After Dumbledore finished speaking, the empty room fell into a long silence. Only after quite some time did Gellert let out a cold laugh and say:
"A car accident? Albus, do you know how powerful a bloodline blessing I cast on my younger brother when I sent him away? For at least five generations, he and his children were guaranteed not only wealth and success, but at the very least freedom from illness and disaster! Could a mere car accident really have taken their lives?"
At Gellert's words, Dumbledore furrowed his brow.
"You mean Wentworth's parents died because a wizard was involved?"
Gellert sneered.
"Isn't it obvious? A bunch of cowards, too afraid to come after me, went after them instead. The Grindelwald Family will remember this grudge!"
Hearing Gellert's words, Dumbledore couldn't help asking nervously:
"Gellert, what are you going to do?"
Gellert shot Dumbledore a glance and said coldly:
"Don't worry, Albus. I won't leave Nurmengard. I only hope that, when the time is right, you'll tell Wentworth about this. The Grindelwald Family's grudges should naturally be avenged by a child of the Grindelwald Family!"
At Gellert's assurance, Dumbledore breathed a long sigh of relief, then said:
"Don't worry, Gellert. I'll tell him when the time is right. And Hogwarts and I will stand behind him, no matter who his opponent is."
Gellert didn't show any gratitude at Dumbledore's words. Instead, he regarded him warily and asked:
"Albus, why do I get the feeling you're planning something? At first, I thought you'd brought Wentworth to Hogwarts as a way of keeping an eye on him. But then I considered that the Wizarding World wasn't exactly peaceful, and that he'd at least be safer by your side, so I let it happen. But now it seems you have more in mind than that!"
"Not only did you let one of my followers into Hogwarts, you've also made such a clear show of supporting Wentworth, no matter who his opponent is. Are you going to switch sides and rejoin my Acolytes? After all these years, have you finally realized I was right?"
At this, Dumbledore smiled faintly and told him everything about his conversation with Snape that evening.
Hearing Dumbledore's explanation, Gellert said irritably:
"So that's how it is. Dumbledore, after all these years, you haven't changed one bit. You're still always using others to achieve your own ends! But I hope you understand that every gift of fate comes with a price, secretly marked in advance!"
Dumbledore nodded and said gravely:
"Gellert, we're both old. The future of the Wizarding World rests in the hands of the young. As for the price marked out by the Goddess of Fate, I've already prepared my stake. I only hope you'll agree to do one thing for me."
At this, Gellert gazed at his old friend across from him, sensing what was coming, but said nothing.
Although Gellert gave no response, Dumbledore kept looking directly into his eyes. After a long silence, Gellert finally said coldly:
"Go on."
Dumbledore gave a soft laugh and said:
"Gellert, if anything happens to me, our agreement will be null and void. I hope that if that day truly comes, you'll step forward and help the young ones along a little further. After all, they still need time to grow."
When Dumbledore finished speaking, only the howling wind remained in Nurmengard. Neither of them spoke again.
The next morning, after a wonderful night's sleep, Wentworth left his dormitory and joined Cedric, who had been waiting for him, to have breakfast in the school's Great Hall.
Afterward, Wentworth said goodbye to Cedric, Coke, and the others, then joined the other Hufflepuff first-years to head to class. Their first lesson that morning was Defense Against the Dark Arts, shared with the Slytherin students.
But as soon as Wentworth and the others left the Great Hall, they were surrounded by a group of Slytherin students in dark green robes. At their head was Vane, Slytherin's Prefect.
"Prefect Vane, what's this about?"
Seeing this, Wentworth couldn't help asking.
To his surprise, Vane merely gave him a contemptuous look without saying a word, leaving Wentworth utterly baffled.
"Prefect Vane, if there's something you want, just say it. If not, please excuse us—we have class to get to."
Seeing this, Wentworth had no choice but to speak again.
This time, Vane replied coldly:
"Wait."
Now Wentworth was certain the other boy was just looking for trouble.
Although Wentworth looked like an eleven-year-old student, his soul belonged to an adult. He couldn't possibly endure such humiliation, so he replied just as coldly:
"What if I say I won't?"
Vane let out a mocking laugh and pulled out his wand.
Just then, Cedric came out of the Great Hall behind Wentworth, stepped in front of him, and drew his own wand.
"Prefect Vane, what do you think you're doing?"
Vane curled his lip disdainfully.
"What, a second-year already daring to stick his neck out for someone else? I thought only those Gryffindor hotheads would do something so foolish."
"If you look down on our second-years, how about you take on one of us fifth-years instead, Vane?"
Coke's voice rang out. A moment later, he led a crowd of Hufflepuff students surging forward to surround Wentworth and Cedric.
Seeing this, the Slytherin students behind Vane surged forward too.
The once spacious corridor outside the Great Hall was instantly packed, with Slytherin and Hufflepuff students facing off against each other. Gryffindor and Ravenclaw students gathered in the distance, watching with curious expressions.
As the situation seemed to grow more and more serious, Vane was clearly starting to lose his nerve. He spoke up first:
"Coke, yesterday you led your people in blocking the way of our Slytherin first-years. Today we're blocking the way of yours. That's only fair, isn't it?"
Hearing Vane's words, Cassandra, who had been eavesdropping behind the Great Hall door, couldn't help covering her face.
Nothing had even happened yet, and he was already looking for a way to save face. What a disgrace to Slytherin!
So Cassandra gestured for the Slytherin first-years to follow her and strode out of the Great Hall ahead of them.
Outside the Great Hall, Wentworth couldn't help finding it amusing when he saw Cassandra emerge. As expected of Slytherin—they really never let themselves take a loss.
With her chin held high, Cassandra marched out of the Great Hall without so much as glancing at those around her, then headed off with her chest puffed out. But Wentworth had no intention of letting things end there. If he let Cassandra leave like that, wouldn't it make Slytherin seem to have gotten the better of Hufflepuff?
"Senior Coke, if it really comes to a fight, can you beat Vane?" Wentworth asked softly behind Coke.
Coke: "No!"
Wentworth: "..."
Before you continue