Disclaimer: I own nothing.

A/N: I had intended 12 to be a bit longer, but I got so busy describing things that I had to split it, so the Christmas scene has to come in 13 and is still too lengthy.

Chapter 12 – Mind Control

"I was part of the team that investigated George's death," Elijah stated. "It was horrible. It had been a long time since I'd seen something so grisly that it made me vomit. George was – he was a good guy – a colleague that I greatly admired. And everyone was talking about how it had to be Grindelwald – everybody but Crouch, who had said he did not accuse without proof." The final words had been stated acidly as if Elijah was starting to suspect Crouch of duplicity.

"Something George might have said," Nicholas observed with irony. Elijah stared open-mouthed.

"Why did it take so long to reassign his caseload?" Albus asked Elijah pointedly.

"Oh, there were a dozen perfectly valid reasons that seem ridiculous now," Elijah answered flippantly. "It was almost Christmas and a few aurors were taking holiday. Happenings with the muggle war provided distractions: The sudden reduction in air raids over England as more and more pressure was put on Hitler, the fact that we were suddenly discussing the progress of the Battle of the Bulge in our pubs instead of the latest quidditch standings – they all seemed reasonable enough distractions at the time. Also, George's murder bothered us and unlike you, we didn't know he was at that location investigating Grindelwald. Despite suspicions, we briefly thought that it was another investigation that had led to his murder and we chased that for awhile. But nothing ever came of it."

"We were questioned by Minister Starkey personally about our presence there that night," Nicholas interjected.

Elijah stopped and stared. "Are you suggesting that he knew George was there investigating Grindelwald and failed to pass it on?" Elijah had blanched, and the now pasty complexion left him looking weak and frightened.

Cautiously, Albus replied, "You see why George might not have been in a rush to accuse anyone of anything."

Elijah thrust his hands against his face and drug them down, stretching the skin in the process and making his eyes appear unnaturally wide. "Merlin's beard! The minister!"

"Before you get yourself in a bind, Elijah, you must remember that Grindelwald is apparently talented at mind control. We do not yet know the limits of his talents, except to say that he either cannot control myself or Nicholas, or he never attempted to. We're also not sure if he is unable to control Minerva, Howard and Nate, or if he just never tried with them as well. He did attempt to control George Ellison, but George broke free. We believe that's why Grindelwald ordered him killed. I think it is inadvisable to assume that anyone is in league with Grindelwald until we cut off that particular ability."

"Wait!" Elijah said, lurching to his feet. "Up until now you've given me no reason to believe that he could control anyone but muggles and squibs, which is a far cry from controlling a wizard. Aside from confundus charms which only work on the weak-minded, what proof have you that he can?" Albus noticed that Elijah had this time stood with his wand in hand, as if he might need protection. Despite the focus of his question, the man also glanced around him as if watching for an attacker. And Albus chose not to contradict Elijah with regard to confundus charms, which were usually easy to deflect, but could be very dangerous if a wizard was lucky.

"I suppose that's true. And I might have had doubts myself until last fall," Albus replied. "Perhaps though, I need to step back a little." Albus also stood and began to pace slightly as he gathered his thoughts. "I told you that Grindelwald appeared to have built an almost unnatural friendship with Lorelei's father, and that Tavin Figg was a powerful wizard who had once been tapped for minister of magic, though he declined. Surely the thought crossed your mind that he was too accepting of Grindelwald. I know it had crossed my mind. But honestly, we never saw anything solid prior to October and even then we were not sure what it meant. Lorelei's mother was overcome with sentimentality and invited Lorelei to her father's birthday party. One step into their Manchester home and we could see every sign of Grindelwald and very little of a family that had lived there for years. Even the title above the door had been changed from Hame o Scot Figg to das palais auf Grindelwald, but the family seemed oblivious to it.

In an instant, Albus' memory transported his thoughts to that night, and he was once again standing beside Lorelei at the entryway, staring up at the lettered arch above the double doors. She had turned her gaze to him, and sputtered before they'd ever lifted the knocker, " When – how long do you think this has been changed?" Her finger shook as she pointed.

