"Oh?"
Wayne was surprised. He hadn't expected Harry to become so attached to old G after just one meeting.
Truly, child, you're fated to connect with dark lords.
When Wayne didn't immediately respond, Harry hastily clarified, "It's not what you think, Wayne."
"I just found many things Mr G explained... well, exceptionally clear. As brilliant as your teaching. It helped me enormously."
"I understand." Wayne waved a hand. "No need to be nervous. As an instructor, he's objectively superior to me."
Though both could be called prodigies, Grindelwald's growth trajectory aligned closer to an average wizard's.
Many techniques or insights Wayne took for granted were actually privileges of genius.
Genius stands apart from the masses—their flashes of inspiration might require lifetimes for ordinary folk to comprehend.
Grindelwald understood Harry's circumstances better. Consequently, his guidance resonated more profoundly with Harry's current needs.
"So you want him to tutor you again?" Wayne asked.
Harry looked down, embarrassed but not denying it.
"Not impossible." Wayne stroked his chin. "He's got nothing but free time these days anyway."
"Really?" Harry brightened instantly. "I can pay extra."
"No need for extra money," Wayne shook his head. "How about this—I'll contact him first to see what he thinks. Don't get your hopes up too much."
"That old man has a very peculiar temper. Even I can't do anything about it."
"I understand," Harry replied. "Also, could we change the lesson time? There'll often be matches on Saturdays after term starts."
"I was just about to suggest that. Let's move it to Monday mornings."
...
After finishing their discussion, the two walked into the Great Hall together.
Fleur, who had been watching for them, waved enthusiastically when she spotted Wayne entering. He had no choice but to take a seat at the Beauxbatons table.
"Brother!" Gabrielle called out brightly.
Wayne immediately scooped up the little girl and settled her on his lap to feed her.
Fleur frowned disapprovingly. "Gabrielle is already nine. In two years, she'll be old enough to start school. You can't keep spoiling her like this."
"Sister!" The little girl pouted. "What's wrong with being nine? Mum said when you were ten, you still—mmph!"
Before she could finish, Fleur hastily covered Gabrielle's mouth with her hand. "Don't you dare say another word!"
"Fleur, this is where you're wrong." Wayne pushed her hand away with righteous solemnity: "This is a free country—how can you stop Gabrielle from speaking?"
Several Beauxbatons girls around them stifled their laughter.
At school, Fleur had always been imperious. Only since coming to Hogwarts had Lawrence been able to keep her in check.
Gabrielle, now free, stuck her tongue out at her sister. But under that murderous glare, she still chose not to speak up.
Wayne gave Fleur a look, signalling her to talk to him alone tonight.
The half-Veela responded with a coquettish eye-roll, ignoring these two infuriating people.
.....
Late at night.
"Hahaha, really? You wet the bed at ten?"
After Wayne's relentless wheedling—plus some verbal sparring and metaphorical mountain-climbing—Fleur's defences finally crumbled, and she revealed the secret Gabrielle had withheld earlier.
Upon hearing it, Wayne rolled about the bed in hysterics.
Who'd have thought the haughty Fleur had such an embarrassing childhood experience?
The girl's earlobes flushed red with anger at his exaggerated reaction. "Wayne! You promised not to laugh!"
"Y-yes, sorry. I'm actually a professional—I don't usually laugh."
"Unless I can't help it."
"Wayne!"
Furious, Fleur pounced on him, only to end up at a disadvantage.
Soon, the girl was panting heavily, and Wayne stopped teasing her, wrapping an arm around her slender waist while resting his chin atop her forehead.
Fleur squirmed restlessly, but Wayne kept his eyes shut, refusing to budge.
With another soft huff, the girl finally settled down.
They slept soundly till dawn.
Knowing Wayne planned to accompany Astoria fishing, Fleur retreated to the bath after breakfast.
Having deciphered the golden egg's secret, she knew the next task would take place underwater—but truthfully, she wasn't a strong swimmer and harboured an inexplicable fear of deep water.
Thus, she had to undergo intensive training during this month before the competition.
