Gellert had been watching her intensely while she was focused on the chessboard. The morning sun hit the side of her face perfectly, making her amber eyes almost glow as they were in bright contrast against her pale skin and pitch-black hair.
He had missed the sight of her, now even more satisfied with how well she had matured and what kind of woman she had bloomed. Long gone was the childish innocence she once had as a tougher, more serious and smart woman had taken its place.
He studied her as she made each move carefully, choosing not to truly risk anything. It was something she always did when she played chess, especially against him.
She never truly managed to beat him but she would always come quite close. He watched her with an intense gaze, taking in every detail of her face but his eyes kept coming back at two specific spots.
The scar that was still visible on her cheek, an ever-lasting reminder of how Wizarding superiority was needed...and her lips. More than once he found himself staring at them, wondering if they still tasted the same after all those years.
Her next question about Credence caught him slightly off guard but he didn't mind it. It was a normal logical question one would ask and proved that Roxanne while obedient and loyal, still had her own voice that she didn't hide it.
"Let us make this more interesting," he said, once again smirking. "Win this game and I will answer your question"
She looked from the board at him, her eyes trying to read his intentions. "And if I lose?" She asked next.
"You will answer one of mine," he said rather casually, surprising her. He quickly took notice of that and after he voiced out his next move and took another pawn of her, he chose to ask. "Why are you surprised?"
She kept looking at him, having already noticed her latest loss. "It's just, you can simply ask me any question whenever you want"
"That I can, but I believe it is better if that question had been earned properly" he said and watched her focusing back at the board. "I am not going to treat you the same way I treat my acolytes, If this is why you wonder"
As if he had read her mind, he pointed out a huge question that she had ever since that dinner the night prior. Deciding to continue now with her risks, taking advantage of the more private and relaxed moment; she asked.
"Why me though? Why do you need me, Gellert?" She asked and before he could speak, she continued. "Don't say because of my potion or healing skills. We are both aware you can find more experienced wizards and witches than me"
Gellert smirked and waited for her to make her move before replying, taking a moment too long to enjoy her. There was this vulnerability right now as she looked at him for answers, for reassurance.
He held the power and she could only ask in order to gain. Despite the many years, there was still this light and innocence hidden in her amber eyes; her gaze was always intense and powerful.
"Let us just say, that you have a very important role to play" he finally answered, after making her wait for too long; taking joy in making her wait and having no power to force him and make him answer faster. "When the time comes, you will find out"
He also voiced out his next move and Roxanne found her General gone in front of her eyes, now lying in pieces at the side of the board.
His answer clearly didn't satisfy her and she almost pouted her lips, something she used to do a lot as a teenager. However, now she was a grown-up woman and she couldn't go around doing such things.
The rest of the game was mostly in silence, the only sound being the commands leaving their lips as pieces from both sides were destroyed.
Not long after, though, the final battle was about to take place. Roxanne had lost a significant amount of pieces but she still had her Bishop up and even the Queen.
Gellert, on the other hand, had more pieces and also his queen intact. He had managed to corner her more than once and her chances of escaping and keeping her Bishop safe were reducing.
She was determined, however, to win and at least get some answers. Gellert made his move, feeling rather confident in his strategy. His Queen came and took down her Queen, leaving a very nice check for her.
Yet, it was she who ended up smirking once the move had been played. It took Gellert by surprise but not as much as her next move.
For he had gotten overconfident and underestimated her. Only when she voiced her move, did he understand her plan.
She used her Rook to move and take down his Queen but at the same time, it left his Bishop open for a direct hit. His Pawn and Knight, what started as a measure of basic protection for the Bishop; ended up trapping him from this sneaky attack.
"Check mate," she said with a smirk and leaned back on the chair.
She had lost almost all her pieces, having been left with two pawns, her Bishop and a Rook. It was a very risky move to sacrifice her queen for an opening and both knew it.
"This was an interesting risk. You never used to play anything but safe" Gellert pointed out but it was clear from the tone of his voice that he was both impressed and proud.
Roxanne looked at him dead in the eyes.
Despite her victory, she didn't show any signs of pride for beating him. The first time that she actually won against him was in a game of chess; he could see that she was not about to gloat.
Yet again, she was never that kind of person. Always humble and a little bit insecure, she never took pride in what she accomplished or even in the unique gifts she was born with.
"Life changes people. I had to learn how to play risky to survive" she said, her voice serious and each word passively aimed at him.
He didn't need any more information to know what she was talking about. The war was not easy, especially for a healer on the front lines. He was not present but he had heard what had taken place and even saw it a few times.
Yet, hearing her say those words did not seem to affect his opinion of her. He actually expected her to change after everything that had taken place and what she did at that game proved what he had already known from the start.
She was a survivor and a fighter. She might not look like it but she was not someone easily taken down or suppressed. This was exactly what Gellert needed the most, adaptability and being open to change.
Those opposing him simply couldn't accept the change that he was bringing. They refused to do something else to increase their chances of survival.
Thankfully, some many other wizards and witches did want such changes and it was on them he was counting on.
"You made a promise, Gellert. What do you need Credence for?" She asked after both had remained silent for too long.
Amused by her determination to find answers and also wanting to prove that he was a man of his word, he chose to answer truthfully.
"I saw a vision of an obscurus" he started, Roxanne being familiar that he was a Sheer and he could occasionally see glimpses of the future. "An obscurus would kill the person I fear the most" he explained simply.
Roxanne gave a nod, almost holding her breath at the revelation. She knew exactly who that person was. For there was only one wizard powerful enough to stop Gellert Grindelwald and even match him in a duel... Albus Dumbledore.
She did want to voice out her thoughts and remind him that they had formed a blood pact and thus Dumbledore wouldn't be able to harm him.
However, she didn't because she thought of it a little better. Dumbledore was smart and if there was ever a person to manage and break a blood pact; it would be him.
No other word was exchanged for a while, the two of them looking at one another from the opposite sides of the desk.
At least Roxanne had managed to get some vital information, all while keeping her true intentions a secret.
Not a bad second day, she thought but she would never be prepared for what would come in the following days.
She had taken the first step down a ladder that held her impending doom and no matter how much she believed that she would be able to climb back up; those hopes would never come true.
One does not simply dance with the devil and gets to lead as well. That was something she would start to learn the more time she spent with Gellert Grindelwald and did his bidding.
One could only pray that her soul would still be able to be saved by the pits of hellfire when all of this would be over.
