Chapter 1 ➛Into Fire

Emily's P.O.V

It's been about three days now since I joined the Greater Good. I had never before been on a particular side before. I'd help the Aurors if they'd ask for it and if they offered a good reward, and so I did for Grindelwald.

But ever since I heard his speech, I realized he's the one who wants us, wizards and witches to live a happy life without hiding and fearing for them. That he wanted the best.

We had often worked together before so we weren't complete strangers to each other. And when I had entered his circle through the Fiendfyre he knew I was loyal to him and to no one else.

Now I was in my room at Nurmengard.

I had just woken up to the sound of impatient knocking on my door. ''Emily, wake up! Grindelwald wants to see you and it's urgent!'' I recognized Queenie Goldstein's voice who had also joined the movement on the same night I had done.

Soft sunlight invaded my room through the gap between the closed curtains.

I groaned. The night before had been a long one.

I was ordered by Grindelwald to plan an assault on Azkaban because many of his followers had been locked away there for many years now.

Several knocks later Queenie asked panickily, ''May I come in?''

I blinked a few times and looked around drowsily.

''Emily, are you awake!'' Queenie almost screamed, her impatience clearly more than she could handle.

I looked at the door in shock. I had completely forgotten she was on the other side.

''Yes, Queenie. You can come in,'' I said as I stretched.

The door opened and Queenie rushed inside.

She watched me with slight concern. ''Still in bed? Didn't you hear what I just said? Grindelwald wants to see you, and it's urgent,'' she repeated dramatically.

I closed my eyes and smiled at her. ''I heard you, Queenie,'' I said as I opened them again. ''You don't have to yell, I'm still tired.''

She ignored my comment and flew towards my wardrobe. ''Hurry up, I don't want to make a terrible first impression. You know how important this is to me, he gave me this task face to face and I don't want to screw it up if you know what I mean,'' she ranted.

''Queenie, please. First of all, I'm not deaf so you don't have to speak so loudly. And I'm sure he won't blame you if I'm a little later than he expects.''

I yawned and walked to my wardrobe where Queenie was already taking multiple robes and sets of clothing out.

''Queenie,'' I said amused.

She didn't seem to hear me and was muttering under her breath. ''Queenie,'' I said again, a little more clearly now.

Again she didn't hear me.

That's the thing with a Legilimens, they will sink in thoughts and be completely cut off reality.

''Queenie!'' I shouted. She spun around, shocked. ''Yes?''

''Oh. Was I having...''

''Yes,'' I chuckled.

She looked down, her cheeks reddening.

''It doesn't matter Queenie,'' I assured her. ''We're friends right?''

She hesitated and nodded slightly. ''Then it doesn't matter at all.'' I smiled.

She returned the smile and handed me a black dress and robe. ''Thank you, Queenie.''

She smiled and left the room so I could get dressed.

I heard her voice emerge from the other side of the door clearly uncertain how to start the conversation.

She had a burning question but she was ashamed to ask it. ''Emily?'' she tried softly. She didn't want the entire castle to know what she was saying so she tried to keep her voice down.

''Yes?'' I replied.

Queenie hesitated. ''Can I ask you something?'' she asked fidgeting with her short golden hair.

''Of course, go ahead,'' I said pinning my hair into a tight bun. '

'What do you do to make your encounters with Grindelwald such a success?'' she asked.

I was quiet for several seconds, wondering why she'd ask that. ''I suppose it's just because I don't fear him, like the rest of the world. I look at him more like he's a friend rather than a dangerous, infamous and scary criminal,'' I said chuckling to myself.

I knew well what his reputation was but still, I never felt he was dangerous.

''That makes sense,'' Queenie muttered under her breath.

''Queenie, I was just joking about that last part. And why do you wonder that if I may ask?''

I took my cloak from the wooden chair in front of the desk that was filled with some pieces of parchment and drawings.

I could feel Queenie's tenseness through the walls of the room without any effort.

Suddenly I realized what was the matter and I quickly shifted gears. ''You don't have to tell me if you don't want to...'' I said fastening the cloak around my shoulders.

There was a silence, but then to my surprise, she said, ''It's because of him. It's because of Jacob.''

''Sorry?''

