A/N 1: So sorry for the long wait. My computer decided to fry my hard disc, so I had to wait for the repair guys to see if anything was salvageable. I found out that I had to rewrite everything. Not fun. Also I have just celebrated my first birthday alone, which was kind of hard. The other thing is that kind of got in the way, I work at an amusement park and we have high season right now, which ends in a week. So after that I should be able to update more regularly.
A/N 2: This was originally two chapters, but I thought it felt better with just combining them. They weren't that long either. This chapter is kind of an introduction, in to the mindset of some of the characters. The next chapter will be fast paced and fast forward to get to the point where the story really begins.
Since the awesome Rowling has a thing for anagrams, we decided to throw one in too. It shouldn't be that hard to figure out.
Warning: There are some slightly mature scenes in this chapter.
In loving memory of Martin.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters. Except for Harold and Grace.
First war and First Warning
Albus Dumbledore sat in his transfigurations office, reading the latest plea for help, from the war front against Gellert Grindelwald. They had asked him so many times, that Albus had lost count. They all believed that he was the only wizard strong enough to defeat Gellert. Which was true.
Albus was the only known descendant of Merlin and thus believed to be Merlin's Heir. Everyone knows he has brother, Aberforth, but he is not nearly as powerful as Albus, so it would be impossible for him to be Merlin's Heir. Their sister died so many years ago. Died, thought Albus, that's putting it mildly. Killed is more accurate. But I do not know which of us did it.
That is one secret Albus will never tell anyone. At one time he was best friends with Gellert. But Gellert was power hungry, still is, by the accounts from the war. He is blinded by the lure of The Hallows and the need for total domination over muggles. Good thing we never discovered were the location for the wand was.
He knew were the stone was. It was currently in Hogwarts on young Mr. Riddle's hand. Albus doubted that Tom Riddle knew what it was. But Albus was curious to know, how he came in to possession of it.
The cloak, however, was a total mystery. There have been no records of a cloak that powerful. Albus and Gellert had decided that they had no need of it, since they could perform very good invisibility charms. The cloak would be nuisance and could easily be caught on a tree or a fence, when you were sneaking about.
No, what would be the most interesting of The Hallows to have would be The Wand of Death. But finding it would be like the muggle saying, 'like a needle in a haystack'. Albus had looked everywhere, but it's like it just disappeared without a trace.
Albus sighed as he went over the letter again. He wasn't sure how to react. He knew that Gellert couldn't be allowed, to gain more influence over the world. Gellert was a very, according to intelligence, powerful dark wizard.
Albus had always known, from their time together, that Gellert was interested in the dark arts and very capable of using them, from his time at Durmstrang. But if he was truly as powerful as described, then he must be stopped, so he can realize the error of his ways. Muggles needed to be guided and helped, not controlled. That was, what Albus thought.
His quiet musings was interrupted by a soft trilling.
He looked over his shoulder at the magnificent phoenix, Fawkes. He is the most peculiar bird, thought Albus.
He met Fawkes a few years back, when he came to Albus rescue, after he had been bitten by a rare poisonous snake. Fawkes saved Albus from certain death, by crying special healing tears, into the wounds.
When Albus was cured, Fawkes had asked him, if it was alright for him to join Albus, until his true master showed himself again. Intrigued, Albus had asked Fawkes, who this person was.
Fawkes answered, that his master would have a profound insight in right and wrong. Be immensely powerful, show courage beyond his years and be pure of heart.
He further mentioned that he had never truly had a master before, he had only had companions. The Creator had said that only one would ever be able to have enough power to be his master.
What baffled Albus the most, about his phoenix Fawkes, was that his last companion had sealed him in a special place, to protect Fawkes from those who would hurt him. Fawkes had released himself, when he had sensed, that the arrival of The Promised One would happen soon.
Albus has thought about that answer for some time now and he still didn't understand. As far as he knew, he is the most powerful wizard alive. He is courageous, has a pure heart and knows right from wrong, so naturally, he should be Fawkes master.
But he still didn't fell like he could control Fawkes.
Maybe the circumstances, for me to be master of Fawkes, hasn't happen yet, Albus thought to himself. He was sure; he would be able to control Fawkes in time. After all, he controlled many of the people on the front lines against Grindelwald, what better way to insure those he controlled and those who looked up to him, would continue to do so, then for him, Albus Dumbledore, The Heir of Merlin, to be master of a phoenix, a creature for The Light.
