Funeral

The air in the private ceremony room of the Intelligence Bureau building was heavy with sorrow and the scent of freshly polished wood. It smelt sorrowful. Regardless of how many fresh flowers were placed around the empty casket. Irrespective of how many freshening spells went off, it smelt sorrowful.

In the center of the room lay the casket of Harry Petrov, draped with a flag bearing the insignia of the Arcane Intelligence Bureau. The mourners were few but significant, each wearing black.

The Minister of Magic, Gloria Bones, stood at the front, her expression solemn. Beside her was Nicolas Flamel, the venerable head of the Arcane Intelligence Bureau. Harry's team, his closest comrades, were seated in the front row. Behind sat the rest of the bureau, cloaked in shadows.

Sebastian held a sobbing Helena tightly against his chest, his own face guilt-stricken. Charlus was slumped over on his knees, silent tears falling to the floor, while Dorea sat beside him, her demeanor stoic and regal. Beneath her chair, a hidden hand grasped Charlus's, lending him silent support and strength. Elizabeth, her eyes red-rimmed from crying, broke away from her own thoughts as Nicolas Flamel's voice droned on.

Flamel's speech was filled with praise, recounting Harry's numerous acts of bravery and the pivotal role he played in dealing Grindelwald a critical blow from which he would never recover. Despite the praise, Flamel's voice was monotonous, each word falling like a weight upon the listeners.

"And now," Flamel concluded, "I invite Minister Bones to speak."

Gloria Bones stepped forward, her presence commanding yet respectful. "Harry Petrov was more than an agent; he was a beacon of hope and courage in our darkest times," she began, her voice steady but filled with emotion. "In recognition of his extraordinary bravery and unparalleled service, Harry is posthumously awarded the Order of Merlin, First Class, not once but twice."

There was a murmur of admiration and grief among the attendees. Bones continued, "Additionally, in agreement with the Bureau and the military, Harry is also awarded the Legion of Merit, First Class. He is the first Englishman to receive such an honor."

As the minister spoke, the weight of the accolades felt both a tribute and a reminder of the cost of war. The room was then silent as Bones stepped back, a hush falling over the mourners as they performed the last rites and approached the casket.

A Few Months Later

Setting The House In Order

A far outcry of the trenches, the tent for officers was a lavish sanctuary amid the chaos of war. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of roasted meats and the rich, heady aroma of expensive wine. Panicked house elves scurried about, carrying goblets and trays laden with food, wine, and beer, dodging an occasional spell by a drunk playing hit-and-shoot. All around, the officers guffawed while stuffing their faces with food.

At the head of the table sat Lord Goyle, a young lordling with a self-assured smirk that never left his face. He raised his goblet, filled to the brim with a deep red vintage, and took a long, indulgent sip before setting it down. His eyes gleamed with mischief as he addressed the group.

"Are we really going to execute the attack orders we received this morning?" he asked, his tone dripping with disdain. "The entire thing's a blood suicide if you ask me. Waste of good magic."

Lord Crabbe, seated across from him, threw his head back and laughed heartily. "Attack orders? I take a piss on any such order, especially if it came from muggle-borns above us," he said, his words eliciting another round of laughter from the table.

"Truly a sign of the end times," one of the captains remarked, "if we must take orders from muggle-borns, of all people."

Goyle's smirk widened. "True. True. I have no desire to follow such orders. The enemy commander is my distant cousin from the branch family. I have no intention of complicating family dinners by spilling family blood." He made a sweeping gesture with his arm, nearly knocking over his goblet. "Let the broke conscripts, blood traitors, and muggle-borns die. We, the pureblood nobility, must maintain a higher standard of life by not mucking about in trenches and such. The war will be over once the rabble dies down and their thirst for revenge fades away. Then we can negotiate with Grindelwald for a better peace deal and maintain the proper way of life."

The table erupted in cries of "Hear, hear!" as Lord Goyle made several exaggerated bows in acknowledgment. The revelry was suddenly interrupted by a loud bang that startled everyone in the tent. They whirled around to see Cassiopeia Black standing at the entrance, her wand emitting a thin trail of smoke. Beside her stood Andrew Rookwood and Abraxas Malfoy.

