Chapter 3: More on the Couple

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Isobel cleared her throat, glared at the giggling Sally, and continued, "According to legend, he who possesses these three artefacts would become the Master of Death as told in 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard'. The story is 'The Tale of The Three Brothers'. Though this is just that; a story," she said with finality. "While there are such tools, Death did not make them," she informed them, with a firm look in her eye, as if to confirm that this was a fact.

Isobel knew this was all a myth, of course, because she knew Sally and she said she never made the Hallows. She knew the Hallows were real, but they were just powerful tools, nothing more.

The embodiment of Death was rolling in the air and kicking her feet, laughing her fool head off. Her actions made Harry and Isobel roll their eyes at the perky girl.

"Does anyone know what happened to them?" came a voice from the Ravenclaw side.

"We raise our hands to ask questions, Miss Patil. I will answer you this one time. No, no one really knows where they are, well, except the Wand and I'll be covering that," Professor Watts said, giving a chastising look to the Indian girl.

"Sorry, Professor," Padma mumbled, a blush staining her dark cheeks.

"To continue, Grindelwald and Dumbledore wanted to find these and wield their new-found power as Masters of Death, leading a Wizarding revolution with the aim of ending the International Statute of Secrecy and creating a benevolent global order led by wise and powerful witches and wizards, which of course they would be the head of," Isabel continued, pacing in front of the class.

"Wait," Ron blurted out, "Dumbledore wanted to rule the world and let the muggles know about us?" his gobsmacked face showed his disbelief. 'There was no way the Great Dumbledore once wanted to rule the Wizarding World,' he thought, overlooking the word 'benevolent'.

Harry sunk down in his chair at the rudeness of his mate. He couldn't believe that his friend would question his professor in such a manner.

"Mr. Weasley, I just got through telling everyone to raise their hands. Next time it will be detention. This time you will lose five points for Gryffindor. Now to answer your rather rude question, yes, that was his goal when he was young. However, if you let me finish, I will explain," the ghost snapped at the redheaded boy, who also sunk down in his seat.

Isobel straightened her robes and started pacing again, tapping her ghostly ruler in her left hand. "Their partnership fell apart after the two were involved in a three-way duel with Aberforth Dumbledore, the younger brother, that resulted in Ariana Dumbledore's, the only sister, death," she summarized, realizing she didn't have much time with this class as it was almost over.

There were sounds of sympathy from the students over the headmaster's loss. Not many of them knew that he had family. There was so little written about his family, they all just assumed he was a single child. His Chocolate Frog Card never said anything about them.

"Grindelwald then left Britain and soon stole the Elder Wand, from the wandmaker Mykew Gregorovitch. He then proceeded alone with the revolution he and Dumbledore had planned," Professor Watts continued. "He established a power base in continental Europe at the fortress Nurmengard. He was a very intelligent man but was consumed with psychopathic tendencies. He was also immersed deeply into the Dark Arts. To some he was a revolutionary operating outside the law. From what we know, he was not a person who killed and tortured needlessly."

That got a few grumbles, as the students diligently wrote it all down. This is not what they had learned on their mum's knee.

Isobel ignored the objections and continued, "No, he was a very sophisticated and manipulative man. He used these personality quirks as tools to get what he wanted," she educated them steadfastly, tapping her ghostly ruler on her hands punctuating her words. "However, he and his followers in a single-minded and unpopular quest committed numerous crimes, including several known murders. His allies were most often unsavory characters as well."

Several hands shot into the air, but the professor pointed to the clock and continued on. "In 1945, at the height of Grindelwald's power, Professor Dumbledore confronted and defeated him in a legendary duel, winning the Elder Wand. Grindelwald was subsequently imprisoned in his own fortress where he resides to this day," she concluded.

"Wait! You mean he's not dead?" someone from the Ravenclaw side all but shouted in disbelief.

"No, Professor Dumbledore does not believe in killing. Five points from Ravenclaw and detention tonight after dinner, Mr. Boot," Isobel said, glaring at the child. "Now for homework, I want you to look up and find anything you can about Gellert Grindelwald, his fortress and his army and give me a one-foot essay. No more than one foot, you need to learn to be concise, to be turned in on Thursday."

Between the bell, and some protesting students, the rest of the class gathered their belongings and in excited whispers, left the classroom. Sally had asked Harry to stay behind, so he waved Ron and Hermione on and wandered to the front of the class with his ghostly friend.

Sally giggled and gave Isobel a big hug around her waist. "That was a great class," she enthused, still twittering like the little girl she portrayed.

Harry agreed with a fast nod of his head, still shy around adults. The Dursleys made sure of that.

"Harry was wondering if you knew anything about his parents while you were here at Hogwarts," Sally inquired for him. "I've let him talk to them, of course, but he wants a different point of view."

Isobel's face morphed into sadness. While she did know of the Potters, it was mostly by rumor. They had been in different Houses and in different years. "Have a seat, Harry. I'll tell you what I know," she said and indicated the desk in front of her.

