Chapter 205 "Grindelwald's Lesson"

Seated below, Sean curled his lips as Grindelwald mentioned the so-called student representative, realizing he must be the chosen one.

Anticipating Grindelwald's personality, he expected the man to find various excuses to summon him for a conversation, though the content of such a discussion remained elusive to Sean.

On the other side, Hermione sat upright, flattered. Though she rarely acknowledged it, Sean knew she was destined to become a Hogwarts prefect in her fifth year.

It wasn't a thirst for power but rather Hermione's belief that holding a position represented recognition of her academic prowess.

Hermione didn't seek power but authority.

Following a random selection of seven males and seven females, the 'student representatives' for the Hogwarts-Nurmengarde academic exchange were designated.

Grindelwald rose from his seat, waving his hand, signaling the end of dinner.

He summoned the newly selected student representatives to his office to learn Nurmengard's rules.

Several students glanced at Professor McGonagall, who nodded in approval, and they then followed Grindelwald out of the auditorium.

As they walked, Grindelwald seemed unusually chatty and amiable, resembling an elderly figure fond of mentoring the younger generation.

Instead of leading Sean and his group to the principal's office, Grindelwald steered them toward a classroom on the fourth floor of the castle.

The room's décor was peculiar, featuring numerous iron chains and rings on the walls.

In the center, a table displayed various crucibles of different sizes.

An elderly man, his face deeply wrinkled, was brewing a magical potion.

His hair had long deserted him, and his parched lips made the black priest's robe draped over him seem somewhat comical.

Yet, an eerie aura surrounded the odd necklace adorning his neck, adorned with rabbit legs and human teeth.

"Lord Grindelwald," the elderly man greeted respectfully upon seeing him.

"Don't be so formal, McDuff," Grindelwald turned to introduce the students, saying, "This is Professor McDuff, who teaches Potions and also serves as Nurmengard's overseer."

"He will fully acquaint you with Nurmengard's school regulations. I must mention in advance, and you should convey this when you return: at Nurmengard, severe consequences await those caught violating the school rules," Grindelwald kindly smiled. "This applies to exchange students as well. Your headmaster has agreed to this."

The students exchanged horrified glances.

The sight of the chain rings and the peculiar old man left them with little doubt that punishments at Nurmengard were far harsher than those at Hogwarts.

Sean, however, blinked, grasping the implication behind Grindelwald's words.

Punishment only if caught violating school rules... Isn't this similar to Hogwarts?

Grindelwald strolled towards the door, but before leaving, he turned back as if remembering something.

"I almost forgot to give you your class schedule – come get it from my office, hmm, you, the handsome young wizard."

He smiled, directing his gaze at Sean.

Indeed... Sean could only nod in agreement.

If you can't avoid it, confront it. Perhaps he could gain valuable insights from Grindelwald.

Under the watchful eyes of the other students, Sean followed their lead.

En route, Grindelwald remained silent, leading the way without looking back at Sean.

Sean refrained from approaching any closer, as he had developed a genuine interest in Nurmengard.

The castle here appeared smaller than Hogwarts, void of heavy curtains, animated oil paintings, or wandering ghosts.

The architectural style favored simplicity and classical elegance, with expansive floor-to-ceiling windows throughout.

After ascending a spiral staircase under Grindelwald's guidance, Sean arrived once more at the Nurmengard principal's office.

The decor remained unchanged since his previous visit.

Grindelwald occupied the chair behind the desk, smiling and gesturing for Sean to sit in a chair that moved itself against the wall.

"Please, Sean."

Once Sean settled in, Grindelwald began, "Sean, how do you find Nurmengard?"

"It's quite nice, sir."

"I'm pleased to hear that. I hope you'll enjoy the latter half of the semester."

"That's what I expect."

Grindelwald leaned back in his chair, holding the armrest with one hand while casually running his fingers through his short silver-white hair with the other.

"Sean, I recall your insatiable curiosity. Don't you have any burning questions for me?" he inquired.

Sean smiled sheepishly, replying, "Curiosity has led me into quite a few predicaments."

"Ah, predicaments often come with risks, and risks sometimes bring unexpected rewards," Grindelwald quirked an eyebrow.

Sean shook his head ruefully. The elderly man across from him had a way with words, often shifting concepts and emphasis.

"Sir, are you suggesting that I should take more risks and explore the unknown?" Sean inquired.

Grindelwald raised a finger and said, "No, I'm imparting another truth to you. When risks and rewards coexist, one must learn to mitigate risks. So, how does one mitigate risks? It's quite simple—by possessing significant power."

"Sir, I do study diligently, but unfortunately, I haven't had much exposure to magic for an extended period, and certain knowledge requires time for full digestion," Sean explained, spreading his hands.

Grindelwald wore an indifferent smile. "Of course, of course, you are only a second-year student. Therefore, we can explore other avenues of power, even if those powers do not inherently belong to you."

"What do you mean, sir?" Sean inquired, puzzled.

Grindelwald raised the corners of his mouth. "Sean, we must learn to 'borrow,' whether it's people or objects. You are too self-reliant. Don't look at me that way, young man. Have you never considered seeking assistance from your little girlfriend?"

"In reality, my friends have assisted me greatly, and there are some matters that they genuinely cannot help with. Furthermore, I'm just a student presently, and I haven't encountered many dilemmas that require solving—besides, I don't have a girlfriend."

"Is that so? Did I misunderstand? Oh...forget it, I've never been adept at matters of the heart..." Grindelwald waved his hand dismissively before continuing, "You should comprehend my point. Sean Wallop, regardless of the rationale, you must admit one thing."

