Chapter 34
AN: First, I wanted to apologise for it being so long since I last updated this story. I haven't been in a great place mental health wise, and I'm still not. There is a lot going on, I'm feeling like the only good thing in my life is my work, and I… I'm struggling. If you're on the mailing list for reading you know that I have started writing these stories again because so many of you have reached out saying how much you love these stories, and you need to know that that means everything to me. I have about four chapters of this story already written, but I'm going to try to write a new chapter before posting each of them. Hope you like this chapter. Thank you and I'm sorry for letting you down.
Looking very much like a man on a mission, Albus travels to the Hogshead in the quickest way possible. Walking into the back room of the bar Albus sees all the teenagers who read the books and his brother standing around.
"What happened?" Albus asks, looking directly at his brother, greeting no one else as he is so terrified for his daughter, as he sticks out his hand for Mie's wand which Aberforth hands over.
"Albus, there was a fight…" Aberforth starts to explain, clearly not wanting to tell his brother what has happened to Mie as he knows it's his fault.
"I do not want to hear excuses, I want to know what happened," Albus says, his voice sounding uncharacteristically harsh, something which shocks the students as they aren't very familiar with Albus using that tone of voice.
"You know our plan, we were in our positions, and we all saw Mie and Peter walk past," Amelia explains, a nervous edge to her voice, as even throughout reading the book she has never seen Albus like this. "After we saw Mie pass each of our checkpoints, we hurried to position so we could see the entrance to the Hogshead," Amelia explains, wanting to do so as quickly as possible.
"Mie was going to drop a rock in the middle of the entrance, but we didn't see it," Lily says, sounding worried, as she knows that for Mie not to drop the rock then it means she wasn't able to.
"We watched for like a minute and we didn't see Mie, we just saw Ab throwing people out of the bar, so we hurried over and we realised that Mie wasn't in the bar," Sirius explains, remembering how panicked he felt when he realised.
"We searched Hogsmeade and couldn't find Mie or Peter," Remus explains. "But we found her wand," Remus says and Albus looks down at the object, knowing that Mie would never leave that behind, not after everything she has been through.
"Where were you?" Albus asks, looking at his brother, his voice sounding fierce, like he is not looking for excuses he just wants the truth.
"I was breaking a fight, I wasn't in the alley," Aberforth explains, guilt in his voice. "Albus…" Aberforth starts to say, but Albus turns away from his brother as he puts Mie's wand into his robe, clearly not wanting to hear anything he has to say even though, deep down, he knows that it's not Aberforth's fault.
"Regulus find out what you can, I will return shortly," Albus says, picking up a glass of a table. "Portus," Albus says to the object, causing it to become a portkey as he knows that it is the best way for him to get where he needs to go.
"Where are you going?" Aberforth asks his brother.
"Getting the one person I can count on to help," Albus says before disappearing, leaving the others to feel incredibly confused, though Aberforth has a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach which tells him he knows exactly who his brother is talking about, he just hopes he is wrong.
Far away from Hogsmeade Peter, Bellatrix and the Lestrange brothers who are carrying Mie, are walking into the very dingy room where Voldemort is waiting.
"You succeeded," Voldemort says, sounding almost impressed, despite himself, as he wasn't expecting Peter to succeed, but on the off chance he would Voldemort knew that this is an opportunity that could not be passed up.
"Yes, My Lord," Peter answers.
"Bella, take our guest into the other room," Voldemort requests and Bellatrix, and the Lestrange brothers head out of the room. "Bella," Voldemort says, before she can fully leave, and Bellatrix turns back around to face him. "Remember our conversation, our guest is not to be harmed until I say so," Voldemort tells Bellatrix, needing to make that clear as he has plans that involve Mie and he cannot put those plans into action if Bellatrix hurts her like she so clearly wants to.
"Yes, My Lord," Bellatrix says, hiding her annoyance at that order, before completely leaving the room, leaving Peter and Voldemort alone.
"You've performed your tasks well," Voldemort tells Peter.
"Thank you," Peter responds, looking proud.
"However, as well as you preformed this task we have a problem," Voldemort tells Peter.
