"Go on, you stupid knight, you're under the lead of General Awesome! Have no fear and strike that bishop down! Down, I said!"
"Rook, avenge our bishop! Eat that knight! Eat it now!"
"West, you little bastard, you! How dare you eat my knight! Queen! Advance three cases and..."
"Gilbert! Ludwig! Stop whatever you're doing, I need to speak with you."
The two brothers looked up from their heated match of wizarding chess and stared at their father, who seemed to have just got home, before exchanging a confused look between themselves. On the one hand, Gilbert was thinking about what exactly could had landed him in trouble this time. On the other hand, Ludwig simply said "What is it, father?"
Their father looked very tired and concerned. There was a worried shadow in his brilliant green eyes. His long, blond, normally perfectly combed hair looked disheveled. He reached for his cravat and loosened it, then chose the comfiest couch in the room and let himself fall down on it heavily. He kneaded his eyes with the heels of his hands.
"... I'm very sorry, but you won't be going to Durmstrang once the summer's over."
Both children let out a horrified sound before launching themselves in loud, protesting questions against their father.
"What do you mean, old man! ? Of course we're going back! What the hell are you going on about!"
"Father, that's unreasonable! Why can't we go to school? We need to! How are we going to get a job if we don't! ?"
Their father had expected the onslaught, but that didn't mean that he approved of it.
"Shut up!"
Both children recoiled as if they had been physically hit. Gerhart heaved a long sigh.
"I didn't mean that you boys are never going to go to a wizarding school ever again. I meant that since the situation in Germany is... well..."
Gilbert snorted. "Well..." was not exactly the way things were in Germany. Ever since that Grindelwald guy had started acting up and controlling the mind of that crazy Austrian Muggle dictator, things were most definitely not well in (and for) Germany.
His father cleared his voice before going on.
"So, seeing that Durmstrang is not that safe a place anymore, I'm having you change school. You both speak English fluently, so the two of you are going to be attending Hogwarts. It's a half-way decent school, and in the British wizarding world there's no sign of turmoil whatsoever. So, you'll stay there until the situation here is... uhm... better."
Gilbert thought that if he had anything in his mouth, he would have surely choked on it. Moving school was a big damn fucking deal. He honestly couldn't see himself switching his allegiance from his beloved school to that pathetic loony bin that was Hogwarts. And losing all his friends from school! What would Antonio and Francis say when they found out? Gilbert felt a sharp tightening in his chest. If he went to Hogwarts, then how would they see each other every day? And besides, Hogwarts and Durmstrang were rivals ever since the days of the Founders, and now he would have to go there! Study with their stupid teachers? Eating their awful English food? Trying to make friends with a bunch of bastards that were sure to hate him the moment he stepped through the threshold! ?
He turned to Ludwig, who didn't quite seem to catch the horror of it all. Of course, he reasoned, Ludwig is going to start school this year... allegiance and everything mean nothing to him...
Gilbert scoffed. It wasn't fair! His little brother would simply start school from scratch, whereas HE had to give up three years in his beloved Durmstrang!
His eyes shot up to their father. "I'm not moving school, father. I'm staying in Durmstrang. If West here wants to go off to Hogwarts, then fine, I don't mind, but I..."
His father suddenly stood up with his wand in hand. He looked at Gilbert with piercing eyes.
"I'm sorry, did I ever mention that I was giving you a choice?" he asked.
Gilbert gulped, but held his father's gaze. "Well, it's me that you're talking about! I should have a say in..."
Gerhart didn't even let him finish. He shoved his wand right under his eldest son's nose and hissed
"You have no say in this. You are a minor, and I'm your father. You'll listen to me. You'll do what I tell you to do. You're going to Hogwarts and that's final."
Gilbert did get a bit scared, but tried not to show it. He spoke with a firm voice.
"You can't make me! You'll have to drag me all the way there and fucking tie me down on the bloody train! And as soon as you turn your back, I'll just fucking run to Durmstrang! You can't decide that for me! I'm nearly fourteen, I'm not a kid anymore! "
Gerhart's eyes shone with something that could only be defined as a murderous light. For a moment, Gilbert wondered if he had gone too far...
When his father spoke again, Gilbert winced. He had never heard such ice in his voice.
"You really are just an immature brat. Don't you understand that going back to Durmstrang is a death sentence for you? Don't you know that Grindelwald knows Durmstrang very well? Don't you realize that you both are in mortal danger as long as I have the Eld..."
Then, he stopped suddenly. He had almost told the boys the real reason why he had to ship them off to England. Gerhart turned around brusquely and pinched the bridge of his nose. He had to be more careful. He didn't need to get so worked up. Gilbert was reacting just like any teen would. He had to be patient. He had to hold his Hippogriffs. If his boys found out, they would be in terrible danger. His eyes fell on his wand, and for a moment, his children saw a glimpse of regret darting through their dad's eyes.
