Aberforth knew where it was hidden. He dug around the earth near the end of Diagon Allley. THis was the same area where Albus and Gellert cemented their friendship and eventually admitted their feelings. They also started lightly planning and talking about dreams in this spot. This spot was behind Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlour and also directly behind a shop in Knockturn Alley. The back of the 'Pinky's-Velvet Cauldron Brownies' shop, from Knockturn Alley, was directly 8 feet from the spot. Some woods separated the back of that Knockturn Alley Shoppe from. The spot was also directly 3 feet behind the back of Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlour.
Aberforth saw them together many times. Gellert would grab brownies from 'Pinky's-Velvet Cauldron Brownies'. The knockturn bakery is owned by a hag, Pinky who made pink velvet brownies from fresh strawberry frosting mixed in a blondie to recreate the texture of brownies without cocoa. Her shop used mango or kakao butter in place of cocao. She reinvented the blondie.
Gellert would also grab sherbert iecream, that was half red velvet toppings, from Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlour. It was a ritual for them. They met at this spot for cauldron brownies and sherbet ice-cream right until the day of the 3 day duel. They only met in that spot again, right after Gellert appealed to the International Confederation of Wizard to breach the Statue of Secrecy and end WW2 by subjugating the muggles.
Abeforth was in the woods behind Pinky-Velvet Cauldron Brownies Shoppe, nearby with other aurors, as Albus waited behind Fortescue for Gellert. Aberforth and the other aurors cast chameleon charms on themselves. Dumbledore was wearing a hexed inside-out Bluebell necklace, and Gellert soon came into view, wearing the same wreath necklace. The necklaces were charmed so they couldn't visibly lie or betray each other. As Gellert approached Dumbledore, Aberforth and the aurors moved closer to hear.
"These necklaces still feel new, we should've started a business selling these," Gellert said, holding a brownie.
Dumbledore glanced down at the necklace, "indeed, they're quite quaint, but too much ambition never ends welll, Gellert. We often lose sight of what we can do for our community."
"We lose sight when we step back," Gellert countered.
"Not interfering in the bloodiest muggle conflict in history, to prevent a bloodiest magical conflict in history, is not taking a step back," Albus countered as well.
"Imperiusing the third reich, the Soviets, the Imperial Japenese army, and Mussolini to make them obecome slaves to their victims or harm themselves is hardly going to cause us wizards to have our own world war," Gellert sneered.
Just as he spoke, air raids went off in the distance, from London. Wizards around them begin strengthening the giant ward over Diagon Alley, and cellers were open for people to enter. Protective Enchantments were cast around Diagon Valley by many wizards, but they werent enough to repel a bomb or a fire feom nearby forests.
Gellert, Albus, Aberforth, and thr aurors unconsciously created strong protego shields, but neither were 100% confident those protego shields would stand against muggle bombs, that might accidentally fall on the Diagon Alley by accident. Or planes that might be shot down, or whatever, and fall on Diagon Alley.
The nazi muggles were blitzkrieging forests, nor knowing magical communties were hidden among the forests. Even after Gellert walked Hitler through avoiding attacking hidden magical communtiss, the Third Reich were careless and put magical lives at risk. Sometimes they'd set the forest Diagon Alley was in, or the forest nearby in fire. Hirohito ytried the same in Oregon, US. And simialry despite Gellert walking Hirohito through avoiding bombing magical communities, the Hirohito was putting magical lives at risk.
The entrance to Diagon Alley from London was shut down, The Leaky Cauldron was in rumbles, despite strong protective Enchantments, like the rest of London. Muggleborns had to go to the brick wall that was standing, or come from the side of Diagon Alley that faced a valley. Both options were undesirable. The bombing of The Leaky Cauldron cost Hitler some magical allies in Germany.
"Pity, we are hiding while the lunatic muggles are hellbent on destroying the world," Gellert commented. "When we can simply take over right now and end this war. I fail to see how the sacred 28 in Wizangamot will kickstart magical world war if we stop these mental muggle facists and communists in their tracks."
"I think this muggle war is a great example of how the Greater Good isn't good for anyone," Albus countered. "I hear Chuchhill has joined forces with Stalin. By your logic we can say Stalin is good for us because he will stop the Axis."
"And yet we can't win this war without Stalin, he is in the same boat as us, his people have faced racial genocide," Gellert replied. "A friend of an enemy is a friend. Some things we do in necessary start out as harsh, but they restore the world order."
"He doesn't have any people," Dumbledore replied. "He's angry because Hitler dared to attack the Soviet Union and degrade the Soviets. The muggles are simply trading crazy dictators for another crazy communist, as you saw in your visions."
