hamelin-born asked: After his defeat, after he's imprisoned in Nurmengard for the rest of his natural life - I think that Grindlewald laughs, sometimes. Even in the face of his oncoming death at Voldemort's hands. Because he has children, and they are his victory. He has two children, and countless grandchildren and great-grandchildren - non omnis moriar. "Not all of me will die."
This is likely. Especially if he foresaw his death at Voldemort’s hands.
Do you think, with all those years alone to think of what he’s done, that he feels guilty about what he did to them? What he put them through?
The seventh book did say he started to feel remorse…..
I think he may be regretful for lost opportunities. He remembers the time Newt told him about his middle name, and how happy he was the one time he managed to draw Theseus into a spirited discussion of his favorite book. He regrets never knowing his children. He regrets never knowing his grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren outside of what little his visions tell him. He regrets - a lot of things. He regrets never taking them in his arms and telling them that he loves them. He regrets that they were never family.
He might not regret his cause - he fought for what he thought was right, what he thought needed to be done. But he regrets - the missed word. The spent chance.
He regrets hurting them.
But even though they deny him, his blood still flows in their veins, and they are his victory - they are the immortality that he and Albus once so desperately dreamed of. Grindelwald will go to his death willingly, with the memory of the sun on Albus’ hair on a perfect summer day, Newt’s shy smile, and Theseus’ bold grin.
(And maybe, perhaps, he will meet Albus again. Maybe he can finally tell him - “I’m sorry.”)
Yes. He doesn’t regret his cause. But he regrets the harm that it caused his loved ones. That it tore him away from Albus. That Newt and Theseus never knew that he really, truly did love them.
He knows better now. He’s learned. And if his death can make amends for any of it, why, then he will go willingly.
And there is a certain power in willing self-sacrifice.
I think, from that point on, Newt, Theseus, and their descendants would have been impervious to Voldemort’s power.
