HP: Hogwarts Snake

The students at Durmstrang have found Professor Cockrell to be strange lately.

Compared to before, he became terrifyingly friendly, because a smile that could even be called kind appeared on the face that had always been filled with sneers and ridicule.

kind?

God, it was a horrible word to have associated with this old criminal.

However, behind the creepy smile, Professor Cockrell, who seemed to have become gentler, turned away all students as never before.

Professor Cockrell used to have little patience, but as long as students were not afraid of sarcasm and intimidation, they could get very targeted guidance by sticking with him.

However, no one can now keep the professor during recess, and no one can enter his office where a terrifying green fire is burning all year round.

Inside the thick mahogany door, where many students cast inquiring glances as they passed by, the former Demon King and the one who was expected to become the Demon King were chatting.

Grindelwald sat in Cockerell's seat, having completely shed his miserable appearance as Nurmengardri.

He was carefully groomed, with most of his withered gray hair cut off, and the best hair-care potions were used to grow his hair into a shiny one.

Although the wrinkles on his face cannot be wiped away, as long as he is clean and fresh enough, Grindelwald looks like a wise old gentleman. He wears a robe ironed by Cockrell himself, and the meticulous style makes him look arrogant beyond seriousness.

There was only one thing that would reveal that he was once a prisoner - opening his mouth and speaking.

Grindelwald's teeth have fallen out, and Cockerell is already looking for a trustworthy doctor to grow him a new set of teeth. I believe that in the near future, even if Grindelwald goes out openly, no one will recognize him.

His exceptional strength is one thing, but he is also a legend that has long since died.

Della was still very respectful to Grindelwald. She sat across from him at the desk and said, "Mr. Grindelwald, I think I have the answer."

She flipped to The Tale of the Three Brothers and handed it over. "May I ask one more question, sir? Are you the owner of the Elder Wand?"

"Why ask about the Elder Wand?" Grindelwald asked.

"I personally have information about the invisibility cloak and the resurrection stone." Della said vaguely, concealing the cheating prophecy that Tang Xueji gave her.

"And the Resurrection Stone?" Grindelwald was a little surprised. "Even though I know so much about you, you still surprise me so easily, Della."

"Can I take this as a compliment?" Della said calmly.

"Of course," Grindelwald smiled, taking the opportunity to examine Della more closely. "Then you should have guessed where this wand went."

"The more powerful the wand, the more likely it is to follow the winner," Della did have an answer, "and I haven't heard of Headmaster Dumbledore, who defeated you before, ever failing head-on."

"No..." Grindelwald's voice dragged out a little. "In the end, our names are the most important bond..."

"What?" Della frowned, and inexplicably remembered the newly-made fairy tale that Maggie had told her, which set Grindelwald and Dumbledore as a couple.

"Nothing much, just someone who can end my glorious days with a few fantasies," Grindelwald chuckled. "Are you planning on asking Dumbledore for the Elder Wand? By the way, how's your relationship with Dumbledore? I think he'd be quite fond of you."

"..." Della narrowed her eyes slightly, the strange feeling in her heart becoming stronger. She noticed that Grindelwald was unusually active in the topic of Dumbledore, but she still answered patiently, "I don't plan to own the Elder Wand. Besides, it's hard to say that Professor Dumbledore likes me. I'm considered a problem student."

"Problem student," Grindelwald snorted, half mockingly, half jokingly, "Then he definitely likes you. Albus still likes to treat unusual students differently."

Albus?

Della's pupils jumped, and she suddenly realized that after so many years, even though there was the shame of defeat in the middle, Grindelwald still missed Dumbledore, and missed him intimately.

"Alright, that's enough of that old man talk. Let's get back to the topic," Grindelwald said, automatically reversing the topic. "If you didn't intend to possess me in the first place, then why did you kidnap me, Della?"

Grindelwald gets the point across and still has the nerve to get to the point, even with his magic still barely restored.

Della, whose conversation rhythm was controlled, wasn't annoyed. In her opinion, creating a sense of control when talking to elders was also a negotiation tactic. "I believe you fully understand my background and have witnessed my rebelliousness this past year. Sir, I'm at a stage where I need advice and new ideas."

After making up a few true and false excuses, Della lightly brought out the purpose of her "teacher".

"My desire to learn the meaning of the symbol stems from my current weakness," Della said without blinking an eye. "As the Dark Lord, I believe you can provide me with a lot of information."

"The inquiry mark is just a small introduction I thought of, but since I've already gained something from it, I think I'll continue along this path."

Listening to Della's words, which put her in a vulnerable position, Grindelwald narrowed his eyes. Unable to detect a single flaw in the girl's expression, he sighed, "The waves behind push the waves ahead," and could only ask, "So, are you ready to become the Dark Lord's little princess, or are you ready to continue your rebellion under Voldemort's nose?"

"I just want some means of self-protection and restraint, Mr. Grindelwald." Della smiled faintly and did not answer the question directly.

Although he was being respectful to his elders, he was actually negotiating in a manner similar to that of his peers.

Grindelwald astutely grasped this, seeing for the first time the coldness beneath Della's gentle and polite facade.

It's very endearing, this kind of coldness.

Grindelwald smiled. He didn't completely believe what Della said, but he decided to take on the job of "suggestions and new ideas". Anyway, he also wanted to see Voldemort, and Della was really to his liking.

"Do you have the means to protect yourself and control them now?" Grindelwald asked directly. "Let me offer some suggestions."

"First of all, I have a question. How many people know about the Elder Wand?" Della asked.

"What do you think about this, something you didn't even know at the beginning?" Grindelwald asked.

"Based on your understanding of Professor Dumbledore, is there any possibility that he would publicize this matter?" Della asked again.

"What do you think about this matter that hasn't been publicized for decades?" Grindelwald asked again.

Della smiled and finally asked, "So what do you think the probability is that I could use a powerful other wand as the Elder Wand?"

"As long as it's known to be related to me," Grindelwald said, smiling, "it will be the Elder Wand."