This is a direct continuation of Chapter 24: The Battle of Nurmengard Castle: Part One: The Order of the Phoenix

The world was desolate. It had been so long since there was anything worth waking up to. Darkness enveloped him like a veil. Constantly shifting. Occasionally, Percy would catch a glimpse of something beyond this confusing cloud of lies and deception.

"Wake up,"

That voice kept coming back from time to time. It felt like someone was applying pressure to the back of his skull. A piece of his anatomy that was in considerable pain at the moment.

"Wake up!" it asked again. More forceful this time. Percy's head felt like it had been crushed and reassembled by a time-turner.

He could feel his body now. So that was an excellent place to start. His eyelids were heavy, but he managed to force them open a crack. Everything was unbelievably blurry.

"I must not have my glasses," he thought absently. He tried to feel his way through lifting his neck, but his muscles tensed, and a spasm erupted along the length of his tendons. He dropped his head back to the floor and tried to force away this blinding headache.

He felt two strong arms grip his shoulders and lift him into a sitting position against a wall. Two awkward pangs on his face he registered as someone trying, and failing, to put his glasses on. Finally, he felt them slip behind his ears and the familiar weight on the bridge of his nose returned.

"Where are we," he managed to force out of his mouth. His voice sounded raspy, most of it felt like it was coming from inside his own head. Like when you cover your ears and listen to your breathing. Muffled, distorted, unclear.

"I believe we've been imprisoned," there was the voice who had been commanding him to wake up. It was familiar. Where had he heard that before?

"Oh," he realized with a start, "It's Charlie,"

He heard Charlie let out a snort, which was followed by a cough of some sort. "Yeah, Perce, it's Charlie,"

"Didn' mean to speak… aloud," Percy ground out. His hearing seemed to be returning. He could tell from the way their voices were echoing off the walls that they were in a small stone room.

Thinking that now was probably a good time to try and reopen his eyes, Percy fought with all his willpower to lift his eyelids.

It was, truthfully, not very difficult. Once they were open, they remained so. Unlike last time.

Percy's guess had been correct. They were in a small stone room, with two doors. One was to his left, and the other was to his right.

The one to his right seemed to lead outside. It had that signature wear and tear look about it. The other was the complete opposite. It appeared to be far older, and far grander, than the one that led outside.

Charlie noticed where he was looking and nodded. "I'm going to assume that this one," he pointed to the door on the right, "was built after Grindelwald was placed here. While the other door is the original,"

Percy nodded and let his jaw go slack. Clicking his tongue across the roof of his dry mouth. "S'not exactly pleasant," Percy remarked, finally looking up to the ceiling which was graced with nothing but a hanging oil lamp. Charlie, who was far shorter than Percy, wouldn't have to deal with that. But Percy knew that the second he stood up, he'd bang into it.

Luckily, or perhaps unluckily - he wasn't quite sure at the moment - he wouldn't be standing any time soon.

"No, no it isn't pleasant at all, actually," said Charlie with a wry grin. "Do you want any help off that cold stone floor?"

Percy scowled and raised his arm for Charlie to pull. If it was any other brother, they probably wouldn't have been able to do it. Considering the fact that Percy was, quite literally, not putting in any effort to get up off the floor. But Charlie was well-built and didn't struggle too much.

Percy was surprised at how easy it was to remain standing. He didn't sway or feel too weak in the knees. He was just… fine.

"I think they stunned us," said Percy after staring off into space.

Charlie stared at him for a moment and then raised his eyebrows, taking in a deep breath of disbelief. "Yeah, I'd reckon that's a pretty great guess, Percy!" was his sarcastic reply.

Percy turned and glared down at his brother. "Well, come on," Percy made his way to the ornate door that, hopefully, lead to the interior of whatever structure they were currently in.

"Do not touch that!" Charlie cried, running towards the door, but it was too late.

Percy grabbed hold of the handle and pulled, hard.

The door swung open, admitting them to a finely decorated entrance hall. "Don't touch that!" Percy shot back at Charlie in a mockingly high voice.

Charlie rolled his eyes and pushed past his brother, muttering a quiet, "Fuck off,"

"See, just walking through that doorway was actually stupid," Percy remarked, following his brother in only after he'd crossed the threshold.

"And why is that?" Charlie murmured back, too busy taking in his surroundings.

"Because, in case you've forgotten, I can feel wards,"

"Right," Charlie replied, still not paying much attention. Percy could understand why. The building, which he now knew was most definitely a castle, was beautifully decorated. Gold linings on everything. A rich royal blue carpet ran the length of the hall, that seemed to open up to a larger room at the end. Percy started walking down the hallway, patting himself down and looking for his wand.

Understandably, it was nowhere to be found. It would have been an utterly useless bit of kidnapping had they left their targets armed.

He could hear Charlie following him which forced him to realize that they were both being incredibly loud. There was no way in hell that their captors didn't know they'd come in.

They finally reached the room, which opened forward and to the right. Percy melted himself against the wall, and Charlie followed suit. "On three, we push in," said Charlie in a hushed whisper.

Percy nodded, and silently counted to three. It would appear that Charlie had no idea how long a true second was because he swung around the corner far sooner than Percy would have. "Idiot," Percy thought, as he followed his brother.

They both stopped dead in their tracks.

They were in a large hall. Every window was boarded up or covered with a shutter that opened indoors. Not a single thread of natural light permeated through the cracks. It was fully furnished with expensive comforts. Tapestries lined the walls, some depicting great battles, while others showed mythical creatures and their powers. The room itself was not what stopped Percy and Charlie, however. It was the people who sat in it.

