In The Dark,
Chapter 110,
When The New Meets The Old
He'd made it into the Cabal without even having to lift his wand. Gellert still marveled at this as he allowed the large group of loudly cheering Italian wizards who'd suddenly appeared from nowhere to surround him and shepherd him toward the brightly lit sign that pointed the way to the dining hall. "That is truly all that is expected of me," he asked, incredulous as he turned to Nonno Ermenegildo, who walked at his right side.
Nonno Ermenegildo nodded, shrugging. "You satisfied the gargoyle, and you passed the final test. That gargoyle is nearly two-thousand years old! It knows what it's about."
"So when it asked me if I would take certain vows and I agreed... I took them, did I not?" Gellert asked carefully. He understood such vows to work differently and to involve blood, but he'd already mixed blood with Geo, so perhaps that counted.
"There are many ways to make a vow, and yes, yours were made," Nonno Ermenegildo confirmed.
"Food is probably the most important part of doing Cabal business," Mauro confided to Gellert, moving up to walk at his right side as the group entered the dining hall. The air was full of the delicious smell of Bramble's cooking; a scent that Gellert knew well. He recalled reading in the family's tome that whoever the meeting was about provided the food so Bramble must have woken early to ready such a large breakfast feast. At that realization, he felt his heart swelling with gratitude for the elf's loyalty. Glancing about, he saw Bramble standing close by at Geo's side. Catching his eye, the elf shrugged. "Don't be silly. It only took Bramble an hour," the elf said briskly.
Either the elf knew Gellert all too well, or his feelings were showing too freely on his face these days. He could only hope for the former. "Well even if it took five minutes, I appreciate you," he replied. His gaze traveled the room, taking it all in at a glance as he'd trained himself to do long ago. The walls of the large dining hall were paneled in a rich solid oak that gave the place a pleasantly steady feeling. The ceiling was comprised of a huge slab of crystal that glowed brightly enough to fill the room with stark light.
Though this light was bright and clear, it somehow did not hurt or annoy the eyes, which Gellert found impressive. Though the tables were set with glittering crystal plates, goblets, and carafes, the tables themselves were made of ornately carved oak with high backed chairs to match. There were ten tables in the room, and all of them were nearly full. It appeared that not only the Zabini Cabal had come out to see Gellert becoming their new head. All the other seven Cabals were present as well.
As he and his party entered, Gellert was surrounded and shepherded to the head of the Zabini table. It had the family name literally carved into it across the center in large ornate curling letters, so he assumed most of the other tables were carved with the other Cabal names. There were a few extra tables which he assumed were for honored guests and extended families. Gellert was guided by the group that surrounded him to the head of the Zabini table. Not until he seated himself, with Blaise and Geo flanking him on either side did he notice the place mats and green cloth napkins. Both sported a silver embossed symbol of the Deathly Hallows. Clearly everyone expected him to pass the initiation. The use of the symbol he'd taken for his own over a century ago was flattering and touching. Humbling even. To be accepted into the family and the Cabal when not born into it was humbling, but they even included his personal symbol, truly incorporating him in a way he hadn't expected.
"We all lift a glass to Gellert Grindelwald, our new Cabal Head," Nonno Ermenegildo called out loudly in his rich baritone voice. He spoke in Italian, but Gellert had worked a translation charm before leaving home so he understood everything. Likewise anything he said in English would be understood by anyone to whom he spoke. He'd learned this charm early on in his career of pursuing the greater good as a youth. Having as many international dealings as he did back then, a miscommunication was the last risk he wanted to take. Though he practiced Italian with Blaise, just as Blaise practiced German with him, it was still a work in progress. Though both were passable in the other's language, neither was entirely fluent, and Gellert did not wish to embarrass the family today by making a language error.
