Author's note: I consider that you know the Harry Potter books by heart, like me, because I often make references like the Deathly Hallows from where everyone should know what it is. I sometimes make mistakes with the timeline, but any comments are appreciated!

A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But he cannot survive the betrayal from within.

The Purpose, Rewritten, Chapter 13 Nothing against you

November 14, 1942

When Hogsmeade weekend came around, Abraxas begged Seth to go with him and he did, while complaining that it was a waste of time.

Abraxas showed him around Honeydukes, the candy store, and showed him the new blood-scented lollipops and it made him laugh.

"Another idea from me, and of course, they don't really sell. It's sold out of curiosity, but if anyone knows any vampires, they can buy treats for them.'' Abraxas said with a smirk.

Seth looked with interest at all the other candies and was impressed with all the possibilities, from the classic jujube to the sweet dental floss.

"Animal jellies?" Seth asked looking at a bag of sugared animal shape candies.

"Hehe, have some, Vulken, maybe you can finally be a unicorn!" Weasley's voice echoed behind him.

Seth sighed and put the package back in the presentation box. A Ravenclaw girl, Monica Greengrass, who was nearby, ignored the Lion's comments and approached Seth, but first taking a bag of sweets.

"I am sure that you would make the most handsome of stallions. Do you want to share them with me later?'' she asked giving him a wink.

Weasley turned red as he had tried time and time again to flirt with Greengrass, without success. Seth couldn't help laughing at all the attempts of intimidation Weasley had tried to do. He looked at Monica for a moment before answering. He understood that she was only doing this to taunt Weasley and he decided to play the game, he who had never replied before. He clicked his tongue and put a finger under Monica's chin.

"With pleasure, Monica. Meet me at the three broomsticks later." Seth replied before grabbing the sleeve of Abraxas who was blinking in amazement and lead him towards the exit.

Some students had stopped talking and watched the scene that had just unfolded in front of them. Various girls had cried out in excitment and were grabbing Monica.

''No freaking way! Did you see? A date with Seth!''

''It's not true! He never got ahead with any girl!"

"Did you see Weasley's face!"

"Oh Merlin! We exchange when you want!''

Monica smiled and laughed with her friends as Weasley left the store, flushed red.

''Are you serious? Do you know what you have done?'' asked Abraxas as they walked through the village.

"Damn, Malfoy, you know very well you won't lose your flirty reputation for a girl." Seth said.

''No, of course not! You wanted to get a girl's attention? She won't let you go! And what will you do if you feel like…'' began Malfoy.

"Honestly, like I can't control myself." Seth said.

It was Abraxas' turn to tug at Seth's sleeve.

"Exactly, no. Especially if you kiss her. I know you by heart.'' Said Abraxas approaching him. "You'll touch her lips..." Abraxas placed a finger on Seth's bottom lip. "And then...you'll touch that jaw there." Abraxas continued, sliding his finger over Seth's jaw. "You'll bring your mouth to her ear...and you'll come down...you'll smell her...she'll want more..." Abraxas whispered.

Abraxas' warm voice made him think of all the times they were together, and he had showed him his weak point because Seth now had black eyes and could hear the blonde's heart ringing like a constant drum as well as all those in his surroundings. Abraxas withdrew his finger and laughed. Seth shook his head and his eyes returned to normal.

"Really pleasant, Abraxas." Seth replied.

''Still… I would like you to do it anyway, just to see Weasley's face later, because he's sure to go and see if you'll keep your word. He's so crazy about this girl. '' Abraxas said as they still walked through the village.

The snow was starting to fall lightly, and Seth cast a Tempus, indicating that it was only 4:00 p.m.

"What else did you want to show me?" Seth asked.

"Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop, I know very well that you won't be able to resist buying three-quarters of the store." Abraxas said with a laugh. "There is also Zonko, for booby traps. You never know, you might try one on Weasley. And…ah, since it's the only wizarding village in all of England, that should interest you a bit, right?''

