Chapter 115: Celebrate Good Times
"I've got it," Blaise announced suddenly. He and Gellert were stumbling drunkenly into their bedchamber after a very late meeting of all nine cabals.
"You're about to get it," Gellert replied suggestively, leaning into the dark haired wizard as he spoke.
"Ummm," Blaise made a sound of pleasure that shot straight to Gellert's groin, heightening a building urge that he was about to thoroughly satisfy. It was three days after their initial meeting with Griphook. The goblins had reached the decision to rejoin the network of cabals quickly. Gellert had met with their cabal head the previous day, then using his own new position as head of the Zabini cabal, he'd called a meeting of all eight cabals to announce the return of the goblins.
Bogrod, the head goblin at Gringotts, was also the head of the ninth cabal. Not very subtle, but what with no one even knowing that the ninth cabal was anything more than some old legend with no real truth behind it, Gellert supposed it hardly mattered. The eight cabals were all extremely welcoming to the goblins. They were glad to have them back on board, even if they'd previously believed the ninth didn't even exist. Of course Gellert was made much of for figuring that out and he wasn't about to say that he did not find this justified admiration flattering as well as richly deserved. The return of the goblins warranted a celebration. As such, everyone had gotten quite drunk as well as quite full on delicious Italian food. The cabals seemed to enjoy a good celebration. Gellert found that he rather liked that. He'd been so serious during his earlier ventures nearly a century ago. He enjoyed the change.
"I think I've figured out a way for we magical folk to all have even more freedom to go about our daily lives around the Muggles, Muggles be damned," Blaise said. I think my ideas would work best if we had goblins and elves helping out, because working with Kreacher has only solidified my theory that the various magics when combined together can do great things. I'm thinking enchantments on the very sidewalks, and streets for a start. You and I are THE enchanters, after all, and if anyone can manage it, it's us."
"You're saying that we enchant the literal streets and sidewalks so that Muggles can walk at our side and not see what we're doing even if we're casting spells right in front of their faces?" Gellert asked.
Blaise smiled, clearly pleased that Gellert was following his train of thought so easily. "That is exactly what I am saying. It shall take a bit to work it out, but I'm certain we can manage it. When elves and goblins are able to play more active roles in society, they shall benefit from the freedom the plans I have in mind will afford as much as shall wizards and witches. Therefore they should be eager to help.
Clearly we'll be weaving disillusionment into the foundations of the very streets, but we shall need other spells besides. Not only shall we need to be invisible, but we shall require the Muggles not to hear us as well. And at those times that we must be seen and heard, we will require them not to truly register or notice what they see or hear. So there will be more subtle spells involved. It shan't happen over night by any means. Still, if we work at it, I believe we will have the freedom we've all always wanted without having to fight the insane fear and greed that is basic Muggle mentality.
"I like it," Gellert said. As he spoke, he pushed the door to their bed chamber shut with an elbow before turning fully to face Blaise. Drawing the other man against him, he allowed himself to relish the feel of their bodies pressed together; the perfect way they fit like two pieces of a puzzle. "I wish I'd considered your ideas back when I first realized that we could not continue to live under the Muggle thumb, but then again, I did not have you to help, and I did not have the resources of goblin and elf magic. Not to mention, the Muggles were dropping bombs and I really felt they should have those dangerous technological abilities nipped in the bud as it were. I still do, in fact, but that is another matter."
Blaise nodded gravely. "And one we shall certainly need to attend to, but one thing at a time."
"Indeed," Gellert agreed. "So much is going to change. I love it," he said, not bothering to hide his excitement. "And I love that we shall be a part of it together. We shall do great things with our cute little cabal of goblins!"
Blaise laughed in pleasure as he leaned into Gellert. "I'm ready to start doing great things now. Although..."
"What," Gellert asked.
"Just I wouldn't call the goblins cute to their faces or anything." Though Blaise kept his tone nearly solemn, Gellert could see the laughter in his eyes. The room was dim, but Bramble had left a lamp burning on their bedside table. The light that it gave off was quite sufficient to allow Gellert to see all that he needed to see. His eyes devoured Blaise hungrily. "I will keep that in mind," he said, almost as solemnly. When his lips met Blaise's, he forgot everything else. Only Blaise could do this to him, and he loved it. He needed it. The fact that Blaise needed it as much as he did kept that from feeling like a weakness. Instead it was a strength. It was his inner strength. A strength he'd never known he needed, but now he knew he could never live without it.
The next morning they were awakened by a firm knock on the door of their bed chamber. "Severus Snape demands to see you at once. Bramble supposes he shall give him breakfast while he waits for Blaise and Gellert to come down." The elf's resentful voice floating to their ears through the closed door caused Gellert to smile.
"Hey Bramble! Do you want to be free? I keep forgetting to ask."
On the other side of the door, silence stretched out for several long seconds. When Bramble at last spoke, his voice was laced with suspicion. "What sort of trick is Gellert playing? Whatever it is, Bramble shall not fall for it. Gellert should find better things to do."
"No! I am being serious. Is that something you would like? To be free yet still live here as a part of the family?"
