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A person's charm doesn't come from looks alone. It's shaped by how they speak and act, their presence, their past experiences. All of it layers together into a temperament that's uniquely their own.
Grindelwald was, undeniably, a man of great charisma. His ideals, his actions, and above all that unshakable confidence lent him an irresistible allure.
Otherwise, how could he have utterly captivated Albus Dumbledore, nearly leading him down an entirely different path?
So when Grindelwald appeared, when he simply walked in through the doors, it was enough to make many hearts waver.
'Hmm...'
'I should let that brute Andros see my brilliance.'
Yup. Grindelwald wasn't thinking about Dumbledore at all. He was busy imagining how to show off to Andros. It couldn't be helped. In that study space, his status was painfully low.
He couldn't beat the strongest woman. He felt guilty about the weakest one. As for the newly arrived… that was just a brainwashed girl. Picking a fight with her would only make him look even more pathetic.
And the men? Well. He couldn't beat a single one of them either.
Grindelwald suddenly realized, to his astonishment, that the only way left for him to raise his standing was to gain real power in the outside world.
So what if you're good at fighting?
What good is brute strength when you're out in the world? What matters is background. Influence. Authority. How could a musclehead, an illiterate girl, a shut-in, or some lovestruck teenage idiot compare to him, the Dark Lord whose sneeze could shock the world?
"Welcome, Mr. Grindelwald. And welcome to the delegation from Durmstrang."
Dumbledore stepped forward to block Grindelwald's path. Grindelwald's wandering thoughts snapped back to the present. Looking at the old man's utterly businesslike expression, he let out a quiet, mocking chuckle.
"Albus, are you really welcoming me?"
"If you truly were, you wouldn't have shut me out last time. For all I know, you're guarding against me charming your students right now."
Dumbledore had clearly been seen through, yet his expression didn't change in the slightest.
Their private relationship had eased considerably compared to before, but Dumbledore had never once lowered his guard around this man.
"Last time, you came with decades of rage from imprisonment," Dumbledore replied calmly. "I wanted to welcome you, but reality didn't allow it."
"Things are different now. I'm welcoming you in your capacity as Headmaster of Durmstrang. Is there a problem with that?"
Dumbledore glanced around. The hall had gone deathly quiet thanks to the explosive tension between them. At the high table, whether Hogwarts professors or the heads of the visiting schools, everyone was watching Grindelwald with grim expressions.
Even Daphne's attention had shifted. She was now focused on watching the drama instead of worrying about becoming the drama.
Tom, on the other hand, was delighted. He happened to meet Dumbledore's gaze and gave him an encouraging look. With more than a little schadenfreude mixed in.
'That's it, Headmaster. If I'm suffering, you're suffering with me.'
But then his thoughts drifted back to what had happened between Fleur and Daphne, and he couldn't help blaming himself. He had really handled the situation terribly. No. Terribly didn't even begin to cover it. Letting Fleur kiss him was a mistake, and not defending her after Daphne insulted her was an even worse one.
Guilt weighed heavily on Tom as he turned the problem over and over in his mind, trying to figure out how to fix things, all while half-listening to the drama unfolding in front of him.
"Oh..."
"I see everyone's doing quite well at Hogwarts," Dumbledore said lightly. "I imagine the children wouldn't be too eager to go with you to Durmstrang. Don't you think?"
"Then let's wait and see," Grindelwald replied with a meaningful smile. "There's plenty of time ahead. We'll have lots of chances to interact. I hope the students of Hogwarts won't disappoint me. After all, the ones I brought are Durmstrang's elite."
"I have the same confidence in my students," Dumbledore said with a nod. "They are second to none."
With that, their exchange came to an end.
"Please, take your seats."
But trouble immediately arose over the seating arrangements.
Only the Gryffindor table was still empty of visiting students. Originally, that space should have gone to Beauxbatons or Ilvermorny, while Slytherin would host Durmstrang.
Unfortunately, Beauxbatons had arrived early and claimed the spot first.
Sending a group of pure-blood supremacists to Gryffindor? Grindelwald was having none of that. He firmly chose Slytherin instead, leaving Professor McGonagall and the young lions feeling more than a little awkward.
Did they really have such terrible popularity?
But there was nothing they could say now. All they could do was swallow their complaints and keep quiet.
And then...
A feast just as extravagant as the one on the first day of term appeared on everyone's plates. The students had been waiting forever and were already starving, so they quickly lost themselves in the food.
Possibly out of spite toward Fleur, Daphne was cutting Tom's meat and piling food onto his plate much faster than usual. Astoria joined in for fun, leaving Tom no choice but to accept everything without protest.
Luckily, he was the kind of bottomless pit who could out-eat even a Giant Panda. This much food was nothing. From time to time, he even gave the two girls a warm smile, fully delivering on emotional reassurance.
He didn't forget the girls from the other houses either. Whenever he lifted his head, he quickly exchanged glances with Hermione, Ginny, and Penelope, one by one, firing off flirtatious looks. It was a bit greasy, sure, but at least his attitude was clear.
