AN: This is my first serious attempt at a long continuous fic as well as one done in the HP-verse so I'm a virgin to this wonderful world :D Give me lots of reviews/criticisms/comments or whatever just so I can have a reason to keep writing for you dear readers I have to warn you, I'm right in the middle of the school and all its hassle so updates will be spaced out quite a bit, hopefully I can keep it to at least a chapter a month with pretty decent chapter length. Sorry if the dates are kind of screwy, I will try to keep everything as canon so please don't flambé me –pleading face-

That annoying bit being said, please note I own nothing in this story except my own lovely characters from my imagination. Now you may enjoy.

Prologue
The Tolling of the Bells (How they Toll for Thee)

December 31st, 1995 – Nurmengard

There it is again. Those bells. Signifying the end of another hour, another day and, once again, the end of another year. Oddly enough, I feel at peace even though there is a great sense of foreboding surrounding me. Might as well, it is about time for my life to draw to an end. I've done many things, some great, the majority ghastly, and I regret them, repent them even! HA!

Me! One of the greatest Dark Wizards in my lifetime repenting for the evils I have committed! The irony of it makes my old frame quiver and shake with the effort used to laugh.

Those bells.

Signifying my many losses in my life: Friends, family, integrity, life, power, freedom honesty, trust, love.

Yes, love! Can you believe it? The Great Gellert Grindelwald has loved and lost! Hear this though, not once, my dear friend, but twice! Twice!

Wait...

What? What is this? Tears? Merlin's beard...After all these years, tears are flowing from these eyes, the ones that I swore so vehemently were never to shed again after her. God, how I loved her...How I loved them both. This pain, this rawness tears this old, bitter heart apart. I now realize, on the cusp of my life's end, how utterly alone I really am. The sobs being wrenched from this throat, Merlin, God, Muhammad, who ever, make this stop! The pain, the severity of my actions, just makes this all too hard to bear!

Those bells...

Will they ever stop? Each resounding ring pounds into my body, bringing with it more pain, more suffering, more regret. The reverberating echo lingers in my chest, prolonging this pain, this torture. God how I loved them! I wish I could do it over and not let my quest for power blind me to what was important. To what really mattered...

Finally, I've stopped. The tears still continue on, an ever present reminder of my sins. With this heavy heart and cheeks damp with hot, salty tears, I bring in the New Year with nothing but my memories and the patient wait for my demon of death searching for something I have no longer.

Those bells, they remind me of the day I first met him.

Chapter one will be out hopefully in a week or so. Hope this whetted your appetite and you want more of my story :D Don't forget to R&R!