"I am the daughter of Andromeda Tonks, but before marrying my father, she was called Black," explained Tonks, looking at her cousin, who showed no surprise at her revelation. She felt a sense of loss, as this encounter was not unfolding as she had thought. Her hair changed from purple to a dull blue.
Initially, she had hoped Asterion would be pleased to discover he had another relative, but the teenager seemed colder than the iceberg that sank the Titanic.
"I know who you are, Nymphadora," Asterion said, cutting off any further introduction.
But...
"Don't call me Nymphadora!" Her cousin spoke in a loud, angry tone, her hair changing color to a fiery red, full of life.
Asterion observed the change with interest. It seemed her cousin didn't have good control over her gift, which was not surprising. She hadn't had a teacher or access to the Black Family Heritage, which likely contained numerous books about her gift.
"I apologize, I didn't realize being called by your name was so... embarrassing?" Asterion spoke with an uncertain tone.
"When you're the butt of jokes because of your name, you start to dislike it," Tonks huffed, responding with an irritated look on her face.
"Surely it must not be very pleasant," Asterion nodded. "But you shouldn't care about what people say about you. By showing that you care about what others say about you, you become weak in their eyes."
Tonks opened her mouth in shock, not knowing what to say. She still couldn't believe she was receiving advice from a thirteen-year-old boy. Embarrassed and angry, she looked at her cousin resentfully.
Asterion pursed his lips abnormally in the face of that resentful look. He didn't understand how he had made her angry; he had just given advice.
In his eyes, women were definitely strange and somewhat illogical. Even without a valid reason to be upset, they found something entirely different and blamed you for it.
Daphne was just like Nymphadora in this regard.
"So, what did you want to do after meeting me?" Asterion let out a resigned sigh and asked calmly.
Tonks composed herself and looked at him seriously. "My mother misses the whole family," she said, maintaining her gaze on him. "I hope somehow they can reconcile, except for Bellatrix and Sirius, who are on the run and missing."
Asterion raised an eyebrow upon hearing her request. "You do realize your mother was expelled from the family for not practicing the Inherited Technique, right?"
Tonks fell silent. She understood the importance of the Inherited Technique for a Noble House; her mother refused to practice it and was expelled from the family.
"But can't they reconcile?" Tonks asked, a glimmer of hope in her dark eyes.
"Of course they can, but you need to understand that your mother's decision hurt many people. She chose to voluntarily leave the family," Asterion replied, sighing with a slightly softer look. He realized Tonks wanted to help in the reconciliation, but this decision wasn't in her hands; it was up to Narcissa, Bellatrix, and Arcturus.
Arcturus, in particular, never showed anger towards Andromeda for her decision; at least not that he spoke of. There was only a bitter and sorrowful feeling.
Tonks opened her mouth to try to refute and defend her mother's actions, but she remained silent. In the end, she muttered resentfully, "Why is that damned technique so important? More important than family itself?"
Asterion stayed quiet. Obviously, he knew why the Inherited Technique was so important, but he chose not to explain it to Nymphadora. Even though she might have the blood of the House Black running in her veins, she was still an outsider, called Tonks.
Observing Tonks in silence, Asterion decided to continue the conversation. "While I may not be able to do much, I can send a letter asking Narcissa to meet with Andromeda. However, whether she accepts the request or not is not under my control."
Tonks's dark eyes almost seemed to light up for a moment as she hugged Asterion and exclaimed excitedly,
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
She continued repeating the same word, unaware of the look of disgust on the boy's face.
Breaking free from her embrace, Asterion looked at her angrily and said coldly,
"Don't touch me, I don't like strangers touching me."
Tonks ignored his words and laughed cheerfully. While what he was doing might not have been particularly important to Asterion, it was different for her. It was a chance for her mother to improve, to get better, and to come out of a mild depression.
Unmoved by her joy, Asterion coldly gave the eviction order.
"Now go away, if they catch you in the Common Room, they'll want your head."
Giving him a peck on the cheek, Tonks transformed back into Dorea and left regardless of Asterion's face growing colder with her actions.
With a cold huff, Asterion returned to reading his newspaper.
For some reason, women around him seemed to enjoy provoking him above all else.
-
Austria, Austrian Alps - Nurmengard.
Over the decades, with the constant increase of acolytes, the castle originally built to serve as a prison for Grindelwald's enemies had become the main gathering point for them. Countless renovations had turned Nurmengard into a vast complex entrenched within the very bowels of the mountain it was located in.
