Chapter four

Unexpected changes

Elisabeth Batory. The Aurors hadn't expected that.

Gellert tensed, seeing how the mercenaries watched his great-grandmother;, his Uroma, with rapt attention, their muscles tense, waiting for the order to attack.

Mr Dumbledore seemed unable to decide whether Elisabeth was a dear, though uninvited guest or a brutal aggressor. She, in turn, was watching him carefully, instinctively recognising the strongest opponent. Then she noticed the claymore sword hanging over the fireplace and smiled widely.

`Dumbledore!` she exclaimed, surprised `Is it really you? Percival Dumbledore…` She approached him without further ado and ran her fingers down the scar on his cheek. `We meet again… It must be our Weird. Do you remember me?` she asked with her rough, heavy French.

`Ma générale` he replied through clenched teeth `Your invitations for a tea cannot be forgotten … I assure you we have not done anything to your grandson. We mean him no harm.`

`If I thought you wanted to hurt him, you would have felt it with your every nerve already, believe me` she hissed `Ich kann auch anders, I can show a different side of myself… I prefer not to, as you already know, but I can. I can!.` she bared her teeth and her lips twitched in anger.

The Aurors, who clearly didn`t understand any French, started to fidget. Elisabeth eyed them coldly. Oh, no.

`Uroma, please` begged Gellert `I have come here out of my own volition. Do not hurt them.`

`Percival would never fall as low as to harm a child` she replied curtly `We know each other quite well… Do you remember, Percival, how we met? Have you forgotten?`

So she wanted the proof that she faced the true Dumbledore, not an impostor. Gellert hoped Mr Dumbledore had understood that and would deliver what she wanted.

`Ma générale, no one wanted…`

`I don`t want to cause any diplomatic incidents, Percival` she cut in warningly `Have I accused you of anything?`

`Last time you called me an idiot red headed murderer, as far as I can recall.`

Elisabeth rolled her eye theatrically.

`Because you were an idiot` she grinned like a shark `It would have been far more reasonable to run. You could have ended like a Muggle highwayman, hung on the nearest tree. A bandit you were, Dumbledore, a stupid, noble bandit.`

General Batory maybe didn`t want to cause any diplomatic incident but was heading straight for a casus belli.

`To get me to the nearest tree, you would have had to transport me a thousand miles through a thousand of anti-apparition wards, madam` retorted Percival, nothing daunted ` Letting me go was an more… economical option. Unless you could find a tree in Kavir-e- Namak and that would be a feat.`

Elisabeth smiled widely, gesturing for her witches to pocket their wands.

`Could you finally tell us what`s going on?` asked the red haired Auror.

`Ruth` replied Mr Dumbledore calmly `General Batory was just worried that someone wanted to harm her grandson.. Politics is such a dirty game, you understand… She will take the boy and leave without causing any further… incidents.`

Elisabeth laughed loudly `Don`t be so modest, Percival!` she exclaimed `Tell them the whole story… How you wanted to curse my head off!` she laughed again, as if it were a good joke `They had no chances in an open battle so they tried to pay me a friendly visit in the middle of the night hoping that, if they manage to get rid of the leader, my army… Oh, how was your name again… Rutty, dear, don't look so shocked. Aiming at the head of a beast is a clever idea…` she laughed again, seeing the shock on the Auror`s face ` Unless you face an erumpent, of course. So, they gave it a try, it didn`t work, such actions being inherently risky, and, well, this red headed idiot, instead of running, protected his fellow fighters… And as evil deeds are supposedly punished after death and good deeds are punished immediately for sure, he ended up with a scar on his face and had to drink a cup of tea with me.`

`I will never forget the taste of that tea, ma générale` Mr Dumbledore shook his head.

`I bet` Elisabeth smiled impishly.

Gellert had known the great-grandmother was vogelwild, completely crazy, following nothing but her own conscience but to spare the life of somebody who attempted to… Jormungand`s fangs. Well, though in the battlefield she showed her berserker side, she could also be magnanimous to the extent that surprised both the enemies and the supporters; and that had brought her gratitude and respect. If he had taken a leaf from her book more often….

