Chapter 13 – Christmas Conundrum (published: 01.13.2012 – beta: none)

"Two weeks of detention?" Herwald asked befuddled. "For being out of bounds after curfew? Harsh. What were you doing out that late anyway?"

"Ah, we…" Alex began.

"We can't tell," Hermione cut in. "The Headmaster made us promise not to speak about what happened yesterday night to anybody. We have... stumbled somewhere we shouldn't have gone."

"You know that you're just making me want to find out more, right? Never mind I have half an idea where you might have gone. How did you see through the notice-me-not charm anyway?"

"You know about the door? And the three headed dog?" Alex nearly shouted.

"Be quiet," Hermione hissed at him but her face betrayed the same amount of curiosity as Alex's.

"I knew about the door. I didn't know about a Kerberos behind it. Thanks for telling me guys," Herwald said cheerfully. The Gryffindors groaned in response.

"Oh great," Alex whined. "Not even half a day and I've already got suckered. Damn it Herwald."

"You can't tell anyone," Hermione panicked. "If the Headmaster finds out we told you…"

"Calm down. I won't tell a soul. Who do you take me for? Anyway since the cat's out of the bag what do you think of it?"

"W-what should we think about it?" Alex asked. Herwald narrowed his eyes at him and had to resist the urge to palm his own face.

"Sigh. Only yesterday we figured out that the content of the vault which was broken into a few months back is somewhere here in Hogwarts. I have no proof of it of course, but unless two shady businesses are taking place here at the same time I think it's safe to assume that the dog is watching whatever the thief is after."

"That's not possible. There was no space for anything to be hidden there unless that... thing was sitting right on it," Alex explained.

"Maybe you aren't that far from the truth," Hermione said. "Haven't you noticed a trapdoor under its paw?"

"So it's beneath it," Herwald noted. "Nice observation skills Hermione. Not everyone would have noticed it in a situation like that."

"Ah. Thanks," she replied with a blush. "It's nothing really."

"It's not nothing Hermione," Alex corrected. "I haven't noticed it at all. The only thing I was thinking about was running the hell out of there."

Hermione only nodded in response. She wasn't used to be praised about something that wasn't schoolwork and it felt pleasantly odd.

"Anyway. How did you manage to get the door open? Last I checked there were enough layers of wards on it to keep a Cursebreaker at bay for a while."

"Eh? Not really. I used a simple Alohomora and the door opened up."

"That's a second year spell Hermione," Herwald pointed out. "This is unsettling."

"Why would it be?" Alex asked.

"Like I said, a few weeks ago the door was covered by safety wards. It doesn't make any sense that you managed to get it open with just a second year spell."

"What do you think has happened, Herwald?" Hermione asked.

"Hm. I can't imagine only two possible scenarios. Either the staff decided to reduce the protections to avoid the students being accidentally injured should they manage to find the door in spite of the charms against such a thing or…"

"Or…?" The two Gryffindors prompted at the same time.

"Or our mysterious culprit has already managed to take down the first layer of defenses around the… thing without none being the wiser. If we take into consideration what danger lays behind the door the first case becomes highly unlikely, therefore…"

The three students looked at each other and pondered the implications of Herwald's words. If what he said was true then the culprit had already partly outsmarted the Headmaster and the rest of the staff.

Sitting at his desk Albus sighed as Minerva drank from her cup of tea.

"Albus," she began. "How could this have happened?"

The aged wizard placed his glasses back on his nose. "Obviously he's more capable than what I had initially thought. In all the years I knew him, Tom hasn't shown any propensity for the art of Warding. I'm afraid I have underestimated him a little. To think that he was able to slip past my wards without triggering them, nay, without me noticing that he had manipulated them speaks highly of his ability. If only he decided to invest his genius for the betterment of the world and the Wizardkind…"

"You know Albus," Minerva sighed "that's exactly what he thinks he's doing."

"I know. We were lucky this time Minerva. If Mister Potter and his friends hadn't found the door by accident we wouldn't have noticed the tampering at all." After a moment of silence the wizard chuckled.

"What's so funny Albus?"

"Nothing. I was just thinking that young Mister Potter keeps thwarting Tom's plans just by being around."

