July 1991, Austria.
A uniquely designed European villa stood quietly on the shore of Lake Mondsee. Dark blue-grey bricks formed its towering walls, while ancient carvings stretched across the stone like traces of forgotten history. Even after centuries, the villa still carried an oppressive sense of authority, as though the shadows themselves remembered the people who had once walked its halls.
Golden sunlight poured through the tall windows and illuminated the face of a blond-haired, blue-eyed boy sitting alone inside the study. The warm light should have made the scene peaceful, yet the strange green mist swirling around the book in his hand created an unsettling contrast. In his other hand, he held a wand marked by peculiar horizontal ridges along the handle, and dark magic pulsed through the room like a living thing.
A flash of green light burst into existence.
The boy slowly lowered his wand, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
[Congratulations to the host for mastering the Dark Arts: Imperio, achieving the accomplishment: Azkaban Candidate.]
[Achievement Points Awarded: 100.]
"System," the boy said calmly, "show me the talent panel."
The familiar mechanical sound echoed inside his mind, and a translucent screen immediately appeared before his eyes.
[Charms: 100]
[Potions: 100]
[Dark Arts: 99]
[Transfiguration: 100]
[Alchemy: 100]
[Divination: 100]
[Current Remaining Points: 112.]
[Achievement points can be used to exchange for talents. Each talent above 95 requires 100 points.]
[Points may also be obtained through achievements, tasks, and special accomplishments.]
The boy let out a long breath as he stared at the panel.
"Six years," he muttered softly. "I finally maxed them out."
His name was Lucien Grindelwald.
Strictly speaking, he did not belong to this world. When he first arrived here, he had been nothing more than an abandoned infant left outside an orphanage. At the time, he had believed he was simply reborn into another life.
Everything changed when accidental magic erupted from him at the age of five.
That was the moment the system awakened.
Not long afterward, members of the Saint Group had appeared and brought him before Gellert Grindelwald himself. Only then had Lucien finally realized the truth.
He had transmigrated into the world of Harry Potter.
More importantly, he had become the final descendant of the Grindelwald bloodline.
The magical world he once admired from novels and films suddenly became terrifyingly real. The spells, magical creatures, and ancient secrets were every bit as fascinating as he remembered, but reality was far crueler than fantasy.
Especially for someone carrying the Grindelwald name.
The Ministry of Magic watched him.
The Wizarding Council watched him.
Even the fragmented remnants of the Saint Group watched him.
Too many eyes lingered on his existence.
If Gellert Grindelwald's name did not still carry enough fear to make people hesitate, Lucien knew he would have died countless times already.
Unlike many transmigrators who rushed to seek power or change history, Lucien had spent the last six years doing the exact opposite. He kept a low profile, concealed his talents, and quietly accumulated points through the system while studying every branch of magic available to him.
Only now was he finally prepared to step onto the stage.
"System," Lucien said calmly, "exchange points for Dark Arts talent."
[Points successfully exchanged.]
[Host Dark Arts Talent: 100.]
The moment the notification appeared, another prompt followed immediately afterward.
[All talent categories have reached maximum level.]
[Achievement Unlocked: Future Dark Arts Master.]
[Achievement Unlocked: Perfect Magical Genius.]
[Achievement Points Awarded: 200.]
A faint smile spread across Lucien's face as he leaned back in his chair.
"So it's finally time."
Before officially revealing himself to the wizarding world, there was still one thing he wanted to do first.
"Open the lottery interface."
Countless glowing card packs appeared before him in midair, rotating slowly in an endless stream of light and shadow. Without thinking too much about it, Lucien casually selected two of them.
White light flashed.
Unlike the dramatic golden explosions often described in novels, the effect was painfully ordinary.
The system's voice sounded again.
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Legilimency (Level 2).]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Fiendfyre Curse (Level 3).]
Lucien's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Legilimency… and Fiendfyre?"
For the first time in a while, genuine surprise crossed his face.
If it were only one of those abilities, it might not have mattered much. But together…
A certain terrifying piece of magic suddenly surfaced in his mind.
