Chapter 29

The Elder Wand

Grindelwald started their lessons immediately the next day. He brought Harry and Tom to the practice room where, thankfully, two dummies were waiting for them instead of muggles as Harry feared he would use. Grindelwald walked around, waving the Elder Wand in his hand loosely as he talked.

"Right boys, first off I would love to see just how well you can do with the Unforgivable Curses, those three lovely spells that the uninformed and uncreative believe to be the only spells us Dark Wizards know how to do!" Grindelwald said. "Kill and torture these lovely dummies, and afterward we shall head downstairs where the animals wait for you to control."

Harry hid a frown as he looked at the dummies in front of them. "Which one first?" he asked.

"Whichever you think would amaze me the most," Grindelwald smirked. Both teens let out a breath and aimed their wands at the two dummies.

"Kill," Tom whispered, and Harry nodded. They moved synchronized, their wands whipping in the air as they both said clearly, "Avada Kedavra!" Two green killing curses exploded from their wands, hitting their targets instantly as both dummies fell from whatever charm was suspending them in the air. Grindelwald did not applaud them nor commented. The two took another step, and their Cruciatus Curses began, Harry focusing himself to think of every wrongdoing that has ever been done against him. He found that it was hard whenever he thought of Voldemort, but when he thought of his followers, of Bellatrix and Pettigrew, as well as Grindelwald himself, his anger and power grew. He could feel Tom's power next to him, a single great power that never wavered as he kept the Curse going for what felt like an eternity.

Grindelwald finally stepped forward, clapping his hands twice. "Wonderful, wonderfully done! Harry, your spells flare with such murderous emotions! I could almost feel myself screaming in pain. As for you, uh Tim, Timmy… Tommathy, you are too precise! I felt your power, sure but it never changed. Be more emotional like young Harry here, it will help." Tom glowered at the man, which Grindelwald either ignored or did not notice, Harry did not know. Grindelwald walked towards the trapdoor and stomped twice for it to open. "Come along children," he said, walking down the hidden stairway.

"Only till midsummer," Tom muttered as he walked, Harry following. The dungeons were small, made of pure stone, the walls cut roughly so there were jagged and hurt to lean against for a long time. Cells filled the room, its black iron bars and doors so closed together Harry could barely put his hand through. In the cells were muggles, men and women sitting in corners looking desolate and full of utter despair. Their eyes looked glassy as they glanced up, their faces showing obvious signs of being starved. Harry's heart ached as he remembered his life with the Dursleys and the endless nights they would love him inside that cupboard.

Grindelwald waved the Elder wand and a cell opened. "Boys, here are our little friends," he smirked. "Make them do whatever you please. Have them strangle each other, speak lies about themselves, or even kill each other. Whatever your hearts fancy."

Harry had to steel his heart as he nodded. He turned to the muggles and frowned, maybe just making them dance would be enough to please Grindelwald for now. He pointed his wand at one of the muggles and said, "Imperio."

Harry felt the familiar sense of control. He stared at his muggle and thought, Stand up and dance. The muggle did not offer any resistance. She groaned as she stumbled to her feet and started to dance awkwardly, her face looking pained. Tom, on the other hand, had his muggle perform poses that seemed way out of his flexibility, the muggle's face screaming silently at the pain through cloudy high eyes. Grindelwald just watched, clapping softly at both their shows. "Good show boys, good shows, now—" he moved his wand faster than Harry could see and before he knew it, both muggles laid dead, killed by the Killing Curse. "Shall we actually learn something?"

He brought them back to the previous room and gave them both a sadistic smirk. The rest of the morning, Grindelwald lectured as though both Harry and Tom were still novice wizards. He kept close to both boys as he talked, leering at Harry, and making the young teen feel uncomfortable. He would find any excuse to touch Harry. A hand on his shoulder that drifts away slowly, holding Harry's hand to correct his posture, even having his hand on the small of Harry's back to make sure he's standing straight. Every touch made both boys feel disgusted and angry toward the man. It was only because it was the first day, and they have not even begun to make the necessary connections that stayed their hands when Grindelwald started dipping in innuendos in his lessons.

