I became Voldemort

Chapter 236: Everyone Is Here

Chapter 236: Everyone Is Here

Grindelwald's prophecy didn't come in mere fragments or scattered words, but in vivid images.

Fifty years ago, he had seen the instant a nuclear weapon detonated, witnessing the terrifying power born from Muggle technology. Now, he was seeing another vision, equally enigmatic but not without clues.

The white veil and the sense of death immediately made Cyrus think of the Department of Mysteries' Death Chamber in the Ministry of Magic.

Whether from the original story or the movies, the Death Chamber had left a deep impression on Cyrus—especially the moment when Sirius Black vanished through the archway, disappearing into another world as the white veil fluttered.

As for the darkness...

"Could it be Voldemort?" Cyrus pondered briefly.

Grindelwald's lips curled into a stiff smile, as if his skin was being forcibly pulled into that expression. It was almost as if he had guessed what Cyrus was thinking. In a low voice, he said:

"Voldemort is an extraordinarily talented and utterly mad individual. He won't be defeated so easily, we both know that. The real question is how he'll return after this failure."

Prophecies were never a power one could control at will. Even the most gifted seer could only catch glimpses, fragments of the future. Grindelwald had seen Voldemort return from death, but he didn't know exactly how.

His peculiar eyes remained fixed on Cyrus, as if there were countless unspoken words lingering behind them.

In fact, when it came to the prophecy, there was one crucial piece of information Grindelwald had not yet revealed, and it was the very reason he had ultimately decided to leave Nurmengard.

"I know you plan to defeat Dumbledore in front of the entire world."

"I can help you," Grindelwald said.

"And what's your goal in this? Is it simply because I intend to break the Statute of Secrecy?"

Cyrus raised an eyebrow. He didn't believe for a second that Grindelwald was a generous, selfless wizard. "The world I envision is not the same as the one you wanted."

After all, Grindelwald was an ambitious man, someone who had always pursued grandiose goals. Though his actions had been extreme, they had ultimately been in the name of what he considered the greater good—for the benefit of wizards.

Cyrus, on the other hand, wasn't nearly so noble. His pursuit was for his own interests, with the broader aim being to create a world where wizards and Muggles could, at best, coexist without hiding—beneath him, of course.

"Fifty years... I no longer care about those things," Grindelwald said with a trace of sorrow.

Time erodes ambition, and the fifty years he had spent languishing in Nurmengard, reliving his past pains day after day, had worn down his once lofty dreams.

The world didn't seem all that important when compared to the betrayal of those closest to him.

Cyrus looked at Grindelwald. He had to admit, the offer was incredibly tempting. Having such a powerful ally by his side, even Dumbledore, armed with the Elder Wand, would be no threat.

"But I refuse."

"You refuse?" Grindelwald seemed genuinely surprised by Cyrus' response.

His raised eyebrows conveyed disbelief, as if every single one of them expressed how incomprehensible the refusal was.

"Aren't you afraid I might team up with Dumbledore to take you down? Breaking the Statute of Secrecy will undoubtedly lead to chaos, and he won't stand idly by while rivers of blood are spilled."

This amused Cyrus, who wondered if Barty Crouch Jr., disguised as Maxime, would go for an 'unforgettable' romance with Hagrid.

Then, the feast began.

It was clear that for this tournament, even the Hogwarts kitchen had taken on a new flair. The house-elves had learned new recipes, and an array of French dishes appeared, along with some American food crowding the tables.

Cyrus picked up a beef burger and paired it with a cold, iced cola.

At first, the students below seemed a bit reserved, but it wasn't long before they grew lively and enthusiastic.

The Durmstrang students shed their thick, fur-lined robes, revealing crimson uniforms underneath.

Star Quidditch player Viktor Krum attracted a great deal of attention, so much so that even Ron and Harry shifted their focus away from Cyrus and Malfoy, eagerly approaching Krum with admiration.

Ginny and Hermione weren't as obsessed with Quidditch players as some others were.

At the Slytherin table, Draco Malfoy, the young master, initially wanted to go find his two usual companions, but Goyle and Crabbe sat stony-faced, clearly not intending to acknowledge him.

Their parents, like Draco's father Lucius, had once refused to cross the fire, and now, they had already treated Draco as a traitor. The fact that Barty Crouch Jr. had sent Lucius Malfoy to be an undercover agent to Cyrus was not widely known afterall.

Feeling snubbed by his supposed "friends," Draco's mood soured. He sat back down in his seat, eating the exotic dishes in silence.

At that moment, more guests arrived.

The Great Hall doors opened to reveal an elderly wizard. He appeared to be even older than Dumbledore, hunched over with a walking stick, moving slowly and unsteadily as he entered. Behind him followed Graves, along with several wizards Cyrus didn't recognize. Apart from the old wizard, the others were middle-aged or in their prime.

As soon as they entered, they immediately noticed Grindelwald, and their expressions became much more serious.

In fact, these wizards were elite Aurors sent by the International Confederation of Wizards to deal with Grindelwald. Of course, none of them were foolish enough to attempt an arrest at this moment.

Their purpose was simply to confirm the situation. They needed to see for themselves if Grindelwald was truly alive, as the French Ministry of Magic had suspected. If he was, it meant they might soon be facing yet another war!

"Albus, long time no see," the elderly wizard leading the group seemed unfazed by the tense atmosphere. When he saw Dumbledore, he was overjoyed, speaking in some sort of unclear language.

Surprisingly, Dumbledore not only understood him but also responded in the same language.

"Welcome, Babajide," Dumbledore warmly stood up, embracing the old wizard and guiding him to a seat. Afterward, their conversation switched to English.

"I didn't expect you would restart the Triwizard Tournament. If I had known earlier, I would have ensured that Uagadou participated," Babajide said, sounding a bit regretful.

He then greeted Cyrus and the other school heads.

"Hello, Mr. Akingbade," Cyrus also greeted him politely.

He remembered the identity of this elder.

In the original story, after Dumbledore's death, Babajide Akingbade succeeded Albus Dumbledore as the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards. Although he wasn't mentioned in detail in the original series, it was clear he was also a wizard of considerable magical power.

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