Albus looked to the left of the letter. The entire tests from his sixth year transfiguration class needed to be checked. Wait. Albus suddenly sat straight up. That's it. For Albus to be able to control Fawkes, he would have to go through a test, so Fawkes could see that he was worthy.
That brought him back to the letter. He had, in the past, been content to just sit back and let the events unfold. But no more. The war had gone on for long enough, for him to sweep in and defeat his old friend. He would then lead the wizardingworld into a new great and peaceful era, molded in his image.
This, he decided, was the test Fawkes had set him. He would defeat Gellert and gain control of the phoenix. He would of course need help from the most powerful witches and wizards of the time, besides himself.
His friend and mentor, Nicolas Flamel and wife Perenelle. His fellow professor, Filius Flitwick. His brother, Aberforth, he would need some convincing. He could tell him he found out that it was Gellert that cast the curse that killed Ariana.
That's five, with him included.
"Hmm... I need two more," he said to himself.
Albus went through a mental checklist to see, who was powerful enough and a light side supporter. He couldn't really think of anyone. Wait, he thought. The Potters, they are both very powerful. Harold is nearly as powerful as me and Grace is not far behind. Those two are the biggest threat in power to me.
"Yes, I will have them join me in the quest to triumph evil. If they should fall, then so be it. Then I won't have to think about them reproducing a more powerful heir. They are both still young and young people make mistakes in the heat of the battle," he said.
He took out some parchment and a quill, and began to write to the Potters. He would talk to Filius at Hogwarts and his brother in Hogsmeade. He had other means of communication with Nicolas.
When he finished his letter, he walked over to Fawkes.
"Fawkes, my friend, cold you take this letter to Harold and Grace Potter at potter Castle? It goes by the name 'Golden Milers'," he asked his phoenix.
Fawkes looked long and hard into Albus' eyes, to determine if he knew the location or what the name really meant. He clearly didn't. Fawkes let out a trill of relief, grabbed the letter and flamed away.
Albus smiled and let out a low chuckle. He had always found the castles name a bit weird, ever since he sent the first letter of Harold's detentions to their ancestral home. Ah well, you can't blame the ancestors choice of name to their home on the living. With that out of the way, Albus set out to find and convince Filius and Aberforth to join him in the final battle.
$HoM$
At 'Golden Milers', or Potter Castle, which they have called it for the last five generations, Harold and Grace sat and the latest news of the war, over a cup of tea.
"You know dear, Grindelwald has been very clever to join forces with the German muggle dictator, Hitler, on his quest for purification of wizards. My source on the continent tells me, that Hitler is out to purify the world of what they call Jews. Which is kind of ironic when you think about it," Harold said.
"How is that ironic?" Grace asked.
"Well, like Grindelwald is a half-blood, Hitler is half Jew," he explained.
"Ah, I see," she said with a shake of her head. The lengths people sometimes go to, for no reason what so ever.
"Why do you think, that Dumbledore hasn't got..." Grace stopped midsentence, when a magnificent phoenix flamed in.
"Well hello, what bring you here?" she asked the phoenix.
Fawkes looked closely at both Potters. They radiated power and respect. He could feel a sense of familiarity with the man. Fawkes knew what this place was, by the magic that lived here. The question on his mind was, were they younglings of his great friend from long ago?
He studied them some more, to find their family chronology in their minds and souls.
Harold and Grace exchanged looks. They both had the feeling, that the phoenix in front of them, was looking deep within their very soul. It was no secret, that the Potter family had always had a deep respect for all sentinel creatures, be it magical or not. So natural, they opened their minds completely, so that the phoenix could easily read them.
Fawkes was a little overwhelmed. They willingly opened their minds to him and had absolutely no secrets to hide. Except one. They were direct decedents of the Founders and Merlin. He now knew that The Heir would come from this family. He would have to help them, so The Manipulator didn't corrupt them.
"Greetings, hatchlings of Merlin. I come in peace," he mind spoke to them.
"Greetings, noble bird. May we inquire your name?" Harold asked.
"I'm called Fawkes and I am here to give warning to you, as one in your future family will be my true master. I have been concealed within Gideon, for near a millennia and was released by him when we sensed The Heir would show himself, within this century," Fawkes spoke.
