A Child of Two Worlds, Part 2

I do not own Harry Potter. Or J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World for that matter.

Chapter 3: Your Magic Binds Again

"And they can really do transform into animals?"

Sally's eyes widened again. For the past 20 minutes she had listened to everything that Emilia had told her. Emilia nodded.

"Yes. Well, those with training and a licence at least can."

"I still can't believe it. It's just crazy to think that they're responsible for the d–"

Sally broke off at shot a worried glance at her adoptive sister. Emilia knew what she had wanted to say. As soon as she had arrived back home she had grabbed the box where she kept everything about her parents and put the old copy of the Daily Prophet inside. The copy that David had provided her with. That was the proof how her parents had died. Killed at the hands of Death Eaters, this network of dark wizards that had terrorised Britain some 20 years ago.

Emilia wondered if she would have ever found out if the plane hadn't crashed in the Himalayas and if she hadn't encountered David and Alex. The wizard and the witch travelling the world to explore foreign wizarding cultures. The whole thing about the hidden wizarding world! Emilia would have believed in aliens or time travellers but not in wizards and witches. And yet here they were. And now, after 300 years, they had decided to come out of hiding.

"So what's he like, this David?" Sally asked with the hint of a smile on her lips.

Emilia was the one to smile now.

"He's… dashing… energetic… always helpful… and he's hot."

The two girls giggled. Emilia stared ahead.

"I wonder what he's doing right now. He's started to work at the Ministry of Magic. But he didn't tell me what he was doing there exactly. Only that they're having some big changes. I haven't really heard from him since we got back. Not until now. Where might he be right now?"

Just then something caught her eye outside. Emilia got up and ran to the window. A figure stood there in a long dark blue coat. Emilia waved at David and he waved back. Emilia ran out of her room and downstairs with Sally close behind her.

David beamed at her when she opened the door.

"Hello, Emilia," he said.

"DAVID!"

Emilia flung herself around David's neck hugging him closely.

"I've missed you so much!"

She let go of his and gazed at his face.

"You've grown a beard."

Indeed he had. It made him look slightly older than he actually was.

"It's good to see you too," he said. She grinned. David looked past her.

"Is this your sister?" he asked.

"Yeah. This is Sally."

Sally came closer and shook David's hand.

"Hello Sally."

Turning back to Emilia, he said: "I'm sorry I couldn't see you earlier, had so much to do at the Ministry. We've created a new department that teaches witches and wizards on important Muggle technology. Many have not taken Muggle Studies at Hogwarts, you see."

As they walked up the stairs, David looked around.

"What have you been doing since you came back?"

"Oh, not much," Emilia said. "Celebrated Christmas with my family. I looked up and applied to several universities. I'm not entirely sure what I want to study now. This whole experience has… there is a whole new side of the world to explore now. And I've already seen so much. But I still have a few months anyway."

"Well, you can always find work at the Ministry. We're seeking new Muggle employees in several departments now that we're working openly together."

She looked at him.

"Can I work at your department?"

David smiled.

"Sure. I can pull a few strings."

Emilia nodded.

"How is Alex?"

She was sitting next to her father in a gigantic gloomy library with high shelves and small windows that led in just enough light to create the atmosphere of a haunted house. Although never having actually been there, Alex could guess right away what this place must have been. Looking around, she inspected the books more closely. They were in Old Norse, Norwegian or Swedish. Many were also in German or Russian.

Hemmeligheder af den mørkeste kunst

Gar böse Zauberey

Belladonna dlja nektromantov. Spravočnik

Even though she knew of Durmstrang's reputation it was still unsettling so see so many books on dark magic in a school. A school that her parents had went to. Friedrich Brandt was focusing on his homework. Alex saw the title of his essay:

Über Rematerialisierung und ihre Grenzen

An essay about Transfiguration, specifically Re-Materialisation. In the chair opposite of him sat another young student, a tall, thin, sallow young man with dark hair and eyes. He had a large, curved nose, a sharp profile and thick, black eyebrows. Alex's jaw dropped: it was none other than Viktor Krum! He too was writing an essay but seemed preoccupied with something.

"Do you think ve have been chosen?" he mused.

Friedrich looked up from his essay and looked at Krum.