"I'm sorry, My Lord?" Peter asks his voice shaking, having no idea what kind of problem they have.
"Your value to me is that you were able to get close to people who are close to Dumbledore, but now they will know that you were the last person with Annemie," Voldemort tells Peter.
"No one knew, I…" Peter starts to say, searching his brain for possible excuses.
"Avada Kedavra," Voldemort says, not giving him a chance to explain, killing Peter as he is no longer any use to him, having no idea the ripples he just caused; having no idea how much he just sabotaged himself.
After killing Peter Voldemort walks straight to the room where the Lestrange's took Mie. Walking into the room he sees the brothers and Bellatrix standing around Mie who is unconscious on the ground, Bellatrix looking very much like she would like to do a hell of a lot more than just leaving Mie on the ground, but because she has her orders she doesn't.
"Leave us," Voldemort orders as he walks into the room and the brothers leave, while Bellatrix walks over to him.
"Yes, My Lord, Bellatrix says before leaving the room.
After Bellatrix leaves the room Voldemort uses his wand to revie Mie. Seconds after Voldemort used his spell Mie opens her eyes. Looking around the room it takes Mie a few seconds for everything to come to her as puts herself up so that she is sitting up.
"Hello Annemie," Voldemort tells Mie, causing her to look at her, and as soon as she sees him Mie knows that this isn't going to end well.
"It's Mie…. Tom," Mie says, fighting to push down the fear she is feeling, as she will only allow Albus to call her Annemie, and even though she knows it's probably not the smartest move she feels like it is the perfect opportunity to call him Tom, even though she knows how much he hates It as she hopes it will help make her point.
Seconds after telling his brother and the people he trusts what he is going to do Albus appears on the grounds of Nurmengard. Not even pausing to get his bearings after landing from the Portkey Albus marches into the Castle.
Walking into the Castle no one stops Albus as they all know him, all know the special permissions he has been granted, but rather than heading to where he usually checks his wand Albus heads straight to Lori Karma's office, as while he perfectly willing, and able, to break Gellert of Prison as Albus knows he is going to need his help to get his daughter back, he is going to try an official method first.
Getting to Lori's office Albus stops himself before he barges through the door and rather knocks as he knows that if he just barges in he's not likely to get what he wants.
"Enter," A voice says and Albus walks into the room.
"Professor, this is a surprise," Lori says, as while she knows Albus comes to Nurmengard a lot it is rare for him to come see her. "Would you like some tea?" Lori offers.
"Thank you, but I have no time for pleasantries," Albus admits, and Lori looks curious about that. "I need you to release Gellert Grindelwald into my custody," Albus explains, knowing that ever second counts and so he doesn't have time to beat around the bush.
"Professor, I respect you, but I am going to need to give some kind of explanation before I even consider that," Lori informs Albus, doing her best to hide her shock.
"What do you know about a wizard who calls himself Voldemort?" Albus asks.
"I know he has an ideology a lot like Grindelwald had," Lori says, and Albus know they don't have the time to go into the differences between Voldemort and Gellert. "And that he is killing, torturing, targeting muggles and muggleborns, trying to take over," Lori explains.
"He is," Albus explains. "Which is why I need Grindelwald in my custody," Albus explains. "Voldemort has taken two students of mine, to find them, and get them back safely, I need help Grindelwald is the only person alive who has insight into how Voldemort thinks," Albus explains, stretching the truth but it's the best argument he's got, and he knows that with every second that passes that is another second Mie I with Voldemort which is exactly what he wants to prevent. "When I visit Gellert and I have been talking he wants to make up for what he has done, the best way for him to that is if he is with me in the fight. I will take personal responsibility for him," Albus explains, and Lori is extremely shocked by that.
"I can't give the okay for him to be permanently released into your custody," Lori admits, and Albus feels his heart sink. "But what I can do is give you a month," Lori reveals, and Albus feels hope. "I will release Grindelwald into your custody for a month and after that time if you can show evidence of the ways he has helped you I can go to my ministry and make the arguments for the arrangement to be permanent," Lori tells Albus.
"Thank you," Albus responds. "I'll go explain the arrangement to Gellert," Albus responds.