There was Bill, on a beautifully hand-crafted leather couch, looking over what appeared to be structural plans. He looked well-nourished, his hair was its regular length, if not a smidge longer. There was a small plate to his left that held a chocolate croissant, and a glass of water was positioned in his hand. He sat comfortably, seemingly intrigued by what he was reading.

The man who sat across from him was just as surprising. He was tall, thin – though not frail – and was sipping at a cup of tea. He was holding a book in his left hand and seemed to be of great age. Similar to Dumbledore's, in fact.

Something about the man radiated great power. As though magic was pouring out of him, ebbing and flowing like the sea.

"Grindelwald," Percy realized with a collapsing sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Regretfully Uncaring

Chapter 25: The Battle of Nurmengard Castle

Part Two: Grindelwald's Silver Tongue

After the initial shock had melted away, thawing like frost on a spring morning, Charlie spoke, with a tone of relief, confusion, and apprehension, "Bill?"

"Charlie, do you not know who that is sitting across from him?" Alyssa asked in a mental panic.

Charlie's eyes widened. Of course it was. How could he have been so stupid! He had already theorized that this was where they were.

"Charlie," Bill replied, swinging his head around. His face broke into a broad smile, though it seemed to convey a great sadness more than any relief.

Charlie turned to Percy, who was watching the events unfold with a bewildered expression and a crease on his brow.

"Our fellows have finally awoken, it would seem," said Grindelwald, rising from his chair and folding his arms across his chest.

"We are not your friends, sir," said Percy defiantly, his voice nearly cracking with the effort.

Grindelwald bowed his head in acknowledgment. "No, we may not be… we may never be, but there are times that call for desperate measures. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Grindelwald has a history of manipulating his subjects. He's trying to earn your trust before asking you for assistance in something. Make sure you're always one step ahead with him, Charlie," Alyssa seemed to be out of breath. As though she was pacing and her mental voice reflected that.

"What do you need us for," Charlie nearly shouted. His eyes jumped from Bill to Grindelwald every so often. Bill seemed perfectly comfortable where he sat. Watching the conversation play out in a similar manner to Percy, though his expression was not one of confusion.

It almost seemed like Bill found it amusing.

"It is a fine sight to see another intelligent Weasley," said Grindelwald with a light chuckle. He walked toward them and Charlie reached for his wand.

Which wasn't there.

"Merlin, I'm an idiot. Of course it wouldn't be there,"

"You aren't an idiot, just please keep your wits about you,"

Grindelwald turned at the last minute and made his way to a small table that contained a water jug and various foods. It was here that Charlie realized how unbelievably thirsty he was. Judging by the looks of longing the table was receiving from Percy, he was not the only one. He swallowed away the urge to run over and pour the entire jug down his throat.

"You can have some, you know," said Grindelwald without looking up from his pouring. Once he'd filled his glass he turned to them and finally made his way over. "Judging by your expressions I can see that you do not trust me,"

Percy shifted awkwardly, eyeing the water jug again. "I feel that sentiment is well merited," he said confidently.

Grindelwald nodded and stood before them both. "I do not need you to trust me, for what I intend to accomplish does not need anything of the sort from you,"

"Do you want us to break you out?" Charlie asked hesitantly.

Grindelwald laughed. Deep, rumbling guffaws. "No, my dear boy, I do not wish to escape. If that had been my desire, I would have done it many years ago,"

"What?" Percy clearly couldn't help himself, and Charlie rolled his eyes.

Grindelwald smiled at Percy and turned to the open room. "This is a prison, yes, but it is also my home. I, unlike many dark wizards, do not mind living as a muggle in the slightest,"

Charlie snorted and Grindelwald turned around to face him once again. "Wasn't that like… your whole purpose back in the 40s? You wanted to eradicate muggles?"

Grindelwald shocked them both by rolling his eyes. "I am not moronic enough to believe that a society could function without them. I am not Tom Riddle. No, though I may not agree with what I was fighting for back then, it was still more intelligent than anything that imbecile has brought forward,"

Charlie frowned. Grindelwald had been here for nearly fifty years, now. Surely it made sense to have changed his ways of thinking. But that did not mean they had changed for the better. Realistically, there was very little chance that he would ever agree with anything the man said, but he needed to remain wary.

"The trouble we currently face is, well, impossible to defeat," Grindelwald continued.

"What do you mean?" Percy replied hesitantly. Charlie was growing frustrated with Bill's lack of involvement.

Bill suddenly turned away from them, stood from his seat, and picked up a butter knife. He walked around the couch and made his way to Charlie and Percy. He extended his hand, indicating to Charlie to pick up the knife. He grabbed it and stared bewildered back at his brother. "What-" he began, only to be silenced by Bill's words.

"Do you know what material that knife is made of?" he asked.

Charlie gaped at Bill for a moment before shrugging and accepting that his brother may have gone a tad mad in the last few months. He dutifully inspected the knife. It weighed the same as any of the silverware at home. It seemed perfectly unremarkable. "Metal, I expect," he replied rather stupidly.

"Well you aren't wrong there," Bill remarked with a smile. "The difference is that it isn't made of silver,"

Charlie frowned. He himself had made sure to purchase utensils that avoided any silver content. They were rare but could be found in the wizarding world fairly easily due to werewolves being unable to touch the stuff.

"Hang on," his thoughts didn't get far before Percy interrupted.

"Werewolves?" Percy asked. Bill and Grindelwald nodded.

"What on earth do werewolves have to do with any of this?"

"What..?" Charlie asked, and Percy seemed to agree with him. What on earth did that have to do with any of this?