Lord Goyle's expression darkened as he narrowed his eyes at the newcomers. "What the hell are you doing here? WHO LET YOU IN?"

Cassiopeia raised an immaculate eyebrow. "Lord Goyle, you were scheduled to direct your troops to attack the 4th section around 11 AM. It is now 12 PM, and there is still no movement of troops. Why?"

Goyle bristled, his eyes flashing with anger. "Who the hell do you think you are? I don't answer to you. I am a Mystic Captain and an heir of House Goyle of the Sacred Twenty-Eight."

Cassiopeia stared at him, her eyes filled with boredom and disdain. "And yet, here we are," she calmly said.

"I don't cotton to such poppycock." Goyle said and threw wine at her feet and gestured at it, "There's your attack. Now scram why don't you? We have important matters to attend to."

"The high command won't be pleased by your inactivity, captain." She said. "Matters can exacerbate if you don't leave immediately for your post. This isn't Hogwarts. Your reckless endangerment of lives can make the wrong people very angry."

Goyle snorted at that. "Take it up with whoever you want. Go all the way up to General Greengrass and see if I care or if that helps you."

"Very well, Captain. Remember, it was you who chose this fate." She said and stepped back. She then unrolled her sleeve and pointed at a tattoo on her forehead.

The table laughed at their antics before an unnatural chill filled the air and an all too familiar voice spoke up. "Goyle. Goyle. Goyle." It tutted sarcastically.

The shadows across the tent lengthened and a pale figure emerged from them and the entire room panicked.

"Morrigan!" He gasped and she smiled at him.

"Still ever the low-witted gluttonous fat boy as you always were. It does make me wonder what the sorting hat saw in you to place you in Slytherin." She said. "I suppose it's another one of the many flaws in this world that I will have to correct."

"Morrigan! What are you doing here?" Goyle demanded and then kneeled on the floor grasping his groin as he huffed in pain.

"That is Major Morrigan to you. Understood, captain?" She said.

Crabbe got up to defend his friend but Abraxas was quicker on the draw and yelled "Expelliarmus." His wand was wreteched away from him. Silence prevailed in the room as Morrigan walked around the officers' tent and surveyed the various amenities present.

"Major." One of the captains braved, "We would have launched the attack but were stopped…" And glanced towards the still kneeling Goyle as the obvious cause. Morrigan was unbothered and still carried on with her inspection.

"And none of you deemed it necessary to inform high command of these obstacles?" Abraxas demanded in her place. "Sounds to me like you all were cowards who were simply hiding behind a convenient excuse."

The officers present then started to plead their case, stating that they would attack immediately at the next opportunity. But Morrigan dismissed that,

"Oh that won't be necessary, captains. You are all on trial for treason. Choosing to indirectly support Grindelwald with faulty military decisions and industrial sabotage." Morrigan said.

Goyle whimpered, "You fucking bitch. Wait till my fat-"

"Avada Kadevra" Morrigan whispered and Goyle fell dead.

She glanced at the shocked officers, "Officers, you are on the frontlines now. Liable to be summary executions if there is even a whiff of treason about you."

"That man was an example of the last bit of incompetency I will allow from you lot," Morrigan said and made a gesture. Sebastian and Helena then entered the room.

"Ah, the bureau. Fantastic timing." Morrigan said. "Lord Crabbe, formerly Captain Crabbe, can do good with your educational seminars. The rest will be disciplined by us and brought back into the fold."

They nodded at that and took Crabbe away, leaving Morrigan alone in the room with the rest.

"Going forth, all these luxuries are now banned from you. You will eat what the troops eat. Work where they work. And mingle where they mingle. You are officers in charge of the defense of the British Isles. Act like it." She said and turned to Cassie.

"Set this place on fire. Spare nothing." Morrigan ordered.

"Gladly," Cassie said and pulled out her wand again.

Morrigan turned back to the stunned officers, "Meeting in 15 minutes. Main tent."