"Of course, I will speak to him before you leave," Lori tells Albus.
"Of course," Albus says before leaving, Lori walking behind him, clearly going to tell the guards what is going on.
After leaving Lori's office Albus moves very quickly up the familiar path to Gellert's cell. Why a couple of guards seem like they are about to stop him as he still has his wand Lori clearly stops them and within a couple of minutes Albus is walking into Gellert's cell.
"Albus," Gellert says, looking glad, but the second he sees Albus Gellert realises that something is wrong.
"What are you feeling from Annemie right now?" Albus asks, his voice urgent, and Gellert, knowing not to question, closes his eyes and starts to focus.
"Afraid, she's feeling afraid," Gellert says, opening his eyes. "Albus…" Gellert starts to ask.
"Is she hurt?" Albus asks, his voice breaking.
"As far as I can tell she isn't in any pain," Gellert reveals to Albus's relief. "Albus, what…" Gellert starts to ask as Albus walks the few steps that separate them and pulls a wand box out of his robes, the second he sees it Gellert is lost for words, as he knows the box very well and realises exactly what wand is inside.
"Annemie's plan didn't work, it seems like she has been taken to Voldemort," Albus reveals. "I've spoken to the Warden, she is releasing you into my custody for a month, and if we can prove that you have helped me in that time we can go to the ministry," Albus tells Gellert, who feels incredibly glad, but also shocked.
"That's…. a lot," Gellert admits. "Are you sure?" Gellert asks, feeling that this is a huge amount of trust in him, an amount of trust he isn't sure he deserves.
"I know Tom, he will use Annemie to get me to turn myself over to him," Albus tells Gellert.
"Which you'll do without hesitation," Gellert says, knowing that for sure even though he doesn't like it.
"If needed," Albus confirms. "But if I do that, I need to know Annemie will be safe, that she will be saved, and you're the only person I know I can count on to do that," Albus tells his old love, who is amazed by Albus's words.
"How about we make sure it doesn't get to that," Gellert says to Albus.
"If it does, I need you to promise me that you will save her first, that while I do what I have to do you'll rescue her, make sure Annemie is okay," Albus requests, as he needs his daughter to be okay.
"Albus…." Gellert starts to say, appreciating what Albus is asking him, but not wanting to do nothing when Albus will be in a horrible situation.
"Please Gel," Albus begs, and as much as he doesn't like it Gellert knows what he has to do.
"I promise," Gellert responds and Albus uses a spell to change Gellert's clothes into something a lot more comfortable than the robes he's been wearing for decades, and freshes him up.
"This is yours," Albus says, handing Gellert the wand box that has the wand he used until he got the Elder Wand inside.
Hesitantly Gellert reaches out and takes the wand box and after taking a moment Gellert opens the wand box to reveal the wand that he knows soo well. Reaching out and taking the wand out of the box Gellert feels like a piece of him is returned and he also feels the weight of the trust Albus has in him by giving it back to him.
"Let's go," Albus tells Gellert, and the two of them head out of the cell that has been Gellert's home for so long.
"What do you know about what happened to Annemie?" Gellert asks as they walk out of the cell, knowing they have a lot of stairs before they get to the ground floor.
"As I told you Annemie agreed to have lunch with someone, knowing that it was likely a trap," Albus tells Gellert. "She was heading to Aberforth's pub for lunch, she believed it was the best place to have the lunch," Albus explains, and Gellert frowns, wondering if it means Aberforth screwed up, honestly, he wouldn't be surprised, but he isn't going to voice that right now. "Throughout the route to the Hogshead Annemie's friends were spread out watching, they saw her pass by each of the spots they were watching," Albus explains. "The most vulnerable place was the alley behind the hogshead, Aberforth was going to be there, but it seems like he was purposely held up," Albus explains. "We don't know exactly what happened, but we know Annemie never made it to the Hogshead and neither she nor Peter were anywhere in Hogsmeade or Hogwarts," Albus explains.
"Sounds like it was well coordinated," Gellert admits, trying to figure out the plan that would have been used abduct Annemie, as they get to the final flight of stairs.
"I believe that too," Albus admits, as they continue to walk.