Maybe he had learnt a bit already: he had let Meçut go and the young man would send him behind the bars if he could… Sure he would, that would be a splendid start for his career.

.

Stop. That had been THERE. What mattered now was to win the friendship of the Dumbledore family. Mr Dumbledore was obviously a powerful ally; he had after all dared to avenge his daughter and courageously had paid the price for that.

But that was THERE. Here, in this world, Ariana would be healthy; her father would not die in prison. The grandmother of Albus would not die as well; as far as Grindelwald remembered, she had died THERE trying to heal the poor girl.

How many powerful allies he could win if he played this right!

`Ma générale` Percival interrupted his musings `You did not announced your visit so please forgive us all that… fuss. But my wife has just finished baking the apple tart and my aunt has sent me a pack of splendid tea…`

`Curt and to the point, that's how a warrior should speak` smiled Elisabeth `And maybe I will finally learn what wind has blown my Gellert here… But, first things first, let's clean this place…`

Her companions drew their wands and in the twinkling of an eye the house looked as if nothing had happened.

The Aurors informed general Batory that she would have to pay a fine for Gellert's trespasses and left without further fuss.

`Where is your third child, Percival?` asked Elisabeth when the tart and the tea had been put on the table.

`I can see your intelligence service…`

`Do you really think they have nothing better to do?` retorted Batory `I am one-eyed but not blind, I can still see that clock on the wall.`

Indeed, the old clock showing the locations of all family members showed clearly that Albus was absent.

`He should be here in few minutes.`

`I would love to meet him` piped Gellert, trying to sound as innocent as possible. His great-grandmother looked at him, as if she just recalled the reason of her visit.

`Darling` she said, the familiar term sounding insincere on her lips, `Please explain to me WHY you are here.`

`Please, don't punish him, general` spoke Mrs Dumbledore `He saved our little daughter from a bunch of Muggles. They could have…` she shook, still shocked.

`The wand` said Elisabeth simply, stretching her hand towards Gellert who handed it to her without a word. The old witch waved it in a complex pattern, murmuring something quietly.

`It obeyed you` she stated rather than asked. Gellert nodded, feeling all his muscles tensing.

`If the wand of the old Bellicosa has not ripped your fingers off, you must have had a legitimate reason to use it. Her wand of elder is rather… demanding of its wizard` she said curtly, closing the case.

Oh, by Norns, the wand of elder, the Elder Wand. The wand for complex spellwork and the epic battles only. But it was not THAT wand, he was positive. How could it be?

`Mum, are we having guests?` he heard a surprised voice.

Albus?

He bit his tongue so as not to shout the name out loud.

Albus? No, a kid with bruised knees, a child's broom under his arm and a half-eaten apple in his hand.

Albus? Albus! Albi...

HALT. Stop. This is another Albus. This Albus will not be orphaned; he will never be a teen overwhelmed with responsibility against his mad sister and the troublemaker brother. This will not be the lonely, resigned, helpless Albus.

He must have been so desperate to focus all his feelings, dreams and desires on Gellert whom he had hardly known. But this Albus will have other options. Maybe he will find a woman and marry her. Or maybe he will find the man of his dreams, who knows? Some people play for both Quidditch teams. Anyhow, Gellert would not be the only option, the hopeless dream that would never come true.

Albus THERE was so exalted, so exaggerative, so possessive, so… pathetic. THERE, Gellert had been his only hope, his only company, his only… possibility to channel the desires and dreams of youth. Albus had clung to Gellert, leaving him no air to breathe. But here and now, with healthy family situation, this would not be a repeat.

.

General Batory, having tasted the tart, loudly expressed her praise.

'Oh, this is just an old recipe of my grandma's' smiled Mrs Dumbledore shyly.

'I would love to get it.'

'You bake, general?' asked Kendra, visibly surprised. No wonder, Uroma Elisabeth did not resemble a lovely cake-baking German Omi.

'Sometimes' replied Elisabeth 'I used to be a good potion maker as well' she added 'But now' she looked at her empty sleeve 'It's not like it used to be.'