Seth stopped walking for a moment and frowned.

"The only village?" Seth muttered. "But… how many wizards are there in the world?"

Seth knew there had been half a million wizards at the Quidditch world cup, but it couldn't have been all that there was? Abraxas closed his eyes for a moment.

"Hmm...seven schools...about three to five hundred students per school and considering we live two hundred years at most...I'd say between seven hundred thousands and a million." Abraxas said.

''You're kidding me? There are about two to three billion humans on earth... which would give a ratio of two thousand five hundred humans for a single wizard." Seth said.

"Hmm, seen like that. It may be shocking, but that's the way it is. How else could we hide? One more reason these Muggles should worship us." Malfoy said before looking at Seth and smiling. "And you, we don't know how many years you will live, but you won't be able to stay no one for very long…"

A scream was heard behind a building. Seth concentrated and heard people laughing and shouting stinging and stunning spells. He tugged Abraxas on the sleeve, and they walked quickly towards the spring where they found several Hufflepuff and Gryffindor students attacking two young Slytherins.

Without even a warning, one of the Lions cast a spell towards Seth who blocked it with a well-placed Protego.

''Hey, you're not allowed to do magic outside of class!'' shouted Abraxas taking out his wand in turn.

He was answered by a series of spells that shot in his direction. Seth and Abraxas made shield spells again while the two Slytherins ran with difficulty towards them to be protected.

"Their parents work in the Ministry, and they fined our parents for using magic on muggle objects! There's nothing wrong with that! My mom is one and she just asked my dad for a favor!" said the lion that Seth recognized as Justin Harris, a theoretically not-quite-half-blood student.

"Dirty snakes! It's always the same with you!'' Kayden Brown exclaimed before casting another spell, but this time the two young Slytherins were behind Seth and Abraxas, who interrupted the spells with a diagonal wave of their wands.

This technique was not shown until the end of their sixth year. In addition to a wave of the wand, it was necessary to propel their magic forward, as with the use of wandless magic. Seth took the opportunity to cast three stun spells one after the other, without saying a single word and Abraxas interrupted the lions' unsuccessful attempts to shield, resulting in three Gryffindors pinned to the floor, unconscious. The Hufflepuffs hesitated, sharing a look before running off.

"Thirty points off for Hufflepuff!" yelled Abraxas. "And detentions for those three. I'm going to get a teacher.'' Added Abraxas before turning on his heels and leaving.

"T-Thank you." The two youngsters sputtered.

One of them was bleeding from his arm and the sweet smell filled Seth's nostrils. It is not for nothing that one of the laws of vampires was never to touch a child: their blood was said to be so divine, that it was impossible to stop. It was not the first time he had smelled this sublime odor, but it is not today that he would succumb.

"You're bleeding." Seth said.

"Huh, what?" said the young Slytherin looking at her legs, then her arms.

Seth tilted his head.

"Are you hurting somewhere?" Seth asked.

"Uh, my back is burning...a little." She said turning around. ''Do you see something?''

Her dress was torn, but not enough for her to notice a difference.

"Oh, Lizzy, your dress... are you ok?" said the other Slytherin.

"I can save you from going to Hogwarts if you want me to heal you now." Seth suggested. "Your name is Lisbeth, isn't it? And you, are you Miles?'' asked Seth.

"You never talked to us, and you know our names?" Miles asked.

''I have a good memory. I know the names and faces of everyone I see." Seth said with a smile. "So, you want me to heal you?"

Lisbeth and Miles came out of their torpor, and she took off her cape while Miles helped her lift her sweater and that's when she hissed in pain.

"Ouch!" complained Lisbeth.

"It's alright, it's only on the surface. Cura.'' Seth said pointing his wand at her back and the wound closed quickly.

Abraxas was already returning with Professor Slughorn while Lisbeth placed back her sweater and put on her cape.