"You can bet you're going! Karkaroff won't let his favourite student miss this. The rest of us will only be there as decoration."

He sounded somewhat matter-of-factly as if he could barely contain his anger.

"You are forgetting that the Goblet of Fire will choose impartially," Krum reminded him.

The scene dissolved and changed. Alex was now standing in a classroom with her father. All the students stood in line in their red school uniforms, their hands behind their back standing straight. It was almost as if they were soldiers.

A teacher in a dark brown coat strove past them carefully eying the students.

"Brandt! Andersen! Step forward!" he ordered.

Alex flinched as she saw a young girl step forward along with her father. The two were eying each other and just for a second, Maria Andersen gave the tiniest of smiles to her father.

"Let see what you can do," the professor instructed.

Both were circling the other. Then Maria made the first move.

"Lyserødøje!" she cried.

Friedrich dodged easily and retaliated.

"Flagrante!"

Maria screamed as fiery burns appeared on her skin as if she had burned herself. Moving her wand quickly, she stopped the curse from spreading but the burns still remained.

"Professor Karkaroff doesn't tolerate weakness! Try harder!"

Both of them glared at the professor. Some of the students looked down, others grinned.

The scene changed again. Now she was sitting next to her father in the Great Hall. He looked so young. Alex watched as he and her mother talked with Viktor Krum. Alex looked around. The hall was decorated for Halloween. At the teacher's table a tall man with long white hair and beard stood up. In front of him stood a large goblet of some sort. Alex didn't have to guess what it was. Her parents had told her about this so many times. A tongue of red flame shot out of it and the headmaster caught a small piece of parchment. Alex could see the excitement on her father's face.

"The champion for Durmstrang… will be Viktor Krum."

A storm of applause filled the Great Hall as Viktor Krum stood up. Both Friedrich and Maria shook his hands. Instinctively, Alex joined in before remembering that this was only a memory.

Next, she was with her father as he was participating in Defence Against the Dark Arts with other Seventh years. Alex watched as Professor Moody showed them how to defend themselves against some of the nastier spells a dark wizard could perform. After class, Friedrich wandered down a staircase and came into the corridor that led to the library.

Unsure of what he should do, Friedrich hesitated for a moment.

"Are you lost, son?"

Both Friedrich and Alex turned around. Alex recognised the portrait at once. It was that of Basil Fronsac, one of the former headmasters at Hogwarts. David had always enjoyed making conversation with him.

"I'm not a Hogwarts student, sir," Friedrich answered. "I'm from the Durmstrang delegation."

"Ah, yes. Well, if you are in need of something, feel free to ask me. I'm here most of the time."

Friedrich nodded and made his way to the library. He went past book shelves and soon found who he was looking for.

"That was a fantastic lesson, wasn't it?" Maria asked him brightly in German.

"Oh, definitely."

Friedrich sat down and looked around.

"I like this place. If I ever have children, I'd send them here. Not Durmstrang, not for my life!"

"Your father made you go there as well then?"

Friedrich nodded.

"You wouldn't want to meet him. He has splendid connections to Kakaroff. All of my brothers and sisters had been to Durmstrang. But this school… have you listened to their headmaster? And they're not teaching Dark Arts, they teach Defence."

"Ja, Virkelig et godt sted," Maria murmured.

"Listen, um…" Friedrich leaned in closer. Maria looked at him bemused.

"Would you… like to come to the ball with me?"

Alex felt her heart beating faster. This must have been it.

Maria smiled one of her wonderful smiles Alex always loved her for. Her father had once told her that her own smile was exactly the same.

"I'd love to."

The walls of the Great Hall were covered in sparkling silver frost. Instead of house tables, hundreds of small round tables had been set up. Alex was sitting with her parents. They all applauded the champions and their partners entering the hall.

