Roy arrived at Nurmengard Castle just as the evening mist curled around the spires. The air was cold and heavy, but inside, Roy had prepared a warm, luxurious atmosphere. A long, polished table had been laid with Japanese and Chinese delicacies—delicate sushi rolls, steaming dumplings, fragrant stir-fries, and rare teas. The aroma was enough to momentarily disarm even a mind focused on darkness.
Grindelwald, still held in the confines of the castle, was escorted to the table. His sharp eyes darted around, noting the lavish spread. "Roy Valvas," he said, his voice low, "why have you brought me here? I assume it isn't for a simple meal."
Roy smiled faintly. "No, Grindelwald. I need your insight. Hogwarts, Dumbledore leaving as principal, Voldemort's horcruxes… everything that's happened. I need to understand the bigger picture, especially concerning Cassian Veylorn."
Grindelwald's jaw tightened. "Dumbledore abandoned his post? The boy running the school now… and you didn't tell me this sooner?" He was visibly irritated, but curiosity kept him seated.
Roy gestured toward the dishes. "Eat first. Then we talk." Grindelwald hesitated, then cautiously tasted the delicacies, nodding at the precision and flavor. Roy quietly explained what had happened at Hogwarts, how Dumbledore had fled, the creation of the DA, and the chaos surrounding Umbridge.
Once Grindelwald had settled, Roy began to speak of Rowen Ravenclaw. He detailed how he had met her, destroyed Voldemort's Horcrux, and, with Nicolas Flamel's assistance, had crafted a new body for her. He explained how their souls were now linked, allowing Rowen to exist in the present despite her former demise.
Grindelwald leaned back, frowning. "And you expect me to take all this in… calmly?"
Roy ignored the irritation and moved to the next topic: Cassian Veylorn, the disciple of Salazar Slytherin. "I have two assumptions about him," Roy said. "One: he stored his soul in an object, hidden for someone to eventually discover. Two: he used forbidden magic to rebirth himself in the future."
Grindelwald's sharp gaze narrowed. Each revelation seemed to chill him more than the last. He could feel the weight of centuries-old schemes converging in front of him.
Roy then took a small vial containing five drops of life-extending potion and handed it to Grindelwald. "Drink this," he said calmly. Grindelwald did, and as the potion coursed through his veins, his body rapidly rejuvenated. In moments, he transformed from eighty years old to thirty, the vigor of youth returning.
Grindelwald, now physically revitalized, performed prophecy magic, scanning the currents of time and fate. Images flooded his mind—visions of the Veylorn family, Cassian Veylorn's life, and his dark manipulations. After the prophecy, his age subtly adjusted back to sixty, the strain of foresight taking its toll.
Roy observed carefully, then shared his conclusion:
"Cassian Veylorn used prophecy magic to determine when and who—specifically Tom Riddle—would find him. He married a woman, fathered two sons to continue the Veylorn bloodline, and, as he approached death, used forbidden magic to store his soul in a wand, which he concealed in the Slytherin Room inside the Chamber of Secrets.
"While waiting to be discovered, he taught black magic to Tom Riddle in exchange for materials and access to the Veylorn lineage. Later, Cassian killed the descendant, using forbidden magic on their body to strengthen his magical power, manipulating Voldemort into being a key pawn in his long-term plan."
Grindelwald let out a low, involuntary breath. Roy's words painted a chilling picture of centuries-old plotting. The scale of Cassian Veylorn's schemes sent a cold shiver down both their spines, a mixture of awe and terror. Grindelwald's eyes reflected the weight of this revelation; he looked older, back to sixty, carrying the mental burden of the prophecy and the insight Roy had shared.
Roy's calm gaze met Grindelwald's. "Now we understand the depth of the threat, and why Voldemort could never have been fully controlled by simple ambition. This… was all orchestrated long before he even existed."
Grindelwald nodded slowly, the air around them thick with the tension of dark histories and untold futures.