Hello everybody. I wish you a great time and hope you enjoy the Story!
xoxo Leviosa
Chapter 24
You know, there is a way. Queenie did not want to listen anymore, she tried to hide herself under her bed, tried to put her hands on her ears to shut him out, but Grindelwald wasn't to be shut out easily. "I don't need your ways!", she said loudly. Oh, you need me more than anyone. More than Credence, more than your sister or Newt. Even more Leta Lestrange, and trust me that girl has a tragic history, but you should know that. "What do you want from me?", she tried to say with confidence. What came out of her mouth was just a sad whisper, a shadow of her voice. I want to help you. All muggles are ignorant, but your... lover... has a special talent of seeing things he shouldn't see. You know what I think of the non magic folk, Queenie. But there is a way that he can survive. Queenie no longer tried to close her eyes. Everything she had ever tried to block her own mind from others, did not work now. She could not stop Grindelwald from coming into her head, so maybe she should try it the other way around. She tried to read his mind, but it was as if she was running against a wall. Something like this shouldn't happen to her. She was a legilimens, no one and nothing should be able to stop her. But Grindelwald did. Not just with his barriers in his mind, but with his words too. You can't stop me. You're just a little girl against an army of millions. Either you take my offer or you'll go down with the rest of your crew. And you will only go down, but Jacob will definitely be dead. I mean, now that I know that he is the only person you love more than you love your sister, he's not as safe as he used to be. He won't be your hero anymore, just one of thousand sacrifices for the greater good. Trust me, there are hundreds of wizards that could replace him. But it's your decision, not mine. Grindelwalds voice almost screamed into her brain. And then, suddenly, he was gone. Gone and nothing had changed, she was sleeping in a tent in Newts suit case, with a camping bed in the middle, and there was no one that wanted to threaten her. It still had been real, and she realized that she would soon have to make a decision.
"You want me to do what? Why do you think I could — as if I could be able to do what a team of trained aurors can't do? Theseus, I don't think... You want me to help you hunt him down? I am not a hero, I am not good in magic, I have my creatures and that is all I can do", Newt tried to explain to his brother. Theseus rolled his eyes, the same eyes as Newts, like he always did. The same face, as if not everything had changed around them. As if a lot of things had not happened, as if it could ever be like it had been before he proposed to Leta. The bitterness of then came back into Newts mind, but he reminded himself that anger did not solve any problems. Theseus was his brother and a brother was someone he needed more than anyone else in these times. He had missed Theseus for too long, and he should be happy that he finally was there. But he couldn't. Newt couldn't accept that his brother only came when he needed him, as if he did not feel the same strange mix out of sadness, anger and desperateness. As if Newt did not matter to him. Theseus had always kept his feeling to himself, or maybe he just had not wanted to share them with Newt. Leta had told Newt, that she had changed him a little. That he would now be a little warmer. But not to his brother. Theseus would do anything in the world to save his career as an auror. It was everything he had ever worked for, it was his life, and he would not give it up just because of a little Grindelwald attack. And Newt was sure that he wasn't here because of him but because of the wizarding world. "Newt don't lie to me. You know that you have to help me. If you don't want to do it because of me, do it for Leta, do it for your creatures, for the other wizards, anything that means something to you. When Grindelwald begins a war, we will all have to fight again. No one wants another war, just so you know. Nobody has the wish to fight again, to kill again. And the only thing to get what we want is you and I together. You may not like the idea to fight together with me, but still we have to. Do it for Leta", he whispered. Newt rolled his eyes again, just like his brother had done it. What Theseus could, he could do as well. "So you say that I don't want to do this? I don't have a problem with you Theseus, but you seem to avoid me whenever you can. Is it because you think you could hurt my feelings? Trust me, there is nothing left to hurt, if you talk about Leta. I have forgotten and forgiven everything, but you still don't seem to be over the old times. And that I defeated Grindelwald why you had nothing else to do but fall in love with my former best friend", all stutter had disappeared from Newts voice, but for once he wasn't happy about it. Newt had to think about it again and again. Was he really able to go this far? No, he wasn't. But as he was able to speak again, he tried to speak in a more forgivable tone, because he really had forgiven his brother, even though he did not seem to have not forgiven him. "I'm sorry, Theseus. I apologize for everything I just said, it isn't as if I did not ant to work with you. I missed you, I missed you a lot. I thought you would never show up again and I didn't... Let's say I didn't imagine our reunion like this. I know how much the world and your job as an auror means to you and I didn't mean to hurt you... You know that stuff. I'd love to fight next to you, Theseus, if you don't mind", he said, almost whispering. He shouldn't have said the words inside his head before, but at least Theseus now understood him better. "Newt, you are a great human. And I missed you too and I didn't want to leave you alone, you're still my brother So it's good to be back again, it's good that you're here and that we can do this together", Theseus decided, after looking at Newt for a fiew seconds, as if his brother did not just talk all the anger out of himself and then apologized for about a hundred times. Theseus pointed at the two drinking glasses on the table in front of them. He lifted his one, and Newt did the same, and they both said, as if they were celebrating: "For the old times"