"But I thought that Albus was the Heir of Merlin. He told that to us," Grace said confused.
"The Manipulator is indeed a hatchling of Merlin, but you, sir, have the direct link. Do not say it to anyone who is not of your nest. There are others like The Manipulator, who seeks the power of the Heir," Fawkes spoke.
"You speak of the Heir, as if he's two different people," Harold stated.
Fawkes looked at him and cocked his head.
"The Heir is not different people. The Heir is one in three. I am not the one to speak of this; I am but the protector of The Heir. Perhaps Gideon is the one to explain this better. I shall call on him," Fawkes concluded.
There was a flash and then the sorting hat stood on the table next to Fawkes.
"Hello, Harold and Grace Potter. It has been years since you graced the halls of Hogwarts with your mischief. I can say we haven't had any troublemakers since you left, Mr. Potter," Gideon said in greeting.
Harold had the decency to look sheepish, while Grace harrumphed. She was glad that he had left his troublemaking days at Hogwarts. She just hoped that, when and if they had a son, he wouldn't be nearly as bad as his farther.
"Good day, Gideon. How have you been?" asked Harold.
"I have been well, Mr. Potter. I understand that Fawkes summoned me to clear up some information," Gideon stated.
"Yes," Harold said. "Fawkes here was trying to tell us something about our family legacy, something to do with an Heir. The trouble is, we think its two different people, but Fawkes says it's one in three. It's a little confusing."
"Ah. Yes I can see why it would be confusing for you. I presume that you have been told the story of Merlin's death by your farther, Mr. Potter?" Gideon asked.
Harold thought back to when his farther was on his deathbed and told him of the family legacy story about Merlin's death. He was told only to tell his wife and his children, when he thought they were ready. He remembered that he found some of it hard to believe, but at the same time he didn't. The family had always been incredible powerful. He knew now, after some family tree digging, that he was indeed related to Gryffindor and by extension, Merlin. He also knew that Grace was a descendent of Hufflepuff. They have never told anyone of their findings and the family tapestry was sealed of in a room in the castle, which only a Potter could access.
They both knew that their children would be more powerful then they were now, with the blood of two founders running in the veins, not to mention the blood of Merlin.
Harold snapped out of his revere, when grace kicked his leg under the table.
"Yes and Grace knows the story also," Harold said.
"Good, no need to tell it to you again. That story explains that a descendent of your family, it's quite likely a grandchild, since half the century is almost up from the time I released Fawkes, is The Heir of Magic. That's one. The second mention is The Heir of Merlin, which Albus Dumbledore tries to make everyone believe he is. The third Fawkes mentioned is The Heir of the Founders or The Heir of Hogwarts," Gideon said.
"Blyme," was all Harold said completely stunned. "How is that possible? That our grandchild, will have all four founders' blood running through the veins?"
"I'm not all knowing, you know," Gideon said in a slightly amused, yet reprimanding voice. "I'm just a hat. Besides, you don't know who your offspring is going to marry. There are two more things that have yet to be revealed to your family, but one of them will only be revealed after The Heir is born. The other is three warnings or prophesies as they are called. They have yet to be given, but as things stand now, it won't be long now before the first is given."
"Thank you for telling us, Gideon. We have a lot to think about and prepare for," Harold said.
"My pleasure. I will leave now and return once The Heir is three years old," Gideon said and vanished in a column of fire.
Fawkes looked at them expectantly and they looked back down on the letter that Dumbledore. With a sigh Harold reached for the letter, opened it and began to read out loud.
Dear Harold and Grace Potter
I hope this letter finds you well in these dark times. It has come to my attention that the dark wizard, Gellert Grindelwald, has become to powerful for the continental to handle alone. It will only be a matter of time before he begins his quest to destroy the rest of Britain that the muggle war has not touched yet. I therefore ask you to accompany me and four others to destroy Grindelwald before he destroys us.
Please send your return answer with Fawkes, if your answer is yes, then we will meet in my office at Hogwarts in seven days and then take a portkey to the wizarding outpost in Germany.
Yours sincerely Albus Dumbledore
They looked at each other for a moment after Harold was done reading.