Understanding her predicament, Wayne had specially modified the bathroom. The already spacious pool was enlarged further, now divided into deep and shallow sections—perfect for Fleur's preliminary practice.
Once proficient, she could simulate the Black Lake's environment using the outdoor lake.
The golden egg's language was Siren, and Hogwarts only housed a Siren tribe in the Black Lake. Fleur was sure the task involved that location.
...
Meanwhile, after a quick wash, Wayne gathered his fishing gear and met Astoria by the Black Lake.
This winter being unusually mild, the lake hadn't frozen. Students strolled along its banks, while some, under the influence of Flying Potions, darted about overhead, creating a lively scene.
Each seated on a small stool, Wayne baited his hook with a flourish, casting the line impressively far.
"Wow! That's amazing!" Astoria gasped admiringly.
Wayne smirked. "This is nothing. Name your fish—I'll catch anything you want today."
Astoria pondered, then pointed a pale finger towards the lake's centre, whispering timidly: "The giant squid?"
Wayne's smile froze. He ruffled the little rich girl's hair in mock exasperation. "My bait wouldn't even fill its teeth gaps."
"Hehe." Astoria playfully stuck out her tongue. "Just kidding, I don't want any fish. I just want you to stay with me."
Wayne smiled and gave her a kiss.
Rich little girls were so well-behaved, always managing to flirt with him when he least expected it.
Following Wayne's example, Astoria cast her fishing line out too.
The two chatted away while waiting for the fish to bite.
Meanwhile, Wayne had split a fragment of his consciousness into Ho-Oh, which flew to Nurmengard to inform Grindelwald about Harry's invitation to Hogwarts.
After listening, Grindelwald snorted.
"He thinks I'll just go because he asks? Do I look like a private tutor to you?"
"Oh, in that case, I'll tell Harry you refused." Wayne made to fly away.
"Wait, I didn't say I wouldn't agree," Grindelwald hastily called out.
The flames around Ho-Oh flared up. "Make up your mind, old Gellert. Yes or no?"
"Fine, I accept." Grindelwald took two steps back, privately noting the boy's poor patience. "Teaching him magic is incidental. But another kind of... education interests me greatly."
"Harry Potter is Albus's chosen one." Grindelwald's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Imagine Albus's expression if the boy embraced my ideals."
"So that's your game." Ho-Oh fluttered its wings and perched on the windowsill.
"Go ahead and try. But you're destined to fail."
Grindelwald looked sceptical. "How could I possibly fail to influence one boy? Except with freaks like you."
From their first meeting, Grindelwald had recognised Wayne as his equal - not in ideology, but in that same unshakeable self-belief that made them immune to others' persuasion.
Wayne chuckled. "You're overlooking one crucial fact, Mr Grindelwald."
Grindelwald waited, watching the fiery bird expectantly.
"Your theories only work on intelligent people," Wayne said. "Only those with depth of thought, who actually think, can appreciate your brilliance and understand you."
"That's why your followers were all exceptional wizards - people willing to fight for our future. But Harry's different. In many ways, he's practically an idiot, a textbook Gryffindor brute."
Wayne grew more animated. "Exactly like Newt - stubborn as a mule."
"That's precisely why Dumbledore chooses them. He knows no enemy rhetoric, however compelling, will ever sway them."
Grindelwald lowered his head, considering.
He had to admit Wayne had a point.
Hadn't he himself tried bribing Newt with rare magical creatures? Not even to recruit him, just to stop him from interfering. Yet every attempt failed.
Newt truly was as single-minded as Wayne described - blindly following Dumbledore's orders, wrecking Grindelwald's plans time and again.
"I refuse to believe it."
Far from discouraging him, the challenge only fired Grindelwald's determination. "Lawrence, if you don't interfere, I guarantee I can make Harry Potter embrace my ideals."
"I'll be waiting."
As the words faded, Wayne's consciousness dissipated. Ho-Oh raised its head, gave Grindelwald a haughty glance, then leisurely flew away.
...
At Hogwarts, having received confirmation, Wayne withdrew his divided attention and focused entirely on accompanying the wealthy young witch.