Meanwhile, Sebastian and Helena walked to their area with the petrified body of Crabbe behind them. Ever since the Pirahannas had been dissolved, the entire team had been sent on different assignments. The last she had heard from Dorea before the bureaucratic confidentiality fell all around her was that she had returned to the unspeakable for research.

The twins were with Charlus, who was now a captain of his own squad, leading the fight in the shadows against Grindelwald. That was the extent of what he had told her. The location of the show was unfortunately classified.

To her satisfaction, the bureaucratic gods had chosen to keep her paired up with Sebastian. They were now part of the 2ndarmy which was largely overseen by Morrigan, to her bitter regret. Morrigan Gaunt had, as always, propelled herself immediately into the good books of General Greengrass. Their job was to assist the forward troops in special operations, help collect and analyze intel, and root out traitors where they found them.

"Is she always this dramatic?" Sebastian asked Helena.

"Who? Morrigan?" Helena said and he nodded.

"You have no idea who Morrigan Riddle is. Take it from me and give her a wide berth. Nothing good has ever come from interacting with that witch." Helena said.

"Gaunt." Sebastian corrected her and Helena rolled her eyes at that.

"Ah yes, the Gaunt thing. Makes me wonder what is her trick with that." Helena said.

"Wasn't she Harry's old flame that you were talking about?" Sebastian asked and Helena nodded.

"Be careful when talking about that. It's still very classified. We could go to jail or worse." Helena said and leaned in, "She still hasn't stopped rampaging, trying to find out what happened that night. If she knew what we knew, she wouldn't hesitate for a moment to torture the truth out of us."

"She would dare kill an agent of the Bureau?" Sebastian asked.

"She would flay the skin of an agent of the bureau and then kill him if she wanted," Henela said.

"Some woman Harry had," Sebastian remarked.

"You have no idea," Helena replied.

The Axis Powers

Ever since the vast explosions that rocked the German Empire, their military and industrial capacity had instantly vanished.

Only two armies remained in the face of a vengeful enemy that gave them no quarter and didn't even consider a peace deal. They were being butchered in a war of two fronts. Hundreds of Russian soldiers attacked from the East. Meanwhile, the Europeans attacked from the west. The two often launched joint attacks when the situation arose, unlike the distrust their muggle counterparts had for each other. Italy was lost a week ago and the Grindelwald-friendly minister was violently deposed by a coalition of British, American, Australian, and Canadian troops. Axis troops were now pushed far back from Poland as well.

Since then, the allies had once again undertaken landings in France and brought about their full might to bear. There weren't any more obscurus to save their hides. So it was a straight-up bitter fight to the last man.

The Allies only had one demand: Germany signed a declaration of unconditional surrender.

The noose on the black heart in Berlin was tightening evermore. A noose that Eric and Walden felt all too well on their throat. They knew what their fate would be if they ever were captured by the Allies. They were panicking.

A panic that was reflected in the strategic command. The grand hall of the German high command, usually a bastion of order and discipline, was now a hive of pandaemonium. Maps and charts littered the long oak table, each one a testament to the relentless advance of the Allied forces. The air was thick with tension. Generals and officers crowded the room, their faces drawn and haggard from sleepless nights and mounting despair.

General Walden, commander of the Axis military forces, paced back and forth, his footsteps echoing off the stone walls. "We are losing ground faster than we can regain it," he muttered, more to himself than to the assembled officers. "Morale is at an all-time low. If we don't find a way to turn this tide, we are finished."

At the other end of the table, Grandmaster Eric sneered at the general. "Cowardice," he spat. "The troops fighting in France are nothing but cowards. How can they allow the Allies to establish beachheads so easily?"

Walden stopped pacing and turned on him, his eyes blazing. "Cowardice? If your precious Blackhand had done its job and prevented the great tragedy, we wouldn't have lost three whole armies in a matter of days! Your intelligence services have been nothing short of a disaster."

Eric's face flushed with anger. "Don't you dare lay the blame at our feet! The military has failed at every turn. And where is your strategic genius now, General?!"

