A/N: I'm glad JK Rowling made the change and kept Grindelwald alive for DH, aren't you? The interview is at the bottom.

And yes, Grindelwald and Hitler were connected, and Dumbledore did "have a hand" in ending WWII. That's canon as The Queen has said. But this topic makes me feel sort of... uncomfortable... because now fanfiction is getting involved in actual history. In my opinion, WWII was humanity at its darkest and most disturbing. I almost feel like it is disrespectful to write about it in a fanfiction because it is so out of place. I mean, fanfiction is a place for dark wizards with pink fingernails and not for real events. Therefore, I keep actual history at a minimum without disregarding it altogether. It's mentioned, but not in great detail. Maybe I'm saving this for last because some of you might be so mad you won't read any more. :/

Short chapter this round.

Brigid - Thank you! :D I'm glad you loved it.

8-Wolke-8 - Aw, thanks! I love Harry and Dumbledore, but it is quite the challenge to write. So much of Harry-Dumbledore has already been filled in by the books, because of course, it's from Harry's point of view. The only thing I have is Dumbledore's perspective. And yeah, I do think that Dumbledore definitely feared Voldemort was acting through Harry. He had to have known something was going on with Harry. He had to have known Harry had been lying about Mrs. Norris and being in that corridor on Halloween. And I think he suspected Voldemort was living through Harry from very early on. I'm positive Dumbledore knew Harry spoke Parseltongue after the Dueling Club fiasco. It only makes sense that the thought of Voldemort acting through Harry crossed his mind. And it wouldn't have been an illogical guess. Though of course, I am sure he never thought Harry was doing it on purpose...

Red Furry Demon - Dumbledore totally knew early on that Voldemort was living inside Harry. I am convinced. To me, this actually makes it more heartbreaking. I think Dumbledore knew early on that Harry's chance of survival wasn't that great, but he still came to love him anyway. I think that by the end of CoS, Dumbledore was probably thinking Harry was a goner, but then Voldemort used Harry's blood, and that changed the game. I think Dumbledore thought to himself... 'don't get attached, don't get attached,' but then it happened anyway... Honestly, I like the idea of Dumledore monitoring Harry with all kinds of spells and magical instruments. It may be a dark Dumbledore thing, but I definitely agree that it was a thing. I think, as a character, Dumbledore always got all up in the business of everyone, even your average person. He has eyes all over the place. So for Harry, yeah, he's going to watch him even more closely. Dumbledore said, "I have watched you more closely than you can have imagined." Kinda creepy, but yeah. He's got that kid monitored.

EvilFuzzy9 - Thank you! You know, it's funny - I think that despite all Dumbledore asked of Harry, Harry thought of Dumbledore as a remarkably good person, and Dumbledore thought of Harry as a remarkably good person. Harry was one of Dumbledore's biggest fans, and I think Dumbledore was the biggest Harry Potter fan of all time, even more than 10-year-old Ginny or Colin Creevey. Dumbledore felt like Harry was the best person who ever walked the earth, he truly loved him, but he also used him and felt guilty doing it... As for Nagini, I had to look it up, and I found that there is no known time of when Voldemort acquired Nagini. I like to think he had her for a long time, but maybe not. Maybe you were thinking of a really good fanfic?

"Have you blood on your hands? Do you dream of white sands? Can you sleep well at night? Have you done all you can? I see innocent blue eyes go blind every day."

- Stereophonics

"'Oh, now, I'm glad you mentioned Grindelwald,' says Skeeter with a tantalizing smile. 'I'm afraid those who go dewy-eyed over Dumbledore's spectacular victory must brace themselves for a bombshell - or perhaps a Dungbomb. Very dirty business indeed. All I'll say is, don't be so sure that there really was the spectacular duel of legend. After they've read my book, people may be forced to conclude that Grindelwald simply conjured a white handkerchief from the end of his wand and came quietly!'"

- Rita Skeeter, Deathly Hallows, chapter 2

1996

He knew what people said about him behind his back.

