"I assume we're here for a reason?" Theseus asked.
"Perhaps next, we need to attend a tea party," Newt said, turning back with a wry smile.
Wizards continuously raised their wands, shooting red fireworks into the sky—bursts of crimson light that crackled and popped overhead.
"Germans, slightly fanatical."
The turmoil in the collective unconscious sea made Aiden uncomfortable, like static electricity crawling across his skin. But if he stirred up a storm to cool things down now, the intense conflict would allow even more terrifying prophecies to take shape.
Theseus greeted people from the German Ministry ahead with practised diplomatic charm.
Meanwhile, Aiden pulled Lally and Jacob into hiding in the blind spots of consciousness, where they simply vanished from sight.
"They..." Theseus started to turn back, but there was no one behind him anymore.
Realising something was wrong, Theseus immediately covered for them.
"Won't them gathering here affect order?" he asked casually.
Helmut glanced at Theseus and curled his lip dismissively. "There are Silencing Charms inside anyway, so there's no impact at all."
"Thanks for your hard work," Theseus said, putting on his hat and walking inside.
Inside the hall, the magnificent decorations—gilded columns and crystal chandeliers—clashed strangely with the crowd tangled together around political interests.
"So what exactly is our purpose for being here?" Theseus whispered, quietly leaning toward Newt's ear.
"We need to convey some information to them," Newt replied.
Theseus followed his gaze into the distance, where a middle-aged man in a black windbreaker walked in with a commanding presence. From the people around greeting him deferentially, one could learn that he was the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards—Vogel.
Before he walked onto the platform, Newt pushed through the crowd to get beside him.
"Mr Vogel!"
Hearing the call, Vogel turned around and smiled when he saw Newt.
"Merlin's beard, if it isn't Mr Scamander," he said, dismissing those around him with a wave.
"Mr Vogel, I bring a message from an old friend. It's very urgent," Newt said, leaning toward his ear.
"Do what is right, even though it is not easy."
"He told me to find you tonight, and it's very important that you hear these words."
Someone behind Vogel reminded him, "It's time, sir!"
"Is he here, in Berlin?" Newt asked, lowering his voice.
"No, of course not."
Vogel first looked at Newt, a smile curving at the corner of his mouth—but it didn't reach his cold eyes.
And Newt's heart sank like a stone.
"Since the world outside is burning, why did you leave Hogwarts?" Vogel asked.
Hearing these words, Newt looked up and stared blankly at Vogel, realisation dawning.
"I think I should thank you, Mr Scamander."
Then Vogel ignored Newt's stricken gaze and walked onto the platform with measured steps.
"Oh no. Lally, take Jacob and leave," Aiden said, sensing something was wrong.
"Why?" Lally hadn't reacted yet.
On stage, Vogel, representing the International Confederation of Wizards, declared Grindelwald an innocent man with sweeping rhetoric.
"The German Ministry has completely sided with Grindelwald. Run quickly," Aiden said, waving his wand.
Several Aurors who rushed over were knocked unconscious on the ground before they could raise their wands.
Lally grabbed Jacob and left using her enchanted book, vanishing in a swirl of pages.
Meanwhile, Theseus wanted to arrest Grindelwald's remnants but was knocked unconscious and dragged away by people from the German Ministry.
Newt tried to push forward to snatch back Theseus, but Aiden had already pulled him away with Apparition, the hall dissolving around them.
While Aiden led the group into hiding, dealing with pursuit from Grindelwald's subordinates across the rooftops of Berlin.
On the other side, in Hogsmeade, Dumbledore was having dinner with his brother in the quiet warmth of the Hog's Head.
"This was her favourite, just like she always craved Mum's cooking. After all these years, I've only now realised what she craved was peace," Dumbledore said, looking at the food in the dishes with a smile that was either nostalgic or melancholic.
"She—"
"I know, Albus. I grew up with you. What you saw, I saw too!" Aberforth interrupted him directly, his voice sharp.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door outside.
"We're closed. Can't you read the sign on the wall, fool!" Aberforth shouted.
But the knocking continued persistently. Dumbledore walked over and opened the door. The visitor was Professor McGonagall, her face tight with concern.
"Good evening, Albus. Sorry to interrupt your dinner, but regarding Berlin—Vogel declared Grindelwald innocent and confirmed his candidacy," Professor McGonagall said, her worry evident.
Dumbledore chatted with McGonagall in low tones, while Aberforth behind him walked to the mirror and wiped off the writing on it with a cloth, his movements deliberate.
"I need someone to substitute for my class tomorrow. Could you..." Dumbledore requested.
"I will, but Albus, please!" McGonagall started to speak when he interrupted her.
"I know, I'll do my best," Dumbledore said, giving a perfunctory response.
But Professor McGonagall pushed open the door of the Hog's Head wider.
"Good evening, Aberforth," Professor McGonagall said pointedly.
"Good evening, Minerva. Very sorry for calling you a fool," Aberforth said without turning back.
"Apology... accepted."
Professor McGonagall was quite satisfied and watched as Dumbledore closed the door.
Inside the house, Dumbledore packed his things, put on his coat, and prepared to leave.
"I'm sorry, our dinner must end here," Dumbledore said, walking to the counter.
"Off to save the world again?" Aberforth asked, staring at the mirror in a daze.
"Saving the world requires better people than me to accomplish," Dumbledore said with a faint smile.
But behind Aberforth, mist appeared on the mirror again, swirling with urgent energy.
He glanced back, then turned away. "Don't ask!"
Dumbledore said nothing and pushed open the door to step into the wind and snow.
Germany, a street corner in Berlin, inside the Ministry of Magic.
Newt, Lally, Aiden, and Jacob—the four were searching the Ministry for Theseus's whereabouts, moving through corridors with careful stealth.
"That's the guy who took Theseus away last night!" Newt said suddenly, spotting a familiar face.
Aiden followed his gaze and directly cast a Mind Flaying spell, freezing Helmut in place like a statue.
A virtual persona infiltrated Helmut's sea of consciousness, and Aiden obtained the information he wanted, sifting through memories like files.
Newt and Jacob rushed forward to grab him, but were driven back by walls that suddenly changed, stone shifting like living things.
"Damn, we didn't catch him," Newt said, kicking glass at the street corner in frustration.
"No, we've already obtained what we need. Theseus is hidden in Erkstag Prison," Aiden said, organising Helmut's memories.
"But didn't that place shut down years ago?" Newt asked, his eyes widening.
"Newt," Lally said, interrupting his continued questioning.
A pair of black leather gloves waved at them from around the corner. They followed the gloves and discovered Dumbledore behind a stone pillar, partially hidden in shadow.
"Albus."
Newt greeted him with obvious relief.
"You've already got Theseus's location?" Dumbledore asked, patting Aiden's head affectionately.
"Should we break in?" Aiden asked.
"No need. Let Newt go find Theseus. You go to the German Ministry's banquet tonight, entering as a Prewett," Dumbledore said, patting Aiden's shoulder.
He brought out a large bag of coconut ice cream from his coat.
"Putting an Undetectable Extension Charm on a hat is a good idea," Aiden said, giving him a thumbs up.
Dumbledore snapped his fingers, and the group began to act separately, disappearing into Berlin's streets with renewed purpose.