Artel exited the depths of the Forbidden Forest. Upon reaching the forest's entrance, he halted and turned to gaze at the vacant snow on the right.
"Dumbledore, since you're here, let's have a chat." He mused.
As Artel's voice faded, a wistful sigh swept through the snow. Dumbledore materialized, gently landing on the soft snow, his wise eyes fixated on Saruman.
Artel, or rather Saruman, embodied the essence of his title as a wise man. Clad in a white robe, wielding a scepter, with flowing white hair and a gray beard, Saruman exuded majesty and wisdom. Dumbledore, upon glimpsing him, treated Saruman as a wizard of equal stature.
As a master Legilimens, Dumbledore found no trace of thoughts or emotions in Saruman, only perceiving a vast realm akin to a ship navigating the sky—an illusion crafted by the Ring of Power.
Artel, mindful of concealing any hint of his true identity, carefully molded his mental mood and temperament, harnessing the power of the Ring.
"Saruman."
Artel turned to face Dumbledore.
"Albus Dumbledore."
Dumbledore responded formally.
In truth, Dumbledore had arrived long before. After Artel dismantled the barrier, Dumbledore Apparated to the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest. Artel, sensing Dumbledore's presence, summoned Shelob.
The purpose was clear—to convey that Shelob wasn't brought into the Forbidden Forest by the Holy White Council, represented by Saruman.
"I've been wanting to meet you for a long time—to see you after you... gained the approval of the Unicorn."
Artel spoke deliberately, and Dumbledore, upon hearing the words, seemed momentarily lost in recollection, as if ensnared by a memory from the time before his final confrontation with Grindelwald.
In the magical world, there's a rumor that unicorns can perceive the pure kindness in people's hearts, kneeling to those who are pure and good. The wizard recognized by the unicorn is destined to become the leader of the magical world.
Grindelwald, aiming to win the election for the leader of the wizarding world, secretly captured a unicorn, casting spells on it. However, on the day of the election ceremony, Newt and others brought another unicorn, and this unicorn chose Dumbledore.
Artel, reflecting on this story from Fantastic Beasts 3 Dumbledore Mystery, stated, "A wizard recognized by the unicorn is qualified to be a wise man... But unfortunately, something happened later, which caused the meeting between us to be delayed until today."
Interrupting his recollection, Artel looked at Dumbledore in deep thought.
Dumbledore, in turn, stared at Artel. In the presence of Saruman, he felt a strange loss of control, sensing that this figure held numerous secrets that eluded him.
Dumbledore had overheard the conversation between Artel and Shelob, yet many details remained elusive. Words like Maiar, Vera, Oak, and eternal life echoed in his mind, testing Dumbledore's composure. Returning to his usual appearance, he suggested, "Saruman... Sir, I thought, maybe we could go to my office, have tea, and chat? In the castle over there, I do have a lot to ask you about."
Artel quipped, "You want to ask about Christmas Eve? Or about Shelob? Or about The Hobbit?"
"You don't need to drink tea; I still have some things to do. Nevertheless, I'm here for two reasons. If you can assist me, I'll share the answers to some of your questions."
Artel declined Dumbledore's invitation for tea, explaining that he had some tasks to attend to. However, he proposed a deal.
Dumbledore readily agreed, saying, "If you need help with anything, I'll be more than happy."
"I came across an article in the Daily Prophet about a magic called the Aria of Light. The creator of this magic, Gandalf, is a friend of mine, and I'm keen to know his whereabouts."
A peculiar expression flickered in Artel's eyes as he began to cast an enchantment related to Gandalf.
"Your friend?" Dumbledore concealed his surprise, pondered for a moment, and inquired, "But from what I know, Gandalf is at least a thousand years old..."
"Thousands of years ago? Indeed, he vanished for thousands of years..."
As if reminiscing, Artel sighed with profound emotion.
"I must say, my acting deserves applause!"With that thought, Artel cast an apologetic glance at Dumbledore.
.....
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