"The way he writes it, makes it say that we have already agreed to do this and that the letter is just a minor formality," Grace said. Harold just nodded. They would have to be very careful around Dumbledore. He might be light, but there was something sinister about him, that Harold just couldn't shake of.
"We're going to say yes to help him, Grace," Harold stated.
"Why?" Grace asked. She was confused. Everything they had learned about him and their own family was reason enough for her, to put distance between them and Dumbledore.
"Sweetheart, if we help Dumbledore in this war, we will be closer to him and will be able to keep a closer eye on him then we would otherwise. I know he is likely to turn around on a Knut on us, but as the muggle saying goes. Keep your friend close and your enemies closer."
Grace nodded. It was a sound saying about the situation.
They send their reply back with Fawkes and began preparing for the big fight.
$HoM$
Seven days later, seven of the most powerful light sided witches and wizards alive, were gathered at Albus' offices. Everyone he wanted was there, both of the Flamels, both Potters, Filius and his brother Aberforth. Yes, his little Phoenix Order, as he called it in his mind, was strong. They all stood around a tin can and on Albus' nod, they put a finger on the portkey and travelled to Germany.
The noise of the war was loud. Muggle bombs going of, explosions caused by magic against the big shield surrounding Grindelwald's stronghold. Albus nodded grimly to the others and walked to the wizarding command post.
"How far are you in taking his protection down," Albus asked one of the wizards looking over some notes.
"Professor Dumbledore, it's good to see you again. Thanks for arriving with additional help. We should have the barrier down within the next five minutes," the wizard responded.
"Good. My team and I will enter the stronghold and take Grindelwald down once and for all. I will need all the help I can get, with keeping his allies of our backs, so they don't come to his aid," Albus commanded in a forceful tone, but still maintained a twinkle in his eyes.
"Yes sir," the man replied. "We still have three full units of war mages and two units of squibs equipped with muggle weapons as backup. In worse case scenario, we have a standing order with a muggle response team to blow this place up, if we should fail. There won't be any dark wizards or creatures alive once we're finished."
Albus nodded with a frown. He wasn't that fond of the plan. So much magical blood was going to be spilled. It would be so much better to offer them all a second chance to redeem themselves. That was what Albus planed to offer Gellert, when he was defeated. But the outcome outside the fortress was going to be a bloodbath. He knew from history, that the American troops were particular trigger happy.
"Albus," Nicolas said." Filius, Perenelle and I, will make a protection barrier once we get inside, so no one can enter behind us. We will have to be there to maintain the shield."
Albus just nodded. The four of them could handle Gellert just fine. He would stand slightly behind the others and when the time was right, strike him down.
There was a loud boom and a slight shaking in the grounds. The shield was destroyed. They all looked at each other once and ran out of the tent towards the gates of the stronghold. Somebody shouted cover fire. All that was in their path dropped like marionettes either by muggle or magical means. Grace saw a head of one of their enemies practically explode, some of his brains flew on her robes. Gross, she thought, but shook it of. There wasn't time to hurl right now. Harold saw a troll be ripped in half by overpowered slicing curse.
The dark side retaliated with dark magic and dangerous beast. By the time the small group reached the doors, the battle was full on. The Flamels and Filius began immediately upon reaching their destination, to pull up a powerful shield. The sound of the ongoing battle outside subsided a great deal.
"Homenum Revelio," Albus said. "There is only one person in here and that's Gellert."
"That was a little risqué, Albus," Nicolas reprimanded. "You know he will be able to tell that his stronghold has been breached. Anyway, we will stay here and keep pouring magic into the shield. Good luck."
The others nodded and followed Albus further into the stronghold. The Potters privately agreed with Nicolas' assessment. The spell Albus cast was known for the side effect that the target would know someone was looking for him. The swooping feeling was rather hard to ignore.
"He's in the second room to the right," Albus said when they arrived at the third floor. "Grace, use Bombarda on the door, it will take down any protection and booby-trap spells he might have planted. After the door is open we will storm in and take him down quickly and efficiently."
He then handed out small phoenix brooches to the others.
"These are emergency portkeys; use them to evacuate yourselves if you become too injured to fight. Make no mistakes, Gellert is very powerful. We may have numbers one our side, but he has undergone dark rituals, so we have our work cut out for us," Albus said.