'Oh, really', thought Gellert sarcastically, knowing his Uroma had lost her arm at the age of fourteen, in her very first skirmish. Nonetheless, she was a talented alchemist, able to get obstacles out of her way with a poison or an explosive. Anyhow, she was good at getting rid of stones in her path; she was a witch that got things done, an eighteenth century princess, achieving her goals with Avadas, poisoned wine and her uterus.

'Speaking of wine, Uroma…' Gellert said to himself 'Do not pretend you cannot mix a thing or two in your cauldron, THERE it had been revealed who had blown Dracula's train into the air, starting a long and fierce discussion whether she was an insidious murderer or a lion-hearted heroine.`

Fools. As if it had to be a contradiction. Sometimes murder and treason were the only honourable and reasonable option. Elisabeth had killed Dracula, that was all that counted; and she was no flawless altruist, that was another story. Kindness and magnanimity cannot kill monsters, it is treason and lies that do.

'Well' continued Elisabeth 'I still experiment a bit… I've been toying with an interesting idea… But I would need true blue roses for my potion and they are hard to find. The roses that are really blue, not just charmed blue, I mean.'

Kendra smiled and whispered something into Aberforth's year; the boy ran out of the room and came back a few minutes later with a huge flower. Shyly, he handed it to general Batory.

'What a gentleman' she thanked, examining deep blue petals carefully 'How many could you deliver right now, Mrs Dumbledore?'

'About a hundred' replied Kendra 'I have selected that strain myself; yet they are still not MoM-approved.'

'I don't mind' replied the general 'I would like to buy them all.'

'It took me ten years and hundreds of advanced charms to produce them' said Mrs Dumbledore 'Thus the cost…'

'I don't mind, just name your price. Honest work is to be remunerated honestly.'

Gellert felt dizzy. He thought he would just save Ariana… Yet if Uroma Elisabeth got those flowers now, she could brew her Blue Potion three years earlier than she had done it THERE. Which meant Uroma Ludwiga could start taking said potion three years earlier and maybe live longer, maybe long enough to prevent the war that had broken out THERE in seven years, ravaging magical Europe. This would mean…

'Hey, a Knut for your thoughts' Albus prodded him with his elbow.

'Oh… Nothing, really, I'm just tired'.

'But you will join us to fly a kite? I have got a splendid one from Gran, she charmed it herself.'

HALT. It was no time for intrigues and plans. Now, he would play and have fun, wars and plots could wait untill tomorrow. He will save his world, with tanks, spells and lies. Tomorrow. But now, he will enjoy being young and alive. He will live, not just exist.

'A kite? The last one of us outside is a flobberworm!' he shouted, jumping to his feet.

.

The harsh Scottish wind let the kite rise high up, ruffling their hair and tugged at their robes. The day was sunny and long, as they were far up North, and Gellert was set to enjoy every second of it.

When they got bored with the kite, Aberforth – how could he have considered that boy a nuisance THERE? – led them to the ponies and they were off, galloping through the wallowing grass.

Boom-boom-BOOM, boom-boom-BOOM, the tiny hooves thudded against the hard soil in the rhythm of joy and play, not of chase and battle. When they got tired, they simply took a break, there was no need to strain, to fight… Gellert hugged his animal, kissing its soft muzzle. Oh, by all gods of Asgard, Uroma Ludwiga was alive again, and in her stables Bö, Flocke, Lisa and Lotte were waiting for him, and he was again small and light enough to ride them, jumping over those funny, short hedges of Linderhof palace. Oh, great Norns, may the Sun never set!

Albus… He had not changed; he was curious, bright and a bit pompous. Though, to be honest, it was Aberforth who had a way with animals, which Albus clearly lacked. Furthermore, Albus already had the desire to best everyone, getting sulky if he lost even a pony race.

'He's always like that' snorted Aberforth 'He thinks he should always win, that he is the best.'

Oh, this had never changed… But maybe now his parents would shape his character in a better way.

.

Ariana was sitting in the grass, playing with blue butterflies she had conjured.

Gellert wanted to laugh and howl at the same time; those butterflies had almost been the cause of her becoming one of the living dead and she would never know that.

