Meeting their match, chapter 36:A return from the dead?

(Yet another beloved Slytherin makes an appearance in this chapter)

It didn't occur to Blaise to call for Bramble to apparate them to the headmaster's office until they were completely out of the great hall. Amazing sex had addled his brain. Yet another new experience Gellert had given him...the brain addling. Only Gellert got to him like this. The beautiful wizard was practically cloaked in magic and power and a light oddly like the sun in spite of the fact he was obviously as dark minded as Blaise. With a sigh of regret that the addictive contact was over for the moment, Blaise called for Bramble.

The elf appeared in front of them with a crack and a frown of suspicion. "We need to go to Dumbledore's office and I don't want to take the time to walk or even run there. The sorting hat told Gellert that there is a security breach," he said and the elf grabbed each of their hands without a word, apparating them to Dumbledore's office.

"Bramble will bring Master and Mistress. They will wish to be aware," the elf said then apparated away. Blaise knocked on the door and for the sake of expedience called,"Headmaster. It's an emergency."

The door opened in a matter of seconds and Blaise was surprised to see 2 others in the office past Dumbledore's shoulder. One was a slightly odd looking house elf with a sharply hooked nose and the other a youth with shoulderlength dark hair and a slight build who looked about Blaise's own age. Gellert's age too now considering the youthening potion, Blaise thought. He'd never seen the boy before, so he wasn't a Hogwarts student. Blaise felt his curiosity spike in spite of the situation.

Gellert thrust the hat at Dumbledore and said,"According to the hat there appears to be a breach in security."

Like Blaise he was getting directly to it. Albus only appeared mildly concerned.

"Thank you both. I've never been warned by the hat before...That is indeed interesting. Though this time it may not be a dangerous breech. We'll still check it out to be sure, though."

"I'll do it, Headmaster. I'll be back in a few minutes."

The husky voice had come from the strange young man and he was already moving toward the door as he spoke.

"Kreacher is coming. Kreacher will apparate us outside," the elf said, speaking to the youth, and placing an oddly tender hand on his arm, face turned up to him as he spoke. The two vanished and Blaise looked to the headmaster.

"Who was that?"

Albus opened his mouth to reply, but Sabra Zabini's voice spoke from behind Blaise and Gellert before he could do so. "Gods that looked like Regulus Black!"

"Isn't he dead,"Blaise asked.

"We feared so," Albus said gravely.

"Only a few people are aware that he indeed lives, so I must request that you all keep this to yourselves."

"You know we're good at keeping secrets," Sabra said. "We have plenty of our own."

"Very good," Albus said, nodding and giving her a friendly smile. "Come in, all of you, and I'll catch you up to speed."

The headmaster explained how Regulus Black had faked his own death by becoming a vampire. He'd stayed away to keep his family safe, unaware that Voldemort lived until recently."So you see, he may have inadvertently set off the alarms on the grounds when he came to speak with me," Albus said, gaze moving to Gellert. "A vampire would be considered a threat by the wards."

"He came here to talk to you because he's going to help against Voldemort,"Sabra asked and Albus nodded.

"He will take Harry's training over from Severus, so perhaps the boy will actually make some progress. Severus is talented but he and Harry just can't seem to get along in spite of the great necessity that they do so." For once, Blaise saw a flash of irritated exasperation on the headmaster's usually calm and tranquil face.

Blaise couldn't keep a derisive smirk from crossing his face, and in truth he didn't try that hard. Perhaps it was Potter's lack of talent that got in the way most of all, but saying as much wouldn't help the situation so as he often did, Blaise kept his unpopular opinions to himself. Sensing Gellert's warm gaze on him, Blaise looked at the blonde. Gellert's gaze met his, alight with amused curiosity. "Later,' Blaise mouthed, silently promising an explanation. Gellert grinned and winked his agreement.

"So who is Regulus Black," he asked the room at large.

"We went to school together. He was a good student and a nice enough kid, but like so many dark wizards, he chose to follow Voldemort," Sabra replied. "There was some scandal and he vanished. Many assumed Voldemort tried to kill him for backing out for some reason. He was so devoted to Voldemort it was always strange to ponder...Something was obviously missing about that story."

Sabra looked curiously at Albus who nodded. "Regulus discovered one of Voldemort's Horcruxes. He was the first to do so, but this was after he already lost faith. That happened when Voldemort nearly killed Kreacher. Regulus and Kreacher were very close. "The tragedy is that even Kreacher believed him to be dead until recently due to a grievous misunderstanding. Voldemort has hurt so many people."

"So many of his followers wrongly believed him to be like Gellert, I think and enough of them were eventually disappointed,"Sabra said.

Albus nodded. "Yes and many more who didn't follow him were hurt as well, having their lives turned to dust when families and friends were destroyed by his evil."

"If we can just end the bastard and get it over with," Geo muttered darkly and everyone nodded their silent agreement.

"We've made arrangements to return home tomorrow," Sabra told Albus. "I want to thank you for your kind hospitality."

"Of course," Albus said.

"We get to go home," Blaise asked, turning eagerly to his parents. "Gellert can come along so we can work on making items, can't he?"

"We've got some of my side of the family coming to visit, just to make it extra safe," Geo answered his son with a relaxed grin. "And sure, Gellert is welcome to come along as long as Wolfgang has no objection. I can't see why he'd mind."

Gellert felt his body stiffen in spite of himself. He hated feeling like a child that the stupid half giant or half troll or whatever he was got to 'allow' to do anything. He was Gellert Grindelwald. He never asked permission! He took want he wanted, did what he wanted, escaped all attempts to hold him sooner or later...Only this time the half giant or half troll or whatever he was had freed him. Though the troll should be the beast on the end of the chain, he held Gellrt's collar instead. The blonde knew it and resented it. Still he didn't dare to resist because if he got locked up in Nurmengard again...he just couldn't get locked up in Nurmengard again.