Tina. I've missed you. Tina never wanted to hear Grindelwalds voice again, but there he was, in her dreams, talking to her. "Don't say my name like that", she tried to say, while searching this weird grey room after something that could tell her where Grindelwald was. Like what. Like I mean it. You know best that I mean what I say. From everyone out of your group, I would least like to see your death. I'll admit, you've grown on me. "Go away!" You can't shush me away, as if I was a street dog. From all of you, I would have expected you to give up first, just because you don't want to. "How would you know about it?" I know almost everything, my dear. Tina had learnt a lot about Grindelwalds methods, and she thought that she might have found out his weakness. "Why only almost?" Nobody knows everything and it would be foolish to think that I could. But there are some things that I know. For example your theory about you and this Scamander boy being soulmates... You don't know anything about soulmates, do you? And nothing about the origins of your patronus, no you don't even know what the form of your patronus means. I could help you, in so many ways, Tina. You could know more than your little brain could dream of. But I know you aren't interested in wisdom, Porpentina. You want more than just that. All your dreams... They could become true. I know you are great. You have everything it needs to become minister for magic, but still you stand in the shadows of Miss Picquery, who doesn't see your willingness to do so much for your job. And you and Newt... You two like each other. But still, nothing happens. You need too many opportunities in your life, Tina. You have got the ability, you've got the brain to do greatness in this world, but rules stand in your way. You know, you and I are a lot a like. This is why I've always liked you. All you need is a chance to prove yourself. And this is what I offer you, Tina Goldstein. Just an opportunity to show what you truly can be. Tina tried to build a wall around herself, around her soul. She shouldn't listen to him, she shouldn't want all these things. But she couldn't change herself. That was what Grindelwald was doing with all of them: He was using their weaknesses to his advantage. Everyone had secrets, everyone wanted something. Grindelwald was right, she needed an opportunity, more than anything else. And suddenly, in this grey room, where ever it was, stood Gellert Grindelwald. He offered her his hand, to make a trade. And Tina, Tina knew that this was all she ever wanted. Even though it was the wrong way, even though she shouldn't want this after all what Grindelwald had done.
"Tina!", a familiar voice shouted into her ear. As she opened her eyes, the grey room faded and in front of her stood Newt, visibly worried. "Tina... You almost disapparated. I don't know where and I don't know why you wanted to apparate to, but it didn't seem good. Grindelwald?", he asked. Tina nodded. "Okay, we can discuss that later. The most important thing at the moment is... It's a bit complicated to explain, but I need you. My brother asked me to help him hunt Grindelwald down. You know, he's an auror. As if that hadn't been everything I've tried to accomplish in the last month. And I thought, if anyone can really help me find Grindelwald... If anyone has the ability to do so it would be you. And because I don't think I can do it alone", he murmured. Tina thought through every possibility. How could they get the others out of the suitcase? They would definitely need the creatures, but how should this plan work? "I already told Credence and Mal to search for Dumbledore and Queenie and Jacob are looking for Nicholas Flamel. We have every opportunity we can get, the way is free", Newt said. "Sometimes I believe that not Queenie is the one to read my mind"
"This morning came Bathilda. She wanted to talk to you", Aberforth commented, while he made lunch for Ariana. "Why?", Albus simple anwsered, he was too busy reading to meet anyone. "It had something to do with her nephew. She wanted to introduce you to him", Aberforth said in his typical tone, which meant that he didn't really care about it. "Well, if she comes back, tell her I'm busy. I am still working on my project", he whispered. "Okay, but nothing more. I can't always do your business", Aberforth explained. Albus was not interested in arguing with his brother about this, so he stood up and took his sandwich into his room. In the last weeks they had been fighting too often. Albus did not feel the desire to do so, he loved Aberforth and Ariana. But none of them wanted to understand him, no one knew why he wanted to find out the uses of dragon blood. They didn't understand him, they never did. But Albus had accepted his fate. It did not hurt him to be a lone wolf, he was quite happy with his life. Eventhough so many things went wrong, even though it was quite the chaos. Albus had fallen in love with the chaos in his life. He did not need anyone, he did not need anyone who tried to change him. Most people called him brilliant, talented. Someone like him shouldn't be alone, the papers said. Albus Dumbledore didn't need anymore things in his life, did he? The only thing he wanted was to live his dreams, probably a too huge wish, but he wanted to be recognized, he wanted people to see what he had done, wanted people to smile at him, while he was talking, because of who he was. He wanted to be famous, at least a little part of his heart wanted that. And he would realize two things in the years after this day: that power was best suited to those that never saw it and that the person whose smile he wanted to see, was currently damaging his window.
