I originally intended this to be a mere interlude, to show the results of Grindelwald and Harry+Sebs reactions. Then it kind of evolved from there, as inspiration struck. I did not put Harry and Seb in the middle of it, as I felt they had meddled enough. I think the news reports were a good call.

Next chapter I plan on going through Tom's(Voldemort's) childhood, then Harry's, until it will end around when Harry disappears. The chapter after that will be what we all (including me) have been eagerly awaiting. Beyond that it is a mystery.

For some reason this entire chapter I had "I Don't Love You" by My Chemical Romance stuck in my head. I don't know, maybe it fits somehow? It is kind of the inspiration for this chapter (in some parts). Its a beautiful song, I would recommend going to see it on YouTube.

There is also an easter egg of a real name of a person from real history stuck somewhere in here. If you can find the name, and tell me in a review/PM who it is and what they did, I will write a tiny little interlude for you with you (It is not Adolf Hitler). choosing the scenario and who is in it (must be this story related). I will even do a sex scene, as bad as it might be if you want me to...

April 20th, 1942

DARK LORD RISES: ASSAULT ON GERMAN MINISTRY

In a shocking turn of events no one saw coming, a new Dark Lord has risen to overtake Europe. The Dark Lord, who goes by the name of Gellert Grindelwald, assaulted the German ministry just yesterday.

Ministry officials were going about day-to-day business, when, much to the shock of many, a wizard clad in black battle robes followed by a group comprised of both wizards and witches entered straight through the front door.

The man clad in black, who has been identified as Grindelwald, spoke in front of the frozen lobby of officials:

"The time has come for you all to bow to your rightful Lord. I am Lord Grindelwald, and you will join me now or face death! The choice is simple, live or die?"

When no one stepped forward, he began his assault, and grueling duels began between the officials and the followers of Grindelwald.

"The man was amazing!" One survivor, Wilhelm Wundt of the Department of Magical Artefacts, says in an awestruck voice. "No matter how many curses were flying at him, he always dodged them or just flicked them away with his wand. No one could touch him."

Another witness, a rage filled woman of the Department of Registrations, Ada Hirsch, snarls "That…that man killed my best friend. He was powerful, yes, but that's no excuse. We should have been able to do more than just escape. It was all of us against such a small group of witches and wizards." At this, she grows silent, a pensive expression on her face. "When I finally gave up and ran out of there, I felt like a mouse getting away from a cat using a mouse hole. It was the worst feeling I've ever felt in my life."

After a drawn out battle between the officials and the 'Black Guard' as the body of witches and wizards fighting with Grindelwald have been dubbed, Grindelwald won with the retreat of the remaining officials. Grindelwald now has complete control of Germany.

There have been questions regarding his relationship between Muggle Germany. Due to the recent start of a rather large war in Muggle Europe caused directly by Muggle Germany, it seems likely.

Is he working with the leader of Muggle Germany, Adolf Hitler? There has been no direct evidence to support this, but there has been no evidence to disprove this either.

The British Ministry released a statement not long after the attack. The speaker, the current British Minister for Magic Maxwell Gaul, stated "While this is certainly a shock, do not let it dishearten you. This issue will be dealt with shortly. Rest assured, you are protected."

Are we? The British seem to be declining all requests for help from German refugees, and so far there have been no overt actions by any Ministry to seek out defeat Grindelwald. Tell me, reader, do you feel safe?

By Chrysanthe Melis

See more on the German takeover on pg. 9

See more on Grindelwald on pg. 15

Harry set down the paper, an amused look on his face. Grindelwald had finally made his move. With the beginning of World War II led by Hitler had started a few years ago, he had expected the news any day since. He was surprised the man had waited so long, but then, he would want to prepare properly for an undertaking such as this.

He had no intention of interfering now. He would let history play out, in its amusing fashion. He had specifically trained Grindelwald for his future entertainment.

It would be a while, now, before Dumbledore actually confronted Grindelwald. Why the man waited so long, he didn't know. All he was doing was letting more innocents die every day. He didn't know if it was because the man had no balls, or if he was simply a pacifist.

He shrugged mentally and stood, walking to wear Sebastian was relaxing next to the pool Harry insisted they get. If he was staying in Greece for so many years, they were getting a damn pool had been his argument.

