Just as Wade and the others were discussing with Alphard how to prepare evidence, a large group of first years entered the Great Hall.

As the new students came in, the hum of conversation gradually died down.

At the staff table, almost all the professors were already present…

However, Headmaster Dippet was nowhere to be seen. The central seat—the headmaster's chair—was empty.

Dumbledore sat upright in the adjacent seat, watching the nervous new students with a gentle expression.

Tonight, it was Professor McGonagall, not Dumbledore, who had gone to welcome the first years at the door.

"Is Headmaster Dippet planning to hand over his position to Dumbledore?" Tom whispered to Wade, having noticed the unusual scene.

"Not necessarily," Wade replied. "One works in the open, the other in the shadows. That way, they can handle Grindelwald's little schemes more effectively."

Tom nodded. That made sense.

Headmaster Dippet was the official head of Hogwarts.

Tom had heard a certain legend about the headmasters of Hogwarts.

The official headmaster of this castle possessed many little-known privileges.

In other words, if Headmaster Dippet wished to hide himself within the castle, even Grindelwald would find it difficult to detect him.

With Dippet working in the shadows and Dumbledore standing in the light, it was indeed a well-thought-out arrangement.

At that moment, Wade's gaze fell on a small figure among the line of first years.

Even among eleven-year-olds, the boy was unusually short—barely reaching their waists.

And his features reminded Wade of a Gringotts goblin.

Wade raised an eyebrow. Could that be the future Professor Flitwick?

Still, aside from him, there probably wasn't any other goblin-born student ever admitted to Hogwarts.

"That person…" Tom frowned slightly.

"He's definitely a genius, Tom," Wade said with a smile.

"How can you tell?"

"When you duel with a wizard who's barely half your height, what would you do?" Wade asked.

Tom lowered his head in thought. "I'd feel pretty awkward… oh—so that's why!"

"Not entirely," Wade said. "He's most likely a half-blood between a wizard and another species. People like that are usually gifted—rarely ordinary."

"Got it. I know what to do," Tom said knowingly.

Since Wade had already called him a talent, what more was there to say?

Recruit him—recruit him hard.

"Remember to be polite…"

"Relax. The SMASH Club doesn't do discrimination. I know," Tom replied.

Meanwhile, young Flitwick was curiously taking in his surroundings, his eyes full of excitement and anticipation.

As for the strange looks others cast his way—he was already used to them and didn't care in the slightest.

He had come to Hogwarts purely in pursuit of knowledge.

Wade noticed Flitwick exchange a polite nod with Dumbledore.

Which meant the two of them already knew each other.

Indeed, in the wizarding world, wizards were extremely wary of goblins—there were even laws forbidding goblins from using wands.

Under such circumstances, for a wizard with goblin blood to be admitted into Hogwarts, Dumbledore must have gone to great lengths to make it happen.

That was the kind of person Dumbledore was—always more open-minded than others.

As long as a name appeared in the Book of Admittance, he would ensure that student was allowed to enroll, no matter how much pressure he faced.

It was true for Flitwick now, and it would be true for the future werewolf, Lupin.

This also reflected another thing—Headmaster Dippet had indeed handed most of the school's affairs over to Dumbledore.

At the very least, he hadn't opposed any of Dumbledore's decisions.

Otherwise, Flitwick wouldn't have been able to attend Hogwarts at all.

Once the Sorting Hat finished its song, its wide mouth closing with a snap, the Sorting Ceremony began under Professor McGonagall's direction.

Wade felt quite pleased—if nothing went wrong, this would likely be Professor McGonagall's first time hosting the Sorting Ceremony.

It seemed that starting this year, that duty would officially become hers.

"Now, when I call your name, step forward to the stool and put on the Sorting Hat…" Professor McGonagall unrolled a scroll of parchment, explaining the rules of the ceremony.

However, before she could finish speaking, the great doors of Hogwarts were pushed open.

Everyone's eyes turned toward the entrance.

Grindelwald, impeccably dressed in a suit, entered alone through the doorway.

The moment they saw him, the buzzing chatter in the Great Hall fell silent.

In an instant, the entire hall became so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

All the professors at the staff table stood up warily.

Professor Slughorn even drew his wand.

Professor McGonagall was so startled that she didn't even notice the parchment slip from her hands onto the floor.

"Apologies for being late," Grindelwald said casually, striding confidently toward the staff table as if oblivious to everyone's reaction. "Things at the Ministry were rather busy today~"

The first years who had been lined up in the center instinctively stepped aside as he approached.

