A/N : just a bit of FYI…the Adficos Curse is considered a near Unforgivable Curse…this curse is used to strip/take away/suck out the power of a witch or wizard PERMANENTLY…use of this curse *would* usually carry a hefty sentence in a wizarding prison (as that Azkaban certainly can't be the only one) but in this case, Dumbledore used it on Grindelwald and, so, was not charged with its use…hence, Grindelwald is *not* showing back up (though he will be mentioned a few more times – and his death will be noted when it happens)…

Chapter #3 – The Darkest Purity

Tom woke before Lena the next morning. He was too excited to go back to sleep. He was here…in the very village Grindelwald had been living in. But, as he lay there, reveling in the thought of continuing the previous evening's conversation, he could not help but have a nagging question enter and refuse to leave his mind: Why had Grindelwald been here? Why was he not hiding, away from those that might betray him? He would have to ask Soren and Gregos this. Surely they would know the answer.

It was about forty-five minutes later that Lena woke, hugging Tom tightly and cuddling close. He knew she enjoyed being able to wake with him lying beside her, and he had come to rather like her little morning ritual of her resting on his chest as she cast off the previous night's slumber. He hugged her in return, glad she was still with him. It would feel strange if she had not been there by his side, sharing these experiences with him.

They got out of bed at the same time and dressed, talking about the previous evening when they arrived in Måneby. They went downstairs and Tom was slightly surprised to see the group of wizards he had been talking to last night still sitting around the same table. He wondered for a moment if they had even gone to sleep. But, they had said, after all, that they were always there.

"Come, young Tom," beckoned Gregos.

With a smile, he walked towards them but when he did not hear Lena following him, he turned to her curiously. "Aren't you…"

"It is not my place to join you. This is something you are doing for yourself. I would feel out of place sitting with you as you talk of Grindelwald." She smiled slightly, then took his hand and kissed his palm. "I discussed with Mrs. Macnair about going around the town. I've never been…"

"Shopping here," Tom said, slightly annoyed.

"No, that's not it. Here," she took out her coin purse and gave it to him, "take it so you know I won't buy anything. I just want to look around the town and see what there is to see."

Tom was utterly shocked. He was at a loss for words. All he could do was gape at her, which made her give an exasperated sigh.

"I shall see my lord this afternoon."

As soon as he nodded, she swept over to where the Macnairs were sitting. He nodded to Darcy then the four of them left the tavern. Though he had her gold in his hand, he wondered if she might still get things. Of course, once she knew where all the shops were, she could spend her money faster anyway. Shrugging, he pocketed the purse and joined the table he had been at before.

"Gut morning, Tom," all the men said as he sat down.

"'Morning."

"You slept vell, I hope," Gregos said jovially.

"Quite well."

"Vot vuld you like for breakfast," a middle-aged woman asked as she appeared by his side, smiling down at him.

"Er…" Tom felt his stomach churn with hunger. He had not eaten much the previous day. "Anything would be fine. I'm not that picky."

The woman smiled again then bustled off towards the bar, which she disappeared behind to go to the kitchen.

"So," Soren studied him for a moment, "do you haff any new questions to ask us now dat you haff had a good night's rest?"

"Actually, I do."

"Den do ask."

"Why was it that Grindelwald was here? I mean, being in a village is an easy way to be found."

"Ah, I see. Ja, you don't know dat much about dis town." Soren smiled slightly. "Måneby is un all-vizard village. Most of de people here are related or are very gut friends. Grindelvald trusted all of us. Ve vuld nefer haff betrayed him. Dat vuld be like betraying ourselves, you know."

Tom nodded, this was a very good reason and he understood it quite well. But he still wonder if the traitor might have been one of them.

"He grew up in this town," said one of the older men in the group, "und I grew up vith him. He vos two years ahead of me at Durmstrang, but being from the same town ve vere good friends there. Such a brilliant young student."

A smile crept across Tom's face. It seemed very nice to have Grindelwald called a "brilliant" student, for he too had been called brilliant ever since his first year. It made him feel that he was truly on the same path as Grindelwald had been. It made him feel like he really did have what it took to become like Grindelwald…but, even as that thought came to him, he realized that he did not want to be like Grindelwald at all. He wanted to have more power, more influence.

