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Chapter 948: The Deal with Grindelwald
Chapter 948: The Deal with Grindelwald
"What exactly was the reason you gained his favor?"
As Kyle listened to Grindelwald's words, he felt as if something had fallen from the sky and landed precisely on him.
Upon closer inspection, it was a large barrel filled with vinegar.
The feeling was akin to a Hufflepuff student, eager to return to their Common Room, mistakenly knocking on the wrong door and getting drenched in vinegar.
The entire chest was filled with a pungent vinegar smell, permeating an area almost half the size of the Forbidden Forest.
It was too sour...
Instinctively, Kyle took a step back, trying to distance himself from Grindelwald as much as possible.
"Maybe it's because I'm a student..." Kyle's gaze wandered, trying to appear less guilty.
"A student with a pure heart and excellent grades will always be favored by the headmaster, isn't that right?"
"Perhaps the excellent grades are correct..." Grindelwald strolled with elegant strides, circling around Kyle.
"I saw some intriguing memories from the gentleman who gifted me my wand... Do you want to know what they were?"
"Sir, it's not right to steal others' memories." Kyle said cautiously.
Grindelwald paused for a moment, and even his deliberately rough voice became heavier for an instant, but he quickly returned to normal.
Grindelwald continued circling Kyle, whispering, "Many believe I'm an evil Dark Wizard, the instigator of the Wizarding War. But do you know when I first used the Killing Curse against an enemy?"
"I don't know..."
"At seventeen," Grindelwald interrupted before Kyle could finish, "When I was still studying at Durmstrang, I was obsessed with Dark Magic and experimented on my classmates, but I never had the intention to kill them.
"Later, when they expelled me, I had even less of a chance."
Grindelwald seemed lost in his memories, narrating these experiences that no one else cared about...
Well, except for Dumbledore, who was listening attentively.
Kyle didn't want to listen, but he didn't want to disturb him either.
Grindelwald circled once more and continued, "And that ugly fellow who was called the Dark Lord..."
"When was his first murder?" This question was directed at Dumbledore.
"As far as I know, it was in his fifth year," Dumbledore pondered for a moment before replying, "Mandrake, that should have been the first time he truly intended to kill a wizard. As for his age... sixteen."
"Sixteen isn't that young," Grindelwald said. "But I know someone who, at eleven, in his first year, killed an illegal Animagus in the forest."
"Oh, and during the holidays, he killed a werewolf." Grindelwald fixed his gaze on Kyle, almost naming him directly.
"It wasn't me, I didn't do it, don't talk nonsense," Kyle vehemently denied, "That Animagus rat, Pooch, was killed by Aurel, and it had nothing to do with me.
"As for the werewolf, I only did it for self-defense, and at that time, it was merely injured and not dead yet."
"Ah, it had nothing to do with you... self-defense," Grindelwald narrowed his eyes, "Such an unbreakable reason."
"What about the professor in our second year, Quirinus Quirrell?" Grindelwald continued, seemingly unaware of the nervous sweat dripping from Snape beside him.
Perhaps he noticed, but he didn't seem to mind.
"Let me guess, you must have done it for self-defense as well, right?"
"This has nothing to do with me," Kyle shook his head repeatedly, "He wanted to take us with him, so he used a wide-range Cruciatus Curse. Fortunately, Dumbledore appeared in time and saved me and Harry."
"I can testify to that," Dumbledore nodded from the side, "Quirinus Quirrell did die from the Cruciatus Curse, and at that time, Kyle didn't know this spell yet."
"You're too trusting, Albus," Grindelwald grunted, neither confirming nor denying.
"And in our third year..."
"Nothing happened in our third year," Kyle interjected, "Although many were injured, they all survived, including Professor Lockhart, who only lost his memory. No one died."
"What about the other Animagus in our fourth year?"
"Peter? He deserved it."
"Another unbreakable reason," Grindelwald said with a meaningful tone, but he didn't argue.
"As for the Triwizard Tournament in our fifth year, I don't need to say more." He took a step forward, his cloudy eyes fixed on Kyle. "You were even brought to the Ministry of Magic's trial bench.
"And most importantly, after that, you completely dropped your disguise, especially after graduation. The number of wizards you killed increased."
"It seems you are more terrifying than me and that Tom," Grindelwald glanced at Dumbledore, "At least I didn't kill any other wizards at eleven, nor did I have such thoughts."