"Do you believe there's some sort of connection?" Minerva asked.

"Of course there is, Minnie. It's called Fate. Magic works in wondrous ways and I believe that Mr. Potter is the natural response to Tom's spreading corruption."

"That's nonsense Albus," Minerva commented. "You speak as if Magic has a will of its own. Mr. Potter is a good kid and a wizard above average, but he's just a child that has been extremely lucky once."

Albus merely acknowledge her opinion without further pushing his reasoning. She wasn't privy to the prophecy. Beside himself only the Potters and Severus knew its full content and without that tidbit of information Minerva's opinion was more than natural.

"Perhaps. Regardless of that, Mr. Potter fortunate misadventure helped us a great deal. We must improve the security around the stone at once. The mirror will arrive soon and by then we must make sure that the trap will spring properly. It's our best chance to catch Tom."

"It's a dangerous game we are playing here Albus. If the students get involved…."

"It won't happen Minerva. Tom has no intention to advertise his return and harming the children would bring too much attention on the school."

"But yesterday incident…." she tried to object.

"There are reasons for the curfew beyond sending the students to bed early, Minerva. A magical castle like Hogwarts it's inherently dangerous at night. Between the moving stairways, disappearing rooms and doors there's more that one way of a kid to hurt himself. What happened yesterday with Mr. Potter is a result of our inability to enforce discipline first and foremost."

"What about the Troll then? Ms. Granger was almost killed Albus. Was that just another accident?"

"It was indeed an unfortunate accident. Ms. Granger wasn't supposed to be there at all at the time. Why do you think it was discovered when all students were supposed to be in a completely different area of the castle? It was an incredible coincidence that Ms. Granger happened to be in the same part of dungeon as the Troll. In a castle as big as Hogwarts the chances of a single stray student stumbling into the Troll were nearly nonexistent. Tom had no doubt considered it as well. If Ms Granger was harmed it would have backfired on him. Do you see how this time he didn't try any potentially harmful diversion? Trust me, Minerva. Keeping the students safe is in Tom's best interest as it is ours. What we must not do now is failing to uphold our duty and keep the students were they are supposed to be at all time, even in normal circumstances."

Minerva's tea cup made a loud noise as it was placed back on its plate. "Very well Albus, but Merlin helps you if any of the students is harmed because of your overconfidence because I certainly won't."

"I understand Minerva. Thank you for your trust."

She nodded at him and then she left the office. When finally the door closed behind her Albus let out a powerful sigh. He was getting too old for that stuff.

"Mr. Malfoy," Herwald greeted as the blond Slytherin approached. The two weeks of detention had gone by and Yule was getting closer. Malfoy avoided Herwald until that moment, in the hope of finding him in a better disposition than he could possibly be when his friends were spending their time in detention. "What brings you here tonight?" he asked barely moving his eyes from the book he was reading.

"I was… just wondering how you were doing Herwald."

"Just fine thank you. I see you have taken my advice to heart and decided to speak with me in public. I'm glad."

"You are? I mean, of course. Sorry if I couldn't come before but I have been otherwise occupied."

"Ah yes. Your detention. Alex told me about that. Nasty business. What possessed you to do that?" Herwald inquired.

"Ah, well. Potter and I had a little… divergence of opinions a while ago and we decided to solve it by the Old Ways," Draco explained.

"Yes that part was clear, however I wasn't talking about the duel per se, Mr. Malfoy. I'm wondering why you showed up in the first place."

"Ah, but… I…."

"Don't play me for a fool Draco," Herwald say in a cold tone, putting away all pretenses. "It's clear that issuing the duel at that time and place was a trap for Alex. Only a dunderhead couldn't see through a simple plot like that. Trust me, I've already berated Alex for being such a naïve little fool, but for Merlin's sake why did you show up at all?"

Draco was actually at loss for words so he simply mumbled the truth. "I… thought that if I landed your friends in detention my proposal would sorta... you know… be wasted?"

"Ah, I see. By putting yourself on even ground with them, and by sharing the repercussions you though I couldn't hold a particular grudge against you. Is that how it played in your mind?"