"Stupefying spells? Mr. Malfoy told me everything. I will confirm the points removed and those three will go well in detention. Thank you both, you deserve their thirty points for Slytherin!'' Slughorn said.

Seth and Abraxas thanked the professor and left the situation in his hands, and they returned to Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop. As Abraxas had said, Seth couldn't resist buying new quills, as well as new books on subjects like advanced Occlumency. He had finished the one he had but felt there was a lot more to do to protect his mind, like projecting an image or a lie to anyone who would read his mind.

It was time for Seth's date and Abraxas went with him but promised to stay away and only intervene if the situation called for it. Monica was already there, but she was surrounded by her troupe of giggling friends.

''Hmm. I'll take care of it.'' Abraxas said before walking elegantly towards the girls.

The other girls saw Abraxas and after a few words they got up and went to sit somewhere else with him. Seth sat down next to Monica after motioning for Mr. Rosmerta, the owner of the Three Broomsticks, to come see him.

"What's that wolf holding your cape?" Monica asked pointing to his shoulder.

Seth wore his black pants with a white shirt with several laces. He had on a forest green overcoat, and all covered with his cape attached to his shoulder by his family crest. He took off his cloak and put it on the back of the chair.

"It's my family crest." Seth replied.

"Your clothes are unconventional for a wizard." Monica said as Mr. Rosmerta walked up to them.

"It reminds me of medieval times with knights and kings," Mr. Rosmerta said. ''What can I serve you?''

Seth smiled at the remark.

"She can choose whatever she wants. For me, I'll get a Firewhiskey, please.'' Seth said.

Mr. Rosmerta blinked.

"I imagine you are already seventeen, Mr.?" Rosmerta asked.

''Vulken.''

He must have known who the Vulken were since his expression changed.

"Ah. Good, very good. It's two galleons a glass."

Seth took his purse out of his bag and paid him right away.

"A butterbeer please." Monica said, a little embarrassed.

Seth added a galleon, even though it only cost two sickles. Mr. Rosmerta hurried off.

"You don't have to be embarrassed, Monica." Seth said.

"Oh, that's not it, but I prefer to buy my things. My dad restricts what I can spend. Anyway, I took these candies. Wasn't that what we were supposed to share?" Monica asked.

Seth sensed that Monica didn't want to drag on after all. Her gaze was shifty, and she looked at her friends at the other table. Seth chuckled and moved closer to her.

"Monica. I know very well that you did this to push Weasley away. I can leave as soon as Rosmerta comes back with my drink." Seth said quietly in his ear as he looked around the room and saw the redhead in the corner who seemed to be fuming.

Monica blushed ear to ear.

''Oh. You really are like everyone else describes. Not a single boy would have acted like you, since they would have taken advantage of the situation so much." Monica said with a sigh.

''You said it yourself; they are boys.'' Said Seth.

Rosmerta came back with the butterbeer and the glass of Firewhiskey, then left. Seth picked up his glass and lifted it to his lips as he ran his other hand down Monica's back to her arm and stroked it subtly.

"I can enjoy the situation in many ways, but I know how to respect women." Seth said after putting down his drink.

"Women." Monica repeated nervously. Seth heard her heart race and removed his hand. He moved to get up, but Monica held him back. ''No wait. It's okay." She said and Seth sat back down. "Everyone says things about you…"

''That does not surprise me. It's been like this since I've been at Hogwarts.'' Seth said.

"No…not… well, I mean…everyone thinks you prefer men." Monica said.

''Really? Well, you'll tell all your girlfriends that I just don't have any sexual preference, although I haven't had the opportunity to be with the female gender." Seth said.

Monica blinked and opened her mouth, then closed it again and looked at her girlfriends who looked like they wanted to know what he had just said. Seth opened the candy bag and was looking at one between his fingers that looked like a lion. Monica's gaze returned to Seth who saw the candy and took it from his fingers.

