Chapter 723: Fish Has Very High Standards for Chew Sticks (Edited)

"Nurmengard is in Austria," Hermione exclaimed, astounded. "And it's a prison with a reputation no lesser than that of Azkaban. It's not easy for an ordinary person to enter there, and even if you did, there's no way the Ministry of Magic there would let you fight against Grindelwald."

"Tsk!"

(?ω?)

Fish made a disgusted face and muttered, "These so-called Ministries of Magic are so bothersome, nya... By the way, I'm sure Albus has a way... or can we have Comey take Fish there, nya?"

"Aren't you afraid Minerva will get angry when she finds out?" To prevent Fish from doing something truly irreparable, Hermione hurriedly brought up Professor McGonagall.

"Yes, there's nothing to fear! Fish is just going to fight, not like he's done anything wrong!" Fish argued with little conviction.

"Then talk to Minerva and see if she'll let you do it." Hermione rolled her eyes and refocused her attention on the battlefield.

The battle between Dumbledore and Grindelwald continued, and the dazzling skills they displayed impressed several young wizards, including Fish, who vaguely contemplated finding a place to fight again once it was over.

It wasn't easy for Dumbledore and Grindelwald to fight so intensely, and although a winner couldn't be determined yet, a hint of exhaustion appeared on their faces.

At that moment, other wizards arrived through Apparition, and one of them looked familiar to them. Fish made a rough identification...

"Isn't that Newt?"

(?ω?)

Fish scratched his head, not expecting to see someone he knew. He looked around again and noticed Tina wasn't there, but there was a witch he didn't recognize beside Newt, who seemed very close to him.

"Hermione, is Newt one of those womanizers you were talking about?" Fish asked, pointing at the witch, while returning his attention to the innocent Harry.

Harry: "..."

"Um... I don't know, maybe she's Mr. Scamander's friend," Hermione replied astounded, accustomed to Fish's always confusing attentions.

"Well, next time we see Newt, Fish will ask him about it, nya."

Hermione pinched her chin, vaguely thinking that Newt was probably going to have bad luck.

The newly arrived wizards approached Grindelwald slowly, surrounding him in a semicircle, and then a resolute-looking male wizard stepped forward and said something loudly to Grindelwald in a language neither Fish nor the others understood at all.

Grindelwald, however, ignored him and gazed longingly at Dumbledore before waving his wand and creating a massive explosion.

Dumbledore, who had been prepared for it, waved his wand and used a protective spell to shield Newt and the others, catching them off guard.

Meanwhile, taking advantage of Dumbledore protecting the others, Grindelwald swiftly disappeared through Apparition.

"Damn it! What the hell are they doing here?! They're just a hindrance!"

(`н´)

Fish, who hadn't been able to witness the fight between the two, was furious with the wizards, including Newt.

At the same time, he once again realized how truly useful Apparition Charm was.

"I thought we were going to learn Apparition this year," Fish asked Hermione.

"I asked the seventh years, and they told me they won't offer the Apparition Charm until after the Christmas holidays," Miss Know-It-All had been bombarding them with all sorts of questions about learning it.

By then, the memory was coming to an end. Dumbledore continued speaking with the dragged wizards, but his voice was distorting, the surroundings becoming blurry. Fish and the others were lifted into the air, and when they came to their senses, they were back in the Headmaster's office.

"Albus!"

(?ω?)

Fish jumped towards Dumbledore, who remained seated. "Fish wants to fight Grindelwald at Nurmengard, nya!"

The corners of Dumbledore's lips twitched twice as he regained his senses. "They won't allow Gellert to have his wand back, let alone let him fight against you." Then he returned to being the playful old grump he was before and said, "Moreover, aren't you going to fight me afterward? He has already lost to me, so if you defeat me, you can also defeat Gellert."

However, Dumbledore would not allow Fish to go and fight Grindelwald...

Taking Fish to meet Gellert?

Dumbledore hesitated.

After defeating Grindelwald and imprisoning him in Nurmengard, Dumbledore hadn't seen him again, not even sent a letter. Even after all these years, Dumbledore couldn't bring himself to see him again, so he continued to avoid him, and Grindelwald never left the prison to seek him out... Dumbledore didn't believe that Nurmengard could truly contain Grindelwald, knowing that Grindelwald had built the place himself.

He hadn't gone, not only because he was willing to bet, but also because he hadn't forgiven him...

Dumbledore sighed again, gloomily.

As for the reason why Dumbledore wanted to take Fish to see Grindelwald... it wasn't to boast in front of his former lover, of course, but to utilize Fish's connection and get the two to sit down and talk...

Well, there was a bit of boasting, if you will.

"Very well, nya!"

∑(ΦДΦ)

Unaware of the thoughts running through Dumbledore's mind at that moment, Fish clapped his hands and said, "Then let's kill Voldemort!"

He remembered Dumbledore's promise to fight himself once Voldemort was dealt with.

Of course, that would have to wait until Dumbledore's wounds had healed. He wouldn't take advantage of people while he fought!

"So, you'll have to retrieve Professor Slughorn's memories as soon as possible." Dumbledore composed himself and immediately steered the conversation back to the proposed task.

"Nya!"

(≥△≤)

Fish let out a sad cry and then muttered resentfully, "Fish knows... What a bother."

Fish had been contemplating being lazy and leaving it to Harry, but now it seemed like he had to make an effort.

"Well, I'll trouble you then," Dumbledore smiled contentedly, pulled out his wand, and with a flick, the snacks and tea on the table disappeared instantly. "It's late, you should all go back to bed."

Hermione and the others bid farewell to Dumbledore once again, while Fish suddenly noticed the wand Dumbledore had in his hand.

"Eh? Isn't that Grindelwald's wand?"

(ΦωΦ)

Pointing at the wand in Dumbledore's hand, Fish asked suspiciously, "Did you also take his wand?"

"Yes," Dumbledore said excitedly as he waved the wand in his hand. "This is my trophy for defeating Gellert... If you defeat me later, then it will be yours."

"Fish doesn't want it..."

(?ω?)

Fish looked at the wand with disgust, then raised his hands and said, "Fish's claws are better nya! And I don't want to switch wands."

Dumbledore froze for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter, tears streaming down his face.

"Hahahahahahaha..." he said, wiping a tear with the corner of his eye and continued to laugh. "You can keep it as a chew toy too, Ollivander told me about the time you bought your wand."

"What is your wand made of? Fish prefers oak and black walnut, both are more pleasant to chew and taste better."

Fish was very particular about his teething sticks, and not just any wand would do.

"It's made of elderwood," Dumbledore answered.

"Elderwood?" Fish licked his teeth. "Fish hasn't bitten that one yet." He stared at the wand in Dumbledore's hand and jumped up.

"Not until you defeat me," Dumbledore put the wand away and urged for the third time, "It's time for you to go back to sleep."

This time, Fish finally left the headmaster's office without further ado, following Hermione and the others.