Gellert had found exams so far laughably easy. He was almost certain he had answered every question correctly so far, all without putting in a minute of revision. He hoped his wandless magic would offset hit inability to cast a patronus in Defence, but that was the only potential spot for bad marks.

He received a letter from Lucius Malfoy on the last morning of his exams, letting him know that Voldemort had tried to send Harry a vision. Judging by the silence from the boy, it seemed Hermione had been successful in her attempts to teach Harry occlumency, which meant it would fall to Gellert to trick him into believing something was going to happen at the ministry.

Their divination exam was first thing in the morning, so Gellert snuck into the staff room at breakfast, putting the examiner to sleep and replacing the list of people that would be in the room at once. Now he would be examined in the last group, at the same time as Harry Potter and it was well within his ability as a powerful seer to manipulate whatever medium they used into showing what he needed it to.

It was a crystal ball – massive enough for the examiner and all the students to be able to see it. He knew the theory behind these exams; the examiner was a true seer, although usually not powerful, who would watch the ball until they saw something. The students would all be marked on how well they picked up on the signs. The students filed in, sitting at the desks that had been arranged in a circle around the ball. There was a blank sheet of paper in front of them and an anti-cheating quill.

Gellert took a seat immediately and began to filter out his thoughts. Controlling what appeared in a medium was something only those with the sight could do; it would be quite normal for someone inexperience with their talent to accidently project onto the ball during a test. He had done it himself when he was young, although the clarity it would need to convince Harry would out just how powerful Gellert was as a seer.

He had already found the right visions, having spent the waiting time gazing into the future and past. Strung together in the right order they could easily convince Harry that something was happening.

The examiner called for silence and everyone sat down. The mist within the ball began to coil into the form of a terrier as the examiner exerted his sight. Gellert stirred restlessly, as though he had yet to settle and the examiner cast him an irritated look as the dog disappeared. He obediently fell still, and reached for the first vision, letting it fill his mind as he stared at the ball. The smoke cleared quickly until a fine mist drifted through a long corridor. He had stolen this image from Harry's dream, and he followed it as he approached the door. He heard gasps from around the room and a frantic scribbling of quills. He cracked his eyes open to see the examiner looking directly at him. The ball fogged over again and Gellert focused, this time a vision of the past – Voldemort ordering a masked death eater to capture Black.

He opened his eyes again as several students screamed, the examiner had jumped to his feet and was hurrying around the orb, presumably to stop Gellert from his control of the ball and the vision he was letting unfold. Sweat beaded his brow from the effort, but it would make him look like he was in a true trance so he didn't wipe it off. He had one last vision to show, this one was the future. The ball cleared one last time, showing Sirius Black in a dark room, duelling against several deatheaters, followed by a snap of prophesies collapsing from their shelves, another of the black corridor and the examiner was shaking his shoulder.

He opened his eyes blearily.

'Are you okay?' The examiner asked him seriously. Every eyes was upon him and he could see Harry anxiously shifting in his seat a little way around the circle.

'Yes, sir.' He said, forcing his voice to be shaky. He rubbed at his forehead as if experiencing a migraine. 'Will all that come true sir?'

'I believe most of it was in the past. You have a very powerful gift Mr. Abernathy.' The examiner sounded sympathetic, then turned to the rest of the room. 'You are all very fortunate. Mr. Abernathy here had provided you all with perhaps the easiest exam any student will ever sit. Please copy down your interpretations.'

The examiner helped Gellert to the door and made sure he was comfortable in a seat. Gellert shifted urgently.

'What about my result sir?' He asked, the image of a nervous student.

'I think with a talent like that, this exam is a little beneath you, don't you think. I will make a note on your paper but I believe you already know your mark.' The examiner said with a little smile.

'Yes sir.'

The examiner went back through the open door, allowing Gellert to catch his breath for a moment. Then Harry was rushing out, Ron hot on his heels.

'You saw all that right? He's got Sirius. We've got to go!'