Mrs Dumbledore gave them strawberries, big as their fists and sweet as the life that was nearly lost. Crispy apples crunched between his teeth, their juices running down his chin. Gellert was dazzled with the intensity of sounds, colours and aromas; he had forgotten already how it feels to have healthy, young eyes, how it is not to be hard of hearing due to explosions. Norns, may this day never end!

.

Mrs Dumbledore played the piano, whilst general Batory sang with her pure, deep alto.

`Play the general's aria for me!` she laughed.

'Which is…'

` Nessun dorma, nessun dorma... ` started Elisabeth slowly.

'But… where is a general in there?'

`At the very end. All'alba vincerò! Vincerò! Vincerò! In the morning I will win!`

Gellert could have spent the whole of eternity there.

.

Werd ich zum Augenblicke sagen:

Verweile doch! Du bist so schön!

Dann magst du mich in Fesseln schlagen,

Dann will ich gern zugrunde gehn!

Dann mag die Totenglocke schallen,
Dann bist du deines Dienstes frei,
Die Uhr mag stehn, der Zeiger fallen,
Es sei die Zeit für mich vorbei!

If ever I to the moment shall say:
Beautiful moment, do not pass away!
Then you may forge your chains to bind me
,
Then I will put my life behind me,
Then let them hear my death-knell toll,
Then from your labours you'll be free,
The clock may stop, the clock-hands fall,
And time come to an end for me!

.

He shuddered. No, he couldn't stop or else this beautiful world would pop like a soap bubble. He did not have time to waste and the very first thing to do was to make friends with the whole Dumbledore family.

'Oma' he asked with an innocent tone 'Could I stay here overnight?'

.

He stayed for the whole week. He rode the ponies, swam in the creek, flew a tiny broomstick and stuffed himself with fruits and tarts. He also helped Mrs Dumbledore with the plants and learnt a lot. On the eight day, they spent the whole morning chasing the saplings from the Birnam Wood that Mrs Dumbledore had just received. The naughty, little trees managed to escape the parcel they had been sent in and bolted. Thus, under command of Kendra, they spent hours capturing them. They, that is him, Ariana and Aberforth (whom he called Abi) because Albus, a confirmed bookworm, didn`t like to have dirt under his nails.

`Finally` sighed Mrs Dumbledore, wiping sweat off her face after forcing a last protesting birch into a pot `Thank you, Gellert, you are a great help.`

`Help? I once killed your daughter tortured your son. And, by the way, once this sweet little girl killed you because you refused her another piece of chocolate` he thought. `

Stop. This had never happened and never will. Anyhow, he couldn`t recall anymore how Ariana had died. There had been an argument that turned into a duel, that was all he remembered.

`Mum!` he heard Abi shouting `A lady came to pick Lert up!`

Definitely, he will throttle Abi one day for nicknaming him `Lert`, he hated that cosy name.

The lady turned out to be his great-grandmother Ludwiga. She strode down the path slowly, her blue cloak rustling and gliding on the bushes, somehow without getting caught by the thorny branches. He must learn this cloak protection spell from her, it looked so elegant.

Mrs Dumbledore wiped her hands and stood up to greet the guest.

`Ludwiga von Bayern, Gellert`s great-grandmother` the old witch stated simply.

`Oh, the one called `king`s daughter`?` piped Albus up. Of course, he was not there when there was work to do but popped up to show off with his knowledge. The little smart-mouthed bookworm must have read something about von Bayerns somewhere… Well, Gellert had seen some history books in Albus' room… the boy even read this idiotic "The Daily Prophet"!

`Child` replied Ludwiga gently, polar opposite to his other carer `I am not called king`s daughter. I am one.`

Uroma Ludwiga was exactly like Gellert remembered her: calm, smiling, quick at repartee.

Fenris` fangs, she was Klasse, she ruled and stole the thunder wherever she appeared..

Speaking of Fenris, hopefully she had not brought,,, Oh, no.