The afternoon was left for potions, which Grindelwald left in the control of one of his potioneers. The man was old, his hair was balding, and he had an everlasting sneer as he stared down at the two boys. "Master's said I'm to teach you two," he spat out in a rough Eastern European voice, as though it was the worst punishment he would be assigned.

"Just advance poisons and the like, we are not novices," Tom said. "We have made poisons before."

"Oh really?" the man laughed, looking at the two. "What? Did you two made a vomiting-potion and call it a deadly poison?"

"We created the most powerful infertile potion in existence," Harry said, "and used it several times."

"Is that so?" the man laughed.

"It is," Tom said, "We even have our own source of Basilisk venom. It would be so simple for either of us to slip it into your morning drink." He moved to the nearest empty cauldron, tapping it with his wand to fill it with water. "However, we are here to learn, not to threaten. So teach us."

The man chuckled, "I like you, boy," he said.

"Riddle, my name is Tom Riddle, however, you may call me Lord Voldemort before the summer is out," Tom said with a cocky confidence. The man laughed and turned to Harry.

"I'm thinking you want to be called 'Lord something or other' too, eh boy?" he laughed.

"No, just Harry Peverell," Harry said simply, smiling. "However, my lord is right in that he is Lord Voldemort." He walked towards a second cauldron and smiled, "As for how good we are, in my second year I've helped make a Polyjuice Potion, and as we have said, we have created an infertile poison that is untraceable and leaves the drinker permanently barren. I've personally given it to three different people."

The man made a noise then scratched his chin. "Fine then, not idiots," he muttered. "Just two boys in over their heads." The man looked at the two boys and gave a small sneer. "Master Grindelwald told me to teach you boys the basics of poison-making, so that's what I'll do. First off, what do you know about counter-potions and antidotes?"

"They are potions who either protect against or act as a general remedy for specific ailments," Tom said. "Most, if not all, includes Mandrakes."

"Correct," the man said. "Which means that in order for our potions to be effective, we need to find a way to get around the Mandrake's curative properties."

"Which is why we use nightshade," Harry said, remembering it from his potion textbooks, which always specifically told him to never use too much nightshade, for it can overpower mandrake roots.

"Correct, Peverell," the man nodded.

"Sir, what is your name?" Harry asked.

"Me? I'm just called Vasil," the man said.

"Nice to meet you, Vasil," Harry smiled. The older man just stared at Harry for a long moment.

"Are you sure you are a Dark Wizard?" he asked. "You seem too friendly."

Both teens laughed and Harry just kept his friendly smile as Tom shook his head. "That is how he is," Tom said. "My little snake. He smiles openly at you while he slips poison in your drink."

"You do not need to worry about censoring yourself or holding back for us," Harry said. "We have been through more than you can imagine. Me especially."

Vasil stared at Harry for a long time and grunted, "I can see it in your eyes," he muttered. "Those are survivor's eyes. As for you, 'Voldemort,' I see death, you've killed before."

"I may have," Tom said. "Now, will you start teaching us or not?"

Vasil smirked at that. "Foolish child, the lesson began when you stepped in. Now! Boil your cauldrons, we shall begin with creating several simple poisons before making them more complex!"

For the rest of the afternoon, Harry and Tom sweated over cauldrons, making various poisons as well as their antidotes. As they did so, Vasil talked, explaining how one can detect the poisons they were making if they were clever enough. The time went quicker with Vasil than with Grindelwald, Harry feeling like he could actually relax around the man as he corrected them in between his lectures and stories.

Grindelwald returned around five, looking at the two boys and frowning. "You two are drenched in sweat," he said, turning his nose up at Tom.