"Oh, don't eat that, it's stupid anyway." Monica said. "You would start roaring like a lion for a full minute."

Monica suddenly reminded him of Kathleen when she tried to make him laugh with various objects and he thought it would be a good idea to bring those candies to her and the servants.

"On the contrary, it's funny then." Seth said with a laugh.

Monica looked at him blankly and laughed too. Seth liked her laugh and wanted to hear it again. He started saying one joke after another until she couldn't take it anymore.

"Okay! Okay! Stop, my belly hurts!'' said Monica, breathless.

She calmed down and watched Seth finish his second glass, but of wine this time, only to look back at her friends, and realize that they had left and only Abraxas was there.

"Your friends are gone. Do you want to go join them?'' Seth said.

Monica blushed again and shook her head. This time, it was her who went closer to him.

"No…uh, did you…" Monica started before biting her lip.

Seth saw that her eyes were on his own lips and once again heard Monica's heart race. He guessed what she wanted to do, and he placed a hand on her cheek before he went even closer and kissed her. He didn't know if she had experience, but he realized that kissing a woman was not at all the same as kissing a man. Even under his fingers, the texture of her skin and the shape of her jaw, it was different. The smell of flowers, as many women liked to wear, filled his nostrils. Her mouth even tasted fruity from a lipstick she had put on a moment earlier.

He followed her rhythm. She had closed her eyes and was now sliding a hand through Seth's hair. She broke the kiss and let her fingers run through Seth's hair.

"It's impossible…your hair…looks like water running through my fingers." She said running them through his hair again and stared at him. "You... you really aren't human or part creature, like those Veela... are you a Veela?" Monica asked.

Seth laughed at her question.

"Veelas are women, Monica. My different traits are vampiric. As everyone knows by the way…" Seth said.

"Yeah, but…" she hesitated.

"Look no further, Monica." Seth said more harshly, and she fell silent. He stood up and took her hand before placing a kiss on it.

He took his cape, his bag, and left the inn. Abraxas had followed him and walked beside him.

"So, tell me, do you like women?" Abraxas asked with a smile.

It was dark and there was hardly anyone around. Seth took Abraxas by the sleeve and led him between two houses and pinned him against a wall before kissing him with passion and desire.

"I prefer you." Seth said between two kisses.

Abraxas moaned and let go of his bag before putting his arms around Seth and pulling him closer to return his kisses. Without waiting, Seth went to his neck and ran his tongue over his skin to numb it before sinking his teeth into it. As always, Seth couldn't get enough of Abraxas's blood and spill his venom which gave him intense relief. His blood tasted like the Burgundy wine he had drunk. Had Abraxas taken the same as him? Abraxas groaned again.

"Sweet lord...you make me feel the impossible, Seth." Abraxas said under his breath.

Seth stopped the sucking and ran his tongue over the skin again, sealing the wounds. He stayed like that for a moment, in his neck and smelling his wild perfume. He listened as Abraxas' breathing and heartbeat return to normal before letting go and taking a step back.

"I think I would say the same, however, I sure heard your heart and breath change when I kissed Monica." Seth said as he now stroked Abraxas' cheek. "Are you jealous?"

Abraxas lifted his chin.

''Of course, yes. I reserve the sole right to have you this way, don't I?'' whispered the blonde.

Seth smiled and they walked back to Hogwarts together.

OoOoO

December, 1942

Abraxas had been right, and Monica had sought to see him again.

"Monica, it was just a kiss to get Weasley to leave you alone." Seth said as he walked towards his ancient runes class.

Orion and Corban walked beside him, and Monica walked backwards in front of him.

''It worked, didn't it?'' laughed Orion.

"Yeah...but, I thought..." Monica started.

"Go away, Greengrass!" said Corban. ''Leave him alone.''

