Chapter 55

"I'd like to begin today's meeting with a concept," Wolfgang began. They sat in the library of Adler manor. It was the second time the group had met, and the atmosphere in the room was a pleasant enough mix of friendly and focused.

"What if Potter fails," Wolfgang questioned. The room was silent as everyone exchanged glances. "Yes, I believe he likely will not fail in spite of everything I have heard concerning the boy's inadequacies. I believe this because prophecies see what we do not. I have promised to keep us all alive, though. As such I feel that a back up plan is only logical and wise no matter what I believe about prophecies."

"Sounds great," Mag said, giving Wolfgang a ready smile. The more plans in place to keep Severus safe the better as far as she was concerned. Of course she wanted everyone to be safe, but her Severus was the one all too constantly in the line of danger.

Wolfgang smiled back. "I feel my idea is overly obvious. So obvious that I can't believe none of the ministries have put it into action before me."

"Whatever it is, I can totally believe it because every ministry seems to be infected with a virus of stupidity and fear," Kereston grumped. "Leave them to handle it alone and we'll all be dead or serving Voldemort when it's all said and done."

Wolfgang nodded. "So it seems. What I have in mind is an ace in the hole as they say. There is a perfectly brilliant, skilled and perhaps even still able wizard currently rotting away right now in a prison of his own making called Nurmengard."

His words were met by some soft gasps from some and the sounds of chairs creaking as others leaned forward eagerly.

"Gellert Grindelwald," Raislen said. "That's interesting! Mildly concerning, granted, but still interesting considering who we're currently up against."

"Thank you," Wolfgang replied. "Though it has taken a few weeks of planning and research, I have finally managed to arrange a suitable way to carry out his escape that won't draw any unwanted attention. We don't want anyone knowing Grindelwald has escaped, because if Voldemort becomes aware, we will lose our surprise factor. Grindelwald will be an asset, surprise or no, but the surprise certainly won't hurt. What Voldemort doesn't see coming, certainly can hurt him."

"So we're breaking him out to help us," Mag said carefully, and Wolfgang nodded.

"That's the plan. I think he will be quite the addition to our little group."

"Do you know how illegal that is," Severus burst out.

He was risking enough right now without being implicated in something like breaking Grindelwald out of prison. Besides, he didn't know how he felt about Grindelwald. The man could hate Muggles for all Severus knew, and considering the activities that got him put in prison, he probably did. Grindelwald had claimed not to hate Muggles, but Severus thought most people lied including great wizards, when it came to their political views. Severus didn't hate Muggles more than he did anyone else, but that wasn't because they were Muggles. It was because they were stupid, as were most wizards who Severus also hated. His father had been a Muggle and he'd never disrespect that by standing with someone who, like Voldemort, would've killed Tobias Snape for being a Muggle who dared to go into a wizarding potions shop for his wife's supplies.

The point was he knew nothing about Grindelwald.

"Does it matter how illegal it is if it keeps us all alive," Wolfgang asked calmly, tone reasonable. "No one is ever going to find out. We will do it here, and to someone who won't be missed...And most important of all for the greater good." The half giant chuckled in a way that said he was pleased with himself for incorporating Grindelwald's slogan into his argument. "I have found someone who is old enough to take his place in Nurmengard, so no one will even guess that he has escaped when we free him," Wolfgang explained.

Snape almost looked impressed. "Sounds reasonable I suppose," the potions master said carefully. "How did you manage to convince someone to go to prison for life," he asked, arching dark brows at the dignified half giant.

"I know many German families, some richer than others. The poor ones work for the rich ones. I simply chose a very poor one with a loving grandfather who felt spending his final days in Nurmengard for the assured wealth of his family a worthy trade. I made sure the family is wealthy and they believe he passed in his sleep as they never would've agreed to sending dear old Grandpa off to prison. In truth the man is becoming senile so I did a kindness to all if you ask me. His family believe he had a secret stash of gold as I managed to have him leave a will. So they never knew the pay off was from me." Wolfgang came from a very wealthy family himself, and he never seemed to mind putting that wealth to good use in situations like this, which Severus respected. Severus supposed when the old man's mind unraveled enough for him to start screaming madness to any prison guards who happened to be close enough to hear, they'd just assume it was Gellert Grindelwald finally going mad and pay him no mind.

