Ian was also somewhat saddened.
For these two who should have been destined to a downfall, living in the loop but sacrificing themselves for him, he wanted to say something but didn't know how to begin.
"Do you remember what I often say to you?"
Grindelwald's body and Albus Dumbledore's disappeared at the same time, but, unlike the old headmaster who calmly awaited the end, he was still smiling and communicating with Ian.
"Of course, I remember your catchphrase, for the greater good..." Ian's eyes were also glistening with tears, but he still responded with a smile.
The vanishing Albus Dumbledore looked up at Ian.
"That's right, remember, we are now demonstrating it to you." Amidst Grindelwald's laugh, their bodies became completely transparent.
In the end.
Grindelwald winked at Ian.
They then utterly lost the sensation of their bodies.
Like clouds and smoke.
Blown by the night wind.
They turned into dream-like illusions with no trace.
"I have gained a lot from this."
Ian changed his usual playful manner, held a solemn face, and bowed slightly to the now trace-less ground, only turning toward the castle long after with the rustling leaves and distant gurgling stream as accompaniment.
The night was deep.
Only the stars bore witness to everything.
...
"Dong~ Dong~ Dong~"
The clock in Hogwarts Castle rang; it was the tune of Christmas's early morn. Ian finally fulfilled his wish to step into the day after a long absence.
But.
He wasn't as happy as he'd imagined. Climbing the deserted stairs, Ian hesitated and glanced at the Headmaster's Office.
To be honest.
Ian had always felt there were many unsolved mysteries in the loop. The old headmaster's mind was profound, and Ian sensed many things were not disclosed to him.
For instance, the Sorting Hat put on him by Albus Dumbledore at the end, said to be a precaution. But Ian couldn't tell if Albus Dumbledore had foreseen everything.
A person of such amazingly astute intelligence is difficult to fathom.
"Rumble~!"
Perhaps Ian lingered too long before the Headmaster's Office.
The statue seemed startled and leaped aside, revealing the path behind. The little wizard stepped in, climbing the spiral staircase to the door of the Headmaster's Office.
This was a place he often frequented during the loop, now adorned with somewhat different Christmas decorations, animated reindeer, and Santa Claus vividly displayed on it.
"Do you need something, Ian?"
Albus Dumbledore's voice came from inside the door. Even though the little wizard hadn't knocked, nor spoken, the old headmaster still knew exactly who stood outside.
This voice.
Ian had heard it not long ago, but it was noticeably calmer and gentler, like what Albus Dumbledore showed him and others most of the time.
"Uh..."
Ian stepped in, seeing Albus Dumbledore sitting at the desk, this elder of the correct timeline, calmly reading a book with his old glasses.
Because he still bore memories of the previous Albus Dumbledore in his mind, seeing the calm and serene headmaster before him now, Ian truly felt a strange dissonance of time and space.
"Let me think about how to say it." The little wizard organized his thoughts, weighing how to recount his somewhat rushed and enigmatic journey.
His hesitant tone caused Albus Dumbledore to lift his head.
"It seems like you want to tell me a story," Albus Dumbledore chuckled softly, the deep, bright eyes behind his glasses revealing a hint of curiosity.
However.
Before Ian could speak.
"If it's a long tale, perhaps we should save it for daytime; you know, an old man tends to feel sleepy," Albus Dumbledore unexpectedly yawned.
"..."
Ian had already thought out his words but could only swallow them back down, looking up to see Albus Dumbledore indeed appearing drowsy.
"Alright, Professor, Merry Christmas, here's your Christmas gift." Ian could only give up helplessly, presenting a gift box; what he wanted to tell indeed couldn't be summarized in a few words.
"Thank you."
Albus Dumbledore accepted the gift box, smiling brightly. He took a small box from the drawer of his desk, handing it over to Ian, equally well-wrapped.
"I suppose I should offer a return gift."
Albus Dumbledore placed the small box into Ian's hands, and on the back of the little wizard's hand holding the gift, the worm-like mark had long disappeared without a trace.
Seeing Albus Dumbledore appearing increasingly drowsy.
Ian quickly took his leave with the gift box, weighing its contents, knowing in his heart it was the Lighter that Dumbledore in the loop had shown him.
At that time.
The Dumbledore in the loop had said he would give him the Lighter.
"I guess there's a Lighter inside here."
Standing at the doorway, Ian wanted to showcase his foresight one last time. After leaving the loop, he could no longer enjoy pretending to be a Prophet.
"That's right, it's indeed a Lighter."