They accepted the small token and pinned it on their robes. The four of them headed to the door indicated by Albus. On the count of three, Grace casted Bombarda Maxima on the door and then all stormed in, Albus lagging a little behind.
Gellert whirled around and managed to cast Protego just in time for the door to strike his shield. Of the four people that entered, he only knew two of them. Albus and his brother. He grinned at Albus. He now knew who had cast the spell to reveal him.
The Potters drew first blood. Harold levitated a huge block of the blown up wall up and Grace cast Bombarda and a banishing spell on it in rapid succession. The result left Gellert impressed. The wall chunk blew apart and the fragments broke down his shield by the sheer force of the spell. A piece of rock clipped him on the side of his head and he could feel the warm thick liquid trickle down the side of his head. He lifted a hand up to the side of the head and gently touched it with the palm. He looked at his hand and looked up at the Potters; a twisted smile graced his lips.
There was a roar and Aberforth charged ahead, his wand was a blur and curses both light and grey flew from it. He wanted revenge for his sister. This idiot was the biggest reason to his family falling apart. Albus had shoved him the memory of that fateful day where Arianna was killed. He could see it clearly, that Grindelwald had cast the curse that ripped his beloved sister from him. Albus wasn't entirely innocent in the mess. He had been friends with the bastard and had practically turned his back on the family, in his insane quest to get more power. He could have stopped the bastard before all of this happened.
Gellert kept his eyes locked on Albus as he fought against his brother and soon the two others. He couldn't quite understand why Albus hadn't joined in on the fight yet. He wasn't sure that Albus knew that he, Gellert Grindelwald, had taken The Elder wand as his own. He was intoxicated in the power the wand gave him. Gellert yelled in pain as he felt many of the bones in his wand arm break. The arm hang useless down his side, he took the wand in the other hand and yelled a dark banishing spell at a very self-satisfied and grinning Aberforth. The spell took Aberforth unawares and he hurled across the room and slammed into the wall in the hall with a sickening crunch.
Albus was in shock. Not because his brother had just been hurled across the room, but because of the wand that did it. The Wand of Death was in Grindelwald's possession. He looked at the Potters as they battled fiercely with Gellert. They could handle him for now, while he checked on his brother. He leaned down over his brothers crumpled form and was glad that he still had a pulse weak as it was. He tapped the portkey on his robes and saw Aberforth be whisked away to Hogwarts infirmary, where the nurse stood ready to treat them from their wounds. Only when he heard a painful shriek did he return to the room.
Harold and Grace continued to hold their own. They had always had a good partnership in duels, so this was no different. There was just one problem, they were getting tired and was slowly loosing ground. That was something Grindelwald used against them. A shockwave caught them slightly unawares and they didn't get a shield up in time. Harold got the wind knocked out of him as he landed hard on the ground. He was still semi conscious when he heard one of the dreaded curses.
"Crucio," Gellert hissed and Harold watched as reddish light came at him.
Pain. Pain like nothing else ran through Harold. It was like being shoved naked into ice water or having barbwire wrapped tightly around him only to be stretched painfully across the skin. It felt like millions of needles or other sharp things bombarded his body. And he screamed. He screamed so much and so loudly, that if he was able to feel his throat over the intense pain, he would have felt the rawness and the slightly metallic taste of blood. But he couldn't concentrate on anything other then the pain as he writhed on the floor. The feeling only stopped when he felt something slump against him and just as he was loosing his consciousness he heard a sadistic laugh and felt a mild tug on his bellybutton.
Grace was slowly coming around. The shockwave had caused her to loose her consciousness momentarily. Someone nearby was screaming and someone else was laughing like a loon. She shook her head of the last cobwebs and looked around. Albus and his brother was nowhere to be seen. She vaguely remembered Aberforth being tossed across the room and out into the hallway. Maybe Albus was checking on him. She saw him lurking in the shadows and looking intense at something across the room. It was highly likely that he hadn't seen her yet. The screaming continued, but it was slightly muffled by the ringing in her ears. Her eyes followed the sound and she let out a gasp.
There on the floor writhing in obvious pain was her husband. Standing over him laughing sadistically was Grindelwald a red light from the wand he was holding locked on Harold. His eyes shifted to her momentarily and she cast the first spell she could think of.