"Are you aware of the monster that is Fenrir Greyback?" Grindelwald asked, striding back to the sitting area and indicating for the three Weasleys to follow.

Percy and Charlie both nodded, sitting on either side of Bill. Grindelwald lowered himself to his seat and sighed. "I am a prisoner of two worlds," he began. "I cannot live in between, and I cannot live here, either. I do not fear death, no, but I do not wish her to claim me either,"

Charlie didn't have the slightest clue as to what Grindelwald was prattling on about, but he remained hyper-focused.

"This castle was once a great fortress of innovation. A tower of sorcery… now it serves as a prison," he continued.

"We know what this place is," Percy interrupted irritably. "Please get to the point,"

Grindelwald smiled and it made Charlie shiver. "Nurmengard is placed at a magically significant location, do you know what that is?"

Charlie and Percy shook their heads while Bill leaned back against the couch.

"It is a Magical Centerpoint," Grindelwald explained. "This is one of three. Each point is powerful in its own right, however, this here," he pointed to the floor beneath his feet. "is the most powerful of the three,"

"And why is that?" Percy asked. Charlie was very grateful for his inquisitive brother. He'd be lost without his questions. Charlie never did get used to asking questions. He was curious about the 'needless way' according to his wife and family. He asked questions when clarification wasn't necessary.

"Because before this castle was built, these rocky slopes held the first rift between worlds. The dead returned to the living here, thousands of years ago,"

Charlie's jaw went slack and he gaped at Grindelwald. Prisoners went mad after five years of Azkaban, surely this explained the obscenities. Though this wasn't Azkaban, and Grindelwald seemed perfectly… well, sane wasn't exactly the right term but crazy enough for an average elderly man.

"You must be joking," said Percy with a feigned smile.

Grindelwald stared back with an expression of complete sincerity. "No, Percy, I am not fooling you. Death's second gift activated right here. These points create a triangle on the European continent. Whether you believe in the stories or not, the power that resides here is tangible,"

It was odd hearing Percy's name come from Grindelwald's mouth, but he moved past that. "What are you getting at," Charlie huffed. "There are three points, they're all significant. This is the most powerful, alright. So what? What does that have to do with a lack of silverware,"

"Greyback is obsessed with something… we don't know what it is, but he's doing something ritualistic, and this location, and the four of us, are relevant," Bill explained rapidly.

Percy shifted in his seat and fidgeted with the arm of the sofa. "No offense to Greyback or anything, but what power does he have over you?" he asked, pointing to Grindelwald.

Grindelwald smiled and nodded slowly. "Though I am powerful, he and his followers possess wands. Besides, I have been stripped of my power." he gestured wide to the room at large. "I have no magic left in me. Only a magnitude of knowledge that, as far as I am aware, no one can match. Not even Albus,"

"So what are we supposed to do?" Percy asked warily. It seemed as though Grindelwald's 'lack of magic' did not fool Percy. Charlie was still absolutely lost, and he had a sneaking suspicion that Percy was just as if not more confused as he.

"The date is the twenty-third of March. There are twenty-three days until the full moon, which is when we will break free," said Bill quietly.

"Break free? Break- ARE YOU MENTAL?" Charlie roared to Bill. "This man is responsible for countless murders. Magical turmoil. Economic collapse. And a multitude of other bullshit that I skived off of in History of Magic. How can you possibly expect us to go along with that?"

"I am not joining you," Grindelwald intoned calmly. "Albus wished me to remain here until my dying day, and I shall honour that request,"

Charlie stared back at the man in disbelief. "So, you're just going to die?" Percy asked.

Grindelwald shook his head and smiled. "Oh, no, that is not my intention whatsoever. But you three must escape."

Charlie took that in and raised his eyebrows in shocked confusion. Leaning back into the couch similar to Bill.

"Alyssa? You there?"

"No," came her hesitant reply. He could tell that she was cooking something, though failing terribly. "You need to project what you're doing, seeing, and feeling through the connection, remember? You can see and feel and hear everything on my end but it isn't both ways unless you want it to be,"

Charlie could have slapped himself. He really needed her opinion on all this. He'd grown so used to relying on this bond while bored or simply doing work. Solving runic puzzles to contain dragons could often require a second opinion.

He couldn't exactly discuss the topic with Percy, because Grindelwald was right there. "Can you give us more information?" he settled on.

Bill nodded and stood up. Grindelwald merely threw a glance up at Bill before turning back to stare at a tapestry of a Qilin.

"You can't see it because the window is blocked… but there are four large wardstones that protect the valley Nurmengard is built upon. These wardstones were not here when I was captured. They were installed as I was brought in." Bill explained. He was pacing between the two large, floor-to-ceiling boarded-up windows. "I, unlike you, was conscious of my arrival and witnessed them building the wards. No wizard or witch can pass through them. At least, not on their own."

Charlie and Percy both took on the same frowning expression. "Then how are we supposed to get out?"

"Animals can pass through," Bill replied with a touch of excitement. "Animagi, werewolves, I don't know what else, but though they are wizards, witches, whatever… they still count as animals. Therefore, they can pass through,"

Percy sat up straight with a dutiful expression on his face. It appeared as though he were about to sit his O.W.L's. "So…" Charlie asked, waiting for an inkling of a plan.

"You can produce that patronus, right?" Bill asked. "You sent it to me a while back but I couldn't hear the voice… I knew you were sending a message though,"

Charlie and Percy's shoulders slumped. "We never sent that," Percy replied.

"Than who did?" Bill asked worriedly.

"My wife, Alyssa," Charlie receded. "She's great with charms. I myself have never produced a full corporeal, but she can. And she can make it send messages,"

"Your… wife," Bill said with a dead-beat tone of voice.