Seth said nothing more, a headache had persisted since the morning and he knew very well the reason. Monica stopped before following them since she had class with them. During class, Seth kept hearing the whispers of Monica's two friends telling him not to let go and for the first time, he couldn't concentrate on the work in front of him. Definitely, he regretted having made that kiss.

'Did you touch his hair?'

'It was unreal…'

'She already told you that many times, Michelle.'

'Are you sure he didn't want to… bite you?'

Seth had had enough. All the students jumped when Seth stood up abruptly after slamming his hands on his book.

''Mr. Vulken?'' asked the professor.

Seth took his books and put them in his bag and walked out of class as the others watched.

"It's not in his nature to react like that." muttered another Slytherin student.

"What would you know, huh?" Corban spat before getting up and following Seth.

Corban caught up with him in the hallway, running after him. Seth seemed to be walking extremely fast.

"SETH! '' Corban shouted behind him.

Seth didn't stop. Corban didn't know why he had reacted like that, nor did he know that, right now, Seth didn't want to see anyone except Abraxas.

Seth felt Abraxas' energy near the Slytherin common room, but he realized he was in more trouble than he thought. Corban's rapidly beating heart caught up with him as Seth had stopped walking.

"Corban...go back to class." Seth said before taking a deep breath.

''For what? What's going on? Are you ok?" Corban asked as he moved closer. He placed a hand on Seth's shoulder. "Is it Monica again? I could hear their whispers without understanding them, but I admit it was irritating.''

Seth turned back to Corban and his gaze lingered on his neck for a moment before going to his blue eyes. He really saw the concern in his eyes and Seth shook his head slightly, trying to think of anything other than the incessant drumming coming from his chest, or the skin on his neck moving to the rhythm of the heart. He was so used to being constantly with Abraxas that he forgot the passing of time and no longer spent time chasing hares. Abraxas was having his mid-year exams and had been busier than usual and since girls had tended not to leave him alone since his date with Monica, he hadn't emptied his venom as much. He felt his head was going to explode soon if he didn't fix his problem and Corban was there, with his beautiful long hair and a darker blonde than Abraxas.

"Seth?"

Seth glanced around to make sure no one was near them and grabbed Corban by the collar, pushing him to the wall behind him.

"Seth? Did I do something? Did I say something?" Corban said hurriedly before gasping in surprise as Seth's eyes turned black. Seth was breathing fast, and his headache suddenly got worse. "You...you're hurting me." Corban moaned.

Seth realized that his hand wasn't holding Corban's collar, but he was pulling his hair and preventing him from moving with his other hand and the positioning of his arms over him.

"I... I need... I have to... Abraxas." Seth said uneasily, his teeth growing despite himself.

"Seth...Seth...it's okay...it's okay." Corban repeated. "Do you do that often with him? He's not dead, so go ahead… if it helps, I'm here.'' Added Corban hastily. ''Do not kill me. You are my friend. I know you are.''

Corban's heart raced even more, and as Seth stopped thinking at all, he sank his teeth into Corban's neck, releasing the accumulated venom and removing the pressure that had lingered in his skull for several hours.

"SLYTHERIN!" yelled the Sorting Hat, choosing Seth's house.

Corban watched him walk towards the Slytherin table and was delighted to be able to join him when the Sorting Hat chose the same house as him.

"Why more cockroach juice? Corban, what is that?'' asked Seth holding a burrowing cockroach between his fingers during their potions lesson.

Corban laughed and moved closer to help extract the cockroach juice.

Seth grabbed a bludger with one hand in the great hall.

''Woahh! You are strong! Holding a bludger like that!'' said Corban next to him.

Corban imagined Seth hugging him with those strong arms.

"Can you imagine? He's a Prince!"

A prince? Vampires? It would explain so many things. Is he really a vampire?

"Hey, you're not going to let Quidditch tryouts go again this year, huh? Our Seeker is really pitiful...'' Corban said as he stroked the unicorn.

"Tryouts...it's tomorrow, right?" Seth asked and Corban grinned.