Seeing what the two sisters were doing, Fleur curled her lips into a faintly disdainful smile.
Go on. Make a fuss. Once you've worn yourselves out, Tom will come to me on his own.
How could a sheltered heiress like Daphne, who only knew how to throw tantrums, possibly compare to her?
A confident smile bloomed on Fleur's face, instantly leaving several Slytherin boys who had been watching her completely dazed.
The envy and jealousy they felt toward Tom spiraled out of control.
Riddle, you bastard. You're seriously unforgivable.
How do you manage to live this well no matter where you go?
And since when did you get involved with a Beauxbatons girl like her?
Almost every boy was thinking the same thing. Some of them even started wondering if the girls involved were idiots.
Were they really okay with him having multiple girlfriends? Did none of this strike them as strange?
Was Riddle using some kind of magic to mess with people's minds, or were they all just willfully blind?
None of it made sense. Not even a little.
Fuck you, Riddle.
That thought echoed through the minds of nearly every boy watching the scene.
---
"..."
Right now, the high table had been extended considerably, and Grindelwald was seated right next to Dumbledore. Not because he asked for it, but because everyone else insisted.
If Dumbledore wasn't keeping an eye on Grindelwald, no one could eat in peace. The two men's lips moved occasionally, but not a single sound escaped.
Meanwhile, Vinda Rosier and Minerva McGonagall were chatting… no, arguing fiercely.
Those two were old rivals, old enemies. They'd crossed wands countless times during the wizarding war, and plenty of explosive secrets slipped out between their barbs. Snape, for one, was having the time of his life watching the spectacle.
Another focal point for the students was one particular Durmstrang student.
"Oh my god, it really is him! Viktor Krum!"
Once Krum's identity was confirmed, Oliver Wood from Gryffindor exclaimed excitedly, barely able to contain himself. "The youngest Seeker in Bulgarian national team history! He's playing for Bulgaria in this year's World Cup, and they might even make it to the finals to fight for the title!"
"A Seeker? On a national team?" Harry froze and looked toward the center of attention. The boy with the hooked nose and gloomy expression didn't exactly look approachable.
Wood leaned over to correct him. "Not just a Seeker. A brilliant one. Harry, if you get the chance, you really should befriend him and talk shop."
"We'll see," Harry replied noncommittally.
It wasn't jealousy over Krum's fame. He just thought the guy felt… depressing. Not the kind of person who'd be easy to get along with. And seeing Draco Malfoy fawning over him didn't help.
Anyone who could get along with Malfoy couldn't be a good person.
...
The feast ended in this strange atmosphere. Before everyone dispersed, Dumbledore gave a brief explanation of the arrangements for their guests.
But Tom didn't hear a word of it. The moment they were allowed to leave, he grabbed the sisters' hands and hurried away. He needed to put out this fire fast, or he wasn't surviving tomorrow.
"You're both my little cute angels."
Holding Daphne in his arms and gripping Astoria's hand, the boy spoke with absolute sincerity. "Fleur is just… overly enthusiastic. You know the French. And we haven't seen each other in ages, so it's only natural she'd get excited. Right?"
Daphne only huffed in response, refusing to answer. Astoria nodded obediently, earning an approving look from Tom.
If only everyone were as sensible as this little white-haired angel. Life would be so much easier.
Seeing that Daphne was still upset, he knew he had to bring out the heavy artillery.
"Sigh…"
He let out a deep sigh. The sheer concentration of his will seemed to seep into the room, lending the cozy little house a faint air of desolation.
"Tom…" Daphne stopped sulking and looked at him with concern, seeing the sadness on his face.
"Daphne, I'm an orphan."
His voice was soft, but it felt as if an invisible hand clenched both girls' hearts, squeezing until it hurt to breathe.
"I grew up in an orphanage. No family. No friends. No love."
"I was bullied by older kids too. Of course, I bullied them back. But every day after school, I'd watch other kids get picked up by their parents, little hands holding big ones. I couldn't help feeling envious."
"They walked together, families spanning generations. And I could only sling my backpack over my shoulder and walk back to the orphanage alone, eating welfare meals that had long since gone cold."
"T-Tom…" Both girls' eyes reddened, shimmering with unshed tears.
Astoria tightened her grip on his hand. Daphne wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face against his chest, trying to give him warmth in her own way.
Tom blinked and continued, his tone heavy with guilt. "I know I'm flawed. In that way, I'm a lot like Voldemort. We're both children who grew up without love. That's why I can't help accepting wonderful girls like you. I want to use your kindness and love to protect myself. Prevent me from going to the dark path, becoming my light."
"You understand me, don't you, Daph?"
"Understand? Huh…?" Daphne lifted her head despite herself, her beautiful eyes full of confusion.
"Is… is that really correct?"
Tom nodded firmly. "Of course it is!"
.
.
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