March 15th, Cloudy

A man in a gray cloak stood silently in the desert, the wind lifting the edges of his robe. His long white beard would have drawn the attention of any Muggles nearby, but there were none. This was Dumbledore. He gazed at the simple black ring in his hand, deep in thought, before finally stepping forward and vanishing.

He reappeared at Nurmengard Castle, walking along the crumbling stone path. Memories of his last visit flooded his mind. Back then, Grindelwald's influence had stretched across Europe, and the castle had been meticulously maintained by countless house-elves. It had been filled with Grindelwald's loyal followers, their spirits high and their resolve unshakable. Now, those wizards were gone, some remembered in history books, others forgotten entirely.

Dumbledore pulled his hood down and looked up at the tallest tower. His former partner, once so full of ambition, now resided there. Dumbledore couldn't recall how many years it had been. Was Grindelwald still the same? As he climbed the stairs, he rehearsed what he would say. But when he finally saw the frail old man by the window, all his prepared words vanished.

"Old man, you've come," Grindelwald said, his voice raspy but his eyes sharp. Despite his haggard appearance, there was a spark of the man he once was.

Dumbledore stood at the door, clutching the ring tightly. "You and this castle have grown old together."

"You've aged too, but your castle remains young," Grindelwald replied with a chuckle. He gestured to a dusty sofa. "If you don't mind the mess, sit."

Dumbledore sat without hesitation, stirring up a cloud of dust. Grindelwald laughed, though it turned into a coughing fit. When he finally caught his breath, his eyes were red.

"You haven't changed," Grindelwald said, his tone a mix of amusement and bitterness. "Even in a dump, you're at ease. So, what brings you here after all these years?"

Dumbledore held up the black ring. "This contains the Resurrection Stone."

Grindelwald's eyes widened, then he burst into laughter. "So, you've finally collected all three Deathly Hallows! What now? Another grand plan for wizarding glory?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "No, Gellert. Wizards and Muggles must coexist peacefully."

"Coward!" Grindelwald spat, rising to his feet. "You're still the same, Albus! Hesitant, weak! You want to use the Resurrection Stone to bring Ariana back, don't you? But your precious morals stop you. Pathetic!"

Dumbledore remained calm, though his grip on the ring tightened. "One of my students warned me not to wear this ring."

Grindelwald sneered. "A student? That Newt fellow? He must be an old man by now."

"No, a young girl," Dumbledore replied, a faint smile on his lips. "She was right. I can't die yet. I have a castle, children who need me. Ariana would understand."

Grindelwald scoffed. "You Dumbledores are all the same—foolish, stubborn, and sentimental."

Dumbledore chuckled, then drew the Sword of Gryffindor from a small pouch. With a swift strike, he shattered the ring. A piercing scream echoed as black liquid oozed from the broken pieces.

"Disgusting," Grindelwald muttered, wrinkling his nose. "That little girl saved your life, Albus. You owe her."

"Indeed," Dumbledore said, wrapping the remnants of the ring in a handkerchief and tucking it away. He handed Grindelwald a handful of candy. "Try these. They're from one of my students."

Grindelwald popped a caterpillar gummy into his mouth, smirking. "Interesting student."

Dumbledore stood, leaning down to embrace Grindelwald. "Goodbye, Gellert."

As Dumbledore left, Grindelwald called after him, "Protect your castle, Albus. Don't let some brat take it from you."

Dumbledore didn't look back. He stepped out into the night, the moon breaking through the clouds. A shadowy figure leaped from the tower, arms spread like wings, a joyful howl echoing through the air.

Dumbledore heard the sound but didn't turn. He pulled his hood up, a single tear sliding down his cheek.

"Congratulations, Gellert. You're free."

---

Back at Hogwarts, Professor Snape had resumed his monthly appearances in Defense Against the Dark Arts class. His sharp eyes and biting remarks kept the students on edge.

"Forest, if you swing your wand like you're trying to decapitate someone, I'll send you to a real werewolf for practice!" Snape snapped, smacking George on the head for laughing.

Fred leaned over to George, grinning. "You've been getting hit a lot lately. What did you do to Snape?"

George rubbed his head, baffled. "I don't know! Lee laughs too, but Snape only hits me!"

Joey, abandoning her wand struggles, joined the conversation. "Maybe it's because you're too handsome? Or your hair's too perfect?"

Fred rolled his eyes. "It's because you and Flami have been flaunting your relationship. Snape can't stand seeing a Gryffindor snogging a Slytherin."

Joey and George stared at Fred, stunned. "Really?" Joey asked.

Fred nodded. "He's the head of Slytherin. He probably sees it as a betrayal."

Before they could continue, Snape's icy voice cut through the air. "Forest, since you seem so knowledgeable about werewolves, why don't you enlighten the class?"

Joey froze, turning slowly to face Snape. "Uh… stay indoors during a full moon?"

The class erupted in laughter, quickly silenced by Snape's glare. "Five points from Gryffindor for your insolence, Forest."

By the end of the class, Joey was exhausted. Snape's constant scrutiny had made the semester unbearable. "I've lost almost all my house points!" she groaned, collapsing at the dining table.

Hermione tried to comfort her. "At least he's not the O.W.L.S examiner. That's something, right?"

Joey groaned louder. "I forgot about the O.W.L.S! I haven't studied at all!"

Fred, stealing a bite of her toast, smirked. "It's not too late to start."

Ron, envious, added, "At least you don't have to take the final exam."

"But I haven't reviewed anything!" Joey protested, pouring Fred a glass of juice.

Fred leaned in, whispering, "I'll help you study."

Joey raised an eyebrow. "What can you help me with? Undressing?"

Fred grinned. "That's an extracurricular activity."

Joey swatted his arm, laughing despite herself. "You're impossible!"