Albus Dumbledore looked between the paper spread across his desk and the wizard lounging in the chair opposite him with exasperation and awe. The caption across the top declared loudly to the wizarding world that Gellert Grindelwald had prevented an Azkaban breakout. Carefully selected quotes neglected to mention that it had been Gellert himself who had done the breaking and a rather magnificent photograph showed the dark wizard, arms raised as he controlled a wall of fire. Mentioning that the shadowy figures inside the fire were aurors was also glossed over, as was the fact that only one cell door was actually opened.

He had no idea how Gellert had managed to get Rita Skeeter of all people to publish such a glowing article, then again, truth was not her strong point even at the best of times. He also had no idea how they'd managed to get that particular photograph – he must have tipped the media off in advance.

Albus rubbed his forehead with the tips of his fingers, suppressing a groan.

'This is not a convenient time to meet, Gellert.' Albus told him, knowing that the dark wizard couldn't care less. 'I have to find a new teacher.'

Then again, it seemed that inconvenient times were the only times Gellert was willing to meet these days. He was constantly off on his own adventures causing equal havoc for both Voldemort and the ministry – there was that duel at the Vance's which had over a hundred muggles claiming to have seen a glowing purple tiger, but had resulted in the apprehension of two death eaters and the saving of the Vance family. Then there had been another show down between the two dark wizards at the Lestrange Manor in the Hebrides, which had decimated enough of Scotland that the obliviators called in had had to try and convince people it was a freak hurricane – a flimsy excuse at the best of times. Perhaps the only reason they hadn't taken down the rest of the country was because they'd both had to flee when the aurors showed up in force, they were both fugitives after all. Now this, he'd stolen Azkaban prison.

'I solved the Sirius Black problem at least. You were getting nowhere with that and Harry was beginning to worry.' Gellert drawled, taking the paper off his desk and flipping to the second page. "Sirius Black, who has been cleared of all crimes, notified Mr. Grindelwald of the planned breach after being imprisoned by the ministry without trial twice – 'I knew that Grindelwald would act quickly and decisively.' Black said when we caught up with him at St. Mungos where he is currently undergoing treatment for the abuse he suffered within the prison."

Albus sighed again; 'you were very keen not to alienate the ministry last year.' He pointed out but Gellert gave him a feral grin.

'The ministry made themselves look like indecisive fools. Now it is a bad thing to be associated with them.' The dark wizard flipped to a different page.

'I have concluded that you are not will do what you want regardless of my wishes. Now I have a new teacher to find after you chased the last one out of my school so spectacularly.' He had already had an idea as to how to fix that problem, perhaps by taking Severus up on his application. Potions would undoubtedly be easier to fill.

'Actually, I rather thought I might be able to help with that minor hiccup too.' Gellert tossed a piece of paper over to him and he caught it reflexively unfolding it to see a single line scrawled on a scrap parchment.

'You call this a job application?' Albus asked, shifting his glasses to peer more closely at the words.

'Well its true isn't it? I have duelled Voldemort twice, which I believe makes me the only person to have done so.'

It was true, once he thought about it. So far as he was aware nobody else had duelled the dark wizard that many times and survived but he could imagine little worse than having the unruly dark wizard as one of his staff.

'Have you considered the diplomatic consequences of me knowingly employing a wanted criminal?'

'Of course. Just tell them that at least this way you can keep me occupied.' Albus just gaped at him.

'You honestly think that will work?'

'Perhaps. You could try.'

'Very well. I will write some letters.' He sighed, praying that the international community would protest. He daren't lie to Gellert and say they had when they hadn't; for all he knew the dark wizard was reading his mail. No, the dark wizard would not be reading his mail; he would have something on someone somewhere who would be doing it for him.

'Is there something else?' Albus asked when Gellert remained seated.

'I believe I know the location of a horcrux.' He said, and Albus sat up, his other issues falling suddenly to the wayside.

'How?'

'A vision whilst I was in India.' Albus had no idea when Gellert had visited India, nor did he know what he had been doing there. He was certain the other wizard hadn't been this slippery when he was at large last time around, even despite Dumbledore's resources being split. Last time he certainly hadn't had anywhere near as many resources to call on.

'India?' Albus inquired mildly and Gellert just flicked his hand dismissively.

'India, with Scamander visiting some monk.' How on earth Gellert had managed to get to Scamander, Albus didn't know. The last time he had checked, Grindelwald hated the Magizoologist with a passion. At least he knew who the monk they had visited was, although once again, Albus baffled about how he'd managed to speak to the monk – assuming he had or the complaints would have presumably been loudly expressed. That or he would have been reading about the decimation of an Indian monastery in the papers.

'What have you seen then?' the headmaster asked.

'A cave, near the sea.'

'A cave near the sea.' Albus said dryly. Of course, that narrowed it down, but not my much. There were hundreds, if not thousands of caves near the sea, a significant number of which had probably never even been mapped.

'Oh, Albus, you know better than I do how grandiose we dark wizards like to be. Voldemort wouldn't have just hidden his horcrux in any cave; it will be a sentimental item in a very sentimental place. We just need to figure out which cave he considers personally important.'

A memory of a drunk carer at an orphanage, normal if not for the student he had been there to collect. Her voice drifted through his mind, explaining how a pair of students had never been the same after going exploring in a cave with Tom Riddle. Could the answer really be that simple?

'I believe I know where it is.' Excitement unlike anything he had recently experienced coursed though him. 'Riddle's orphanage used to take them on outings – to a beach with a cave.'

Gellert nodded appreciatively. 'Give me the address. I'll find their records and see if we can't locate this cave. You see about that DADA position.'