Great man, Dumbledore. He's dedicated his entire life to protecting Muggles and Muggle-borns. He uses his powers only for good. He defeated Grindelwald in a spectacular duel. That was what they said. Only he knew it wasn't true - a collection of mere half-lies at best. Maybe this was what it was like when you are the "greatest in the world." Only the greatest in the world knows legends are not the same as truth. Maybe only giants know how small they are.

1928

Albus knew Gellert's speech by heart. He had heard it a thousand times. It seemed Gellert was trying to make sure everyone in the Wizarding world knew his speech too.

"Albus, have you ever heard of Grindelwald?"

He looked up to see Professor Steven Milan holding a newspaper. Albus already knew what article Milan was reading over.

"Never heard of him," said Albus bluntly.

"Well, he gave this speech in New York City last week," Milan went on. "I think he's brilliant. He's definitely got the right idea about matters."

Albus sat in waiting at the staff table. Two other professors were sitting in the room listening. He was pondering how much information he could take from Professor Milan.

"See, he has this plan," explained Milan. "He came up with it himself; he's an absolute genius. The plan would completely change the world. But not just our world or the Muggle world - the entire world, singular. He says that the Statute of Secrecy is madness - insanity. Grindelwald explains it better - listen here to what he said -" to Albus' extreme displeasure, Milan cleared his throat and began to read directly from the newspaper article -

"'The International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy does more than just divide Wizards and Muggles,'" said Milan (it felt to Albus like Gellert had just Apparated into the room). "'It stifles the Muggle world, snuffing out any chances of them having a better future. I can tell you that Muggles are just as human as any witch or wizard. They feel just as we do, and they deserve so much more than the Statute of Secrecy. The Muggles are suffering. They are dying on the streets of illnesses any witch or wizard could cure with the flick of a wand. Why do we continue to allow this to happen? If you do not believe me, I challenge you to visit any large city and wander into Muggle dwellings. They feel pain. They feel hunger. They feel hopelessness. Are you hearing me? The Muggles are suffering. Does this mean nothing to us? They are hurting and dying because Wizardkind has turned its back on them, and we pretend we are doing it for the good of the Muggles, but nothing could be further from the truth. We are doing it out of our own selfishness. We have cut off the inferior rung of society because we believe there is nothing that they can do for us. This is the Wizarding World's greatest sin. I propose we unite the world under one logical and naturally-ordered society where Wizardkind helps Muggles for the greater good, not because the Muggles can do something for us in return. I propose all people unite with an understanding that the world needs all people to function well, including the lower rungs of the ladder. I propose wizards rule over the Muggles in a virtuous fashion -'"

"Steven, you cannot possibly believe this nonsense, can you?" Albus snapped.

Milan blinked at him. "Excuse me? I think it sounds very logical to me. Why not help the Muggles if we can?"

"It isn't about helping the Muggles," said Albus impatiently. "The 'helping them' angle is just to distract from the main purpose. He's proposing that we rule over Muggles in exchange for our so-called assistance."

"What's so wrong about that if it helps them?" said Milan with a confused look on his face. "I thought you cared about the Muggles, Albus. You always stand up for them. And anyway, Grindelwald believes in giving the Muggles as much freedom as they can cope with. He wants to establish a benevolent global order. See, you haven't heard the whole speech -"

These words sparked a fury in Albus. He didn't even listen to the rest of what Milan said after that. He had heard the whole speech. In fact, he had helped write it twenty-nine years ago. Albus stood to his feet rather suddenly with the chair's legs scraping against the polished floor.

"You shall see," said Albus flatly. "One day. He's not the well-intentioned idealist he claims he is."

Ignoring the stares, Albus gathered his papers and walked away. Before the door closed behind him, Albus heard Milan say, "Whatever was that about?"

1941

To say that the news became worse with each passing day would have been an understatement. Albus wished he didn't know... but he did know. He knew all about everything. The newspaper that sat in front of him read, in large, bold, all-caps letters: GRINDELWALD JOINS HITLER.