`Wow, what a goat!` exclaimed Abi and, without waiting for permission, run towards Ludwiga`s habergoass, stuffing his hands into the long, black fur. `Mum, he has four horns!`

Good Mrs Dumbledore was a master of Herbology, not Zoology, or else she would have dropped dead. The habergoass was big and muscular as a draught-horse and magically powerful; Gellert, even in his prime would be afraid to face him alone.

`His hooves are not cloven!` announced Abi joyfully.

Well, the goat had hooves as big as plates and could send Aberforth flying a mile up in the air with one good kick but would never do it. No magical being was so stupid to hurt someone who had pockets full of juicy apples and shared them with joy.

`What a clever Bub… boy` observed Ludwiga `Are you interested in animals?`

`He`s interested in all that runs, flies, swims or crawls` sighed Kendra `Abi, NO!`

`Oh, let him take a ride` smiled Ludwiga `My Dark Lord is a good goat, he loves children if only they don`t tease him.`

`A good goat?` murmured Gellert `It`s a one-goat-army!`

And the one-goat army carried Abi on his back, obeying his orders patiently.

`What a power` stated great-grandma with wonder `He should be an Magozoologist or an Animal Whisperer. Have you thought about educating him accordingly? It would be a pity to waste such a talent.`

.

Aberforth was in seventh heaven while Albus, sulky, sat on the bench in silence, clearly displeased to be ignored. Ha. Someone bested Mr Perfect.

`I am deeply grateful for you hospitality` continued Ludwiga with a gentle smile `But it`s time to go, Gellert.`

`Oh, no, please` moaned Aberforth `I wanted to show him the kelpie…`

`Aberforth!` hissed Kendra `How many time should I tell you not to…`

`Oh` cut Ludwiga in `This would be splendid but we really have to go. Will you pay us a visit, Aberforth?` she smiled at Aberforth `There are so many fascinating beings in my forest I could show you.`.

'Mum, please' begged Abi.

'Of course you can visit Gellert' smiled Mrs Dumbledore.

`Let's go` insisted Ludwiga 'I have opened the wards just for one hour, there is not time to lose.'

She harnessed the habergoass and sat on the coach-box; Gellert took a place at her side.

.

Ludwiga coughed badly as she grasped the reins, pulled a little flask out of her robes and took a gulp. The potion was blue like the roses of Mrs Dumbledore; clearly great-grandma Elisabeth had not wasted the time.

.

Ludwiga, on the way to Munich, stopped at the Neuschwanstein palace. It looked like a toy in pictures but in reality it was a mighty castle with tall towers and thick walls. Its magical version, still much bigger than the Muggle one, was simply overwhelming.

`What a splendid place` sighed the old witch.

Gellert agreed. The castle was located in the forest, on the top of a hill, protected by steep slopes and a creek, traversing a dangerous canyon. The nearby lake glittered in the sun.

'If my health allows' continued Ludwiga 'The school will be opened here soon. I would like you join the very first year here.'

Oh. Something had changed again, though he had never planned it. But it was a positive change. He loved Neuschwanstein.

`Thank you, Omi. What great news.`

.

.

"Once the rockets are up, who cares where they come down?
That's not my department" says Wernher von Braun.

You too may be a big hero,
Once you've learned to count backwards to zero.
"In German oder English I know how to count down,
Und I'm learning Chinese, " says Wernher von Braun.

TOM LEHRER, „Wernher von Braun"

So, language

`Ma générale` is not quite correct in Muggle French but if to a man you say mon(sieur) général so why not ma(dame) générale?

Kavir-e Namak is a salty desert in Iran. No trees.

The palace of Linderhof exists and belonged to the royal house of von Bayern (Bayern = Bavaria). Same applies to Neuschwanstein (this is that Disney-style castle on a hill every tourist visiting Bavaria has to see)

If ever I to the moment shall say: Beautiful moment, do not pass away! – stolen from Goethe, the famous dialogue between Faustus and Mephistopheles

Oma, Omi: Gran, Granny, Grandma; Uroma / Uromi: great-grandma

Habergoass is a legendary Austrian being, a monstrous goat / a hybrid of a human and a goat. Btw. some real goats do have four horns.

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