"I said that the Animagus rat named Pooch was killed by Aurel," Kyle repeated helplessly, refusing to take the blame.
"And I don't know where you got those wild memories..." Kyle stared at Grindelwald.
"But I can assure you, before the Battle of Hogwarts, my magic was as pure as the snowflakes that never touched the ground in winter."
"I don't need you to remind me of that." Grindelwald smiled, "I had already noticed it when you last visited."
"That's what's terrifying, isn't it?" Grindelwald glanced at Dumbledore again, as if he was under the effects of Legilimency.
Merlin's beard... Kyle's lips twitched.
But Dumbledore's expression remained unchanged; he knew the truth, and it wasn't something Grindelwald could shake with a few words.
Moreover, in his current state of being unable to hold his wand, his thoughts seemed useless. Even if Kyle were to become the next Dark Lord, he couldn't stop him.
"Let's make a deal." Kyle immediately extended his hand, holding out three photos, as Grindelwald was about to continue.
However, he held them upside down, and Grindelwald could only see the words written on the back, like notes.
【Sadness】
【Surprise】
【Marriage Certificate】
"Pick one, and then let's end this topic, how about that?" Kyle said.
"What's this?" Grindelwald raised an eyebrow, "Your photo diary? I'm not interested."
"I don't think so." Kyle said confidently, "And I dare say, you will definitely be interested. You might even be tempted to snatch the remaining two after seeing the photo clearly."
"But I must tell you in advance, you can only take one. I can't give them all to you."
"You're that confident?" Grindelwald stared at the photos, but as Kyle moved his hand, a hint of yellow beneath the photos was revealed.
Grindelwald immediately averted his gaze.
"They're just photos, is it worth making such a fuss?"
"These are treasures, and being extra careful is never a bad thing." Kyle smiled.
"Fine, I'll take this one." Grindelwald didn't mind and took the photo with 【Sadness】 written on top, flipping it open casually.
Visibly, Grindelwald's pupils dilated for a moment, and his usually steady breath became erratic.
"Give them all to me!" He reached out and grabbed for Kyle.
But Kyle had anticipated this and had already taken a few steps back while looking at the photos.
Grindelwald's grab missed.
He subconsciously stepped forward,
A cluster of crimson flames appeared on Kyle's fingers out of thin air, and the flickering flames were less than an inch away from the remaining photo.
"Stand there and don't move, Mr. Grindelwald, or I'll burn them all."
"You're threatening me." Grindelwald stared coldly at Kyle.
"Yes, I am threatening you." Kyle showed no fear, "And I'm not afraid to tell you, these are all carefully captured by me, and there's definitely no second photo, especially this one..."
He took out the one with the note 【Marriage Certificate】 and waved it in front of Grindelwald.
"I think you must have guessed it, I once went to 1899."
"That's right, when you last visited Nurmengard, I knew it wasn't our first meeting."
Grindelwald spoke in a low voice, "In Godric's Hollow, you told Bathilda Bagshot that you liked History of Magic. Do you remember what I said then?"
"You said... I knew we would meet again." Kyle recalled his experience in Nurmengard and spoke softly.
"That's right, ever since I saw you, I suddenly thought of many things and had many bold guesses. My guesses are usually accurate."
"I don't believe it." Kyle said.
"For example, the one who tormented Albus all his life, his foolish sister, Ariana." Grindelwald's tone carried a hint of pride.
"If there was a chance to bring Albus back to the past, I think he would definitely go to save her... But it's impossible, changing the present facts will only result in being trapped in the past, disappearing in the past..."
"But in my past memories, there's you, which means someone went to save him... How about that, I didn't get it wrong, did I?"
Kyle fell silent for a moment.
"Why can't I be the one going to 1899?"
"Because you came to me." Grindelwald spoke calmly, "And I heard your complaints. It's because of Albus that you had to come find me."
"Just because I mentioned Professor Dumbledore?" Kyle was incredulous, "In such a short time, you not only guessed the truth but also figured out what I wanted to ask?"
See the original text in Book 6, Chapter 9!
"You want to bring Albus back, you must find him first." Grindelwald moved forward without changing his expression, "I said, I'm good at these things..."
He suddenly reached out and grabbed the 【Surprise】 photo, pulling it away immediately.
