"It's over.." Muttered the red-haired wizard, who was looking at unconscious man who was lying next to him.
Fortunately, only unconscious, because, for a short moment, it seemed that spell casted by the red-haired man was lethal.
But steady breathing assured Albus Dumbledore that his enemy had only lost consciousness.
Albus bent and looked at the face of the man whom he had evaded for years and with whom he was forced to fight in the last 10 hours.
Dumbledore have never seen Geller Grindelwald lying calmly like that. Never.
When he woke up from his thoughts he took the wand, which rightfully belonged to him now, from the blond's hand ,
Once upon a time he had wanted to claim it, but now he had a feeling that the price was too high...
In the area of rubble in which this fight took place, arrived the Aurors.
"Dumbledore...Is he...?" Shouted the commander, coming closer.
"He's alive..." Answered the wizard quietly and stood up.
"Are we supposed to end this quickly or painfully ?" asked the Auror with grim vengeance, but Dumbledore only waved his hand in annoyance.
"He will live."He saw that the Auror was starting to ask a question, but he himself didn't know the answer.
He didn't know why, but even if he would never see him again, even if death was, for Grindelwald, much better than prison, this time Albus Dumbledore decided to be an egoist.
For reasons unknown to him, he wanted Gellert to live.
"Lock him up in Nurmengard"
Aurors were finishing cleaning up after the fight, when one of them walked to Dumbledore.
"We have investigated Grindelwald's was letter with your name on it," Said the wizard looking suspiciously on red-haired man.
But Dumbledore was puzzled himself.
"Thank you," He answered and started to investigate the envelope with fingers. It was thick, like it contained some kind of book or something like that. But he didn't have enough courage to open it in front of everyone.
Then came another Auror with something that looked like a featherless turkey.
"It's for you from his quarters." The Auror's face was as puzzled as Dumbledore's.
"And there was a note" He added,handing some piece of paper to the auburn-haired wizard.
'28th of July'
One week after that memorable duel, Albus Dumbledore was already in his Headmaster's Quarters, recovered and after having talked with staff.
He couldn't escape for eternity from this letter and chick, that was, without a doubt,a Phoenix.
He decided to start with this little creature. In his mind, '28th of July' was far more important than a letter left by the most dangerous wizard of their times.
Dumbledore quickly located the bottle with the writing "July - 1899" on it and poured its content into the Pensieve.
***
28 July 1899
"...And that's why Phoenix in my opinion is more useful in battle than dragon." Finished young Albus Dumbledore, shooting daring looks in a direction of his blond companion, who was smiling with disbelief
"Well...While your arguments are making sense, I'm still sticking to dragons." Answered young Gellert Grindelwald, still smiling.
"Have you even seen a dragon?" Asked Albus, glaring at his friend.
"Yes, I have, and you will see it now" Gelert jumped off of the window-still and took out his wand.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM"
A shining, silver dragon appeared in Albus' garden. If young Dumbledore recognized it correctly it was Schwarzwaldian Black Dragon.
"THIS is your patronus?" Albus was simply amazed, but Gellert just shrugged it off, faking modesty.
When the dragon had disappeared, Gellert came closer to his friend.
"Curious, aren't they? These patronuses, I mean.." Said the blond boy "Theoretically,they are a mirror of character or feelings of their master, they are some kind of.. soul-projection.
But under strong emotions they can change their shape.
Or one can have a few patronuses, for example, if you can produce a horse-shaped one and you will fall in love with someone, whose patronus is a tiger, then yours will also change into a tiger.
But if you don't want to admit that and you will be skilled enough to control it, it will exist in its old form. It's useful if you don't want to make your feelings or character clear."
"Have you written it down ?"
"No, but someday I will. And it will land in some boring book for another generation of wizards who will have to learn from it.
"We weren't thought how to cast this spell. I wonder what would my patronus look like."
"Phoenix, Albie...Phoenix"
"What ?"
"Trust me, I know it's a Phoenix"
1945
Dumbledore was standing in front of his desk,looking at his Pensieve with accusation, as if it was it's fault that he didn't understand anything.
Now he knew that even if he was afraid of letter's content he had to read it. He had to know if his supposition was true...
With shaking hands,he opened the envelope...
' Dear Albus !
The fact that you're reading this letter is proof of your victory over me in our duel. It isn't a great surprise, after all,you were always a little better at magic than me.
But enough babbling. I left my Phoenix under your care. Or, rather your Phoenix,because it was supposed to be yours.
When I escaped from your house..I know it is an old, still running wound, but I think I should try to explain myself - I did have a reason. You see, I knew which one of us had killed Ariana. But I thought that it should remain as an unsolved mystery.
After leaving Godric's Hollow I decided to continue our revolution. I still hoped that you would join me, but on the other hand - I knew you wouldn't.
Years have passed and many wizards and Muggles that agreed with our, or rather at that time time, my, ideals joined me. At that time I had only him - Phoenix. If You've looked into the memories from 28th of July (I know you understood my notice), then you should know, why I've chosen Phoenix.
In spite of myself, I took his name from that Muggle you told me about - the bird's name is Fawkes.
Take care of him, and he will protect you and guard you. You said yourself that they were very useful, I think it's hard to disagree.
But, I must ask - why did you avoid confrontation for so long ?
I don't think that you were fearing me, You've never feared me. And probably you've never noticed, that I wasn't using you or your feelings for me.
Old Doge once said to me, that I broke your heart by using them to acomplish my plans.
I agree, you could feel that way, but...
Let me return here to this day of 28th of July - I lied. My patronus isn't a dragon. It was, before I met you, that was right,but...Let's say, that I told you enough that day.
Feelings were always just a burden for me, so why should I express that one?
Unfortunatelly, the time is up and talk won't change anything...But..Is this why you threw away our ideals ? This is why you have abandoned our revolution and decided to go against me ?
I'm not saying that I'm not proud, headstrong or severe , but it doesn't make me some kind of tyrant that needs to be destoyed, does it ?
There is no great thing without victims. And for the greater good there is always something one has to sacrifice. People, family...or even himself.
And you know it, because you sacrificed our bond to fight against me and defend Muggles. And somehow I knew it would end like this.
I also know that you won't kill me. You will imprison me probably, but you won't have me killed. I will leave your possible reasons for myself. I will be really honored if you would just send me a letter to wherever you will lock me in, because I know that you will not come to see me. You will fear that you wouldn't be able to resist my words. Or so I think,but remember- I know you well.
Dry information would be really fine, just for me to know that you're alive.
It's funny in some way - You're trying to forget me, but yet everything will remind you about me.
You have my wand
You have my Phoenix
You have our memories
And temptation to see me in my prison, I suppose.
And you probably won't believe me, but I wanted to rule this world only with you.
Take care of Fawkes.
Gellert Grindelwald. "
When Dumbledore finished reading the letter for a second time, he sat on his chair and hid his face in hands.
When tears stopped flowing, he reached to the envelope again.
He found there most of Gellert's discoveries, including an essay about patronuses. He smiled when he read the notice attached to them - "To some boring book"
Albus Dumbledore knew, that it made no sense to decieve himself, that he loved only a mask of man - he loved this Gellert as he loved his younger self. But, as his ex-friend had written - he won't tell him that. And he won't see him again. Never. But he will write letters.
For sure
Suddenly he felt claws on his arm. He turned his head and saw Fawkes, who looked at him with sympathy. And then he decided to check something...
"Expecto Patronum!" In front of him flew a silver copy of Fawkes.
"You knew...So..You had to...me..." He didn't notice that he was talking to himself. He smiled " We'll meet again someday."
1992