"Married in August, she's a werewolf, she's pregnant, Charlie's worried about parenthood," Percy fulfilled, cutting off whatever Charlie was going to say to his older brother. "We know, it's a shock, but honestly, we need a better solution than wandless patronus messages,"

Bill nodded slowly, eyes wide and taking it all in.

"Even if any of you had a wand, and I and William have discussed this, so I do not know why he is now forgetting, but you cannot produce magic within Greyback's wards. It is not possible," Grindelwald explained carefully. Never looking down from the tapestry of the Qilin.

"We have no way of escape, then," Percy concluded. Rising from his seat in exasperation and pacing alongside Bill. Practically mirroring his movements.

"Don't be daft," said Bill angrily. "There are many ways to escape without magic, one of which being practical methods, such as waiting for the full moon and exiting the tower from where they came."

"We can't dodge hundreds of werewolves, Bill, it just isn't possible," Charlie supplied regretfully.

Bill was just about to speak when a brilliant flash of white light erupted from behind them. Everyone in the room stood and faced the light which had now faded to reveal a middle-aged man, with curly hair.

"Scamander?" Grindelwald said in disbelief at the same time as Charlie said, with the same tone, "Newt?"

The man smiled sheepishly. "Er, hello… Right, well, Dumbledore told me not to do anything rash, but I figured I might as well seeing as you three are willing to attempt… well what is essentially suicide in order to escape," he said, his words tumbling out of his mouth rather quickly. Bill, Percy, and Charlie who had grown up with Ginny, could understand rapid-fire speech rather well. Grindelwald, on the other hand, appeared more annoyed than anything.

"What are you doing here? How did you get in?" Charlie asked excitedly. He focused all his might on sharing his current situation with Alyssa through their connection.

"I'm… well I'm an animagus and I was sent to make sure you two were alright and to spy on your captors," Newt explained.

"How long have you been here?" Grindelwald asked dispassionately.

"Not long, five minutes or so," Newt replied. "I've got to go seek Greyback, but let me make myself very clear; do not under any circumstances go through with that dreadful plan of yours," he started backing away towards the door again. "Dumbledore and the Order are coming. Somehow. Just… Just wait, alright? We're coming!" and with another flash of light, he was gone. A small newt ran around on the floor and away into the darkness.

"What the fuck!" Charlie cried in exasperation. "The Order? What is happening?"

"A whole lot of nothing, I expect," Bill replied morosely. "Might as well show you around the castle. Then we can analyze these plans," he pointed to the structural plans on the table. Try and find a safe escape route or something,"

They could do nothing but wait for Newt to return with a shred of any more information. Grindelwald had lapsed into silence, deep in thought. And Charlie was grateful for that.

He didn't want any more of his persuasive tones.

Albus Dumbledore walked pleasantly to the stone gargoyle protecting his office. He spoke his password cheerfully and ascended the spiral staircase. Once he reached his door, he slowly pushed it open and let it fall closed on its own. There was a woman in one of the two armchairs by the fire. Her face was shrouded in darkness "Can I help you?" Albus asked kindly, fingering his wand in his pocket.

"Yes, hello Mr. Dumbledore," the woman replied with false exuberance. "I was wondering where my husband is,"

Albus formed his mouth into an "ah" shape and sighed. "Porpentina, it is nice to see you again," he replied, as though greeting an old friend. Which, for all intents and purposes, he was. But he had a sense that she didn't feel the same way. She never had.

"He sends me a letter, tells me that he's off on a mission for you… again. And that he won't be back for who knows how long," she drawled, standing from her seat and moving towards Albus. "Now tell me, please, where is he?"

Albus frowned, a crease forming between his eyebrows. "Did he not inform you of the task he volunteered for?"

"Volunteered? Or guilted, Dumbledore," she replied scathingly. "Because if I remember correctly… he never volunteered for anything you made him do. You gave him half the story, and let him figure it out, dragging us and a No-Maj along for years because you couldn't just give us the full picture," she had the same de-aging process that Newt had had. Which made her far more intimidating than if she'd matched Albus's appearance in age.

"He was… sent on the first mission," Albus spoke slowly. "He did in fact volunteer for this current mission. He is gathering intelligence under his animagus disguise, and should be back within the week, I expect,"

Tina jabbed her finger into Albus's chest. Hard. "He better be. Because I don't know what I'll do to you if something happens to him on one of your missions again," she turned away from him and threw a handful of floo powder in the fireplace. Shouting "Alyssa's Den," quite loudly.

Albus sighed and ran a hand over his face. That woman was truly a pain to deal with, at times. Though, her actions were merited. He couldn't remember why he'd placed her on his floo-without-access (FWA) list, but he decided against removing her. If she couldn't contact him within the next few days, things could be rather disastrous.

Tuesday, April 4th, 1995. Twelve days later.

Sirius shot a spell at a tree and watched it be surrounded by a red aura. He waited and waited but no magical signature came away from it. "FUCK!" he shouted to the empty Potter grounds and disabling the charm.

"Something wrong?" he turned around and face Elizabeth Edwards's smug appearance. "Why are you blowing up trees? Did that Amelia woman reject you again?"

Sirius sighed, panting from the magical overload it took to cast such a spell on a tree. "There's a raven… it keeps coming around the Manor. I think it's an animagus but whenever I see it… it just vanishes. I thought I saw it go to that tree, so I was casting a spell to detect such a thing but, well," he threw his left arm up in exasperation. "There isn't any lifeform, nor animagus, residing in or around that tree… Other than the tree, of course."

