Hogwarts’ John Wick

Chapter 552 552: 552: I think I've seen far enough, Yorl.

"You said you're willing to kill Al for me?"

Grindelwald clasped his hands behind his back, his eyes equally filled with scrutiny.

"Of course, as long as you can afford the price, Gael." John met his gaze without avoidance.

"You two were once inseparable."

"We were, Yorl."

Grindelwald walked toward John. He was taller now, and he had aged as well.

Staring at that youthful face, Grindelwald said, "Power above all."

"Now it's about equivalent exchange." John reached out and lightly tapped the blood pact hanging on Grindelwald's chest, a faint smile on his lips. "You can't do it yourself, can you?"

Grindelwald lowered his eyes briefly to the blood pact without a change in expression.

He looked at John for a long moment, then smiled. "The you I know wouldn't do that, Yorl."

"What you want isn't just the Elder Wand, is it?" Grindelwald's gaze deepened. "Who exactly are you?"

"I'm just a passerby," John said. "You want to obtain Credence. Why?"

"Don't tell me you expect him to kill Dumbledore."

John's mocking tone made Wolfgang frown.

He glanced at Grindelwald but did not act.

Grindelwald chuckled. "Why not? And you, what is your purpose in approaching that boy?"

"Kill Dumbledore, ha." John let out a vague chuckle. "Unless Dumbledore walks up and offers his neck to him."

"I don't deny Credence's power, but a wizard's duel isn't just about magic," John said calmly. "Skill and combat experience are just as essential."

"Using a massive block of copper and a small bullet produces the same result. Both kill."

"But lifting the copper block exhausts your strength, while firing a bullet only requires a slight pull of the trigger."

John stared at Grindelwald. "Tell me, why?"

"Indeed, he cannot kill Dumbledore in a direct confrontation," Grindelwald said. "But his potential…"

"His potential? That's a pleasant joke," John scoffed. "How long do you think he can live?"

"Three years? Five years? Or ten?"

"Do you think he'll live long enough to face Dumbledore head-on?"

John fixed his gaze on Grindelwald and said seriously, "Stop speaking in riddles with me, Gael."

"His lineage." Grindelwald fell silent for a moment before speaking. "You should have noticed the little bird by his side."

A little bird?

John took a deep breath. "Don't tell me he's Dumbledore's son."

Grindelwald said nothing. John tilted his head back and sighed.

"Why do you always have to drag the unfortunate children of the Dumbledore family into this?"

Those words brought back unpleasant memories for Grindelwald.

He looked at John in silence, then asked, "In 1899, if I hadn't left, what would you have done?"

"You won't have an answer. History has no 'what ifs.'"

John walked to the door, opened it, and said bluntly, "If you're not here to make a deal, then please leave."

Grindelwald left without a word.

Wolfgang said in surprise, "We're not making a move?"

"No need. He won't interfere with us," Grindelwald said, turning back to look from downstairs. "He's just a passerby."

In that moment, he understood many things.

Wolfgang had long grown used to his leader's riddling manner. As long as he didn't speak, no one would know he didn't understand.

"I think I've seen far enough, Yorl."

Grindelwald stepped forward. "We should go and see whether that boy can withstand the test."

The two figures disappeared into the street.

Upstairs, John watched them intently.

"Dumbledore…"

He closed his eyes, pondering the answer.

Clearly, Albus Dumbledore could not have a son.

If it were Albus Dumbledore's son, then Grindelwald would be attacking Hogwarts right now.

Which meant it had to be another member of the Dumbledore family.

"At this age, Dumbledore's father would have long been dead. That leaves only one… the goat boy."

John opened his eyes. At the Hog's Head, he had never seen anything like a landlady.

"Have you figured it out, Grindelwald?"

Grindelwald's guess was correct. Even if John knew that Grindelwald was plotting against Credence, he neither would nor could stop it.

That was a clever man.

He had already seen that John did not belong to this world.

That was why he acted without restraint.

Letting John witness how he would accomplish his grand design.

"Nagini, is this how you gradually turn into a snake?"

John could already roughly guess what would happen next.

Credence had been targeted by Grindelwald, and Nagini…

He recalled that when he had first seen Nagini, she had already become a snake.

She had lost her beloved, her only family.

And the cause of it all likely came from the abandoned child of the Dumbledore family.

A dark haze flickered in John's eyes as he said coldly, "You truly disgust me, Dumbledore."

First Ariana, and now Credence.

This was the first time he had fully laid bare his disgust for that headmaster.

Beneath the image of greatness and light was his avoidance of his Obscurial sister.

All that talk of love had been given only to Grindelwald, or perhaps to the Grindelwald of his youth.

…

Credence came face to face with the one who had sent him to Mary Lou.

Irma Dugard.

When he saw her, confusion filled his eyes.

She was a half-elf woman.

And she was not Credence's mother.

"I'm not your mother. I was only a servant," Irma said with a smile, looking Credence up and down. "You were a beautiful baby back then, and now you've grown into a handsome young man. I've always missed you."

Credence's heart trembled, and the wand in his pocket glowed faintly.

"Then… why didn't they want me?"

As he asked this, Nagini sensed the turmoil within him and tightened her grip on his hand.

"Why was your name on the adoption papers?"

There were too many questions. Credence wanted to know why he had been abandoned.

What had he done wrong to be cast aside by his family?

Nagini sensed danger and grew uneasy.

As a Maledictus, while she had lost much, she had also gained a heightened sense for danger.

A hunter was quietly watching the prey within the scene.

Credence and Irma were unaware.

Irma said, "I entrusted you to Mrs. Barebone because she should have been able to take care of you."

Credence was about to ask more.

But fate did not allow him to speak.

From the black wall, a figure emerged.

Grimmson, a hunter hired by the British Ministry of Magic.

Without hesitation, he fired a green beam from his wand, tearing through sheets and clothing.

A body hit the ground. Credence vanished, and Nagini let out a scream.

Grimmson had thought victory was certain.

But when he looked up, dense black smoke was swirling across the ceiling.

The one who had fallen was Irma, the servant.

Consumed by rage, Credence transformed into the Obscurus and plunged downward.

Grimmson had every reason to be disliked. His Shield Charm formed a hemispherical barrier around him.

No matter how the Obscurus unleashed its barrage of bullet-like attacks, it could not break through.

Credence smashed straight through the attic. Just as he was about to strike Grimmson, the man smiled and Disapparated.

Returning from the Obscurus to his human form, Credence stared at the corpse in grief.

He took out the glowing wand from his pocket, his sorrow assaulting his already fragile heart.

Nagini slowly wrapped her arms around him.

…

After completing his task, Grimmson waited in a dark alley.

Grindelwald appeared before him.

What the British Ministry of Magic believed to be a clever decision was, in truth, utterly foolish.

Grimmson had long since become one of Grindelwald's people.

For the greater good.

…

Carrying their grief and dejection, Credence and Nagini returned to the safe house.

Without turning around, John raised his hand, and the wand in Credence's pocket flew into his grasp.

"What happened to you?" John was once again brewing a potion.

With a light tap of his wand, magic surged within, bringing the cauldron to a boil.

"Family? Or enemies?" John asked casually.

Credence said in a low voice, "I was so close to learning the truth."

John gave no clear response.

Like a child seeking comfort from an adult, Credence curled up in a corner and spoke about what had happened that day.

Nagini stayed by his side, comforting him.

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