Capítulo 42: The Great War, the Coronation, and my employment at Hogwarts.
— So, you claim to have mastery in the arts of charms and numerology, yet you were tutored at home by private instructors and have recently completed your personal apprenticeship under Master Alfonso Bruns. Hmm, how intriguing, it is fascinating to see how you use a potent cocktail of psionic power and the energy of sensual spirit to enthrall and propel towards revelation. A remarkable talent! And what is even more curious, this is not a gift, but a deliberate manifestation of his abilities, which he has honed through time and effort. Albus achieved it intuitively and naturally; it was the very essence of this enigmatic and contradictory individual. He desired to be admired by all and sought to captivate everyone he encountered, desiring to be aware of all and capable of influencing the situation.
"Indeed, Mr. Dumbledore, my esteemed colleague, the Honorable Alfonso Brans, has deemed that my educational journey would be enriched by combining my academic pursuits with the role of a teacher. He has suggested that through this dual pursuit, I will be afforded the opportunity to engage in a fresh perspective on the knowledge I have already acquired, allowing me to delve deeper into its intricacies.
The rationale behind my choice to pursue both Muggle and magical studies is rooted in my proficiency in the realm of charms and numerology. It is logical to anticipate that these fields would present me with a smoother and more efficient path towards mastery. However, the question arises as to whether I will find it feasible to navigate the demands of teaching in two distinct disciplines simultaneously.
It was the year 1962, and my choice of employment at Hogwarts fell upon this school because it was in that year that the eldest of the Black sisters would attend. For my own employment at the school, I sought teaching positions that would allow me to both engage in the work itself and casually dismantle the crystalline castles of vision that Muggle-born and pureblood students built. I had to pull strings to ensure that these subjects were included in the compulsory curriculum established and approved by the relevant department at the MCM (Ministry of Magic).
Let us now delve into the matter.
In this world, the Second World War — which in fact was the First World War — took place, albeit lasting until the forces of Nazi Germany attempted to invade the territories of the Russian Empire.
As soon as the units of the Wehrmacht crossed the frontiers of the Reich, it was not, as one might suppose, the witchers who took action, but rather the Russian army with the assistance of state-employed imperial magicians. It should be noted that the Russian Empire was not a signatory to the Statute of Secrecy, and whereas in Europe German forces cautiously sought the aid of the Anenerbe organisation, which included Gellert magicians, the Russians were unconcerned about these matters. Neither the Church nor any other entity had the authority or capacity to exert influence or restrain the Russians.
Gellert had learned the lesson well from Alfonso, and he no longer considered himself to be the most extraordinary. Therefore, from that moment on, he acted with great caution, doing everything in his power to ensure that his quest for conquest remained within the realm of secular authority and politics, rather than involving religious or magical matters.
He had a clear understanding of the consequences that would ensue if the Inquisition, or the witch-hunters and knights of the Creator, came to his door. His nervous tic — a constant twitching of his eyelid — and his prematurely grey hair served as a reminder of the severity of the situation. His mind now measured each step a hundred times before taking it, ensuring that he did not venture into any territory that could incur the wrath of the Vatican.
If, in the past, Gellert may have resorted to the assistance of various dark entities, such as werewolves, other malevolent spirits, and dark rituals, in his pursuit of victory, then in this new world, he was fearful of even approaching or engaging with any topic that might draw the attention of the Vatican's authority.
Thus, the entire continent of Europe came under the control of the German war machine, which was characterized by a well-orchestrated military apparatus, a well-oiled logistics network, superior uniforms, provisions, and supply chains. The magical element did not directly engage in the conflict between the German forces and the armies of other European countries, but rather were employed in the assaults on magical enclaves.
There were, in essence, two parallel conflicts: the mundane conflict between the various nations, and the individual confrontations between Gellert's wizards and the rest of the magical community in Europe. Furthermore, while the mundanes swiftly formed alliances to enhance their chances in the war against the fascist threat, the magical community remained oblivious to the impending danger until it was brought to their doorstep through the use of ramming spells, siege magic, and infernal fire.
