Gellert found working with the order of the phoenix frustrating at the best of times. They were indecisive, the democratic process that Albus insisted on employing meant they spent hours debating over tiny details that really were of no consequence.

They were paranoid over the smallest things, determined to protect some stupid prophesy that supposedly concerned Harry Potter and Voldemort. Let Voldemort have it for all Grindelwald cared, he was already gunning for Potter having heard the worst part of the prophesy and there was hardly any sensitive information in it. Not to mention that nobody could take it off the shelf except for Harry Potter, so as long as he never went after it, it wasn't at risk.

They ignored him, setting up a roster to guard the entrance anyway. The only advantage of the democratic process meant that he could elect to stay off the roster, along with Sirius Black who was another escaped convict.

Then there was the casual, disorganised meetings with everyone being lovey dovey good friends and constant hugs. The Weasley woman seemed to have made it her personal mission to make sure Gellert was happy, asking if he was okay, if he wanted to stay the night or trying to engage him in conversation. The only part of her ministrations that didn't annoy him was the wonderful meals that she cooked.

Having Hermione know who he was could be taken as both a blessing and a curse. She was cautious around him now, no longer relaxing into their joint study sessions. She didn't ask him homework questions like she used to, or engage in debates with him. At the same time he enjoyed not having to hide who he was, the few questions that she did ask he could answer honestly with the full breadth of his knowledge.

At least Albus had recognised his frustration, although the task he'd been given to alleviate it had taken him all of five minutes. He'd been asked to come to the headmaster's office, where the professor had shown him a thin black book that was soggy with spilled ink and flaked with dried blood. There was a large hole in the middle of it and echoes of dark magic still surrounded the item.

'This was destroyed by Harry in his second year.' The headmaster began, holding it up so that it was clearly illuminated by the sunlight that shone through the high arched windows. 'It is how he almost regained his body that time. Do you know what it is?'

Of course, all he knew as soon as Albus told him that it had survived being flushed down the toilet but had bled when stabbed by a basilisk fang.

'It was a horcrux.' He began, then elaborated when the light wizard looked at him blankly. 'It is dark, dark magic. You know of course that killing someone fractures the soul, a horcrux is when a wizard removes that soul fragment and places it in an object. It means that when his body dies, a part of his soul lives on and as such the wizard is unable to die.'

Albus had shuddered and looked slightly queasy.

'It is not the only one of course.' Gellert continued and Albus nodded, he must have already deduced that when Voldemort rose to power again. 'I would expect three, that is a powerful magical number. If not... seven is even more powerful but to split one's soul that many times...'

'Why is it not more common among dark wizards?' the light wizard asked curiously and Gellert laughed again. It was habitual for him to show such emotion, it tended to unnerve people that he didn't express most emotions but Albus had met him before he'd perfected the ability to fake them, so it seemed to unnerve the other wizard more that he could act them out so flawlessly.

'It is not true immortality. You die and become a wraith until you can perform a dark potion with some very specific ingredients.' He answered, turning through the pages of the diary.

'and of course it is difficult to brew a potion as a wraith. Have you made one of these?' Albus asked the question casually and Gellert almost choked on the sweet he'd just taken from the bowl on the desk.

'Of course not.' It was a question that didn't even dignify a detailed answer.

Then Dumbledore sobered and Gellert realised that he had at least been half joking when he asked that question.

'You have something you want me to do?' Gellert asked, wondering how he would be put to use by the order. He knew he would be invaluable commanding a battle but the current waiting period didn't suit him well.

'Yes. I need someone to protect Harry and his friends this year.'

'I hate children.'

'You like Miss Granger.' Gellert knew he had been less than subtle in how he interacted with her and how much he enjoyed teaching her. 'Physically you are about twenty? I rather hoped that with a slight... overdose on your elixir, you could pass as a student Harry's age. I believe Harry has somehow developed a connection to Voldemort and you are the only one he will not recognise.'

Gellert didn't know whether to be amused or annoyed. He could easily reduce his age with another dose of elixir. He had yet to create the potion that would give him eternal youth so it would just mean he had to age naturally back to his prime again. The mission was perfectly doable, but he really didn't want to be forced back into school again. The vow he'd taken burned warningly around his wrist and he almost cursed. He'd just acknowledged that this was within his power, so now he had to fulfil the task or risk breaking the vow.

'Fine.' Gellert snarled, then he brightened at the thought of going to school with Hermione. At least he would have someone brighter than your average toad to work with. She would make a fine witch with proper guidance, especially if he could shake her firm belief in black and white magic.

'You called yourself Gerard Abernathy did you not?' Albus asked and Gellert scowled. He would have to teach his young friend to shield her mind from the nosy headmaster.

'I did. I'm not putting on that stupid hat though.' He scowled at the sorting hat on its shelf and Albus chuckled; Gellert would look very out of place in Gryffindor tower but that was where he needed to be to carry out his mission.

'If anyone asks you have already been sorted into Gryffindor.' Albus said airily, 'it doesn't take a hat to know that you're a Slytherin through and through.'

'You're biased because I don't see the point in classifying magic into light and dark. I think I'd make an excellent Ravenclaw.' Gellert replied as he stood to leave.