Elizabeth frowned. "How is it even getting in? Surely you have those… protective spells,"

"Wards," Sirius supplied. She'd raised an excellent point, however. "You're right. We made these wards block out all animagi…" he frowned. "Hang on, how did you get in?"

Elizabeth stared at him as though it was obvious. When he continued to await an answer, she raised her eyebrows. "Oh, you actually couldn't figure that out," she quipped, cracking a smile. "I walked through the gates,"

Sirius nodded slowly. "Right, that makes sense." and it did. They lapsed into an awkward silence. Elizabeth had done this quite a bit over the past few months. Randomly coming over to Potter Manor and speaking with Sirius and occasionally Tonks.

"Where's Tonks?" she asked after a while.

Sirius raised an eyebrow. "She doesn't live here, you know,"

"I know that," she snapped. "I just want to know where she might be. I want to talk to her,"

"What do you want to talk to her about?" Sirius asked, folding his arms across his chest and waiting for a response.

"It's about that woman in town. Miss Black. She's giving me… strange vibes, you know? I think she might be magical,"

Sirius nodded. "She is. And her name isn't Miss Black, it's Narcissa Malfoy. Anyway, why would you ask Tonks and not me? She's using my last name, after all,"

Elizabeth glared at him, crossing her arms as well. "I was going to do that. Obviously. But then I get here and you're all quiet and," she gestured to Sirius with her hands erratically. "You're getting all awkward!" she exclaimed.

Sirius laughed lightly. "Sorry for disappointing you so,"

Elizabeth stared at him for a while before turning and walking away.

"See you, then!" cried Sirius, laughing when she gave him the finger over her shoulder.

A chime rang from the manor and Sirius sighed. Someone had flooed in. He slowly made his way down the beautifully manicured lawns, thanks entirely to Flappy and Floppy, before pushing open the door and striding towards the sitting room. He was quite shocked to find the entire Order of the Phoenix gathered around in the room. "Er, Hello," he said hesitantly. "So, are we just always going to meet here? Or…" the order members barely acknowledged him as they made their way to the kitchen. Sirius glared at Snape who seemed far too pleased with himself at appearing in Potter Manor unannounced.

Sirius followed them all to the kitchen and waited for an explanation. Molly and Arthur were there. Evidently awaiting an update on their missing sons. The only people who weren't there were Remus and the rest of the staff. Well, besides Dumbledore and Snape, of course.

He noticed with a touch of surprise that Harry, Ron, Fred, George, and Ginny were there also.

Sirius hadn't had much to do as of late. He'd been promoted to Head of his department rather unfairly, in his opinion. The woman who had been heading it for years had swapped with him and was now his inferior. This was an act of thanks on Fudge's part, but Sirius found it incredibly disrespectful.

The legislation had yet to make it to the Wizengamot. Fudge had instead chosen to ramp up marketing for 'Big changes coming to our way of life, supported by Sirius Black!' to appear in the papers. He wanted to drive up anticipation and retention before voting it all in. This was another thing Sirius found completely pathetic on Fudge's part but chose not to push him. If he exerted too much power over the man, people would grow suspicious. Sirius Black was many things, but he would never stoop to the same level of bribery as Lucius Malfoy.

Blackmail? Yes, that was one hundred percent on the table.

Newt Scamander was toying with the left clasp of his case idly, waiting for Dumbledore to address him. There was a woman, roughly the same age as Newt, standing beside him. She had a bored expression plastered on her face and seemed to be rather irritated with Newt. Avoiding eye contact but occasionally throwing a glare his way.

"Get on with it Albus," growled Moody.

Dumbledore sighed and nodded. "Newt, if you would,"

Newt glanced up at the woman to his left, who stared back at him defiantly. Newt receded and cleared his throat to address the Order. "They were not captured by Grindelwald," he said firmly. Drawing a few surprised expressions and a sigh of relief from Molly. "They are being kept in Nurmengard by a power far worse." a groan emanated from Molly's throat and everyone's eyes were once again downcast.

"Fenrir Greyback has been… busy," Newt explained slowly. Sirius stiffened at the name. He hadn't been seen since Voldemort was defeated the first time. "There are perhaps fifty to seventy werewolves under his command. They're… they're building something," he paused and turned to Dumbledore for a moment before returning his focus to the group. "There is… well, the valley the castle is built in has been surrounded by wardstones. No magic can be cast by a wand within these wards… no human can pass through them,"

"How did you get in, then?" someone asked. Sirius couldn't tell, he was too busy thinking everything over and staring at Newt expectantly.

"Well," Newt began docilely. "As an animagus, it let me through… I overheard Bill say that werewolves can pass as well, which would make sense,"

"So how do we break them out if only creatures can pass? No offense, Newt, but your animagus form isn't exactly ideal werewolf fighting potential," Tonks said sarcastically.

Newt smiled slightly and nodded. "I agree, but I have an idea…"

"What's the idea," Narcissa asked calmly, attempting to hide her irritation with Newt's beating around the bush tendencies.

Newt bounced from one foot to the other, squinting slightly and pressing his lips together. He let out a long breath and spoke. "Well, see… universally, wards are weakest around the full moon," everyone nodded. This was pretty general knowledge. "What I am suggesting is that perhaps we could send in someone who is partially human but is magical enough to make a difference. I don't know much about-"

"Fleur!" Harry cried out of nowhere. Everyone looked at him confusedly, save Ginny and Ron who shared his exuberant expression. "Fleur is part veela. I don't know what the percentage is, but she's a powerful witch and, well," he glanced at Ron and smirked. "She sort of owes the Weasleys a favour,"

Ron beamed and turned back to Newt. "This is how we figured out Harry was a werewolf," he said. "Well, really it was Daphne, but veela harm werewolves, no one knows why-"

"It's a defense mechanism," supplied the woman next to Newt, who flushed slightly when everyone turned to her, though she continued her explanation nonetheless "If veela magic affected werewolves the same way it does wizards, they'd die out because werewolves would personally seek them out all the time. The charm would allure them… so instead, it repulses them. It's like a…" the woman hesitated. "Pheromone, sort of. If you know what I mean?"

