Vinda Rosier

Champs-Élysées

Upscale residential area on the east side.

William and Hermione appeared outside a seventeenth-century style house.

The two crossed the courtyard, climbed the marble steps leading to the entrance, and at the end stood a beautiful oak door.

This doesn't look like a wizard's dwelling; it's more like Muggle's home. However, Nagini entered, and there was an old brass plaque on the door:

Vinda Rosier Grindelwald!

Vinda was Grindelwald's closest subordinate and assistant, and also a Grindelwald's Acolytes.

Although Grindelwald has long since faded from popularity and can't compare to Voldemort, the second Voldemort, it's undeniable that these Grindelwald's Acolytes were once the most dangerous force.

Especially Vinda Rosier.

"Should we go straight in, or..." Hermione asked. "Knock on the door?"

William was also thinking about this... What if this was the stronghold of the remnants of the Grindelwald's Acolytes? It wouldn't be enough for just him and Hermione.

Suddenly, one half of the door creaked open a crack.

A House-elf peeked out; she was clean and dressed in black.

"Madam invites you in." The House-elf, carrying an oil lamp, gave a slight bow.

William and Hermione exchanged a glance and went inside.

They walked through the hall and stopped in front of a door. The House-elf opened the door, turned on the light, and then quietly left.

The room was elegant, with tall bookshelves, a desk, an ornate wardrobe, a large bed, and a private bathroom.

The walls are adorned with 16th-century floral tapestries and several photographs of Grindelwald.

On the carved bed lay an old woman with a wrinkled face, white hair, and dark eyes, with a pendant bearing the symbol of the Deathly Hallows hanging around her neck.

She pointed to the two chairs directly opposite the bed.

William and Hermione sat down in the high-backed chairs.

With a weary sigh, the old man raised his head and gazed at William and Hermione with gentle eyes.

Her voice was extremely weak when she spoke.

"Are you here to see Arya?"

"Well... to be precise, I'm looking for Newt's trunk," William said. "It seems your daughter stole it."

"About a few months ago, Scamander found me in Paris and started tracking me." Vinda coughed slightly.

"After Arya found out, she set her sights on Scamander. She impersonated me using Polyjuice Potion, set a trap, and stole his trunk."

"Can we have it back?" Hermione asked boldly. "Newt is currently imprisoned in the Ministry of Magic."

"Of course." Vinda was surprisingly easy to talk to.

"The box is in Arya's room. Take it with you when you leave."

William and Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. That's good, everyone's safe and sound, no more fighting.

Eliminating the remnants of the Grindelwald's Acolytes was the long-cherished wish of Newt's generation; William and his companions' mission was to Death Eaters.

That's completely unrelated!

"However, I have a request," Vinda said softly.

"What?" Hermione asked immediately.

"Stop Arya!" Vinda said weakly. "She seems to have devised a plan to accomplish what our master failed to do."

What plan?

"I don't know, Arya didn't tell me." Vinda shook his head. "But I know her purpose."

"Exposing the wizarding world, igniting a war between the magical and non-magical worlds..."

"For the Greater Good?" William squinted. "As far as I know, that was your goal back then, wasn't it?"

"Yes, for the For the Greater Good..." Vinda repeated.

There was a clear sense of reminiscence in her eyes, and even a barely perceptible smile appeared on her cheeks, but after a long while, she still shook her head.

"The plan failed the moment he imprisoned himself in Nurmengard."

Over the years, Arya has looked at the notes left by her master and picked up those ideas again. "Vinda sighed.

"I don't know her plans, but they'll probably ruin Paris. You must stop her!"

William was speechless.

Humans are often unpredictable and cannot foresee their own destiny. While one's fate certainly depends on personal effort, the course of history must also be taken into account.

William had absolutely no idea how a mere United Kingdom wizard like himself could be burdened with the responsibility of saving Paris.

However, Vinda, this Grindelwald's Acolytes, actually said, "I have already decided that you will be the Chosen One of Paris."

William had no choice but to recite two lines of poetry on the spot.

Vinda struggled to his feet and hobbled toward the table.

She found a stack of letters in the drawer.

"If you have the chance, please pass these letters on to Grindelwald," Vinda said.

"But I remember him in Nurmengard." William didn't take the letter; he wasn't an owl.

Moreover, Grindelwald was the first Dark Lord, defeated by Dumbledore... How could William possibly visit the person the Headmaster hated most?

We must stand firm on our position!

"If it's really inconvenient, Dumbledore can pass it on," Vinda said calmly. "Those two used to be very good... friends."

William and Hermione exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.

"Why don't you go by yourself?" Hermione hesitated for a moment.

"I'm going to die, and I won't be able to see him." Vinda said calmly, as if she weren't talking about herself.

William was still hesitating when Hermione's eyes darted around, and she quickly slipped the letters into her pocket.

William and Hermione left, the lights were turned off again, and the room returned to silence.

The old man, who had never had the chance to utter a single romantic word to Grindelwald in his entire life, whispered to him.

Perhaps due to exhaustion, Vinda Rosier's vision gradually blurred, and like a drowsy old man, she began to doze off.

Half asleep and half awake, she opened her eyes with some difficulty and seemed to see Grindelwald walking towards her.

She suddenly remembered that year, in this very house, when Queenie asked her if she was married?

She said... she had made up her mind.

Vinda was not afraid of death, but she had some regrets that she could not see him one last time before she died.

As the woman's life drew to a close, she closed her eyes, her hand still trembling as she raised it and murmured, "Gellert..."

Second floor, Arya's room.

William emerged from a leather trunk, frowning. "Oh no, Hermione."

I checked everything, and according to Newt's list, most of the Fantastic Beasts were there, except... Norbert the dragon was missing.

Hermione didn't speak; she had her back to him and was examining the records Arya had left behind.

She was clearly captivated by the things on the table and didn't notice him speaking.

William walked up behind Hermione.

Hermione was startled and turned around, her face filled with shock.

"What happened?" William looked down at the table. "What did she write?"

Hermione seemed to choke up; her expression was filled with disbelief.

William sat down next to Hermione and took the girl's trembling hands in his.

Hermione finally calmed down and said, "I know Arya's plan."

What plan?

"She..." Hermione cried, "She's planning to drop an... atomic bomb on Paris!"

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(Thanks to "Lanbaiwan BWB" and QQ Reading reader "Gary-MILK" for their generous donations.)