In the early months of 1942, the German invasion forces embarked on their triumphant march, and by the close of 1943, all of Europe had fallen under the control of Nazi Germany, with Gellert at the helm. For a period of five years, the Nazis systematically exploited Europe, leveraging the newly acquired territories and their industrial capabilities, which were subsequently reconfigured to bolster their offensive capabilities in the shortest timeframe possible, resulting in a significant expansion of their military might.
It was not until the autumn of 1948 that they decided to confront their eastern neighbor. Gellert's strategy seemed to hinge on the belief that the Soviet Union, despite not formally joining the Axis powers, appeared to be closely observing their actions. However, he did not anticipate the possibility of relying solely on technological advantages in the impending conflict.
Indeed, as soon as the German forces crossed the border of our nation, a series of catastrophic events unfolded, leaving the Ahnenerbe operators bewildered and disoriented. The military columns of the fascists were reduced to ash, then to frozen statues, and even the trucks carrying soldiers and supplies disintegrated into tiny shards of ice with a mere click. The chill that lingered in the vicinity where these occurrences took place persisted for an extended period exceeding a month, an unprecedented experience for Europeans.
This was a momentous event, marking the first instance of iron-clad order and discipline being imposed in the Russian Empire. No sorcerer or other aristocrat dared to disobey or engage in subversive activities; instead, they executed tasks meticulously according to regulations and instructions received from the headquarters.. In this particular historical context, there were neither German nor any other foreign spies operating within the Russian Empire during the impending conflict with the combined forces of Europe. The State Security Ministry had not been eating its bread in vain, ensuring that the enemy lacked any intelligence regarding the state of their troops.
By this time, Jaromir had fully reconstituted his army, transforming it into a state-of-the-art military machine. It was equipped with the most cutting-edge communication systems, relying on both radio technology and magical means for redundancy. Moreover, it utilized the most sophisticated military equipment, incorporating the regulations I had memorized from my previous existence and replicated in this one.
I intended to establish a magocratic state on the political map of this realm, where the fusion of magic and scientific advancements would not be viewed as separate entities but rather as a harmonious whole.. Consequently, by the 1930s, European countries were compelled to erect a literal iron curtain at their borders with Russia in order to prevent the two-way movement of citizens between our nation and Europe. The goal was to prevent any potential incidents involving the disclosure of the statute to the citizens of these countries, as they could not exert influence over the minds of their own citizens within Russian territory. Instead, once they crossed back into their home countries, they were immediately apprehended and subjected to memory suppression techniques aimed at erasing their recollections of supernatural occurrences.
However, the effectiveness of this process diminishes with the passage of time since the event in question. The more time that elapses since the incident, the greater the difficulty in successfully erasing the memory. This task requires exceptional skills in the realm of mental magic, which are scarce among both the Ministry of Magic in Russia and the respective ministries in European countries.
Thus, for this reason, Europe was compelled to implement unjustified and severe restrictions, rendering the process of obtaining a visa to the Russian Empire extremely challenging. Visas were granted swiftly only to individuals affiliated with deep-seated missions and those reasonably connected to the realm of the mystical.
And this, in essence, has only benefited Russia. Yes, we had to seek new buyers for our exports and discover import substitution options for the specific new categories of goods that were previously sourced from Europe but are now difficult to acquire due to imposed restrictions and the inability to obtain trade visas. However, this transition has been smooth and efficient, as the Russian economy is not yet entirely dependent on imports. On the contrary, Russia serves as Europe's primary source of food and resources.
Even in the 21st century, advanced logistics have not significantly reduced or lowered the cost of procuring equivalent goods from abroad compared to their price in Russia. This has resulted in substantial losses for Europe.
Europe had to tighten their belts and learn to live more frugally, but they did not want to. As a result, our country became a target for Europeans, like a red cloth to a bull. They found someone to blame for their declining well-being — us. The people had not yet been corrupted by the massive information onslaught of propaganda attacks, in which the governments of European countries designated us as the cause of all their troubles. Thus, they readily accepted the lies fed to them by newspapers.