Before the dance everyone helped themselves to some meals. But soon, under heavy applause, the Weird Sisters claimed the stage and the champions started dancing. Alex noticed that Harry Potter seemed a little insecure while his partner, one of the Patil twins, was enjoying it. Soon, more people joined them including her parents. Alex watched as Friedrich and Maria who both wore matching dress robes engaged in a passionate dance moving glamorously though the crowd. It was at this moment that Alex noticed how similar she was to her mother, not just her looks and her body. Her mother also seemed to be quite open and not afraid to show her sexuality. She moved swiftly and, even though this was just a memory, Alex could feel the tension between the two of them. When the dance ended, they were holding each other in a deep embrace. As the evening went on, the two of them sneaked away into the castle ending that particular memory but Alex didn't have to guess twice what they were up to…

Alex found herself on the stands of the Quidditch pitch. A maze had been grown on the field. The Durmstrang students were cheering their champion as he entered. Alex noticed headmaster Karkaroff. He appeared nervous. Was something itching him or why did he always touch his left arm?

Listening to the commentary made by Ludo Bagman, Alex watched her parents as the night fell. Friedrich glanced at his headmaster suspiciously and then back to the maze.

"Something is up," he told Maria.

"What do you mean?" she whispered back.

"Look at him."

Then everyone looked up as red sparks flew up into the air. One of the champions wanted to get out. Moments later, Krum appeared. Shortly afterwards, Fleur was brought in. Both seemed deeply distraught. Friedrich ran towards Krum with Kakaroff close behind.

Shoving Friedrich aside, Kakaroff bend down.

"What happened?"

"I – I…" Krum stammered. "I… vos not myself. I don't know"

"Everyone back to their seat please," Fudge, the Minister for Magic ordered.

Then, about 15 minutes later, Bagman commented:

"The Cup has been found. The –"

He broke off.

"But that's not possible! Where are they?"

Murmurs soared up within the crowd. Friedrich watched Kakaroff closely. Then suddenly, her father moved forwards. Maria and Alex followed him as he proceeded to run down the stands. Chasing after his headmaster who seemed like he was running for his life.

Then a faint pop could be heard and everyone turned around. There was Harry Potter with the coup… and with Cedric Diggory. Dead. Alex saw her father gazing from the cup back to where moments before, Kakaroff had run off into the night.

The scene changed. Friedrich stood before the front gates with Viktor Krum and some of his students.

"But vot should we say when you don't come back?" Krum asked.

"Don't say anything," Friedrich replied.

"My family will be a bit more understanding than Friedrich's," Maria said. "We're staying. We can't do this any longer."

But Alex knew that her father would return. As a member of the Order of the Phoenix. Spread the word, tell his fellow countrymen what was happening, what was at stake. And do a little investigating of his own.

She and her father stood before the Brandt Mansion. Her father's cold gaze made her feel uneasy somewhat. That rage in his eyes. Determined to let his own father feel his hatred.

And then they were in the house. Her grandfather lay there, defeated in duel by his own son. And Friedrich wasted no time searching his old home…

Moments later, Alex found herself sitting in some kind of court room. Richard Heinrich Brandt sat in a chair chained up and guarded by six Aurors. The court room was full. Alex spotted several of her aunts and uncles in the seats. She herself was sitting next to her father who was sitting in his own chair facing the court.

"Due to an indisputable amount of evidence," a man declared, "Richard Heinrich Brandt will be sentenced to a lifetime at Nurmengard Prison."

The audience exploded. Many cheered, yet some threw their fists angrily. Friedrich just sat there gazing directly at his father, a hint of satisfaction on his face.

Then she was at Nurmengard. Friedrich made sure his father would be locked away and he personally oversaw the deed. As they moved through the corridor, Alex caught the glimpse of an old man with one whitish blue and one brown eye…

A new memory formed: At first, Alex didn't know where they were. Then it became clear that it had to be inside the British Ministry of Magic. Her parents were training to become Aurors. This was followed by a few short memories. Her parents at some form of secret meeting with other witches and wizards: a man with long black hair whose laughter resembled that of a dog's barking. A young man who nevertheless had strains of grey hair and a shabby looking robe. A man who Alex recognised as the famous Auror Alastor Moody. This must have been the Order of the Phoenix's headquarters.

She now followed her father along with other Aurors entering a cinema. Alex's stomach turned. She knew what this was about. The entire audience had been murdered! Alex could barely catch a glimpse of a couple with dark skin. Emilia had her mother's nose.

Then Alex actually cried as she saw herself being cradled in her father's arms. She and baby David playing together; their mothers chatting as their nursed their babies at their breasts. Alex couldn't help but smile at how cute they were. David was already letting things flow in the air deliberately at only three months!