Bramble's sigh was so loud that it carried faintly through the door. "Nothing would change. Bramble... Bramble is fine. Why is Gellert asking? What does Gellert want?"
The elf's tone was almost uncertain. Gellert answered quickly so as not to risk inadvertently upsetting him. "Griphook just believes that it may be necessary. I do not want anything. Just for you to have what you want. I never thought to ask. I know Sabra and Geo love you like their own, so if you wanted freedom, they should surely give it."
Bramble sighed again. "Bramble said he is fine. Bramble has what he wishes to have. He shall be downstairs. Gellert and Blaise should hurry. Severus Snape seemed excited."
"Very well," Gellert said. As he spoke, Blaise was already sitting up in bed.
"I wonder what is going on?"
Gellert nodded, yawning as he tossed back the blankets. "Good question." Griphook likely would not be pleased but Gellert had already warned the goblin that Bramble was in charge of his choices. Said elf had not commented when Blaise and Gellert had shared the plan for the new world order with the family upon returning from Gringotts three days previous.
As Gellert got out of bed, Blaise tossed him a robe from their wardrobe. "Thanks," Gellert said, catching it and hastily slipping it over his head as Blaise did the same with his own. They attended to the morning necessities of face washing, hair combing and tooth brushing without saying much, and were downstairs within five minutes. Gellert gave a sigh of relief as the strong smell of coffee greeted him in the downstairs hall. Hurrying into the dining room with Blaise at his side, he saw Severus seated at the dining table with the parents and Bramble. He had a plate of breakfast and a cup of coffee in front of him. Blaise and Gellert had their own plates of food and cups of coffee waiting in their places. "Good morning," Gellert called cheerfully. "Thank you, Bramble. It all looks marvelous as always!""
Bramble made some sound of acknowledgment as he glared at Gellert. Gellert grinned back and Bramble's own lips twitched before he returned his focus to his own plate of breakfast.
"Good morning, boys," Sabra said, giving them both a fond smile of greeting from behind her coffee cup. "Severus has refused to tell us what he's here for without your presence so we're all dying!"
"Bramble is not dying," the elf muttered and Gellert smirked.
"Albus has made contact with Merlin," Severus said. As he spoke, his usual dour face lit with animated excitement. "He is studying at a university currently, and he and Nimue have found one another! Things appear to be coming together for whatever it is that we shall need them for!"
Gellert smiled, because that was good news indeed. "Do you think it has to do with Griphook's magical revolution?"
"Perhaps," Severus replied thoughtfully. "That would be a logical conclusion. Whether it is true or not, however, shall only be seen in time, I suppose."
"True enough," Blaise agreed as he and Gellert took their seats at the breakfast table.
"There is something interesting, though, and somewhat concerning to report," Severus said. The excitement had faded from his expression, and his usual grim countenance was back in place. "As I have told you previously, at times, the communication between Nimue and myself is not always clear. For some reason, Albus and Merlin have a clearer connection. As such, Albus was able to learn that Merlin and Nimue are already aware of who we are."
"Interesting," Gellert said, surprised. He returned his coffee cup to the table in order to give Severus his undivided attention. "I thought they were hiding and did not even fully recall why, so how are they aware of us but not fully of their own affairs?"
"Because there are apparently books about us in their world," Severus said. "Books that, while incorrect on many points, have our names in them." His scowl deepened and soured as if he'd just bitten down on a particularly bitter lemon. "As names have power, I don't like that one bit. Albus is not quite as concerned as of yet, but I don't like it."
Gellert frowned, nodding."What do you think it means?" He did not yet have speculations of his own, and was intrigued by whatever ideas the Potions Master might have.
"I do not know yet, but I do feel an unpleasant unease over it."
"Is any unease pleasant," Sabra wondered and Severus shot a frown in her direction without bothering to answer.
"Enemies," Blaise wondered.
"Probably, but who," Gellert mused.
Severus nodded. "Precisely."
"Perhaps Gellert shall eventually have a vision that can uncover more," Bramble said.
Gellert had never liked the fact that his visions came as they would, giving him no control over what he learned through them or when he learned it. "That would be nice," he said.
"Well for now, we still have much to feel good about," Geo said expansively. "The future is always an unknown even if it provides us with a false comfort to pretend otherwise. Right now, though, things appear to be improving in exciting ways, so let us just continue to enjoy that fact as we progress forward. We have a vast and growing power base at our wand tips and I firmly believe we can handle whatever comes our way. If not, we all know how to pretend to be dead. Bramble, are there any more eggs?"
At his father's words of Zabini wisdom, Blaise choked on his coffee.
Gellert burst into laughter. "As always, Daddio is wise," he said.
(Dear Reader,
Thank you for going on this Dark journey with us. If you'd like to learn more of goblin lore and what Kreacher and Regulus discovered that led up to the birth of this rebellion, you will find all these answers and more in their story, The Search Is Over. If you simply wish to get right into the rebellion proper plus more Merlin and Nimue, you will find that in Bad Romance. Of course both are here with all of our other stories. Thank you so much for reading, and stay magical!
Sincerely,
Blaise and Gellert)`