A/N: Welcome everyone this is the revised version of fire Tests Gold. The previous version was filled with spelling and Grammer mistakes. There were also some things in the original I ended up not liking so I tweaked and changed things. As before my timeline is pushed back ten years. So, Harry was born 1990 instead of 1980. I hope you guys enjoy this version of the story. Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter I'm just playing in the sandbox.
MAY 1945
A fierce storm raged, completely drenching the five-hundred mix of Witches and Wizards who stood outside Nurmengard castle. The castle stood vast and intimidating. The large spire of the castle was reeking with foul magic. The people outside all wore white battle robes with the letters ICW on them. Many were fidgeting and trying and failing to protect themselves from the storm. Several of the witches and wizards had their wands out focusing on something unseen in front of them while chanting.
A man stood unmoving watching the curse breakers even as the storm got worse around him. The man stood at an impressive six feet four inches and had smokey grey eyes and black hair that despite being cropped still looked in disarray. The man was known as Charlus Potter and was second in command of the ICW forces. Charlus Potter had one mission and that was to stop Grindelwald.
Grindelwald was the leader of A worldwide magical rebellion against the ICW and the muggles. Grindelwald believed that magical folk were superior to muggles and took great exception to the Statute of Secrecy. Grindelwald firmly believed that the muggles were threats and needed to be controlled and put in their place. Grindelwald was not alone in his beliefs and had developed quite a following from around the world. They called themselves the Alliance. As Grindelwald's supporters grew, he began to carry out his plan of magical domination.
Responding to the growing threat the ICW called the magic population to war. Many Witches and Wizards answered the call, and the Great Magical War began. For three years the war raged claiming the lives of thousands of Witches and Wizards. Families were torn apart, loved ones were killed, and children were orphaned. Finally, the war was coming to an end. The last of Grindelwald's forces had taken refuge at Nurmengard.
Charlus Potter had been fighting in the war since it started. He had just recently turned twenty and was a three-time dueling champion when he was recruited by the ICW. The Potters have had a long history of being battle mages and Charlus Potter was no exception. Charlus was deadly with his wand and used his skills to devastating effect on the battlefield. Charlus skill set impressed his superiors and found him quickly moving up the ranks. Now Charlus was second in command of the ICW forces second only to Nicholas Flamel.
Nicholas Flamel had thin white hair and pale white skin. Flamel looked like a frail old man, but he was a man of incredible intelligence. His creation of the Philosopher's Stone allowed him and his wife to live forever. The elixir of life from the stone would keep them alive from all but physical harm. Nicholas and Perenelle were very spiritual and had a deep respect for the world around them. As such Flamel dedicated his life to peace. Flamel saw no use in violence and was against it. He told the ICW he was a pacifist and refused to raise his wand against somebody. Flamel knew however that he could not sit idly by as Grindelwald killed innocent people, so he joined the war as a conscientious objector. He would not raise his wand and take a life no matter what, but he would use his brilliant mind against the enemy. Despite Flamel's aversion to war, he proved to be a game changer on the battlefield.
Charlus and Flamel were opposites, yet they worked well with each other and became friends. Flamel was the Brains who controlled the battlefield from afar and Charlus was the warrior leading the charge. Charlus and Flamel working together had been able to turn the tide of the war. Now they were hoping to end it.
The storm around them began to pick up in intensity. The wind was razor-sharp, and the rain made it almost impossible to see. The storm seemed unnatural to Charlus. He was proven right when a loud gong sound echoed throughout the field surrounding the castle. Before anyone could react three bolts of lightning came down and struck three people down. Charlus didn't even bother checking as he knew they were dead. Charlus just gazed upon the man who just arrived on the battlement. The man had blond hair and a mustache, and he had one completely black eye and one blue. The man radiated power like Charlus but in a darker way. The man was the leader of the Alliance himself Grindelwald.
" Grindelwald by the order of the ICW you are hereby under arrest for a long list of war crimes as well as violating the Statute of Secrecy. You are ordered to surrender, and your forces are also ordered to lay down their arms. Refusal to do so will result in us taking you in by force."