"Good thinking," Sabra Zabini drawled. "When old people go addled, taking care of them is a literal fright! I once had a friend whose mother went all off the rails, and it nearly killed her dealing with it all!" Idly Severus wondered if Sabra Zabini would just poison her relative instead.

"The old man is resting in my guest room, ready to take Grindelwald's place tomorrow. Of course I made sure they look similar enough to pass," Wolfgang said.

"Are you sure he isn't too old to stand against Voldemort if it comes to it," Ali Bulstrode asked.

Wolfgang chuckled. "I hear Voldemort is frightened of Albus Dumbledore, and Dumbledore is two years older than Grindelwald if the records on him are correct. He's old but not on his death bed. He should have several good years left. As it happens, though, you won't have to worry about his age slowing him down. Recently I came across a scroll that holds the dark version of a fountain of youth if one has the stomach for it. I have a feeling Gellert Grindelwald will. Finding this scroll was actually what gave me the idea," he said.

"Where on earth did you find such a scroll," Severus asked.

'I attend magical auctions," Wolfgang said. "They usually sell very illegal items, so it's rather an underground activity. Invites to these auctions are only circulated in certain social circles to keep people from ending up in prison," Wolfgang explained diplomatically. "As I always get invitations through my father's contacts, anyone wishing to come along with me is always welcome."

Everyone looked interested. "Are these auctions held at a specific day and time or does it vary," Raislen asked. "Because I can totally take a sick day from work for something like this."

"It varies, but I get a notice by post a few weeks before each, so there is plenty of notice," Wolfgang said. "I'll let everyone know as soon as I get word of the next one." They all murmured appreciative thank yous as Wolfgang walked across the room to a corner book shelf. He took down a brass box that was practically crawling with preservation wards. "This box holds the dark fountain of youth. The making of it is not for the faint of heart, and I would not use it lightly, but a young, strong, and fully able bodied Grindelwald seems worthy to me," Wolfgang said. Opening the box, he carefully withdrew a very old scroll. Its yellowed edges were a clear indication for all the preservation wards on the box that would keep it from yellowing yet further. "This scroll holds the recipes for several potions I would bet even you, Severus, have never heard of," Adler said, and Severus didn't bother to hide his doubtful expression.

With a smile, Adler handed the scroll over and Severus carefully took it. It was written entirely in Viking runes, but a translation spell had already been worked on it, likely by Wolfgang himself. This caused the words in modern English to appear just above the original writing in bright green. The first potion, if administered, would turn one into a werewolf. They wouldn't be needing that, Severus thought with a curl of his upper lip as he quickly moved on to the second one. As he did, though, he couldn't help but wonder if this was how werewolves had come to be. Perhaps some Viking wizard had intended the transformation to serve as defense in their army, and hopefully hadn't known that it could be transferred with a bite. The next potion listed on the scroll allowed one to remember everything from the instant of conception. Unsettling, but interesting. Not something he would take himself, but admittedly interesting. The third and final potion was simply called potion of youth. To Severus's surprise the ingredients were uncomplicated and rather easy to procure. At first glance it seemed innocent even. Until the last ingredient, that was. A shadow fell across the scroll, and Severus looked up to see the lanky form of Blaise Zabini reading over his shoulder.

"That last one may be rather tricky," the young man drawled before returning to his seat.

"Indeed," Severus bit out, raising his gaze to Wolfgang Adler. The last ingredient was called a draft of life. To make this draft of life, one had to have a dying person willingly breathe their last into the bottle in which the completed potion would be mixed.

"This was the part that took me the longest to sort out," Wolfgang admitted. "I finally have it sorted, though, and I'm willing to be the one doing all the dirty work. As you all are aware, killing, if it is deserved, doesn't bother me. I will only need a little help from you, Severus. We need someone young enough to give Grindelwald a decent amount of years. That means at least middle age. If you can bring a Death Eater of at least middle age here the day before we free Grindelwald, I will handle the rest. Tell him or her it's a dinner meeting of Dark wizards. Tell them anything you like, just make sure no one else knows that they left with you or where they went."

Severus arched his brows, wondering silently how he'd convince anyone to go anywhere with him. He hadn't exactly made friends among the ranks of Voldemort's followers anymore than he had the order. Then he recalled something rather obvious that made him give a slight smile. Narcissa Malfoy should owe him a favor if she knew what was wise. "When will you need this Death Eater," he asked.

"In two weeks," Adler replied at once, and Severus nodded.