"We lose because your Blackhand is useless!" Walden shot back, his voice rising with each word. "You can't even locate Grindelwald, and now you expect us to clean up this mess?"

Their aides stepped in, trying to calm the two men before the argument escalated further. Voices overlapped, tempers flared, and it seemed that a physical confrontation was imminent.

Suddenly, a surge of magical energy washed over the room, silencing the clamor in an instant. Every head whipped around to the entrance, where a tall, imposing figure stood, radiating power and authority.

Gellert Grindelwald had returned.

The silence was absolute as Grindelwald's icy gaze swept over the room. He took a step forward, his presence commanding immediate attention. "Enough," he said, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. "I will not have my generals squabbling like children while the enemy advances."

The two nodded and Grindelwald relented and everyone felt their voice return to him. Without warning Grindelwald drew his wand and pointed it at Eric. A flash of green and the Grandmaster lay dead.

"The Blackhand has failed me one too many times. First with the great tragedy and now with the Giovannis." He muttered. None dared to point out his hypocrisy and patronage of Kendra Dumbledore. "I will now take personal command of it and reform it."

He then turned to Walden again. "General." He said and Walden straightened up straighter than a flag pole.

"Preapre the legions. We march immediately to meet the enemy head-on. They will rue the day they attacked our sacred Empire." Grindelwald said.

The First Encounter

Violent arcs of thunder and lightning lit up the night sky in a fantastic vista of magical violence as wards collided with wards. Green was overtaken by the approaching of pale white magic that countered the wards and enforced strict anti-portkey and apparition measures. Not that the Germans had any intentions of running away anymore. The higher command had issued them strict commands, not a single step back. Anyone soldier who retreated would be killed. Any commander who ordered a retreat would be killed and his family sent to the Death Camps. Camps which were no longer a secret.

As such, when numerous eldritch lights flickered across the sky, with deadly hexes and dark curses falling on them, all the soldiers could do was grimly summon shields and other defenses and hope for the best. Goetric shivered in fear as the shield of the wizard to his right succumbed to the pressure and liquified him into a pool of blood. With their defenses weakening, witches had taken to the sky on broomsticks to pepper the troops with vile concoctions and launch spells from above. Several troops broke ranks and tried to bolt but were cut down by the Blackhand militia watching them from afar. Soon the witches flew ever higher into the air and strangely enough started firing their spells into the clouds.

"What are they doing?" One of the soldiers said.

"Are they retreating?" Another said.

It was then the clouds started turning sickly green and slushy. They lost altitude and neared the ground, as if heavy with rain. It was then their CO recognized what it was.

"They transfigured the clouds?" He muttered in horror and as if to confirm his suspicions the grounds ominously rumbled and started pouring green water on them. A few soldiers laughed as the green water harmlessly splashed off them.

"Maybe it didn't work?" Goetric wondered briefly and scratched his ear. He gasped in horror as his hand easily took off his ear. He scrambled to see his comrades screaming in horror as the flesh melted off their limbs.

"Acid rain." He managed to gasp out before succumbing to his injuries.

A few miles away, Cassiopeia watched in grim awe as an aloft Morrigan with glowing white eyes red off a tomme and directed magical fire on the enemy battlements. Behind her, a dozen mages sat cross-legged her their power and countering any curses sent her way. The girl had truly ripped the sky open on German positions and was raining down hell on them. It was pretty hard to come close to that in modern times. Morrigan looked like a fey sorcerer from the Age of Legends.

"The encampments are sufficiently damaged," Morrigan spoke from above and Cassie nodded. Her voice sounded like it was coming from several different directions at once. "Order the ground forces to proceed. Their potions should keep them safe from the acid clouds."

Cassie nodded and relayed the orders to Lestrange and Abraxas Malfoy. She received a positive from them and heard the powerful rallying cries of the troops echo in the night sky. Soon the illusion was broken and hundreds of allied troops transformed back from trees, rocks, bushes, and shrubs and charged the enemy trenches. Soon they were beyond Cassie's side and all they could do was sit back and wait for the good news.