Albus firstly just noticed a small knock, someone was ringing the door bell, followed by Aberforth screaming that he would not open the door and that it was Albus responsibility to do so. His answer was that his book about defensive spells was more important than anyone who rang his doorbell at Sunday lunchtime. For a few minutes, Albus was focused on nothing but defensive magic and how it can be used in transfigurations. But suddenly, he heard a crash. Albus looked up from his book, realizing that it were the broken pieces of his window that were lying on the carpet. Whoever this was, he or she had to be crazy. Albus went through every offensive spell he knew in his brain, ready to attack, as he looked down, and in front of the door stood a boy with the blonde hair of an angel, and a silver and a brown eye. Every word died on his tongue. The boy lifted an eyebrow, thought for a moment and then asked: "Can I come in?" Albus wasn't able to move, and he had probably nodded as the stranger was speaking, he could just stand there and watch the boy climb through the broken window. And then this magical boy was standing in Albus bedroom and ruined his carpet with his dirty shoes. "I am so so sorry", the stranger whispered. He had the kind of voice you could listen to all day, a voice that attracted attention, even though he was not talking loudly. "For what?", Albus asked, his head completely confused. Something about this person was hypnotizing, not just his smile, but everything about him. Albus wasn't able to say anything really, and he was probably stuttering. "I destroyed your window, remember?", the boy said and smiled for a second, "I sincerely apologize, I had no intention to do so... But... I had to get your attention somehow. You didn't open the door, I knocked and rang the bell. And... I must say that it was probably a bit drastic decision to break your window. But I'll fix it. Reparo", he winked with the wand in his left hand and the broken glass magically put itself together. "Gellert Grindelwald, nice to meet you", the blonde wizard said and reached out his hand, to shake Albus hand. "Umm... Albus. Albus Dumbledore", Albus said, and took his hand. How did handshaking exactly work again? But Gellert did not seem to know either. While Albus was looking at him, he realized that the boy in front of him had dark circles under his eyes. As if he hadn't been able to sleep in the last nights. Gellert opened his mouth a bit, probably a sign of surprise, and this time both of his eyebrows lifted so high that they almost disappeared under his white blond hair. "Oh", he whispered and this time Albus knew that it was recognition in his eyes, which made his smile even brighter. "Then I was right by reading every article from you in the daily prophet, last night? I feel like you are the only one from the writers there that really understand what they're talking about. I mean, everyone else just calls it transfiguration and magic, but you really... What was the word again? You really understand it and you understand others. At least I felt understood and I believe that my opinion is important in this topic and that every other person on this planet should feel the same way. What I mean by that is that I really enjoyed your articles and that you are brilliant and there are so many things I'd like to discuss with you. And I hope you feel the same way", Gellert said. He was the sun, every other person in the universe was just around him. "Yeah — totally. What do you think about defensive spells used as an offensive attack?", He asked, the only topic that was left in his mind, except Gellert. "I don't really have an opinion on them now, I was about to read a book about that topic, but help me out. I'd love to hear your thoughts", Albus said. He did not care anymore, he did not care that he had accepted to be alone all his life. He wanted to make Gellert Grindelwald smile, what could be wrong with that?