Grindelwald started laughing and Charlus couldn't blame him. Galvin the man who gave that speech should have known it wouldn't work. According to the ICW proper protocol was to offer any enemy the chance to surrender. Grindelwald would never surrender it didn't matter if his forces were greatly outnumbered. He would fight to the death.
"Did you think that would work? I refuse to obey A law that has us scuttling like rats in the gutter. A law that demands that we conceal our true nature. A law that directs those under its dominion to cower in fear, lest we risk discovery. Muggles are savages. Look at what they do to each other. War has seized the entire muggle world again. I barely had to lift a finger. They want to destroy each other. They are a danger to themselves and us. We Wizards have not only the power but it's our duty to protect this world from their wrath. It's for the greater good."
"Grindelwald we both know that your greater good is bullshit. You want power and you will stop at nothing to gain it. Look how much magical blood you have spilled. Your reign of terror is over."
"Charlus Potter you are going to lecture me about magical blood being spilled? I'm sure more blood has been shed from your wand than mine. I only wish to usher the wizarding world into a new world order. One in which we don't need to hide ourselves from the muggles. One where we take our rightful place as superior beings. My fellow magical brothers and sisters follow me because they believe as I do. They are the best Wizard kind has to offer. If you choose to stand in our way, then I will eradicate you like the filthy muggles you wish to protect."
"The best Wizard kind have to offer? Your two bodyguards I hardly even consider human. If they weren't on your orders, I will say the butcher is a worse piece of shit than you."
Grindelwald's two bodyguards did indeed have sinister reputations. Grindelwald's personal bodyguard and chief enforcer was Hans Kruger better known as the Butcher. A nickname he earned for his brutality to his enemies. The other man was Grindelwald's right-hand man his name was a mystery, but everyone called him the Necromancer. He was dangerous and crafty. His knowledge of obscure magic allowed him to not only raise an army of the dead but also unleash unimaginable horrors on his victims. The army of Grindelwald was made up of similar people but those two were the worst. All three would need to be put down or there would never be peace.
Grindelwald smirked at Charlus. Suddenly in a blink of an eye, he and his army launched spells at the ICW forces. The time for talking and trading barbs was over. It was time to destroy his enemies.
Charlus saw a flash of green come towards him and quickly conjured a stone shield. Leave it to Grindelwald to strike unsuspectingly he was ever the opportunist.
Charlus quickly fired back his spell and saw that several of his colleagues were not as fast to react. Charlus barely spared them a glance this was a war there would be time to grieve later. The ICW still outnumbered Grindelwald's forces and wasted no time firing back.
All hell broke loose. Spells were firing everywhere. Bodies were dropping at an alarming rate. Charlus was shielding and dodging everything coming his way, but others weren't so lucky. A man whom Charlus knew by face but not by name shielded against an attack to his right but left himself open to a blasting curse to the neck. Showering all those around him in blood and gore.
Flamel watched in dismay as the people around him got cut down. Between the storm and Grindelwald having the high ground they were easy pickings. Flamel knew if they couldn't breach the walls, they would all die. Flamel used his Patronus to coordinate with Charles. Coordinating with Charlus, Flamel had his forces make a phalanx formation with people shielding on the outside and firing offensive spells on the inside.
Working together they made it to the castle wall. Charlus along with several others began firing blasting curses hoping to make an opening. The walls eventually gave way and Charlus led the charge into the castle
Charlus had dispatched two grunts when he saw the trademark blond hair of Grindelwald stalking towards him. Charlus tightened his grip on his wand and launched a killing curse at Grindelwald. Grindelwald dodged and fired his killing curse back.
Charlus conjured a stone shield and then just like that both men were firing curses at a furious pace. Charlus fired offensive spells from his wand and used his wandless shield to deflect most spells. Unfortunately, Grindelwald was also extremely fast with his wand and just as proficient in Wandless magic.
Grindelwald was faster but Charlus had more experience and was wearing him down. Grindelwald's shield faltered after taking a hammering from some powerful spells. Before Grindelwald could recover, he was hit with a cutting curse that slashed his chest. Seeing his enemy fall Charlus went to finish him but before he could he was blasted off his feet.