"Then why don't we stop it? The point of this is to do what we need to for humanity," Gellert replied. "Muggle born children and even pureblood children cannot fight off muggles and are being taken to concentration camps! Some become obscurals and have an obscural outburst. Others are helpless at the mercy of muggle madmen! Our kind is being hunted!"
"The muggles have to do what they can to end this conflict, they will not let Stalin keep any power either. And us wizards are doing all we can to aid the Allies muggles in their war effort, we are dismantling those camps when we find them, we're saving all the children we can," Dumbledore said. "Wizards cannot get invovled at any cost, the consequences after such a bloody conflict can be devasating. Wizards have never taken over or interfered with muggle government or wars in the past. To do so would mean allowing unknown horrors to transpire. Imagine if we do as you suggest and some muggleborns or self serving wizards in the third reich decide to restore the third reich. We can have magical holocausts at smaller scales, but virtually unstoppable. The horrors of the gulag or Imperial Japanese army, recreated by wizards can be catostraphic. It will be hard to monitor this behavior at a smaller scale. If we involve magical creatures, our world is doomed. Nay, we best let muggles get past this conflict. They got past the many religious conflicts of the past and moved forward. They got past WWI. They will get past this too. If we interfere, they won't. And we'll become them becuse we wok be avle to handle the power."
"We haven't quite stopped witch hunts yet, in fact the Allies will have a witch hunt with the Soviets within the next decade. And while we're still unsure about the future of this war," Gellert replied. "My seer powers tell me this much. Yet I don't see wizards having witch hunts."
"If the Allies will have a witchhunt for the Soviets, that means this war concludes before the next decade," Albus replied. "If it takes wizards to have their own witchhunt, 644 years after muggles first started having peaks of witchhunts, then we're doing the right thing by staying out of muggle affairs."
Gellert sneered, and Aberforth was sure he would do something if the necklace on his neck prevented him from attacking Albus. Finally Gellert met Albus' eyes, "we'll have to agree to disagree. You keep relying on insane muggles to run societies. sanely. Meanwhile I'll have more faith of wizards to act civilized and not become muggles. If you excuse me I'm not going to wait out a muggle hellfire to be put out, I will do something before they drop muggle bombs on me."
"And the entire Wizarding Government is taking the right action to end this conflict in a way that benefits humanity," Albus replied. "We won't let panicking muggles, cause discord or chaos in our own magical communities. That's how this war started, Gellert. Dont appeal to Adolf or Hirohito."
"And that's all this war will bring, but you want to put all your eggs in one muggle basket," Gellert replied. "I will however have Hirohito and Adolf's ear and headquarters when I feel it makes a difference. I will give Mussolini a goodnight peck everyday if I have to, for the Greater Good."
"Only time will tell Gellert," Albus said.
"Does humanity even have time Albus?" Gellert disappearted away with aan angry swish of his cloak and a flash. The noise blended with the noise of people crying.
Aberforth eforth started searching in the spot, that was nestled between sparse trees. He begin digging in the earth with magic. He magically dug near a lemon tree, the owner of Florean Fortesquie made lemon sherbert for his two most loyal customers. There was also a farm nearby that used to magically grow grade A vanilla beans. The owners of Pinky Velvet's Cauldron Brownies made vanila brownies for their two most loyal customers too. Gellert liked vanilla beans.
Aberforth kept digging in the spot between the lemon tree and empty vanilla bean farm. He used magic to upheave the dirt, the lack of noise helped him not draw attention to the death eaters that were patrolling Diagon Alley. Suddenly something shiney and metal flew out along with the dirt it landed in one of the piles of dirt. Aberforth leaned over and picked it up. He held it up by its slender handle. "Gellert," he spoke clearly, gazing into the object.
A minute or two later, Grindenwald's confused face appeared in the object. It was a two way mirror. "Alberforth?"
"He let you keep it in Numengard," Aberforth muttered.
"What do I owe the pleasure of this housecall to," Gellert asked. "Have you fallen for me as well?"
"Don't be delusional," Aberforth snapped. He looked around the cast a muffliato charm. "I heard some truths about what happened that day... from Ariana's portrait." He didn't wait for Gellert to reply, he apparated back to Hogg's Head Inn. Once inside, he peered down at Gellert. "So Albus let you keep it when he locked you away?"
Gellert laughed, "you know what they say, old feelings die hard."
Aberforth snorted, "how long were you two having midnight chats for?"