But at this moment, Kyle also reacted and quickly raised his hand, the flames on his fingers once again approaching the remaining photo, causing one corner to turn yellow and curl due to the proximity.
"Stop!"
Grindelwald retreated in a fluster.
Only then did Kyle move his hand away.
"I admit, you're the most meticulous wizard I've ever met, and I might even say terrifying, but I'm not bad either.
Kyle waved his hand, holding the Cruciatus Curse and the photograph.
"To be honest, this was taken in 1899, and the location is the barn..."
At this, Grindelwald's expression changed. "Give it to me... You can ask for anything in return."
Dumbledore's expression also shifted.
1899, the barn... Recalling certain past events and Kyle's ever-present camera, he suddenly realized something.
"You..."
"I need to think about it." Kyle said.
"No, give it to me now!"
"You..."
"I have it, and I call the shots."
Kyle and Grindelwald ignored Dumbledore, staring each other down.
During this, Kyle waved his hand, and a small, fuzzy creature emerged from the side.
Before Grindelwald could react, Kyle slipped the photograph into Snuffles' inner pocket.
"If there's danger, eat it," Kyle said,
In the blink of an eye, Snuffles disappeared into the ground.
Grindelwald's forehead veins popped, and he immediately raised his wand, but he did nothing, his face uncertain.
A moment later, he lowered his wand.
"I hate Snuffles..."
"I quite like them," Kyle said with a smile, "They're so adorable, and their abilities are exceptional..."
This statement stirred some unpleasant memories for Grindelwald. He once had something most important to him, stolen by a Snuffles.
These magical creatures, weak in strength and without any means of attack, possessed exceptional survival skills and unreasonable special talents.
They could take something without anyone noticing, making them natural-born thieves.
Indeed, even he hadn't noticed, or the container bearing the Blood Pact might have been stolen.
This was one of Grindelwald's most regrettable moments.
Now, another Blood Pact-related item was in Snuffles' possession, and he wasn't sure he could immediately catch Snuffles.
In a sense, Snuffles was more troublesome than Kneazles.
"What do you want?" Grindelwald asked again.
"I said, I need to think about it," Kyle said, "Such a valuable item deserves a big bargain."
"That item is worthless to others."
"So I'm bargaining with you," Kyle said matter-of-factly, causing Grindelwald's forehead veins to throb.
At this moment, he truly wanted to stab Kyle with his wand... without a spell, just a physical stab.
The two faced off for nearly ten minutes, the atmosphere growing tenser.
"Don't forget, we have more important things to do," Dumbledore spoke up, breaking the eerie atmosphere.
He didn't know why, but even though it was about him, he couldn't participate, not even having the right to offer an opinion.
Even if he wasn't truly alive, he shouldn't be ignored like this.
Moreover, Kyle was using his photograph for a deal right in front of him, which was a bit too much.
Dumbledore was angry, so he decided to... change the topic.
What else could he do? If he could cast the most basic illumination spell, he wouldn't have watched Kyle and Grindelwald so arrogantly.
"More important things..." Kyle looked at Dumbledore, blinking in confusion, "So you didn't come here to find me?"
"Not initially," Grindelwald narrowed his eyes, "But now it's different. That photograph, you must have more than three of them."
"That depends on how you interpret it," Kyle said, "I personally like collecting photographs with special meanings."
"But I don't intend to give them to you. Having two for myself is enough." He added, angering Grindelwald to the point of grinding his wand.
He initially thought Newt Scamander was annoying enough, but there was someone even more detestable.
No, this Kyle was also related to Newt Scamander...
Indeed, not killing Scamander was a mistake.
Grindelwald remained silent, trying to calm himself. Dumbledore finally found an opportunity to step in, separating the two and changing the topic, "Kyle, you're right. We didn't come to find you, but someone else."
"Someone else..." Kyle instinctively looked at Snape.
Snape was the only other person here.
Kyle suddenly realized that during their conversation, Snape was unusually quiet, and when he saw Grindelwald, he didn't show any surprise, which was out of character.
Could it be...
Grindelwald's earlier mention of the person who gave him the wand and showed him the memory...
Kyle couldn't help but look at Dumbledore.
At this moment, Dumbledore was looking at Snape with a serious expression.
"Severus, can you tell me why you gave your wand to Grindelwald?"
...
(End of Chapter)
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