Friedrich in the Ministry atrium as Pius Thickness gave a speech about reforming the ministry. A new monument being erected: a witch and a wizard sitting on the backs of countless Muggles with the inscription "Magic is Might".

Friedrich and Maria being ordered to hunt Muggles alongside Snatchers. Being congratulated by the new Head of Magical Law Enforcement Corban Yaxley.

Then, in one of the intimidation hunts: Friedrich and a few Snatchers standing before a Muggle school.

"What's the target?" Friedrich asked.

One Snatcher turned his dull face at him.

"Target? 'Em Muggles, you Gargoyle!"

Friedrich didn't answer. His expression that Alex knew all too well told her that he was working on a plan. And she knew exactly what that plan was. As soon as they apparated into the school, Friedrich lashed out with his wand blasting a nasty hole into one of the Snatcher's legs. The three weren't a match to the formitable former Durmstrang student. Friedrich turned the belt of the first Snatcher into a thin black snake that slithered up his body strangling him. The second screamed in pain as he seemed to be devoured somehow from the inside. It was truly a horrifying sight and for the first time, Alex felt fear, was scared of her father's abilities. The third Snatcher pressed his hands to his chest and sunk to his knees staring incredulously at Friedrich who stepped closer.

"You're so heartless," Alex's father sneered.

The man collapsed and lay there. Friedrich quickly ran through the class rooms searching. He found who he was looking for in the Staff room.

"Friedrich!" Carol Reed gasped.

"We have to go!" Friedrich said.

The scene changed. They were in a tent. Alex recognised it as the tent her parents had used when they were going to the Quidditch World Cup so many years later. Friedrich was there along with Maria but also David's parents, Henry and Carol. Friedrich had just come back from standing guard. The women were nursing David and Alex, both a little more than three months old.

"How is it?" Henry asked.

"Well, quiet for the moment."

He sat down on a chair and used his wand to conjure a mug with water. Henry grabbed a gun and went out to stand guard.

"I still don't see why I shouldn't be the one standing guard," Maria said. "What's his gun supposed to accomplish if we are discovered?"

"Bullets are very fast, Maria," Carol answered. "Faster than spells actually."

"But bullets run out. Spells don't."

"We can always multiply bullets," Friedrich replied putting his hand into his pocket and pulled out a bullet meant for a gun.

"Henry gave me this. He thought of everything."

Next, Friedrich was sprinting through the woods hiding behind a tree. Alex could hear the bangs of spells and the sound of gunfire. Friedrich emerged from behind the tree and rapidly fired spells in several directions drawing attention to himself. As his opponents surrounded him, he quickly disapparated and reappeared besides Maria, Carol and Henry. Maria had packed the tent away. Both mothers had their babies on their backs. The four held hands and off they went.

Alex didn't recognise the next place. It was a house belonging to a woman named Andromeda Tonks who had a daughter who had a newborn baby. Here, her and David's parent found refuge before Friedrich decided to join the rest of the Order of the Phoenix at Hogwarts where Lord Voldemort seemed to have made an ultimatum.

And then Alex was in battle: spells zapped around her, people screamed, giants growled, giant spiders crawled through the Entrance Hall.

Then, seconds later, she stood before the Pensieve in the drawing room inside the Brandt Mansion.

Taking out her wand, Alex let the Pensieve float up and into her suitcase where it disappeared joying her other personal items in its larger interior.

She looked around. Ever since her aunt Ingrid had set food into this estate, signs of pro-Muggle attitudes could be found all over the house. Countless books on the superiority of Pure-bloods had disappeared and pictures of disowned family members like Ingrid herself and Alex's father adorned the walls.

Walking out into the garden, Alex saw Ingrid and her wife Elizabeth sitting on the veranda.

"I really don't know how you managed to stay put in this place," Alex said to her aunt.

"Well, it's not been easy," Ingrid replied. "But ever since Ms. Yıldırım took over the Federal Ministry, she keeps a close eye on my more… proud siblings. But make no mistake, my dear," she said looking directly into Alex's eyes.

"They'll not be pleased to find you here in Germany. They will not accept the presence of the daughter of someone who, in their minds, betrayed their family."