His luck wasn't great today – after half a morning, he still hadn't caught a single fish.
Not wanting to lose face in front of Astoria, Wayne shamelessly resorted to cheating.
The lake's surface remained calm, but beneath it, the waters churned violently.
A large school of fish were forcibly herded towards his bait.
Feeling Astoria's admiring gaze, Wayne nodded to himself. At least his efforts hadn't been wasted.
The Black Lake contained mostly trout and carp.
In Britain, carp weren't actually considered edible fish – they preferred sea fish with fewer bones.
So in the end, Wayne released the carp back into the water, keeping only the trout to take back for Hannah to prepare as an extra dish that evening.
It was worth mentioning that due to the Christmas Ball, this year's Cooking Championship hadn't been held, much to the disappointment of the young witches and wizards who'd planned to compete.
Wayne intended to make up for it by organising the event at a later date.
Entering the Great Hall, Wayne spotted Harry and walked over, taking a seat beside Hermione.
"Harry, Mr G has agreed. Same time tomorrow, meet at the usual place."
Harry was overjoyed and thanked him profusely. Hermione looked puzzled. "What Mr G?"
"A teacher I found for Harry," Wayne explained. "He wasn't satisfied with my teaching, so I had to find someone more professional."
"After all, since he's paying, customer satisfaction matters."
"That's not it," Harry hurriedly interjected. "Wayne, your teaching's great too! Though having Mr G as well would be even better."
"In your dreams," Wayne shot him a glance. "He's replacing me, not teaching alongside me."
One Grindelwald was enough – did Harry really think anyone in the world deserved both of them teaching together?
Harry gave an embarrassed laugh. "That... that works too."
With business concluded, Wayne stayed to eat. He took Hermione's hand and subtly scratched her palm.
The young witch's face flushed pink – she immediately understood what he meant.
Another night as a pillow awaited.
...
The next day.
The term officially began.
The castle hadn't changed much since the holidays.
Perhaps because so many students had remained at school over Christmas, the transition from "many people" to "very many people" was barely noticeable.
But in class, the students quickly sensed something amiss.
"Wake up," Professor Sprout said sternly to the drowsy classroom. "Venomous Tentacula are dangerous plants. If you're pricked by their thorns—"
"Ow!"
Before she could finish, Lavender Brown cried out in pain as blood welled from her finger.
The whole class turned to look. Within seconds, she began trembling uncontrollably, drool dripping from her mouth.
Professor Sprout shrugged helplessly. "Well, that saves me explaining the symptoms."
"Miss Patil, would you please escort Miss Brown to the hospital wing?"
Parvati accepted the task with a grimace, levitating the twitching Brown with her wand.
With such a vivid example before them, the young wizards proceeded with far greater caution.
Just before class ended, Wayne secretly pocketed a cutting of Venomous Tentacula, intending to cultivate it himself later.
His movements were so furtive that even Hermione in his group didn't notice. Only Tomoyo, as Wayne casually glanced around, watched him with an amused smirk.
Wayne's face flushed red. He hadn't expected anyone to witness him "helping the professor dispose of waste".
...
After a full day of classes, Harry rushed to the library to complete tomorrow's Defence assignment before hurrying to their usual classroom.
The room was empty except for a Niffler perched on the lectern.
"You've arrived, Potter."
"Mr G." Harry greeted him cheerfully.
"Lawrence told me everything. Good - you've got taste, recognising a true master when you see one."
"I don't just teach casually like that brat. If you're learning magic from me, I'll be extremely strict."
Harry hesitated before asking cautiously, "Do you not get along with Wayne?"
The Niffler was silent for a moment. "Lawrence and I are on good terms. He's one of only two people in this world I consider worthwhile."
Then, in a resentful tone, he added, "But I don't have such a good relationship with one of his elders!"
Harry was thoroughly confused by this complicated dynamic, making Grindelwald feel exasperated at his blank expression.
Just like Newt, this one.
"No lesson today," Grindelwald declared.
Harry looked at him in confusion. "Then what are we doing?"
"Let me tell you a story," Grindelwald said calmly. "Long ago, in an unnamed valley..."