[Grey Manor, Scotland.]
[Nate's POV]
I entered the dining room. Grandma was cooking food without a wand as always. It always rubs me the wrong way that she does not use magic for the smallest things. It is good to use magic as often you can. A moderate drain on magic always helps in increasing the power one could call at their disposal at any given time, but well she is not preparing for war, I am.
"Grandma, what is for dinner?"
"Shepherd's Pie, Cullen skink and Treacle Tart."
"Great! I am very hungry, grandfather took me for my wand ceremony today and I cast a spell for the first time today."
"So what spell did you learn today?"
" Illusio. The illusion-summoning spell.", I squealed in excitement and pride.
"You have been practising illusions wandlessly for the last two years, no?"
"Yes I have been practising very hard.",I confirmed.
"You will take care to exercise physically regularly Nate, yes?"
"Of course, Grandma I have to tell you something." I said as I was moved towards the kitchen area of the dining room.
"What ?",inquired Grandma.
"I lied to you." I was feeling guilty and a tiny bit ashamed. At my words Grandma's brows had furrowed.
"About what?" she asked.
"I didn't want the family ancestral journal for reading about the lives of our ancestors. I don't like most of our ancestors anyways. When you allowed the wards to let me check the journals, I nicked the journal about the experiments with the killing curse."
"I knew." came a curt and amused sounding reply from grandma.
"What? So why did you not make me do lines or help with a chore?" I was equal parts horrified and embarrassed at getting discovered but disregarded.
"Because I know you are not a fool Nate, you know about runes more than most men that are thrice your age. You speak like a grown up, you act like one most of the times. You understand things like politics,heartache, death, love, murder" I flinched at that "Oh don't make that face, the cloak you were wearing today before leaving proved you aren't ignorant of the world. You may be sheltered due to being part of the House Of Grey but you are not naive. The only reason you are not without complete oversight yet is mainly because I don't want you to see the ugly side of the world, no matter if you are seeking it or not, you might be wise beyond your years, smarter than others but Nate if you want to go to a fight then remember that the enemy is not the only one who will bear the scars. William was just like you in nature but the Great War changed him. He survived fighting Grindlewald, he saw the monster you could become Nate and he wants to protect you from such a fate, such loneliness. Grindlewald lost his humanity, his followers and himself, Nate, what had remained of him was something that was said to have repulsed even the Dementors of Azkaban who refused to perform the kiss on him. He still rots alone in the very prison he built. Learn from history, Nate, what you deem as curiosity could ruin someone's life, what you deem to be justice could very well be vengeance."
I was hurt and furious. I know my capabilities at magic are intimidating but comparing me to a monster who has ruined thousands of lives, perhaps millions even, if he orchestrated the muggle world wars. Simply was not fair. I bit back viciously,"You speak of Grindlewald with pity now grandma because he lost! Do you think he wouldn't be respected warlock of the ICW, had he won?! Voldemort maybe wrong about many things grandma but he was write to say that there is no good or evil in this world, only power and those too weak to seek it. You think Grindlewald was a monster, what does that make Albus Dumbledore??!!"
That bought her up short.
I kept going,"Did you know that they loved each other?!!! They had plans of changing the world. But destiny did not wish for it and do you know what happened, a fight between Gellert Grindlewald, Albus Dumbledore and Aberforth Dumbledore and someone died." I started laughing taking vindictive glee in how her eyes widened " Yes someone died. Ariana Dumbledore. There is no white or black in the world, only grey. I do not care why you all compare me to monsters but it hurts me to see you have so trust in me and my love for you." The earlier fury from my statements had worn out and what was left was hurt.
"William does not wish to hurt you but if there is a possibility that you might go down a darker path, would you risk so many lives on it?"
"There is no light or dark path, only perceptions of it created by those mongrels at the ministry who fear people like me." I snarled.
"So you want to tell me Voldemort was not evil? That those who died by his hands deserved it because he was stronger than them."
"No they did not deserve such a fate. But I refuse to bow down to the levels of those weaker than me just to prove I am not evil, with my power I can't be anything less than what appears to be a tyrant to those who wish to hate me. You might wish to believe that all men are born equal but they are not. I am stronger than most and my principles and pride trump the laws of those weaker than me. It is a simple truth."
"And when your pride decides someone is not suited to the living world? Will you kill them?" came the calm voice of grandfather who was being followed by my parents who looked saddened at his question looking at me with worry.
I could have lied but I was not wrong and thus faced his questions head-on.
"Yes if their actions deserve death, I will kill them." my answer was followed by a mocking laugh from him.
"Hahahaha! James and Lily Potter deserved to live. So did the Longbottoms. Can you give them life? No right?! Then perhaps you should not be arrogant enough to deal out punishments if you cannot"
"If that is what I must do first than that is what I shall endeavour to do."
"No spell can bring back the dead boy."
"Says who? The mongrels at the ministry? Death? Gods?"
"You arrogant brat!!!!"
"You once told me to have a goal. I never told you I had set one. I do not wish to be a hero, or dark lord. I wish to be a tyrant that could make death take a step back. I do not wish to be immortal but I wish to be what you called me by comparing me to Grindlewald in any capacity ,a monster. I want the world to know that I am dangerous. And I want the world to take heed of this danger!!!!"
At the end of my proclamation the tight control of my magic had slipped and a magical oath had been taken by me, which shocked everybody in the room.
"I do not wish to hate you but what you have said to me or what you haven't said" I gazed at everyone present slowly,"I have one question. What if I am a monster, will you be among the ones hunting me?" I slowly took my regular seat and asked while staring at the table and the utensils and silverware on it.
"No we will not. I will never condone what I perceive as wrong but you are my son. Powerful as you are, wise as you are, you are not evil, you are still young. And the only family I have is here in this room. We are a small family. So as your father you will always have a seat beside me on this table this I promise you, Nate." my father sat down beside me while wrapping his arm around me and pulling me a hug.
"T-thank you, d-dad * hick*" I couldn't help the sobs that escaped me.