Meeting their match, chapter 28
Blaise forgot that he'd been wanting to ask Gellert just how he'd managed to charm his Mum into taking him clothes shopping and basically accepting their relationship because now he had something else to ask him about. At least this one wouldn't have to wait until they were alone.
"What did you bloody do to him," he asked with a half incredulous laugh.
"I don't think even Voldemort has ever made Dumbledore run
Gellert shrugged. "Nothing really. I had no idea it would upset him that much."
"What did you do," Blaise pressed, curiosity growing.
"I showed him a mental image that apparently disturbed him more than I expected," Gellert said carefully.
"Of what," Blaise asked, now mildly impatient as the suspense was killing him. For anyone to get to Dumbledore, well it was impressive. Though Gellert could likely do anything so if anyone could...
Gellert's gaze moved from Blaise's equally curious parents back to the young man in question before he spoke. "I showed him a mental image of a young woman who seems to fancy him very much. I tend to get glimpses into the future, and I simply showed him what I saw."
"Why did that upset him so much, I wonder," Sabra said. "He was apparently quite distressed over that article of Skeeter's claiming he was in a relationship with you. So one would think any woman being kind enough not to believe it would please him." She gave a derisive titter and shake of her head.
"What article," Gellert asked, expression one of confused surprise.
Blaise thought he'd mentioned that during their first heated encounter, but who could remember when all their mental blood was basically headed south at the time.
Sabra shrugged dismissively and gave Gellert a brief three sentence rundown of Rita Skeeter's propensity to write lies and garbage.
Gellert chuckled, shaking his head. "Odd indeed as I've never seen the man before in my life."
Geo Zabini finally spoke up, eyes going slightly wide. "But didn't he...um...defeat you," he asked, shock making his Italian accent even thicker than usual. He was obviously wondering if Gellert had lost his mind or perhaps only his memory in Nurmengard. Blaise wasn't concerned though. Dumbledore had introduced himself to Gellert, after all. He pointed this out to his father then added, "For whatever reason someone saw fit to lie about Dumbledore's involvement."
"So he didn't defeat you in a duel," Geo asked Grindelwald.
Gellert shook his head, expression shadowing with the weight of old unpleasant memories. "It took five ministries to take me down," he half growled head lifting in a pride that Blaise had expected but had yet to see in the new defeated Gellert. He liked it!