In the past, they might not have been able to announce that they had followed the desires of a small group of noble families in Europe, supported by the churches, who adopted a statute, thus concealing from ordinary citizens an entire layer of information about the world and with it, a multitude of opportunities.. In Russia, there is no such game. Now, European monarchs, the ministries of magic of their states, and the MCM must exert extraordinary efforts to prevent the potential leakage of such information from unbridled Russia.
However, what the Europeans cannot comprehend is why the Catholic Church remains so indifferent and unconcerned about Russia's actions, its disregard for European laws. Despite the fact that formally, Russians have the right to do whatever they wish within their own borders, this poses a threat to Europe and its statute.
After all, in the game of cards, when two of the players are allies, the lone player is bound to lose. I refer to the dynamic between the parties involved: Europe, the Catholic Church, and the Russian Empire. Jaromir, Venenzo, and I have already formulated a strategy and tactics for our interactions and policies for many years ahead.
Even if magic were not employed directly, openly, or demonstrably in Russia, the dramatic acceleration of firefighting efforts, disaster mitigation, and medical treatment, resulting in a marked improvement in patient recovery rates and the near-elimination of deaths, as well as the swift resolution of crimes, along with unparalleled festive displays, the most exquisite ice sculptures for both Christian and, unexpectedly, Slavic celebrations that aligned with significant annual events, were celebrated by all enlightened magicians on Earth. This influence extended to Muslims as well. The principal holidays of the People of the Book in the Russian Empire were now recognized as official holidays. Thus, Christians, Muslims, and even the few remaining pagans, who had previously sought concealment, now possess the right to publicly observe their significant festivals.. The Russian people, by which I do not specifically mean an ethnic group descended from the Slavic tribes, but rather a collective term encompassing all those who speak and live in the Russian language, even with their native tongue still in use, during the coronation of Jaromir understood that this was a momentous and watershed event, putting everything in its rightful place.
The coronation itself was a primitive and ancient rite, and the events unfolded as follows:
In the very heart of Moscow, the city that has for the longest time been the epicentre of Slavic civilisation, a grand ceremonial circle was erected on the square before the Kremlin. This circle was constructed from massive silver plates, which were meticulously assembled like a jigsaw puzzle. Along its circumference, symbolic idols were strategically placed.
Naturally, no one was permitted to approach this enchanting spectacle except for Jaromir, who was the intended recipient, and those reasonably necessary for subsequent operations.
Since the coronation of the Russian princely throne was a historical event, occurring for the first time since Hrerik established it and united many tribes under his rule, encompassing vast territories, it was decided that the ceremony would be grand and ostentatious. Massive stands were erected to provide a magnificent vantage point for the forthcoming events, and seats were allocated to all influential individuals from every class and creed living within the Russian Empire.
On the same day, grand bonfires were kindled at all the prominent cemeteries across the nation, and near each temple dedicated to the deity, these fires burned long into the night. The purpose of these fires was to guide the spirits of the departed from the realm of the divine to the realm of the physical, so that they might pay homage to the rightful and legitimate ruler on the Russian throne, a position that had been occupied for an extended period of time, dating back to the reign of Vladimir the Sunkissed, who had betrayed his ancestors and, through his decisions and actions, caused so much bloodshed among the Slavic people that the Dnieper River ran red with the bodies of those who had fallen at the hands of his soldiers, for refusing to abandon the teachings of their forefathers and to worship a deity other than the one they had revered in life.
Simultaneously, as bonfires commenced to blaze throughout the day, commencing from the early morning in locations where the spirits of the ancestors might have departed for the other world, on the very square in front of the ceremonial circle, within which Jaromir now stood alongside a solitary priest in the form of Patriarch Tikhon, there were approximately six hundred sacrificial sheep, which were being held by witchers by their scruffs of the neck. These were positioned along the entire length of the silver structure, such that the blood that spilled from the severed throats of the animals flowed along the channels located within the intricate designs of the ritual circle.
When all was in readiness and everyone had taken their positions, Jaromir commenced to recite a solemn oath, invoking the spirits of his forebears and his native land, imploring their aid in guiding him in his future rule, thus ensuring his legacy as a just and righteous sovereign to those who would follow in his footsteps.
