Chapter 24: What Dumbledore Knows
Note: I do not own Harry Potter. I do own my ocs and this plotline.
Apprenticing under Nicholas and Eunice, Newt begins to distance himself from Albus' intrigues. He suggests in Hermione's case to leave well enough alone less he make an enemy of her. Gellert's spies start digging into the past of Creedence Barebone. Hermione starts looking into options on the problem that is Mary Lou Barebone.
Cast:
Lord Titus Malfoy: Charles Dance
Albus Dumbledore: James McAvoy
Newton Scamander: Eddie Redmayne
Hermione Granger: Emma Watson
Gellert Grindlewald: Colin Farrell
Creedence Barebone: Ezra Miller
Newt's POV
It had been three weeks now since Newt came to New York. Given the mess with his creatures getting loose and meeting the fascinating duo of Eunice and Nicholas, writing to Professor Dumbledore had nearly escaped his mind. He wondered what he would think of what he had to say.
Though it was true that Miss Granger was a force to be reckoned with and not to be taken lightly, she wasn't a fanatic or a maniac. Though he may not agree with all her views, he understood her reasoning. Miss Granger only wanted to protect the most vulnerable of their world, to be a voice for those who had none. She was also logical and pragmatic. She wasn't out to start a war. Nothing she did was illegal or broke the Statute.
His professor was seeing enemies where as of yet there were none. If he continued this route he might bring about the very thing he feared. It was with these thoughts in mind that Newt pulled out ink, parchment, and quill. Hopefully his professor of some years would take his advice and leave well enough alone.
Dear Professor,
It has been an educational few weeks since we spoke last. Due to a mishap that was in no way my fault, I've met some interesting people here in New York. It truly is the melting pot of the world. I have met many interesting people. People more like minded to myself than I imagined.
I have extended my stay here, as I found that I have yet so much to learn and have so many good people to learn from. I guess one never does stop being a student. I am learning more than I ever thought possible, soon I should be able to write a book about the research I have done.
But to the point of my letter, through circumstances beyond my control I have met Miss Granger, and am glad to have done so. She is a brilliant woman with a love for all magical creatures that nearly matches my own. At this very moment she is working to combat the archaic and barbaric laws that treat Werewolves as beasts.
I help when I can. I appreciate your concern. She is charismatic without trying and her passion contagious. Yet in all I have learned about her, I do not believe she is someone to be feared. Though she opposes the Statute of Secrecy she is not a fanatic.
She is not gathering followers to descimate muggles with. She acts entirely within the law. I may not agree with her but that is no reason to declare her an enemy. She is hardly the first to oppose the law in such a way and I doubt she will be the last. At least she is not a pureblood fanatic.
She is not your enemy. And from I have witnessed, doesn't even know who Grindlewald is. I highly doubt they know each other, and even if they did, I highly doubt she would approve of his methods. At least for the time being.
I fear sir that you are seeing enemies where as of now there is none. Your fear and the actions you take due to that fear may bring about the very outcome you are trying to avoid. You may find it strange, a former student giving advice yet I feel that I must do so, for all our sakes.
We should step back, professor. Let us not make enemies out of those with whom we have differing opinions with. I believe it is better to watch and observe from a distance and not provoke any incidents. But keep our eyes and our ears open.
I do not know when I shall return. I see much travel for me in the future so I will write when I can. On the last note, I have checked on the boy. No one has approached him and seems wholly unaware of the magical world outside his adopted mother's insane ranting. All is well for now.
I do look forward to hearing from you sir, and sharing all I have learned in my travels. I hope you are well.
Cordially
Newton
As he sent the letter off he dearly hoped his former professor would accept his advice and more importantly, heed his warning. They did not need to push Miss Granger right into Grindlewald's arms by making an enemy out of her. She was a formidable witch. If Newt was sure of one thing it was this. If they pushed to hard, if Miss Granger and Grindlewald formed an alliance, they would be an unstoppable juggernaut.
And Newt would play no part in assisting that process by creating enemies out of friends.
Lord Titus Malfoy
Location: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Scotland
Lord Titus Malfoy found the mystery surrounding Creedence Barebone to be quite intriguing indeed. On the surface there didn't look to be a reason for both Lord Grindlewald and Headmaster Dumbledore to have an interest in the young man. Magical orphans were hardly a new concept in their world. There were so many after all.