"Uhm… yes?" He asked tentatively.

"Draco, Let me make something perfectly clear," Herwald said in the same tone of voice Draco's father used when he wanted to be listened without a fuss. "You must have understood by now that I don't share your beliefs on Blood Purity. What matters to me are actions rather than one's heritage. Now, if you decided to renege your honor by not going to the duel you would have lost what little respect I originally had for you. I don't care for your reasons as it's not my place to judge as I wouldn't have cared whatever reasons you could have had for not showing up."

Draco swallowed the knot in his throat. The way Herwald spoke was indeed what one would expect of the Head of House he was supposed to become. It made him feel smaller than he ever felt in his life.

"I'm sorry… I wanted..."

"Do not apologize. For a reason or another you managed to preserve your honor, and that's all that matters. Next time it happens though, make sure to choose a proper time and place for a challenge. And besides…"

"Yes?"

"You could have asked either to anticipate or postpone the time of the duel when you decided to actually go, you know?"

"I know," Draco's cheeks reddened in front of such a simple fact. He hadn't thought of that at the time and he berated himself over and over during his hour long detentions. "I can't believe how stupid I've been in this situation. If my father knew… ugh. I don't even want to think about that."

"Let it be a lesson learned then. Now I should really return to my dorm. Goodnight Draco."

"Ah. Goodnight Herwald."

The raven haired boy left the Great Hall, leaving behind a somewhat confused Draco. He couldn't make head or tail of the conversation he just had. Well for one it didn't seem that Herwald disliked him anymore than before, so despite how badly the whole duel thing had gone at least it hadn't been a waste of time.

Sighing he left the Hall as well to return to his room. It was only before falling asleep that his brain registered the fact that Grindelwald… Herwald had called him by his name for the first time. He wasn't sure if it was a good or a bad thing seeing the circumstance, but he could at the very least hope for the best.

Winter reached full swing and a couple of days before Yule's break Hogwarts and the rest of the grounds were covered in a thick layer of snow. Predictably snow ball wars were one of the favorite past time of the youngest students and even a few upper years.

Herwald participated as well a couple of times. Soon enough is accuracy with every throw was feared among all his foes. Even he was secretly proud of it. It had been a long time from the last day he had to hunt small animals by throwing rocks at them and he was rather happy that his skills hadn't become rusty.

It was a rather good period for Herwald. His charms were finally on par with the rest of his class, provided that he didn't care about the results in order for the results not to be catastrophic and he had a small circle of friends he respected and a little higher number of acquaintances who respected him like every other human being. It was a small but it was an improvement nonetheless.

Regardless of that Herwald craved to return home for the holidays. Despite being constantly occupied he still missed his sister tremendously and incredibly, he wanted to see even his old men again even though his 'grandfather' wasn't that pleasant person to begin with.

So when the day finally arrived to return home for the holidays he boarded the train with a smile plastered on his face. Hermione and Alex commented how odd it was to see him smile like that. Alex actually said that seeing it freaked him out. Herwald response was a flat glare in his direction but he didn't otherwise rebuff his words. Hermione just told him that he should smile more often and not that smirk he always wore when he proved himself to be right in this or that discussion. That was absolutely annoying.

After the train pulled in at King Cross station Alex was suddenly swallowed by the adoring fans, barely managing to wish them a Merry Christmas before disappearing in the crowd.

"You think he's going to be all right?" Hermione asked.

"Hm. I don't think they are going to harm their hailed savior, besides the Aurors are already here."

"Isn't that his father?" She asked pointing at a man in Auror's robes. "I think I recognize him from a picture of his family he has showed me."

"Seems so," he agreed. "Looks like he's going to be all right. Your parents are waiting for you beyond the barrier right Hermione? I'll walk you there."

"You would? Thank you. It's the first time I introduce a friend to my parents," she said cheerfully. Herwald winced slightly at her words. Apparently you didn't need to be the heir to a Dark family to be shunned by your peers.

"I'll be glad to meet them Hermione. They must be pretty interesting people if your brilliant mind is any indication."

"Flatterer," she rebuffed with a smile and a slight blush. "Come on. This way," she darted forward and through the exit, stepping into the Muggle side of the station.