"You should understand," Gellert from the newspaper said, "I had never planned on killing off any amount of Muggles. However, my original plans date back to the 1890s. We are in a different age than we were then. There is an extreme surplus of Muggles today, and the population keeps growing at an exponential rate. The Muggles have evolved as a people. They are not dying at the rates they used to thanks to their advancements in what they call 'science.' This is both a blessing and a curse. While I am glad the Muggles are developing their own version of magic, it should also alarm the Wizarding world. They are becoming increasingly difficult to control. Their population is expanding too quickly. They are developing weapons, medicine, and inventions that are all very foreign to us. If the Wizarding world is going to gain control of the Muggles, we need to do it soon. Otherwise, I fear they will override us. Do you want Muggles ruling the world? Of course not. And now that there are so many of them - with many being inferior and unworthy of life - well, it only makes sense to weed out the worthless ones. It may sound cruel, but the logic is undeniable. That is why I am joining forces with Hitler. The lesser Muggles are being euthanized in a completely humane way. Once they are weeded out, their genetics will be cleansed. Then we will only have a smaller number of higher-caliber Muggles to oversee. It lightens the workload for us all."

"Hitler says that those unworthy of life," the reporter said, "include the mentally or physically disabled, homosexuals, anyone other than the Nordic race, peoples of certain religions -"

"Look, they are fair about it," Gellert interrupted indignantly. "If the parasitic life forms can perform work, they are sent to concentration camps to do labor. If they can't even perform manual labor, what is the point of keeping them alive? They waste money and resources, and God forbid these people reproduce more of them. Hitler isn't having people killed just for the fun of it. It is a mercy to kill these unfortunate and inferior people. It is a mercy death, and it has been carried out successfully for two years now. Anyone with half a brain cannot deny the logic of it. This is about final solutions."

"Don't they use crematoriums to kill these so-called inferior Muggles?" said the reporter.

"Don't be ridiculous," replied Gellert. "Of course they don't. That is a fabrication."

Albus stopped reading and put his face in his hands. He was sitting in his office by himself. It was late at night. He was crying. Up until this point, he had been hopeful that the Muggles would have been able to stop Hitler on their own, but now with the assistance of Gellert Grindelwald... It was a nightmare. Two immensely evil leaders working together - one for the Muggle world, one for the Wizarding world... Them being fused together was the worst possible outcome Albus could think of, and the Muggles didn't even know anything about Gellert...

He glanced back at the article again.

"There are a lot of Muggles who are trying to kill Hitler," said the reporter. "Aren't you afraid you might get killed by the Allies?"

Gellert reportedly laughed here - and Albus could almost hear it. "No, I'm not scared of the Muggles. And I'm not scared of any wizard either."

Barely believing what he was reading, Albus read the interviewer said, "Not even Albus Dumbledore of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?"

Gellert had laughed again. "Not even Dumbledore. I'm not scared of school teachers. You tell him I have good reason to not be afraid of him."

The reporter asked why.

"Not telling, but he'll know what I mean, him being the genius he is," answered Gellert.

The article abruptly ended there. The interview was over.

After all those discussions they had had about the Elder Wand and how idiotic it was to boast about it for the world to hear, Gellert was bragging about having found it, only he was smarter than the average Elder Wand holder. Gellert did not say the words "Elder Wand." He did not even mention a wand or having any other kind of weapon. Yet Albus still knew Gellert was referring to having the Elder Wand. Albus also fully understood that Gellert knew he would read this article. He was convinced that Gellert had just directly told him, "I have the wand, so don't get any ideas about trying to stop me," but he had done it in a way that no one knew it.

If Gellert had the Elder Wand, which Albus was convinced he had, there was no point in trying to stop him. The Elder Wand is unbeatable. All those summers ago, when he and Gellert had traced the history of the Elder Wand, Albus remembered that there was no instance in known history where the Elder Wand was beaten in a duel and taken from the owner. The Elder Wand was not won honestly. It was beaten by cowardly murder, backstabbing, never a fair fight...

