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Chapter 31 – The Fourth Spell My Mother Learned Was Avada Kedavra
"Fire Shield Protection!"
A ring of blue flames ignited around Audrey.
The flames burned vividly, brilliant and intense, yet they caused no damage whatsoever to the carpet beneath her feet.
Seeing this extraordinary scene, Rick began jumping about in excitement, while the tabby cat's eyes widened in astonishment.
"Good."
Grindelwald nodded.
For Audrey to successfully cast such a high-level spell on her first attempt was nothing short of astonishing. In his entire life, he had never seen talent quite like this.
"This flame has endless applications," he said calmly. "You can fuse it with your emotions, your will, or even other spells, producing a wide variety of effects."
Audrey had seen Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them—of course she understood the terrifying potential of the Fire Shield.
But the fact that the second spell Grindelwald had taught her was Protego Diabolica genuinely moved her.
Was this old man really being so open with her?
Could the third spell he learned himself have been—
Avada Kedavra?
…No, that was probably overthinking it.
Dumbledore would never allow him to act so recklessly.
"Audrey," Grindelwald continued, "your capacity for learning magic is extraordinary. Next, I'll teach you a very commonly used spell—one that is also exceptionally powerful."
"Avada Kedavra."
—What the hell?!
This is actually happening?!
First-years learning the Killing Curse?!
Absolutely not!
If she learned that, Dumbledore would be the first person to come after her! She still needed that white-bearded old man to clear her name and revoke the arrest warrant!
Audrey immediately said loudly, "Professor Depp, I'm a bit tired. Why don't we go for a walk before learning any new spells?"
Grindelwald tilted his head in mild confusion—
Only to hear Audrey shout toward the upstairs railing:
"Brother! Don't you have anything better to do? I'm going to be at school for years—this family's livelihood depends entirely on you! How dare you waste time like this? Even the donkeys in the production team wouldn't rest this much!"
Rick laughed sheepishly and turned to head back to his room.
His little sister was an absurdly powerful witch. Even now, his head felt dizzy from shock. Next time he met those magicians, he had to bring Audrey along—she'd be incredible!
After leaving the villa with Grindelwald, Audrey got straight to the point.
"Professor, I'd really like to know—how did you escape from Nurmengard? Were you planning to teach me the Killing Curse so we could end up sharing a cell?"
Grindelwald paused, then smiled in understanding.
He knew the girl was sharp—but how did she know so much?
The Lestrange family?
Ah. That explained it.
Hydras's nominal great-grandfather was Grindelwald's cousin.
Born into the Lestrange family, it wasn't surprising she knew of his past.
Grindelwald smiled faintly, as though shedding a long-carried burden. During his years in Nurmengard, he often reminisced about his youth—about the smiling boy he once was in the summer of 1899.
He showed no embarrassment at being exposed, nor did his attitude toward Audrey change. If anything, his voice grew gentler.
"Nurmengard?" he said proudly. "That is where I imprisoned myself. If I truly didn't wish to remain there, why not Azkaban? Leaving would have been as easy as snapping my fingers."
"And what's wrong with learning the Killing Curse?"
"Knowing how to use a blade does not mean you will use it. Having a knife and choosing not to wield it are two entirely different things."
Crack.
An elderly man with a long white beard, dressed in a purple robe, appeared before them in a shimmer of magic.
"I didn't expect you to reveal yourself so quickly, Gellert."
Audrey rolled her eyes.
Reveal himself?
This infamous Dark wizard had never bothered hiding at all.
"I didn't expect the child to be so perceptive," Grindelwald laughed. "It's a pleasure to teach her."
Dumbledore sighed deeply.
"But you cannot teach her Avada Kedavra."
Audrey paused—then asked before Grindelwald could respond:
"Headmaster Dumbledore, how did you know he was going to teach me the Killing Curse?"
This was extremely important.
If Dumbledore could monitor her every move, that was very bad news.
Grindelwald seemed to read her thoughts and pulled a small object from his pocket.
