In truth, asking Grindelwald for help wasn't Wade's final option.
That night, after realizing the flaws in his plan, Wade specifically went to ask his senior for advice.
How exactly could one cleanse a bloodline curse?
At that time, his senior gave him a completely new line of thought.
He still remembered clearly how shocked he had been when she said those words to him.
"When I'm free, let's go find the vampires together. In this world, there's no creature that understands bloodline curses better than they do. They might have what you need."
Those words completely changed Wade's understanding of the world.
He had always subconsciously believed that vampires were weak.
But his senior had told him to wait until she was free before approaching them together?
That alone showed how seriously she regarded the vampires.
After all, even when she knew he would have to face more than a dozen Alliance members alone, she had only taught him the Avada Lightning Chain.
Yet when it came to vampires, she said she had to take action herself—and even warned him not to approach them lightly…
However, when Wade pressed further, his senior refused to say more. She only warned him never to go looking for vampires on his own—those creatures were far from as simple as they appeared.
She had been trapped for many years, her consciousness wandering this world through Nightmare Magic, and had uncovered quite a few secrets during that time.
So Wade trusted her judgment. If she took vampires so seriously, she must have had a good reason.
Besides, even in the original novels, there hadn't been much written about vampires.
And in this real wizarding world, the records about them were surprisingly scarce as well.
People's impressions of them were highly stereotypical—
Pale skin, fondness for drinking blood, though they could also eat ordinary food like pies.
They weren't afraid of sunlight either.
Strictly speaking, they weren't truly human—they were the undead, classified among magical creatures.
Like werewolves, a person bitten by a vampire could become infected and turn into one as well.
However, the vampire virus was far less contagious than the full transformation of a werewolf.
Because of that, their social status in the wizarding world was quite low—just barely above that of werewolves.
That was also why Wade had subconsciously assumed vampires were weak.
After all, dealing with them was part of the first-year Defense Against the Dark Arts curriculum.
But now, based on what his senior had revealed, Wade faintly realized that what he'd seen so far was likely only the tip of the iceberg of this world.
"Fortunately, Wade can still keep Nagini stable for now. Otherwise…" Newt's voice pulled Wade out of his thoughts.
"Where's Nagini? I want to see her," Tom said.
"She's in the basement," Wade replied as he stood up. "But since the recovery plan failed, she can come out now. Keeping her shut in there all the time isn't helping."
Wade led Tom to the basement, then stood quietly to the side as Tom spoke to Nagini in Parseltongue.
As Wade watched her serpentine body, his thoughts drifted again.
"Bloodline curses… bloodline corruption… vampires… Could it be that the reason vampires became what they are is also a kind of blood curse? Hiss… the more I think about it, the more terrifying it sounds."
…
After Tom settled in at Newt's home, he and Wade had several real battles.
Yes—battles, not mere sparring.
Although Tom ended up beaten until his face looked like a pig's head, he was exhilarated beyond words.
The fact that Wade hadn't held back was enough proof that Tom's progress had truly forced him out of his usual composure.
That meant the gap between them really was narrowing.
After the fight, when Wade reluctantly praised his dueling technique, Tom felt an indescribable thrill of satisfaction.
Of course, aside from those first few battles, they eventually switched back to simple dueling practice.
After all, even Tom had his limits—getting hit hurt, that was an unshakable law of nature.
In just three or four days, time passed quickly. Tom really was a prodigy, and under Wade's guidance, his dueling skills improved drastically.
"With your help, my progress is definitely faster than when I practiced with my father," Tom said through gritted teeth, rubbing the spot where Wade's spell had hit him.
Wade smiled. "Actually, it's not that different. Old Tom is your father, and I'm your foster father. Come on, thank your dad."
Tom rolled his eyes. "Don't make me curse you when I'm in a good mood, Wade."
"Wanna go see that depressed dragon?"
"No thanks… not interested," Tom said flatly, refusing the offer.
He had actually gone to see it once before.
That depressed dragon seemed to be a hybrid—its body carried several different dragon bloodlines, making it incredibly rare and valuable.
After all, for two dragons of different species to produce a hybrid offspring was an extraordinarily uncommon occurrence.
And judging from this dragon's degree of mixed blood, not just its parents, but even its grandparents and great-grandparents were all of different species.
Precisely because of that, when it fell ill, it was sent to Newt for care and study.
It was far too precious, possessing immense research value.
Otherwise, if it were an ordinary fire dragon, once it got sick—especially with something as unstable as depression—it would usually be put down and used for materials instead.
There was a special "Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures" responsible for handling such potentially uncontrollable magical beasts.
"If you don't want to go, suit yourself. I'm going anyway. This is a rare chance to broaden your horizons!" Wade said with exaggerated regret.