"Sorry, but who are you?" Arthur asked kindly enough, but with a touch of suspicion. Sirius couldn't blame him. Three of his sons, well regarded as more powerful than their parents, had been kidnapped. Trust had to be earned for them now.

"Tina Scamander… Newt's wife," she added needlessly. She glared at her husband again who smiled sheepishly. Arthur nodded and waited for another to start speaking.

"I don't know how we could convince Madame Maxime to allow us to use her student for something like this," said Dumbledore. It seemed to pain him to say it. "But I shall try,"

"Hang on!" Molly shouted. "We are not simply throwing a child at this problem! What do we do if she accepts? What do we do if she doesn't?"

"Greyback is preparing to perform a ritual," Newt explained. "He needs four purebloods… from what I gather, Nurmengard is geographically significant as well,"

Sirius noticed Dumbledore stiffen, though he could not discern why.

"Now, if this… Fleur… woman accepts, she'll act as a sort of beacon. The werewolves won't be able to approach her,"

Newt was cut off by Harry. "Now that I've thought of it, I don't know if that'll work," he said glumly. "When I spoke to Fleur in my wolf form, she sort of…" he blushed, and Ginny started giggling. He elbowed her in the side, and she glared at him. Sirius watched with interest. They'd grown even closer than they had been during the summer. "Well, when Fleur was there, she wasn't intolerable like she was while I was a human. Her presence was sort of… comforting,"

Tina smiled ruefully. "You should be glad that the veela you were speaking with was friendly. That comforting sensation is a trap. It lures the werewolves in before she can activate her power and incapacitate her prey,"

"Prey?" Harry gasped in horror.

Tina nodded. "That's how Alyssa described it to us," she gestured to herself and Newt. "Hundreds of thousands of years ago, like, before civilization, purebred veela and werewolves were natural enemies. Since the inception of the virus," she explained.

Tonks seemed quite interested, probably looking to add this to a revised version of Werewolves: The Truth Behind the Curse.

"So, she acts like a flame in the darkness and pulls Charlie, Bill, and Percy out. What about Grindelwald?" said Kingsley, going through everything they'd thought of thus far.

Everyone nodded. Truthfully, Sirius hadn't thought of that. His mind was still elsewhere. One, he was worried about the boys. He didn't give a damn about Grindelwald. He just wanted the three of them at home and safe. Alyssa should be nearing her ninth month at this point.

He was also watching his godson carefully. He kept… well, Sirius couldn't describe it very well but it was almost as though he was constantly watching Ginny.

It was a bit creepy, really.

Her every movement was caught by his godson. Then, Harry would rapidly glance around the room, focusing on faces and pairs of eyes before inevitably returning to some aspect of Ginny. It was eerily similar to how Lily watched James throughout their sixth year.

"Oh my," Sirius thought, suppressing a grin.

"Grindelwald will remain in Nurmengard because that is what I had instructed him to do," said Dumbledore calmly. Drawing Sirius out of his pranking contemplations.

"Just like that? He's just going to ignore a perfect escape route?" Arthur asked warily.

"Yes," Newt, Tina, and Dumbledore replied together. Everyone was momentarily surprised by the united response.

"How long do we have?" Moody asked, eyeing Harry.

Harry's eyes clouded over for a moment before he returned from his mental conversation and said, "Eleven days. We have eleven days until the full moon."

"Shit," Tonks murmured to herself. "And this Fleur girl… She's a Champion? The repercussions of her being injured are… monumental," she was directing this comment to Dumbledore who nodded slowly.

"I will make sure nothing happens to her… but I am curious to know what Greyback is working on," Dumbledore said quietly, almost to himself.

"I've had enough of this planning," Moody barked. "Let's get the girl, and head to Austria. I'd rather not do this during the full moon,"

Newt shook his head. "That's the thing, Alastor. We need to wait for the full moon, otherwise, the wards may be too strong and won't register Fleur's veela blood as enough. Our best bet is to wait."

Moody sighed, which was a sentiment shared among the rest of the Order.

"Alright, let's get Delacour on board," said Arthur with forced enthusiasm.

This was a terrible plan.

They were all leaving the manor in groups. The Hogwarts bunch were left for last. They were all about to leave through the manor's enormous fireplace when Sirius asked Harry to stay back for a minute.

Harry eyed him cautiously for a moment before waving his friends goodbye. "What's up, Sirius?"

Sirius smiled and led him over to the couch. He started and stopped a few times before sighing and falling back in his seat. "So you have a thing for Ginny, eh?" he felt like this was probably a good place to start. His father had never discussed such personal matters with him. Sirius was completely winging it.

Harry groaned and let his face fall into his hands. Sirius chuckled. "Yes, it is that obvious. Though I have a sneaking suspicion that there's enough going on for no one to notice it quite yet," Sirius remarked.

Harry stared pleadingly at Sirius. "I don't mean to… and besides, I'm not going to do anything about it."

Sirius raised an eyebrow. "And why's that?"

Harry shrugged. "We're friends," he said simply

Sirius cringed and rolled his eyes. "Alright. Well, once you decide it's time… talk to me. Yeah?"