"…und so great at de Dark Arts from his childhood, ja?"

Hearing this snapped Tom's attention back to the group around him, not knowing how much of the conversation he had missed. He had been a little too lost in his thoughts. He often got that way when he thought of the plans he had, that he would implemented in the future. But so much still need to be accomplished before that.

"I heard Grindelwald was considered one of the greatest Dark wizards of the last century."

"Vell, Grindelvald did call himself a Dark vizard…und he certainly did practice the Dark Arts, but he thought of himself as more of a purist than a Dark vizard. He vos tired of seeing more und more Mudbloods filling schools around here. There vos even talk of allowing them into Durmstrang!"

At this there was much muttering and a few curses said. Of what Tom knew of Durmstrang, he knew this was certainly not a good thing. Durmstrang was one of the few schools left in Europe that still only allowed purebloods as students (with the occasional halfblood).

"All de talk of dem admitting Mudbloods vos mainly taking place vile Grindelvald vos still teaching dere…"

Tom was rather interested in this bit of information, as that he had never heard that before. "Grindelwald taught at Durmstrang?"

"Ja. Vos a great teacher for Charms vork. He could haff been headmaster but, vell, he left to start his dealings vith that Muggle, Hitler…"

There were more mumbling about this and he completely understood why: Hitler had been Grindelwald's downfall in a way, even though what he understood of his plans was actually quite ingenious. Letting a Muggle do most of the dirty work was brilliant, but there were so many things that could go wrong with that. And there was no way Tom would do that when it came time for him to carry out his plans finally.

"Of course, he has several abilities dat made him right for being a Dark vizard anyway."

"Ja, like his aura sight."

"Just like Dumbledore," Tom said under his breath, more to himself than those around him.

One of the other men at the table shook his head, having heard Tom. "Oh, no, Dumbledore can't see auras."

Tom looked abashed. "Then how…"

"He knows how to do someding called legilimency. He can sense dings in others, like emotions und intentions und de like. It's very hard to learn, legilimency…"

"Not to mention practically illegal to practice in nearly ever part of the world."

"Why's that?"

"Those that are experts at it, like Dumbledore, can nearly hear one's thoughts, und they don't need to make eye contact to see into the person's mind. It's not seen as a very acceptable or ethical thing to do. It is often connected vith the Dark Arts, like aura sight, vhich surprises me as to vhy Dumbledore vould practice it."

So…that's how he had done it. Professor Dumbledore had been able to read his mind, well, in a way. But, because it was not an art that was "acceptable" he could not use it as proof as to what he, Tom, had been doing during his years at Hogwarts. That would certainly explain many things that had happened since he had changed to be the Transfiguration teacher. But exactly how much of what Tom had planned at school had Dumbledore picked up on?

"But speaking of the Dark Arts und teachers," Gregos smiled, "vuld you like to go see Rauthuell now?"

*********

To my reviewers –

RivanKnight - ^_^ *eating toffees* Thanks!

lord archimonde – nope, the wizard in the woods isn't Grindelwald…you'll be meeting him in the next chapter, though…how was this chapter's length?

Aurdomiel, Ravenstar - #1 suspect, eh? *shrugs* Have it your way…Adficos Curse was already explained to you and at the beginning of this chapter…and don't be making fun of German accents…I think they're cool…

Liv – no no no…not just 10 chapters…I'd never be able to pull of so much time in so few chapters…chapter 10 is about where things start going a bit nutty…in my opinion at least…this story will be about as long as the previous one, close to 56 chapters or so…about half of the story will be his traveling around (his "missing years") and the other half will be between his return to England and the aftermath of the Potters…

(insert name here) – AU, eh? It already *is* AU…I seriously doubt that Tom/Voldemort has a lady/concubine/mistress in Rowling's mind in actuality…if he does, I'll flip my lid…but I do prefer to stay as accurate to what she might write as possible…I don't want to be TOO off the mark with him…I don't like making my characters too OOC…and I'm glad you still think it's very good…^_^…and I liked what you said about Dumbledore…it does put a lot of weight of what happened/will happen on his shoulders…he could have saved him…dang, I should have put up that one-shot I had with Tom, Dumbledore, and the Mirror of Erised set in his early 5th year…that would have made your comment even more interesting…^_~