"I could do it, so I did it." Wade retorted, "Is helping my classmates improve their spellcasting by a few levels really going to hurt me in
"I could do it, so I did it." Wade retorted, "Is helping my classmates improve their spellcasting by a few levels really going to hurt me in any way?"
Upon hearing this, Grindelwald's tone actually softened.
"Don't be so prickly, child. There's no harm in listening to the advice of those who came before you — you chose to do this out of emotion, but you should also think about it rationally. What can it bring you?"
Wade sat by the window as the storm raged outside with rain and wind lashing against the glass. The roaring of the storm sounded like the droning of a pipe organ.
He lowered his head, toying with the quill in his hand, as Grindelwald's voice echoed in his ears.
"If you agreed because you didn't want to turn down someone's plea, then I wouldn't recommend wasting your time on mediocrity."
"If you're doing it to cultivate followers, to filter out those with real value, then setting a moderate challenge is quite appropriate. Those who can persevere will surely become excellent wizards."
"Accordingly, you must pay special attention to your teaching methods and how you conduct yourself. You're not just teaching them spells — you must also shape their way of thinking, master the balance between grace and punishment. You can't help selflessly, but you also mustn't appear cold and unfeeling."
"But if you truly just want to help..."
On the other end of the communication, the old man seemed to chuckle, as if mocking his naivety. But then he said:
"Then you must commit fully to it. Don't do it halfway. Helping partially just wastes time and energy, and in the end, no one will be grateful."
"Have you thought it through? Time is a very precious resource. Don't spend it on meaningless things. If you decide to do something, make sure it serves a greater goal."
After the call ended, Wade did seriously reflect on why he had taken on this troublesome task.
Perhaps it was because he wasn't the Boy Who Lived, and because of his intervention, Harry hadn't experienced the misunderstandings and doubts of the original story.
All in all, Wade felt that he got along reasonably well with most of the students at school.
Even the Slytherins — now that Draco Malfoy no longer took pleasure in stirring up trouble — were, at most, just aloof and occasionally made snide remarks about bloodline superiority. In Wade's eyes, that wasn't a big conflict.
Compared to the deaths he had witnessed, and the pain Mabel had once endured, the schoolyard squabbles among classmates seemed utterly trivial.
Moreover, in Ravenclaw House, Anthony was a very warm-hearted person. Since the start of term, he had looked after his fellow Ravenclaws, including Wade, often reminding them of little things — like which homework was due, or what to bring for the next class.
So when Anthony asked for help, Wade was inclined to say yes.
At the time, he also had a vague thought — with the tournament approaching, if there happened to be team events involving three or five members, he would need suitable teammates. So why not start observing and nurturing candidates now?
So he agreed to help with spell practice. After all, with the Time Turner, he had ample time to take care of these side tasks.
However, after the conversation ended, Wade's thoughts shifted a little.
...
"Your suggestion was a good one."
In response to Michael's doubts, Wade said, "But we can trust Anthony's judgment for now, and we can clearly define boundaries and set tutoring rules to minimize trouble — rather than rejecting people from the start with conditions that are too hard to meet."
"Getting up at five isn't exactly a difficult condition," Michael muttered. "I remember there was a time when you used to get up at four-something every day."
He was referring to the period when Wade was practicing to become an Animagus, reciting incantations daily with the rising and setting of the sun.
"I have more time — but others don't," Wade said objectively.
"Yes, I have a lot of classes, but other people's schedules aren't exactly light either. For the same lessons and homework, most people have to spend more time than I do."
"That includes you. After entering fourth year, the pressure to study has only grown. It's not like everyone can go to bed early. If they still have to get up at five, then when do they rest? That kind of routine isn't good for the body in the long run."
Michael stayed quiet for a while. On the way to Potions class, he suddenly asked, "Wade... do you ever feel like... maybe I'm kind of like a Slytherin?"
He spoke hesitantly, with a rare trace of uncertainty in his tone.
"No," Wade said with a small smile.
"You're just thinking about things from my point of view. Like I said before, I actually think your idea is very good — if someone tried to force or bribe me into helping, I'd respond exactly the way you described."
He paused, then added, "But since I chose to do this myself, I should approach it with the intention of doing it well. That way, even if I can't keep it up in the end, I can still have a clear conscience."
…
"He's too deeply influenced by Dumbledore," Grindelwald said to the person beside him. "So he's definitely going to do his best with any promise he makes."
Antoine hesitated before asking, "Is that a bad thing? Would you rather... he learned to cultivate followers?"
Faced with such a simple question, Grindelwald fell silent.
He was holding a prophecy orb, with thin mist swirling within it.
After a long pause, Grindelwald finally said:
"When I was young, at Durmstrang, I had no friends, no classmates who could be considered rivals. I didn't need flattering supporters... When I left school, my classmates celebrated my departure."
"Voldemort was a different kind of fool — he recruited at Hogwarts and maintained loyalty through fear. Now… does he even dare ask his old friends for help?"
"Dumbledore..." Grindelwald paused again before continuing. "I heard he had a few close classmates once, but those fools couldn't keep up with him. They couldn't understand his thinking."
He turned and looked toward the dark night in the distance.
"Wade has chosen a different path — not to create servants, not to gather followers, but to seek out companions who can walk beside him."
"Before we see the outcome, it's too early to say whether this is right or wrong… but as long as he doesn't insist on walking alone, and doesn't get lost in self-admiration, then he has a chance to go further."
"Setbacks are inevitable. Whether the outcome is good or bad, there's always something to be learned. A true leader can't always stand on the mountaintop, looking down on others."
"But... to give selflessly and anonymously, without expecting anything in return — that's just foolish."
Grindelwald patted Antoine on the shoulder and said, "Make sure to remind those naive little brats to be grateful. Don't let them think they can just get benefits without giving anything back."
Antoine smiled and said, "Understood."
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