Fantastic beasts III
Queenie entered the room. Grindelwald was facing away from the door. Something on his desk was moving. She approached it and saw it was a chess board. The figures were playing making moves, and after each black figure fallen the game reset rapidly and started again. His hand was near the board, seemingly controlling the whole game, but his head was turned away from it surveying the mountains outside. He was one of the few, one of those rare people she had hard time reading the mind of. He didn't employ occlumency, she just couldn't keep up with his train of thought.
- Did you know – he started talking to her – that chess was invented by muggles? A very long time ago. We add a splash of magic and call it wizard's chess, but the true magic lies in the game itself. So ingenious, a true test between opponents.
She tried reading his mind again but his thoughts seemed to focus on the game, and flashes of other thing she could not recognize swirled in his mind, too fast for her to catch.
- You lied to me – she said, nothing in his mind triggered however so she continued – you told me that in the world you will build I can be with a No-Maj. I can be with my Jacob.
- That hasn't changed… in the world we build you can be with whomever you wish – he said as he turned to face her.
- Lies! I've heard of your silver tongue, how you turn lies into promises, but you can't lie to me.
- I think we both know that I… –he looked right at her - can. But why would I. We are on the same side. Silver tongue you say, it sounds to me like someone wants to discredit all I say… even if it is true. You are here because of what you heard, about the war I plan… with the muggles… Am I correct?
- Yes – she replied a little taken aback from his honesty.
- I don't deny it. They have become dangerous, too dangerous to be left in charge of our world. Struggle breeds strength, and their struggle to survive without magic made them more powerful than us. Ironic how our own inherent strength keeps us form advancement. So we must rise up and seize control while we can. Yes… some will die. War is always bloody. But it is a price worth paying. The weapons they create have already begun to threaten us. In due time no magic will stand strong enough against them. It is a matter of time we are discovered, and then what. Our secrets, our talents will be squeezed out of us, they will enslave and use us, and eventually they will even destroy themselves. But whatever you may have heard, I don't hate them… It is their nature, and hating something for its nature is not only pointless it is cruel. I am not a cruel man, but I am a strong one. I can do what is necessary. It will be bloody, but it will be fair. I will disarm them, and take them away from position of power. I do not wish for them to die out, or be our slaves. I want to integrate them. Mingling with us they will not need their igneous inventions, we will suppress their progress, so that they remain our equals and not surpass us. And so you see, our war will not be against people like your beloved Jacob, rather it would be against the people who send him to war as a youth, barely a man. In my new world both of you will truly be free. That is my goal. I may take drastic measures to achieve it, but you must know, it is all… for the greater good.
She looked at him mesmerized. Silver tongue indeed, but it all made sense. None of it was irrational, and she could not sense him lying.But still, could she trust him, could she dare hope for her and Jacob and their future.
- And what is my role in all this? – she asked suspiciously - Why do you need me?
- There will be resistance. From our side. Wizards like Dumbledore see me as evil, they don't understand like you do. They don't see the threat like we do, and they would fight us for it. That is why I need you. You are my pawn – he gestured to the board – the one I sneaked to their side of the board. You see, the muggles who created the game knew that having an ally amidst the enemy is as powerful as your greatest weapon. Queenie you will be my Queen behind enemy lines.