Seated at the round table, the Dark Lord known as Gellert Grindelwald observed his acolytes with a subtle smile.
Rising from his chair, he addressed the assembly with a penetrating gaze. "My brothers and sisters, the promised day is near. The day when we shall finally purify our beautiful planet of these abominations."
Almost fanatical expressions crossed the faces of most present. Decades of work were about to be successfully concluded; how could they not be in complete ecstasy?
Grindelwald continued speaking. "When our glorious purpose is fulfilled, we shall be reborn into a world free from the risk of our children being cruelly killed by monsters. A pure world that we can truly call our own. A pure world of magic and brilliance."
His voice, smooth and laden with emotion, echoed throughout the chamber.
"Brothers and sisters, we do not act for glory, wealth, or power. We do not kill for pleasure, hatred, or fear. We do what we do for a better world, even if ignorant fools think otherwise." Gazing at the fervent crowd of acolytes, Grindelwald clenched his fist and continued:
"But I do not blame them. This corrupt society has forced them to think this way. We are their salvation and their executioners to the end." The Dark Lord concluded.
Grindelwald took a deep breath and uttered, "For the Greater Good."
"For the Greater Good."
"For the Greater Good."
"For the Greater Good."
…
The acolytes echoed his words in unison.
"My lord, are you sure we will cooperate with them?" Aurelius, always by Grindelwald's side, questioned, his expression showing disgust at the mention of "them".
Grindelwald didn't respond immediately, his gaze shifting to the magnificent view through the window. Then, he turned back to Aurelius with a smile.
"Our organization and those lunatics will attack Hogwarts together, Aurelius. We only need the Ley Lines of Hogwarts to complete the final stage of our plan and nothing more," he stated, gripping his adoptive son's shoulders with his silver-eyed gaze, reminiscent of the moon.
"Our purpose in this world is more important than anything else," he spoke, releasing his shoulders. He turned his gaze back to the window and continued.
"If they want the life of that child with special eyes, so be it."
"Are we going to help kill her?" Aurelius asked, confused.
"Do you really think it's easy to kill a Special Grade Wizard, Aurelius?" Grindelwald didn't answer and threw the question back.
"Almost all Special Grade Wizards and Witches are similar in strength, unless it's an extremely destructive Inherited Technique, I find it difficult for one Special Grade Wizard to kill another," Aurelius responded without hesitation.
"That's right, if a Special Grade Wizard is determined to flee, they will flee; few can hold a Special Grade Wizard for long," Grindelwald agreed with his adoptive son's words.
"So, if this group of lunatics attacks Hogwarts, isn't it the same as suicide? The place has three Special Grade Wizards and two Semi-Special Grade Wizards," Aurelius became even more confused.
Albus Dumbledore, Rose Potter, Asterion Black, Minerva McGonagall, and Filius Flitwick.
"That's why they've allied with us, but we don't underestimate them, Aurelius; madmen often have even crazier tricks up their sleeves," Grindelwald laughed and looked out at the snowy mountains through the window.
"I'm coming, Albus. You still owe me a battle to the death," Grindelwald murmured to himself with an excited smile, like a child who had finally gotten what they wanted from their parents.
---------------------------------
Author's Thoughts: Can any of you think of what Grindelwald wants to do? It's not complicated... I promise. hehehehe
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Next Chapter: Chapter 52 - A Treacherous Game of Chess (1), Chapter 53 - A Treacherous Game of Chess (2), Chapter 54 - A Treacherous Game of Chess (3), Chapter 55 - A Treacherous Game of Chess (4), Chapter 56 - Magical Self-Defense Tactical Training Class (1), Chapter 57 - Magical Self-Defense Tactical Training Class (2), Chapter 58 - Magical Self-Defense Tactical Training Class (3), Chapter 59 - Magical Self-Defense Tactical Training Class (4), Chapter 60 - School Council, Chapter 61 - Mission (1), Chapter 62 - Mission (2), Chapter 63 - Mission (3), Chapter 64 - Mission (4), Chapter 65 - Mission (5), Chapter 66 - Consequences of the Attack (1), Chapter 67 - Consequences of the Attack (2), Chapter 68 - Invasion of Hogwarts (1), Chapter 69 - Invasion of Hogwarts (2), Chapter 70 - Invasion of Hogwarts (3), Chapter 71 - Invasion of Hogwarts (4), Chapter 72 - Invasion of Hogwarts (5), Chapter 73 - Invasion of Hogwarts (6), Chapter 74 - Invasion of Hogwarts (7), Chapter 75 - Invasion of Hogwarts (8).