They scanned the crowd for sign of her family. It was Herwald to see a woman that was undoubtedly her mother. "Hermione. I think that's your mother."

"Where? MOM!" Hermione sprinted toward the older woman almost jumping in her arm. Right behind her stood a man in his mid-thirty that smiled at the exchange. Quietly Herwald shortened the distance but stood a little away in order not to intrude in what was a clearly private moment. Hermione switched the hug to his father and in that moment her mother noticed him.

"Mom, this is Herwald Grindelwald. I wrote you about him remember? Herwald this is my mother Emma Granger and my father Dan."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Granger," he greeted as he shook both their hands. "Hermione speaks very fondly of you."

"That would be my line young man," her father replied with mirth. "There hasn't been a single letter where she hasn't mentioned you in one way or another."

"That's right. All of a sudden being in a magical castle is no longer the main topic. She's all Herwald here, Herwald there."

"Mom! Dad!" She shrieked. "Honestly, stop embarrassing me."

They all laughed at her obvious distress. "It's all good fun pumpkin," Dan said.

"Yes, but jokes aside, thanks for being a good friend to our daughter Herwald," her mother said. "It helps us a great deal knowing that she has a good friend she can count on while she's away from home. Hermione has always been a special kid. It was never easy for her to bond with other children. I'm glad she has finally found someone who can appreciate her."

"There's no need to thank me Mrs. Granger. Hermione is a good friend to me as well. I'm glad that I've got to know her. Even in the Wizarding world there are few witches brilliant as she is."

"Yes, well," Hermione spoke trying to steer the conversation from the current subject. "How are you going to get home Herwald? Are your parents going to get you here or are you going back to wait for them on the platform?"

"Hm? Oh no. I won't go back home for a couple of days yet. I have a small flat in Muggle London where I'm going to stay until Yule's eve before taking the international portkey. I still have to shop for gifts you know?"

"All by yourself?" She asked befuddled. Even her parents shared an odd look at that tidbit of information.

"Yes, of course. I'm going to take the Knight Bus there so you don't have to worry about me. I'm going to be safe."

"But… What about your mom and dad? Aren't they worried about you?" Herwald stared at her blankly before chuckling. Of course she wouldn't know. "What's so funny? I'm worried about you."

"Sorry Hermione. I didn't mean to laugh at you. I've just realized I haven't ever told you anything about my family, have I?"

"Uh. No, not really. Why? Do you have problems with your parents?" She asked now scared of having touched a difficult topic. She knew of course of his family was considered in the Wizarding world but he never spoke of it beside that and only when it was relevant to the ongoing conversation. Herwald was reserved to say the least.

"No, no. My parents are fine. Well at least my father is. My mother died of childbirth or so I have been told. I never knew her. Please don't feel guilty. There's no way you could have known."

Hermione was absolutely mortified. Her parents too looked like someone had punched them in the stomach. "Oh, Herwald I'm so sorry. I didn't mean…"

"Shush. It's okay I said."

"But then, why isn't your father here to pick you up at least? If I understand this international portkey thing you live abroad right? I don't know all details and I don't want to sound judgmental, but is it a common thing for wizards to leave a child by himself in a foreign country? I'm sorry but I can't quite wrap my head around that."

Herwald felt a little annoyed by Mr. Granger attitude but then he figured that it was a normal concern from an honest adult.

"Hm, no it's not common. Actually it has to do with how I grew up and with my family standing in Wizarding society. It's not a happy subject and I'm really not too willing to share it either. I can guarantee you that I'm going to be all right… but you aren't just going to leave it at that, are you?" They just shook their head at the same time. Herwald had to smile at that. "Tell you what. My flat is on the way to your house if I've understood where you live. How about you give me a ride there and I'll tell you what you want to know? I hate riding the Knight Bus anyway."

Figuring that the good natured people in front of him wouldn't let him go until it was clear that he was going to be okay he bargained with them. Besides he positively loathed the Knight bus. Riding a Muggle car sounded a better solution for his stomach.

Once the luggage was in the back of the car Dan started the engine and drove to the address Herwald gave him.