"Lumos Solem," she shrieked a spell of her own creation. It had the desired effect on Grindelwald. He broke the spell he used to shield his eyes from the intense light beam. Grace ran across the room and kneeled down beside Harold. Just as she was about to tap the emergency portkey, she felt a ripping sensation in her stomach. She gave a bloodcurdling scream and looked down at her abdomen. Warm thick blood seeped out of the wound at an alarming rate. She clutched her stomach to lessen the flow, but it didn't seem to slow the flow. The last thing she saw was Grindelwald's body drop as she slumped against her husband and knew no more.
The scene Albus walked in on was gruesome at best. Harold was down and Grace looked to be following soon, given all the blood that was flowing out of her stomach. The smell of urine was in the air, which combined with the rust like smell was enough for Albus to almost gag. He cast a quick stupefy at a madly laughing Gellert and rushed to the Potters side. He quickly activated their portkeys; they were both in dire need of medical attention. Then he turned to Gellert, the wand was his now, even though Gellert still clutched at it in his blackout.
When Gellert came to, he found himself bound and gagged on the floor. He looked up at Albus who was twirling The Elder Wand between his fingers.
"Ah, old friend. You're finally awake. As you can see you have been defeated by me, so I am now the new master of the wand," Albus said in a mild tone, his eyes twinkling merrily. Gellert just glared at him. Albus hadn't even fought him; he just swooped in at the last possible second and claimed the victory over the other fighters. The young couple he had fought against had represented a real challenge. He hadn't fought against such skilled opponents in a wile and he wouldn't have minded loosing to them.
"You will find this kind of ironic, Gellert. I will send you to Nurmengard and live there for the rest of your life in penance. I give you this chance to redeem yourself. Do you have anything to say before your departure?" Albus asked. Gellert just nodded and waited for Albus to remove the gag.
"I have just one thing to say, old friend," Gellert spat. "Why don't you look in my prison cellar and see who I have in there as a special guest. You would have to hurry though, I don't know how mush time she has left. She's kind of old, but her visions have helped me a great deal."
Gellert grinned at him as he was whisked away to his new home, a prison.
Albus called on Fawkes. His phoenix now, he was sure of it. He sent a message to the others about their victory and told them to go to the hospital wing at Hogwarts were he would meet them.
"Fawkes, my friend. Take me to the prison cellar of this place, we have someone to rescue."
Fawkes flew in front of Albus who grabbed his tail feathers and then flamed away.
There were hushed voices to be heard all around. A hand gripped hers. The pain was thankfully gone, but something seemed of about it. Grace slowly opened her eyes and let out a low groan.
"Easy sweetheart," Harold said. "You've lost a lot of blood."
Grace sat up gingerly and the school nurse came over to her with some potions including blood replenishing and pain relief potions. Grace looked around on the others. It looked like Aberforth was still out cold, the others looked ok. Maybe slightly rumpled, but ok. She did notice, however, that Albus was missing.
"Albus is overseeing the imprisonment of Grindelwald," Filius said when he noticed her slight frown. Grace just nodded. She didn't feel like talking. She could tell that the others knew something about her, that they couldn't tell. The nurse came back and looked at her with a concerned yet apologetic expression.
"I'm afraid I have a bit of bad news, Mrs. Potter," the nurse said. "Your abdomen was severely damaged when you came here and the portkey didn't help much with that either. I'm afraid that you will only be able to have one child. I'm so sorry dear."
Grace was shocked by this news. She gripped Harold's hand tightly and felt the first tears leak down her cheeks. Harold embraced her in a tight hug as they both cried for their loss. They would have to plan for when they would have a child, but it would have to wait until the world had overcome the aftermath of the war. Their baby would be most precious to them.
As they continued to cry, the others looked on in sympathy. None more than the Flamels, they knew the hardship in losing ones child and fertility.
Albus looked around in the cellar and noticed a crumpled form in the corner. He strode over to it and was shocked to see the old celebrated seer, Cassandra Trelawney, look back at him with unseeing eyes. She drew in a ragged breath and said in an otherworldly voice.
"The time of The Heir is near…The path to The Power is set…Born into the family of Four…a soul tied to another…The Earth and Magic shall walk…if the Four stand united and the dragon soar, they shall take down Evil, for ever more…The time of The Heir is near…"
That was the last prophesy to ever be said by Cassandra.