"For Britain!" "For freedom!"

Chants roared out as they charged the encampments. A series of "Reductos" raced ahead of them blasting apart the last ditch physical defenses. As the Allied forces descended into the trenches, the battle became a whirlwind of close-quarters combat. The air was filled with the clash of steel and the flash of spells.

"Stupefy!" yelled Private Weasley, his stunning spell hitting a German wizard square in the chest, sending him sprawling.

"Protego!" barked another witch, her shield charm deflecting a curse aimed at her squad. She retaliated with a fierce "Confringo!" that blasted apart a German squad huddled under a shield, clearing the way for her troops. The German defenses crumbled under the onslaught. Panic spread among the enemy ranks as the British witches and wizards overwhelmed them.

The airborne units reported as much to Casisie who forwarded the live intel to Morrigan. Soon their connection was severed and Morrigan raised an eyebrow at Cassie who nodded in negative and tried to reestablish it. Their efforts were soon distracted as a pillar of white light rose into the air with such force that it instantly vanished the rain clouds. Soon German war cries rallied the troops and in such intensity were they that they even reached Morrigan.

"What in damnation is happening, Cassie?" Morrigan demanded.

"We are trying to restore the connection as best we can, Major," Cassie replied now casting counte-curses at double time. A few of the sorcerers behind her grunted in pain. One instantly erupted into flames and was quickly ash. Another witch clawed at her eyes as if under a terrible vision. Morrigan descended and immediately severed her connection to the battlefield. She quickly went over to her support staff and saw they were gravely injured. Soon screams from the frontlines reach her and she turned to see.

All over the horizon, Morrigan saw Allied forces retreating back from the German defenses as if the hounds of hell were at their tails. She spotted the signature pale head of Abraxas Malfoy being carried by a red-headed private. Morrigan glances at his name tag before demanding,

"Private Weasley!" She barks and he stands still, "Why have you retreated? What happened?!"

"Major, it's a slaughter out there. We were there but then…. He came!" Weasley whimpered and Morrigan ordered them to the medic team. Such power, such might – it could only mean one thing, Grindelwald himself was here.

A Few Moments Ago

As the Allied forces consolidated their hold on the German trench, the air suddenly shifted. The triumphant cries of victory turned into confused murmurs as the German troops they had been fighting moments before vanished without a trace, leaving the Allied mages bewildered.

"What the hell just happened?" Abraxas muttered, looking around in confusion.

Lestrange's eyes narrowed, her senses heightened. "Stay alert! This isn't over."

Before anyone could react, a massive crack echoed across the battlefield, the unmistakable sound of mass apparition. The very air seemed to ripple and tear as the fabric of reality was twisted, and in an instant, the battlefield was filled with strange, monstrous humanoid creatures.

Standing at an imposing eight feet tall, their muscular builds and four arms made them appear as if demons had sprung from the depths of nightmares. Their faces were contorted into monstrous visages, and their skin shone with a sinister white glow that added to their terrifying presence. Rows of shark-like teeth were exposed as they smiled hungrily and looked about. The horns on their head made them look like hellspawn.

For a brief moment, there was a stunned silence as both sides took in the sight of these new foes. The creatures' shorter arms wielded staffs of strange, otherworldly designs, while their longer arms clutched khopesh swords that glinted menacingly in the dim light.

"Battle positions!" Abraxas shouted, breaking the trance. "Engage!"

The Allied forces launched an array of spells at the creatures, spells of every kind streaking through the air in a dazzling display of magical power. But to their horror, the spells simply bounced off the creatures' glowing skin, dissipating harmlessly into the air.

"Merlin's beard," Private Weasley whispered, his face pale. "They're immune to our magic!"

Before they could regroup, the creatures retaliated. They unleashed waves of energy that savaged those who were hit by it. Those who managed to dodge and get close enough to engage them physically were torn apart by the creatures' brutal strength and sharp blades.