In parallel, the witchers, now engaged in the act of beheading lambs, were engaged in a ritualistic process of pouring their blood into the intricate rune pattern etched upon the silver circle, imbuing it with their personal essence, infusing it with a radiant glow.
As the circle attained its desired level of energy saturation, Jaromir's oath was rendered, and Tikhon, wielding his scythe with precision, severed its handle at its base, placing upon Jaromir's head the princely crown, an artifact that had been the subject of intense craftsmanship and design, a true heirloom of epic proportions.
From the outside, the scene presented itself as both enthralling and simultaneously daunting, inducing a tremor of apprehension. For at that moment, the specter of all those souls who had once inhabited these lands, claiming them as their own, now under the dominion of the Russian Empire, had passed beyond the Gray Borders. The legacy of these departed souls, their ethereal essences preserved within the Moraine's domain, gazed upon the candidate, for whom I, as the deity of this realm, was called upon to venerate.
I am attempting to recall my sojourn in the Grey Liminality and, more broadly, all that is associated with the hereafter. It came as a profound shock to me to find myself reborn in this realm. Yet, in that instant when millions of ethereal shades of the spirits of Slavic and other nations that once inhabited these lands and faded into the annals of history gazed upon me, I was overwhelmed by a sense of otherworldly chill, desolation, and yet a profound impetus to endure eternally! Alas, such a state is not one I would wish to experience again, for in those moments I found myself on the brink of the Grey Wastes of the afterlife.
In those fleeting moments when I contemplated whether Jaromir deserved the honour of ascending to the throne of the Russian realm in this alternate reality, with our forebears serving as the jury and the very essence of this world acting as the judge, I took solace in my foresight, having erected a protective shield around the site of the ceremony.
For, had it not been for this precaution, I fear that on the day of his coronation, our ancestral homeland might have lost its very identity, for only sorcerers could withstand the spiritual strain when the souls of those present during the prince's investiture were scorched by the frigid chill of Nilfheim, the misty realms of Morena or Hel, as the Norsemen refer to them. Only those who had attained the pinnacle of mastery in their craft were capable of surviving such an ordeal. Once again, I lauded my own foresight when I restricted access to the ritual site, allowing only wizards of master level and above to sacrifice the lambs.. And thus, on that day, everyone who came under the influence of Morana received a stylish streak of grey.
This end of the world, in the form of a radiant ritual circle, with frozen nature, where not a bird or insect made the slightest sound, as if in fear of attracting attention, as if a victim bound by fear of a predator, and the fog creeping across the ground from out of nowhere, lasted but five seconds. Yet, they seemed an eternity to me, for in addition to the presence of the shades of all those who once walked our lands, I sensed the attention of Morana herself, her curiosity about me terrifying to the point of causing trembling. It was as though spectral hands were turning over my very soul, touching and probing every part of my spiritual being that intrigued her. Yet this entity paid special attention to one of my magical bonds, which reflected the suzerainty of the Peverell line over the Zmiev lineage.
In that instant, I was once again struck by the realization of my own inadequacy, a self-absorbed fool with a deplorable lack of self-preservation instinct. I had, you see, sought to gain a sense of subservience from the very notion of mortality! And in that moment, as I was examined like an insect under the scrutiny of an entity I could never comprehend, I believed my time had come. The child was running away.
But after an excruciatingly long moment that seemed an eternity, my spirit was released from its ironclad grasp. I do not speak metaphorically. In that moment, my very soul was in the hands of death, and it might have been comical if it were not so tragic, for I, a mindless fool, had bound my soul to hers by my own foolish decisions. And the most tragic part is that this realization came to one so intelligent and wise only when Milady's curious fingers touched my skin.
And now I can only hope that this no longer poses any threat to me, for I was not disintegrated at that moment, and my spirit did not meet with Morena in a one-on-one encounter. But let us not dwell on the sorrowful thoughts that send shivers down my spine, for they are as large as a hippopotamus' paws, and a couple of them have already run, and I must mentally scrape myself flat and lift myself off the floor.
