Chapter 86. Side Story. That Rainy Night.
1979, a forest in Austria.
Rain pounded against the dense foliage, dripping down and pooling in the mud.
The sound of running came from afar. The house-elf's bare, dark, rough feet stomped through the mud, splashing up large swathes of dirt.
It stumbled along, seemingly frantic yet incredibly cautious, for it carried an infant in its arms, a baby in swaddling clothes.
The anti-Apparition magic here was extremely powerful, even for the house-elf.
It could only appear on the outermost edge of the forest, running along the route it remembered.
The baby was well protected; a waterproofing spell kept the swaddling clothes dry and comfortable. The boy slept soundly, seemingly undisturbed by the harsh environment.
It ran for an unknown amount of time, until, in the hazy darkness, the outline of a weathered, cold tower gradually emerged.
For The Greater Good!
It looked up at the blurred inscription at the tower's entrance, its large eyes filled with sorrow and despair.
The prison called Nurmengard was unguarded; the house-elf, carrying the boy, ran unimpeded into the tower, climbing the steep, spiraling stone staircase.
It only slowed its pace, panting, when it reached near the top. Carefully cleaning the mud from its feet on the steps, it stepped onto the top floor.
It was a small room, the floor, ceiling, and walls all made of black stone,
making the space feel strangely oppressive.
Besides the stone, the only furniture was a wooden bed, on which sat an old man, his knees drawn up to his chest.
He was emaciated, with thinning hair, wearing a tattered robe. His hands and feet, exposed outside the robe, had joints covered by thin skin; he was frighteningly thin.
Hearing the noise the house-elf made, his gaze shifted from the window to the stone staircase.
The old man's eyes were calm, yet they held a chilling depth, as if concealing an endless darkness.
"Master..."
the house-elf cried, kneeling before the boy, managing only the title before bursting into tears.
The old man's lips curled into a smile.
"Kira, I remember when you first came, I told you never to return. So... are you disobeying my orders?"
Kira trembled, its ugly face contorted with terror.
It lifted the child in its arms, explaining fearfully.
"No! No! Master! Kira would never disobey your orders, but... but the Grindelwald family is wiped out..."
it sobbed, weeping. "Someone went to Switzerland and killed your grand-nephew. His whole family is dead, only he remains, the sole descendant of your family!"
The old man shook his head.
"There is no such thing as the Grindelwald family. They changed their name long ago. The only Grindelwald in the world is me."
"But, but, the blood flowing in this child's veins is the same as yours!"
The old man chuckled. "The same blood? Yes, bloodline, the bloodline that wizards value most…"
"Do you know who killed his parents?" the old man suddenly asked.
Kira shook its large head.
"Kira was too late, too late. His parents were dead, killed by the Killing Curse, but they hid him. Kira found him in the cellar… Kira didn't see who the murderer was, but Kira felt… felt that the murderer was Dumbledore!"
It suddenly screamed.
"It must have been Dumbledore! It must have been him! Only he would want to exterminate your people!"
"I have many enemies," the old man said, "but the least likely person to do such a thing is him."
He stared blankly at the wall, as if recalling the past.
"He may sometimes appear cunning and treacherous, even more ruthless than me, but he is a complex person… Everything he does stems from a deep-seated desire, not for himself, but for that laughable love."
He turned to look at the boy in Kira's arms.
"If you hadn't brought him here, this boy would undoubtedly be the safest, but now that's not necessarily the case."
Kira wailed, "But you are his only family in this world. Kira doesn't know, doesn't know where else to take him!"
The old man was silent for a moment, then decided the boy's fate.
"Take him to England, right under Dumbledore's nose, that way he'll feel at ease. Give him a false identity, make sure he has no connection to wizards, then send him to a Muggle orphanage. You can protect him secretly, but don't let him know you're there.
M
If he doesn't show any magical talent later, that's best. Just watch him, let him live a peaceful life as a Muggle without any surprises. If he has wizarding talent, then Albus will naturally take notice, and that's up to him..."
"And..." he pondered, finally saying, "If he becomes a wizard, when you think it's appropriate, take him to Abrose, and use whatever method you want to get him that badge."
Kira sobbed.
"What should he be called?"
Gellert Grindelwald tapped the bed with his fingertips, thinking for a moment.
"Lynn Belloc."
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(End of Chapter)