A/N:

It's my first time posting on! But English is not my first language.

Darkness clung to him incessantly. To put it metaphorically, it was like the bottom of an ocean where he could neither swim nor escape. It began as a quiet pool at his feet, spreading outward, consuming the space around him until nothing remained.

The air was heavy, and his breath shallow. The darkness pressed against him, wrapping around his body like chains of iron. But it wasn't just darkness—it was despair, the light of death, like that of a Dementor.

A faint light, so fragile it was almost invisible, began to push against the darkness, spreading softly and warmly. It swept away the shadow, crawling into the spaces the blackness had occupied. His breath caught. The cold that had frozen the air began to thaw, replaced by something alive, something real.

The light grew stronger, brighter, melting the darkness like snow under the spring sun. It was tangible, unfamiliar warmth pressing against his skin. It struck his chest, demanding his heart remember how to beat.

Then, his eyes flew open.

Thanks to the sudden light, Grindelwald—rotting away in a midday prison—squinted and looked ahead. He gasped for breath, his mind spinning in confusion. But now his hands were pressed firmly against the surface of a wooden desk.

Hogwarts? He stifled a laugh. To find himself in the school of magic he had abandoned in his youth, long before the cold chains of Nurmengard bound him—was beyond irony. Of course, the school he was expelled from had been Durmstrang.

"Crabbe, focus!"

A sharp voice snapped him out of his thoughts. Grindelwald turned his head to face the one scolding him—a professor.

Crabbe? He muttered the name internally and looked down at his hands. They were large and clumsy, the hands of a young student. He didn't need a mirror to confirm it. His soul had inhabited the body of a student named Crabbe.

But how?

Grindelwald raised his head to stare at the professor, his eyes betraying a depth far beyond that of a mere student. These were the eyes of a dark wizard who once sought to dominate the magical world.

"Crabbe, are you listening to me?"
The professor's voice grew sharper, and Grindelwald reluctantly nodded.

"Yes, Professor." His voice was that of a young student, but his tone carried an irrepressible undercurrent of mockery.

After class, Grindelwald wandered the corridors, observing the unfamiliar faces of Hogwarts students. He had to figure out why and how he had ended up here. He also needed to determine his role in Crabbe's life.

"Crabbe?"

The voice calling his name belonged to Gregory Goyle. Earlier, in Transfiguration class, he had seen Goyle with Crabbe's other friend, Draco Malfoy. The trio appeared to move as a unit, likely Slytherin students, and probably not known for being particularly likable.

"Yes, Goyle? What is it?"

Goyle hesitated briefly before speaking. "Draco wants to see you. He said to meet him near the library."

Grindelwald nodded. "Alright, I'll head there now."

As Goyle walked away, Grindelwald smirked inwardly. He was already forming a picture of how he might use these students to his advantage.

Draco Malfoy stood with his arms crossed, his expression calm but tinged with impatience. Grindelwald approached, observing the situation carefully.

"Draco, what's up?" Grindelwald asked, trying his best to sound like Crabbe.

Draco nodded and spoke.
"We need to talk about something important. It's about next week's Quidditch match and...our plan."

Grindelwald's interest was piqued at the mention of "our plan." He maintained a calm demeanor and replied, "What plan? Specifically."

Draco squinted at him.
"Crabbe, you're acting strange today. Normally, you don't ask questions and just go along with it."

Grindelwald sighed inwardly, deciding to correct his misstep.
"Sorry, I've just been tired lately. I wanted to make sure I got it right."

Draco seemed to accept this, nodding. "Alright. We're going to prank that stupid Harry Potter."

Draco lowered his voice conspiratorially as he looked around. "I heard Harry is studying in the library this weekend with Hermione and Ron. We're going to take advantage of that."

Grindelwald raised an eyebrow and asked, "Take advantage? How?"

Draco, looking smug, explained, "We've got some special 'Sneezing Swamp Powder.' It's invisible, but once you breathe it in, you can't stop sneezing. We'll sprinkle it near the books Harry likes to use. Watching him turn red and sneeze uncontrollably will be priceless."

Grindelwald smirked inwardly at the childishness of the plan, though outwardly he played along. "Sounds brilliant. I'd love to see him embarrassed like that."

"When are we doing it?" Grindelwald asked, fully embracing his role as Crabbe, the loyal, if not dimwitted, follower.

Draco beamed. "This Saturday. Be ready, Crabbe. We can't mess this up."