Ner words in this chapter: 2,075


'Thinking'

/Sign Language\

–Parseltongue–

Thinking in 3rd person POV/Dream/Memory/Flashback/Others

Letter/Journal/Book/Newspaper

Time change/Date of time

Change of POV


Chapter IX

–Grindelwald–

Late December 1943

TMR's POV

Tom allowed Teddy to climb to his arms and hid his own face on the toddler's neck. Finally, out of his control, he started to cry as it finally got to him that Harry was there. He was alive. They hadn't lost him. He…

"This is a private moment." Lady Lestrange sneered down at someone.

Tom raised his head from Teddy's neck just enough to see a black-haired man with a distinct haircut.

"He's Harry's friend." He replied while forcing his hormones under control.

Grindelwald stepped forward, side-passing the Lestranges and approached Tom and Teddy. A hand was set on Tom's shoulder and without Tom's control his magic started to return into his Core and his hormones started to go under control.

"I'm Harry's Magic Sentiency tutor." Grindelwald pointed out with an obvious American accent. "But yes, I'm also his friend." He added to the Lestranges, before he turned towards Tom and Tom felt a mind enter his own. 'How bad was it for you to lose control of yourself so perceptibly?' A German accent asked.

Tom showed the image of Harry's waist down completely smashed and could feel Grindelwald's anger.

'My-future-self tried to kill him twice.'

Surprise appeared before understanding replaced it.

'You two mated, haven't you?' Tom couldn't help but think on what they'd done, before forcing the memory back. 'That's why your magic is so rampant. It's furious at itself.'

Grindelwald withdrew and set a hand on Teddy's head and Tom noticed the boy had fallen asleep.

"Werecub didn't sleep?" He questioned the others in his American accent.

"I tried everything in my power." Lady Lestrange argued. "He just wouldn't relax. Even if he accepted the Pack claim it was still a completely new environment."

Grindelwald raised an eyebrow at Tom.

"I claimed my friend and classmate as the Godfather." He explained towards the German blond, currently American black-haired, Dark Lord.

The amusement that Grindelwald showed back told Tom exactly what the Wizard thought of the idea. Tom had just given his lover's child a godfather. He mock-glared back. As if that had been what had been in his mind at that exact moment…

"Head Auror, this is…"

Tom turned to see the Head Auror also coming, only for the man to raise an eyebrow at Grindelwald.

"Really?" He asked towards the Dark Lord with sarcasm. "That's what you're going with?"

Grindelwald smiled back.

"Harry is friend to us both, Lyonel. Do you really want to start an argument about how we look right now?" He added, pointing towards the official robes that the Auror still had on himself.

Auror Thundercall looked down at himself and then up at Grindelwald.

"I guess not, Percival." The obvious amusement in Grindelwald told Tom that he had to look up on that attack on New York sixteen years ago. "Tom, why isn't Young Teddy at home sleeping?"

"Pack smell, Sir." Tom replied.

Auror Thundercall nodded and looked at the doors, and Tom signalled the right one. The Head Auror approached and knocked, before he entered.

"You should sit down. Come on, there must be a waiting room in here somewhere."

"It's this way." Jeremy offered and Grindelwald nodded back, to what Tom's classmate and Lady Lestrange walked away to show the way.

"Were Nomajs ruled out?" Grindelwald asked. Tom frowned back and although he felt the amusement from the Dark Wizard, the other did an obvious roll of eyes. "Nomajs, non-magic people."

"Muggles." Lady Lestrange put in.

"Nomajs sounds much better."

"Why you say that?" Jeremy asked, glancing back. "Sir." He added as if he just remembered.

"Nomajs. It's literally what they have: no magic."

They arrived the waiting room and Grindelwald directed Tom to one of the seats.

"It's the American version." Lady Lestrange argued, while obviously holding back her thoughts on the name. "And it's believed to be Dark Wizards' work."

Grindelwald hummed and that was all the noncommittal reaction he gave to the idea.

–LSE–

Tom glanced at the returning Head Auror who nodded back before he glanced at Grindelwald and his eyebrow twitched.

"Don't you have work to do?"

Grindelwald's smile was frightening.

"I might." Was the Dark Lord's agreement. "And you?"

Tom, who knew who he was, could hear the taunting. He was daring the Head Auror to out the Dark Wizard and, by doing so, put both Harry and Tom in jeopardy. It was a political game. Considering how Harry was anything like that, it was good for Tom to see this version of the Wizardry World. If Tom wanted to help bring down the Muggles he'd need to learn how to interact.

–LSE–

Early January 1943

The holidays ended and Tom returned to school. Teddy staying with the Lestranges, the Werecub finally accepting the couple long enough. An unknown House-elf would've still appear every night to gather Tom's robe of the day. A known scent for Teddy's inner wolf.

"Tom, my boy." Tom looked up at Professor Slughorn. "If you could follow me to the Headmaster's office."

Tom stood, while every Slytherin looked up surprised.

"Lord Potter?" Eileen asked by his side.

Professor Slughorn looked around and realized how it sounded.

"I visited Lord Potter earlier myself and he is showing a remarkable recovery." He offered and every Slytherin nodded.

Tom followed the Professor out. Being called to the Headmaster in a time of war when it is obvious you haven't done anything to deserve that usually meant death of a relative. In Tom's case his recent Family Lord. What had increased Tom's rise in the Slytherin ranking. They arrived the gargoyle.

"Knowledge." Tom offered and the gargoyle moved.

They climbed and knocked. Headmaster Armando Dippet was talking, with another Wizard in the room eagerly, when Professor Dumbledore opened the door for them.

"Tom." Professor Dumbledore agreed and successfully calling the attention of the two talking Wizards. Tom could tell Professor Dumbledore had been anything but as eager about the conversation. "Do come in."

