Hogwarts Raven

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As Ian stepped out, the cluttered bookstore settled back into its familiar quiet. The setting sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in gentle hues of orange and red as the earth donned the night's splendid attire. Aurora Grindelwald flicked on the lights and resumed reading the notebook titled 'Runes Analysis and Research.'

The interplay of light and shadow danced between the bookshelves, and the faint sound of pages turning occasionally echoed in the shop. Although the Germanic girl had mentioned that the bookstore owner, Kraft, would return soon, it wasn't until the stars dotted the night sky that he finally appeared.

"Click~"

With the arrival of night, Aurora had closed the bookstore's door. The old man pushed it open, gently removing his hat, its brim still dusted with the remnants of the outside world.

"Miss, haven't you rested yet?" Kraft's tone was respectful, lacking the condescension one might expect from an elder. His voice carried a hint of fatigue that was hard to mask.

"It's still early." Aurora didn't look up, her focus still on the notebook spread across her knees. "Besides, I'm curious about the message grandfather sent you that made you rush out in such a fluster and return only at midnight, looking completely exhausted."

Kraft merely pursed his lips and shook his head, not providing the answer she hoped for. "There are some things that you shouldn't care for, at least for now."

This was the response Aurora had anticipated. Her expression remained unchanged as she continued studying the book on her knees.

"Of course, I'm tired. The other Acolytes and I are all old now, no longer as full of life as we were in our youth... I wonder if we'll even live to see the day our ideals are realized." Kraft let out a heavy sigh, slowly removing his heavy robes and hanging them on the coat rack by the door. Even such a simple action left him breathing heavily.

"My talent isn't as amazing as my grandfather's, nor do I have his grand ambitions. Placing your hopes on me will only lead to regrets and disappointment." Aurora looked up, her heterochromatic eyes locking onto Kraft's as she spoke. 

For a moment, he felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him as if he had been transported back to a time filled with dreams and passion. But Aurora's words quickly pulled him back to reality.

Everything had changed. The great leader had lost his freedom, and the once-glorious Acolytes had become flickering candles in the wind.

"No, it won't be like that." Kraft's tone was firm, devoid of annoyance. "Your grandfather believes you can complete the work he left unfinished. You will surpass him. He has already paved the way for you. You will succeed under our protection."

Kraft's voice brimmed with fervor.

Aurora fell silent. She wanted to argue, but she also understood the weight of the expectations placed upon her. For the Acolytes, her grandfather was almost a figure of faith. Even the slightest disagreement would provoke resistance from them.

"Isn't it too cruel to place such a heavy burden on a child?" Aurora sighed softly, a hint of sadness flickering in her eyes.

"Being able to say such things proves you're no longer a child," Kraft replied, his voice low and humble. Yet this humility stemmed not from loyalty to Aurora, but from loyalty to her grandfather.

"Bearing the Grindelwald name, from the moment you were born, you were destined to shoulder an extraordinary mission." These words were heavy, but they were also an undeniable truth.

Aurora understood this.

"I don't think I can lead you to rise again," She said earnestly.

Kraft chuckled lightly, unbothered. "Lord Grindelwald saw that future. For us Acolytes, that is already enough." His cloudy eyes shone with an unusual brightness— perhaps it was hope.

"Perhaps the self-imprisonment he endures now, the layers of pain he has suffered in the past, were all paving the way for you. All for the greater good, to deceive Dumbledore!"

This was the mindset of a fanatic, always able to console themselves with seemingly reasonable explanations for things they couldn't accept. Aurora knew she couldn't change Kraft's thoughts, just as she hadn't been able to change the other Acolytes who had "accompanied" her growth over the past decade.

Sometimes, Aurora truly admired her grandfather. She couldn't fathom what kind of personal charm could inspire such unwavering loyalty from a group of people, even after so many years of his absence. They still believed he possessed god-like power.

"Let's talk about something else." Aurora didn't want to dwell on why her grandfather had been imprisoned. She had only met him three or four times in her life. Powerful, elegant, gentle— these were the deepest impressions she had of Gellert Grindelwald. As for family affection...

"Has Dumbledore still not approved my admission application?" Aurora changed the subject.

"Dumbledore is a despicable fellow. But since we're now on his turf, you should still maintain some superficial respect for your future headmaster," Kraft reminded her seriously. Then, with a confident tone, he added, "Don't worry. You don't need to concern yourself with whether you'll be admitted to Hogwarts."

"Although none of us believe this school is qualified to educate you, your grandfather wants you to study here. So, Dumbledore won't be an obstacle to your admission."

"That damn fellow will eventually agree." Kraft gritted his teeth whenever he mentioned Dumbledore. Similar sentiments could be found among almost every Acolyte.

Aurora was used to it.

"That's good." She lowered her head and resumed reading the notebook.

The bookstore returned to its quiet ambiance.

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

"Has that little boy been here?" Kraft picked up the three books with interest, noticing they hadn't been flipped through much. It seemed they hadn't been read for long after being purchased.

"He came to sell the books," Aurora replied succinctly.

"That's a cunning little brat, much cleverer than his peers. You didn't let him trick you, did you?" Kraft tossed the three books toward the bookshelves.

"Clatter~" Without magical guidance, Kraft's throw was quite off. All three books fell to the ground, and he didn't even bother to cast a spell to save them.

Aurora looked up thoughtfully. "I gave him one golden galleon." Her voice remained steady—young, clear, and emotionally composed.

"I didn't expect you to outwit that clever brat!" Kraft couldn't help but look at Aurora in surprise, then burst into laughter, giving her a thumbs-up with his withered arm.

"I think he's not bad. He said he wanted to be my friend." Aurora's aloof expression showed no emotion. However, she, who usually liked to read with books on her knees, was now holding the entire notebook up to her face.

"Hmm?" Kraft didn't notice anything unusual; he was focused on something else.

"Does that boy know your identity, miss?" Kraft's gaze shifted to Aurora's heterochromatic eyes, which now sparkled with fanaticism.

"Yes." Aurora raised the notebook a bit higher. "We exchanged names. He's Ian Prince."

Her tone was as calm as ever.

"Hmph, it seems he's a muggle-born wizard." Kraft frowned slightly. He wasn't doubting Aurora's social skills; it was just that her grandfather had long made the name "Grindelwald" a revered and feared symbol among wizards.

Grindelwald might not be as terrifying as Voldemort's name, but any wizard-born child would definitely know what the name behind it truly meant.

"His parents are both wizards," Aurora corrected suddenly.

Kraft was slightly stunned. "Is this something you saw?" His gaze shifted back to Aurora's heterochromatic eyes, filled once again with fervor.

"He knows what Grindelwald means, and..." Aurora recalled her earlier conversation with Ian. She buried her head back in the notebook, her tone calm but dropping a bombshell.

"He said he wants to be a Dark Lord."

(End of Chapter)