Thus, on that day, Russia found a ruler acknowledged by the world, as witnessed by thousands of its citizens. The news swiftly spread to the farthest corners of the Russian empire. For several years, wizards and other magical beings of the country gathered at the imperial palace in Moscow, which had become the capital, to pay their respects to the new ruler and offer him their magical tribute for the privilege of living on his lands.
Thus, when Gellert, along with his deranged six-man team of Hitlerites, with whom he had been hiding among the simpletons of the world, ventured into the territory of the Russian Empire, they could not have expected anything good. Indeed, even the Goblin, that ancient stump who had sent me to this domain with the city of Stllosh, had to become Jaromir's vassal if he wished to continue ruling the forests within the borders of the Russian Empire. As a result, none of the German units that had set out to reach their designated destinations through the forest were seen again. These unfortunate souls vanished, some into ravines, others into swamps, while some were even claimed by wild animals. Ultimately, the fascists met their demise at the hands of our military forces. The Germans only managed to advance into our territory up to a distance of forty kilometers from the border, and even then, they were unable to overcome our defensive fortifications in that time frame.. They simply abandoned them, and having insinuated themselves between them, commenced a swift advance towards the nation's major urban centres and other critical infrastructure.
The fact that the German forces managed to breach our border and infiltrate the nation's territory did not stem from the superiority of their military might or the element of surprise in their operations. Rather, it was a deliberate part of our military command's strategy, which deliberately allowed the fascistic military formation to breach not individual sectors of the frontline, but approximately every twenty to thirty kilometers along the border, creating what could be likened to gates for the German forces. These gates allowed the fascists to flow through like a continuous wave, breaking through our defensive lines in numerous small streams across the entire front, eventually allowing the majority of the German army to enter our territory. Once more than half of their forces had crossed the border, the trap was effectively sealed.. The enemy was subjected to an onslaught of everything at the disposal of our army, starting with advanced artillery that surpassed German technology by several magnitudes. This was due to the fact that the alloys used in their production were the result of collaborative efforts between Russian scientists, researchers, and artisans who incorporated a multitude of runes into the weapons, providing them with protection against rapid overheating. This not only enhanced their durability but also made them lighter and more resilient.
This innovation extended to every aspect, including the soldiers' uniforms, which were also crafted with the aid of magic to enhance both quality and comfort. The Wehrmacht's ventilated armpits, considered a pinnacle of design in those days, pale in comparison to the enchanted comfort of our soldiers, who remained unbothered by temperatures as low as minus forty degrees in their fall gear.
It took the Russian army precisely six hours to annihilate Gellert's forces, leaving behind virtually no prisoners, before returning to their borders. The Russians halted there, and only the following day did they commence their advance across Europe. They liberated country after country until, two months later, they arrived at the outskirts of Berlin.
You may be surprised by the swiftness of the troops' advance and the fact that Gellert and his sorcerers did not join the conflict until the third day after our entry into German lands. In this alternate history of the world, there was no collapse of the Russian Empire. No country like Poland existed, and all kingdoms were part of the empire. Thus, the Russian forces crossed their own borders and swiftly appeared in Germany and Bohemia, breaking through Gellert's defenses. It is difficult to imagine what he hoped to achieve with his attack on Russia.
His personal involvement in the war occurred in Prague, when Russian forces were already advancing towards the outskirts of the Czech capital. After being ejected from the aircraft above the tank division, which was intended to assault the city, he employed a weapon known as Hellfire, which surprisingly proved highly effective for him, almost resembling a fawning response from this slightly deranged individual, who had suffered severe psychological disturbances due to his experience in a literal descent into Hell.
Gellert, along with a dozen accompanying sorcerers, managed to destroy no more than two dozen tanks before the sorcerers of the Russian army joined the fray. Their onslaught was so powerful that Gellert and two of his most trusted bodyguards — the most powerful sorcerers in his army — were the only ones to survive.
Gellert was stunned when he suddenly realised that he was facing at least five sorcerers who were not inferior to him in power. This realisation of the harsh truth, that he was no longer the undisputed leader, hit Gellert like a ton of bricks. He was reminded of his encounter with Alfonso, which had left an indelible mark on his psyche.