But when he turned around and spoke again, his voice was normal, if a bit too controlled.
"Look. I don't want to be sending you boys to Britain, but for reasons that you can't know – Gilbert, I'm not telling you, so don't pull that face on me – you have to be as far away from Germany as possible. Hogwarts is a very safe place, and there's that very talented Transfiguration teacher, what's his name..."
Ludwig looked up and said hesitantly "... maybe Dumbledore, father?"
Gerhart nodded and awarded his youngest son a proud smile. Honestly, that boy was really a smart one. "Yes, him. He's the only one that Grindelwald ever feared, so you boys will be safe there. Now, go back to your chess match. I'll be in my room."
With that, he left the room, his cloak dancing around him as he turned and headed for the door, leaving two half-scared, half-dazed children in his wake.
Ludwig held on to his father's cloak a bit longer than he needed to for side-along Apparition. They had Apparated in a train station, where a gleaming red steam train was waiting. All around them there were crying mothers, happy children and worried fathers. He couldn't help but notice how lighter the atmosphere was. Clearly, the British wizarding world had no clue about Grindelwald, and they were safe and sound from the German Muggles that were waging war on the non-magic population of their country. Ludwig had no idea what to think. He knew that he would have to go to school, but now it all felt so terrifying. Would he make it? Was he talented enough? And what was more, father had clearly stated that they were not to exchange owls during the year, and that they'd have to spend Christmas and Easter at Hogwarts, and not at home. Which made him feel very helpless. Father said that it was because no one had to know that they were related, because then they'd be in danger. He really wished that father could tell him not to worry, that it was going to be okay. He looked up at him, only to see a lot of worry in his eyes.
"Father? What's wrong?"
Gerhart snapped out from his thoughts and shook his head, as if to clear it. He stood in front of both boys and put his hands on their shoulders. He looked at them straight in the eyes.
"Now, you boys stay out of trouble. If you see something suspicious, you go to Dumbledore and tell him immediately. Don't tell anyone that you are my sons. There are a lot of Beilschmidt wizards in Germany, so as long as you don't just say that I am your father, no one has a reason to know. And..." he Conjured a letter out of thin air. "... you give this to Dumbledore as soon as you can. It's really important. And though you, Gilbert, can owl Antonio and Francis, the both of you are to never, ever owl me. Do you understand?"
He stopped and looked at his children, waiting for an answer.
Gilbert shrugged and said grumpily "Yeah, sure, whatever. I understand."
Gerhart could still see how much it stung for Gilbert to be changing schools.
Ludwig instead said "I understand too, father. Don't worry."
Gerhart nodded and said "Alright then, Ludwig, watch over Gilbert, ok? Don't let him get too reckless, and for the love of God, if you see him drinking Firewhisky, jinx him into next week for me."
Gilbert scoffed. "If anything, I should be the one taking care of West here! He's just eleven!"
Gerhart gave a small smile. "I know, I know. I was merely joking."
Then he composed his face in a serious expression and, without any warning, gave both children a tight hug.
Both brothers were stunned. Father was hugging them! That happened only once a year, and at their birthdays!
Gerhart smiled as he felt his boys hugging him back. His voice was a bit unsteady as he said "Now, you guys are going to be fine. You're strong and smart. You show these Brits how it's done. I love you both. Your mother would be so proud of you. And I am, too."
Gilbert exchanged a stupefied look with his blushing younger brother.
"Uhm... yeah, uhm... awesome. So... see you, I guess...?"
Gerhart hastily let the boys go. He looked a bit flushed too. "Of course. See you next summer." and with that, he hastily retreated. He felt so worried for his children, but this was the only way to keep them well out of harm's way. Even if he couldn't see or hear from them for basically a year. If he knew they were safe, he didn't care.
But later that night, when he received a owl from Dumbledore, stating that Gilbert had ended up in Slytherin and Ludwig in Hufflepuff, and that he had read the letter and decided to protect them, he felt suddenly relieved.
Le voilà. A story of mine, with Fem!Feli of course, but you should be used to it by now. I seriously debated with myself if I should put this in the Crossovers, but in the end, the story is completely Ludwig and Feli-centric. I put in a cameo or two from known characters, but that's it. They're not really relevant to the story. You'll see as it progresses. Also, it's already done, with an epilogue too, so no hiatus for sure. All in all, I really wanted to read a story where the characters live in the magical world, but all the ones I found were never about Ludwig and Feli, and they merely go on about what would happen if the Nations went to Hogwarts and stuff. But I wanted a serious take on their world, so there. I should warn you, this is possibly the longest story I've ever written. And also arguably completely original, as far as I know.
That's it. If you liked the prologue, drop a review! XD