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"What are you thinking about? Aren't you cold at all?"
Darren tugged curiously at Grindelwald's robes.
Grindelwald let out a sharp snort.
This brat… truly infuriating.
But—
"Did no one teach you to be polite when you were young? Not to interrupt people casually?" he snapped. "Albus didn't bother teaching you any manners?"
If it were him, he thought sourly, he would have raised this little cub to be a master manipulator, not a clueless, honest fool.
"I… I grew up in an orphanage," Darren said softly. "Headmaster Dumbledore said I was kidnapped by Death Eaters when I was little. They threw onto a battlefield and I sohow disappeared."
He scratched his cheek sheepishly.
"When Headmaster Dumbledore finally found , I was already eleven. But the orphanage teachers did teach sothing—they said children mustn't lie. If children lie, they'll be locked up and not given food."
Darren blinked innocently at him, head tilted.
"Of course, you're not a child. You're an adult. And an elderly one. It would definitely be uncomfortable for soone your age to go hungry."
Then he added, earnest as ever:
"So you really should change this habit of tricking people. But don't worry—I'll correct it for you!"
[Ding, Fatherliness 80]
Grindelwald nearly collapsed.
His child—
his child—
grew up in an orphanage?
Hungry?
Albus let his child suffer like that?
A deep, heavy ache settled in his chest.
He placed a hand gently on Darren's head.
"Well… if you truly have no parents or relatives," he murmured, "I can be your family."
"Do you an you want to call you Grandpa?"
Darren blinked innocently, glancing at Grindelwald's aged face and white-faded blond hair.
He even smiled kindly.
Grindelwald's entire soul froze.
WHAT.
How did this cub suddenly turn into a GRANDSON?!
"Grandpa is fine!" Grindelwald forced out. "So, tell honestly—what do you want? Considering our blood relationship, I can grant it!"
He grinned, triumphant.
Power.
Wealth.
The secret to immortality.
Anything.
But Darren only shook his head, smiling softly.
Little Saint that he was, he would never ask directly for anything.
"I don't want any of that," Darren said brightly. "Even if you believe we're connected by blood—which I doubt—I won't argue with an elder.
If you're like a grandfather, then just… spend the day with , like normal people do."
He continued lightly:
"I know you must've co from so extraordinary background. Anyone who knows Headmaster Dumbledore must be highly capable.
Maybe you can give power. Or money. Or immortality.
But I don't want those. I don't like them.
If you have ti… just walk with in the snow here. And if possible… maybe treat to a al. I think I'm hungry."
[Ding, Fatherliness 100]
Grindelwald pressed a hand over his eyes.
Then he laughed.
"Hah… your request is really not high. There used to be soone just as ridiculous. Almost the sa."
He smirked.
"You're dumber than he was—but you made nearly the sa request… Don't look at like that, boy.
So people praise everything with 'love.' I refuse to imitate him."
—
Darren blinked awake.
He was back in the familiar white-tiled Hogwarts hospital wing.
Apparently, he'd been unconscious for an entire day and brought straight here.
"Oh, Darren—children cannot drink alcohol!"
Madam Pomfrey scolded the mont she saw him awake.
When Hermione carried him in drunk and unresponsive, the matron had nearly exploded with fury.
She had already warned the staff repeatedly not to let students near anything alcoholic.
"Yes… I'm sorry, Madam Pomfrey…"
[Ding, Fatherliness 50]
She was not moved.
"Honestly! Do you not know your own body? After the last serious injury—do you think magic fully healed you? No! You need rest—real rest!"
Her voice rose.
"Did you forget what St Mungo's told you? How did you manage to end up in the hospital again in three days?!"
She pointed a shaking finger at him.
"The next ti you show up here, I'll give you a hundred bottles of Severus's sleeping potion—yes, a hundred! You'll sleep until you're truly healed before I let you leave—"
Madam Pomfrey's voice cracked.
Darren's green eyes softened with guilt.
He felt miserable.
But he still tried to comfort her gently.
"Madam… I'm sorry. I made you worry. I'll be more careful. I just… forgot. I thought I could handle it…"
[Ding, Fatherliness 80]
Madam Pomfrey sighed, shaking her head.
"Honestly… and don't you cover for Hermione. They all said they wanted to prank you after dinner before you could taste it—"
She huffed.
"But even so, once you realized it was alcohol, you should've refused!"
"No, no," Darren said quickly. "I wanted to drink it. I thought it was a new drink, so I had a few more. It had nothing to do with Hermione or her brother…"
[Ding, Fatherliness 100]
"Oh, silly boy…" she muttered. "You didn't even know it was wine. Fine. But I'm reporting this to Professor McGonagall. Those children shouldn't be pranking you like this!"
—
[Ding—Detected opportunity for Holy Father scenario.
Temporary task issued:]
Jump out of bed.
Make your legs wobble weakly.
Collapse back onto the mattress.
Say in a strained voice:
"Madam… don't. Please don't bla them. It was my fault, not theirs. Don't scold my brother or Hermione…"
Make others believe it was a harmless prank and ask her to forgive them.
[Ding—Reward for completion: Hidden Bloodline Agent.
Will the host accept?]
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