"Fall back! Retreat!" Abraxas yelled, his voice cutting through the chaos as Allied forces died all about them. The order spread quickly, and the Allied forces turned to flee, racing back towards their front lines. The creatures pursued them relentlessly, their monstrous roars echoing across the battlefield.

Weasley was among the last to leave the trench, covering the retreat with defensive spells that bought precious seconds. "Keep moving!" he shouted, pushing a young witch who had stumbled.

Lestrange, restraining panic with occlumency, cast a powerful shield charm to slow the advancing creatures. "We need to regroup and find a way to counter them!"

"Weasley!" Lestrange ordered as he bolted, "Get out of there!"

Weasley stumbled as he fell trying to get out of the strange. He turned back to see the monstrosities standing still as he appeared in their midst. He walked amongst them as if they were roses rather than monsters from hell. A hated face that was plastered all over the news.

Gellert Grindewald was here.

He spotted Abraxas raise his wand and without moving a limb his wand was wrenched violently from his arm. And he flung back violently into the air. Grindelwald chuckled at the man's foolish bravery before turning to Weasley.

"You might want to carry him back, little one. It matters not if you reach there alive." Gellert said as he leaned in, "Death comes for you all regardless."

Present Time

Helena and Sebastian assisted the defenders as they all worked double time to raise ward after ward to reinforce their defenses. Meanwhile, Grindelwald gently strolled ahead of his monster army through the no man's land as if he were taking a serene morning walk through a garden.

A few of the airborne witches attacked him and his monster army, but with a flick of his wand, Grindelwald forced them to crash into the ground at high speeds. Helena watched through her binoculars as she described the creatures to the Bureau. Neither the magical creatures' wings nor the unspeakable had any idea of what these creatures were.

Meanwhile, the healers worked in a speedy panicked state to heal as many as fast as possible so that they might return to the frontline. They had tried to flee the place but Grindelwald was somehow preventing all magical transportation in and out from the place. It was as if their earlier defenses were non-existent.

She watched helplessly as the Grindelwald's wand glowed green and she instantly recognized it. The renowned elder wand, now wielded by the Dark Lord, was aimed at them and instantly bulldozed through their defenses. Several mages shrieked as they were unable to keep up with Grindelwald's curses and died immediately. In a panicked state, Helena turned to see Morrigan. Unlike the environment around her, she was a pillar of calm and stability. She appeared to be muttering to her ring and channeling something from it. The ring glowed green in response and enveloped her. Morrigan visibly shuddered as a massive torrent of energy flowed into her.

Her eyes glowed white again and now Grindelwald, a stone's throw away from them, looked directly at her.

"Ah, Frau Gaunt." He chuckled, "You must be the legendary prodigy who has been giving my people trouble all over Europe."

Morrigan didn't respond but raised her wand in the air and the air in front of the monsters shimmered. An invisible wall prevented them from marching further.

"Stand back." She ordered and Sebastian gestured for the troops to withdraw.

"Oho" Grindelwald chuckled, "You wish to duel me? Very well then. We shall duel and your carcass shall be a reminder to the Allies that no matter how talented, how prodigious, how powerful – none shall exceed Gellert Grindelwald in might and wisdom!"

With the Dark Lord distracted Helena turned to the mirror and coordinated with the curse breakers to break the wards surrounding them so they could escape. This might be their only chance to escape alive. Cassiopeia Black soon joined her in the effort to escape.

Realization

Morrigan and Grindelwald circled each other as troops from each side looked on.

Too powerful

Ancient horror

Demons walk the earth

The souls under Morrigan's command spoke to her, urging her to flee. But she clammed down on them and withdrew mana from their raw essence.

"Curious ring, Frau Gaunt. I will have to look it over once I'm done with you. Such sudden magical spike-" Gellert said but was interrupted by Morrigan firing at him.

"Avada Kadevra!" She roared as a grinning skull raised at Gellert who dodged it with surprising agility. Gellert then transfigured nearby rocks into fiery wolves that lunged at Morrigan. Morrigan raised her shields as the fiery creatures splashed harmlessly against her. But Grindelwald didn't stop as he turned the ground below her into a swamp that seemed determined to swallow her whole. Morrigan simply vanished from sight and reappeared behind Grindelwald who stared owlishly at her.

