Chapter 16 ➛Carry On

Emily's P.O.V

I was laying in my room, on my bed and stared at the ceiling with a depressed expression

I had been so unbearably stupid. How had I even dared to ignore an order of Gellert Grindelwald?

He was right. I was supposed to listen to him and do as he said no matter how close we'd be. That's how we'd accomplish what we're striving for. That's why I joined the Greater Good in the first place. To accomplish that what will allow us to be who we are.

I had to focus more on the movement and less on my feelings. From now on, I would do exactly as he'd order me to do.

I rolled onto my side and pictured the world in ruin. Bombs. Explosions. Screaming. Corpses. Everywhere, the ground was littered with bodies from the military, from the villages.

That was the consequence of what would happen if we couldn't manage to stop them. We would save millions of lives. Men's. Women's. Children's. Babies'. He should be called the savior of humanity instead of this crazy villain who should be locked up in Azkaban.

Everyone needed to make sacrifices for the Greater Good and my affections towards Grindelwald were probably what I was supposed to sacrifice.

Emily, I advise you strongly to calm down first and don't make any rash decisions.

Was Owyn really going to protect me from my feelings? Is that really what a guardian was supposed to do?

Well, that depends, of course, on how devoted that particular guardian is to you. So, see this as a good sign.

That had been an attempt to cheer me up, but it had failed miserably. I felt bad. Really bad.

A hesitant knock sounded on the door and I shot upright.

Had I been crying? Were my eyes swollen? Could you notice I'd been crying?

Before I could examine myself in the mirror, the door creaked open and I felt nervous.

Somewhat unexpectedly I expected Queenie to stalk into the room, mocking me about Grindelwald and unstabilize my feelings for him even more.

Of course, it wasn't Queenie. But it also wasn't Grindelwald.

Instead, a man I didn't know entered and locked the door behind him.

I quickly made an attempt to grab for my wand but his was already pointed at me. And before I could've cast any spell he had already said, ''Expelliarmus,'' and my wand flew away.

I quickly climbed off of the bed and watched the man with an horrified expression as he slowly approached me.

I generally had a hard time trusting anyone. Even believing they weren't out to kill me was hard to convince myself of.

The man's eyes gleamed and his lips curled up into a cunning smirk. ''I've been watching you for some time now,'' he announced softly, coming ever closer.

I was trying to find anything I might be able to use as a weapon, but before I could grab anything he had me pinned against the wall.

I could feel his hot breath on my neck and tears started to sting my eyes.

''What are you doing, get off me!'' I shouted as I struggled in his grip. ''Get off...''

I couldn't finish your sentence because he had slammed his mouth onto mine and was kissing you fiercely.

I tried to push him away but he was too strong. I struggled in his hold and turned my head away. Finally, his mouth left mine and I gasped heavily. Tears started to drip down my chin but I never stopped struggling. ''Get off me!'' I yelled desperately as I kicked around.

He smirked at me and dragged me onto the bed. As a desperate attempt, I tried to roll away, but before I could reach the edge, he was on top of me, grabbing for my arms and pinning them to the bed.

I was unable to move as he started to kiss me again.

Owyn, help me! I shouted in my mind, and I immediately felt his presence enter my mind.

Help me Owyn! There's a man here, he's...

Say no more, I'll make sure you'll be safe. Give me a moment.

His presence never left and I kept calling for him but received no reply at all.

Panic flooded inside of me as the man started to unbutton my dress and his lustful eyes were fixed on my fearful ones, his smirk still in place. I tried to wriggle out of his grip, now he only held me down with one hand I assumed it would be easier to throw him off. But I regretted that decision immediately because he hit me in the stomach and I curled up under him as he continued to unbutton the fabric.

Your rescuer is on his way! Owyn announced suddenly.

Tears continued streaming down onto the already damp covers as I stared at the wall hopelessly, trying to suck in air.

The man had now abandoned the buttons because he had created a big enough gap. He slid his hand inside and smirked down at me as I gave up struggling and just lay there motionless.

The man was about to slip off my dress when the door suddenly slammed open.

My ears were ringing and silent tears slid down onto the white pillow as I slowly felt the pressure decrease as the man toppled off of me and the bed.

Grindelwald stood at the door, eyes ablaze as he watched the man with a deadly glare. He was holding his wand tightly, his knuckles white.

Everything's going to be OK now, I thought as tears continued to stream endlessly down my cheeks.

''Sir, is something wrong?'' the man asked uncertainly. ''Me and my girlfriend...''

Grindelwald had stormed into the room and grabbed him by his throat and squeezed until the man's face had gone purple and he was wheezing.

He threw him onto the ground and pointed his wand at the man. ''Crucio!'' he yelled. The man started writhing and tears filled his eyes as his body spasmed and he yelled in pain.

He stopped and watched the man furiously. He raised his wand and started, ''Avada...''

''No!''