Finally, he may be able to notice me.

"Damn Seth, what the hell is that?" Corban asked seeing the thing Seth was most afraid of.

He is afraid of being a monster like the others think of him? It's horrible.

Vampires free to commit murder again, Ministry under investigation.

The Vampire King's son, Seth Vulken, a student at Hogwarts School. Are students in danger?

He doesn't want to say it. I will never push him to say things he is not ready for.

"You have pointy ears." Yaxley said as he sat down next to Seth on the train.

Corban felt weird and thought of something else, then his attention returned to Seth's ears again. No, this is not a normal trait. No, he's a vampire. He doesn't want to say it.

''They won! They won!'' Corban shouted after the international Quidditch match was done.

Corban hugged Seth for a moment, smelling his sweet scent that was driving him crazy.

Corban saw Seth and Abraxas come out of a closet together and couldn't help but imagine that he was the one in Abraxas' place. That Seth would look at him the same way he looks at Tom. Will he one day have the courage to confess his feelings to Seth?

Seth released Corban and wiped his mouth as he pulled away from him.

"Corban...I...I'm sorry." Seth muttered, realizing what he had done, but also trying to sort out what he had seen in Corban's memories.

"It's okay… I'm fine. Can you cure this before someone sees us?'' Corban said holding his neck from where the blood was still slowly dripping.

"Uh…yes." Seth said hurriedly before pulling out his wand and casting the healing spell on Corban's neck.

Corban thanked him and cast several Tergeo, the cleansing spells, to make sure there was no more blood, or whatever, on him.

"You have…you still have blood on your face. Do you want me to take that off?'' asked Corban.

Seth was now looking at Corban differently and was speechless. Corban approached him and wiped his face with a handkerchief since he hadn't answered.

"Corban... I..." Seth hesitated.

"It's okay." Corban repeated again. "You don't have to talk to me...I'll go back to class, okay?"

Corban picked up his bag which had fallen to the ground and walked backwards for a moment before turning and going towards the ancient runes class.

Seth watched Corban disappear down another hallway. Corban knew what he was, and he was in love with him. How was he supposed to react? How was he supposed to talk to him, that he did not have those feelings for him?

OoOoO

December 22, 1942

Corban hadn't changed his attitude towards Seth since… he drank his blood. He continued as if nothing had happened, but Seth was uneasy. He couldn't help replaying the memories he had seen in Corban's blood. From the very beginning, Corban had always been fascinated by him. Besides, Seth liked him very much, but would never have believed that he would have to face a situation like this.

"Why should you care? He loves you and won't say anything. Good for you, right? Next year you'll have another source of blood then.'' Abraxas said.

Seth heard the jealous tone all too well when Abraxas told him about Corban now.

"And you, Malfoy? I know very well that you don't look at girls anymore and that you reject all advances from those you had conquered.'' Seth said.

Abraxas opened his mouth to speak, then closed it. He lifted his chin proudly.

"It's... hard not to have feelings for you, Seth. I got to know you, it's true, and you really have it all.'' Abraxas said.

"Abraxas, I can't offer you offspring and I can't… I can't return someone's feelings." Seth explained, feeling his heart sink at the thought.

"Any woman can carry my child. I don't need to love her for that. And why couldn't you love someone?' Abraxas asked.

"I have no idea how many years I can live. I could very well be immortal. I don't want to have to live with someone I would have to see perish before me." Seth said before suddenly thinking of Tom who was immortal now.

Seth closed his eyes and sat down on the main stairs where several students passed by them with their suitcases since it was Christmas vacation. His own suitcase was by his side, and he had to take a portkey to Egypt.

''I see. Anyway, you have plenty of time to think about it. See you in two weeks, Seth." Abraxas said before walking down the stairs, his suitcase floating behind him.

