Part 1

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Professor Mcgonnagall sat in the headmaster's office looking at Albus Dumbledore. Her cloak stained from tears. Dumbledore had a look of concern. "Minerva, are you feeling all right? We've barely spoken since the incident.

Professor Mcgonnagall sat back. "I'm fine. It's just, it's not the same without Poppy. I think I'm still a little shaken is all."

Dumbledore sighed. "Minerva. Perhaps you should take some time off to grieve."

"No. The students need me." She said.

"It's near the end of the semester, and it's just testing that's going on right now. We don't need a world class teacher to procter." Dumbledore had a solemn look on his face.

Mcgonnagall looked over at Fawkes, then at a few portraits of headmasters. "That's not the only concern I have." She faced Dumbledore again. "Albus. That attack. Do you think Voldemort is back?"

Dumbledore took a minute to think, stroking his beard. "Perhaps. While there's no true conformation, something is going on, I have to wonder. That said, the Order is looking into, and Cornelius said he's focused the entire auror department on finding the people responsible."

Mcgonnagall looked at the sword of Gryffindor, then pulled out her wand inspecting it. "Perhaps, I should take some time off."

"You wish to look for them yourself." Dumbledore eyed Mcgonnale strangely.

"Yes. Maybe I can find something."

The headmaster shrugged. "If that is what you wish. Perhaps it can help, but please be careful."

Mcgonnagle chuckled. "I know when to retreat. Besides, I already beat that scoundrel Crouch once. It's not like he's Gellert Grindelwald."

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Part 2

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Harry, Hermione, and Ron walked out of their Potions exam. Ron gasped. "Glad that's finally over."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Oh come on. It wasn't that bad."

"That easy for you to say. You probably knew all the answers." Ron said.

"Well, maybe if you'd started studying earlier, you'd know them too." Hermione grumbled. "Honestly Ronald."

Harry laughed shaking his head as the three kept walking. "What's so funny?" Ron raised an eyebrow.

"Eh, nothing. You guys just crack me up." They kept going through the castle until they reached Gryffindor tower. The entered the common room to find Fred and George sitting on a couch they'd moved to a window to look out it. A phonograph was next to them playing sad music. They turned to face the trio with sad eyes.

Hermione stormed over to them. "Oh for the love of. This is your reaction to losing some stupid bet!?Hoe many days are you going to keep this up!?"

Harry and Ron just snickered. Then Harry noticed pieces of paper left on one of the tables. One was titled Fallen Joke. Fred and George had been making bad poetry about the loss of planking since losing the bet. They even put up urals of themselves with sad faces.

Most of Gryffindor laughed at it, but Hermione kept getting annoyed with their shenanigans. Harry and Ron looked toward Hermione as she complained to Fred and George.

As she did, Harry and Ron headed up to the bedrooms and left their stuff at their trunks. Then they headed out of the common room. Harry looked back at Hermione. "Hey, are you coming?"

Hermione looked at him. "Oh yeah." She followed and the trio headed to the great hall.

When they got there. Cedric Diggory, Cho Chang, and Maxine Oflanery were standing outside waiting for them. Cedric looked at the trio. "Oh good. You're here."

"Yeah. You said you wanted to meet?" Harry asked.

Cedric nodded. "Yeah. I've been concerned since the incident with the graveyard and that death eater."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Ok. What about it?"

Cedric pulled out his wand looking at it. "I wasn't prepared to fight that guy. And I don't think most, of any of the other students could take him either. We need to get stronger."

"So...what, you want to train with us?" Harry looked at Cedric.

"Yeah. I've been training with Professor Moody, and have been working on counter spells. We don't necessarily need to learn a ton of spells, just a few specific ones to deal with death eaters."

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Part 3

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Lord Voldemort's presence filled the dark metal jail cell. He smiled at an old man in tattered clothes. "So, this is the legendary Grindelwald. I've been very interested in meeting you."

Grindelwald laughed. "I could say the same to you. What could Lord Voldemort himself want with an old geezer like myself, especially with all the trouble it must've taken to get in here?"

Voldemort spread his arms as though ready to hug the old wizard. "I'm in need of powerful allies for my army, and will offer you a proposition. What would you say being freed from this place, and joining me?"

Grindelwald shook his head. "If you're looking for someone to take down Albus, I'm afraid he's more than a match for me. Especially with the elder wand."

Voldemort froze, as though afraid. "H-he has the elder wand?" Quickly regaining his composure Voldemort smirked. "Well now. That's interesting Dumbledore. Even now you're full of surprises."

"So, tell me, Dark Lord. Who is the most powerful wizard in the world?" Grindelwald chuckled.

Voldemort glowered at Grindelwald. "Myself. I'll prove that when I kill Dumbledore." He closed his eyes turning away. "I'll offer you a place as one of the leaders of my army, with wealth and power beyond what you could imagine. As well as your freedom. What's your answer?"

Grindelwald smiled. "That's a great deal, almost seems too good to be true. So what's the catch?"

"I seek power, of which you have a great deal. That's all." Voldemort said.

"Perhaps, but I believe you and I have very different philosophies." Grindelwald stared at Voldemort accusingly.

Voldemort raised an eyebrow. "You mean the muggles. They've pushed our kind to the brink for centuries. Don't you want freedom for witches and wizards to be out in the open, not having to run and hide?"

"I want freedom for all witches and wizards. And a chance to duel Albus again sounds interesting." Voldemort smiled, but then Grindelwald shook his head. "But I don't want to enslave the muggles as you do. That would make us as bad as you seem to think they are. They're not lesser, just different. They're smart, we're powerful." He sighed. "I'm not the same man I was in my youth. And even back then, I never hated muggle borns. They're our kind. Why does it matter that their ancestry is different? How can you justify your hatred of them?"

"So this is great dark wizard I heard stories about." Disappointment showed on Voldemort's face. "You really have changed." He looked around, then had an idea. "What if I struck a deal with you then?" Voldemort asked.

"A deal?"

"You join me, and I will make sure no muggles are mistreated while you're part of my army?"

Grindelwald's eyes widened. "My, you really are as clever as they say. But don't try and play a trickster. You'd just subjugate them once I died. Both getting what you want and keeping your word. After all, you're immortal, aren't you?"

The dark lord loomed over the old wizard, anger at the edge of his face. "Should I just kill you now then?" He raised his wand.

Grindelwald shrugged. "Do it if you will. I really don't care anymore."

"I really would like your help." Voldemort thought for a minute. "What if you and your descedants had dominion over the West? I would give you and your followers full control of that region to do as you wish indefinitely. I'd also send any muggles and muggleborns over there."

Grindelwald was silent for a long while, then he stood up. "Well. In that case. I'm in." He stretched his arms and body. "This place is rather dull anyway."