"A two-way mirror," he explained. "Al and I agreed that I must keep it with me whenever I teach."
Dumbledore sighed again.
"I feared you would teach her something inappropriate—and unfortunately, I was right."
"No," Grindelwald countered calmly. "You only see one side. I foresaw a vision several months from now in which the child is in grave danger."
His brow furrowed.
"If I don't teach her how to fight, she will face mortal peril—the kind that ends in death."
Both Audrey and Dumbledore went completely serious.
Grindelwald was a Seer.
And unlike Audrey, who could only glimpse a minute into the future, his prophetic power was far stronger.
When he said something would happen—it would.
"Even so," Dumbledore insisted, "you must not teach her the Killing Curse. There are many ways to subdue an enemy without it!"
"But it is the most effective."
"And also the most dangerous—with the heaviest long-term consequences!"
"That only applies if one's will is weak."
"But Audrey is only sixteen!"
Watching them argue, Audrey suddenly had an odd thought.
This really did look like a couple arguing fiercely over how to educate their child.
"Enough," Grindelwald said at last. "If you don't want me to teach it, I won't."
"But I will teach her combat magic. That is non-negotiable."
Dumbledore nodded after a pause.
"That, I agree with—for her safety."
Grindelwald broke into a radiant smile.
On a young man, it would have been called sunny and bright.
On an old man—
A blazing sunset.
"Perfect timing," he said cheerfully. "I just acquired a fine bottle of wine. Let's have a drink first."
"Very well. Just a little," Dumbledore replied.
He extended his right hand, conjuring a stack of books, and handed them to Audrey.
"Audrey, it's time to study. Professor Depp and I will take a short rest."
Audrey: …
Rest my foot.
You two go enjoy life while I drown in textbooks?!
The books were spell textbooks from Years One through Five.
Although she saved money by not buying them, Audrey felt like she was about to become socially withdrawn just holding them.
…
…
Dumbledore marked out an area on the lawn outside Astray Villa, layered it with a Confundus Charm and a Muggle-Repelling Charm, and even thoughtfully Transfigured two practice targets so Audrey could train safely.
Meanwhile, he and Grindelwald went inside to drink.
What infuriated Audrey most was that their snacks included the premium Xuanwei ham she had specifically arranged to be imported from China!
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
[Levitation Charm]
"You old bastard! You wicked old man!"
"Flipendo!"
[Knockback Jinx]
"You only ever bully innocent little girls like me!"
"Incendio!"
[Fire-Making Spell]
"I'll burn you all! I curse you to suffer rotten haemorrhoids and anal fistulas for life!"
…
Miss Audrey Astray—learning spells at lightning speed while furiously cursing—suddenly noticed someone walking straight toward her.
The man showed no hesitation at all, clearly unaffected by the Muggle-Repelling Charm.
A wizard.
When he reached a point roughly fifty metres from the villa, he stopped, took out his wand, and began performing precise gestures.
A minute later, he casually dispelled Dumbledore's Confundus Charm and continued forward.
From his attire to his demeanour, the man radiated stern authority.
When Audrey finally saw his face clearly, she burst out laughing.
Well, well—wasn't this an old acquaintance?
Barty Crouch.
Former Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
Two years earlier, after his son Barty Crouch Jr. was exposed as a Death Eater, he had been transferred to the Department of International Magical Cooperation—a clear demotion.
He lost his chance to run for Minister for Magic, handing the advantage to Fudge.
Audrey had gloated over that for days.
"Audrey Astray," Barty Crouch said coldly, stopping in front of her. "I am Barty Crouch of the Ministry of Magic."
As he spoke, his sharp gaze locked onto her eyes, as if trying to extract the truth from her narrowed pupils.
"Ah… hello, Mr Crouch. Is there something I can help you with?"
Barty Crouch stared at her for a long moment before speaking again.
"I have strong reason to believe that you are Hydras Lestrange, the fugitive who escaped Ministry custody five years ago."
"Now," he said sternly, "you will come with me to the Ministry of Magic for questioning."
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