1945, nightfall.
As the winter sun dipped beyond the distant horizon, a middle-aged man in a sharp suit slowly withdrew his gaze. He possessed short, silver-white hair and a striking pair of heterochromatic eyes.
"Lord Grindelwald," the severe woman standing beside him murmured, bowing slightly. "He is coming."
At her words, a collective tremor passed through the gathered wizards.
"I know, Vinda," Grindelwald replied with a quiet sigh. "I will deal with him."
He paused, his gaze sweeping the room. "As for the rest of you... you need only hold off the Ministry of Magic's refuse."
"Yes, My Lord." Grindelwald's loyal lieutenant, Vinda Rosier, nodded gracefully before turning to the assembly.
"You heard his command, did you not?" she asked, raising her wand high. "Take down the Ministry's pathetic excuses for wizards. For the Greater Good!"
Following her rallying cry, the acolytes raised their wands and echoed the slogan.
Yet, standing in the corner was a lone, uneasy figure: a girl with silver hair matching Grindelwald's and slightly pointed ears. She clutched her wand nervously, her blue eyes cast down, refusing to meet anyone's gaze.
As the wizards filed out, Grindelwald spotted her conspicuous silver hair among the dark robes.
"Miss Hamilton, please stay behind," he called out. "I have something to discuss with you."
Vinda turned her head sharply, meeting Grindelwald's gaze with open astonishment.
"We always need to keep some insurance," Grindelwald whispered.
Vinda took a deep breath. "I understand, My Lord."
The fierce fighting spirit on her face vanished, replaced instantly by a tragic solemnity. It was as if she already knew the story's end, but she would never abandon the fight.
Meanwhile, Miss Hamilton moved against the flow of the departing crowd. The young witch shrank her frail body to avoid bumping into the imposing dark wizards.
By the time she reached the front, the hall was empty save for Grindelwald and Vinda.
"Vinda... I wish to speak with her alone," Grindelwald said, his mismatched eyes sweeping over Rosier. "Besides, the others need your leadership."
Vinda pursed her lips, then gave a curt nod. Asking nothing further, she gripped her wand tightly and strode out of the hall.
Click. As the grand doors shut, only Grindelwald and Miss Hamilton remained in the cavernous space.
"Miss Hamilton," Grindelwald said softly.
"G-Grindelwald... My Lord..." Lyla stammered. She nervously clutched the hem of her robes, not daring to meet his gaze.
Her fearful demeanor only brought a faint smile to Grindelwald's lips. "Do you know why I asked you to stay behind?"
"I'm sorry... I don't know..." Lyla replied, biting her lip. "I don't think... I can be of any use."
She twisted her sleeves, staring blankly at the tips of her shoes.
"Ah, indeed," Grindelwald mused. "Many have said the exact same thing over the past few years."
"'What can Miss Hamilton do? She doesn't even dare to duel! She couldn't even kill a Niffler! She isn't even fit to carry Lord Grindelwald's trunk!'"
Grindelwald's voice echoed through the hall, and Lyla seemed to shrink with every word. She was practically curling in on herself.
"However," Grindelwald continued, his tone suddenly softening into a genuine smile. "I do not share their sentiments, Miss Lyla Hamilton."
"Graduating early from Durmstrang at just fifteen, and mastering non-verbal magic by fourteen..." Grindelwald paused, stepping forward to place a reassuring hand on Lyla's shoulder.
"You are far stronger than you imagine."
"But... but..." Lyla tentatively looked up, only to be silenced as Grindelwald pressed an index finger to his lips.
"Miss Hamilton, I have listened to your self-deprecating words for three years now," he said, shaking his head. "Today is not the day for such things."
He leaned in closely. "I have a task for you."
"A t-task?!" Lyla gasped. She quickly took a few steps back, her pointed ears twitching defensively. "I... I can't. Lord Grindelwald, you know I..."
"On the contrary," Grindelwald interrupted, a slight curve to his lips. "This is a task only you can accomplish."
"Only you, with your half-Veela heritage. Only you, a master of non-verbal magic who has never once shown her face to Albus Dumbledore."
His tone was ironclad. "More importantly, I believe you can do it."
Lyla stared at him, overwhelmed by his unexpected faith in her. Subconsciously, she asked, "Then... what is this task?"
"It is quite simple." Grindelwald shrugged gracefully, the tip of the Elder Wand tapping lightly against Lyla's shoulder.
"Albus Dumbledore is remarkably powerful. Far more powerful than anyone could ever imagine." A complex emotion flickered within his heterochromatic eyes.
"But... you will win," Lyla insisted, her voice trembling with absolute certainty.
"No." Grindelwald seemed to shed his legendary confidence. He lowered his head and whispered into the silence.
"No wizard can be certain of defeating Dumbledore. Not even Merlin himself."
What? Lyla hadn't expected her master to praise his greatest enemy so highly. She knew Dumbledore was a formidable wizard, but to compare his might to Merlin's?
If Lord Grindelwald fell tonight, would she be dragged back to a wizarding prison? She had only just tasted freedom.
Grindelwald didn't give the terrified Lyla time to spiral. "So," he continued, "if I lose, our cause falls to you."
"M-me?" Lyla's eyes widened. Her paralyzing terror vanished instantly, completely eclipsed by pure astonishment.
"If even you are no match for him... how could I possibly..." she trailed off.
"It is simple," Grindelwald said without blinking. "Every wizard makes mistakes. Even Albus."
He leaned in, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "You simply need to find his weakness... and then, you take him down."
"But... even if I do..." Lyla looked up at him. If Grindelwald was defeated, what good would her feeble attempts do?
"He won't kill me," Grindelwald said, easily reading Lyla's spiraling thoughts. He was incredibly confident in this one fact. "Just as I would never kill him."
"Therefore, you only need one chance," Grindelwald declared, raising the Elder Wand. "A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
With that, he turned his back on Lyla and stepped toward the center of the grand hall.
"Go, Miss Lyla Hamilton." His voice resonated with finality. "The path ahead is yours to walk alone."
"And I... I must face him alone now." A mournful smile touched his lips. "Though it may be undignified... it is for the Greater Good."
It was the only time Lyla had ever heard him utter their sacred vow with such profound sadness.
"Yes... for the Greater Good," she whispered to the empty air.
That was the last time Lyla ever saw Gellert Grindelwald. Neither of them could have known that this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity would take decades to arrive.
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