"Please, understand that in my country this story is rather well known. I'm sorry if I've never talked you about it before, but it actually never crossed my mind, and as you know I'm a rather reserved person."

Hermione in the back seat with him nodded.

"As Hermione might already have told you, my family is rather influent in the Wizarding World, especially on the continent. However, for all of our influence, we are also extremely hated for our history."

"I'm sorry to interrupt you so soon, but I've got to ask. Why is your family so hated? Hermione has written us about it but she didn't give us any detail."

"Hmm… it's a bit complicated so I'll give you a short version. During your Second World War another conflict raged through the continent among the magical brethren. Although the reasons behind the war and its final objectives were extremely different in many cases some of the battles were camouflaged as Muggle bombardments and the likes."

"And… your family was involved with this?" Emma asked.

"My family was behind it. Gellert Grindelwald, my great uncle, rallied a good portion of the Wizarding World and set the continent ablaze in a war that lasted for years."

"So you are… like the nephew of the magical version of Hitler?"

"I resent the comparison Mr. Granger, but I can understand it your point of view. My great uncle was an ambitious and cruel wizard but he was nowhere in the league of that man, but he wasn't a monster. He has done terrible things, but so did the opposition. Let me assure you, there were no angels in that war, but as usual History labels the losers as Evil and the winners as Good. As such, the common opinion is that my great uncle was some sort of monster and by extension the rest of his family. I'm no exception to that. The war never reached Britain so the stigma isn't as strong, but the Wizarding world is rather slow in changing its opinion on some matters. A result of our longer lives no doubt."

"I understand," Dan said. "But what has this to do with you being alone in a foreign country?"

"There are a few reasons for that. For one, my face isn't well known in this country, so there's very little chance that somebody would look for me specifically. In Germany most people think I'm being homeschooled. We are trying to divert people attention and let me have a peaceful school life. If my father came to pick me up on the platform my cover would be blown."

"I can understand that, but it's still dangerous for a child to be by himself. There are plenty of ill-intended people around even without considering those specifically after you," Emma protested.

"That's true, Mrs. Granger. And this is when Magic comes into play. I've been given a piece of jeweler charmed in a way to make me unnoticeable my Mundanes unless I do something to catch specifically their attention. From the moment I've stepped out of the platform I was already completely safe and the Knight Bus, which is a magical transportation, would have showed up right in front of me and dropped me right in front of my apartment."

"So you would have been invisible?" Hermione asked.

"Invisible isn't correct. If somebody looked at me they would see me, but their attention would be shifted elsewhere. I wasn't in danger of being run over by a car if that's what you fear."

"Well that's good to know," Dan commented. "I'm sorry it sounded like we wanted to put our noses were it didn't belong but…"

"It's all right, Mr. Granger. You only did what you thought was right, and I appreciate the concern. Besides, all it takes for the world to fall into ruin is that good people do nothing."

The only male Granger chuckled.

"Did you hear that Emma? Looks like Hermione has found her match in being mature beyond her years."

"Oh I've heard, all right. Tell me Herwald," she asked leaning toward the backseat were the kids sat. "Have you ever considered of dating my daughter?"

"MOM!" "EMMA!"

The indignant shriek of the other two Grangers was only matched by the woman laughter while Herwald fidgeted uncomfortably on his seat. Why was that everybody was so intent of making a couple out of them? He was now seriously starting to dislike the thought.

The Grangers drove Harry all the way to his apartment in one of the nicest areas of the city. Hermione knew that the Grindelwald were loaded but to buy an apartment for Herwald alone in that part of town was way over the top even for them.

"Here Hermione. This is my Yule gift for you. I have already gave Alex his." he said handing over a neatly wrapped package. Form the feeling of it when she took it she knew it was a book.

"But I… haven't got you anything yet. I planned to send you something via owl before Christmas but…."

"It's okay. You can send it to me later I don't mind. I prefer the exchange of gift to be done in person rather but I never had to make gift for someone outside my family so I my opinion might be a little distorted."

"I.., should I open it now then?" She asked.

"If that's all right with you." She unwrapped the package and as predicted a book was inside it. "A Compendium to Potions? I've never heard of this book. Is it rare?"