I slowly turned my head. The shout had cost me more energy than I had expected and I suddenly felt deadly weak and I wouldn't want anything more than to fall asleep and slumber peacefully. But instead, I forced myself to say again, ''No.''

The man lay motionless as tears started to slide down his red cheeks. Grindelwald turned to me. ''But this man...''

I shook your head and closed my eyes momentarily.

He turned back to the man, kneeled beside him and waited for him to look him in the eyes before punching him in the face. Blood slowly started to drip from his nose and onto his clothes and the floor.

Grindelwald got up and pulled the man onto his feet. He was unbalanced and almost tripped over his own feet.

''Leave this castle, now. If I see you ever again, I will kill you,'' he threatened before he pointed at the door.

He released the man who was looking up at him in fear. ''Go! Before I change my mind!'' he bellowed.

The man scurried towards the door, almost hitting the doorpost as he was leaving the room.

Grindelwald pocketed his wand and slowly turned to me. He closed the door with wandless magic and carefully sat down on the edge of the bed.

He slowly stroked my cheek and buttoned my shirt again, slowly. He didn't want to frighten you as you were softly sobbing your shoulders shooking slightly.

His hand lingered on my cheek and I leaned into it as another tear escaped my eye.

When I had managed to calm down for a bit, I slowly sat up leaning against the pillow, still feeling quite weak.

''How did you know?'' I asked slowly looking into his eyes. He sighed softly and looked at my hands. ''Owyn told me,'' he said.

It took me some time to realize I hadn't misheard him. ''Owyn? But he can only communicate with me, right?''

Grindelwald shrugged and took my hand. ''But it doesn't matter. It looks like I was just on time,'' he said softly, pulling me into a hug.

''Yes, you were. He was about to take off my dress,'' I stated weakly, my eyes slightly drooping. He looked at me and his expression grew angry again. ''I'm going to kill that bastard,'' he growled as he stood up.

I placed my hand on his arm and looked into his eyes, slowly shaking my head. ''Please, don't. I don't want you to kill him,'' I said softly, feeling somewhat ashamed I was actually defending the man that had just assaulted me.

''Why are you so eager to protect him? He deserves nothing less than everlasting torture. I should've thrown him into the dungeons,'' he said angrily.

''I don't want any blood on my hands, Gellert.''

He froze and looked at me. ''What did you just call me?''

Before I could've helped myself I had said it. It might've been the most stupid thing I had done around him.

I looked at him hesitantly and I could feel my cheeks grow hot. ''Uhm, Gellert,'' I said forcing my eyes to stay open, despite the overwhelming exhaustion. This was just really not the moment to doze off. ''If you prefer Grindelwald I can just...''

''No! No. It's just, that no one has called me that in a really long time. I guess it's just something I will have to get used to,'' he said softly, smiling at me.

I looked into his eyes and couldn't see any trace of the former anger that was in there. It had all vanished when I had said his name.

I sighed and took his hand. ''Who was that man?'' I asked as the events of the past ten minutes returned to my mind. Momentarily hating myself for bringing the subject up again. But I just felt like I had to know.

Grindelwald glared at the closed door and said, ''Jonathan Brook. He was one of my more trusted followers. It pains me to find out he's such an untrustable pervert.''

He watched me hesitantly, studying my expression before he said, ''But I do get why. He did it. He wasn't good enough for you, and you're irresistible.''

He waited anxiously for a reaction. Was this the right subject to flirt about? WHen it came down to Emily he never could be certain of anything.

I smiled shyly.

He took that as a good sign and he tucked a stray hair behind my ear.

''I'm sorry about earlier,'' I whispered guiltily.

He shook his head dismissively. ''Let's not talk about that. He placed a soft kiss on my forehead. ''I'll make sure no one will ever touch you again. From now on, you will stay with me in my quarters. I will not allow anything like this to happen to you ever again. I will keep you safe.''

I guessed that meant that we were OK again?

''To make sure no harm will ever come to you, I have something for you,'' he said retrieving something from his pocket.

He held it out and I took it, examining it in my hand.

It was his symbol. The Deathly Hallows symbol.

''Touch it and call for me. I will hear you and come immediately. Only a fair few have these people.''

He held out his hand. ''May I?''

I nodded and returned him the necklace. Bowing forward, so he could put it around my neck, I blushed slightly at him when he finished.

He examined me and smiled. ''Now you're even more beautiful,'' he said, pressing a soft kiss against my lips.

I smiled and looked down at the beautiful silver pendant.

I held out my arms to hug him, not feeling like I possessed the energy needed to jump around his neck. He accepted the hug and leaned forward, sighing softly. ''Thank you,'' I whispered in his ear.

When he retreated he watched me with a sympathetic smile. ''I know you're exhausted. Try and get some sleep,'' he said smiling. He got up and made his way toward the door.

I hesitated shortly before I said, ''Gellert, will you stay with me?''

He froze at hearing his name, but when he had processed the request he smiled and turned to me. Nodding, he joined me and we laid there until I finally fell asleep and he made me feel like I was supposed to feel. Safe.