Harry frowned. Clearly, he hadn't expected to be let off so easily. "Alright," he said slowly. Rising from his seat and made his way to the fireplace.

"Just stop ogling her, alright?" Sirius called over his shoulder, making Harry stumble a bit.

"She will not be going!" Madame Maxime shrieked in a towering rage. The part-giant had stood from her seat and slammed her fist to the table. This argument had been going on for nearly an hour now. Dumbledore had attempted to ease the headmistress into the subject and had done so with the grace of dropping a child into a pool.

What had followed was an incredibly one-sided argument, in which Dumbledore tried, and failed, to get his point across.

Fleur Delacour, the witch in question, cleared her throat. "Why not, Madame? I owe de Weasleys, do I not?"

"Non!" Madame Maxime yelled. "Dumbledore owes you for nearly having your sister killed!"

Fleur shook her head in apparent disgust. "And what if I do not care what you think?" she asked in defiance.

Sirius, Tonks, Molly, Arthur, and Dumbledore all watched the two women argue with varied expressions. Sirius donned one of enjoying a great muggle film. Tonks seemed rather shocked. Both Molly and Arthur appeared to be staring at the edge of the desk with utmost determination. And Dumbledore was watching the argument with a pleasant smile playing across his lips.

"You are a part of this school, you will respect my orders!" Maxime cried.

Fleur had the audacity to roll her eyes. "Do you think I care about finishing my education? I do not! Apparently, I am needed. So I weel come. If Ron and his family need 'elp, I weel be there!"

"I can expel you!"

Fleur leaned in closer, staring defiantly up at her headmistress. "Try it. See what happens when your Champion is expelled, Madame. You will not last. Beauxbatons will be humiliated forever. Let me go to Autriche. Let me fight!"

Madame Maxime's shoulders slumped. She eyed her student for a long moment before turning to Dumbledore. "You will keep her safe, yes?"

Dumbledore nodded, even though it was a partial lie. "Yes, I will keep her safe." in truth, Sirius had the impression that Dumbledore hadn't worked out that part of the plan.

But he didn't really care. If Fleur was on board, that's all they needed.

Maxime eyed Dumbledore warily before nodding curtly. "As long as she is back before the third task,"

Dumbledore clapped his hands and extended his hand to the headmistress, who ignored it in the form of a nod in his direction before she swept from the office.

"Oh thank you so very much, Madame Delacour!" Molly gushed, tears slipping from her eyes and enveloping Fleur in a warm embrace. Fleur smiled sheepishly, it looked good on her. Such a regular expression. Plain, even.

She returned the gesture and rested her chin on Molly's shoulder, being forced to lean over to perform the act. Fleur was much taller than Molly. "I will help your family, Madame Weasley,"

Molly chuckled at the French and nodded.

Sirius sighed. The plan was in motion. All they had to do was sort it all out properly.

It had been three weeks since Newt Scamander's unexpected appearance and reassurances that rescue was on the way. Charlie had lost most of his hope of that ever happening and had aligned himself to Bill's backup plan that involved careful timing and a dragon's feast worth of luck.

"Alyssa? Are you alright?" he asked through the mental connection. She was nearing her due date and Charlie was praying that he'd make it back in time to be there for her.

"Yes," she replied distractedly. She was laying down somewhere, dozing off, perhaps. "How are you, love?"

Charlie smiled. Leaning against the stone wall and picturing her in his mind. It wasn't a difficult task seeing as he had a constant connection to her. "I'm alright. Still waiting for our rescue," he tried to play it off as a joke but he could tell from the sudden rush of anxiety that his efforts had been for nothing. "It'll be fine, I'm sure. The next full moon is in a couple of days, it's possible that they're waiting for the perfect moment, or perhaps they need the full moon for the weakened wards. I don't know, Alyssa, but I'll come home. I promise you that,"

He heard Alyssa sigh and felt her nod. "I'll see you, yeah?"

"Yeah," Charlie sent back with a smile. He felt the connection close off and realized she'd fallen asleep.

Charlie made his way down into the main hall. Grindelwald and Percy sat on opposite ends of the room from each other. Grindelwald was… odd. He was dangerous, Charlie decided, solely because he could convince you of something incredibly morally grey, and he'd make it seem endearing or light-sided.

It confused Charlie to no end to see how powerful a man supposedly stripped of his magic could be. Percy referred to him as a 'silver tongue'. Someone who was incredibly persuasive.

The room contained its usual glum darkness. Grindelwald had refused to explain why the windows had to remain shuttered, and Charlie wasn't about to ask again. Each time he'd earned a glare or a look of disapproval. Neither of which were comforting sights coming from the most famously evil wizard of Europe besides perhaps Voldemort.

Percy, however, had not taken the hint.

"I know Charlie's asked this, and maybe it's just because you don't like him, but why do you keep the windows closed?" Percy asked with forced calm.

Grindewald glanced up from his book, and for a moment Charlie thought Percy would receive identical treatment to himself, but he was thoroughly mistaken.

"I am a seer, as you know," Charlie, in fact, did not know this, but Percy nodded so perhaps he was just the idiot in all of this. "To have a vision, you must have a way to see beyond," he finished, returning to his book.

Percy wasn't satisfied, it seemed. And quite frankly, neither was Charlie. "Right, but how does that explain the closed windows?" Percy persisted.

Grindelwald threw him another glance. Finally, he put his book down and closed it. "To see beyond you must… see beyond," he pointed to the window. "If one has a room without windows, your mind, your magic, nothing can see beyond. So, no prophecies or visions can occur in a room without a way to see beyond,"

Percy's mouth formed an 'o' shape and nodded slowly. Charlie smiled. It was an interesting explanation. "So if we opened this shutter," Charlie walked towards it, "you'd create a prophecy?"

