Chapter 25
It was quite a while before Dumbledore remembered that he had left Landry and Genevieve to hide behind a tree. When he finally recalled that they were present, he quickly went to the tree. Genevieve had fallen asleep, while Landry was just sitting there, clearly in deep thought. "Ah, Landry," Dumbledore addressed her. "I assume you saw what happened, then?" he asked, gesturing to her confused face.
"Yes, I did," she said. "And I have a couple questions, the first of which is 'WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?!"
Dumbledore sighed. "Sir," Landry added on.
"I do owe you an explanation, don't I?" Dumbledore asked.
"To say the least, Mr. Dumbledore," Landry said.
"Very well," he said. "Please wake Genevieve while I go retrieve our new companion. We shall meet back at the tent."
He walked away before Landry could protest. She grimaced, turning to the still sleeping Genevieve to wake her. After shaking Genevieve much harder than she would have liked, Landry finally got her to wake up. She immediately sat up. "What happened? What did I miss?" Genevieve asked.
"Dumbledore wants us to meet him and his…Grindelwald at the tent. So we've got to go right now so we can get there before him and warn the others," Landry explained.
"Alright, let's go," Genevieve agreed. The two girls sprinted back to the tent. As they entered, Miles immediately threw his arms around Landry.
"Thank goodness you're okay," he said.
"I love you too, Miles, but we have a situation," Landry said.
"What's wrong?" asked Albus. "Where's Dumbledore?"
"Oh no, did Grindelwald get him?" Scorpius cried.
"Um…sort of…" Landry said. "He's seemingly fine, though. We have to warn you, though. You guys are in for a real shock. I'm not entirely sure what's happening."
"Landry, you're scaring us," Albus said, worriedly.
"You should be scared," Genevieve said, shuttering. "So much tongue."
"What the heck are you talking about, Genevieve?" Pippa questioned.
"Dumblewald!" Genevieve cried.
Landry snorted. "Dumblewald?"
"Yeah, it's their ship name," Genevieve replied.
"Ship name? What's Miles and I's ship name?"
"Lales," Genevieve said, without skipping a beat.
"Lales?" Landry laughed.
"Yeah, you and Miles are Lales, and Albus and Scorpius are Scorbus," Genevieve explained.
"Scorbus? Aw, that's so cute!" Scorpius giggled.
"This is not the time!" Albus shouted. He turned to Genevieve. "Do you mean to tell me that Dumbledore and Grindelwald are…back together?"
Genevieve and Landry nodded grimly. Before anyone else could react, Dumbledore walked into the tent. All eyes turned towards him. "Ah, I see that Landry and Genevieve have filled you in, then?" he asked.
"Yeah, we know you're back with Grindelwald. But I must request you give us an explanation, considering that literally an hour ago your plan was to defeat him," Pippa sassed.
"As you wish," Dumbledore said. "Gellert, you can come in now!"
Grindelwald entered the tent. All six of the students pulled their wands out, ready to fight if Grindelwald tried anything. Grindelwald sighed sadly. "See, I told you Albus, they're scared of me. Rightfully so, of course. I don't think they'll ever be able to trust me. I knew this was too good to be true," he sniffled.
"No, Gellert, this is not your fault. Children, I understand that this is quite the shock, and may take some time to get used to, but Gellert has changed. He is a new man, and wants to use his new chance at life to help us defeat Voldemort," Dumbledore explained.
Grindelwald nodded in agreement. "I made this whole speech about it to Albus, I truly wish you had been there," he said.
Nobody but Dumbledore was convinced, especially not Landry. "How do you explain what you said whenever you first returned, then? You know, about destroying us?" she asked quizzically.
Dumbledore chuckled. "I asked the very same thing, Landry," he said.
"I deeply apologize for that, children," Grindelwald said, looking to Landry and Miles. "My mind was boggled from being brought back to life. It is not an easy transition, as you may imagine. For a moment, my head was spinning and I was confused back into my old ways. As soon as I disapparated, I regained my true memories. I felt so terrible for the fright I must have caused you, I still do, but I decided it would merely frighten you more to return right away and apologize then."
The teenagers and Pippa exchanged wary glances. Grindelwald really did seem remorseful, and Dumbledore was fully convinced, and acting much happier than he had been the whole time since he had returned to the mortal realm. If Dumbledore trusted him, then Landry decided to try to, as well. But she still felt incredibly unsure.
"If Dumbledore trusts him, then I suppose that's all there is to it," Albus said, seeming equally unsettled as Landry felt.
"I guess everyone deserves a second chance," Genevieve said, attempting to smile, but looking more like she was constipated.
Scorpius, Landry, and Miles nodded. Pippa frowned. "I still don't trust him," she said, turning on her heel and leaving the tent. Dumbledore sighed, turning to Grindelwald.
"Don't mind Pippa," he said.
Grindelwald turned to the teenagers. "Thank you all ever so much," he said. "This is a dream come true!"
He extended his hand towards Landry, prompting a handshake. Landry reluctantly shook it.
"Now, let's go get you one of those spare wands to use," Dumbledore said, leading Grindelwald to where the magic bag of supplies was, in Landry and Miles's bedroom. Pippa was still sulking outside, which left the five teenagers alone in the living room.
"Okay, who here doesn't trust him?" Albus asked. All of his four friends raised a hand.
"This cannot be happening, it makes no sense at all," Scorpius agreed.
"Has Dumbledore been cursed?" Miles asked. Landry shook her head.
"I was watching them the whole time they were…reuniting. I swear on Merlin's grave that I didn't see any cursing, jinx, hex, or anything else occur. We could use a revealing spell on Dumbledore while he's asleep just to be sure, but I really don't think it will show anything," Landry said.
"I don't know about you, but I'll be keeping a close eye on him," Genevieve said. "Nobody hurts my best friends."
"Thanks, Gen," Landry said with a smile.
"Ugh," Miles groaned. I know he's up to something, I just know it!"
"We do too, Babe," Landry reassured him. "But Dumbledore is completely convinced. Our words aren't going to prove him otherwise, so we're going to need some solid evidence."
"Like what?" asked Scorpius.
"Anything that will prove he's lying," answered Landry.
"We'll have to watch him like hawks," Genevieve pointed out.
"True," said Landry.
"This is just so wonderful," said Albus, sarcastically. "Now we have this mess to deal with, as well as our original task of defeating two dark wizards and a boatload of Death Eaters."
"It's not ideal, I know, but it's our reality," Landry said.
"Remember those two weeks after the Halloween Ball when everything was blissful?" Miles sighed, wistfully.
"Yeah, I do," said Landry, smiling. She laced her fingers with his. "We're out here so that we, and the rest of Wizardkind, will have a chance at finding that happiness again."