This is a reviewed chapter 16. As I have mentioned before, I am uploading this as I write just to get it off my computer. I was unhappy with the old chapter 16 so I took it down and re uploaded it. It follows a similar plot line just with more details.
Apologies, Bey.
Hermione supposed there were definite perks to the "side effects of dark magic" as Grindelwald called his lack of sleep. Of course there were less desirable side effects like Voldemort's appearance but she could have used only needing three hours of sleep per week during exam time.
He had demonstrated the usefulness of this to full extent over the past week since the ICW had visited. The top levels of the cells were now accommodation, much to the delight of the order as they'd now not have to share rooms for the first time since Hermione could remember.
They had had the first ever meeting of the entire order in the auditorium, cramming witches, wizards and children inside as Grindelwald officially welcomed them to Nurmengard. He then introduced himself, explaining that after being tortured for information by the Dark Lord, (Hermione was certain that every member present could hear his contempt as he spoke the title) he had offered his assistance to Hermione. He'd then confirmed and denied several rumours – yes they had taken Malfoy Manor, yes there was a death eater in the cells...
In a move far more organised than the order had ever experienced before, he then divided everyone into groups, assigning jobs and positions in case of an attack. He described the defences in brief detail, cautioned everyone that they would automatically appear in the cells if they along-side apparated anyone new in.
Schooling had recommenced for the ex-Hogwarts students with an almost entirely different curriculum. Flitwick had taken charge over redecorating and furnishing, assisted in his endeavours by Fleur Delacour. Students assigned to him for the day would spend a day transfiguring furniture and performing colour changing charms, leaving golden phoenixes scorching their way through crimson upholstery where Grindelwald's symbol had been before. McGonagall, Lupin and Tonks all worked together to clear out the storage rooms, sorting them into useful, harmless, broken and dark artefacts. This class quickly became the second favourite, daily practical encounters with boggarts, dark artefacts and fascinating historical relics making it difficult for those with even the shortest attention span to get bored.
Potions class took up in the massive laboratories, restocking Madam Pomfrey's supply of healing potions and replenishing the list of offensive potions that would be needed to defend the castle if they came under attack. Grindelwald had listened when Flitwick suggested that some students may wish to continue divination, then gathered every student in Hogwarts together in the auditorium and given them possibly the only fascinating divination lecture they'd ever heard. After which he had declared that if any of them believed they might have the sight, to come directly to him, for everyone else, their divination career was over.
Harry reconvened Dumbledore's Army, this time open to every student and with the full backing of every adult in the organisation. Ron was well on his way to recovery and had rejoined his family in their living area. He was a frequent addition to Dumbledore's army, using a borrowed wand and relearning magic with his left hand.
They'd continued Hermione's private duelling lessons, frequently inviting Harry along as a duelling partner and to prepare him for his eventual showdown against Voldemort. These duelling sessions were far more gruelling than any test, Grindelwald pushing them to exhaustion as he battered their shields. Hermione felt like she was going nowhere until she took on Ginny in a DA meeting, she had the witch disarmed and disabled in seconds, then spent the rest of the assigned fifteen minutes stroking her bruised ego.
Every spare minute between organising the school/resistance movement was spent working on the horcrux. They finally thought they had a solution, but the ritual was far more complex than just some runes on the floor. Gellert was little better than average with potions but could at least supply a well stocked store cupboard and a brewing stand far better than a bathroom. Several order members had been sent to find obscure ingredients that had expired – Devil's Snare, Erumpent Tails, Fresh Leeches and Pomegranate Juice. Hermione had brewed the potion with little difficulty whilst Grindelwald had etched the ritual into the floor of one of his "experiment rooms".
Harry had found a plastic lion figurine whilst trying to buy the pomegranate juice and had bought it, triumphantly declaring that it would be the perfect host to receive the part of Voldemort's soul. It had been the subject of a good laugh over the dinner table, and neither of them could see a reason why it wouldn't work, so they agreed.
Gellert hadn't let either of them be present for the ritual, telling them that he didn't need the distraction of them getting sick. They'd both complained lightly but had understood, instead casting the patronus ward around the room he was working in and focusing on maintaining the ignorance of the other residents of the household.
The transfer worked perfectly and Grindelwald emerged after an hour with a very confused snake (or Maledictus as he claimed it was) and a nastily enchanted lion. He'd then proceeded to keep his distance as Harry and Hermione argued over whether they should destroy the horcrux now or later.
Harry had wanted to keep the horcrux for a while to gloat about how they'd forced Voldemort into lion form but Hermione had insisted they let Grindelwald use his well known feindfyre to destroy it straight away. She didn't know whether the cursed object would have the same effect on a wizard already as dark as Grindelwald as it did on them and she certainly didn't want to find out.
They were still arguing when Nagini bit the figurine in half, the screaming black snake that tried to attack her in retaliation proving that Maledictus venom was indeed one of the few substances able to kill a horcrux. Grindelwald had flicked his wand and blasted the wraith with fiendfyre before it could manage any lasting damage and the second last horcrux had been dealt with.
Harry thanked the snake in parseltongue, then translated several seconds of hissing and spitting into a threat on Grindelwald's life for killing her boyfriend. Geller t seemed to know exactly what she was talking about, despite the younger wizard's confusion.
'Credence made his own choice.' He answered, which preceded another couple of seconds of what Hermione could only describe as outraged hissing. 'I influenced him, that is true. I did try to keep him alive though. He said, seeming do draw the same conclusion as Hermione.
Harry translated as the snake informed Grindelwald that the only reason she hadn't already strangled him was because he'd just saved her from... Harry explained that he'd edited that part but she'd essentially described Voldemort in unsavoury terms.
The snake then attached herself to Harry for the remainder of the evening and they disappeared off into his room to hiss at each other. They were still hissing together come dinner time and the elves seemed to be slightly confused as to whether a Maledictus qualified as human or animal because they'd laid her a place at the table.