After parting ways with Hermione, Felix Harp returned to his office, then found himself in Classroom Seven again.
The space of Classroom Seven seemed to have expanded once more, where thoughts and reality intersected. What would normally be a few steps could turn into a street or a beautiful garden... Felix strayed from the path the students usually took for classes, walked through layers of mist, and a humble village materialized before him.
Felix stood in front of an ordinary little house and knocked on the door.
The one who answered was the memory of Gellert Grindelwald. To Felix’s surprise, the figure before him was not that of a younger man but that of Grindelwald in his old age, though with some differences upon closer inspection.
“I knew you would come, so I chose this face to greet you. I have been waiting for you,” the old man said with a smile. He wore a purple morning robe, his demeanor calm and composed, showing no sign of malice.
The two sat opposite each other. “You have something to say to me?” Felix asked, then glanced curiously at the old man. “Are you complete now? I mean, your memory—”
“Of course, of course,” Grindelwald responded. “At this moment, as I speak with you, I am more complete than ever before. You know, after spending some time here, I actually became quite dissatisfied with this place.”
“Why?”
“One reason is: it's too boring. There are only two memory entities in this entire space that possess the characteristics of life, equivalent to half a living person,” Grindelwald explained. This greatly astonished Felix because, although memory entities appeared to be alive, they differed significantly from real people, such as in their perception of time.
“Your performance also surprises me, appearing no different from ordinary people.” Felix observed Grindelwald’s memory entity with an inquisitive look, and the latter simply smiled without speaking.“Besides the first reason? You mentioned waiting for me, so is it related to me?”
Grindelwald nodded slightly, then slowly shook his head.
“At first, I did think that. After the funeral, I decided to leave the necessary information, being open and honest with each other, but you never came… Later, the ghosts told me what you have been doing during this time, and I felt there was no need to speak anymore. You completely understood my point.”
“So today—”
“Consider it a farewell. Or, would you like to hear a story from the past? You know, I have seen them, but they do not remember me. It's a strange feeling, as if time has reversed, everything starting over, but only I remember what truly happened. My memory has become a burden.”
“Are you referring to Dumbledore, or his sister Ariana and nephew Credence?”
“Credence,” Grindelwald said slowly. “I prefer to call him that. That boy was of great help to me.”
Felix listened intently.
“Credence Dumbledore,” Grindelwald continued. “I remember clearly... it was seventy years ago. In the underground meeting at the Lestrange Mausoleum, under my meticulous planning, he chose to join my side. You cannot imagine how much I valued him.”
“Because of his lineage?” Felix inquired.
Credence was Dumbledore’s nephew, but for a long time, Dumbledore and Aberforth were unaware of his existence. It was a significant secret at the time, and Grindelwald must have expended considerable effort to learn of it.
“Not just that reason. He was also an Obscurus, one who lived to adulthood. His potential was unimaginable, surpassing ninety-nine percent of wizards by instinct alone without formal magical education—I originally planned for him to inherit my cause.”
Felix found this statement astonishing. He looked at Grindelwald, who had no reason to lie, and this line of thought helped Felix untangle many loose ends.
Grindelwald’s greatest obstacle at the time was Dumbledore. Even with a blood pact between them, as long as Grindelwald did not abandon his dream of ruling over wizards and Muggles, they were bound to become adversaries, compelled by the world to do so.
Ultimately, even the most unbreakable blood pact shattered.
“I wouldn't wait for Dumbledore to come to me but instead took the initiative. My plan was to cultivate a wizard capable of standing up to Dumbledore,” Grindelwald said leisurely.
“To cultivate a Grand Sorcerer? That idea is too bold,” Felix said, slowing his breath. He placed himself in Grindelwald’s shoes and felt the plan was fraught with difficulties.
“Indeed, it was a bit of a fantasy, but I eventually found a way—perhaps the only viable way, through an Obscurus.”
Felix had an epiphany. Grindelwald knew Obscurus could live past ten years, evidence being Dumbledore’s sister, Ariana. Perhaps his initial idea was to find a young Obscurus, take meticulous care of him, and help him conquer his dark magic quietly. However, he unexpectedly stumbled upon a child lost from the Dumbledore family, Credence.
“A child who, in terms of potential, rivaled a Grand Sorcerer and emotionally constrained Dumbledore, perfectly fit my needs,” Grindelwald’s memory entity said methodically, as if he were sitting in front of Felix, calmly discussing his past plans and secrets not known to others.
“That meeting also exposed a flaw in the Ministry of Magic. An Auror killed an ordinary civilian who came to hear me speak, providing me with a perfect excuse. It wasn't that I sought violence, but from that moment on, the Death Eaters and the existing order of the Ministry of Magic began a full confrontation.”
“My forces expanded rapidly. In this, Credence and a Legilimens played significant roles; the former, while receiving my teachings, appeared around the world, devastating Aurors everywhere; the latter—I remember her name was Queenie—used her innate talent to expose numerous spies planted among us. Her ability was silent and could be maintained indefinitely.”
“Everything was moving in a positive direction,” Grindelwald said calmly. But Felix knew a turning point was imminent, indeed—
“I had always kept the secret of Credence's heritage hidden, using it as a trump card, ready to be played at a critical moment. However, several accidents occurred one after the other. On one hand, the phoenix that accompanied him appeared on the battlefield, becoming well-known. A phoenix—” Grindelwald clicked his tongue, “There's a legend in the Dumbledore family that a phoenix will appear when a family member is in dire need. Perhaps it was this that aroused Dumbledore’s suspicion; I had to reduce his outings.”
“Good times didn’t last long; his body began to fail, his abilities became extremely unstable. I thought of some solutions, but could only watch as his body deteriorated. Perhaps that’s the fate of an Obscurus... I was very disappointed, and I believe he realized it too. He volunteered to assassinate Dumbledore, but I refused; he was not a match for Dumbledore at all. Later… later, his little girlfriend came looking for him. She was a Maledictus, spending most of her time in the form of a snake when they met again. The problem with her was also severe. They spent all day together until one day, Credence disappeared for a while and returned empty-handed…”
“That woman, was she Nagini?” Felix asked.
“You know her too?”
“I do, even met her once, though in the form of a snake. I think Credence released her.”
“Released?” Grindelwald repeated softly, “I thought she was dead.”
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