The Old Ones of Hogwarts

Chapter 28: The Fanatic's Obsession

With Ian's departure.

The messy bookstore has regained its undisturbed tranquility.

The sun gradually set.

The sky was tinged with a gentle orange hue, and the earth quietly donned its nighttime attire. Aurora Grindelwald turned on the light and continued reading her notebook, titled "The Analysis and Study of Runes."

The interplay of light and shadow between the bookshelves.

The soft sound of pages turning can be heard from time to time inside the store.

Although the German girl told Ian that the bookstore owner, Kraft, would be back soon, he didn't appear until late at night when the stars had adorned the sky.

"Click~"

As night fell.

The bookstore door had already been closed by Aurora. The old man pushed the door open and entered, gently taking off his old hat, the brim still bearing traces of dust and wrinkles left by the wind.

"Miss, haven't you rested yet?"

The bookstore owner, Kraft, spoke with a very respectful tone, which did not seem like the attitude one would expect from an elder. His voice carried a hint of weariness that was hard to conceal.

"It's still early."

Aurora didn't look up; she read the notes spread out on her lap as she spoke in a slightly curious tone.

"Furthermore, I also want to know what message your grandfather sent you that made you rush out in such a panic and not return until midnight looking exhausted."

Faced with this heir of the Grindelwald family, Kraft simply pursed his lips and shook his head, offering no answer Aurora hoped for.

"There are some things that are not yet the time for you to get involved in."

This was actually the answer Aurora had expected.

Her expression and attention remained unchanged as she continued to study the book on her lap.

"It's natural to be tired. The saints and I are all getting old and no longer as energetic as we were when we were young... I don't know if we'll have the time to see the day when our ideals are realized."

Kraft sighed heavily, slowly took off his heavy robe, and hung it on the coat rack by the front door.

Even such a simple action made him breathe faster and gasp for air.

"My talent is not as dazzling as my grandfather's, nor do I have his ambition. Your hopes for me will only lead to your unfulfilled dreams and regrets."

Aurora looked up.

She stared at Kraft with her heterochromatic eyes.

Kraft felt a moment of disorientation.

For a fleeting moment.

He felt as if he had finally returned to the past, to that era when dreams and passion coexisted... It was just a pity that Aurora's words pulled him back to reality.

It's all in the past now.

The great leader has lost his freedom.

Even the most glorious saints have become like candles flickering in the wind.

"No, it can't be like that."

Kraft was not annoyed; on the contrary, his tone was firm.

"Your grandfather believes you can complete what he left unfinished. You will be even better than him. He has paved the way for you, and you will succeed under our protection."

Kraft's voice was full of fervor.

Aurora fell silent.

She really wanted to argue back.

just.

She knew it too.

For saints.

My grandfather was practically a religious figure.

Let alone rebuttal.

Even the slightest disagreement can provoke resistance from the saints.

"Don't you think it's a bit too cruel to entrust such a heavy burden to a child?" Aurora sighed softly, a trace of sadness flashing in her eyes.

"The fact that you can say such a thing already shows that you are no longer a child," Kraft replied in a low voice, his attitude remaining humble throughout.

only.

This humility did not stem from loyalty to Aurora, but from loyalty to Aurora's grandfather.

"Bearing the name Grindelwald, from the moment you were born, you were destined to undertake an extraordinary mission." These words are heavy, but they are indeed a fact that cannot be deceived.

Aurora understood this as well.

"I don't think I can lead you to rise."

Aurora spoke seriously.

Kraft chuckled lightly, seemingly unconcerned.

"Lord Grindelwald saw that future, and for us saints, that is enough." Kraft's cloudy eyes looked unusually bright.

That light.

It is generally called anticipation.

"Perhaps the self-imposed imprisonment he is currently experiencing, and the immense suffering he has endured in the past, are all paving the way for you, all deceiving Dumbledore for a greater good!"

This is what a fanatic is like.

They could always find a seemingly plausible, "rational" explanation for things they found hard to accept. Aurora knew she couldn't change Kraft's mind.

Just like.

Over the past decade or so.

She couldn't change the other saints who "accompanied" her as she grew up.

Sometimes, Aurora truly admired her grandfather. She couldn't fathom what kind of personal charisma could inspire such loyalty in a group of people even after he had been gone for so many years.

I still believe that he still possesses godlike power.

"Let's talk about something else."

Aurora didn't want to comment too much on why her grandfather had been imprisoned.

She has only met him three or four times so far.

Powerful, elegant, and gentle.

This is Aurora's deepest impression of Gellert Grindelwald.

As for family ties...

"Has Dumbledore not yet approved my application to enroll?"

Aurora changed the subject.

"Dumbledore is a despicable fellow, but since we are now on his turf, you should still show some superficial respect to your future headmaster."

Kraft gave a serious reminder, then replied with great certainty, "Don't worry, you don't need to worry about not being able to enroll at Hogwarts."

"Although none of us think this school is qualified to educate you, your grandfather wants you to study here, so Dumbledore will not be an obstacle to your enrollment."

"That damn guy will eventually agree."

Craft would grit his teeth whenever Dumbledore was mentioned.

about this point.

Similar issues can be found in almost any saint.

Aurora was already used to it.

"That's good."

She lowered her head again and began reading the notes in her hands.

The bookstore returned to silence.

Kraft raised his wand to clean his coat, and then, as he prepared to head to the back room, he caught sight of the three rune textbooks still piled on the counter.

"Has that little boy been here?"

Kraft picked up the three books with great interest and looked at them. He didn't see many signs of them being read, so it seemed that none of the three books had been read for very long after they were bought.

He came to sell books.

Aurora's answer was concise and to the point.

"That's a cunning little devil, much smarter than his peers. You weren't fooled by him, were you?" Kraft tossed three books toward the bookshelf.

"Rip~"

There was no magical guidance.

Kraft's shooting accuracy is indeed rather poor.

All three books fell to the ground.

Kraft had neither the thought nor the inclination to cast a spell to save the situation.

Aurora looked up, seemingly lost in thought.

I gave him a gold coin.

Her voice was not much different from her usual way of speaking; it was youthful and clear, and her emotions were stable.

"I never expected it, I never expected you could actually outsmart that cunning brat!"

Upon hearing this, Kraft glanced at Aurora with some surprise, then grinned from ear to ear, raising his withered arm to give Aurora a thumbs up.

"I think he's alright. He said he wants to be friends with me."

Aurora's cool face remained expressionless; however, she, who usually enjoyed reading with her books on her lap, was now holding the entire notebook up to read.

"Um?"

Kraft didn't notice anything amiss; he was focused on something else.

"Does that brat know who you are, Miss?"

Kraft's smile vanished, replaced by a wary squinting.

"Yes."

Aurora raised the height of her notebook slightly.

"We exchanged names; his name is Ian Prince."

The girl's tone remained calm as always.

"Ha, it seems he's a Muggle-born wizard."

Kraft frowned slightly.

He wasn't doubting Aurora's social skills, but rather that Aurora's grandfather had long ago made the name "Grindelwald" a name of awe and reverence among wizards.

Grindelwald may not be as terrifying as Voldemort's name, but any young wizard from a wizarding family would certainly know what that surname means.

His parents were both witches.

The girl suddenly spoke up to correct him.

Kraft was slightly taken aback.

"Is this what you saw?"

Kraft's gaze fell upon Aurora's eyes.

His eyes once again gleamed with fervor.

"He knew what Grindelwald meant, and..."

Aurora recalled her conversation with Ian before he left earlier that day. As she buried her head and reread her notes, she spoke in a calm tone, trying to make a dramatic statement.

"He said he wanted to be the Dark Lord."