Just at that moment, Auston Greengrass approached from a distance, leading a man with him. He turned to Wentworth and said:
"Master, we found this man upstairs. He claims to be..."
Before Auston Greengrass could finish his sentence, Cassandra, who had been silent all along, suddenly rushed forward. She hurried to Wentworth's side and exclaimed:
"Wentworth, this is my father!"
At this, Wentworth gestured for Auston to release the man. Seeing this, Rosier and the others tactfully turned away and left together.
From afar, Cedric had initially wanted to step forward and say something, but Kirk, standing beside him, held him back.
"This is between them. Let them handle it themselves. You have to trust Wentworth—he's a Hufflepuff, after all."
Kirk spoke to Cedric with quiet assurance.
Meanwhile, Cassandra stood hesitantly before Wentworth, seemingly afraid to meet his gaze.
It was then that her father, Thomas Vole, spoke up:
"Wentworth Grindelwald? I know who you are. Everything Cassandra has done—it's all because of me, her useless father. I ask for your forgiveness. If a price must be paid, then let it be mine."
Hearing this, Cassandra immediately panicked.
"Father..."
Before she could say more, Thomas Vole raised a hand to silence her.
At that moment, Wentworth spoke:
"Cassandra, help your father to a seat over there so he can rest."
Cassandra nodded slowly, then assisted her father to a corner of the hall, poured him a glass of water, and only after ensuring his comfort did she return to Wentworth's side.
Once beside him again, she spoke cautiously:
"I responded to your origami crane's message. I left the broomstick at the door to warn you—I never intended to harm you. But you still came in."
Hearing this, Wentworth's lips curled into a faint smile as he replied:
"If I were only a Grindelwald, I should have left and let our Pureblood Party wizards level this manor with spells."
"But first and foremost, I am Wentworth. Only then am I a Grindelwald. My classmates were here. I had to come and save them."
Cassandra trembled slightly at his words, her eyes reddening.
"Why?"
Wentworth answered with a casual shrug:
"Why? Because I'm a Hufflepuff."
Cassandra: "...If I hadn't left the broomstick at the door back then, what would you have done?"
Wentworth's smile faded as he responded:
"I still would have come in, just behind the so-called Pureblood Party wizards. As for what would have happened inside, that would no longer have been my concern."
Cassandra fell silent for a long time before bowing deeply to Wentworth and saying with utmost sincerity:
"Thank you."
Wentworth waved off her gratitude dismissively.
"No need. As you said, you never truly intended to harm me—you only did what you had to in order to save your father. If I were in your position, I might have made the same choice. You should stay with him."
With that, Wentworth patted Cassandra on the shoulder and turned to leave.
He had taken only a few steps when he paused and turned back toward her.
"You look so pitiful like this—I'm really not used to it. I much prefer you when you're proud and defiant!"
With those words, Wentworth strode out without looking back. Behind him, Cassandra let out a soft chuckle.
After laughing, she turned and returned to Thomas Vole's side, but she hadn't expected his first words to be:
"Cassandra, from now on, stay away from him."
"Why?!"
Cassandra looked at her father in shock and confusion.
Thomas Vole, however, merely sighed in defeat and said:
"After everything that's happened, I've realized that nothing is more important than our family being able to live together in peace."
Hearing her father's words, Cassandra was silent for a moment before responding with an unreadable expression:
"Father, you've grown old. Don't forget—I am a Slytherin."
"So am I. And what of it?" Thomas Vole asked, puzzled.
Cassandra's voice was firm and unwavering as she spoke:
"A true Slytherin either becomes great—or follows greatness."
At her words, Thomas Vole shot up from his seat, his face dark with fury.
"You call that greatness? He's nothing more than a Dark wizard!"
Yet Cassandra did not flinch. She met her father's gaze head-on and said with quiet resolve:
"This so-called Dark wizard is the one who saved you and your daughter today."
Thomas Vole fell silent at that. Yet he still spoke after a moment:
"Cassandra, think carefully. He is the leader of the Pureblood Party. His future is destined to stir chaos in the wizarding world."
Cassandra turned and looked toward the direction in which Wentworth had left. She murmured:
"No, Father. You're wrong. He won't stir the storm. He is the storm."
"And I willingly choose to be a part of it."
Hearing this, Thomas Vole knew his daughter's nature all too well. Once her mind was set, no one could change it. He sank back into his chair, defeated, and murmured with unconcealed bitterness:
"Why? I need to know why you're doing this, Cassandra. Is it just because he bears the Grindelwald name?"
Cassandra turned to look at her father and slowly shook her head. Her voice was steady as she spoke:
"No. The name Grindelwald once shook all of Europe and America—but that alone is not enough to command my loyalty. I follow him not because of his surname, but because his name is Wentworth Grindelwald."
"I believe that one day, the name Grindelwald will once again echo across the world—but this time, it will be in Wentworth Grindelwald's name!"
By this time, Wentworth had already stepped through the grand doors of Vole Manor. Christine and her wizards were nowhere to be seen.
He looked up at the bright sky, stretching lazily. Just then, Cedric and Kirk approached. Standing beside his two friends, Wentworth suddenly realized—
He missed Hogwarts.
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