Chapter 717: The Awakening of a Memory - (2) |
After separating from Hermione, Felix Harp returned to his office before finding himself in Classroom Seven once more. The space of Classroom Seven seemed to expand again, where thoughts and reality met. What would normally be a short walk could turn into a street or a beautiful garden... Felix veered off the path used by students for classes, walked through layers of mist, and a modest village appeared before him.
Standing in front of a simple house, Felix knocked on the door. The person who answered was Gellert Grindelwald's memory form. Surprisingly, the figure before Felix was not of a younger man but that of an older Grindelwald, albeit with some differences upon closer inspection.
“I knew you'd come, so I chose this appearance to greet you. I've been waiting,” the old man said with a smile. Dressed in a purple morning robe, his demeanor was calm and composed, showing no trace of malice.
They sat down across from each other. “Do you have something to tell me?” Felix asked, then curiously glanced at the old man, “Are you complete now? I mean, your memory—”
“Of course, of course,” Grindelwald replied. “At this moment, speaking with you, I am more complete than ever before. You know, after some time here, I actually found this place quite dissatisfying.”
“Why is that?”
“One reason is: it's too dull. There are only two memory entities in this entire space that possess life-like qualities, equivalent to half a living person,” Grindelwald explained. This greatly astonished Felix, as memory entities, though appearing alive, differed significantly from real people, such as in their perception of time.
“Your behavior surprises me too, seeming indistinguishable from ordinary people.” Felix observed Grindelwald's memory form with a probing look, but the latter just smiled without responding.
“Besides the first reason? You mentioned waiting for me, so does it relate to me?”
“I initially thought so. After the funeral, I decided to leave necessary information, being open and honest, but you never came... Later, the ghosts told me about your recent actions, and I felt there was no need to speak anymore. You fully grasped my intentions.”
“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 don't remember me. It's a strange feeling, as if time has reversed, everything starting anew, 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 slowly said. “I prefer to call him that. That boy was of great help to me.”
Felix listened intently.
“Credence Dumbledore,” Grindelwald continued. “I clearly remember... it was seventy years ago. At the underground meeting in the Lestrange Mausoleum, under my meticulous planning, he chose to join my side. You can't 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 Obscurial, 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 surprising. 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 destined 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's a bold idea,” Felix said, slowing his breath. He placed himself in Grindelwald’s position 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 Obscurial.”
Felix had an epiphany. Grindelwald knew Obscurials could live past ten years, evidence being Dumbledore’s sister, Ariana. Perhaps his initial idea was to find a young Obscurial, 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 unknown 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, giving me 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 Obscurial... 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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