"My lord, we have been working on the basics of poison-making," Vasil said, bowing. "They both show remarkable talent."

"Of course they do, they are my boys!" Grindelwald smirked. "Now go and get dressed, I've left presents on your bed."

Harry did not like the sound of that, but they both just nodded and went to their room dutifully. On their bed waited two pairs of risqué underwear that made Harry blush deeply. He looked at Tom and frowned, "Tom?"

The Dark Lord sighed and shook his head. "Until we have what we want, we shall play his games. However, he will never touch us, understand?"

"Of course," Harry nodded. They swallowed their pride and dressed, changing their current undergarments for the ones Grindelwald laid out for them before putting their robes back on. As they went to the dining room for dinner, Grindelwald smiled at the two of them only to frown. "Where are my gifts?"

"We're wearing them, my lord," Harry said a little stiffly.

"Well, how can I see if you are if you are wearing your robes over them?" Grindelwald smirked. Harry frowned and glanced at Tom. His Master gave a heavy sigh and closed his eyes for a moment. "My lord," he began. "Harry and I are wearing your precious gift, right now I can feel it rub against me in such a perverted way. We thought that, wouldn't it be fun to tease you until Midsummer where, when the magic is at its strongest, we all can finally have some fun?"

"The two of you will stay chaste until then?" Grindelwald asked, his smile slowly growing back.

"Yes, my lord," Harry said. "We will."

"Good, then let us eat," Grindelwald smiled.

A habit soon formed for Harry and Tom. They would be taught personally by Grindelwald, sometimes all day, sometimes for just the morning. Whenever it was just the morning, the two would go down to the dungeons where the potions room was and learn from Vasil, who quickly became the favored of the two. Grindelwald taught the boys everything he knew from darker versions of commonplace spells, to how to even cast the Killing Curse so that it can strike multiple people. He would always make them practice on live people after the first day. Tom, surprisingly, showed no emotions as he practiced torturing, maiming, and finally killing the muggle prisoners, however, Harry still couldn't stomach it at times. He never showed it in front of Grindelwald, however as soon as they were done, Harry would run to the nearest bathroom with Tom following, the older teen comforting his boyfriend as Harry threw up the bile that built inside him.

Vasil, by comparison, was a godsend for the two boys. He was cruel and crude as any dark wizard, yes, however, Harry could see an intelligence behind his cruelty, and he never forced them to use what they have learned on the prisoners. "They are Master's toys," he explained one day when Harry asked for the reason. "It would be a waste, even, for a leaf could show the effects clear as a human can." Harry liked that about him, and he could see that Tom took a shine to him as well.

"Vasil," Tom said two weeks after he and Harry arrived. Litha, Midsummer, was coming up quickly, and Harry feared, for a moment, that they would not be ready on June 24th. "I have both a question and a proposition for you."

"And what would that be?" Vasil asked, not even looking up at the choking poison that Harry was making. "More porcupine quills, boy," he muttered.

"Would I be correct to assume that the opposite ingredient of basilisk venom would be phoenix tears, or even unicorn tears and blood?" Tom asked.

"Phoenix tears, yes, however, unicorn tears are poisonous to all of those who are not pure of heart," Vasil said, "One tear will kill all three of us!" he laughed.

"So if a poison uses basilisk venom, if you use phoenix tears in a potion with its opposite ingredients it would completely rectify its effect, even so much so as create a potion equally as powerful for its opposite effect?" Tom asked.

"Why yes, if you are bold and insane enough to try," Vasil chuckled.

"Oh I am certain that I know someone clever and adventurous enough to try," Tom said, chuckling softly. "As well as with means to get it?"

Vasil raised an eyebrow. "I know what you are trying to do boy, what are you playing at?'

"Playing? I am playing at nothing, just wondering," Tom hummed. "A poison to make the drinker infertile forever. Wouldn't it be revolutionary, then, to play God once more, and turn those who are naturally infertile, fertile? I mean, we wizards must naturally spit in physics and the natural world's order daily with our magic. Why not take it one step further, and do what has always been impossible?"

