Hermione, let's start a revolution from Hogwarts!

After a long pause, he finally spoke: "You need to get back on your feet."

“This is no reason for you to torture someone without cause,” Hermione said unhappily. “Even if he were Voldemort, he should be sentenced to death. That’s the only way to respect him as a human being.”

Do these wizards all have some kind of psychological problem?

Riddle was deeply moved by what he heard and said, "If only you had said that back in the secret room."

He harbored a deep resentment towards Nietzsche's revenge.

“That’s a different matter!” She put her hands on her hips and pointed at him. “You’re just a prisoner now. If torturing you could save someone, then I wouldn’t stop you…but unfortunately, I can’t now!”

In Grindelwald's eyes, Hermione was a rational person who was restrained.

This also reveals another aspect of her willpower—her respect for life outweighs her fear.

Yes, what she resisted was not the spell itself, but the purpose of using it.

Hermione did not immediately feel smug or relieved that Riddle was being tortured; instead, she was angry at Grindelwald's indifference.

“You and Albus are a lot like each other…” Grindelwald clicked his tongue, showing some interest. “When I used to experiment with the Unforgivable Curse, he always liked to chatter on and on.”

He immediately understood—Hermione felt that his actions just now were no different from Voldemort's.

"That's strange, but didn't he torture you in the same way?"

Riddle glanced furtively at the girl's face.

"That was Voldemort's doing. I'm Riddle now, understand, old man!"

“That’s a twisted form of revenge,” Hermione retorted. “If you want to test my will, then go ahead… Even if you torture him all day, I won’t be happy!”

Seeing Grindelwald's eager expression, Riddle paced back and forth in front of the two of them with a long face.

But what ultimately put the first Dark Lord at ease was not Hermione's rebuttal, nor Riddle's clumsy performance... but Nietzsche climbing in through the window facing the garden.

He was beaming with excitement and started calling out the girl's name from the other end of the living room.

'Beowulf' has arrived!

Nietzsche looked at Hermione, Riddle, and the unfamiliar old man with some embarrassment.

"Which one...you guys keep busy?"

(Hehehe, the fox knows some people will think Hermione is too 'saintly' and not satisfying enough, but don't worry, because the following plot will focus on describing another side of Hermione, this is a transitional storyline)

Chapter 141 The First Generation Dark Lord in His Old Age

Nietzsche was sandwiched between Hermione and Grindelwald on the sofa.

Now, he was the most bewildered one in the Granger family. He had only asked Hermione to take a stroll in Diagon Alley, taking advantage of the rare good weather in England, and to show off his first step into becoming a novelist.

Hermione wanted Nietzsche to share her 'pain'.

“Since we’re already here, let’s not leave.” Hermione hooked her arm around Nietzsche’s neck and gazed at him tenderly.

That look gave Nietzsche goosebumps, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end instantly. His intuition told him that Hermione had no good intentions.

He kept twisting and turning in his buttocks as if needles were drilling into them, trying to get up, but Hermione wouldn't give him that chance.

"I suddenly remembered that Howard has some important things to do!"

“We can talk about it later.” Hermione practically leaned on him to shift her weight. “Great, it’s not fair to you if I’m the only one preparing for this year’s Defense Against the Dark Arts class.”

Just in time for you to arrive!

In fact, she just wanted Nietzsche to keep her company; facing such an old wizard alone was too terrifying!

In the magical world, the older the wizard, the more eccentric they tend to be. After all, who would use the Unforgivable Curse to teach someone for no reason...?

In contrast, Grindelwald remained calm, stroking the white stubble on his chin. He looked around but couldn't find any extraordinary or earth-shattering secrets. Apart from being handsome, he didn't see anything resembling himself.

He was even more displeased when he saw Nietzsche blushing slightly from Hermione's breath.

Hmph... He wouldn't have done that back then.

“Nietzsche, he’s completely insane!” Riddle’s shadow, as if seeing a savior, immediately pointed at Gellert and launched into a tirade, “He actually used the Crucifixion Curse openly, and on me no less!”

Nietzsche merely glanced at him with a frown.

"Aren't you perfectly fine?"

He sniffed, because Hermione was so close that Nietzsche smelled a distinct fragrance, not the kind described in the movies, but rather the scent of some kind of flower.

Perhaps some of the flowers that Mrs. Granger grew?

"Ahem...but he used it in front of Granger."

Nietzsche immediately changed his tune, looking at Grindelwald seriously and saying, "How can a professor use such a spell in front of his students without any reason or need?"

Riddle nodded repeatedly.

As a prisoner, he was well aware of his situation and simply stood aside, echoing his sentiments.

Nietzsche then added, "I know you want to vent your anger for the students of Hogwarts and the wizards who were once oppressed, but at least don't do it in front of us! Do it in secret, even if it's just to be discreet... It's not shameful!"

Now it was Grindelwald's turn to nod approvingly.

It seems there are still some reasonable people here.

Nietzsche was like a non-stick pan; he didn't offend either Hermione or the new professor, Glendale.

"Alright, alright, I'll be more careful next time." Grindelwald waved his hand, immediately shattering Riddle's memory, and then stepped down the steps Nietzsche had provided.