The worst part was nobody knew. Not the Muggles... not even the wizards. Just him. There was no hope for Albus to win any duel with Gellert Grindelwald... and nobody knew.

January 1945

"We can't find him."

Those are the words that hung in the air of the Ministry of Magic. The Head of the Auror Department was giving a speech in the middle of the gigantic entrance to the Ministry. Albus felt the people stirring around him. People looked around at one another muttering and shaking their heads. There was no hint of anger in the crowd. The only emotion that could be felt was despair.

"We only know that he is on the move," the Head Auror continued. "Wherever Grindelwald is, we know he is well-guarded. As for Hitler, it is a safe assumption that Grindelwald is keeping him hidden as well, though we do not think they necessarily are in close proximity to one another often. Without Grindelwald's death or capture, I cannot imagine the Muggle Allies defeating Hitler."

A woman standing directly in front of Albus turned around to walk away from the crowd. There was despair in her eyes, yet they were still quite dry. She met Albus' eyes for a moment before breaking eye contact and walking away. Albus didn't think she even registered who he was, but he still felt as if she had looked at him accusingly. The Head Auror looked over at him as well, briefly. Albus stood rooted to the spot until he could bear it no longer. He retreated back to Hogwarts - more specifically, his Transfiguration office - where their accusing eyes couldn't pierce him.

He cried himself asleep that night. They can't find him. Albus knew the world couldn't fix this problem on its own. He had to do something, but he didn't yet know what.

February 1945

"Oh, it's you, Albus," said Armando Dippet. He did not sound enthused. "What is it that's on your mind, friend?"

Albus did not speak at first. He could not summon the energy yet. He looked exhausted; there were great dark circles under his eyes, and he had not slept well in weeks.

"What's happened?" Armando said, appearing so alarmed that it looked as if he was about to rise from his desk's seat. "This isn't about how you think Riddle is evil, is it?"

"No," Albus said with a touch of annoyance. Then his expression went back to somber. "It's... there's something I have to do, Armando. Unfortunately, it means I will have to be taking a bit of a leave from my post as Transfiguration teacher." He did not meet the headmaster's gaze as he said this.

There was a long moment of silence as Albus looked pained and Armando's eyes widened.

"Albus," said Armando very softly, "please, don't do this. Forget about Grindelwald. You are needed here."

When Albus did not deny he was speaking of Grindelwald, Armando started to plead.

"Al, come on, you can't do this - don't throw your life away like this! Don't you realize that you are the reason Grindelwald hasn't tried to invade Britain?"

"Hitler -"

"I'm not talking about Hitler, I'm talking about Grindelwald, Albus! You're what is keeping him out! You can't - please, Albus, stop this - you can't leave me here - Hogwarts will be invaded within a day -"

"No, it will not," said Albus calmly. "I am going to ensure that Grindelwald never sets foot in Hogwarts. Trust me, I know what I am doing."

"No, you don't!" shouted a distressed Armando. "Albus, you can't beat him - he'll kill you and then where will that leave us? We'll be helpless to stop him without you here!"

"I see," said Albus angrily. "So you are saying that it is acceptable if thousands of defenseless men, women, and children are killed in neighboring lands, so long as it is not happening here?"

"Now, I don't mean it like that -"

"Yes, you do!" Albus said loudly. "I am sorry, Armando, but I cannot sit by comfortably in my office and not do anything to help those who are being slaughtered across the rest of the world. I can't do it! I've made up my mind. Will I die? Well, there certainly is a good chance, but it is a chance I have to take. Do you really think Grindelwald will let Hogwarts function independently while the rest of the world falls under his control? Of course he won't. He may be saving Britain and Hogwarts for last, but he still fully intends to rule over the entire world. I might as well face him now while I can still die with a sliver of honor. It is shameful that I have waited this long to do this."

Armando looked stricken. "Al, please, you don't understand... and how are you going to find him anyway? The entire world is looking for him - what makes you think you can find him when no one else can?"

