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HRHL# Chapter 125: Veratia, Cassandra, and Potter {1}
🕑 Added 2025-03-18 19:42:07 +0000 UTCThe Map Chamber fell into a long silence.
Even though Veratia had known the portraits of the three professors for over a century, she had never spoken to them about her past.
However... the inheritors of ancient magic did indeed come with various shortcomings—or perhaps one could call them defects.
A Squib was merely one of them.
By the customs of that era, and given that Veratia was born into a pure-blood family, her childhood must have been anything but easy.
Even now, in these more enlightened times, most wizarding families still found it difficult to accept the reality of having a Squib child.
For a while, the chamber remained in utter silence.
Even Professor Lockwood, who was usually quick with a joke to lighten the mood, stood quietly in his portrait frame, saying nothing.
It was only after a long time that Veratia finally snapped out of her daze.
"That was... Christmas of 1888," she said softly.
--
Nurmengard Castle
Gellert Grindelwald sat by the fireplace, gazing absently at the snow-covered Alps in the distance.
Even after being defeated by Dumbledore and confining himself to Nurmengard, he still retained a significant degree of autonomy.
Though he could not leave the castle, he was still allowed to receive visits from certain old friends.
It was a matter of Western custom—a form of dignity, much like how Napoleon, during his first exile, was granted considerable personal freedom.
"How is Vinda doing?" he asked lazily, reaching out to scratch the chin of the owl perched before him.
"She has successfully entered Hogwarts, sir," replied the white-bearded wizard standing behind him.
Grindelwald pondered for a moment before instructing, "Make sure that writer gets plenty of hair-growth potion... and don't let Vinda's hair supply be interrupted."
"Understood, sir." The white-bearded wizard nodded.
"I have a feeling..."
Grindelwald's silver-white eyes gleamed as they darted back and forth, reminiscent of Mad-Eye Moody.
Suddenly, he covered his eye, took a deep breath, and waited in silence for a few moments.
"Hoo..."
"Sir, are you alright?" the white-bearded wizard asked.
"My eye stings a little, but it's nothing serious," Grindelwald replied softly. "It just told me... my sister is coming back."
"Sister?" Everyone in the room was stunned.
None of them had ever heard their master mention having a sister before.
"Yes, my sister..."
Grindelwald murmured the words as if lost in thought.
He took a wand from the hand of a nearby attendant and ran his fingers over it carefully.
After a moment, he stepped out of the room and began descending the staircase toward the underground prison.
Even in summer, Nurmengard Castle remained chilly due to its mountain location. The dungeons, in particular, were dark, damp, and cold—exactly the way one would imagine them.
With light steps, Grindelwald walked into the leftmost cell.
Inside, a few slab-like beds were arranged in a row, each occupied by a dazed and vacant-looking witch.
As he entered, the women whimpered and began pleading desperately.
"Do you know, Wilhelmina," Grindelwald said softly, "my sister is coming back."
The witch named Wilhelmina opened her eyes wide in an instant.
"But there's no need to worry," Grindelwald continued. "It's been over a century—perhaps my dear sister has long since forgotten about insignificant trash like you. What do you think, Wilhelmina Grindelwald?"
"Please... please, Gellert, I’m your cousin—"
"Beg me?" Grindelwald twirled his wand absentmindedly. "If only you had... Ah, never mind. Talking to you is a waste of my time. Let's proceed with today's lesson instead."
He raised his wand and pointed it at Wilhelmina, the tip glowing red.
The last thing she heard was a voice as gentle as a lover’s whisper.
"Crucio."
--
Vienna, 1888
Ever since the elder Grindelwalds had passed away, the family's situation had grown increasingly dire.
The eldest daughter, Veratia Grindelwald, was a Squib of Nurmengard—a fact that had brought great shame upon the entire Grindelwald lineage.
Even though the elder Grindelwalds had done their best to protect their daughter, rumors still managed to reach Veratia’s ears.
Fortunately, Veratia’s aunt was Empress Sisi. Even if she couldn't become a witch, she could at least learn how to serve as a lady-in-waiting under her aunt's guidance.
However, in the eyes of the wizarding world, mingling with Muggles was an act of disgrace—even for a Squib like Veratia.
This sentiment was especially strong in pure-blood families like the Grindelwalds, who clung to their traditions.
Christmas was a time for family reunions. Empress Sisi, a kind-hearted woman, understood how difficult it was for her niece to raise her younger brother alone. So, she had arranged for Veratia to have time off in advance and even gave her an extra stipend to help make the holiday season a little less harsh.
Even though this niece of hers was forgetful and clumsy, unable to handle anything properly, Princess Sisi tolerated some of her little flaws out of consideration for the sisterly bond she had once shared with the girl’s mother.
However, within the palace, rumors had begun circulating about the "reckless fool Grindelwald."
"Oh, isn't this the Squib Vera?"
A sharp, mocking voice rang out behind her.
It was her cousin, Hydera Grindelwald.
Veratia didn’t reply. She simply quickened her pace, clutching tightly to the beef her aunt had given her to take home and share with Gellert.
Seeing that Veratia ignored her, Hydera smirked with disdain.