As he held up his mirror shield with great effort, he could barely resist the onslaught of the Shredding Vortex. This spell created a small tornado that contained hundreds of thousands of razor-thin air blades, coated with abrasive nitrogen crystals. These crystals, when used as weapons, did not just inflict physical damage, they also deprived the victim of vital energy. The spell had been developed by elemental sorcerers from the Sorceror.. But Gellert had no time to dwell on the cruelty of fate. As soon as the whirlwind spell dissipated, a hand wielding a mace materialized from the dimensional vortex behind Grindelwald, delivering a forceful blow to his back with all its might, causing him to double over with a groan. His heels collided with the back of his head, sending him sprawling to the ground in a crumpled heap, his insides almost spilling out in all directions.
It was only due to the fact that he had been a renowned master of magic for several years that his second soul shell was slightly augmented. This was a natural process for weaker beings attempting to catch up with stronger ones in development. It had saved Gellert's life.
No one on the part of Russian wizards had expected Gellert Grindelwald to turn against them during the first magical conflict. All the gifted individuals and officers had received an explicit order to capture him alive. When the Nazi leader finally encountered him and recognized him, he was on the verge of death. However, our healers managed to save his life and prevent him from passing away.
Following Gellert's capture and his hasty transfer to Moscow, the Russian military launched an advance without significant opposition from the opposing forces, resulting in a relatively brief conflict that lasted only three additional months due to the strategic advantage of avoiding casualties. The Russian troops achieved this remarkable feat through the application of magical techniques.
When it came to the German magicians, who were part of both the Ahnenerbe and the Gellert Guard, their plans remained on paper. They could not even dream of world domination. The magicians fled to the Church, begging for protection, pleading to be saved from the evil Russian invaders. However, they were simply turned away. Only a handful of Nazi magicians managed to avoid a fair trial. These were the only ones who had been on other continents at the time of the Russian invasion and the start of the war.
Russian soldiers invaded Germany and Europe, surrounding it with a barrier that blocked all spatial movements, including magical ones. The armada of Russian ships and troops came from nowhere and blocked escape routes by sea, air, and land, preventing any escape to Africa, Asia, or other continents.
In this alternate reality, there was no «epic» battle between old friends. Indeed, as I discovered later, Albus harbored not only friendly sentiments for Gellert, but also, given his traditional views on intimate relationships, felt compelled to conceal his emotions from his lover, Dumbledore.
However, this was not a matter of mere candor. I inferred the course of events based on my own experiences, for even in my previous world, I frequently encountered such interpretations of the intricate dynamics between former comrades in arms, where Albus took on a different role. Most notably, I was astonished by something else entirely!
My intervention in the course of events has left the map of Europe nearly unrecognizable. The likes of Switzerland, Monaco, and Liechtenstein no longer exist, nor do many of the Balkan nations that have merged into a single entity — the Balkans. Despite these drastic alterations, England remains unaffected by the divergent historical trajectories and fates of perhaps ninety-nine percent of European citizens.
Thanks to Georg VI, who was reigning in England at the time, who simply purchased off the fascists and accomplished this in advance, long before Hitler commenced his expansion in Europe, as early as 1939. The British were aligned with the German vision of a world order in which a white European occupied the pinnacle, while the rest were at best subservient. Their divergences lay solely in determining who should lead this white civilization.
With his financial backing in the nascent stages of Nazism, Georg was able to secure temporary immunity. Consequently, both in my original reality and in this alternative historical scenario, young Elizabeth, who would later rule Britain and ascend the throne, posed for photographs and executed a gesture akin to the Nazi salute.. Indeed, the progenitor of the dandelion species, to which our illiterate multitude, in pursuit of sensationalism and a desire to appear engaged and concerned, brought flowers to the British Embassy in Moscow during the period of mourning, was still a being who received an education consistent with the standards of morality and Nazi ideals. Had they harbored any disagreements with Germany in my past world's history, why did not they immediately forge an alliance with them? Subsequently, she even clashed with them, having swiftly changed her allegiance and becoming an ally of the Soviet Union. However, in this reality, she met with failure.