He held out the newspaper, a rather reliable one compared to the Daily Prophet called the Greek Gauge. Sebastian took it and read over it swiftly before a smile spread across his face. "He finally did it, hmm? I suppose this means you'll want to leave Greece now?"

"Not really, no." Smiling at the slightly perplexed look Sebastian gave him, he explained "I have no intention of meddling anymore. I know for a fact that Greek is so far off of Grindelwald's 'takeover' map right now as to be laughable. Besides, I like it here. No, we're staying here. I lit the fuse and now I'm watching the fireworks go off."

Sebastian seemed slightly put out by this, but reluctantly agreed. A wicked look entered his eyes as he looked sidelong at Harry. "Whatever shall we do to pass the time?"

Harry smirked. "You read my mind."

*pagebreak

July 14th, 1942

THE HORROR CONTINUES: GRINDELWALD TAKES OVER BELGIUM AND NETHERLANDS

In a now not-so-surprising turn of events, Grindelwald proceeded yesterday to assault both the Belgian and Dutch Ministries. Both succumbed much more quickly than Germany, and few survived the assault.

At the busiest hour for both Ministries, noon, Grindelwald swept into the lobby of the Belgian Ministry while the Black Guard was split between both ministries. A larger hit squad was found at the Dutch ministry.

With no speech this time, he then set to killing every person in sight along with his followers.

In a rather hysterical interview with the British Aurors, Ingrid Michel, a Dutch Ministry member, sobbed out "We…we had no idea what was happening at first. One second it was business as usual, and then he just strode in. At first no one recognized him. It was…denial. We didn't want him there, so we saw what we wanted. We all died anyway." Here, she broke down and was indisposed for several hours.

Reader, barely fifteen people altogether made it out of both ministries. Fifteen. And still no ministry is directly challenging this madman?

From these ministries Grindelwald has a direct line to both France and Great Britain unchallenged. Who could challenge him?

Our own governments are who are supposed to protect us. It has been confirmed, now, that along the way from Germany to Belgium and the Netherlands Grindelwald pillaged every Wizarding city. Innocent men and women, killed for senseless violence from a takeover no one will challenge.

Maxwell Gaul, the British Minister for Magic, released yet another public statement following the attack: "We find ourselves in dark times. We must band together and face adversity, for who will face it for us?"

After this shocking statement, which basically tells everyone its every man for himself, only hours later Grindelwald proceeded to also take France. While details are not available of this attack yet, in the next edition I will be sure to include the details of the attack.

By Chrysanthe Melis

See more on the Dutch takeover on pg. 9

See more on the Belgian takeover on pg. 10

August 30th, 1945

DUMBLEDORE AND GRINDELWALD DUEL: DUMBLEDORE WINS

In another shocking turn of events, Albus Dumbledore and Grindelwald proceeded to battle just yesterday. Dumbledore, after great difficult in a rather lengthy duel, successfully defeated Grindelwald.

After the fight, Dumbledore refused interviews, instead withdrawing alone to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

While Dumbledore is being praised for his heroics in saving the Wizarding world, this reporter has several questions. Why did the man wait so long to confront Grindelwald, when lives were being lost every day? How did this duel happen with no viewers of such a momentous event? Grindelwald is said to have members of his Black Guard with him all day, for the purposes of guarding him. It is doubtful Dumbledore killed them, as he didn't even kill the national terrorist. In an effort to answer these questions and assuage my doubts, I plan to travel to Britain. I already have several promising contacts within the country.

By Chrysanthe Melis

See more on the battle on pg. 10

See more on Grindelwald on pg. 13

See more on Dumbledore on pg. 15

Harry put down the paper, a thoughtful look on his face. While he knew Chrysanthe wouldn't be successful in her efforts to find the skeletons in Dumbledore's closet, she raised some excellent questions. It would be prudent to go investigate himself. After all, blackmail on the old coot would be just what he would need to get his point across later on.

It would be best to talk to Sebastian about it, though. The man could find information like a niffler could find gold.

He walked into their living room, where Sebastian was reading a book. He handed him the paper, and he read through it. Once he was done he looked up. "I presume you want to go investigate in Britain, now?" Harry nodded.