He supposed that Grindlewald Saw something in regards to the boy, so his interest made slightly more sense. But had the Headmaster to do with an American orphan? There was something at play here, something Dumbledore was striving to keep hidden. Which meant it was in Titus' best interest to find out what it was.
Leverage is something one must always cultivate. And so he made a reason to take himself to Hogwarts and to be in the Headmaster's office. Having a child in the school, his ward Antonius Selwyn had its advantages. The boy had been all to eager to lend his assistance. He despised Dumbledore and his muggle loving ways and jumped at the chance to show up the half blood.
They created quite the little ruse. He doubted Miss Granger would approve but what she didn't know couldn't hurt her. Antonius and a couple other Slytherins attacked two muggleborn boys in full sight of the Headmaster inside the Great Hall. Neither had been seriously harmed. A broken wrist and leg due to some minor hexes that brought them into the Hospital Wing.
Dumbledore was many things but a fool was not one of them. He suspected more was at play, but blamed pureblood bigotry over all, just as Titus planned. It was no secret that the older families have been diligently trying to orchestrate his removal from the school. It all played into his hand. Dumbledore had no idea that something else entirely was at play.
Titus wore his aristocratic mask, his superior breeding on full display. A false show of power to fan the flames of false intent. He waited patiently by the gargoyle that led to the Headmaster's office. His wife Lady Dari'an (Dar-ree-on) Malfoy a formidable presence by his side. They did not have to wait long. A furious Dumbledore met them at the staircase. The man never had learned how to mask his emotions.
All the better for Titus. An angry wizard was an easily manipulated wizard. He greeted him with a superior smirk. "Now Headmaster was it absolutely nessecery to disturb myself and my wife over this little squabble? Surely as Headmaster you have it all in hand? I hardly think it appropriate to demand an audience over a harmless prank! We were all young once, were we not? And after all, boys will be boys!" he spoke condescendingly.
"A fight between Slytherins and Gryffindors is hardly a rare occurrence. I fail to see a reason to be dragged out of my home for it! I am a busy woman with my own engagements to tend to." Dari'an followed up, her voice snide and oozing disapproval. " Be that as it may, this is hardly Mr Selwyn's first offense, and as Headmaster it is my duty to ensure the safety of ALL my students my lady, my lord." the young man bit out. "Tootsie Rolls!" he intoned clearly, causing the stairway to appear.
Titus offered his wife his arm. Her eyes glinting with mischief she took it, her face otherwise crafted into a disinterested if slightly annoyed mask. " If you insist Headmaster. Truly I have to wonder though how hard it can be to curb in desirable behavior in 13 year olds. I have to wonder if it is so hard to keep but two boys in check if it is wise to have such a man in charge of the care of so many students. Perhaps you would have been better off to take up writing." she stated in the way up.
Titus internally smirked. His wife's ability to get under people's skin was legendary and he knew that she was enjoying provoking the young man before them. Dari'an was a mastermind in her own right and did much to grow the family's wealth and influence. She was a force to be reckoned with. He couldn't of asked for a better Matriarch or wife!
They were guided into the office, Titus pulling out the chair for his wife before taking a seat himself. "Your opinion is noted Lady Malfoy. My position is not what brings us here today. What does is your ward. His behaviour has gotten out of control! As I stated this is hardly the first case of students ending up in the Hospital Wing he has been indicated in! There has been no less than 7 incidents now since returning from Winter Hols!" he replied angrily.
"Headmaster," sighed Titus. "The boy just lost both of his parents to a long and terrible illness. After watching them waste away he had to bury them! His whole world has been turned on its head! Surely he is not the first child to act out in the wake of such a tragedy!" Titus stated. He was of course referring to Dumbledore's own flirtation with rebellion and dark magic after the death of his parents. Lord Grindlewald had been a fount of information on that time.
Not that the Headmaster would know it. A long suffering sigh came from the young man. It was obvious he was exhausted and overwhelmed by the responsibility that had been dumped on his shoulders. "I am not unaware if the young man's loss, nor am I heartless Lord Malfoy. You know the governors are looking for any reason to remove me. Who do you think they will put in my place? Do you think they would care about what Mr Selwyn has been through?" he may be exhausted but Dumbledore was good!
