PART TWO
Southern France, 1945.
The wind had picked up and brought a chill to the air along the riverbank. A half-dozen figures in black robes were huddled around looking anxiously for any signs that they were being observed. There was movement in the water and a figure broke through the surface. It swam the short distance to the bank and was helped out of the water by his comrades.
"Well?" The leader of the black robes asked. "Did you find it?" The man nodded his head and handed him something. It was old wooden box about twelve inches square covered with Celtic runes. He looked at briefly and raised his hand above his head.
From across the street a tall man in a billowing gray cloak strode out of the shadows. As he approached, the leader dropped to one knee, opened the box and presented to him the object within; a fist sized crystal ball.
"My Lord…" He began. "Your quest is over." He said still not making eye contact. "I give you the power of the Ancients, the Methuselah Stone."
He exhaled sharply. He could feel the power emanating from the stone. "She was right." He whispered. "It does exist."
But just as he reached out to touch the Stone a loud voice rang out. "NOW!" And a dozen figures appeared out of the darkness.
"Aurors!" One of the black robes shouted.
"Defend our lord!" Another cried out.
The black robes pulled their wands and began hurling curses at the Aurors. With skill and practice they managed to avoid the majority of them and hurl their own counter-curses and within a few moments they managed to close the distance between them.
"Remember…" A man in a long trenchcoat and armed with a pair of pearl handled .45s shouted. "We need them alive."
"That might be a bit of a problem Alex." A man with slightly graying dark hair and glasses said as he ducked to avoid another curse. "This lot isn't playing fair."
"Do your best Albus." Alex said before rushing two of the black robed wizards.
At such a close distance they were unable to curse him. Like most wand wielders Alex O'Connell had met over the years they practically harmless when robbed of their ability to use magic. He kicked one in the stomach, who fell to his knees and then punched the other in the jaw before bringing the butt of one of his guns down on the neck of the one he had just kicked.
While Alex was busy, Albus Dumbledore had his hands full with a couple wizards of his own. He finally managed to knock one unconscious and while he was busy dealing with the other, he was unaware of another's presence behind him.
He smiled cruelly at Albus before raising his wand to the man's back. "Advaaaa…aarggggh!"
Albus turned at the scream to see the men clutching his wand hand. Even in the blue of the moonlight he could see the blood pouring from around the throwing knife impaled in his hand. He looked back over his shoulder and saw a tall woman with short cropped black hair wearing a long coat not unlike Alex's.
He winked at her. "Thank you Amanda."
"You can thank me later." She said as she blew him a kiss. "We still have work to do."
The battle was nearing the end, those wizards who weren't already rendered unconscious had fled into the night. Alex and Amanda stood off to the side with several of their companions while Albus approached the leader who had stood motionless during the entire affair as if he was unaware that anything was happening.
"Grindelwald!" He shouted.
"Albus." He said finally acknowledging his presence. "I'm so pleased that you could be here to see my ascension."
"It's over."
"You're wrong Albus. It's only just begun." He held the now glowing crystal ball above his head. "With this I shall be all powerful." Energy started to crackle around him. "With this the Allies shall be swept aside and the Reich will triumph!"
"I will not allow it." Dumbledore said defiantly.
"You will not allow?" Grindelwald reached out with his hand. "You will do nothing!" He shouted at Albus. Green lighting shot out from his fingers and engulfed Albus who screamed in pain. Amanda rushed toward him and caught him as he fell. Grindelwald regarded her for a moment and then smiled. "I wonder how much pain an Immortal can stand before she goes insane? Let's find out shall we?" He asked before electrocuting Amanda.
The Aurors who had accompanied Dumbledore were shocked by what was transpiring. At Alex's urging they quickly regained their composure and did as Alex instructed them to do. They held out their wands and shouted together.
Grindelwald felt as though a truck had hit him as he fell to the ground. A still weak and groggy Dumbledore rose and half stumbled over to his nemesis and saw the stone still tightly grasped in Grindelwald's left hand. But while he was attempting to pry it loose another hand suddenly grabbed Dumbledore's throat.
"If I accomplish only thing here tonight." Grindelwald sneered. "It shall be the ridding myself of you."
Unable to summon his wad from where it lay next to the unconscious Amanda, Dumbledore started to gasp and fight for breath. From across the way Alex could see what was happening and quickly went into action. He took one of his guns and aimed it at Grindelwald.
"For my parents you bastard." He whispered as he pulled the trigger. Seconds later a green explosion of green energy knocked everyone to the ground.
After several minutes Dumbledore and Grindelwald were the first to regain consciousness. On the ground between them was the Methuselah Stone, or what was left of it. The force of the explosion had shattered it. All that was left now was an incomplete ball and ten crescent shaped fragments that made up about a third of the stone.
Grindelwald screamed in rage at the sight. He looked over and saw Alex regaining consciousness. He walked slowly over the helpless man and pulled his wand. "First you, then Dumbledore." Alex opened his eyes just in time to see Grindelwald pointing his wand at him. "Time to join your parents." Alex closed his eyes again knowing what was to come next.
"Adva Kedvara!"
Something was wrong. He was still alive. Grindelwald had spoken the killing curse but he was still alive. Alex opened his eyes and saw Grindelwald still standing above him only he was wearing a confused look on his face and was swaying slightly. A few seconds later he fell to the ground next to him. Dead.
Alex looked over and saw Albus Dumbledore on one knee and pointing his wand at the place where Grindelwald once stood.
A short while later Albus, Amanda and Alex were gathered in the sitting room of Amanda's flat in London. Alex sat on the floor in front of the sofa where Amanda lay resting trying to shake off the nausea that traveling by portkey always gave her.
Dumbledore was seated at a small desk holding the Methuselah Stone in his hand and staring intently at it. Even though it was broken it was still very beautiful and was still radiating a great deal of power. He stared into it for a few more moments then finally put it down. He rubbed his eyes and spoke very softly.
"We got very lucky tonight. If it weren't for the warning from Doctor Jones we never would've known what Grindelwald was up to."
"And if it weren't for a well placed shot that thing would be in the hands of the Third Reich." Amanda added. She leaned into Alex and whispered in his ear. "Rick and Evie would've been so proud of you tonight kid."
Alex smiled at the thought and for the first time since their deaths at the hands of Grindelwald he didn't feel the stab of pain that came with their memory. "So now comes the hard question. What the hell do we do with this thing?"
Albus answered. "I was thinking that I might have someplace in mind where it would be safe. Someplace few people even know exists."
"As for these…" Amanda said shaking the small leather bag containing the ten fragments of the stone. "I'll take care of them."
"Shouldn't Albus take those with him as well?" Alex asked.
"No Amanda's reasoning is quite correct." Dumbledore answered. "The Methuselah Stone is still a powerful artifact, but so long as it is incomplete its true and full power will remain unrealized."
"And I'll get some help from a mutual friend to make sure these are scattered." She said before taking Dumbledore's hand. "You just make sure that thing is put into the deepest, darkest corner the Department of Mysteries has."
more to come...