Looks like there will be a next time...

Tom Riddle felt that his days were not going to be peaceful for a while, at least he would have to get used to the Crucifixion Curse that could come at any time. In this stark contrast, he suddenly began to miss Dumbledore.

At least he won't be treated like that when he's in their hands.

"So what exactly did you learn?" Grindelwald steered the conversation back on track.

To be honest, he was very dissatisfied with Hogwarts under Dumbledore's leadership. At least from what he could see so far, Grindelwald's impression of it was... well, it was a bit harsh, but it was definitely weak.

Aside from black magic that can be used to 'fight poison with poison,' it hardly touches on anything else deep.

“Aside from those forms of magic that are not permitted, we have our own magical research.”

Hermione proudly raised her head. Perhaps Nietzsche's arrival gave her some courage, so she pulled Nietzsche, who could barely be called a friend, to the back of the garden.

Because this area is covered by anti-tracking and confusion spells, they are free to use their own wands to cast spells.

Hermione was also seething with anger and was just about to vent it.

“Interesting.” Grindelwald casually broke off a walnut branch from the yard to use as a wand. “Magical research isn’t something you can just talk about; you have to demonstrate it.”

Hermione's dissatisfaction with him immediately turned into motivation.

With a flick of her wand, the spell was unleashed upon Grindelwald in its most powerful form—he could clearly sense a primal, essential force influencing his every move.

His arms began to become immobile, and his feet gradually began to dangle in the air.

It was a novel feeling, because Grindelwald knew this was magic that acted directly on his body, infinitely close to...

“A fine curse.” He activated the magic within him, just as a wizard would do during their first burst of magic, clearing away the effects attached to him. “Yes, that’s it. Use your will to wield power.”

He could sense Hermione's determination because she wasn't driven by any unnecessary emotions.

Magic that acts directly on the target, even if the effect doesn't look flashy, is always the most efficient and more unpredictable.

“This is not a curse,” Hermione said, looking at him pitifully. “It doesn’t even belong to any branch of dark magic.”

The generation gap between them was so deep.

“That doesn’t make sense. Black magic is the crystallization of magic, the closest thing to its essence. The fact that it can directly affect the target is one of the characteristics of a curse…” Grindelwald said hesitantly.

Nietzsche listened with great interest, but... wait a minute, this way of explaining things sounds so familiar, he felt like he'd heard it somewhere before.

That's right! Isn't this exactly what Quirrell argued back then?

“Derivative spells and applications of the Levitation Charm.” Hermione gave a cold laugh, this was her last bit of respect for the old wizard. “It seems that dark magic is not omnipotent, nor is it the closest to the essence.”

Grindelwald didn't have time to think carefully, because Hermione changed from a single-handed grip to a dual-wielding stance, and charged over with her lightsaber in hand.

Each wave of her hand was accompanied by the hum of plasma. She tried to incorporate magical gestures into her movements, like Nietzsche did, creating a unique aesthetic.

"Except your weapons!"

For example, the moment before she thrust at Grindelwald, she was making the gesture for the Disarming Spell.

Even if he dodged the disarming spell, the next second would be a stab aimed at his opponent's position... Hermione never neglected herself; she was always observing and trying her best to improve herself.

Once Hermione closed the distance, Grindelwald fell into her rhythm.

Just when Nietzsche thought she was about to win, the new professor unexpectedly used defensive magic to block her attack, and then a small cluster of dazzling lightning appeared on the casually broken branch.

Even though Hermione managed to dodge it, her body still started to feel stiff and numb.

“Good research. It’s clear you’re very interested in the application of magic,” Grindelwald said breathlessly.

He was old, and years of malnutrition and lack of exercise had turned him into a skeleton on the verge of falling apart. Not to mention, during his fight with Hermione, he could always feel his movements being restricted in every way.

It either gets stuck or moves very slowly, like being stuck in mud...

"So, how strong is my willpower?" Hermione was petty and desperately wanted the other person to admit it.

“Not bad, is that enough?” Grindelwald felt like he was coaxing her. His gaze lingered on the girl’s face for a moment before he said irritably, “But it’s still a bit lacking compared to my war magic.”

He was also very stubborn, so stubborn that he didn't want to admit it was because he was getting old.

Hermione was finally somewhat satisfied. After the paralysis wore off, she slowly turned around and gave Nietzsche a triumphant look—it was now Hermione Granger's time to show off.

Nietzsche just stared at her and kept grinning foolishly.

"what happened?"

"Your hair..." He clutched his stomach, almost bursting out laughing.

Hermione raised her hand and scratched her head, only to find that her hair had swelled up due to the electric current. Since her hair was already slightly curly, it made her look like an American nouveau riche woman.

The faint freckles under her eyes were immediately covered by the blush.

"I...I'm going to take a shower!" Before she could even savor the joy of being recognized by the professor, she immediately ran back to her room.

As Hermione soaked in the bathtub in the second-floor bedroom, that long-lost feeling of exhilaration began to surface. Her once frizzy hair, now wet, clung to her shoulders and chest skin just like before.

Her thighs weren't particularly slender, but rather, due to the summer's travels and the school's combat training, they appeared exceptionally strong, like the women in French Romantic portraits.