章 305: You’re both still young.
"Grindelwald took his and Dumbledore's blood... and created you... in the laboratory?"
Blake met her eyes, his expression heavy with a mixture of guilt and resignation. She already knew what he was going to say, but she needed to hear it from him, to confirm the truth that was unravelling before her.
Blake nodded a small, almost imperceptible gesture that carried the weight of his revelation. "Yes. I'm Grindelwald's son," he confessed, his voice low but steady.
"And I know... you have a grudge against Grindelwald... so..." He trailed off, unsure of how to finish his sentence, unsure if he even wanted to.
Nagini's heart clenched. The weight of Blake's words hit her hard.
'Grindelwald's son.'
She could feel the tension in the air, thick and suffocating as if the world had just shifted beneath her feet. Blake was still talking, his voice carrying a mix of frustration and helplessness, though Nagini barely heard him at first.
"I don't expect you to see me as family anymore," Blake continued, his voice quieter now, almost as if he were speaking more to himself than to her. "I just hope you can still be my friend... No, it's a luxury to even ask for that. How can I expect anyone to be friends with the son of their enemy?" His shoulders sagged, and his head dropped, eyes fixed on the cold stone floor beneath his feet.
Nagini watched him, her chest tightening with every word. She could see the frustration etched across his face, the helplessness in his posture. Even though Blake was trying to put up a front, trying to appear unaffected, it was clear how deeply this was affecting him.
The pain in her heart deepened as she watched Blake struggle with his identity. She knew that even though he was Grindelwald's son, it didn't change who he was to her.
Her mind drifted back to the years she had spent trapped in the form of a snake, feeding on small creatures, surviving on scraps of sustenance in the darkest corners of the world. She had been bound by her curse, forced into a life of isolation and despair until Blake had come along and changed everything.
The memory of those dark days filled her with emotion. Blake had saved her, given her the chance to live again as a human, to reclaim her life. She couldn't walk away from him, not after everything he had done for her.
Blake continued to speak, his voice growing softer. "I've been thinking too much," he said, his words filled with self-doubt. He was losing hope, and Nagini could see it in his eyes.
Without thinking, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a soft embrace. Blake tensed for a moment, but then he melted into her arms, the tension in his body slowly dissipating as he let himself relax against her.
"We're the same, Blake," Nagini whispered, her voice soft but firm. "We can't choose our origins. We can't choose what others did to us before we were born."
She pulled back just enough to look into his eyes, her gaze steady and unwavering. "But that doesn't define who we are now. You're not just Grindelwald's son. You're Blake, the one who saved me, the one who gave me a new life. That's who you are. That's who you'll always be."
Blake blinked, taken aback by her words. He had been prepared for rejection, for the possibility that Nagini might turn her back on him because of his lineage.
But hearing her speak, hearing her reaffirm who he was—it touched him deeply. Any remnants of the act he had been putting on earlier dissolved, leaving behind genuine emotion. He hadn't realized how much he had needed to hear those words until now.
"Nagini..." Blake began, "Does it really not matter to you? Even though I'm his son?"
Nagini smiled gently, her eyes soft as she shook her head. "Of course, it doesn't matter. I want to be part of your family, Blake. This has nothing to do with Grindelwald."
Blake felt a wave of relief wash over him. The weight that had been pressing on his chest suddenly felt lighter. For the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to feel hopeful.
'Family.'
The word echoed in his mind, filling the empty spaces with warmth.
"Is that really possible?" Blake asked hesitantly, his voice betraying a flicker of doubt.
"Even if I'm his son, you're still willing to be my family?"
Nagini's expression softened even more as she nodded. "Yes, Blake. Let's go to Professor Dumbledore. He might be a great wizard, but he's not exactly the best at taking care of people. From now on, I'll take care of you."
When they stepped through the dimensional portal into Dumbledore's office, they found the professor seated at his desk, surrounded by stacks of ancient-looking documents. Dumbledore glanced up from his papers, his sharp blue eyes landing on the pair with a hint of curiosity.
"Blake, Nagini," Dumbledore greeted them, his voice calm and measured as always. "What brings you here?"
Blake stepped forward, gathering his thoughts before speaking. "Professor, I... I have a request."
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, setting down the scroll he had been reading. Blake rarely asked for anything, which immediately made this request all the more significant.
"A request, you say?" Dumbledore replied, his expression growing serious. "Go on, Blake."
Blake glanced over at Nagini for reassurance before continuing. "I want Nagini to be part of our family, Professor."
Dumbledore blinked, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he turned to Nagini. "Is that so? And what do you think of this, Nagini?"
Nagini stepped forward, her voice soft but determined. "Yes, Professor. I'd like to be part of Blake's family, if that's alright with you."
Dumbledore frowned slightly, considering her words. "Nagini, you are certainly welcome to be part of our family. But... are you sure Blake has told you everything?"
Nagini nodded confidently. "Yes, he told me everything. About Grindelwald, his past... But I don't care about that. Blake saved my life, and that's what matters most."
Dumbledore sighed, his eyes softening as he gave a small nod. "Very well. If that's how you both feel, then who am I to refuse?" He smiled warmly at Nagini. "Welcome to the family, Nagini."
Nagini beamed, her smile radiant as she looked over at Blake. Dumbledore turned to Blake, his expression one of fond amusement. "You've really grown, haven't you? Bringing Nagini into the family like this."
Blake's heart swelled with pride as he nodded. "Yes, Professor. I think it's the right thing to do."
Dumbledore chuckled softly. "Well, I won't object... But, you're both still young. There's no rush for such decisions just yet."
Blake frowned in confusion. "What do you mean, Professor?"
Dumbledore smiled knowingly. "In a few years, when you're older, you'll understand."
Blake blinked, feeling a sudden sense of realization wash over him.
'Wait... did the professor think...?'
"Professor, I didn't mean it like that!" Blake stammered, his face turning red.
"I just wanted her to be part of the family, not... not..."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled with amusement. "Ah, but Blake, don't you see? There's not much difference between asking someone to be part of your family and a confession."
Blake stood there, completely dumbfounded, as the truth of Dumbledore's words sank in.
What had he just done?
Nagini's face flushed as she realized what Dumbledore was implying. "Professor! That's not what I meant either!" she exclaimed, her cheeks burning.
Dumbledore chuckled, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "Well, it's nothing to worry about now. You've both got plenty of time to figure things out."
Blake and Nagini stood there, both of them thoroughly embarrassed, as Dumbledore returned to his papers.
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