"I do not know, Lorelei," he'd answered. "We could turn right around and disapparate if you prefer," he'd offered, knowing full well that she would visit her family in hell if that was where they'd moved to. She had shaken her head and lifted the knocker with trepidation. The door was answered by the same tiny house elf he'd seen at the dinner party more than a year earlier.

"Lolly!" Lorelei had exclaimed warmly. It was the first time Albus had ever seen someone hug a house elf. For a moment Albus felt a little invisible as Lorelei and the house elf embraced and then eyed one another as if the separation had been long and painful.

"Yous looks healthy, Miss Lorelei," Lolly had said finally, stepping back from Lorelei and tucking her hands behind her back.

"Lolly," Lorelei had replied pleadingly, "Don't start treating me like a stranger. Albus knows you raised me and that I speak fondly of you." He had heard her mention Lolly on many occasions, but the truth was that he'd never realized their relationship until that moment. Lolly was more of a mother to Lorelei than her own had been. "And likewise, Albus, Lolly heard much about you after I met you in the Hogs Head and again after we went bowling. She was very taken with you after the dinner party that changed my life."

Albus had smiled politely and greeted Lolly more warmly then, bending low in a sweeping gesture to shake her hand, only to rise and meet the disapproving glare of Eleanor Figg. "Lolly, why must you dally about with the guests at the door? It is most improper," the older woman berated, scowling.

The chastised elf responded, "Yes Madam," and disappeared with a pop.

"Lorelei, it is good of you to grace us with your presence," Eleanor Figg continued. She cast a disapproving look at Albus. "Professor Dumbledore," she added before turning her back and returning in the direction she'd come.

"Good to see you again," Albus had mumbled mostly under his breath as they followed a short distance behind. "That's a lovely dress Mrs Figg." Once Lorelei had begun to giggle he continued the pretend conversation with, "Why thank you, I happen to be rather fond of this particular set of robes myself."

Lorelei stopped him, placing a hand on his arm, "Only you could make me laugh when I was just wanting to melt into the floor boards." She tugged at his beard playfully and winked, leaving him feeling less nervous.

But the situation seemed to worsen with every step; the conservatory hardly resembled what he'd seen on his last visit. The furniture had been changed from the tasteful, neutral, regency pieces to dark and expensive biedermeier tables and armchairs. Even the tapestries had been changed. Lorelei was so shocked that she couldn't sit. She stared open-mouthed, her eyes moving from furnishing to furnishing.

"Lovely, isn't it?" Eleanor had said promptly. Her mouth smiled but her eyes appeared almost vacant. Albus felt Lorelei slip her hand into his, and she squeezed his hand so tightly that it was almost painful. "Arabella and Wilhelm are going to stay and live here in Manchester and your father and I will be returning to Glasgow on a more permanent basis."

"And you – you've given this house to them as a – a wedding gift then?" Lorelei had managed. Of course, it wasn't unheard of – parents had often passed on a home to future generations and since the home in Manchester was not the one Tavin Figg preferred, it didn't seem that unlikely.

"Wilhelm's family home would be in Nazi territory now," a voice said behind them. Albus and Lorelei had turned together and looked to where Tavin was standing next to Wilhelm Grindelwald. Tavin also had the vacant-eyed expression his wife wore. "We could hardly send our youngest to live in Nazi territory even though Wilhelm is more than capable of protecting her." He patted Grindelwald fondly.

"I guess I had imagined that – uh – Wilhelm had a home in England since he's been living somewhere nearby," Lorelei responded, forcing a smile. She glanced once at Albus and her expression was nearly frantic. She moved the gift she'd been holding in her left hand so that it was then gripped within both. She walked briskly toward her father and offered it. "We've brought you something for your birthday." Tavin took the gift and she kissed his cheek and backed up until she was once again at Albus' side.