"I certainly hope it is. Otherwise I'd have been ripped off," he answered back joking, waiting for Hermione to read the name of the author. When she did her eyes widened and darted from him to the book and back.

"You.. you… you… You wrote this?" She asked in near awe.

"Indeed. I know that Potions is the subject you are having the most difficulties with so I thought that you would have liked it. It covers everything on the subject from first to fifth year. It also has a special section on the contents of the exams in the past fifteen years and…. Hermione? Hermione?"

Said girl was looking at him with a vacant stare as if she just saw the incarnation of some sort of divine entity and her brain couldn't take it. He realized in that moment that if he wanted to make her move over her crush for him, then he wasn't making a good job.

"He writes books at his age?" Dan whispered to his wife as they watched the scene unfold.

"So it seems. Do you know what that means, right?"

"It means that I get to give him the father to boyfriend speech," he answered with certainty. "Right?"

She frowned. "It depends. Is it the one dad gave you? Where he chained you to a chair in his tool shed, and then proceeded to show you his collection of hunting knives? The same collection he gave you after Hermione was born?"

"That one," he confirmed with a nod.

"Then no," she nearly growled. "Unless you'd like to sleep on the couch every night for the rest of your natural life."

"But honey…"

"I don't want to hear it."

"Come on. I just want to see he squirm a little bit. I've been waiting for years for my turn to traumatize somebody like I've been."

"No means no!"

As the two adults bickered Herwald found himself in quite the conundrum. Like in a trance Hermione walked to him and pulled him into a fierce hug that threatened to snap his spine. She didn't notice him tense at the unexpected physical contact.

"Herwald Gellert Grindelwald, this is the most thoughtful gift I've ever received. How did you know Potions was giving me a hard time? I've never told you."

It took a moment for him to regain his composure and wriggle out of her embrace.

"It's because of your quills," he answered trying to suppress the shivers.

"My quills? What do they have to do with anything?"

"Ah. Uhm. I've noticed that you always chew on them when you are thinking too hard during your assignment. When we are working on a Potions essay you go through five of them at once like they were the sugar version."

"R- Really? I.. I never even noticed it myself."

"Well, you should pay more attention to your teeth then. When was the last time you've a seen dentist anyway?"

"Well that was…." She stuttered as she tried to remember when exactly last time was. "Herwald, honestly!" She huffed once she got his joke.

"I can't believe you actually forgot your parents are dentists Hermione. If that's the effect books have on you, then perhaps I should stop giving them to you."

"Please don't even joke about something like that."

After promising to send him a great gift, Hermione and her parents left for their house, leaving Herwald in front of his apartment complex.

Grabbing his trunk he climbed the stair to his flat, pushed the door open and locked it behind him, before breaking in uncontrollable shivers. His breathing accelerated and did his heart rate. It took him five whole minutes to regaling control of himself enough to stand.

"Damn it," he muttered as soon as he was capable of speech again. It took all of his Occlumency capacity to hold his reactions back until he was safe in the privacy of his own house. He had almost blasted Hermione away when she hugged him before.

He hated it.
The memory of powerlessness.
He hated how he felt when they took him against his will.
He hated how they broke him like a cheap toy.
He hated how it still haunted him now, to the point of making him reject an act of honest affection.
And more than anything else he hated himself for not being strong enough to crush the fear that people long dead had instilled into him.

"Leda… " he whispered to himself the name of the only person who could reach to him without rejection. The only person whose touch dispelled the fear still clenching his heart. The only person that could truly put his nightmares to rest. "I'm coming back home."

Author Notes:
All right. This was supposed to be published by Christmas. Obviously it didn't go as planned. Go figure.

Anyway it's finally here. I hope you enjoyed it.

As it's clear from this chapter, behind his cool and relaxed outward appearance Herwald still has issues. Occlumency allows him to get in control of his feelings and fears while even as he sleeps but if something triggers the memory of that night he has a relapse. It will take a lot of time for him to finally bury the trauma for good and it won't be only through his efforts. Other people will play a major role in his development and he will use both love and hate to finally move on.

If you like were this is going, review!

Ah, what the heck! Review anyway!

Till next time.