"You could have fled?" He whispered as Morrgian started launching a string of hexes and spells that he deflected.

"You could have fled?! And you stayed to fight me!" He roared and laughed maniacally. A spells whooshed past his ear and he grinned even more. "About time an Englishman had balls!"

Morrigan didn't respond but kept firing spells at him.

Sectumsempra!

Crucio!

Afflicto!

Gellert effortlessly blocked all such attempts and then with a brutal voice said, "Now I will show you real power!"

His wand glowed red hot and he blew such a ferocious tempest towards Morrigan that it uprooted earth, dirt, rocks, and trees in a wide arc. Morrigan conjured shields and yelled in pain as the exertion took its toll on her.

"Die damn you!" Gellert muttered as the witch resisted the spell all had fallen to save Albus. Yet she persisted. Soon crackles of electricity formed around her shield and Grindelwald's eyes widened in shock. She had split focus and was concentrating on multiple tasks!

Meanwhile, Morrigan dove deep into her occulumency and surrendered one part of her mind to maintaining the shield. Blood trickled down her nose as she focused on her lightning elementals. With the sufficient charge conjured, she roared and sent thunderous bolts of lightning at Grindelwald. A massive boom went off the battlefield as the howling wind died down and Grindelwald held the lightning bold at bay with the tip of his wand.

He grimaced as Morrigan exerted more force behind it before he vanished it, much to her dismay. But she didn't relent and went on the assault again as her elementals regained force.

"Confringo!" Morrigan shouted, sending a fiery explosion toward Grindelwald. He twirled his wand, casting a shield charm that dispersed the blast into a shower of sparks. Without hesitation, he retaliated, his voice a cold whisper, "Sectumsempra."

The air screamed as invisible blades sliced through it. Morrigan dodged with a leap, her eyes tired yet determined. She thrust her wand forward, dark tendrils of magic snaking towards Grindelwald, aiming to ensnare him. "Morsmordre!"

The tendrils twisted and writhed, seeking their prey. Grindelwald's lips curled into a sneer as he summoned a torrent of fire to incinerate them. The flames roared, but Morrigan's magic was relentless, forcing him to conjure a whirlwind to disperse the inferno. A charm indicated to Morrigan that she could lightning again. She grinned as she flew into the air again.

"Avada Kadevra!" Gellert shouted but she dodged the spell and held her arms apart turned to face the sky.

"Tempestus Invocare" Morrigan whispered.

Peals of thunder erupted all over the no man's land and as every square inch was bombarded with monstrous thunder strikes that pounded the ground and uprooted everything. It was as if Zeus was battling out with Typhon on the edges of the mountain Olympus and repeated lightning strikes struck Gellert. The bombardment continued as Morrigan grinned at the destruction wrought before her.

Her grin turned to a horror-filled gasp as through the storm she saw the wand gleam red again and a mighty fist made out of stone erupted from the earth and violently slammed her into the ground. Morrigan groaned as she felt bones shatter and the world spins violently around her.

As the dust settled, her heart stopped as she heard clapping from the darkness.

"Bravo, frau Gaunt. Bravo. Not many since Albus has made me bleed. Consider yourself one of the privileged few." Gellert chuckled.

He emerged from the darkness, his robes torn and his face bleeding from the right side. The spell had never failed in its history. It destroyed everything it touched.

Grindelwald's barely tickled. Morrigan angrily thought. A far worse, blasphemous thought crossed her brain and she was too tired to stuff it. You have lost Morrigan. You gave it your all and he is still beyond you. It said.

"Now, it's time for punishment." Grindelwald said as he aimed his wand at her back, "Crucio!"

Pain erupted from every muscle and sensory nerve as Morrigan screamed in agony. However, as soon as the curse started it ended. A series of spells from multiple wands pelted Grindelwald forcing him to peddle back.

"More lambs for sacrifice?" He chuckled as Cassie, Lestrange, Sebastian, and Helan formed a protective ring around Morrigan.

