Erwin Apparated away with Vinda and Charlotte, leaving Thorfinn to watch them vanish into the swirling vortex. The man's expression shifted, a dark resolve hardening on his face as he made a silent decision. However, his moment of contemplation was not as private as he believed. From the shadows, a seemingly insignificant Auror watched his every move.
Meanwhile, back at Vinda's residence, a house-elf quietly poured tea for the trio.
"Thorfinn harbors inappropriate thoughts," Vinda stated bluntly.
Erwin chuckled, a cold amusement in his eyes. "The world is full of ambitious dogs dreaming of becoming wolves."
"Should we eliminate him?" Vinda asked.
"Not yet," Erwin replied, shaking his head. "He is still useful. He must spread the word about what happened in Germany."
"You are wise," Vinda nodded. "You would never raise a tiger only for it to cause trouble."
Erwin smiled. "Aunt Vinda, you worry too much. Raising a tiger requires a prerequisite: it must actually be a tiger. Thorfinn? He is merely a dog. And when a dog stops wagging its tail, it has no reason to exist."
"I understand," Vinda said. "I will find a replacement for Thorfinn. Once you deal with him, we can install a new agent."
"No need," Erwin said dismissively. "I have someone in mind."
Vinda's heart skipped a beat. Erwin had been prepared to remove Thorfinn from the very beginning, yet he had a successor ready? It meant that even while absent from the German magical world, Erwin controlled its direction. Realizing the extent of his power, Vinda felt no resentment, only relief that the Acolytes served a master like him. In Erwin, she saw the shadow of Grindelwald—and she knew, though she never said it aloud, that Erwin had surpassed him.
After a few cups of tea and idle chat, Erwin prepared to depart. His business was concluded. Bidding Vinda farewell, he Apparated Charlotte back to England. The journey was far too long for her to manage alone, but for Erwin, it was trivial. With his reserve of magic crystals and magical power, long-distance Apparition posed no challenge.
They arrived in Diagon Alley. Erwin sought out Old Tom immediately to discuss the Stewart family. Old Tom looked elated at the news.
"They are your responsibility once they return," Erwin said. "I trust their loyalty, but I don't know their current capabilities. I want them forged into combatants as quickly as possible. Understood?"
"Rest assured, Master," Old Tom nodded. "I will arrange it immediately."
"Good," Erwin said. "I am taking Charlotte back to Hogwarts. You have charge of things here."
Back at Hogwarts, the atmosphere was tense, even on a weekend. The castle grounds were unusually quiet; there were no young wizards wandering the corridors. This quiet was a blessing for the professors, who finally enjoyed a rare moment of leisure. Usually, weekends meant patrolling the castle to prevent foolish antics, but now, they could enjoy their afternoon tea in peace.
Erwin didn't go to his dormitory. He headed straight for the Room of Requirement. He needed to adjust to the changes in his bloodline. The fusion of the two lineages was making him uncomfortable; his magic was surging, growing too rapidly, making him feel as though he were losing control. He needed time to settle his power. It was the aftereffect of using his advantages too aggressively.
Sometimes, Erwin didn't understand how protagonists in stories managed such growth. They could expand their power explosively and use it perfectly immediately. Erwin couldn't do that. It was like a man suddenly gaining several times his normal strength; he couldn't control it without time to adapt.
Inside the Room of Requirement, Erwin cast spells relentlessly, forcing his surging magic to obey his will. His reserves were so vast now that running out was unlikely, but control was paramount.
By the time he emerged that night, he hadn't exhausted his magic, but he had honed his control. He assessed himself, then temporarily abandoned his plan to extract other bloodlines. The Solent family was dealt with; there was no need to rush.
He recalled the dragon control abilities he'd acquired. He had studied them in his spare time, but they paled compared to his own talents. The so-called "dragon-riding talent" was essentially just forming a contract with a dragon to make it an ally. In that respect, it was far inferior to the legendary ability to command dragons through ancient magic. Yet, it seemed none of the Noble families possessed that ancient art.
Erwin would likely need a complete Dragon Speaker bloodline to achieve it. He was only vaguely curious, however. His understanding of dragon magic came from limited sources, and in this world, aside from the legend of Merlin, no one truly knew how powerful it could be.