He wielded compassion and guilt like an expert swordsman and Titus couldn't help but respect him a little for his skill. "Just what is it that you would have us do, Headmaster? While he is here he is under your care. We can take him to mind healers while he is at home but that is 3 months out of the year!" Dari'an pointed out.
"There must be consequences for exposing other students to harm. Grieving or not, my other students deserve to be protected. Though I may sympathise with his loss, I must have you back my decision to punish this sort of behaviour before it gets out of hand! That being said, considering the other factors to be at play, I will allow Mr Selwyn an hour out of every week to meet with a grief specialist of your choice. If he agrees to this he will only be banned from Quiditch for two weeks." he answered.
"That sounds most reasonable, Headmaster. We appreciate you taking his unfortunate circumstances into account. We will speak to him about this and his behavior." Titus said appeasingly. Dumbledore let out a sigh of relief. I will go fetch Mr Selwyn. In the meantime, please enjoy some tea, its quite good." he stated. With a loud pop a tea tray appeared. Titus and Dari'an both began to make cups as he exited, the staircase disappearing behind them.
Titus smirked and Dari'an, an incredible hand at breaking wards began her work. It appeared though young the Headmaster was no slouch when it came to warding information he didn't want others to see. It exhausted a lot of energy for his wife to get through them all on the secret compartment under his desk. The first thing they saw was a picture of a teenaged Lord Grindlewald and Dumbledore. Curious, that!
What was most interesting were the adoption papers of one Creedence Barebone, birth name Aurelius Dumbledore. Birth mother Ariana Dumbledore, father unknown. He and Dari'an smirked at each other. These documents would be invaluable to Lord Grindlewald! Priceless in fact! And if Titus made an extra copy for himself who could blame him?
Knowledge truly is power after all.
Hermione's POV
After her High Call, Hermione had turned back to more immediate matters. Gell was no longer in danger of losing his cover. Although how long that remained to be a fact was not certain. Albus was no fool. Eventually his suspicions about her and "Percival" would come to a head. His fear of Gell and of her was simply to great for him to ignore. Yet, they had to keep around a few more years. The stock crash of 1929 was not far away.
They needed to be on the ground floor during that time if they wanted the monopoly and having to many proxies buying up all the stock would cause to much attention. Attention they did not need! Yet, with Newt as of now no longer being a concern she could not help but worry constantly about Creedence.
She was not a fool. She had seen Mary Lou everywhere, gathering crowds, spewing her vitriol. Every time he was by her side. He never looked at any one. His eyes was always to the ground, his shoulders hunched, silent as the grave. Every so often if there was a sudden movement he would flinch. It made her sick!
She had known Harry Potter her whole life. She knew exactly what his aunt and uncle did to him. She and Ron and even the twins came forward about it but nothing was ever done about the abuse and the neglect. She would not just stand by and watch it happen to another innocent child! And if that put her in Albus' crosshairs, so be it! Considering her school years, she didn't think he was the best person to do what was right for the safety if any child!
Gell knew it troubled her, and as for him, after every meeting with the boy Gell looked like he had been punched in the gut. Its what had them cuddled around each other on the love seat, Hermione in his lap, his left arm curving around her waist, each with a tall glass if Fire Whiskey before them. They had not a single legal leg to stand on in the muggle or magical world to remove him from the home.
There was also the fact that Albus had the boy watched. Any move they made would draw his eyes back on them. It filled her with rage that once again that bloody wanker, even indirectly, was interfering with the rescue of an abused, tortured boy! He couldn't possibly be so thick, if he did have eyes on the boy, to not know what was going on!
"I can't watch it again Gell, I won't! There has to be something we can do, something we haven't thought of! That woman is a public menace…" Gell put two fingers on her lips. Suddenly his eyes lit up. He took a sip from his drink and lifted his other hand away. "Say that again." he said. "I said I can't watch…" he stopped her. "No, the very last thing." he stated. "She's a public menace?" she said wondering where he was going with this.
"Where are muggles taken when they are considered mad?" he asked. Hermione's eyes lit up. "To a mental hospital!" she jumped up. "Enough calls to the cops from different people…" he continued. " And she'll be committed and we can help him!" Hermione finished. She slammed her lips into his and kissed him soundly. When they parted she said "I live you Gell, its brilliant!"