"He's an arrogant, manipulative, rude, ill-educated, entitled, narrow minded, crooked, self-serving, egomaniacal, puppeteering bully." Gellert quoted from his latest letter from Hermione. Berg, who had been listening to him read it out from across the desk, laughed.

'Sounds like she doesn't much like this Dumbledore.'

'She vows vengeance on him later on. Otherwise, she seems to be getting along alright. She's been sorted into Slytherin - that's one of their houses and she's made friends with a Nott and a Potter.' Gellert scanned through the rest of the letter. It was even longer than her letters usually were, going into great detail about all of her classes and the school itself.

'That's a relief.' Berg sighed, leaning back and stretching his arms up above his head.

'How's that essay?' Gellert asked, abandoning the letter in favour of his brother's essay. As usual, Berg had written almost double the required amount, embellishing it with quotes and facts that made teachers drool.

'Not for you to copy!' Berg snatched his essay back.

'I wouldn't!' Gellert defended. That was true, he would never lower himself to copy, but he also wouldn't mind reading Berg's essay. His brother's extensive knowledge of even the most obscure facts meant Gellert could learn almost as much from his homework as he did from the class it was set in.

'Of course you wouldn't. Now go riding with that awful beast of yours. You've been cooped up too long and your energy is spoiling my concentration.'

Gellert didn't argue. He'd been sticking close to Berg ever since the start of term in case he did something stupid about Alice, but Berg was naturally a lot less active than he was, so the dark, cramped castle had long become claustrophobic.

So, with Berg occupied for the foreseeable future, Gellert fled to the stables for some much needed time outdoors.

Less than twenty minutes later, freezing water lapped over his shoulders as he let Kelpie's powerful swimming tow him across the fjord to the relative privacy of the opposite bank. He'd spied this spot during the fitness sessions their duelling instructor kept putting them through, and it was just as wonderful as he'd thought it would be. There was a stretch of flat, gravelly beach with a border of larger boulders that vanished into the mossy green depths of a pine forest. Under the shadow of the trees, he could practice the sword forms that Mordred had taught him, flowing from one stance to another and smacking at a tree branch with a transfigured stick.

A slow clapping broke his concentration and he spun, the stick-sword dropping from his fingers as he grabbed his wand.

'Alice.' He said coldly. Like him, she had grown and hardened over the past year, her cheekbones becoming more angular and her face thinner. Her hair had lightened as well, becoming almost brassy orange and making her face look pale and washed out. Her right hand, he noticed, was ruined; perhaps crushed by the falling debris in the castle. Her fingers were twisted into hook-like talons and the skin of her wrists was pitted and scarred. The damage should have been healed easily by a healer, but he doubted many would see her. She had a scar on her forehead too, still shiny and pink and stark against the snowy paleness of her face.

'Grindelwald.' She strolled forwards over the uneven ground, Tunninger jewels clinking from every conceivable place a woman could hang them. She didn't look like the daughter of an ancient house anymore, let alone it's Matriarch. He would have placed her as new money, desperate to prove her wealth and labouring to hide her own flaws beneath priceless gems.

'What do you want?' He demanded, wand tip trailing her every movement.

'To know how my brother is. You seem determined to keep him from me.' She pouted as if he had done her some great disservice.

'Don't act stupid.' He snapped. 'Seeing you will only hurt him.'

'I'm his only sister.'

'No, you lost that honour. He has Hermione now and she is a better sister than you will ever be. She comforted him, she was his shoulder to lean on and she has performed the death rituals for the parents you killed.'

'Hermione.' Alice's face pinched. 'That upstart little bitch takes everything that is mine.'

'No, you present it to her on a platter when you let ambition and greed control your actions.'

'I only wish for my place, it is her, swanning in with her fancy ancient name that has you hungering for her power. I want who we are to mean something, rather than who we are born to? Even Muggles have evolved past a hierarchy that revolves around brute strength.'

'She didn't have her fancy name when you made your vendetta.' He pointed out. 'She was a new blood, but she was respectful and keen to learn.'

'But you picked her because she was strong. I was respectful and I was keen to learn, but I was never good enough.' He wished she'd howl, but instead, Alice whispered and tears glittered down her cheeks. He was certain it was an act, but it still pulled at his chest. She might have changed, but she was still his childhood friend and in tears.

He shook himself firmly and took a step back. He would not fall for the act.

'The treaty says we must not fight, not that I must listen to your attempts at manipulation.' He declared, backing away towards the water's edge. Kelpie was still out swimming, but he would come if he smelled his master in the water.

'You see, you can't even defend her in civilised conversation but she has you all wrapped around her claws.' Alice was following him, and he backed away as quickly as she approached, getting deeper and deeper into the frigid water. The strong current buffeted him, sending small rocks banging against his bare feet. The rocks were slippery too, and he almost fell twice.

Alice's skirt brushed the water's edge.

'I don't think this is civilised.' He said. Where was Kelpie?

'It's not.' Alice said with a wicked grin. He reacted like lightening, erecting a shield as her wand flashed. The impact was like taking one of Mordred's blows and his feet skidded on the weed covered rocks. He didn't even get a chance to catch his breath before water closed over his head. He scrabbled desperately at the rocks, trying to find a hold as he was dragged along. He managed to surface briefly for air as the current eddied, then he was swept out and down. The light disappeared quickly, his lungs burned as he futilely kicked his legs, making no headway.

Hair, long and and silky smooth tangled around his fingers. A large body brushed against his, cool but less cold than the water. More hair tangled with his feet, a slight distraction from the fire in his chest. There was a pressure in his ears, pushing against his eyes. Sharp teeth closed around his shirt, scratching his skin but oddly not hurting at all.

His lungs heaved, drawing in heavy, thick water. It felt rather peaceful. He couldn't see much - the deep black below him, paler blue above. A large shape wound around him, some creature of the deep that made odd, keening sounds. He wondered vaguely if it was calling friends. Would he drown first, or would they eat him alive?

It was rather pathetic, he thought. He'd survived their trip in the desert, flown half way across the world on the back of a bird with such a severe infection that he could barely stay conscious. He'd lived with muggles, fought a war. Of course he'd die like this, away from Hermione. She'd probably never even know, Alice wouldn't tell anyone what had happened, he'd just go missing. Maybe his wand would wash up somewhere. He hoped that Hermione performed that ritual for him, then he could at least see her again.

There was light below him now, glowing green through the water but spotted with black and purple.

He wished he'd spoken to Mordred, asked if any of Hermione's undead family knew what came after death.

He could see the animal's friends now, smaller but streaking up from the depths.

Blackness was wavering at the edges of his vision. It would be a close run - eaten or drowning. Maybe he'd get to feel them start to tear into him before he died, a combination of both?

Skeletal fingers closed around his arms, a leering face with savage fangs and massive eyes.

He was relieved when unconsciousness claimed him.