Seth sighed and stood up as well. Although he had successfully passed his Apparition exam a few days ago, Seth was granted the right to portkey to Egypt to see his parents, since the distance was too great to Apparate there. He was therefore brought forward to the Vulken mansion. The house was gigantic, but that did not surprise him since his parents had always lived in a castle. He saw several servants, at least he believed them to be servants, who were engaged in tending the grounds.

Upon seeing him, the servants stopped what they were doing briefly to bow to him, then resumed their work. Seth raised his eyebrows, but still, he looked a lot like his father and sported his family's vampiric traits. He continued to the door where he was greeted by a fiery red-haired vampire and he was very eccentric. He even cracked a rude joke before Gellert's voice echoed throughout the mansion.

"ANTON!"

The named Anton screamed and fell to the ground holding his head and that's when Seth realized that Anton must have been sired by Gellert. He also saw the latter coming down the stairs in front of him.

"Seth..." Gellert said.

"Can I talk to you?" Seth asked as he helped Anton up.

"Hn. You are asking for permission? You're the prince, and I have no idea why you're helping that good-for-nothing. We can go to a living room or in my office.'' Gellert said wearily.

"That good-for-nothing? Why did you sire him then?'' Seth asked venomously.

Gellert's face contorted and he gritted his teeth. Anton took a step back and apologized.

"It wasn't my choice to be link to a… muggle." Gellert said.

Seth looked at Anton who looked innocent and shrugged.

"My father imposed a childe on you?" Seth asked, surprised.

"My office." Gellert said turning around and heading back up the stairs.

"Nice to meet you, Anton." The prince said before following Gellert.

"Me even more, nin còon." Anton replied.

When they entered the office, Gellert closed the door behind him, and Seth was impressed by all the objects slowly flying around. Several bookcases filled with books covered the walls, and a large, animated, portrait of a fire-breathing black dragon probably hid a chest behind it. The room was wide and there was a large desk with an object he did not know and several documents which were all placed in an orderly fashion.

"I would think you're not a prisoner here." Seth said.

Gellert sat down in his desk chair.

"I don't have the right to do what I want. Still, I have to say it's better than the cell I was in." Gellert said.

"How did you do that?" Seth asked pointing to the floating objects.

Each was endowed with different magic and yet Gellert could not do magic.

"Runes. Even devoid of… well, anyway, I can make potions too.'' Gellert said.

Seth frowned, confused, because making potions mostly required a wand.

"Do you have your old wand?" Seth asked.

Gellert smirked, but quickly disappeared. He opened his drawer to his right and pulled out a long wand from a case. Seth recognized the wood of an aspen, but did not know what the heart contained and, like everyone else, the energy that emanated from it was unique. Gellert held it between his fingers and turned it quietly.

"I feel…I feel my magic is there…my wand resonates at me like it always did, but…something is blocking." Gellert said looking at Seth.

"Do you have a theory?" Seth asked, taking a seat in front of Gellert.

Gellert's eyes went to the window where the rain began to fall. Gellert sighed irritably and put his wand away.

"What do you want, Seth?" Gellert asked.

Seth tilted his head.

''What is happening? You're not using your powers against me now?'' Seth asked.

Gellert had his hands on the desk and Seth saw his fists clenching.

"Im tur- ú- ceri- ùqua bo cin." Said Gellert in Venthyr.

His father had therefore made sure that Gellert could not use his powers against him or even hurt him in any way. Seth looked down for a moment, then remembered why he had come to see him. He decided he shouldn't feel sorry for someone like Gellert Grindelwald.

"Dumbledore's wand, which was yours… what's so special about it?" Seth asked.

Gellert seemed to be ruminating and a twitch appeared above his upper lip.

''Why?''

''Answer my question. Why did it have the same energy as another object?' asked Seth.

Pause.

"Another item?" Gellert asked as he walked over to his desk, now all ears. "What object? Tell me.'' He insisted.

"A ring. A ring with a stone.'' answered Seth.