Vasil laughed loudly. It was a rough, almost mocking laugh that made Harry frown. "You speaking in riddles boy! Sounds like you got a good name." He laughed some more than rubbed his neck and chin thoughtfully. "What you ask though, it's interesting, I'll give you that. But do you have the money to back it up?"

"Money?" Tom repeated.

"Yeah kid, you think all of this is a charity case?" Vasil laughed. "I need money. You think people would just hand me Phoenix tears by themselves? No boy, if you want my ingredients, you'll need to pay them."

Harry could see the shadows grow on Tom's face as his anger and annoyance grew. But he did not show it. Instead, Tom just gave a short nod and said flatly, "Very well, we shall talk about your money on midsummer, after Harry and I celebrate the day." He looked at Harry and smirked dangerously, "I think that day will a be a very glorious day that time will remember forever."

"Ha! Whatever you say, kid," Vasil laughed. He went to a nearby desk and picked up a leaf, "Now, let's see if your poison is as entertaining as you are." The rest of the day went by without another mention of the deal; however, Harry knew that it was still at the forefront of Tom's mind. As they laid down to sleep that night, Tom still had an annoyed, insulted glint in his eyes that no amount of touching or kissing could put away.

Before Harry knew it, Midsummer was upon them. He and Tom woke up early in order to mentally prepare themselves. "We strike while we are in the study," Tom said. "It will only be the three of us with no interruptions."

"We just have to disarm him," Harry said. He looked at his finger and played with the ring Tom gave him. "I'll hold all three, and together we'll be Death's Master. Afterward, I'll hand you the wand. That should be enough for both transfers of ownership."

Tom just hummed and looked outside the window, where the sun just barely began to pierce the mountain range. "This will be difficult my little snake. Do not do anything stupid."

"I won't," Harry promised. He kissed Tom passionately and took a breath, "I love you," he said.

"I know, I love you too, Harry," Tom said. "Now let's go. We both have a date with Death today."

Harry nodded and the two left their room. It was a surprise for both of them when that morning Grindelwald announced that there would be no lessons that day. "It will just be us three in our study! You promised that today would be magnificent boys, and Daddy is not a patient man," Grindelwald smirked. "So eat up! I have plans for the three of us that will last all day."

Like conspiring assassins, Harry and Tom nodded to each other as they ate, their eyes never leaving Grindelwald. The man seemed to be taking his time as he ate, humming to himself as he picked and choose what he wanted to have for breakfast. Both boys did not eat much, finding that they weren't hungry as their bodies coiled with nerves as they felt they were on the edge before a battle.

A long hour passed, and finally, Grindelwald stood up to lead them away. "Come on you two! This will be so much fun," Grindelwald smirked as he led them away. Harry and Tom kept at a casual pace. Harry's arm twitched and he found himself glancing at everything he passed, just to make sure that they were truly alone.

The study was as Harry always remembered it, and more importantly, it was empty besides the three of them. Tom closed the door behind them and tapped it with his wand, silently locking it. Grindelwald was by the drawer by the bookcase, riffling through it for something important. The two walked silently towards him, Harry flicking his wrist so that his wand silently slid into his hand. They stopped only a few feet from Grindelwald and aimed their wands.

"I knew I had it here somewhere," Grindelwald sighed. "But since it seems you both want me to fuck your corpses…" He turned with a speed that Harry did not predict and both boys barely jumped out of the way as Grindelwald cast a Killing Curse towards them. Tom waved his wand and the sofa flew towards Grindelwald, burning from the Elder Wand's magic as Grindelwald jabbed at it.

"Come on boys, are you really expecting to do this?" he taunted, moving his wand back and forth between Harry and Tom. "You really expect to be heroes now and try to stop me?"

"Stop you? No," Tom drawled, "we just want the Elder Wand."