Grindelwald leaned forward, clasping his hands together. "You don't have a team—what you have are friends and friends often come with a bit of baggage. You can't easily discard them. You're clearly compassionate and don't want your friendships to be tainted by a veil of dust."

Sean fell silent for a moment, then raised his head stubbornly. He believed there was nothing wrong with his approach to building relationships with others.

Grindelwald observed Sean's expression and burst into laughter. "Haha, it's exactly what Albus said. However, Sean, you may have misunderstood me. I have no opinions on how you form friendships."

He clasped his hands once more. "I simply wish to convey one thing to you. You must recognize one fact. Sean, my boy, regardless of your motivations, you will need allies in the future, and many of them. Do you understand what I mean? You'll face numerous challenges and require followers, individuals who can lend their strength to you when necessary."

Followers? Sean was somewhat perplexed by this term.

He didn't prefer initiating interactions with others for ulterior motives; he was more comfortable fostering genuine, friendly relationships. What did Grindelwald mean by wanting him to build an organization? An organization that could be used by him?

However, Sean wasn't cut out to be a hero. While he could be ruthless when confronting enemies, he couldn't bring himself to do the same to his classmates.

Grindelwald's mouth formed a mischievous smile, and he appeared to grasp Sean's thoughts.

"Oh, what a kind-hearted individual," he chuckled nonchalantly. "Sean, be adaptable. Don't forget to be adaptable. You've rejected one method, but what about the other? For example, you find yourself at this crossroads."

The current crossroads? Sean hesitated, not immediately grasping the meaning behind Grindelwald's words.

Grindelwald didn't interrupt his thought process; instead, he transformed a pen into a razor, leisurely trimming his nails.

Why did this old man remind him so much of Dumbledore, always employing riddles and enigmas? Sean mused to himself as he contemplated. He raised his head to think but happened to notice a flag hanging in the office bearing the Nurmengard school emblem.

Sean's expression shifted into one of bewilderment. Was the other path that Grindelwald alluded to Nurmengard?

What did the old man mean by encouraging him to establish his own organization among Nurmengard's students? Was Grindelwald suggesting an organization he could utilize? But wasn't Grindelwald the headmaster of those students?

With a smile, Grindelwald blew on his fingers and remarked, "Just figure it out. Furthermore, allow me to remind you that followers are not synonymous with cannon fodder. Each wizard is a valuable asset. When confronting these individuals, remember that you've always been decisive and resolute."

Dangerous individuals... Sean immediately thought of the siblings he had dispatched with his own hands.

Death Eaters...what did Grindelwald mean by this?

The topic was neither clarified nor pursued further by the older wizard. Instead, Grindelwald stood up from his chair and walked to the center of the office.

"Sean, I recall your speech at Hogwarts. It was quite impressive."

"It was just average," Sean shrugged. The extent of Grindelwald's knowledge about his actions at Hogwarts was uncanny, but he couldn't discern whether it was Dumbledore or an insider informant who provided this information.

Grindelwald shook his head, "By 'good,' I was referring to the impact of your initial inciting speech. Though you made several mistakes, the enthusiasm of adolescents and the students in my school went a bit overboard."

He leaned forward, his expression becoming serious, "If you were an adult wizard, your speech would've come across as hollow and weak. They would've regarded you as a fool."

Sean felt a bit embarrassed.

He knew he had a lot to learn, but now it seemed more significant than he initially thought.

After all, Grindelwald was a master at inspiring his followers with his words. In the realm of incitement, no one in the wizarding world could match his prowess.

Grindelwald suddenly adopted a more instructive tone, "Sean, if you want to make your words convincing, you must first understand the essence of emotions, especially human emotions."

He continued, "I break down the origin of emotions into four steps: physiology, cognition, feeling, and behavior."

He offered an example, "Consider the emotion of 'fear.'"

In the blink of an eye, Grindelwald wielded his wand, and a green light shot past Sean's head, hitting the wall behind him, causing it to explode into debris.

Avada Kedavra... Sean's heart raced, his stomach clenched, and he involuntarily gasped. If Grindelwald had intended to kill him just now, he would have been defenseless and met his demise.

Grindelwald retracted his wand with a graceful gesture, seemingly unconcerned about Sean's reaction. He continued his lesson, "As you did just now – you panted, your heart raced, and your stomach tightened. These are physiological responses. Next comes your cognition, your realization of the gravity of the situation, leading to fear, whether consciously or subconsciously."

He elaborated further, "The third step is feeling. The green light and explosion are indicative features of Avada Kedavra. Your brain then triggers feelings based on physiological reactions and the memory of your prior physical state, heightening your awareness of the fear."

"Lastly, behavior. You expressed your fear through physical and emotional responses, possibly fighting back or fleeing. These constitute your actions."

Grindelwald then returned to his chair, "Sean, if you wish to incite others effectively, you must grasp the genesis of emotions and analyze how others' emotions originate. You need to discern their initial actions following the onset of emotions. You'll be on the right track if you can decipher this."

Sean wiped the sweat from his brow, still breathing heavily.

Grindelwald's teaching method was far from conventional and quite overwhelming.

Without disrupting Sean's processing of the information, Grindelwald smiled and said, "Don't worry, you have ample time to contemplate and grow, even though you've just begun."

Sean chuckled wryly, "This way of getting started is a bit too intense..."

"In order to deepen your understanding," Grindelwald amiably smiled, "and to impart another lesson – how to deceive and discern the true motives behind others' actions..."

He raised his wand once more.

"Avada Kedavra."

Grindelwald aimed his wand at himself.