Tom entered, flanked by his Head of House. The stranger approached from where he'd been out of sight from who enters the office and shook Tom's hand.

"Sir." Tom put in amused.

Grindelwald smiled back.

"Mr Graves was a Wizard of known in the States back when you were born, Tom. He was the American version of the Head Auror. The Head of MACUSA. To think your Lord knows Graves himself now that he is retired."

Head Auror. Tom glanced at an amused Grindelwald. Now he understood why Head Auror Thundercall had recognized him.

"Now now, Sir. Most of my time as the Head of MACUSA I didn't get to do much. All things considered with the Grindelwald's incident."

"That was unfortunate."

"Anyway, Tom." A parchment was handed to Tom. Tom accepted it and read it. "Harry has made me your inheritance tutor. We both know how he is."

So, in other words, Grindelwald offered for the job.

"I'll be honoured."

"Good because you have lots to learn." Grindelwald turned towards Headmaster Dippet. "I'll be certain to pass on your compliments to former President Picquery."

Professor Dippet nodded thankfully and Tom and Grindelwald were directed out the office and down the stairs by the two Head House Professors. They were taken to Professor Dumbledore's office which was closest. Professor Dumbledore lead them in and picked a book from his bookcase and offered Tom.

"Your Guardian's permission or not, there's a series of guidelines that we need to follow and…"

"Albus." Professor Slughorn interrupted. "Had Tom been one of your Gryffindors we wouldn't be having this conversation."

Grindelwald chuckled as Professor Dumbledore choked in outrage.

"Everyone knows of your inner fight against Lord Potter." Grindelwald agreed and Tom saw how his eyes become harsh and cold as he looked at Professor Dumbledore's blues. "We also know that you'd know better than to attack Lord Potter to the point of death."

Tom turned slowly towards Professor Dumbledore. Tom could tell that even Professor Slughorn was staring. Grindelwald had just literally threatened the Deputy Headmaster.

"I'm not an Auror." Professor Dumbledore argued. "It's not in my place to show the world how Lord Potter is a Dark Wizard."

"Dark Wizard? With his Light Magical Core?" Grindelwald returned. "Touch his magic before you speak, Professor."

"He is known for being Grindelwald's friend."

"So are you. Do you want me to look into your own past?"

And with that Grindelwald shut up the ginger Professor. Grindelwald knew Professor Dumbledore?

"Well. On to the timetable for the classes. Tom, your timetable." Professor Slughorn practically commanded the last line.

Tom understood him since they'd just witnessed a threat. Tom grabbed a free parchment and using his wand he quickly made his timetable write on it. Then he pretended to care for his book as the three argued the time.

–LSE–

Late January 1943

HJP's POV

Harry arrived his house with Auror Thundercall's help. His body was fully healed now, still he needed to take it easy.

"It's back to what it was." He pointed out impressed.

"We did our best." Auror Thundercall agreed. "The Lestranges said they'd stop by later."

"Teddy?"

"Going mad in worry." The Head Auror agreed. "His last Full Moon was a mess. Luckily you somehow befriended Percival Graves."

"More like he was the one to come to me in the first place… because of Teddy actually."

"You still befriended him. Which – just as a heads up – he claimed to be your magic tutor to the Lestranges. And he is tutoring Tom in inheritance?" Last part started as a warning but ended questioningly instead.

"He can be manipulative. And I was raised out of political games. I've no idea how to do it myself."

Auror Thundercall massaged his eyebrows.

"When the incidents with the Muggles become public this will either turn in our favour…"

"Or bite us in the ass." Harry agreed, making Auror Thundercall mock-glare back. "If it makes you feel any better, I might never be born."

"How so?"

"Fleamont is my grandfather."

Auror Thundercall hummed understanding.

"Magic always has a way."

Harry grinned. After all that was how he was here after all.

–LSE–

Sunday, 14 February 1943

TMR's POV

Tom was fast to arrive on the morning of his first Hogsmeade weekend. Teddy laughing as Tom run to Harry and hugged him tight.

"Did you even stop for breakfast?"

"No." Tom retorted.

Harry sighed and forced the teenager to release him before he went and prepared him food.

"I'm fine. I can walk. I barely have a mark."

"And Dobby?"

Harry stopped and looked back at Tom surprised before he smiled.

"The Mediwizard says he is recovering well."

"People don't ask about it, do they?" Tom asked knowingly.

"A Creature is not worth a second thought. I'm surprised we got such an understanding Mediwizard."

Harry felt Tom hug him from behind.

"Dobby isn't the usual House-elf. I've met the Lestranges' one and it is far from someone you know you could trust your life upon."

"All the difference is that I treat him as a living being instead of a Creature to use and discard later on."

Tom hummed and stayed quiet as he held Harry from behind as Harry cooked him breakfast. When they finally sat down for Tom to eat, there was a knock on the front door. Harry stood and went down to find three Aurors.

"Harry Potter?" Harry nodded. "You are under arrest for association with the known Dark Lord – Gellert Grindelwald."

Harry frowned at the Wizards and then glanced at a following Tom and Teddy.

"Get Lestrange." He ordered Tom while giving Teddy the look order of stay back! "Can you not do this before the child?" He asked.

The Aurors were ready to argue then they noticed Teddy barely in control.

"Of course."

Tom leaned down and picked the toddler and forced him against his chest as Harry accompanied the Aurors away into the apparating area where he was finally given the magic restrain bracelet.

(TBC)


I'm sorry the delay but between old laptop not working to be able to post online (I use tablet with bluetooth keyboard to write) and literal oil to get into my eyes, I've been unable to post this week

Hell, my eyes are bloody red today

So if any typo? I'm sorry but today I cannot check

The more you know: the movie Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them was supposedly during December 1926

Next chapter: Genocide

~Isys