Tavin had stood in the same place and unwrapped the box, revealing a particularly fine, gold watch that Lorelei and Albus had purchased during their last trip to Hogsmead. "What a fine piece," Grindelwald had remarked, and Tavin had promptly handed it to him without a word. Grindelwald had lifted it pointedly, connecting the chain to his belt right in front of them.

"I think you can image how completely taken aback we were," the Albus of the present told Elijah. "We didn't stay for dinner. We made hasty excuses and left promptly. Lorelei did not even get a chance to see Arabella. But when we got out to the garden, we were approached by the last person we expected – Lolly."

"The house elf?" Elijah asked incredulously. Albus nodded and ignored Elijah's prejudicial tone and narrowed eyes.

In the dusk, the house elf had told Albus and Lorelei of the deterioration of her home, and that loved ones no longer acted like themselves. Albus could remember the poor creature sobbing inconsolably into a tea towel, blowing her odd triangular nose repeatedly. "It isn't right, Miss Lory," she'd howled. "They is not themselves. I's not supposed to be speaking, but you's family," she'd added. "He treats my's family like vermin, and I's not supposed to say."

"Has he used his wand on them?" Albus had asked gently. "Perhaps you've seen some sort of spell which keeps them compliant."

Lolly had looked frightened, her huge eyes widening further. She seemed on the verge of answering, and then backed off, terrified.

"Lolly, don't be afraid. You're with us; no harm can come to you," Lorelei had urged.

"I's never seen spells, but I's seen his shadow as he flicked his wand at them. He did not say words, though, I's sure of that." The tiny elf bit her lip hard as if she'd already said too much.

"There would not have to be words, Lolly," Albus replied. "Grindelwald is a powerful wizard and may not need to speak to cast spells, just as I don't." Albus had looked up at Lorelei, his eyes locking with hers. He could see she was worried for Lolly and did not want her to go back to the house. "You could free her," he suggested.

"No!" Lolly shrieked and stared horror-stricken at Lorelei. "It is shame!" she'd squeaked. "I's not deserve to be shamed!"

"Lolly, you are not safe there," Lorelei argued, casting one worried glance back toward the house. "It is bad enough that Arabella, Mum and Dad are all under his control, I don't want anything to happen to you."

Lolly smiled slightly. "You's been talking about freeing me since you's was thirteen, Miss Lory. I's told you then and I's tellin' you now, I's staying!" Her countenance was set firmly.

Lorelei had caught Albus' eye and they shared a silent conversation, both of them tempted to return to the house and attack Grindelwald, and both aware that it was probably foolhardy to challenge a powerful wizard in his own home, despite the fact that he had acquired it by duplicitous means.

"Then I'm giving you orders," Lorelei told Lolly sternly. "Take care of Arabella and yourself, Lolly. If she's in danger or you are in danger, run to Hogwarts and I'll help. That's an order, Lolly. Although I worry about Mum and Dad, they welcomed him of their own accord and they are wizards; Arabella isn't. And I don't believe for a second that Grindelwald will keep you around if he doesn't have to. He isn't actually your family, even though he married into it, and that will weigh heavily upon his mind if he knows you've witnessed his misdeeds."

Lolly had nodded once to acknowledge the order and then disappeared, presumably returning to the house.

"Do you have any guess what spell he's using for this purpose and if there's a counter spell?" Elijah asked, pulling Albus back from his memories.

"There are several possibilities," he answered. "This could also be a spell he's invented, though I feel it is likely the imperius curse based on the description George gave us." The imperius curse had been growing in popularity. It was not an easy spell to use and no one really knew its origins.

"I think I need to find George's notes," Elijah said, looking worried.

"And you need to stop investigating solo," Nicholas advised. "It would be too easy for him to take control. If it is the imperius curse, you can't know your ability to escape it until it has been placed upon you."

"Will your trap reveal the spell he's using?" Elijah asked.

"Yes, as well as who he's maintaining control of," Albus replied.

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