"Lets just say I heard about Harry Potter quite a lot. I heard enough that I also know his sidekick Ron Weasely's likes and dislikes. I also heard about his other sidekick Hermione Granger. And I heard way too much about this Snape person. And I heard a lot about Tom Riddlejr, the nutcase running around who thinks he can have his photo next to mine in Auror offices," Gellert giggled. "But enough about that, what is this truth that Ariana's portrait told you that made you call me for a late night chat? How did you even find the other mirror? Albus had enough of our on and off relationship and buried the mirror. The jealous bloke didn't want me to talk to anyone else."
"Ariana's portrait informed me that you didn't fire the spell. And your spell protected us when her obscural powers went out of control, causing your elder wand to bounce her volatile magic back to her. Your elder wand saw her obscural explosion as an attack on you because it would've killed you. You indirectly killed her by bringing that elder wand to our house, but you didn't intentionally fire fatal curses near her," Albeforth replied. "Yes, she knew you had the elder wand. She was very resourceful. Finding that mirror wasn't rocket science. You two met at that spot between Florean Fortesques and Pinky Velvet's Cauldron when you were at war too. It was obvious he would bury it between the lemon tree and vanilla bean farm the owners had just for you two."
"We like being obvious," Gellert replied. "As for the canary, she could never stay silent. That's why Albus gave me the mirror before I was locked away."
"She would never keep this from me," Albeforth replied. "She wanted me to figure it out myself."
Gellert smirked at Albeforth. "Look how long it took you. So why did you contact me for this therapy session? Do you need to rant some more?"
Aberforth forth gave him a withering look, "I didn't call you for a trip down memory lane. Albeforth walked downstairs from his flat to the Hoggs Head Inn pub. The pub was warddeed and closed for the night. "I take it you're keeping up with your sucessor? Albus has caught you up to speed?"
Gellert snorted, "he's ruining the name of dark wizards everywhere. I'm expecting a cliche house call from him soon. Why?"
"I'm sure you'll be having uncontrollable laughing fits while he takes you down, while you're wandless," Albeforth said, dryly. "I'm dead certain. Want to bet on it, Ariana?"
Gellert noticed Ariana's portrait on the opposite wall, for the first time. "Nice to see you again Ariana," Gellert crooned. "Let me place my bet too. I don't think I will be able to stop my laughing fit if that clown comes to my cell asking for the elder wand like he most definitely asked neighbors for sugar his whole life. His inability to keep track of who his stooges fight, is bringing tears of laughter to my eyes right now."
"You heard it from the scoundrel's mouth himself," Ariana's portrait replied, "it's not much of a bet if we all bet on the same side, Albeforth."
"Perhaps not," Aberforth muttered. "But we can confirm you are willing to say his name despite the trace."
"I prefer the clown's given name, Tom Riddle," Gellert laughed. "not even Albus and I had nicknames or the lord bullshit. I brought nations to their knees, while tricking fascists to make room for my agenda in their psychopathic agendas. This clown can't control his group and stop their school day agendas. I don't say his name so I don't have to see his botched nosejob face sooner then I have to. That is the most insulting thing to my legacy. This clown with a botched nosejob compares himself to me, Grindenwald."
"Wow, you talked to Albus a lot after Numenguard," Ariana said, dryly.
"Who do you think he vented to about Harry and Snape," Grindenwald replied. "I also heard way too much about Ron's peculiar habit of breaking rules with Harry for 6 years straight, Draco, Hagrid, Moaning Myrtle, Peeves, The Weasley Twins, Flich, Snape, and Hermione. My favorite rants were about that last surviving House of Black heir. What a fitting heir for that family. Sirus I is rolling in his grave, and I love it!"
"So now you have to start where Albus left off," Aberforth told Gellert. "Your manipulations are scarier but you're more direct than Albus, I'll give you that."
"How do I do that from Numengard? Maybe you and Albus should've thought of that before calling me at midnight to trauma dump about Tom, Harry, or Snape," Gellert replied, rolling his eyes. "If I wasn't in Numengard, Lord Clown would be licking my boots right now. If you want me to read his mind when he makes a house call, call me again."
"I have a more tempting offer," Aberforth cut in. "Albus' plan to have the fate of the wizarding world rest on a teenage pawn is great, but it's clear you were the brains behind the Greater Good. He might've been greater, but you're good at what you do."
"I'm flattered," Gellert replied. "But again how will I do that from Numengard? Do you have the elder wand?" Gellert's sharp eyes locked in on Albeforth.
"I hardly think decking Albus once makes me the owner of the wand," Aberforth sighed.
"Depends on how you swing," Gellert muttered.
