Chapter 546: Gellert Grindelwald: What Do You Want?
Wade noticed that the entire school was buzzing with talk about the Magic School League. Many students, unaware of the other schools, had rushed to the library first thing in the morning to borrow books. Books related to foreign magical schools quickly became scarce resources, making those who managed to secure them—and those who knew a bit about the situation—immediate focal points of attention.
This phenomenon was especially noticeable at lunch.
“My cousin goes to Beauxbatons,” said a Ravenclaw girl in a casual tone. “Their students are elegant and master protocol. Woodland fairies even sing serenades during meals.”
Another student sighed wistfully. “Our last time someone came to sing inside the school… it was when Professor Dumbledore invited the Skull Decorations band for Halloween!”
How could a skeleton band compare to forest nymphs?
A third student quickly cautioned, “Don’t you remember? Professor Lockhart once hired little people to sing around campus on Valentine’s Day. I still have the greeting card you got.”
The first student groaned, clutching his head. “No—don’t remind me. It just makes us seem even more pitiful!”
Someone else excitedly brought up Wagadoo.
“Did you hear? Most of their students can transform into cheetahs or elephants at will,” said a freckled boy confidently. “Magazines claimed there were only seven true Animagus wizards in the world—obviously a massive error. Everyone at Wagadoo is an Animagus.”
“Maybe they’re not using Animagus magic at all,” countered a classmate. “The Ministry of Magic wouldn’t make such a foolish mistake.”
“Honestly,” said a Slytherin boy at the Long Table, “Durmstrang is the best school. They treat magic with fairness, and they openly study Dark Magic…”
The other houses exchanged visibly uncomfortable expressions. Even among Slytherins, not everyone was eager to embrace Dark Magic.
Then a girl’s voice cut through the chatter:
“Did you know Gellert Grindelwald used to attend Durmstrang? But he was expelled. Do you know why?”
Wade and the others turned to look. It was Astoria, Daphne’s younger sister.
The boys who’d been discussing Durmstrang instantly fell silent. Some looked awkward. Others glared at her with ill-disguised annoyance.
Gellert Grindelwald’s escape had been widely reported in the newspapers. He’d been expelled for his “Sinister Door Experiment”—something so extreme even Durmstrang couldn’t tolerate.
But Astoria didn’t seem to notice. She looked genuinely innocent, as if she truly didn’t know the reason.
Daphne quickly shoved a spoonful of pudding into her mouth. “Do you even know what you’re saying? Your biggest flaw is that you never stop talking!”
“Haha,” Michael chuckled, turning to Wade and whispering, “I’ve always thought Astoria’s way more interesting than her sister.”
“Hmm… maybe,” Wade murmured, taking a sip of pumpkin juice. He held the cup to hide the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth, his eyes scanning the staff table with quiet intensity.
Moody wasn’t there.
Wade recalled Moody’s conversation with his parents—how tense and wary he’d sounded, as if Gellert Grindelwald were some abyssal demon, poised to erupt at any moment and swallow the entire magical world whole.
If Moody heard students casually discussing such a figure… he’d probably give them a harsh lesson in the cost of underestimating your enemy—in Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Just then, Anthony sidled up to Wade.
“The empty classroom’s been secured. Wade, when do you have time?”
“So soon?” Michael asked, surprised. “We’ve had classes all morning.”
“Transfiguration ended, and I stayed behind to ask Professor McGonagall,” Anthony explained. “She was thrilled to hear about our plan and granted us permission to use an old student club room.”
“What about the original club?” Liam asked. “Did they move?”
“No,” Anthony said. “It was a student-run group years ago. Once the members graduated, no one joined. The club’s been defunct for ages—just the sign on the door hasn’t been taken down.”
The school had plenty of towers and outbuildings beyond the main castle. With student numbers never high enough to fill every space, many areas remained sealed—or even concealed.
“Tonight, I’ve arranged to meet a few people to clean it up,” Anthony added. “By tomorrow morning, it’ll be ready.”
He looked at Wade with eager eyes.
Wade hesitated. “My schedule’s packed. I’ve got classes, and I need time for Alchemy. So the tutoring sessions can only be on Tuesdays and Fridays. Time… let’s say, after dinner—seven to nine.”
“Perfect!” Anthony grinned. “Then it starts tomorrow!”
He practically bolted away, and Michael stared at Wade in disbelief.
Wade exhaled. “Your idea was good, but…”
…He didn’t mind filtering out those who couldn’t commit. Waking up early was already enough to weed out the faint-hearted. But after returning to the dormitory last night, Dreian had contacted him—reporting on the situation with the vampire Garr—and asked about Wade’s plans. Wade had casually mentioned the tutoring idea.
Then, as he lay in bed preparing to sleep, he received another communication.
It was Gellert Grindelwald.
“Dreian told me,” Grindelwald said without preamble. “Wade, I heard you’re planning to start a… spell tutoring session at school?”
Wade frowned. He disliked anyone interfering in his life—especially someone as domineering as Grindelwald.
But remembering the spells Grindelwald had taught him, and the support the Wizard Purity Party had given him, Wade calmed himself.
“Yes,” he said, careful and measured. “I’m considering it. It wouldn’t be much trouble—maybe three or four hours a week at most. I can set strict rules, so anyone who can’t handle it will leave on their own.”
A soft chuckle came through the communication.
“Wade, your time is valuable. Every action should have a clear purpose. So tell me… what do you hope to gain from this tutoring session?”
(End of Chapter)
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