As the elder Zabini spoke, he raised his own glass and everyone else followed suit as resounding cheers rang through the hall. For an instant frozen in time, it felt just like the old days and for that instant it was good. Once again it seemed that he had a power base for protection and doing the Greater Good, whatever that may be these days. Then something that he could only describe as fear suddenly flared to life in his chest, effectively breaking the moment.
The last time he'd had a power base or stood for The Greater Good, he'd ended up in his own bloody prison, and *she* was dead with his other followers scattered to the winds because he'd failed them. Would that pain ever fade when her face popped into his mind? Atsuko, the closest thing he'd ever had to a little sister had hollowed out a place in his heart that he doubted would ever completely heal, especially when unexpectedly prodded. She wouldn't want him to hurt like this forever, but she wasn't here to decide was she?
So he could hurt any time he bloody liked, thank you very much. Wouldn't she be proud of him now, though, he thought, unable to suppress a small smile at the vivid image that sprang to mind of Atsuko beaming proudly at him and saying something like, "You Made It... Again!" If only she were here to share this moment! But she was not, and she would want him to live in the moment. He wanted to live in the moment.
Standing, he raised his glass along with everyone else. "Thank you all, so much," he called out. With his free hand, he reached for Blaise, clasping the other man's hand and drawing him up to stand at his side. "I will do my best to give this amazing Cabal all that I am. All my years of experience are at your disposal to utilize in any way that you might require them. Blaise and I are even stronger together, our combined magical efforts easily equaling that of six powerful wizards. Our work in enchantments are also at your disposal. I am proud to have him at my side as a member of this Cabal." Suddenly his lips twitched. "He is, after all, the Great Zabini."
Many members of the family seated around the Zabini table chuckled at the way Blaise flushed at that. Gellert gave him a wink. Blaise had certainly performed some astounding moves on him that first day, after all. For that reason, he'd called him The Great Zabini a few times in fond jest. Why he brought it up right now, he did not quite understand, but it had just come out. Nerves. For once he must be experiencing nerves. Back in the old days, he'd been confident in his truth and in his goals. All he had to do was to present them to the crowds. Here, though, he was still learning the ropes, and being accepted, while greatly gratifying, was only the beginning.
Perhaps being too confident hadn't gotten him anywhere when it came right down to it, he suddenly realized. Prison wasn't the reward he'd been after. Perhaps being nervous, at least a little, less confident, at least a little, was a good thing. "I am proud and honored to be here," he concluded, then resumed his seat. Blaise followed suit at his side, his hand still clasped in Gellert's. Gellert found his gaze landing on Geo questioningly, unable to resist the urge to look to the man that he now saw as a father for confirmation on how he'd done. Geo grinned proudly at him, giving a slight nod. At that, Gellert felt his body relaxing in relief.
With the formalities seemingly done with, everyone began laughing and chatting and most importantly of all eating! Suddenly Gellert realized how hungry he was. So hungry, in fact, that he ate for nearly five solid minutes without speaking. When he did, it was to ask the table at large about the ninth Cabal that was mentioned briefly in the Cabal history. No one had anymore information on the ninth Cabal and surprisingly no one seemed particularly interested in the mystery. They all seemed to believe that it was simply a myth or something that only existed for a decade or two then merged with the other cabals. That sounded logical, but Gellert couldn't believe it along with everyone else. Apparently neither could Blaise judging by the doubtful look he slid in Gellert's direction.
Gellert returned it with a slight nod, and the slow lazy smile Blaise gave him in response melted him a little inside as it always did. That smile was just as incredibly sexy as it had been on the very first day they'd met. Blaise's full lips curving into that expression of mocking sensuality made Gellert want to kiss him then and there, but he restrained himself with an effort. Instead of day-dreaming of what he would do with Blaise the instant they were alone again, he forced himself to focus on the various conversations flowing around them at their table as well as the other nearby tables. In the old days, there had been no beautiful Blaise to distract him. He would have to learn to contend with having this constant passion with his soulmate while keeping his mind as sharp and focused as it had once been while they were having business dealings... For the greater good.