She wasn’t angry, though. Flanked by five or six other girls of similar age, she leisurely followed behind Veratia.
They didn’t dare to take things too far—after all, there were court wizards in Vienna.
"Let me guess, you must be carrying a piece of beef stolen from the palace, aren't you, Squib Vera?"
Veratia pretended not to hear. She was used to it—ever since she had been declared a Squib at the age of eleven, she had endured enough cold stares and ridicule.
"Did you steal something from the palace again?" Hydera stepped forward, her little entourage following closely behind.
"Holding it so tightly, it must be, Hydera," said a freckled girl beside her.
"Oh, thank you for your eagle eyes, Isabel," Hydera replied without looking back.
"I’m talking to you. Do you hear me?"
Hydera spoke again.
Veratia lowered her head, trying to shut out their taunts. She only wanted to get home with the food in her arms, to spend this first Christmas without their parents with her brother.
"How rude," Hydera said with a grin. "You know, they’re calling you ‘the perpetually late Grindelwald’ now. Is that your latest nickname?"
Veratia still didn’t stop walking. She had no desire to tangle with these cousins who bullied her for being a Squib.
"Oh yes, that’s right," Hydera muttered as if to herself. "Don’t you want to know who’s been hiding your shoes?"
Veratia hesitated slightly but was not surprised.
Having served as a lady-in-waiting at her aunt’s court for over a year, she had frequently found her belongings missing—even though she always checked carefully before leaving.
Forgetful and careless—chastised by her aunt for it...
She understood. These cousins resented her mingling with Muggles, even if they were royalty.
"Muggle Princess, look at this!" Hydera waved her hand.
Veratia stopped and turned her head to see Hydera holding a piece of beef.
With a contemptuous smile, Hydera began distributing the meat among her companions, taking a piece for herself as well.
"I must admit, the royal chefs do have some skill," Hydera remarked sarcastically. "But a Squib like you, who has fallen so low as to associate with Muggles, doesn’t deserve such delicacies…"
With that, she tossed the beef onto the ground and stomped on it forcefully, twisting her foot to grind it into the snow.
Veratia watched her actions with an impassive expression, as if she were observing something that had nothing to do with her.
"I hate that look of hers. She’s so fake, acting as if she’s some kind of princess," Isabel muttered behind her.
"Oh, don’t say that," sneered another girl with glasses. "Her aunt is a queen, after all. She was born to be a princess—our dear little Muggle Princess."
"Oh, thank you, Wilhelmine," Hydera replied casually before turning back to Veratia. "Listen, Squib Vera, this is my final warning… As long as you continue working for the Muggles, we won’t let you off. Do you understand? Consider this just a small lesson!"
With that, she turned on her heel and led her group away without a backward glance.
Veratia crouched down, picking up the beef piece by piece.
"What a shame. It’s no longer edible," she murmured to herself.
But at least she still had some left in her arms.
Returning home—to that temporary home—Veratia knew that as a Squib and an orphan, she and Gellert had lost their right to inherit Nurmengard Castle.
The Grindelwald family rule was clear: only full-fledged wizards could inherit. Veratia, being a Squib, had no claim, and Gellert, still a child with heterochromatic eyes, had even less.
Veratia painstakingly lit the fire, coughing as the smoke stung her throat.
"What are we having tonight, sister?" Gellert leaned against the doorframe, asking innocently.
"Beef," Veratia answered simply, retrieving some ingredients from the cupboard and adding a few side dishes for Gellert.
Under the dim candlelight, the girl cooked carefully, her hands deftly handling the food in the pot.
"Gellert, light the candles," Veratia instructed.
"Oh, okay," Gellert obediently ran to the table and lit the candles.
Before long, Veratia had neatly laid out a modest meal.
"Eat," she said briefly.
Gellert noticed something off about his sister’s expression. Concerned, he asked, "Sister, did they bully you again?"
"No," Veratia replied blankly, biting into a piece of black bread. "Just eat."
"They did!" Gellert insisted, recalling the snow marks on her knees from when she had returned. "It must have been the little witches from the Grindelwald family… When I grow up, I’ll kill them all! I’ll avenge you!"
"Don’t be like that, Gellert," Veratia said softly. "Killing is a great sin. Besides, no one bullied me, so don’t worry. And even if they did… one day, I’ll return the favor myself."
"Oh," Gellert murmured, lowering his head.
At night, by the dim candlelight, Veratia gently recounted the fairy tales she had brought from the palace to Gellert.
“Sis, will the ugly duckling really turn into a swan?” Gellert asked, his bright eyes blinking curiously.
“It will, Gael.” Veratia smiled softly, running her fingers through Gellert’s hair.
“Sis, you’re the ugly duckling right now,” Gellert said earnestly. “But one day, you’ll definitely become a swan.”
“Thank you, Gael.” Veratia’s voice was barely above a whisper.
Once Gellert had fallen asleep, Veratia blew out the candle and returned to her own room.
Sitting on her bed, she replayed the events of the evening in her mind.
And then, in the quiet of the night, Gellert’s tender, childlike voice echoed in her ears—
“Sis, one day, you’ll definitely become a swan.”
At some point, Veratia’s eyes had already filled with tears.