Gellert didn't protest, just followed Harry down the corridor until they reached the courtyard. Hermione was there, having already finished her exams. Her expression of joy turned to one of worry when she saw their expressions.

'What's wrong?'

'Voldemort has Sirius. Gellert saw a vision.' Ron said shakily and Hermione huffed, but she knew Gellert's visions were a far cry from the rubbish those less powerful spouted. 'Seriously Hermione, it was so powerful that we all saw it!'

'How are we going to get there?'Hermione asked.

'How about the thestrals?' Luna Lovegood said breezily from behind them.

'What? How do you know about all this?' Harry demanded. Neville stepped out from behind the airy blonde.

'I told them. I was in that divination exam too.' He sounded surprisingly bold.

'Well, thanks Luna. But we'll need backup.' Hermione said briskly.

'Er, we've got Grindelwald?' Ron pointed out, seconds before Hermione slammed her hand over his mouth. There was shocked silence for a moment before the Neville and Luna turned to Gellert.

'You're Grindelwald? Like, Gellert Grindelwald?' Neville squeaked. Gellert sighed and nodded.

'Yes well, that's an important secret. Dumbledore put him here to help keep Harry safe.' Hermione informed them acidly. Gellert sneered at the thought of being sent anywhere by Albus. Hermione should have known better than to word it like that. His thoughts were interrupted by a familiar cough. The devil in pink stood right behind him. He spun smartly on his heel, snapping to attention in the way he'd done at Durmstrang.

'Professor, these students were about to let slip an important secret of Professor Dumbledore's' He reported, thankful that he had been standing just far enough behind them all for it to look like he'd been eavesdropping.

'Where they now? Seize them!' Umbridge ordered the remainder of the squad behind her. They jumped forwards, grabbing Gryffindors and Gellert joined them, taking Hermione gently. Following Umbridge's lead they began frog marching them up to her office.

They arrived, surrounding the desk as Umbridge took a seat.

'Now, this secret. I suspect I know something that might loosen your tongues.' She surveyed the assembled students. Gellert had no idea how Ginny Weasley had gotten caught up in this but she looked as vicious as she was confused.

'Yes, yes, well, Dumbledore's secret. It's a matter of ministry security... Cornelius would understand that considering the circumstance... The Cruicatus curse ought to loosen your tongues.'

Umbridge raised her wand, levelling it at Harry, Hermione whimpered, almost tearing out of his hold. Gellert had little choice; Hermione would never forgive him if Harry was tortured in front of her.

'Now.' He shouted and the inquisitorial squad that he'd spent so long working with released their captives, passing their wands back before turning their own on themselves. Six stunning spells flashed from Slytherin wands, overpowered only by the bright purple of Grindelwald's own spell. The inquisitorial squad crumpled, victim to their own stunning spells. Umbridge suddenly found herself bound and gagged on the floor.

'I am Albus' secret weapon, Delores Umbridge.' He hissed at the witch on the floor, before turning to the stunned Gryffindors (and Ravenclaw.)

He strode from the room, followed by the gaggle of students. He could faintly hear Ron and Harry arguing against the others coming, but he wasn't concerned. They would all end up going eventually, Gryffindors were like that. He led them down to the forest, trekking through the darkened trees in the direction of the place the thestrals always flew over. He didn't have to go far; they hadn't been in the forest for more than five minutes before they came across the herd.

He had everyone mounted quickly, then approached Hermione solemnly.

'I can't accompany you. You know that right?' He said, resting his hand on the gleaming neck of the thestral.

'Why not?' She sounded so surprised that he actually laughed.

'I'm a wanted wizard. I'd be back in prison before sunrise.' He laughed, 'I'm going to find Albus.'

Hermione made a disappointed sound but nodded, digging her heels into the thestral she couldn't see. The massive beast took off, the others following in a rush of wind. Gellert stood in the clearing, watching as the silhouettes became steadily smaller. Then, he turned on his heel and disappeared with a pop. He had his own mission to complete.