Hogwarts: Voldemort, don't stop me from studying

Chapter 989 Building the Strongest Bond

The air rippled like water, and the corner next to the bookshelf seemed to be quickly painted with a layer of color—Wade's figure appeared there.

He dispelled the Disillusionment Charm and sat down on the sofa next to Grindelwald. The house-elf, who was hiding somewhere, immediately cast a spell and brought him a steaming cup of coffee to the coffee table in front of him.

He pondered for a moment before saying, "I see... He's eager to show you his loyalty, afraid that if he says the wrong thing, he'll lose his current position."

After a pause, Wid asked again, "Why choose Barrett? There are many more capable and loyal members in the UMNO party. Even within Parliament, there are more suitable candidates."

Grindelwald smiled knowingly and asked, "Don't you like Barrett?"

“He reminds me of Fudge,” Wade said, frowning. “The kind of person can grovel and castrate himself to gain power, but once he has the ability, he will be eager to reclaim his lost dignity a thousandfold.”

"Then never give him the ability to resist."

Grindelwald rested his arm on the armrest and said casually:

"It's not just Barrett or Fudge; anyone who puts themselves in that position should be prepared for a backlash."

"So we can't expect to select someone who is all-around capable, intelligent, strong, and loyal under any circumstances—what you need to make sure of is not giving him the ability to rebel."

“Barrett is the new Speaker of Congress, but he won’t have his own independent armed forces—the newly appointed Auror chief of staff and several mid-level officers are my men;”

“He also does not have his own source of income. Although he has a large amount of money at his disposal, in reality, every financial transaction of a Nat is subject to our monitoring.”

"He won't even have a solid bureaucratic network, because all the trusted confidants around him are my people, and if he shows any signs of betrayal, they will be nipped in the bud."

Wade imagined the man's situation and sighed, "Barrett himself knows this, so his fear runs deep and he doesn't dare to even think of betraying him."

“That’s right.” Grindelwald’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. “He’s a weak and incompetent man, so he lacks the courage to betray and the boldness to take risks. He knows that if he fails, I will make him… and those he cares about pay a heavy price.”

He glanced at Wade and said, "So don't compare me to that hardcore sweet tooth, Wade—I won't make the same mistake he did."

"It's no coincidence that Fudge initially obeyed Dumbledore but later turned against him. Do you know why?"

Wade had already considered this question, and immediately said softly, "Because Professor Dumbledore's only influences are his personal prestige and morality. When Fudge doesn't want to be bound by these things, the only one bound by morality is Professor Dumbledore himself."

Grindelwald scoffed, "You're being too tactful, Wade!"

"Dumbledore is just too protective of his reputation! It's not that he doesn't understand the means of power, but he's unwilling to use them, so their fragile relationship is destined to collapse!"

“Look at Barrett—his power comes from our support, we have leverage over him, and every decision he makes is inseparable from our ‘assistance’—it’s ugly, but it’s also solid.”

He leaned forward slightly, staring intently into Wade's eyes, and said, "I know you like Dumbledore, Wade—he taught you, sheltered you, and appreciated you; and you respect him, admire him, and love him."

"But remember, you can learn his magic, but not his methods; you can let others learn Dumbledore's personal virtues, but you yourself... child, you must be adept at exploiting the weaknesses and darkness of human nature."

"Dumbledore was an idealist; he was like a lamp, hoping to bring light and warmth to everyone."

"But when this lamp illuminates the filth and depravity of others, or illuminates an abyss that no one wants to see, their first thought is not to cleanse the filth and solve the abyss, but to remove the lamp!"

“Furthermore,” Grindelwald said slowly, “Fudge relied on Dumbledore’s support when he first gained power, and he was certainly very grateful to him, but the nature of this feeling was a debt. The more he owed, the heavier the interest, and the harder the debt was to repay. “But all debtors yearn for relief, and his only way to be relieved is for the creditor to disappear.”

His blue eyes stared at Wade, devoid of warmth, only a icy clarity:
“Wade, Dumbledore might tell you that love, trust, and generosity are the cornerstones of leadership and an unparalleled source of strength. Be kind to others and trust them.”

"But I want to tell you this—don't just give favors blindly, because that will not create believers and friends, but debtors."

"Don't believe in tears of gratitude, or vows from people that they will never betray you in their lifetime; those are the cheapest and most easily evaporated currencies."

"You need to make yourself a continuous and critical value, and also let others know that you are needed."

"You must learn to link interests with loyalty, so that the price others have to pay for betraying you far exceeds their limits."

"Of course, the most important thing is to have 'handle' on you—not a scandal to threaten, but a shared secret."

"Threats and fears are actually low-level tactics. The most sophisticated control is to make others feel that they have chosen to follow you, and that you are a community with a shared destiny."

"If you and your partner have ever been shrouded in the same shadow, that shadow will become the strongest bond between you."

At this point, the smile on his face suddenly seemed more genuine.

"I heard... you have several close friends at school? And now that you can move freely in the United States, besides the puppets, it's also because those kids at school are covering for you?"

Wade nodded and said, "Yes."

"Then I guess you must have gone through something together... something more profound and unforgettable than doing homework together, skipping class together, or fighting together."

Grindelwald stated confidently, "Even when you're on the verge of something dangerous, you feel, from the bottom of your heart, that the relationship with that person is different?"

The image of that day flashed through Wade's mind instantly—the group trekking through the desolate mountains, the cold wind blowing into their collars, and the ear-piercing, inhuman scream from deep within the cave.

He said, "We used to... secretly work together to solve a Horcrux belonging to Voldemort, without the knowledge of the school professors."

After he finished speaking, a brief silence fell over the study.

Grindelwald never expected such an answer. He widened his eyes slightly in surprise, then leaned back in his chair and chuckled softly.
“Very good, remember this, Wade.”

"Then, you need to consciously build similar, unbreakable bonds. But don't abuse them—"

"You must ensure that everyone you forge becomes a reliable cornerstone of your future success. You must make them feel that your relationship is different."

"We must also make them clearly see that their personal ambitions, ideals, and even safety are deeply intertwined with your path and the blueprint you are building, and are inseparable from it."

"If you succeed, they can reach the other side they want; if you capsize, they will sink with you."

"Make them love you more than they love themselves, and make them willingly entrust their ideals, beliefs, and even their lives and souls to you."

(End of this chapter)