Bill entered the room then, fresh from a shower and shirtless, watching the conversation with interest.

Grindelwald's eyes narrowed slightly. Not in warning but merely to show that he was thinking about it. "I suppose I haven't had one in so long, it would make sense. I'd be overdue," he sounded like someone who had sworn off sugar, only to take an offered candy. It unnerved Charlie a bit but he pushed past it.

"Can we get one?" Bill asked with a boyish grin. Charlie was grateful that Bill had brought that up. He'd wanted to, but Grindelwald and Bill seemed to be almost friends, and Bill could usually get Grindelwald to do things, so this was their best bet.

Grindelwald laughed and straightened his back. "If you want to," he relented. The Weasley boys grinned. "But I warn you, it is rarely of any importance… and sometimes prophecies are repeated, so I may just throw out something another seer has already foretold."

Charlie and Percy both nodded. Neither of them cared, really, they just wanted to witness a prophecy.

With Bill's help, the shutter was forced open. The sunlight streamed in. Charlie watched as the shadows receded and the light touched Grindelwald for the first time. He immediately stiffened and his eyes rolled to the back of his head. His mouth went agape and Charlie's smile instantly collapsed. Had they done something to harm him?

Then, he began to speak. His voice was raspy and distant. As though the tale he told was coming from the deepest recesses of his mind.

"The Chosen One, newly tainted,

Rises only to fall.

For without the key, he is nothing.

Without the key, all shall fall.

Without the key, we are nothing.

Without the key, the Chosen one shall fall.

Remember… the Dark Lord knows all."

Grindelwald's eyes came back into view and he fell forward onto his knees, breathing hard. "Close the shutters," he rasped. Charlie and Bill both nodded, slamming them shut and pushing in the nails with their palms.

"Do you remember it?" Grindelwald practically shouted, causing all three of them to flinch. "My apologies, I just… I need to make sure,"

"If we don't, we can just extract the memory with legilimency later," supplied Bill. Charlie nodded and Grindelwald sighed his thanks.

"I believe I have made a new prophecy," he said, smiling distractedly at the floor. He looked quite mad. "It is fascinating, isn't it? The curiosity of young men," he pointed to each of the Weasleys.

Bill shifted beside him. Percy rose from his armchair and made his way over to Charlie and Bill.

Grindelwald's eyes twinkled in an eerie similarity to Dumbledore's. "I must admit, there may have been an ulterior motive in bringing you here," Grindelwald still sat on his knees against the carpeted floor. "Greyback is a very easy... thing to persuade..."

Bill sucked in a breath and Charlie swallowed. He didn't bother focusing on his connection with Alyssa. he needed to be present for this.

Grindelwald turned to face Bill and stared deep into his eyes. Bill tried to turn away but some invisible force was keeping him still. His brow had a trickle of sweat bead down it and Charlie fully comprehended that this was Bill's struggle to fight Grindelwald's mind. Occlumency was one of Bill's greatest strengths, but it seemed to be failing him at this moment.

Finally, Grindelwald relented, while Bill collapsed to the floor. Charlie crouched down to catch him and clutched his head to his chest.

"I used to have a legilimens, you know... she wasn't taught, either. She simply knew. No eye contact was necessary... She was quite useful, really," Grindelwald sighed and stretched his arms behind his back, it cracked and he shook out his head. His mane of greyish white hair billowed around him. "She would have been my Queen, you know," he grinned at his own joke and Charlie had to resist the urge to vomit. "I wonder where she is now..." he mused aloud, before shaking himself. "No matter, no matter... the world is being remade... yes? And I have a prophecy to follow..." he clapped his hands together and bowed to Bill. "I thank you, William. Your mind was quite an interesting one..."

There was a long pause before he finally stood from the floor. Percy, Charlie, and Bill were too stunned to speak. They'd fallen for his persuasions. His lies and his reassurances.

They'd fallen for his silver tongue.

"Perhaps..." he spoke softly. There was a darkness in the way his tone resonated from deep within his body. It felt as though it came from the magic he claimed to have lost. "Perhaps it is worth leaving this castle... one last time...

"I must thank you all, Messrs Weasley... for turning on the light," he threw them a deceivingly kind smile. "I am sure we will meet again."

The shutters to the windows began to burn away. Turning to ash and then dust before their very eyes. Grindelwald was destroying the covers. His hand raised gently, waving about the room and disassembling the blindfold. Disassembling his magical prison. It was wandless magic! All this power with nothing but the tips of his fingers.

"What have we done," Charlie muttered from behind Percy.

"Yes..." Grindelwald deliberated, purposefully ignoring Charlie entirely as he began to make his way to one of the now clear windows. "Yes, perhaps it is time I seek the one who is many... The Chamber Girl."

Charlie froze.

Grindelwald turned to face the three Weasleys. "Perhaps it is time I conclude The Predictions of Tyco Dodonus... and find the key." the glass behind him shattered and Grindelwald didn't do so much as flinch. The glass transfigured itself into sand and blew away in the wind. He floated up to the precipice and flashed them a final smile. "Would you like to see a spell I have been working on?" he asked, teasingly, before he fell back through the window. Charlie stood in a daze as Bill and Percy ran to the window and watched Grindelwald fly as a dark cloud into the sunset. He carried no broomstick with him. He'd learned to fly.

"What have we done," Charlie repeated dumbly.

Follow my Tumblr at rmwb-fanfics