Queenie didn't reply. ''I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable, Queenie,'' I said apologetically.

''It's okay,'' Queenie said sadly.

I took one of the pieces of parchment from my desk and studied it intently.

I packed all of them up with the help of a little magic and they all displayed as a single envelope.

I took it and opened the door, only to find Queenie waiting on the other side with an artificial smile.

''Go,'' she said. ''He's in his office, waiting for you.'' She pointed in the direction of a long corridor, but I knew where his office was.

''Thank you, Queenie.'' I watched her walk away before I turned around and set off into the corridor.

Since I had joined the Greater Good my life didn't feel as empty as it used to do. I had a purpose now. A goal.

The goal to free wizards and witches from their chains. Free to be who they are without the need to hide.

I softly knocked against the door and entered.

''Good morning, Emily,'' Grindelwald said from behind his desk. ''I sent Queenie to get you, you're only a little later than expected,'' he said looking up at me. I had to hold back my grin when he said that.

''Had a rough night,'' I said with a small smile.

His eyes twinkled in amusement.

Everyone was always so nervous and scared around him. I supposed that was because of his terrifying reputation, but I thought he was just different. He was a believer, someone who believed that the world could change, and if others wouldn't stand in his way, then he wouldn't have to do those things that made him look like a dangerous criminal.

Grindelwald stood up and opened a glass cabinet behind the desk. ''I wanted to ask you how the planning is going. Just a checkup, no need to rush things,'' he said, taking a goblet from the cabinet.

''I just wanted to know if you could handle the pressure of such an important task,'' he said.

I glowed at that. I knew he trusted me but every time he said such things it made me feel special. And somewhere inside, I felt like he knew this.

''Well actually, I'm already finished,'' I said revealing the envelope.

''You are?'' Grindelwald asked astounded.

I stepped forward and placed it on the desk. I pulled out my wand and reversed the spell that kept the papers together.

''You really have to teach me how to do that spell,'' he said grinning.

It looked good on him, a grin. I had never seen him smile or grin when there were other people present next to me. Usually, he would just be looking like he was angry or emotionless.

He sat down and gazed at the parchment with intense interest.

He took a drawing and examined the closely drawn floor map of Azkaban.

''This is unbelievable,'' he said taking another parchment scribbled full of notes and inquiries that I had asked myself of scenarios in which the plan might fail, whereafter I had answered them to make sure the plan was waterproof and nothing could possibly go wrong.

''When you said you had a rough night, you surely didn't mean you worked on this?'' he said looking up at me.

I smiled sheepishly. ''Well, once I start on something interesting I can't stop,'' I said blushing slightly.

''I'm glad you finished this so soon, but next time don't let your health suffer under your tasks, all right?''

I nodded. ''However, this plan is the best I've ever seen, and that in one night.'' He looked up at me. ''You impressed me, Emily,'' he said smiling charmingly.

''That's all I wish to accomplish, sir,'' I said smiling back at him.

''You may go now,'' he said gently. ''Oh, and could you thank Queenie for me?''

I glanced back. He was already filing through the papers I had delivered to him and muttered under his breath astoundedly.

''Of course, sir,'' I said, leaving the room and throwing him one last smile.

Grindelwald's P.O.V (Third-person)

Grindelwald watched the closed door with a smile. But then slapped a hand across his face because he had not asked her what he had intended to do.

Really? A checkup on the plan? he thought annoyed.

One of the main reasons why he had summoned Emily was because he wanted to ask her if she'd like to have dinner with him, but of course, he couldn't do it.

He sighed and examined the drawings again.

He was spreading them all across the desk but froze when he glimpsed one that probably wasn't supposed to be there.

It was an impressing detailed portrait of him.

He watched it, gaping. He knew Emily was good at drawing, that was one thing he had learned about her through the years, but he never knew she was this good.

His eye caught a small message scribbled at the bottom of the portrait. ''My friend, Gellert Grindelwald,'' he whispered.

His expression cleared and his eyes turned hopeful.

These four words may have provided him with just the courage he needed to ask Emily out for dinner.

A/N: Hello! This was the first chapter. I hope you enjoyed it, and if you did don't forget to follow and favorite the story, also I appreciate every comment I'll receive.