Shock flew through Grindelwald's eyes before he snarled. A spell shot from the Elder Wand, but Harry moved quickly, casting a Shield Charm on Tom that shattered with the spell. Tom used the opportunity to summon several snakes that all immediately went after Grindelwald. The Dark Wizard flicked his wand, and the snakes all flew into the air just as Harry cast a Stunner at him. The snakes blocked the Stunning Spell before evaporating. Harry and Tom kept up their assault, never letting Grindelwald find his balance as they pushed him back with each spell.

The Dark Wizard blocked every Curse they sent their way, redirecting it with his own wand. Some directly into the boys, cutting their clothes and giving them small cuts while others smashed into the furniture around them. Grindelwald suddenly lunged forward without warning. His spell hit Harry and a hot pain enveloped the teen as he fell back. His stomach felt like it was burning, twisting unnaturally under some invisible force. He screamed out and gagged, spitting out a mix of bile and blood. Grindelwald moved once more, and an invisible force pushed Tom away, the teen slamming against the wall. With another wave, Grindelwald had a bookshelf fly towards Tom, trapping him on toe ground. "You stupid boys," Grindelwald chuckled. "You really should have learned more from me before even trying. For then, you both might have lasted a little longer."

Grindelwald smirked as he strolled up to Harry, who was still coughing. The arrogant man smirked and knelt before Harry, "You would have been so beautiful in bed," he whispered. "Shame I will never hear you moan." He stood up and aimed his wand at Harry. "Avada Kedavra!"

"Avis!" A loud blast that sounded like a gun came from Harry's wand. Birds shot from the tip, flying to meet the Killing Curse. The swam and Curse met, and an explosion of feathers filled the space between the two wizards as used the distraction to push himself up, whirling around and aiming his wand at the bookcase on top of Tom. "Accio Bookcase!"

The bookcase toppled off of Tom, and the teen sneered dangerously as he started moving his wand. "Fire Slither under my command!" The fireplace erupted, a bright blue fire surging out and moving in the air, quickly forming the shape of a snake with two large sharp fangs. The fire snake lunged at Grindelwald, who fell in order to avoid being eaten. Flames caught his robes and he screamed as he frantically tried to rip them off before the fire gets to him. Harry got an idea and aimed his wand at the giant snake, "Fire Slither under my command!" he hissed out and many tongues of fire broke off, forming their own smaller snakes that quickly cooled and solidified into black snakes. Harry moved them to strike at Grindelwald, the snakes biting at the frantic wizard.

His screams intensified as the bites left burns, his flesh catching fire and instantly cauterizing from the heat. Grindelwald rolled over, the snakes endlessly attacking. Harry and Tom slowly stepped towards him, ready to strike. "Enough!" Grindelwald screamed as he lashed out. He summoned water from his wand that extinguished the snakes instantly and had enough pressure to fling Harry and Tom towards the window that overlooked the courtyard. The two screamed as they crashed through it, shards falling around them as Harry felt his head and upper torso laying in the air. Blood mixed with his hair and he felt small cuts on his hands from where the glass fell. He turned his head only to gasp at how close both he and Tom were to fall off.

Tom used his wand to make the glass fly towards Grindelwald, transfiguring them so that their edges became sharper. Grindelwald laughed as he cast a Shield Charm, the glass exploding into millions of little pieces as it connected. However, Grindelwald's laughter turned into painful cries as the small pieces of the shattered glass flew through his shield, cutting him with numerous shallow lines that all pearled with blood. The shield went down, and Harry saw his only chance as he hissed in Parseltongue as he whipped his wand towards Grindelwald, "Expelliarmus!" The Disarming Spell looked different from what Harry knew. The spell was not a familiar scarlet red, but a sickly acid green that lunged towards Grindelwald like a viper going for the kill. The spell made contact and Grindelwald fell as the Elder Wand flew out of his hand, spiraling as though in slow motion through the air…

And right into Harry's waiting hand. Both boys winced and waited for something to happen. But only silence answered them. They were confused. Harry looked around. The study was now completely destroyed. Furniture was now in pieces, shards of glass and wood scattered everywhere with broken pictures and mirrors hanging on the wall. The fireplace still roared with fire that was slowly spreading out, and Grindelwald laid unconscious in front of them.

