---
Chapter 240 — How Did This Cub Suddenly Become a Grandson?!
"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 me onto a battlefield and I somehow disappeared."
He scratched his cheek sheepishly.
"When Headmaster Dumbledore finally found me, I was already eleven. But the orphanage teachers did teach me something—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 someone 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 mean you want me 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 me 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 me, like normal people do."
He continued lightly:
"I know you must've come from some extraordinary background. Anyone who knows Headmaster Dumbledore must be highly capable.
Maybe you can give me power. Or money. Or immortality.
But I don't want those. I don't like them.
If you have time… just walk with me in the snow here. And if possible… maybe treat me to a meal. 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 someone just as ridiculous. Almost the same."
He smirked.
"You're dumber than he was—but you made nearly the same request… Don't look at me like that, boy.
Some 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 moment 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 time 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 blame 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?]
---
.