In the wake of The Quibbler's final publication, the wizarding world braced itself for the inevitable. Albus Dumbledore, his face lined with worry and regret, made the difficult decision to close Hogwarts. Students below the age of seventeen were ordered to leave the school, while those above were given the choice to stay and help protect it. To Dumbledore's surprise, all of the older students chose to stay, their determination to defend their school and the world unwavering.
Days passed, and the tension grew with each passing hour. The promised day, the day Dante had given them to prepare, arrived, but to the shock of many, he did not come to Hogwarts. Some sighed in relief, while others grew uneasy, wondering what he was planning. Their questions were soon answered.
An urgent message arrived from the Ministry of Magic: Central London had collapsed, destroying the Ministry completely. Hundreds were confirmed dead, and just as many were missing, their chances of survival grim. To make matters worse, Muggles were swarming the area, investigating the cause of the disaster. Wizards and witches were unable to act under the watchful eyes of thousands of Muggles, leaving them helpless to aid their own.
Before the shock of the London disaster could settle, another message arrived. The French Ministry had suffered the same fate, reduced to rubble. Not long after, a third message came: the German Ministry had been destroyed as well. The wizarding world was reeling, the scale of the devastation and the death toll was harrowing.
In the headmaster's office at Hogwarts, Dumbledore sat with a dark expression as he listened to the grim news. The number of deaths and missing could be as high as five thousand, and the Muggles' involvement made the situation even more dire. Grindelwald, seated across from him, wore a solemn look.
"Dante chose to weaken us instead of attacking Hogwarts directly," Grindelwald said, his voice heavy with understanding. "He's reducing our forces and morale at the same time."
Dumbledore shook his head, his blue eyes filled with sorrow. "The three people who murdered Luna Lovegood, each belonged to one of these ministries. Her father tried to get justice for her and failed. Dante is taking revenge, and I fear Hogwarts is no longer his target."
Grindelwald frowned, his expression grim. "If that's the case, then we have no way to stop him. He's dismantling us piece by piece."
The room fell silent, the weight of their helplessness pressing down on them. The ancient wizard they had feared for so long was now exacting his vengeance, and there was little they could do to stop him.
The next day, The Daily Prophet delivered another blow. Its front page bore a message from Dante Malfoy, short and chillingly clear:
"I will come to Hogwarts after one week. Prepare all you can."
The message sent shockwaves through the wizarding world. Dante was not done. Hogwarts, the oldest school in magical Britain, was now his next target. The students and staff who had chosen to stay felt a renewed sense of dread, but also determination. They had one week to prepare for the inevitable.
In the Great Hall, Dumbledore addressed the remaining students and staff, his voice steady but filled with urgency. "We have one week," he said. "One week to prepare for the greatest threat we have ever faced. Dante Malfoy is coming, and we must stand together. For our world, for our future, and for those we have lost."
The students nodded, their faces pale but resolute. They knew what monster they were up against, but they also knew they had no choice.
As the days passed, the castle buzzed with activity. Defensive spells were reinforced, strategies were planned, and every possible preparation was made. But beneath the surface, the dread of the wait ate at them.
Hogwarts had become a fortress, its ancient walls reinforced with layers of protective enchantments. Aside from the students and staff, aurors, hit wizards, and volunteers from across the wizarding world had gathered to defend the school. In total, nearly five thousand witches and wizards stood ready, their wands drawn and their hearts pounding with a mix of fear and determination. The air was thick with tension, the calm before the storm.
On the promised day, the sky darkened, its color turning ashen as heavy clouds gathered overhead. Everyone knew Dante's arrival was imminent. Then, a silver signal lit up the southern sky, a beacon that sent a wave of unease through the defenders. Dumbledore, flanked by Grindelwald, led a contingent of hundreds of wizards and witches toward the source of the light. They moved as an army, their footsteps echoing in the eerie silence.
It didn't take long for them to find Dante. He stood by the Black Lake, his silver hair gleaming faintly. He turned to face them, his expression calm and emotionless. Slowly, he began to walk toward them, his presence radiating an almost tangible power. The wizards tensed, their wands raised, ready for the conflict.
Dante stopped a few paces away, his silver eyes scanning the crowd. "You prepared and brought so many people to stop me from reaching Hogwarts," he said, his voice calm but carrying an edge of disdain. "You spent years rallying against me. So tell me, Headmaster, did you not have an hour of your day to stop the bullying of a child? Did you not have an hour to seek justice for someone you called a student?"
Albus Dumbledore's face showed a flicker of guilt, but he remained silent. Dante didn't press further. Instead, he continued, his tone cold and measured. "You set wards to stop elves and all magical creatures from teleporting into Hogwarts, all for me. But I have a question: Do you know what I want to do? What is so important about this school?"
Dumbledore stepped forward, his voice steady but tinged with weariness. "We know you hid your Horcrux inside it. We've looked everywhere, turned every stone, but we couldn't find it."
Dante shook his head, a faint smile playing on his lips. "There is nothing inside Hogwarts. It is a school, and just that."
The crowd murmured in confusion, their wands wavering slightly. Dumbledore's brow furrowed. "Did you lie to Lucius Malfoy?"
"I spoke only the truth to him," Dante replied. "Hogwarts is indeed important."
Grindelwald narrowed his eyes, his wand rising to point at Dante. "At this point, it doesn't matter what you're planning anymore," he said, his voice sharp. Around him, hundreds of wizards followed suit, their wands aimed at Dante.
Dante's smile turned cold. "It matters a lot," he said.
As he spoke, the ground beneath their feet began to shake violently. Cracks spread in all directions, glowing with a silver light that grew brighter with each passing second. The light surged outward, flooding the landscape, into the Forbidden Forest, across the Black Lake, and beyond. Everywhere the wizards looked, the world was bathed in an otherworldly silver glow. The air hummed with power, and the defenders of Hogwarts felt a wave of terror wash over them.
Dante's voice rang out, calm and commanding. "The tomb of Hogwarts, the tomb of my first life, was built on top of leylines of magic. The tomb is my first Horcrux, and for thousands of years, it has been absorbing magic nonstop. Hogwarts was built on top of my tomb and is fueled by it. Why do you think Hogwarts has stood without maintenance for a thousand years?"
The wizards stared at him, their fear mounting. Dante continued, his tone almost conversational. "Look behind you."
Albus, Grindelwald, and the others turned, their eyes widening in shock. Floating above Hogwarts was the glowing figure of an old man, his form ethereal and radiant. He seemed to oversee everything, his presence both awe-inspiring and terrifying.
Dante's voice cut through the silence once more. "You can't stop me because the very land you stand on is part of my Horcrux now."
The defenders of Hogwarts stood frozen, their wands trembling in their hands. The ground beneath them pulsed with silver light, the leylines of magic intertwining with Dante's ancient soul. The end had come, and there was no escape.