"What's going on?" Tom demanded. "Death! Where are you? We are your masters!"

"We have all three—why isn't he here?" Harry asked. He looked at the wand, "Is this not the Elder Wand?"

"It is, it has to be," Tom said, worry now in his voice. "We have all three Hollows, where is he?" He turned to the window and looked out, as though hoping to see a dark cloud or haze coming towards them. "We did everything you were asked!"

"We have his Hollows but…" Harry frowned and stared at the wand, lost in thought. His mind went to the tale, to the three brothers and their relationship with death. One wanted to conquer, the other wanted to cheat but the third. "Greeted like an old friend," Harry muttered. He gasped as he had his epiphany and turned to Tom only to see Grindelwald was gone.

"Oh, boys."

The two turned to see Grindelwald standing with another wand pointed at them. "Since you both want to meet Death so badly, I shall gladly offer you the chance. Avada Kedavra!"

Harry used the Elder Wand to push Tom out of the way before he could react. He stood still and stared at Grindelwald, not bothering to even defend himself from the killing curse. He simply closed his eyes and took a calming breath.

Black fog appeared that the Killing Curse died in. Harry opened his eyes to see and old tattered black robe with mist swirling at the bottom. A deep voice echoed throughout the room, sounding as though the owner gargled rocks. "Who is the fool who thinks he can best Death?" The empty opening of the hood looked around before focusing on Grindelwald. "You, Gellert Grindelwald, you try to kill Death?" Death laughed and turned into mist, only to appear right in front of Grindelwald who fell, paralyzed with fear and whimpering endlessly.

Death then turned to Harry, moving slowly towards the teen. "You, I remember you, boy," Death said. "You're the boy out of time."

"Hello Death," Harry greeted. "I told you I did not fear you."

"Harry Potter," the gravelly voice said slowly. "Yes, I remember. Time's little plaything."

"We had a deal. I get your three Gifts, I become your master, and now I'm telling you again. Bring me to Time," Harry said.

Death moved closer to Harry, gliding across the floor as smoke trailed. Harry stared into the abyss of Death's hood but found that he truly was not afraid. He felt strangely calm and at peace. Tom stepped forward as if to speak but Harry glanced at him and shook his head. Tom frowned but stayed where he was, instead of turning his wand onto Grindelwald. Death laughed at this. His robes moved and a pale arm moved from Death's sleeve, "Very well, let us go then Harry Potter," Death said. He touched Harry's shoulder and time stopped around them.

Harry felt immensely lighter. He looked around to see that his body had become transparent. He moved his hand and whirled around to see Tom and Grindelwald standing still as statues. Death pulled Harry towards the open window and silently pointed forward. Harry gave a silent gasp as before them was not landscape or even a portal. Instead, it looked like the same thing that Harry has fallen through so long ago. A spiraling rainbowed surrounding that overtook Harry's entire senses the second he stared upon it. He turned quickly to see that it has fully taken over and everything he once knew was gone. Death pushed Harry, and he was shocked to feel that they were on something solid. He knelt down and hesitantly pressed his hand against the invisible ground they were standing on. It was warm and pulsating. Harry stood up and followed Death who moved without a care. The colors started to hurt Harry's eyes, so he had to squint to see where he was going.

They walked for what felt like eons, but Harry never tired or became hungry or thirsty. His legs moved automatically, always following Death as the colors spiraled and crashed around them. Then, without warning, there was a bright light, and everything reappeared.

A/N: Next time: The Beginning of the End. Please, review.