Since this was the last class of the day, Harry had time to sit and listened to the stories that Professor Watts had heard. Mostly about his dad and his prankster buddies. He was beginning to think his dad was a bully and the next time Sally brought him to see him, Harry was going to ask why. He was warned to watch out for Professor Snape, since he seemed to be his dad's group's favorite target.

Sally, of course, would dissuade the Potions Master of any harm to her charge. If that man stepped one foot out of line, he would feel her wrath and perhaps Lily's. She would have to wait and see just how badly he needed to be punished.

About twenty minutes into their talk, Headmaster Dumbledore came into the room. "Who might you be?" he asked the new ghost. He was mildly amused and more than slightly upset that there seems to have been a change of staff without his having been consulted.

"I am Professor Isobel Watts, perhaps you remember me," she replied, giving the headmaster a jerky nod. She was a little nervous, even though Sally had told her that he could do nothing to make her leave. She grew up on stories of his power. That and she knew he had the Elder Wand, which as she told the class, was a very powerful tool. She was a bit afraid that it was potent enough to banish her. She glanced at Sally with pleading in her eyes.

Sally gave her an encouraging smile. She knew that her magic could not be undone, that made Isobel sigh with relief and stand a bit taller. Her face firmed with the argument that was about to take place.

"Ah yes, I do seem to remember you," the aged headmaster said, stroking his beard, and giving the ghost that grandfatherly look. "Ravenclaw, was it? Graduated in 1971? Died in '77 I believe, one of the Death Eater raids." He looked the ghost up and down and asked, "How did you come to be here? I did not call you, and what did you do to poor Cuthbert?" he demanded, his eye twinkle dimmed at the questions, no longer amused.

"I," she snapped indignantly, her pale eyes flared, "didn't do anything to Binns. He was gone when I got here." She knew Dumbledore couldn't see Sally, and that the only person alive that could, was Harry Potter—unless Death's avatar wished it otherwise. "If you recall, you senile old bat, I applied for this position many times when I was alive. You," she jabbed a finger right through his chest, causing the old man to shiver, "kept turning me down. It looks like Hogwarts overruled you," she sneered, her voice condescending.

She never really liked that this one man had so much political power, hence her lesson today. It was her firm belief that the man never gave up his dream to rule, he was just going about it differently. She might still be a little intimidated, but that didn't mean she approved.

"Yes, I do recall that. You wanted me to evict a perfectly good professor, just so that you may take his place. Hardly an endearing quality for an instructor," he said, once again examining the ghost in front of him. He did not understand how she could be here. This castle and its wards were his to control. No spirit should have been able to enter without his express knowledge. Yet, here she was, in all her spectral glory, glaring at him in a daring manner. He brought himself back to the matter at hand and said, "Consequently, the reason for me not taking you on in that capacity."

"Which was a mistake on your part," Isobel snapped, just about to lay into the headmaster, who was waving her objections away. "Cuthbert Binns lost his ability to teach when he died. You should have replaced him years ago. It seems someone agrees with me."

"Be that as it may, I am going to have to ask you to leave this castle at once," he commanded, ignoring her outburst. "I do not approve of your choice of lesson today," his tone was laced with power and his grandfather voice nowhere in existence.

He had heard the children talking and was very upset about the looks he was receiving. He really didn't want his past known. Oh, one could find out if they looked hard enough, but most of the Wizarding World worshiped him, and he didn't want his reputation ruined by an upstart ghost.

Harry started to cower. He never liked raised voices. Sally had always been there when the Dursleys yelled at him. She gave them the willies when they did, and they'd soon stopped. Only to start again whenever freakishness happened. So, yeah, he hated yelling even when it wasn't directed at him.

Sally quickly latched on to the boy and tried to soothe him, ready at any minute to reveal herself and protect her young charge.

Professor Watts noticed and tried to calm down. "Headmaster," she said calmly, "we seem to have a difference of opinion. However, there is a student here. Maybe we should take this up to your office?" she suggested as she arched an eyebrow, daring him to argue.

The headmaster came back to himself with a small shake of his head and seemed to see Harry for the first time. "I apologize for scaring you, my boy. Please, proceed to your dorm room," he told the cringing young man. "Dinner will be soon, and I am sure you would like to relieve yourself of your books," that kind grandfather voice was back as Albus twinkled his eyes at the child.

Harry quickly got up, gathered his belongings, and scurried out of the class. He heard Professor Watts telling the headmaster that he should not be calling the students anything but their names. He agreed, he hated it when someone called him 'boy', no matter what tone they used. His name was Harry James Potter and people should use it.

Sally was hot on his heels; she'd take care of that old fool after she made sure the running wizard did indeed make it to his dorm.

The two professors went to the headmaster's office. Isobel only hoped that Sally would rejoin her. She would need the persona of Death to help her in the fight she was about to have.