Grindelwald's Crimes

"Do you know how many grave crimes Gellert Grindelwald committed?"

Elias sat back down across from Roy, a mysterious expression on his face as he solemnly recounted the history of the past.

"After his defeat, the International Wizarding Tribunal convicted him of crimes against humanity. But what truly earned him such a grave charge was not how many wizards he killed, nor how many Muggles he killed, but the war he started."

When it came to war, few understood it more deeply than the Bee Doctor, who had once ridden across the lands of Azshara.

"A war cannot be started by one person alone, nor can its evil belong to one person alone."

Roy's tone was exceptionally calm. He had become much more serious at the mention of this topic. He did not know what Thorne meant by telling him all this, so he asked cautiously.

"What does this have to do with Aisling? By the time she was born, Grindelwald had long since been locked away in prison. Are you worried she'll become the next Dark Lord? That's ridiculous. She's only a first-year."

Thorne paused slightly at Roy's answer, then smiled and shook his head.

"No, no, no. Compared to her, I should be more wary of you becoming the next generation's Dark Lord. You have a profound understanding of war, so you should understand the hidden danger of the Wizard Purist Party."

Thorne then began explaining the history of wizarding wars.

"Grindelwald's ideas were extreme. He wanted to tear apart the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy and enslave every Muggle in the world—or rather, every non-magical person. Such ideas were popular throughout the world back then, and thus the Wizard Purist Party was born."

"But as you said, this war could not have been started by one person. Yet in the end, only one person was convicted. So where did the rest of the Wizard Purist Party go?"

Elias had been watching Roy's reaction all along. Seeing that his words had taken effect, the corner of his lips lifted slightly.

"They whitewashed themselves." Elias answered his own question. "That way, the Wizard Purist Party vanished from the light, but in the shadows, the forces that believed in it remained powerful."

"I don't think you've failed to see the connection between the Wizard Purist Party and Miss Grindelwald, have you?"

Elias stood and walked over to Roy, patting him on the shoulder.

"Look at you, Roy. Exceptionally talented, close to Dumbledore, and a Hufflepuff student. Now, a young wizard like you openly has a conflict with a gifted little Grindelwald. Do you still think Slytherin's hostility toward you is just a joke?"

Roy raised his head and looked at Elias, who appeared so concerned for him, then asked calmly.

"Do you hate Aisling?"

Elias smiled. He strolled over to the bed, took a cigarette from a paper box in his pocket, lit it with his wand, and took a drag. He exhaled a cloud of smoke, watching the bustling students playing in the schoolyard outside the window. With a sigh, he slowly spoke in a self-mocking tone.

"Do I hate Aisling? Perhaps. Or perhaps I hate all dark wizards and the Wizard Purist Party."

Roy had not known Elias smoked. The curling smoke added a touch more masculine charm to him.

"My grandfather—he was the Director of the Auror Office at the American Ministry of Magic back then."

Elias spoke in fits and starts. Whenever he mentioned his grandfather, he took several deeper drags from his cigarette.

"Back then, Grindelwald caused tremendous destruction in America. Many Wizard Purist Party members took to the streets and cast Unforgivable Curses at Muggles. My grandfather led the Aurors in battle against them, and then he died at the hands of those lunatics. Sigh... what a shame for the old man. He was an Auror his entire life. He thought he could retire safely, but in the end, he still died in the line of duty."

Elias spoke as though he were talking about something that had nothing to do with him, but his occasional sighs still revealed his true feelings.

"I know Grindelwald wasn't the one who killed him, but in the end, Grindelwald was the only one convicted."

Elias stubbed out his cigarette, turned to Roy's stern expression, and smiled faintly.

"But you don't need to worry. I won't do anything to the students. After all, I'm still the American Ministry of Magic's only senior Auror at present. And I have no other motive in telling you this. I just hope you'll watch out for that girl. She might turn Slytherin into a Wizard Purist Party nest."

"Would she?" Roy remained skeptical.

"From what I can see, she's showing signs of it. I heard that all the lower-year Slytherin students are her followers now. Snape even bragged about it in the staff room."

"This is Dumbledore's territory. He won't just stand by and do nothing." Roy shook his head. He did not believe Dumbledore would ignore it.

"How many Slytherin students joined Voldemort as soon as they graduated back then? Did Dumbledore do anything about it?"

Elias no longer beat around the bush and spoke directly to Roy.

"To be honest, as an Auror, I hate Slytherin. Unfortunately, I'm a teacher now, so I can't do anything to the students."

Elias did not conceal his disgust for Slytherin, a house that had produced countless dark wizards.

"Now a little Grindelwald has wormed her way into that nest of vipers. It's practically gathered all the bad seeds in one place. I deliberately taught a dark spell in class, and during practice, only Slytherin tried it with any real enthusiasm. Just thinking that some of the students I teach will become dark wizards or Wizard Purist Party members after graduation makes me sick enough to vomit."

Elias shook his head and offered Roy a very sincere piece of advice.

"Slytherin will definitely cause you trouble next. I hope you'll strike back. Don't doubt me. Today, I heard several upper-year Slytherin students saying they didn't like the look of you. If what they said is true, you'd better be careful when you go to the bathroom on the seventh floor tonight."

"If you don't believe me, you can try it. Take this. If you can't handle them, press the button, and I'll get you out of it."

Elias took a golden pendant from the drawer. At the center of the solid gold cube was a blue button.

Roy was somewhat baffled by all this. He truly had no grievance with Slytherin, but what Thorne said did not seem false either, so Roy accepted the pendant.

"Watch out for Slytherin and Grindelwald."

As he was leaving, Elias was still warning Roy about Slytherin's scheme against him.

After leaving the office, Roy's mind was filled with everything Elias had told him.

Elias seemed to hate Slytherin and Aisling, and he wanted Roy to teach them a harsh lesson.

But why him?

Why had he been chosen to oppose Slytherin? And why was Slytherin targeting him so fiercely?

Thinking it over carefully, he had never provoked Slytherin. Why were they looking to pick a fight with him?

"So you want to play? I'm in!"

(The ultimate move was ready.)