"What kind of person is Klein Grindelwald?"
Hagrid, slightly tipsy, was stunned for a good while after hearing this, then burst out laughing as he answered.
"Of course he's a genius! He's the most remarkable young man I've ever met.
Honestly, I swear on Merlin!"
"Is that so?"
Putting on a serious expression, Barty calmly took a sip of the strong-smelling liquor.
"Tell me about him. You know, I'm usually away on work and don't get many chances to keep up with what's happening back home."
He firmly believed that pubs in Hogsmeade were the easiest places to dig up information.
And sure enough, a few bottles of Aged Firewhisky had successfully loosened Hagrid's tongue.
"He's a good kid, very polite, and always willing to help people..."
The big man rambled on and on without getting to the point.
Barty patiently listened until the bottles of whisky were empty. At last, he asked for the information he most wanted.
"What about his relationships with people? Heh, he's Dumbledore's student, isn't he? I suppose he gets along well with everyone else, too."
Since his target had no weaknesses, he could only look for weaknesses among the people around him.
Preferably some young girl, the sort Klein Grindelwald was head over heels for.
Barty thought slyly, unable to stop himself from perking up his ears.
"Well, uh, I actually do know about that!"
Hagrid let out a belch, his face rosy.
He raised a finger and began counting them off.
"Severus is his mentor. God, I've never seen anyone defend Klein more than that man does. Then there's Parkinson and Malfoy from his House, and I heard he's got a great-aunt on his father's side..."
"Oh, right, we can't forget our Hermione. She's liked that boy Klein for a long time."
After