Sebastian put the book on the table and stood. "A portkey again, or would you like to travel by foot?"

Harry didn't bother to ask why they were going right now. Really, they had been lazing around for years now. It was simple to just leave with the trunk they had never unpacked.

"I would rather go by foot. I don't mind walking this time. Before it was just too cold." Sebastian smirked. "You realize it will be rather cold again by the time we get to Britain?"

At this, Harry sighed. "I had tried not to think about it, but thank you for the reminder."

"I do try."

"Yes, I know you do."

Harry look around, and, not seeing any junk that he wouldn't mind being rid of, said "Accio rock." A rock zoomed into his hand after a moment. He took out his wand and tapped it to the stone, setting the coordinates to the middle of the London countryside.

That finished, he held out the rock to Sebastian, who place his hand over it. "Go." And with that, they were sucked into a vortex.

It felt as if a black hole centered on their stomachs had sucked them in, spinning and spinning. Random noises could be heard throughout the journey, and without warning they were dumped out onto grass. Both landed rather gracefully on their feet, despite the unceremonious landing.

Harry stood, finding himself in exactly the place he had focused on. He'd had no real idea where to land them without getting them phased into a building or tree, and so had focused on the Phantomhive estate, which looked uninhabited, judging by the state of disrepair.

He glanced sideways at Sebastian, who was looking at the house with an unreadable expression. "I always wondered" Harry said "How you viewed your time with him." He was met with silence, and the silence stretched on for so long that he thought Sebastian wasn't going to answer.

"I grew…strangely fond of Ciel." He said this slowly, as if puzzling it out within his own mind. "I did not hesitate to take his soul, in fact I was eager, and rightly so. That does not mean that I did not at least somewhat enjoy my time with him. It was interesting, at least."

With that, he turns away, and said "Shall we?"

Harry nodded, and they were off.

Once they reached London, Harry instantly sought out the broken threads of his old information web. While it had been much too long for anyone who had known them then to still be alive, save Undertaker, wherever the hell that guy was, that did not mean their successors were not in the same place, selling the same type of information.

With this he traveled all of London, subtly enquiring about Dumbledore's past. His search yielded few results, until one of the contacts mentioned Bathilda Bagshot. She was a woman who had apparently known Dumbledore in his childhood, and had lived across the street. He only got a name, but threw away his search for Dumbledore's past and instead searched for wherever Jorkins lived.

Eventually he got the information, and without further wait he and Sebastian traveled to her house.

They walked up to the front door and knocked.

A woman answered, with permed brown hair, a square shaped face, and hazel eyes. "Yes?" her voice seemed slightly croaky, as if it were just beginning to age.

"Are you Bathilda Bagshot?" The woman, who looked surprised, nodded. "Would you mind letting us in? We have a few questions for you."

"I-yes. I suppose so." She stepped back and opened the door wide. As they stepped in, her dull brown eyes sharpened slightly and flicked back and forth between them. "Who are you?"

Sebastian bowed slightly at the waist. "Sebastian Michaelis." Harry followed suit. "Pravus Michaelis." They had agreed a while ago that Harry adopting Sebastian's last name was the simplest thing to do.

"Oh. You two are brothers, then?" Harry supposed some might mistake them for brothers, due to their similar skin tone, feathery black hair, and unnatural beauty, but they really weren't. The question was whether or not to let them believe that, at least for now. It would help them blend in now, although he would definitely rub it into Dumbledore's face later on. The Wizards were as prejudiced against homosexuality as the Muggles, especially the purebloods.

So decided, Harry simply nodded. The unsure light in her eyes died. "Come, come." She led them to a comfortable looking living room, and sat down on the chair across from the couch. They both took the couch.

"Would you like some tea?" They both politely declined, and so she asked "What are your questions, then, if I may ask?"

"You are familiar with Albus Dumbledore's childhood, yes?" Sebastian asked.

With that question, there was a return of the unsettled look in her eye. "I was a neighbor then, yes. Why?" Her eyes were sharp again.

This woman was sharper than Harry had thought she would be when he had seen her. Her looks gave the impression that she would be of average or below average intelligence, but if anything, she was of greater than average intelligence.

"In a word, Madame, curiosity" Sebastian said. "The childhood of such a great wizard must have been spectacular."

