Chapter Thirty-three: Gellert's Army

"All right, the two of you, I expect you to listen to every word I say, and do not hesitate to act," Fabian told Tom and Hermione as the three of them stood behind a large sign overlooking a wide road. Cars periodically drove past as they waited there.

"What exactly are we looking for, sir?" Hermione wanted to know. "We've been here for hours watching this silly road, and nothing of interest has happened so far."

"Believe me, Miss Granger, when it happens, you will know."

Hermione sighed in frustration. She was not well pleased with the cryptic nature of the Frenchman's answer. Tom grasped her shoulder and gave it a little squeeze.

"Don't worry, Hermione," he said. "Everything will be all right."

"That's easy for you to say," she grumbled. "You already know you're not going to die. I have no idea what's going to happen to me."

"You'll be right by my side, of course," Tom insisted. "You're changing the timeline by being here already, remember? We don't know for sure how any of this will play out. Now let's just go with it and see what happens."

Hermione sighed. "I suppose you are right, but I still don't like where this is going."

"Hush, I think they are coming," said Fabian. The pair of them stopped talking and turned to look at the road again. Several cars went by as if in a funeral procession except that witches and wizards flew all around each car on their brooms.

"They?" Hermione growled hotly. "Who are they?"

"They call themselves the Harbingers of Death," he explained. "They are mostly a harmless little group bent on stealing motorcycles and cars. We used to think this was their warehouse at one time, the place where they stored their ill-gotten goods and such. But I fear it is far worse. These are members of Gellert Grindelwald's army, and that warehouse has an expansion spell on it the likes of which the world has never seen. No one knows for sure just how big the place really is, but at last guess it's housing at least ten thousand people. Women and children as well as warriors."

"Do you think it's his main stronghold?" asked Tom, his excitement written all over his face.

"It is difficult to say," Fabian told him glumly. "There could be several of these throughout France and Germany, but with the Muggle war going on, there would be no way to get to most of those. This one, though, I believe if we could shut it down it would make a dent."

"You want to shut it down?" Hermione gasped. "Here, now? But where is our army?"

"I wish I'd known about this sooner, I'd have brought my knights along," Tom said. "They'd love the chance to get in on a real live battle."

"Fear not, my friends," said Fabian. "This is just a reconnaissance mission. But if your friends are agreeable, once we know what we're up against we might bring them in to eat a little death."

Hermione's throat constricted as bile rose up into it. The words Fabian had just used were too close to Death Eater for her tastes. She watched Tom to see his reaction, but he did not seem to have registered the words. She felt a little relieved, at least for the moment.

"Remember, if we are seen trying to get inside, if we are seen at all, it will be the three of us who are dead. We must be swift, quiet, and stealthy."

"And will we do it now, during the mayhem of this groups arrival?" asked Tom.

"Precisely," Fabian answered. "Try to remember as much of the place as you can. When we are done, we'll give the memories to Albus to view."

"Very well," Hermione agreed in a long-suffering tone.

Tom grasped her hand as the three ran across the road, all in agreement that the sound of an Apparation might alert someone to their presence. They managed to enter through a side door while all the noise of witches and wizards entering through the main doors distracted everyone who was inside.

They took in the enormity of the place. It looked more like a small city than a small warehouse. There were even other buildings within it, like a grocery and storage facilities, and a place where people could obtain potions. It even seemed these places were actual shops, since they were close enough to the potions shop to see money given in exchange for goods.

Fabian motioned for them to follow him back outside, and the two quickly turned and went with him. They ran as fast as they could back across the street, and then Fabian grabbed one hand each and Apparated them all away.

Hermione's heart was still pounding with excitement and fear, and she could tell Tom's was also. Fabian looked calm and composed in comparison. "That was a very good first mission for the two of you," he announced. "You did just as I would wish. Thank you."

"You were testing us?" Hermione asked with surprise.

"Yes, of course," he said. "I always like to know how much I can trust in my soldiers. There will come a time when you'll have to fight. But you must know what battles to pick, and what battles to avoid. Had you done anything to get yourselves noticed in there, I would have simply left you to your fate."

"How brutal," Tom gasped, shocked.

"If you are too stupid to follow orders, you are of no use to me," Fabian pointed out. "Now come, we will meet with Dumbledore, and give him the memories as we discussed."

"Yes, sir," both soldiers chimed in unison. Fabian smirked as he Apparated the two of them away again.