this wizard looks at Mori Tsukisa with those eyes, right?
Who is she?
"She's my sister." Dumbledore struggled backward, raising his wand tremulously with his eyes squeezed shut. "Riddiculus!"
A golden mist erupted from the tip of the wand, enveloping the girl. After twisting and transforming once more, the Boggart still took the form of a human girl.
Only now, she had Dumbledore's face—a rugged, square face with a full beard. After a greasy blink, she bashfully pulled at the hem of her skirt and performed an elegant lady's curtsy to the people in front of her... Pfft.
"Hahahaha!" Mori Tsukisa covered her mouth. "Sir, is your image not important to you?"
The sadness in Dumbledore's eyes faded, and he shrugged. "This is the charm to subdue them. It's fine, it's fine. Laugh; I like the smiling faces of children."
With that, the man stepped aside, waiting for Mori Tsukisa's decision.
Then... let's all give it a try?
Arrietty.
The Little Sprite hopped in front of the Boggart. It didn't seem to notice the tiny person until Arrietty hit it with a pebble.
Changing, twisting.
What was it that Arrietty feared?
A drawer used by humans to store things was pulled open, and inside was a rocking chair.
"Grandpa..." Arrietty spoke in a low voice.
That was Arrietty's Grandpa.
His face was so wrinkled that his features were barely visible. The incredibly old sprite held onto the rocking chair, tremulously sitting up and looking toward Arrietty.
The old man smiled and smiled.
Then, his face suddenly darkened with gloom.
"Arrietty," he said, "those stories..."
"They're all..."
"They're all lies."
"Hahahahahahaha!" He shook his head frantically, and the rocking chair followed suit, creaking faster and faster!
"I lied to you! They're all fake!"
More and more frantic!
"Lies! All lies!"
"That flower is dead! We have no Queen!"
"Lies! All lies!"
The old man's madness seemed to infect Arrietty. She angrily drew the rapier at her waist and pointed it at the rocking chair. "Impossible! I've seen it! I've seen the wand, just like you said!"
"You said there were ships that sailed without wind! And wands! I've seen the wand! I followed the Queen to this World! You've been here too, haven't you?!"
"I lied! I lied to you! I'm just a Grandpa coaxing his granddaughter; I made up many stories!"
"Hahahaha!"
Mori Tsukisa scooped Arrietty up, holding her to her chest, and gently stroked her small head with her fingertip. "It's all real, of course, Arrietty. I am real, you are real, and so is Nagini."
"Your Grandpa must have been here too, perhaps in another time and space. Just because we haven't heard his legends doesn't mean they are false."
"Arrietty, are you okay?"
The sound of sniffing echoed in the valley.
Another Riddiculus charm quieted the Boggart. Dumbledore turned back, looking deeply at Mori Tsukisa.
He seemed to have... overheard something extraordinary?!
What "another time and space"?
She... Nagini looked over coldly.
—Don't court death, you stinking wizard.
Dumbledore playfully raised his hand in a salute and winked at Nagini's cold eyes: Message received! Little maid!
Waiting with a smile for Mori Tsukisa to finish comforting the Little Sprite, the next one to step up was... Nagini.
Come to think of it, Arrietty could probably guess what Nagini feared.
Once the Boggart twisted and transformed.
As expected, it was... it was the silhouette of Mori Tsukisa's back.
The silhouette raised its hand, waving to the group as it departed, with a voice drifting back from time to time.
"I'm leaving! Nagini, live well on your own from now on!"
As it spoke... suddenly, the departing shadow turned around, looking at Nagini coldly.
"I hate you."
Mori Tsukisa pulled a long face in imitation, holding Arrietty up: "I hate you." Then she ran to Nagini's side and whispered in her ear.
"I don't hate you."
---------------------------------
I hope you enjoy this fanfiction! If you're having fun and want to read 30 chapters in advance, feel free to check out my Patreon: patreon.com/TLScarlet
Your support means a lot so if you like the story, don't forget to drop a Power Stone.