But Albus shook his head. He took in a deep breath and let it out shakily. "I have connections. And as I've said, I have already reached my decision. I am only telling you out of courtesy, not because I am seeking your advice. Do not believe everything you read in the papers these coming days."

The door closed behind Albus, and he set off into the night. He thought briefly of stopping in on his brother and telling him what he was about to do, telling him how very sorry he was for everything that had happened forty-six years ago... but Albus had not spoken to Aberforth since Ariana's funeral. He didn't think he could bear to have Aberforth look at him directly. The only thing that scared Albus more than facing Gellert again was facing his younger brother, so Albus walked on about thirty-five percent certain he was going to die at the hand of the man he used to love.

Albus returned to his home away from Hogwarts and retired for the night, not wanting to think about what he was going to have to do.

The next morning, he awoke very reluctantly. It wasn't even morning anymore. Technically, it was late afternoon. He tried to sleep more but couldn't, so he gave up and set about staring that Gellert's last letter to him. He had saved it. It was the letter he had received when Fallon and Elphias were sitting in his living room shortly after his pathetic attempt at suicide.

Should you ever want to join me in search of the Hallows, you are welcome to contact me. ... This offer stands no matter how many years pass by, Albus. He stared at these words, written in Gellert's elegant handwriting. Albus had been so stupid back then. So stupid. Gellert had preyed upon his ignorance and trusting nature. He had manipulated him and lied to him. He had played with Albus' mind and heart as if Albus was born solely for Gellert's use. Albus had lead Gellert straight to the Elder Wand, and even today, Gellert was still playing mind games via newspaper interviews. He had let Albus know that he was in possession of the Elder Wand - had warned him against trying to stop him. But now... now, it was payback time. Now, Gellert would be the blind one.

However, Albus knew that Gellert has never been as stupid as his teenage-self had been. Gellert was intelligent. Albus did not expect Gellert to really believe what Albus was telling him. Fortunately, it did not matter if Gellert remained suspicious. He could be as suspicious as he wanted, so long as he gave Albus his location. Albus would put on a good performance. Gellert's former prey was now turning into the hunter, and Gellert - well, he was now the hunted.

Was this cowardly of Albus? Certainly. This would not be a fair fight. It would not be honest nor honorable. However, given the fact that the lives of countless millions of people were resting on Albus' success, something as luxurious as honor was not important. It didn't matter if Albus cheated and lied. He knew he would never win an honest fight against Gellert's Elder Wand. Honor and fairness was not something Albus nor the world could afford.

Therefore, Albus sat down and began to write a letter. Then he wrote another draft, and another, and another, and another. He wrote forty-seven drafts over the span of four hours until he was satisfied. Then he wrote a letter to the Daily Prophet, requesting that they please print an article... nothing on the front page (that would be too suspicious), but just a little blurb... Two could play the game of communicating to each other indirectly via newspapers.

He knew he would be walking into the most difficult and horrible situation he had ever been in his entire life, but it should be quick. Albus was quite convinced he himself was just as evil to the core as Gellert was, but now, Albus was going to use his dark past for good... Albus had helped design Gellert's dark movement, and by having done so, only he could stop it.

A/N: Update - don't worry, I won't leave you hanging here! There will be another one, though I am not sure when.

The Stuff:

Interview #1 (2005)

Question: Are you implying that Dumbledore had a hand in ending the Second World War by his defeat of the Dark wizard Grindelwald -

JK Rowling: In 1945. I may well be implying that.

Interview #2 (2005)

Emerson: Is [Grindelwald] dead?

JK Rowling: Yeah, he is.

Emerson: Is he important?

JK Rowling: Ohh...

Emerson: You don't have to answer, but can you give us some backstory on him?

JK Rowling: I'm going to tell you as much as I told someone earlier who asked me. ... He asked me, 'Is it a coincidence that he died in 1945?' and I said no. It amuses me to make allusions to things that were happening in the Muggle world, so my feeling would be that while there's a global Muggle war going on, there's also a global wizarding war going on.

Emerson: Does he have any connection to - ?

JK Rowling: I have no comment to make on that subject.