The corners of Lucien's lips slowly lifted.
"That might actually work."
Before he could continue thinking, the sound of footsteps echoed from outside the study door. The rhythm was elegant and measured, carrying the calm confidence of someone long accustomed to power.
A moment later, the door opened.
An elegant woman dressed in dark green robes entered the room.
Her black hair fell neatly over her shoulders, and her emerald eyes possessed a cold beauty capable of captivating almost anyone who met them. Though she was already over ninety years old, powerful magic had preserved both her appearance and posture. Time seemed reluctant to leave marks upon her.
Vinda Rosier.
Once known throughout Europe as the Black Rose of France.
"Aunt Vinda?" Lucien set down his wand and looked toward her. "What's wrong?"
Vinda Rosier sighed softly, though there was still warmth in her gaze.
"You forgot, didn't you?" she asked. "Today is your eleventh birthday."
Lucien paused briefly before understanding appeared on his face.
His eleventh birthday.
Years ago, after Gellert Grindelwald formally adopted him, an agreement had been established within the Saint Group. On Lucien's eleventh birthday, he would officially inherit leadership over everything Grindelwald once controlled.
But things had changed over the years.
Lucien had deliberately hidden his true capabilities and avoided drawing attention to himself. To outsiders within the Saint Group, he looked intelligent but ultimately harmless. Many of them quietly dismissed him as an inexperienced child unworthy of carrying Grindelwald's legacy.
And now the agreed day had arrived.
The Saint Group was clearly unwilling to hand over power so easily.
Their loyalty had never belonged to Lucien.
It belonged to Gellert Grindelwald alone.
In their hearts, only Grindelwald himself could lead them toward the unfinished cause they once pursued across Europe.
To put it politely, they believed Lucien was too young.
To put it honestly, they simply looked down on him.
Lucien's expression gradually became serious.
"Aunt Vinda," he said quietly, "is there something you want to tell me?"
Vinda hesitated before speaking.
"Abernethy and I have discussed this carefully. The Saint Group is fragmented now, and bringing everyone back together will not be easy. More importantly…" She paused briefly. "Their attitude toward you is not friendly."
"So you want me to give up?"
Lucien interrupted her before she could continue.
Vinda's expression stiffened slightly, clearly caught off guard by how direct he was.
"I know you mean well," Lucien continued calmly, "but I refuse."
He slowly rose from his chair and looked directly into her eyes.
"I carry the Grindelwald bloodline. I was personally taught by both you and Gellert himself. The burden on my shoulders is the unfinished cause you once pursued across Europe."
His voice was calm, yet every word carried unwavering certainty.
"If I retreat today, what I lose won't just be the Saint Group's expectations. I'll lose the courage to ever move forward again."
"And if that happens," he added softly, "I'll never truly return here."
Vinda Rosier fell silent.
After a long moment, she finally spoke again.
"You should understand the danger involved today," she said quietly. "The gathering has already drawn too much attention. The Ministry of Magic will never ignore an opportunity like this. From what I've heard, there are already people preparing to move against us."
"Trust me, Aunt Vinda."
Lucien smiled gently as he met her gaze.
There was no arrogance in his expression, only absolute confidence.
"Even a Thunderbird must eventually leave the protection of its parents."
"And danger has always existed."
"If I can't even survive something like this, then I was never special to begin with."
The room fell silent once more.
Vinda stared quietly at the blond-haired boy standing before her. Gradually, her vision seemed to blur for a moment as memories from decades ago resurfaced within her mind.
The same blond hair.
The same blue eyes.
The same elegance and terrifying confidence.
Even the atmosphere surrounding him felt painfully familiar.
For a fleeting instant, she felt as though she had returned to Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris all those years ago, watching the enormous blue fire dragon spiral across the night sky while crowds trembled beneath Grindelwald's speech.
When Vinda finally returned to reality, a faint smile appeared in her eyes.
"Don't disappoint me, little Grindelwald."
Outside the villa, countless black ribbons fluttered wildly in the distant sky.
Lucien placed one hand over his chest and bowed slightly with perfect elegance.
"For the Greater Good!"