"Tom's minion has it, Snape," Aberforth replied. "The blond teenage boy was supposed to kill Albus but Severus had to do it for him."
"What is this?" Gellert demanded. "The world war has destroyed this world. An orphan born from a love potion fuels his daddy issues into bcoming a weak lord. And asks his teenage minon to try to take down Albus? Kids made better dark lords than Tom back in my day."
Ariana snorted, "You were a budding dark lord by 14 and almost made Albus one too."
"I helped stop you, he annoys me too. He's a newbie. I fly get why Albus didn't stop him sooner," Albeforth grumbles.
"I appreciate the acknowledgement," Gellert replied. "We would never stoop to using teen minons to try to off the last century's almost-dark lord. Wartime was different, teens were good spies but they are not our army. Said teenage boy nor Snape were even aware of the fact that Albus was terminal after he touched the cursed ring horocrux. Or maybe Snape knew... Why didn't Albus tell me?"
"What are you on about?" Aberforth demanded.
"Dear Albus was hunting horocruxes with Harry and touched the ring horocrux he found at the Gaunt house. The clown's mother was a Gaunt, the heir of Slytherin. Albus realized he didn't have long after he touched that ring so he had Snape cast the curse to fulfill the promise to Narcissa, and earn the clown's trust. He knew Draco couldn't do it. Everyone knew Draco couldn't cast a kiling curse at Albus. Everyone except the clown," Gellert explained. "He was Greater Good material until the end... I would've done some things different but merlin he was still going strong until the end."
"What things?" Albeforth asked.
"For one, I would set up Draco so it looks like he had a lucky chance, so Snape looks even more loyal to clown. Secondly I would've begin horocrux hunting before Harry came to Hogwarts. Why did Albus put that off? All he had to do was look into mysterious deaths or tragedies. There was a tragedy about the Riddles that made headlines. Albus didn't think to look into that sooner after a suspicious named Riddle disappears after Hogwarts and a lord clown appears soon after? Third, I'd get goblins to get that horocrux clown accidentally made on Harry, out. But if Harry sacrifices himself to the clown, at least he will protect his side by using the same sacrifice magic his mother did. And the clown, who resurrected with Harry's blood, the same blood that protects him, can't even kill him," Gellert replied.
"This is why you will take over where Albus left off," Albeforth replied. "In the way only you can."
"Have you convinced the international confederation of wizards to free me?" Gellert asked.
"I'm not insane," Aberforth replied. "I'm going to do a body switching ritual. The same one you tried with Joseph," Albeforth informed him.
"Maybe next time listen to me," Albeforth replied. But he locked gazes with Aberforth eforth. "Are you saying you're going to take my place?"
"Merlin no," Aberforth replied. "I'm going to switch you with a bonded house elf, who took an unbreakable vow to never go against me. Or go out of control like you."
Gellert was silent for a beat. "Am I going to fight clown, directly or willl Harry do it?"
"You're going to help Harry," Albeforth replied. "It will be suspicious of a house elf duels clo- Tom and raises a nationalist army.
"How will you get me out of this cell," Aberforth replied.
"I'll start the ritual as he comes, so your soul and the house elf's soul wil be in a limbo as you switch bodies. No spell or potion can interfere with the body switching ritual once it has begin. Tom won't be able to cast any curse on you but you wlil have to fake your death. My other elf is spying on Tom, and will alert us when he travels to Numengard. My other elf ahs switched bodies with Nagini for now, to help us keep tabs on Tom."
A month later nagini came to Hogs Head at dusk. While nagini's soul was trapped in Daphne, the house elf's body. Daphne took an unbreakable vow against attacking them. Daphne/Nagini was tied up under Hogss Head Inn. "When I'm back to my body, I will eat all of you slowly," Daphne/Nagini hissed everyday since the body switch.
"He's headed to Numengard?" Aberforth asked Nagini/Daphne. Nagini/Daphne nodded her snake head. Nagini/Daphne used her tail to make two lines in the dirt, this was their agreed upon way to communicate how long it would take Voldemort to get to Numengard.
Albeforth closed Hoggs Head Inn early after Nagini/Daphne left. Aberforth set up the ritual materials and picked up the two way mirror. "Gellert," he spoke into the mirror, and Gellert's face appeared.
"He's coming now?" Gellert asked.
"Yes, you can talk during the ritual, but don't reveal any of our plans by mistake," Albeforth told him. Aberforth begins the ritual, placing locks of Gellert's hair that a house elf got a month ago.
Aberforth hoped Gellert's big mouth wouldn't ruin his concentration. The ritual was half way underway and bored, he only felt the occasional tug during the ritual.