"Not today, Grindelwald." Cassie said as Helena conjured a portkey and they all vanished. Grindelwald turned to his right to see the entire Allied force had vanished as well. This entire battle was to distract him…

He blinked at the site before a series of hysterical fits overtook him and he laughed amidst a ruined battlefield.

Limbo

Harry sat across Lord Voldemort in the white void of whatever realm they were stuck in. The mutilated face of the pale Dark Lord with glowing eyes met his eyes, and Harry scowled.

"You must face the circumstances, Potter," Voldemort began. "You aren't strong enough to deal with the current situation."

Harry glared. "Whatever do you mean by that?"

"Don't act clueless." Voldemort sneered. "Even if you somehow win by a fluke against Gellert Grindelwald, you will inevitably lose against the Muggle invasion, the AI, and the myriad of other problems."

"Problems?" Harry demanded.

Voldemort's eyes glittered. "Do you honestly expect magical creatures to sit silently after what Grindelwald has done to them? No, they will revolt. That is of course if the Purebloods don't turn their sights on Muggleborns first for empowering Grindelwald. Surely somebody even as thick as you can see this coming."

Harry looked away in embarrassment. "I've done more than enough. I don't need you to help me do more."

"All you have accomplished is because of me. All you are is because of me," Voldemort sneered. "Every time Morrigan attempted Legilimency, I was the one who stopped it. Every time you had an urge to avoid eye contact or the idea to use the right spell at the right time, it was I, Lord Voldemort, who seeded the idea in your subconscious. Everything you have accomplished so far is due to my grace. Even now, it is due to me that the Sanguinare Vampiris coursing through your veins has not turned you into a vampire."

Harry's fury was uncontrollable at the allegations. "You're lying!"

He threw back his chair, but a glare from Voldemort stopped him from marching away in anger.

"Settle down, Potter," Voldemort commanded. "I have a proposal."

Harry hesitated but then sat back down and glared at him. Voldemort ignored him but continued.

"You are nowhere near strong enough to defeat Grindelwald or the Nexus Machines," Voldemort stated. "That is, of course, if the impending civil wars don't bring down the Statute of Secrecy first. As strong as Morrigan is, it will be a while before she reaches her true potential, and by then, it might be too late."

Harry frowned. "Your point being."

"With Dumbledore dead, I am the only salvation you have," Voldemort said coldly. "I will take care of Grindelwald and Nexus for you. I will even train Morrigan if needed."

"You will kill me. You have always wanted that." Harry said. "That's the first thing you will do."

Voldemort shook his head, "Our battles can and must be put on hold. You and I will swear a blood oath of neutrality. I will allow you to take whatever friends you want and depart Britain. As long as you don't interfere in my work, I won't do so in yours."

"You will have a pureblood theocracy set up the moment you leave. You are an evil far worse than Grindelwald." Harry said and Voldemort sighted at that.

"One would have hoped that your time spent with my counterpart would have taught you the rules for rulers. An error on her part." He said. "I have no intentions of doing that beyond merely ensuring that those of a proper stock rule."

Harry stared at him in annoyance again.

"We stand once again at the beginning, you need me," Voldemort said.

Harry's eyes narrowed. "What's the catch?"

Voldemort's smile was chilling. "You must make a vessel for me from scratch. A mortal host to contain my soul."

Harry stared, his mind racing. "You want a new body."

"Precisely," Voldemort said. "Do this, and I will ensure our victory and the continued existence of our kind."

Harry seemed to contemplate that as Voldemort continued.

"What I need is simple, the blood of an enemy. The bone of my father. The flesh of a servant. Everything you can readily find in this timeline." He said and Harry nodded. "Agree to me now and we will discuss our escape."

"Anything else? A portion of my soul? My true name." Harry mocked.

"Now that you mention it, there is one last thing." He said and Harry made a "what?" gesture.

"Morrigan Gaunt won't be one of those who leave with you. She will stay with me." Voldemort said, a cold smirk gracing his face as a murderous Harry glared at him.

End.

Author Notes; Read and Review.