"No one said you were required to attend tonight," Dumbledore said coldly. "In fact, none of us expected you to appear at all."

According to the official notice, Grindelwald was supposed to arrive at Hogwarts the next day. No one had expected him to appear so soon.

It now seemed that the arrangements Headmaster Dippet had planned to carry out that evening might have just lost their intended effect.

By then, Grindelwald had already reached the staff table.

"Where's my seat? Don't tell me that one in the middle was reserved for me?"

"Since we received no prior notice of your arrival, we didn't prepare a seat for you. And that seat in the middle belongs to Headmaster Dippet," Dumbledore said with a frown.

"Ah… my mistake. In that case… I'll sit with the students," Grindelwald said, turning his head toward the Slytherin table.

That instantly sent the pure-blood students into a frenzy of excitement.

"Sir! Sit with us!" Walburga called eagerly.

Several pure-blood students even stood up, offering up the seats beside them.

But Grindelwald didn't so much as glance at them. Instead, he walked straight to where Wade and Tom were sitting.

"May I sit here?" Grindelwald asked politely.

The pure-blood students froze in disbelief.

They were the ones who had regained their arrogance by relying on Grindelwald's rise to power.

When they saw him approaching, they had assumed without a doubt that he would go to their side.

But instead…

Walburga glared furiously at Wade and his group.

Why? We pledged ourselves to Grindelwald—so why won't he even look at us?!

…

Meanwhile, the students sitting near Wade stared at Grindelwald, momentarily dazed.

Who could have imagined that such a courteous, refined gentleman was actually a ruthless Dark wizard?

And even more unbelievable—who would have thought he'd choose to sit here!

Tom's nerves were wound tight as Grindelwald came within arm's reach.

Of everyone present, he was by far the most tense and fearful.

Last year… Grindelwald had pressed a wand to his throat and nearly killed him!

At that time… the Killing Curse had already been halfway out of his mouth!

If Tom hadn't crushed the Stinkbomb Daze Pellet in his pocket just in time, his grave would be three feet deep by now!

Wade patted Tom's shoulder, signaling him to relax.

"Why, of course… if you don't mind," Wade said calmly.

Beside him, Alphard quickly stood up and gave up his seat.

"Thank you," Grindelwald said politely to Alphard before sitting down.

It all happened so quickly that even Dumbledore didn't have time to stop it.

That man had actually gone to sit beside Wade! How could that be allowed!

"You don't need to sit among the students. We can arrange a seat for you…" Dumbledore said hastily.

But his reaction was still a moment too late.

"Thank you, but… I prefer being among the students," Grindelwald replied with a smile. "Albus, shouldn't you introduce me to everyone?"

Dumbledore looked at him deeply, and after a long pause, said slowly, "This is Gellert Grindelwald, the Ministry's Special Investigator assigned to Hogwarts—and also the Head of the Department of Magical Education. He has come to Hogwarts for inspection as part of the education reform initiative."

Grindelwald stood up, smiling, and bowed to the hall as if he were being met with thunderous applause.

In reality, the Great Hall was completely silent.

Even the pure-blood students whose families had pledged allegiance to Grindelwald didn't make a sound.

Grindelwald calmly sat back down. "Don't mind me. Please continue with the Sorting Ceremony."

Everyone exchanged uncertain looks, and Professor McGonagall had no choice but to glance at Dumbledore.

Dumbledore gave her a slight nod, and only then did Professor McGonagall pick up the parchment from the floor.

"Students whose names are called, please come forward…"

"Suzanna Eibo…" Professor McGonagall read the first name.

…

While the Sorting Ceremony continued on that side, Grindelwald suddenly leaned toward Wade and said quietly, "The method you had Anne pass on to me worked perfectly… though the price was a bit steep."

Wade didn't know how to respond—especially since Dumbledore was watching them closely. Whatever he said would draw attention, so he pretended not to hear.

Grindelwald, however, didn't seem to care whether Wade replied or not.

He kept talking to himself. "Still, it was worth it. I wonder if you understand that feeling… I just love seeing him fume, wanting to kill me but unable to do anything. It used to be me who lost my temper—but now, with your method, the balance has shifted… hmm? Why aren't you saying anything? Maybe you could give me a few more suggestions."

Under the gaze of two powerful wizards, Wade looked startled and said, "Ah? Oh, that was directed at me?"

_________

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