Chapter Seventeen: The Dramatic Truth About Aristor Grindelwald is Unveiled…. Sort Of

In the common that night, all anyone was concerned with were the stones. The older kids couldn't mask the envy in their voices. "How come only first and second years get to learn Auctorology?" Ronda Moon, a sixth year, whined. "It's not fair!"

On one of the tables, Nick and Albus were making their stones race. A group of second year girls, who had not yet had the Auctorology lesson, were crowded around them squealing as the boys prodded their stones with their wands. Albus' was considerably faster.

"Six knuts that Grindelwald's beats Albus'," James said, counting out several small, bronze coins. Jace Moon shook his head. "You're crazy," he said. "Two sickles, then," James said with a grin. McLaggen laughed. "Alright then, I'll match that." He turned back to the race. "Come on, Potter. I've got faith in you."

But it seemed as though Albus' stone was tiring out, while Nick's was gaining speed. The smile vanished from McLaggen's face. "No way," he muttered. Erin watched as Nick's stone carefully climbed over Albus', amidst the laughing of the crowd, and proceeded to the finish line.

"I believe that's three sickles," James said, turning to McLaggen with a smile. McLaggen shoved the money into James' hand. "It was two sickles. And you definitely rigged it."

Erin, holding her own wriggling stone in her hand, found a seat beside Nick, who was holding his stone in his outstretched arms and bowing to the crowds.

"It was a good try, Xavier," Albus said sadly, patting his rock.

"Who?"

"Xavier," said Albus, motioning to his rock. "He looked like a Xavier to me."

Erin looked at the emerald green rock and couldn't imagine anything that looked less like a Xavier.

"You named it, Albus?" Nick said scathingly as he sat down again. He looked at Erin with a grin. "What, did you name yours too? Fairy Princess? Mrs. Tibbles?"

"No, I didn't," Erin said hotly.

"That's because it's too boring to name," Nick said. "What are you going to call it? Professor Binns? Here Binns, come here boy!"

And miraculously, the little rock in Erin's hands started crawling its way toward Nick. His grin broadened.

"Not a chance," Erin said stoutly.

But Nick laughed. "I think it likes it! Albus, you try."

"Here, Binns!"

The rock changed course and started Albus. The boys roared with laughter. No matter how many different names Erin called the rock, the name stuck; it wouldn't respond to anything but Binns.

"Thanks Nick, thanks so much," Erin growled. "I guess I'll have to call yours McGonagall or something like that."

But Nick's rock didn't seem to hear her. It had curled up in what appeared to be a deep slumber.

On Erin's side, Albus seemed bursting to say something. His eyes were fixed unwavering on Nick. Nick sighed reluctantly. "Alright, just come out with it."

"Aristor-Grindelwald-is-your-father?" Albus said in one breath. He looked relieved, as though he had been dying to ask all day. Erin, too, had to admit she was curious.

Nick frowned but didn't push off the question. "Yes, he is," he said heavily. "Or was. He wasn't exactly the most fatherly person. Left us when I was eight.

"But if I could, I'd find him and throw him into Azkaban myself. They weren't lying, in the Daily Prophet, when they said he'd done all sorts of illegal experimentations. That's part of the reason why he left us," he said scowling. Erin noticed his fists were balled up. "He left too much damage."

"Is that why your mum moved to England?" Erin asked.

Nick nodded. "Yeah, part of the reason. There was just too much of him in Bulgaria."

"And what's Azkaban?"

"It's the wizard prison," Albus answered at once, "but it's awful, really, worse than you could ever imagine. Dad told me once, but he made me swear not to tell Mum he told me…. He says its guarded by dementors, who suck the happiness out of you and leave you feeling miserable and desolate." He paused, letting his words sink in.

At the other side of the common room, James, Jace, and McLaggen had captured everyone's attention with a small box. "Stand back!" James warned. "We've seen it spit out fire nearly five feet." The girls all shrieked and cowered behind some of the larger fifth years.

"But there are some people," Erin began slowly, "that don't even deserve to stay alive in prison."

"Who do you have in mind?" Albus wondered as the common room erupted into screams and laughter. James seemed to have dropped whatever it was that was in the box and it was now running around the common room floor.

Erin shook her head hurriedly. "No one, just… what happens to those people? Do they die?"

"It's worse than death," Albus said.

"What can be worse than death?"

Albus grimaced. "The dementors suck out their souls. It's the worst thing that could happen to someone… nearly happened to my dad."

"Got it!" James yelled, scooping down and picking up what appeared to be a chipmunk, only it was coughing smoke. The Gryffindors whooped, and Eric the prefect stuck his head out from one of the dorm doors. "Quiet!" he shouted, slamming the door, but James paid him no heed.

"My dad deserves it," Nick said shortly, folding his arms, "and don't you tell me that I should take that back!" he shot at Erin.

"I wasn't going to," she said quietly.

"Because I'm not going to," he went on. "That dirty, disgusting, lying, evil, horrible excuse for a-"

"Holy cow!" shouted James as the chipmunk belched a foot long flame. Jace shouted, "Poke it again in the stomach, it shot out three feet when you did that…."

"I said quiet!" Eric yelled, shouting over the din. He stormed through the common room. "It's time to go to bed, everybody!" When it was clear nobody was going to listen, he exited through the portrait hole.

"So do you think," Albus asked, "that your dad had something to do with that Auror's disappearance?"

You couldn't have asked a more tactless question, Erin thought to herself. But Nick frowned, pondering it. "Could be…" he murmured thoughtfully, "I mean, it wouldn't be the first time he destroyed somebody's life."

"How dare you!" came a shrill yell. The common room immediately fell silent as Professor McGonagall strode in through the portrait hole, wearing a very pink and frilly nightcap, followed by a grim looking Eric. "Do you realize what time it is? All of you, to bed!"

There was a scraping of chairs and a hurry to get back to the dormitories; Erin grabbed Binns and bade Albus and Nick goodnight before McGonagall could lay her fiery eyes on her.

At night, Erin lay awake wondering if Nick's hatred for his father was as strong as Erin's for her brother.