Possibility

The war in the hall came to a brief halt. The Aurors lowered their magical barrier and used this short truce to catch their breath. Eriel and Selena both came to Sirius's side, while Amelia moved closer as well. All of them were watching Graves, whose entire body radiated a sinister, evil aura.

"Something's not right—"

Eriel said gravely, and Selena and Amelia nodded in unison.

Sirius's expression was equally grim. He knew what Eriel meant.

Though he did not know Thrak Grevis very well, Graves's change before and after was simply too obvious. It was as though he had become a different person.

The Graves who had just recounted his past to them was a criminal who had committed unforgivable crimes, but Sirius could still detect traces of sorrow in the emotions he revealed, as well as resentment and indignation at being toyed with by fate.

But the man before them now was completely immersed in his own "success." Not a trace of emotion that could be called "good" remained in him.

"All right, I do have one question I'm curious about—"

Sirius suddenly said,

"What exactly did you do?"

"Oh, now that is wise, Mr. Black—"

Graves smiled politely, but there was only cold triumph in his eyes, not the least hint of genuine pleasure.

"Today is undoubtedly a day worth remembering. I mean, I have finally cast off the shackles of mediocrity and truly become a great, immortal being. It is worth celebrating, so I am willing to show some mercy. To show you—oh, to show you my extraordinary wisdom—"

Graves paced beside the blood pool, his emotions running high.

"But where should I begin? Ah, you asked me earlier why I was not worried that the information given to me by the vampires I arrested years