Dear Reader,

This chapter is not very exciting; it is a dialogue between the main characters. It was needed in the story, however, for all the characters to finally honestly communicate. I hope you enjoy it anyway, but the next one will be better with a lot of action that begins the ending sequence.

-LunarLitLover

Preview for Next Time: Minerva, Slughorn, Albus and Riley begin to carry out a well-conceived plan to restore justice to the government while still keeping Grindelwald's identity secret.

Recap: Albus/Grindelwald was about to torture the Minister of Magic's daughter but could not do it. He realized the error of his ways and wondered how he ever got here. He wants to change it. Right after this realization, he ran into Riley, Slughorn and, to his surprise, Minerva. Minerva still feels very betrayed, and although she still cares for him, she is irate.

Chapter 27: Avoiding Gazes

Grindelwald, Andrew Riley, Minerva McGonagall and a skinny, dark-haired youth took their seats around a circular table. They were in a private room of the Ministry, finally taking time to discuss events. It was time for talking, time for some real communication. It was time for all of the truth to be unveiled.

"So tell us, Albus – or is it Grindelwald now – how the bloody hell did all of this happen?" asked the youth, truly a disguised Slughorn.

Albus turned his gray, wrinkled, Grindelwald head down. His response was the shortest and most uncertain Minerva had ever heard him give. "I don't know," he said.

"You don't know?" Slughorn clarified.

Albus shook his head, still abashedly looking down.

"With all due respect," Riley interrupted, "I think I know how all of this happened."

The other three occupants of the table looked up in surprise and glanced around the table at each other. However, Minerva would not look into Albus's eyes directly.

"For me," Riley began, "This all started months ago, when I received an invitation to attend a meeting for some powerful half-blood businwizards who were dissatisfied with the treatment they had been receiving. I attended this meeting. There were only a handful of us there, but we were all among most well-known and respected businwizards in all of Britian. The meeting was conducted by, of course, Grindelwald." Riley indicated Albus with a slight nod of the head. "He spoke of how he was angered by the discrimination and wanted to do something about it. I was the most interested of my colleagues, and Grindelwald and I began communicating regularly. Eventually we decided we needed more than just a handful of wizards to make our point. So we included goblins and agreed to most of their selfish demands." Riley sighed. "That was our first great mistake. Then, as things continued and raids began, we realized just how much it actually takes to get the public's attention. We pushed farther. And farther. All in pursuit of what had once been just and right. There were many times when my conscience quivered and tried to resist, but it never truly took hold of me. Until today that is."

The youth – Slughorn – nodded to show he understand this version of the story. "So you're saying, Mr. Riley, that you were approached with the idea to resist the Ministry's biased regulations and went with it. As you got more involved with this Grindelwald character, things got more progressive in the way of violence and seriousness. You felt bad about these digressions but never did anything about them. Until today. Is that correct?"

Andrew Riley nodded. "That is all true. The original idea was Grindelwald's, but I was drawn in early. However, my point of that anecdote was to show that the actions of today have not been rash or sudden, but the next step in a long, ascending staircase that has been under construction for months. I believe that no one, not even Grindelwald himself, ever believed we would eventually have to push this far to achieve our goals."

Slughorn nodded once more and looked at Albus. "That may all be true, Mr. Riley. But Albus – Grindelwald – still must answer for his crimes."

"As must I," Riley interjected. "I have committed the same crimes he has."

Slughorn's transfigured, young, dark brow furrowed. He hadn't expected to punish Andrew Riley, the crack who'd led him directly to Grindelwald. "That is all very well," Slughorn replied, finally getting his bearings. "But you have repented for your crimes and made up for them by informing me about Grindelwald's future ones. He, I understand, had no intention of stopping his violent actions anytime soon."

Albus looked into Slughorn's eyes directly for the first time that day. "That is where you are wrong, Horace. I had a revelation this morning, ironically only a few minutes before you showed up."

Slughorn rolled his eyes. "A likely story, Albus. But do you really expect me to believe that you saw the error of your ways and repented your sins only a few minutes before we arrived? You insult me. How thick do you think I am?"

"I have known you for years, Horace, and we both know the caliber of your brain. I am not insulting your intelligence. I am, believe it or not, telling the truth. I suppose I was foolhardy to expect you to believe it; it is rather ironic that I would have such a great revelation so soon before your arrival. However, I am not weaving a lie to soften my coming punishment. In fact, I would consider it just if I was Kissed by the dementors here and now."

