3

Paul Mustermann put his twin daughters – Erica and Angela to bed and made himself and his wife some coffee before sitting down to enjoy the classical music that usually came in at this time on the Wizarding Radio. Life had always been peaceful for him - as an employee of the Ministry and the nephew of one Mykew Gregorovitch neither side had ever sought to attack him during the war. Even today, he reassured his wife, the recent happenings in England were far removed from them and their quaint life – but if Sofia felt so inclined, he would certainly see to organizing a vacation in South America! After all, as he told his daughters over and over again, family always came first.

Comforted, but not convinced by her husband's words, Sofia went into the kitchen to bring out another pot of coffee and Paul once more lost himself in the music, thoughts of the girls' upcoming birthday and the broomsticks he had bought to surprise them with swimming in his mind. But when Sofia had not returned ten minutes later, he decided to check in on her – perhaps she was still upset by the letters Uncle Mykew had sent (that silly man, not knowing not to heap even more trouble on Sofia's already burdened shoulders).

But when he entered the kitchen, all he saw before him was a snake like face with narrow eyes and no nose. Before he could even begin to comprehend what was going on, Paul and the figure vanished without a sound.

They found a mutilated corpse in the street two days later.

Harry gingerly dipped the back of his hand into the essence of murtlap. Dumbledore had sent him a message earlier in the day saying he was to have Occlumency lessons - with Snape of all people! Dumbledore still refused to meet his gaze or talk to him and Harry could not help but feel he had disappointed the man in some way. Hermione kept pestering him to report Umbridge to Dumbledore but she could never understand he could never do something like that – he couldn't approach Dumbledore after having disappointed him so, and everyone would simply call him an attention seeker.

'Are you sure you're alright Harry?'

'Yes, Hermione', Harry replied with a small smile. Suddenly everything was alright once more for Hermione Granger. She still couldn't believe a teacher could do something like this to her students, and had not Harry made her promise, she would have gone straight to McGonagall.

Ron nudged Harry in the side. 'It'll take more than that toad to take us down, won't it, mate?' Ron laughed, bringing an even bigger smile to Harry's face.

Harry realised that it wasn't Dumbledore, or McGonagall or even Sirius who would always support him – but himself. He couldn't keep relying on others to fight his battles for him. And in that moment, Harry Potter was no longer a child, but an adult.

'Hermione, I think what you've been saying makes sense. We need to learn how to fight. We need to be able to stand up to Voldemort. And if Umbridge won't help us do it – we'll have to do it ourselves.'

'I knew you'd come around Harry! I'll plan something for a couple of people on Hogsmeade weekend.'

'Honestly, Hermione! How many people do you plan to call?'

'Like I said, a couple', Hermione smiled and rose to leave the common room.

When Grindelwald returned to his Manor in Vienna, he was pleased to be greeted by four house elves, each bowing till their noses touched the ground. Grindelwald walked up to the eldest, an perhaps most stately and well dressed (as well dressed as one could be wearing tasselled curtains) one amongst them.

'Waldy! Report!'

'Waldy is being most glad to have Master back. Waldy and the other's have been keeping Master's Manor clean for his return. After Master disappeared, Waldy did not know what to do. Those moste evile men from the Ministry came and went through everything in Master's house. They offered to release Waldy and the others – but Waldy is a respectable house elf, and Master is a most kind Master – and Waldy refused. They even tried to enter Master's study, but Waldy remembers he was never allowed to enter there so Waldy and the others kept those evile Auror-men out. But Waldy is old now, and he be thinking, maybe Master not need him any longer. Tanrey and Zankey already dead twenty years ago Master.'

'Don't spout nonsense, Waldy. Tell me about the state of the other houses – the one's in Prague, Dresden and Sofia.'

At this a grave expression appeared on the little elf's face.

'Waldy and the others have carefully looked after Master's houses in Prague and Sofia, Master. But the house in Dresden – Waldy could not do anything, Master! Oh how Waldy tried! Fire from the sky master! Raining fire, all night long! Fire and explosion! Oh, the noise! Waldy kept seeing bright lights and hearing buzzing sounds for hours on end! Oh, when the fire rain killed Tanrey and Zankey! Waldy will gladly accept clothes for his failure, Master! Waldy will gladly pay with his head!', the ancient house elf let out a loud wail of sorrow.

'Stop your weeping immediately an tell me more about this 'fire rain'.'

'Waldy does not know –sniff- what to –sniff- say, Master. The fire fell from the sky and kept falling –sniff- for the whole night –sniff-. Waldy has never –sniff- seen anything like that before. Please Master, Waldy could not do anything. Waldy will accept any punishment', the elf again began to wail.

This was clearly quite pointless. Grindelwald would have to see the damage in his Dresden house for himself. Ordering the house elves to prepare a heavy lunch, he disapparated with a crack.

As he walked through the Muggle repelling and concealment wards (the Fidelius never having been placed on the childhood home he never intended to use) Grindelwald already expected to see a run down building which was damaged, but what he saw made the Dark Lord shiver – there was no house, only a pile of ash long since neglected by the hapless Muggles. The Dark Lord had quickly invaded the mind of an elderly Muggle outside the wards to see what had happened. The visions! For the first time in his very long life, the Dark Lord was scared. There was no sorrow for his childhood home or for the memories that dwelt within, but fear, pure, unadulterated fear for the powers that had caused this.

He would have to meet the younger Karkaroff, this Igor, and hope that the man's intelligence gathering skills were at least as good as his (Igor's) father's had been.

Albus Dumbledore walked out of the meeting with Michel Delacroix with a smile on his face. The French, thank God, had not been as intractable as the Germans. He had eyes and ears on the Continent once more – and at a small price – a liaison, that nice girl Fleur Delacour, daughter of the head of French Law Enforcement would have to join the Order. Albus knew that the girl had a thing for Bill Weasley – so no trouble at all!

Michel Delacroix also left the meeting a happy man. Fleur Delacour was in the Order, and he was her contact. He quickly jotted down a note for his owl to carry-

'森,

All is well.

十'

and left for lunch.

Author's Note:

This is my first fanfiction. Thanks for reading. Please review.