Charlus looked up to see the Butcher smiling. It was obvious who had cursed him in the back now. Charlus got back up and began a furious duel with Kruger. They traded spells back and forth. Neither side gaining an advantage. Charlus while shielding was trying to close the distance between them. hoping to end the butcher quickly.
Flamel was trying to heal anybody he could. In six hundred years he had learned a thing or two about healing from his world-class healer wife. However, many of the wounds were beyond healing. Flamel was working on one such man who had the misfortune of having his insides turned outside. The man was barely alive Flamel had numbed the pain to ease his suffering, but he knew death was inevitable. Flamel spotted Grindelwald and the Necromancer heading up the spire. Not wanting him to get away he sent a Patronus to Charlus.
Unfortunately for Flamel, he paid more attention to Grindelwald and not to the man below him. The man whom Flamel was healing was a die-hard supporter of Grindelwald. Seeing Flamel above him and being numb to the pain now he decided to go out with a bang. The man brought the dagger in his hand up. Gasping his last few breaths he plunged the dagger into Flamel's stomach.
Charlus was still locked in battle with Kruger. When Flamel's owl patronus appeared it distracted Kruger just enough. Charlus closed the distance and slashed with a Potter family fire sword spell. Kruger looked stunned for a moment before his head rolled off his shoulders. Charlus looked for Grindelwald after hearing Flamel's Patronus. He spotted Grindelwald slowly going up his tower. He wanted to chase but then he saw Flamel clutching his chest as a dark crimson stain rapidly spread across his robes. Charlus knew the anti-apparition and anti-portkey wards they set up would keep Grindelwald trapped. So, he let Grindelwald head up the spire and went to his friend's side.
" Flamel don't you fucking die on me." Was the last thing Flamel heard before his world faded to black.
Flamel woke up a week later in his home on his private island. He learned from his wife that Charlus Potter had gotten him to his wife who was a world-class healer stationed at the ICW command post. Perenelle had stopped the bleeding but as the dagger was poisoned Flamel was still critical. Perenelle was able to bring him back to Flamel Island. Their secret home which only a few people knew where it was. He also learned to his amazement that the war was over.
Grindelwald had retreated to his tower and was able to erect an obscure ward scheme to block access to his spire. Flamel was shocked to learn that the ICW had called on his apprentice Albus Dumbledore to figure out the ward pattern. Once they broke the wards The necromancer and his Inferi attacked. Charlus engaged the Necromancer and the rest of the ICW fought off the Inferi. Leaving Dumbledore alone to climb the spire to engage Grindelwald.
Flamel knew his apprentice had a history with Grindelwald and was also not known for fighting. So, it surprised him that Dumbledore challenged his former friend. Unfortunately, No one saw the fight between Dumbledore and Grindelwald as everyone was occupied fighting below. Dumbledore returned alone with a Phoenix on his shoulder. Flamel was told it was a true sight to see.
Flamel felt joy now that the war was finally over. The war had been a taxing experience for his mind, body, and soul. Flamel was now content to retire from everything and fade out with his wife. He invited his apprentice over for that evening and gave him the address. Pernelle had explained that no one knew if he had survived yet. Flamel knew this would be the perfect time to pass the torch sort of speak to his apprentice and let the world look to him to solve their problems.
It was a little while later when Dumbledore arrived at the Flamels. Perenelle was surprised to see Albus so early but let him in and instructed him to wait in the sitting room. Perenelle turned her back to Dumbledore to go wake her husband. Perenelle never saw the flash of green behind her. Perenelle's body hit the floor completely lifeless.
Flamel was just about to drift off to sleep when his bedroom door opened. He was Surprised to See His Apprentice Albus there. Before Flamel could even ask what Albus was doing there Dumbledore had moved his wand. Flamel could only watch in horror as the spell raced toward him.
Sometime later Dumbledore stood outside the Flamel's house he couldn't believe how easily his plan worked. Now he possessed the Philosopher's Stone. Dumbledore walked out of the house and laughed. A Vulture circled above. The bird landed on Dumbledore's shoulder with a flash where once was a vulture now stood a Phoenix. Dumbledore was still laughing as they flamed away. They left the house looking forever peaceful with no signs of the tragedy that happened in its walls.