"Well, I'm back now," Alex said defiantly. "I'll have to face my own history. I am a Brandt. I can't deny that. Besides, I've seen worse than a couple of angry family members."

Nurmengard Prison, Austria

Once it had been a castle. A beautiful castle. Then Gellert Grindelwald reshaped it into a prison. A dark and horrifying prison to hold his opponents. After his defeat, German Aurors secured the prison and used it to hold Grindelwald himself and his closed allies. One of them Alex would now meet for the first time.

The Head of Incarceration at Nurmengard, Elena Wiel, welcomed her at the entrance which was heavily guarded by Aurors and accompanied her through security.

"He's the last living member of Grindelwald's acolytes," she explained as they went towards her office.

"Normally, visitors are not permitted. The only exceptions are members of a wizarding government or Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

On her desk there were several items displayed.

"This was the evidence that was found by your father. Pretty incriminating."

Alex examined the small pendant that was the symbol of Grindelwald's cause: a straight vertical line surrounded by a circle and a triangle enclosing both: the sign of the Deathly Hallows. Next was the diary that her grandfather had kept. Skipping through the pages, she read some of the entries. What shocked her most was the indifference with which her grandfather had described the violence against Muggles, the attacks and the torture. Quickly, she tossed it back on the desk. His wand was a bit short, only 22.86 centimetres. 9¼ inches. The note attached to it read in German: Elm and Unicorn hair.

"What about family members? Have they tried to speak with him?"

"Indeed, they have," Elena replied. "Several have even attempted to get him out. We are keeping a close eye on them ever since. They haven't attempted a second try though."

Alex nodded. Scanning the body of the Head of Incarceration for a moment, she made room for her so she could lead her to the cells.

His face was agitated the moment he saw her. Richard Heinrich Brandt watched his granddaughter approaching the cell. The enchantments prevented him from moving anything else than his had as if he had been paralyzed. Sitting on a stool facing the cell, he spoke first:

"You! You look just like her. And you have his eyes."

Alex just gazed at him studying his face. Now that she was actually seeing him she didn't quite know what to say to him. He had become a criminal, a torturer… a murderer. How many times had his soul been split?

"He ran away from me," her grandfather screamed.

"Why are you here, then? You're not family! At least you're pure…"

Then, his eyes widened.

"Or are you coming home? Where you truly belong?"

Alex gaze was firm.

"I've come back for Germany, for the German people. Not for my family."

And she turned and made her way further down the corridor.

The table and chairs of the interrogation chamber were quite uncomfortable, the room was blank. Only grey stone and a small window which, Alex was sure, was magically created and not really there.

Still magically restrained, Wilhelm Degenhard was brought in and moved into a seated position to face Alex. He had grown a beard since Alex had last seen him and his hair was now long.

"Your trial will begin in a few days," Alex informed him. "So far you have remained uncooperative. I thought perhaps you'd like to talk with me."

Degenhard just glared at him.

"Why, because we're both related to my dear cousin Markus?"

Markus Brandt was, as Alex knew from Ingrid, the son of one of her uncles, Theobald Brandt (her grandfather's third child), and Gunhild Degenhard. So far, aside from her parents, Aunt Ingrid and her grandfather, she had met none of her father's family.

"Because I'm no Auror. And I have a great deal of influence with the highest authorities," Alex said. "If you name your fellow members of the GHW, and cooperate with me, it might reduce your sentence, Wilhelm."

Degenhard grinned.

"Why bother when you're already doing the noble work of Gellert Grindelwald?"

He studied Alex's frown and chuckled.

"Yeah… you accomplished what we never could: the fall of the Statute of Secrecy. You managed to convince nearly every wizarding leader to submit to your ideas. It is inevitable. Grindelwald has seen it himself. They will draw first blood. It is our duty to stop them. They is what we are fighting. Their arrogance. Their power lust. Their barbarity."

He looked her straight in the eye.

"You've seen it too. You witnessed it, first-hand. How they treat those who they claim inferior. In their rainforest."

Alex stared at him, taken aback. He closed his eyes for a moment.

"She has already planned it. Prepared for it. Your…highest authority."

Opening his eyes again he watched her smirking. Alex actually gulped. She knew of whom he was speaking.

Degenhard tilted his head.

"Now… are you prepared… to do what is necessary?"