Thus, by the time Europe lay in ruins, England had remained largely unscathed, becoming an outcast due to its public alliance and friendship with fascism. Consequently, when the canonical events at Hogwarts unfolded, they followed a similar trajectory with minor, inconsequential variations.
In this reality, for instance, London did not suffer bombings, preventing Tom Riddle from developing a profound fear of death. However, this did not shield him from creating the crux he sought to protect himself with. Moreover, Tom could not locate the secret room of the founder, resulting in the creation of his first horcrux only in his seventh year, following his father's death, which provided the energy for a sinister ritual.. And then everything unfolded as if in a script: the formation of the Walpurgis Order, the exaltation of the concept of blood purity, the initial forays into the realm of the uninitiated, where Tom swiftly entangled all the youthful and naïve heirs of magical noble families with his blood, imbuing them with a taste of licentiousness and assisting them in unleashing their own vices – lust, madness, a thirst for blood, and violence. He then marked them all, rendering them his subordinates.
I refrained from attempting to influence his destiny or shape his worldview by taking matters into my own hands, as it was equally advantageous for me to see him as a deranged dark sorcerer on Albion. Through his presence, I secured the legal justification to intervene in this land and establish complete control over it in the guise of the Church.
Now, the entire continent of Europe, the Russian Empire, and Japan are all under my protection, where I am free to do as I please! I have left Britain behind for now, as I desired to delve into the fascinating characters of a book that has captured my attention, as it is often difficult to alter the course of history in this realm and deviate from the established narrative laid out by J.K. Rowling.
However, Albus, having taken yet another leisurely sip of tea that we are currently enjoying in his office, brought me back to the present moment with another query.
You know, in my youth, I too harbored a desire for the pursuit of magical knowledge and sought out renowned mentors who would deign to accept me as their protégé. Thus, I was fortunate enough to capture the attention of Nicholas Flamel, though alas, I did not secure a singular apprenticeship. Instead, I labored under his tutelage for four years as his laboratory assistant, eagerly contributing to his research.
At the time, I also harbored aspirations to study under Alfonso Bruns, widely regarded as the most long-lived of publicly known magicians in Europe, if not the entire world. However, I still await a response to my letter requesting a meeting, along with the endorsement of Nicholas Flamel. I am curious, how did you pique his interest and convince him to become your mentor?
At that moment, Albus's soul's energy, in significant concentration, surrounded my figure seated in the chair, attempting to influence my aura and push me towards candour. For weaker wizards, such an effect would be akin to the impact of a Confudus Charm. After all, the young man is in a rush!
There is no secret to the fact that we are related, and he could not deny my desire to learn from him and, with his assistance, master the art of magic.
I responded to Dumbledore with an open smile.
Oh, how abruptly you ceased your attempts to influence me! I have simply revealed the truth about my connection with Alfonso, although why should I bother? He maintained contact with Gellert, even during those years when the latter was engaged in blackmailing and plotting to take over the world. Thus, to some extent, he is aware of the level of danger posed by my twin, for this worm possesses a remarkable sense of self-preservation.
— And how closely related are you to one another? Otherwise, I would like to learn more about the family tree of the Brans clan, for I have always had a fondness for history. Will you indulge the curiosity of an elder?
Well, now… how can a wizard who has just turned seventy-odd claim to be an elder?
— There is no mystery to it; we are as close as blood brothers.
And yet, I did not deceive; it is merely a blood sibling, who can be considered both a half-sibling from ordinary parents and a twin, which can be achieved through the ritual Alfonso and I underwent. I am certain that Albus would not have imagined that I, appearing so youthful and giving the impression of a sorcerer who has just recently conquered his youth, could be a twin to such an archaic figure as Alfonso. Thus, he was perplexed by the information he had received, which the artifacts on his desk failed to refute, indicating that they should alert him when a lie was spoken in his presence. In his mind, I have now become my own younger sibling, a powerful demonologist who, well, let him be damned!
All of this was necessary for me to achieve some degree of freedom within the confines of the castle, to secure protection from the intrusions of this deeply political individual, while simultaneously maintaining my status as someone who would not be taken seriously.. Imagine the nature of a young magician barely past the age of twenty.
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