"If I hadn't, you'd already be fertilizer for the flowers by the roadside," Victor Wick said, calmly surveying the group of young people before him.
He hadn't actually recognized them at first, but the moment they struck, Victor had spotted the clues.
First, their casting habits were far too uniform—the hallmark of specialized, collective training.
Second, while their spells were flashy and dangerous, they hadn't exerted full effort, and notably, none had resorted to the lethal Killing Curse.
Finally, they were all too young. Furthermore, the modified magic they employed bore a striking stylistic resemblance to the spells Gellert Grindelwald had once used against him...
"We... we just wanted to see what kind of capabilities the person we are destined to follow truly possesses," the only girl among the five spoke up.
The other four remained silent. Clearly, this ambush had been a collective decision.
Victor's eyebrows rose slightly; he understood their logic.
Young people were naturally arrogant, especially wizards who were significantly more powerful than their peers.
Finding out that the leader they were supposed to follow was only a few years older than them, they couldn't resist the urge to test his mettle...
"You are far too reckless. Launching a groundless attack to test a wizard whose background you don't know is like dancing beside Fiendfyre," Victor said, frowning at the five youths. "Do you realize that if I hadn't sobered up before leaving Hogsmeade today, you might all be dead? Do not doubt whether I have the power to make that happen."
The five young people looked at each other, none of them daring to talk back.
With just a flick of his hand, Victor had neutralized their combined assault. Such strength appeared far superior even to that of their instructors.
Having been raised with the ideology that might makes right, the youths didn't dare utter another word.
"Tell me, how many of you are there in total?" Victor asked in a low voice.
The five exchanged glances again before the girl finally answered.
"About two hundred. We come from all over the world."
"Two hundred?"
Victor took a deep breath. Raising and training two hundred young wizards from childhood required a staggering investment of time and money.
*Grindelwald certainly went all out... What is that old man really up to?*
"Where were you trained? Do you remember the location?" Victor continued.
"Of course. The place is called the Nurmengard Institute of Magic," the girl said with a light smile.
Victor stared at her in shock, his composure slipping for the first time.
"What did you say? The Nurmengard Institute of Magic? You went to school in Nurmengard?"
*That old rogue Grindelwald claimed these kids didn't know about the Acolytes or who he was...*
*Lies! Pure lies! The man might as well have 'Raising an Army' tattooed on his forehead!*
*And... hasn't Professor Dumbledore visited Nurmengard? How could he have failed to notice two hundred youths hidden within those crumbling walls?*
*Unless the school isn't actually inside the castle, but elsewhere, merely sharing the name?*
Victor felt that, knowing Grindelwald's character, that was exactly the kind of stunt he would pull.
"Are you familiar with Nurmengard Castle?"
"We are. We've seen the ruins from a distance... but our school is situated on a mountain twenty kilometers away. Besides, our teachers and instructors strictly forbid us from setting foot near the castle... We've suspected there might be a connection, though."
*As I thought...*
Victor took another breath. Fine... the old fox would probably claim he hadn't technically lied.
Right now, these youths truly didn't know their connection to the Acolytes or Grindelwald, but the old man had never promised they wouldn't find out in the future!
"Then why are there only five of you? Where are the others?" Victor asked, pushing aside his swirling thoughts.
"We are just the vanguard, sent to confirm our target..." the girl said, eyeing the ring on Victor's finger.
"So, I assume I have your approval now..."
Victor looked at the youths calmly. If they truly didn't know about their ties to the Acolytes, perhaps he still had time to pull them out of the quagmire Grindelwald had prepared.
"Of course... I will report today's events to the others. Then... we will wait at our temporary camp for your instructions," the girl said respectfully.
It was clear that Victor's effortless dismissal of their most powerful magic had met their expectations.
"Give me a way to contact you. I will reach out when necessary."
Victor felt a massive headache coming on. Voldemort's issue was still unresolved, and now that old man was starting to stir up trouble again...
"Other channels aren't secure. In a few days, I will infiltrate Hogwarts," the girl suddenly announced. "Once I'm there, you only need to find me to reach the others. It's not that we don't trust you; it's simply the safest way. Even if we are exposed while dealing with your enemies, they will only trace it back to me, not you."
"Do you even know what enemies I'm facing?"
"No, but that isn't our concern. We only need to know that we must obey the bearer of this ring. We didn't understand why before, but we do now... You are indeed a powerful wizard worth following!" The girl spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Victor's headache worsened. It was obvious these youths, raised in isolation, had been thoroughly brainwashed.
*Just being strong enough makes someone worth following?*
"And how... exactly do you plan on infiltrating Hogwarts?" Victor asked, rubbing his temples vigorously.
"I have my ways."
Victor looked at the others and then back at the girl. He noticed that the rest of the group seemed to silently defer to her.
"What is your name?"
The girl nodded to her companions and was the first to remove her cloak and mask, revealing an exquisitely beautiful face and waist-length, silvery-blonde hair...
The other youths followed suit, revealing their vibrant, youthful faces.
"My name is Fleur Delacour." The girl's deep blue eyes sparkled, reflecting a faint, silver light under the moon's glow.
The moment she revealed her face, even the young men who had seen her many times before showed a flicker of enchantment.
Victor frowned. "Do you have Veela blood?"
"Yes. I am a quarter Veela," Fleur replied with a nod.
"Delacour... the name sounds familiar." Victor tapped his temple. "I spent some time in France... Back then, the newspapers were reporting a scandalous incident in the French wizarding world. The prestigious Delacour family's newborn daughter had gone missing..."
Victor looked at Fleur again, his eyes clear and inquisitive.
Fleur unconsciously smoothed her hair. This was the first time she had seen her charm fail to have the intended effect.
"That was me," Fleur said, a charming smile playing on her lips.
"You were taken away as an infant, and you don't find anything wrong with that?" Victor's brow furrowed deeply.
*Taking a child right after birth... how is that any different from kidnapping?*
Fleur's smile didn't falter. "Because my parents allowed it. It was just that the location had to remain secret, so they had to claim I was missing. However, they were allowed to visit me every month."
Victor suddenly understood. The Acolytes had somehow persuaded Fleur's parents... and no doubt, the experiences of the other youths mirrored hers.
*Nurmengard Institute? Professor Dumbledore... your old friend has certainly left quite a surprise for you!*
[Support the story with Reviews, Power Stones, and Comments—they mean a lot and keep me going! 30+ chapters waiting on patreon.com/elite_reads]