34 years ago, in 1998.England, Hogwarts.
Whoosh!Boom!Tick tock! Tick tock! Tick tock!
As the wind howled, a deafening thunderclap suddenly erupted in the sky, and the sound of raindrops began to patter against the windows, growing louder and louder. What started as a light drizzle had now transformed into a torrential downpour, battering the fallen leaves and branches, streaming down like silver threads along the eaves.
From a distance, the entire world seemed to blur in the hazy, rain-drenched sky. It was pouring relentlessly, washing everything clean.
The sudden storm attracted the attention of many young wizards at Hogwarts. They all ran to the windows and railings to watch. Some Gryffindor students even dashed outside, cast water-repelling charms on themselves, and began playing in the rain.
Observing this harmonious, peaceful, and beautiful scene, Dumbledore stood on the rooftop of Hogwarts Castle with a smile playing on his lips.
Good! he thought. It's really like a dream.
There was no Dark Lord Voldemort wreaking havoc, no Grindelwald pulling strings from the shadows, and no Lockhart causing trouble. His heart felt noticeably lighter.
Even now, as he dealt with the International Council of Wizards and the Ministries of Magic from various countries—despite their various schemes and calculations causing friction and delays—overall, it was certainly easier than confronting Dark Lords like Voldemort.
But...
Dumbledore stood on the rooftop, gazing at the pouring rain before him. He gently stretched out his right hand, reaching forward. The raindrops flowed smoothly down his skin, and an inexplicable feeling of familiarity arose in his heart.
As these thoughts flashed through his mind...
Buzz!
Suddenly, the world fell silent, as if time itself had frozen. All the raindrops before him hung suspended in mid-air, like nails firmly fixed in space. Visible to the naked eye, crystal-clear and perfectly formed raindrops remained motionless in the air.
Dumbledore stared at the raindrops before him, and almost instantly, he seemed to connect with them, glimpsing a more subtle world beyond. Thoughts turned to images, flowing through his consciousness as he peered through a raindrop to see everything he wished to observe, across vast distances.
In less than a second, the suspended raindrops returned to their natural state and continued falling downward. The young wizards playing below seemed not to notice the momentary pause.
But that brief second had been enough for Dumbledore to perceive many things. He had even glimpsed his former student, Tom Riddle, in Africa through one of these raindrops.
No—not through the raindrops themselves, but through them, he had established a mysterious connection. He could see anything he wished to see.
His strength had increased!
No, it would be more accurate to say that he was growing stronger with each passing moment. He could clearly feel the magical power within his body expanding drop by drop, minute by minute. All kinds of insights and knowledge would materialize in his mind merely by thinking about them.
It was as if he wasn't generating these thoughts himself, but rather, half were being gifted to him by some other force.
Now, without a wand, he could create the effects of complex spells with just a wave of his hand or even a mere thought. If Voldemort were to appear before him at this moment, he was confident he could subdue him with a casual gesture. Even if Lockhart stood before him, Dumbledore had an inexplicable feeling that the outcome would be the same.
Was this the strength that came from standing at the pinnacle of the world as Speaker of the Wizards Council?
Dumbledore felt his growing power, clearly perceptible with each passing moment. Yet he also felt inexplicably uneasy in his heart. Growth in strength was generally a positive development. But this rate of growth was decidedly strange.
These thoughts flashed through his mind. Looking at rain-soaked Hogwarts, Dumbledore took a step forward.
In the blink of an eye, Dumbledore vanished from Hogwarts, reappearing in America the next moment. Spanning half the world had required merely a thought, and it hadn't even seemed to consume much energy. It had happened naturally, as if it were the most normal thing in the world—as if it were simply the law of nature.
This was the strength of being the most powerful wizard in the world.
Dumbledore materialized at the entrance of an expansive garden. Standing at the gate, he sent a magical message, quietly waiting for someone to welcome him. Even to his eyes, there was a spatial passage behind this door that would be difficult for ordinary people to detect. He needed only to take another step forward to reach the secret world through the passage.
He refrained from doing so out of politeness, because the wizards on the other side were valuable allies.
Lockhart's Kamar-Taj!
Yes, after Lockhart's departure, Carter had chosen to relocate Kamar-Taj. After all, the island of England could not comfortably accommodate two major wizarding institutions—Hogwarts and Kamar-Taj—especially when both were schools. There simply wasn't enough room.
So Carter had come to America with a clear understanding of historical developments. In the coming decades, the United States would become the center of global economic development, drawing talented individuals from thousands of miles away. The Americas were vast and sparsely populated, with plenty of space for both Muggles and wizards.
Moreover, not long ago, the conflict between Grindelwald, Voldemort, and the goblins had reshaped the established order. Kamar-Taj could easily establish itself in the Americas and firmly control this continent. Then, they would wait for Lockhart's return.
That had been Carter's plan.
However, after waiting for two or three years with no sign of Lockhart's return, Carter had grown somewhat uneasy. During this time, she had supported Dumbledore in promoting the new magic system for new wizards, in accordance with the plan Lockhart had left behind.
Overall, everything was progressing in a positive direction. The only question was: when would Lockhart return?
After sensing Dumbledore's arrival, Carter came to greet him personally. The garden gate slowly opened, and Carter emerged, approaching Dumbledore with several professors. "Speaker Dumbledore has arrived," she said. "Please, come in. Kamar-Taj is also Headmaster Dumbledore's home. Our Principal Lockhart specifically emphasized this."
Hearing this, Dumbledore's face also brightened with a smile. "If you put it that way, I won't stand on ceremony."
As they conversed, Dumbledore and Carter crossed the dimensional threshold and entered the secret world of Kamar-Taj.
Upon entering this hidden realm, Dumbledore observed the young wizards of Kamar-Taj, various magical creatures, and spectacular, otherworldly landscapes. He felt a slight relaxation in his heart, but curiously, his rapidly growing strength began to slow, even showing signs of stabilization. He even had the vague sensation that something was missing.
However, this made him feel relieved rather than concerned.
"Principal Carter, there are some matters I would like to discuss with you."