Tom snorted. "Broaden my horizons? You mean strip it for parts? What piece of that dragon have you set your eyes on this time?"
"Nonsense! How can you slander me like that out of thin air?" Wade protested loudly.
"Oh, please. You even wanted me to come along—so that when something goes wrong, you can shove me out there to take the blame, right?"
"Tom, is that really what you think of me?"
"Maybe even worse. Enough pretending—don't bother acting in front of me. Who doesn't know who by now? I'm telling you right now, I'm not falling for it!"
"You ungrateful brat! You'll be the death of me!"
…
The remaining days of the holiday slipped away quietly.
September 1st, 1939.
That day wasn't only when Wade and Tom were returning to school—it was also the day a certain failed art student decided to start making trouble.
In the early hours of that morning, Germany blitzed Poland. The Muggle world's war had begun.
When Wade and Tom arrived at King's Cross Station, the people hurrying along the platform moved with visible unease.
Every face was filled with fear and confusion about the future.
War—no matter when it comes—always brings suffering to ordinary people.
But for now, there was nothing Wade or Tom could do.
Not just them—the entire wizarding world stood by, watching in silence.
Joining the war would mean violating the International Statute of Secrecy.
Most wizards had no desire to expose the wizarding world to Muggles.
Besides, everyone hated war—including wizards. Who would willingly abandon a comfortable life to go fight?
What did a Muggle war have to do with them anyway?
Of course, there were always a few especially patriotic wizards who joined the conflict, just as some had done during the last Great War.
But any wizard who enlisted could only participate as an ordinary person—they were strictly forbidden from using magic.
Without magic, there was no difference between wizards and Muggles, and their chances of dying in battle became the same.
Naturally, even fewer wizards took part in the Muggle war.
Wade and Tom could feel the heavy atmosphere in the air.
They quickened their pace through the Muggle crowd and arrived at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
Unlike before, several Aurors were now stationed beside the invisible wall.
Their duty was to protect the young witches and wizards boarding the train—and their parents who came to see them off.
Now that the Muggles were at war—though it was unlikely to reach here so soon—it was always better to be cautious.
Who knew if a bomb might suddenly fall into the station one day?
Passing through the invisible wall, the atmosphere on the platform was entirely different from that outside.
Unlike the somber expressions of the Muggles, most faces here were bright with joy.
Yes, the Muggle world was at war—but what did that have to do with wizards? Those who needed to evacuate had already done so!
"Hey! Tom, Wade! Long time no see!" Henry suddenly appeared from the side.
"Long time no see, Henry," Wade said with a smile. "Where's Alphard?"
"Alphard stayed at my place for most of the holidays, but in the end, his family caught him and dragged him back. I heard his sister's furious and just waiting to take it out on him! Oh… poor Alphard, may Merlin bless him!" Henry said, drawing a cross over his chest.
"Shouldn't that be 'God bless him,' not Merlin?" Tom couldn't help but ask.
"You're still as strict as ever, Tom… Uh, where's Anne? Have you seen her?" Henry looked around.
"No, we haven't. Hasn't she shown up yet?" Tom asked.
Wade rubbed his chin, quietly thinking that Anne might not be coming back at all.
Under Grindelwald, if you were useful, you were a treasure; if you weren't, you were trash.
It was precisely because of Anne's failure that Grindelwald had suffered heavy losses—he even lost the Elder Wand.
How could she possibly have come out of that unscathed?
Maybe… she had just quietly disappeared…
"Ha! She's over there!" Henry's shout broke Wade's dark speculation.
Wade turned and saw Anne walking alone onto the platform, carrying a small suitcase.
Aside from looking a bit worn out, she was completely unharmed.
A flicker of surprise crossed Wade's eyes.
Logically speaking, Grindelwald should have realized Anne had been exposed and was no longer of use.
Even if he didn't kill her out of spite, he should at least have transferred her elsewhere to keep her out of sight.
After all, Grindelwald was now operating right here in Britain.
Yet here she was—appearing on the platform without a single scratch.
That immediately set Wade's mind spinning with all kinds of thoughts.
"Hey! Guess what?" Henry suddenly said excitedly. "Today's not just a big day for the Muggle world—something huge happened at Hogwarts too!"
"What happened?" Wade asked.
"You didn't read today's Daily Prophet? Grindelwald just entered Hogwarts as the Ministry's Senior Inquisitor!"
"Senior Inquisitor?" Wade was stunned. Wasn't that the same title that old toad Umbridge would use decades later?
At those words, Tom's face went pale in an instant. He was terrified of that old man Grindelwald—and now the man was coming to Hogwarts!
"This term's going to be… lively, huh, Tom?"
"Is it still possible to transfer schools now, Wade?"
_________
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