The over aware look in her eyes didn't fade. "I can assure you, his childhood was not what many would think." She stared at her hands. "If you can tell me you have intention of telling anyone, much less the press, this, I will tell you of his childhood."

Sebastian solemnly said "I swear on my magic we will not tell a soul." Inwardly Harry smirked. While the agreement would seem airtight to her, Sebastian had no magic to lose. Beyond that, using 'soul' meant they could tell anything without a soul, including a painting, and it would then be able to tell anyone. Of course, they could tell other demons also, but he saw no point in that.

She nodded, appearing relieved at this. And so she told her story. Harry listened in rapt attention, his face carefully blank but inwardly he was gleeful. This was gold. He would lord this over Dumbledore for all it was worth.

Once she told her story, she directed them to Elphias Doge for the beginning. They left and seeked out the man, who after some convincing much like Bathilda, told them what he knew of the story.

The results were staggering. Albus Dumbledore's childhood was nothing short of blasphemous, considering what he was known as now. The man who was known as the second coming of Merlin himself, a Muggle hater? Someone who had conspired with the Dark Lord Grindelwald? It was pure beauty.

After some piecing and conjecture, this is how the story went:

Albus's childhood started out well enough. His mother, Kendra, and father, Percival, were good people.

Albus had a brother and a sister, too. His younger brother was named Aberforth, while the youngest was Ariana, his sister.

She was a bright girl. Her smile would light up the room like nothing else, and she was kind and sweet. Once she was over visiting me, and there was a caterpillar making its way across the floor. Well, I was going to crush it, but no, she picked it up, as gently as could be, and set it outside. All things, she said, deserved to live.

Then, she had a bout of accidental magic in the backyard once. Some muggle boys saw it. I don't know if they were terrified. I don't know if they were irrationally angry or jealous. They went and attacked her one day. No one really knows what happened. It doesn't really matter. All that came out of it was a girl who wouldn't talk and was so afraid of her magic that she would scream silently when she saw it.

Their father, Percival, went into a rage. He went after those boys, and they all ended up dead. Percival was tried and found guilty by the Wizengamot for use of the Cruciatus and the Killing Curse, and sent to Azkaban on a life sentence.

Around this time Albus went to Hogwarts. He was sorted into Gryffindor, and was known as a Transfiguration prodigy and one of the brightest students in a long time. He was also known for his hatred of muggles.

He graduated, and planned to explore the world. These hopes were dashed with the death of Kendra Dumbledore by accidental magic on Ariana's part. It became apparent that Dumbledore would have to take care of her, as Aberforth was going to Hogwarts.

It was when he was taking care of Ariana that he met Grindelwald. They plotted together, planning how to take over magical Britain and Europe. They both shared similar views, and grew so close that it was obvious they had been lovers. Through this, he had been steadily neglecting Ariana.

Aberforth, having had enough, confronted Dumbledore about this. Grindelwald used the cruciatus curse on Aberforth, and Dumbledore intervened. A duel started, with helpless Ariana sitting in the middle.

Eventually, the duel ended, and in the aftermath they found that Ariana was dead. Grindelwald fled, and Aberforth blamed Albus.

After this, the story got boring, with Dumbledore simply becoming the Hogwarts Transfiguration professor. The rest was common knowledge to most witches and wizards.

Harry smiled wickedly. Oh yes, this was perfect. When he had told Sebastian the story in its entirety, he had been entirely amused. It was hard not to be. The guilt Dumbledore must feel…to think he might have killed his own sister. It was too rich.

Having satisfied their curiosity, they were faced with a decision. To stay or leave? They both decided to stay. It would only be about thirty five years until he was born. It would be best to observe and make connections. Their time was coming, though. Harry could hardly wait.

I put Dumbledore's story in there, as it always kind of struck a chord as being a "Damn thats sad" kind of story. It also makes me want to strangle the man. He knows how bad muggles can be to wizards, but never checks up on Harry, even after McGonagall being like "They are the worst sort of muggles...dont do this, Albus." Even once the kid shows up to school tiny and malnourished looking with such a thirst for acceptance that he goes for the first friend he can find. It always made me sad how he was rather like a dog with a bone with Ron.

The story also serves a purpose in the plot later on.