The other three were so shocked to hear Albus say such a thing, that their heads zoomed around to focus on him. But Albus's gaze was only focused on one of them; Minerva. However, she did not return it. She could not.

Albus continued. "I will accept any punishment that is bestowed on me. I deserve the circle of hell that is reserved for the worst of sinners. I tell you of my change of heart not in hope of avoiding such things, but in hope that I might be slightly redeemed in your hearts. The opinion in your hearts is the only one I care for. And although I know I can never be completely forgiven, I would serve a sentence of an eternity in hell if I could redeem myself, even slightly, in your eyes."

Minerva didn't even have to hear Albus's words to know he was addressing her. She could feel his gaze on her. But she could not look up. Even if she'd wanted to, she wouldn't have been able to. The pain from such betrayal clearly ran so deep in her veins that it restricted not only her heart, but her whole body.

"I can nearly prove my change of heart," Albus started again. "You may administer Vertiserium, if you wish. You may also ask the Reese family about my peculiar behavior in their chamber this morning. I was about to persuade them to help me, but changed my mind and left abruptly. These two things should provide you with decently good proof of my current opinion and state of mind."

"Hmm," Slughorn said, his fingers stroking his bare chin. "But, Albus, neither of these measures will guarantee your 'change of heart', as you call it. So why should we waste the time on something that will only affect our opinions of you personally?"

"Horace," Albus said, more confidently than before. "You and I both know that no measure is fully accurate or without room for error. However, I feel my state of mind at the present does need to be evaluated and agreed upon by everyone present. And not just for their personal opinions about me."

"Oh?" Slughorn raised his eyebrows. "And why else should we try to determine your current position? You have already admitted to your crimes, and your current state of mind does not play a large role in your sentencing. So why should we care if you have now changed your mind about your previous actions?"

"Because whatever you fight for, you must believe in. I now believe differently than I once did. And I want to help undo what I have done; I would like to fight to right my wrongs."

Minerva couldn't help it; her mouth fell open. She stared blankly at Albus, who was in turn staring determinedly at Slughorn. But then Albus's gaze turned her way, and she looked down again. She didn't think she could bear to look directly into those blue eyes. If she did, her heart would explode in pain.

And then she would die.

The room was so silent that even the sound of breath was absent. However, Slughorn soon cleared his throat and asked, "And how do you plan to 'right these wrongs', Albus? You can't exactly bring people back from the dead."

"I know," Albus admitted. "I will never be able to make amends for what I have done, but maybe I can still help the situation some."

"What do you have in mind, Grindel – Albus?" Riley asked.

"I'm not sure. I just know that some laws and regulations need to be changed and then the government peacefully handed over to an appropriate ruler."

"Who? You?" spat Slughorn.

"Of course not," Albus denied. "I have already made clear that my intentions have changed. I do not know who to hand the government over to, as a matter of fact. Perhaps you would do a fine job, Horace?"

"Oh no, no, no," Slughorn said forcefully. "I have absolutely no desire whatsoever to run the Ministry."

"Well, perhaps it will become clearer as things continue whom to have take over the Ministry," Albus said.

"But you're certain it will not be you. Right, Albus?" Slughorn confirmed.

"No, I do not want the Ministry under my control any longer," Albus clarified. "I will be more than willing to turn myself in to the dementors once this whole thing is taken care of."

"No!" Minerva heard herself say.

Slughorn raised his eyebrows. "Minerva, despite your relationship with Albus, he has done some horrific things and must answer for them."

"I know what he has done just as much as the rest of you," Minerva glared at Slughorn and responded vehemently. "And I agree that he must answer for what he has done. But is going to Azkaban really the answer? That will help nothing and no one. Can't Alb – Dumbledore – answer for his mistakes another way? A way in which will actually help to improve the circumstances?"

Everyone in the room looked at Minerva in surprise. However, she kept her eyes determinedly focused on Slughorn.

Slughorn did not directly answer the question. Instead he asked, "So what's the plan for fixing this mess, Albus?"

"Whatever it is, I'm behind you all the way," Riley said, showing his loyalty.

"Me too," Minerva added. Despite all of her anger, she could not help herself. She'd said it; she'd expressed her willingness to help Albus fix his blunders. He'd wronged her, yet here she was, promising to help him remedy his mistakes. What was she thinking?

Yet, despite this somewhat flawed logic, Minerva had spoken of her readiness to help. To support such a promise, she tried to smile at Albus. However, she couldn't manage it. It was as if the muscles in her face had forgotten how to smile. Nevertheless, she did look up at Albus. She actually tried to look into his eyes.

However, this time it was Albus who could not return the gaze.