Gellert's face lit up. He walked to the bookcase to his left. He picked up a book and tossed it to Seth.

"The tales of Beedle the Bard?" Seth asked questioningly.

"Read the fifth story." Gellert said.

Seth raised his eyebrows, but if that were to answer his question… so he started reading the fifth story called The Tale of Three Brothers. When he was done, that was where everything seemed to end up with the answers.

"It's not just a story then?" Seth asked, thinking furiously, especially about what he had discussed with Dumbledore. "Dumbledore knows it?"

"Of course, he knows." Gellert said, standing behind his desk. "Dumbledore always wanted power like most wizards. He does not actively seek it, because he knows very well what he would do with it.''

Seth remembered when Gellert had just been imprisoned in the cell on Vulken Island. The latter had just been beaten in a duel by Dumbledore, but his opinion of him was very different then.

"The wand isn't almighty if Dumbledore managed to...get it." Seth said. ''What happened?''

Gellert placed his hands behind him and shook his head.

"Dumbledore had a sister…named Ariana. She was very unstable and very possibly had a creature inside her named Obscurus. I think you know what that is?'' Gellert asked and Seth nodded, having read all of Norbert Scamander's books a long time ago. "Well…one day, when Albus and I were at odds…his sister and his brother Aberforth were also present. There was a series of spells being cast until one of us… one of our spell… hit Ariana." Gellert related with a tone of voice that sounded like regret.

Seth then guesses what could have happened.

"You killed her, didn't you?" Seth asked.

Gellert nodded.

"Yes, and he doesn't know, because Ariana had done something that blinded us, but I had time to see my spell that deviated towards her. Albus lives in the ultimate torment that he thinks maybe it was him… Finally, when he managed to break the blood pact that we…"

"A blood pact?" interrupted Seth.

"Hn. A promise bound by blood..." Gellert said looking back at his bookshelf where he picked up another book and placed it on his desk. It was titled Blood Rituals. "We were young… and he… (…) When we fought for the last time as I was almost at my goal, at the last moment… I remembered Ariana, and I hesitated. This wand feels everything, Seth, and in that very short moment, Albus disarmed me."

"You love him." Seth said.

Seth couldn't see any other reason why there would have been so much tension between men, so much history and tragedy.

"There was a time, perhaps, when you would have asked me the question and I would have answered you differently. But today, no. Love has been replaced by bitterness. Getting betrayed by someone who's all for you is the worst feeling you can have." Gellert whispered.

Not knowing what to answer, Seth then took the book from the desk and leafed through it to the blood pacts.

Ritual involving two individuals wishing to seal a promise with their lives.

Seth frowned.

"You managed to break your pact?" Seth asked, since both of them were still alive.

"There are two ways, apparently. In our case, I wanted to kill a wizard who turned out to be a Dumbledore, and since my promise was never to harm Dumbledore in any way...I didn't know that it concerned his whole family, and the pact broke. That's not when we had our final duel… The other way was for both sides to break it the same way that created it, but I still refused because all Albus wanted , it was to stop me, in the projects that he had previously followed me.'' Said Gellert in a hard tone.

His lip twitched again, and he smashed the pencil he had picked up as he spoke. Seth realized what Gellert had sought to accomplish, and Dumbledore had not liked Gellert's methods of achieving it, even if it was for the greater good.

"I'm sorry Gellert. I understand what you wanted for wizards.'' Seth replied. "It's... it's kind of like me, in a way... what I want."

"Bitterness." Gellert repeated, tossing the pencil pieces into the trashcan by the desk. "Are you staying here over Christmas break?" Gellert said wanting to change the subject.

"That was my intention." Seth replied who didn't want to remember the mansion as a place where they had killed Moody.

''Alright. Let me show you around town then, hm?' Gellert said.

"Of course, Gellert." Seth said.

Venthyr Translation

"Im tur-ú-ceri-ùqua bo cin."

"I can't do anything against you."