About a minute later Albus and Gellert get to the ground floor where they find Lori and several of the guards waiting.
"Mr Grindelwald, did Professor Dumbledore tell you what is going on?" Lori asks.
"Yes," Gellert confirms, wondering if what Albus told him is very different to what Lori Karma agreed to.
"Albus Dumbledore will be responsible for you, you will be in his custody, for the next month," Lori tells Grindelwald. "If at the end of the month you and Albus can prove that you have helped in the fight against Voldemort we can go to the Germany minister and argue for it to be a permanent arrangement," Lori tells Gellert. "Professor Dumbledore you need to know that by agreeing to this Grindelwald is your responsibilities, that means anything he does, good or bad, is on you," Lori tells Albus.
"I know," Albus confirms, having enough trust in Gellert to believe, or maybe need to believe, that this is not a mistake.
"Good, I will see you both here in exactly a month," Lori says, looking between Albus and Gellert.
"Thank you, Warden Karma," Albus says, before giving Gellert a look and the two of them leave.
"Where are we going?" Gellert asks, as they walk down the front steps of Nurmengard, Gellert feeling the fresh air on his face for the first time in decades, and while he would like to enjoy it, and he is sure he will in the future, he knows that right now they have something important to focus on.
"Hogsmeade," Albus answers and Gellert realises that that means they are likely going straight to where Aberforth is and Gellert honestly isn't sure whether Albus hasn't realised how much of a bad idea that is or whether he doesn't care. "We'll be travelling by portkey," Albus tells Gellert, who nods.
Feeling sure of the assumption that her father and friends will be looking for her, Mie is alone in a room far away from everyone who cares about her, with Voldemort. While Voldemort hasn't yet created all the Horcrux's he had in her timeline the transformation from Tom Riddle Is perfectly clear and he looks so much like the Voldemort she knows.
"You dare call me by that name?" Voldemort asks angrily.
"It's your name, isn't it?" Mie asks, feeling terrified but drawing strength from her father and Harry.
"No, it's not," Voldemort responds. "I am made a better name for myself, raised above the that was forced upon me and became someone that everyone fears," Voldemort tells Mie, who resists the urge to roll her eyes as she knows the speech all too well.
"If you're going to kill me, just get it over with, I don't need to hear the speech," Mie says, doing so for two reasons the first is that whatever Voldemort says or does next will give her insight into what his plan is, and the second is that she has accepted that she is likely going to die trying to defeat Voldemort. While she would like to stay in the fight and she doesn't want to cause her father and friends pain, Mie also knows that if she were to be killed then everyone who knows the truth will continue the fight, they will do everything they can to make sure this timeline is better than the one they come from.
"I'm not going to kill you," Voldemort informs Mie. "You are going to help me defeat your father," Voldemort tells Mie, who has no intention of ever allowing that to happen and so she forces herself to stand up, so that she is standing face to face with Voldemort.
"Never," Mie tells Voldemort, not displaying an ounce of the fear she is feeling as she will not give him that.
As he doesn't want Gellert to be overwhelmed by all the people Albus purposely makes it so that the portkey takes them to the back of the Hogshead so that he has a few seconds to prepare.
"Are you okay?" Albus asks Gellert.
"It's been a while," Gellert admits, looking like he is trying to get his bearings. "But I'm okay," Gellert says, collecting himself.
"Can you sense anything else from Annemie?" Albus asks concerned.
"No, nothing new, she's scared, but from what I can tell okay," Gellert answers and Albus nods, looking very glad about that. "Who's inside?" Gellert asks Albus and only the fact that Albus knows Gellert so well allows him to hear the nervousness in Gellert's voice.
"Aberforth, and those who know the truth about where Annemie comes from, her closest friends," Albus explains to Gellert. "Minerva and Alastor have likely joined by now," Albus says, knowing that Gellert will know who both of them are.
"Okay," Gellert says with a nod, though Albus can tell that he is nervous and so Albus reaches over and takes his hand, squeezing and then after a few moments he lets go.
"Are you ready?" Albus asks curious, not wanting to rush Gellert, but knowing that every single second counts.
"Yes," Gellert says, though he isn't sure he is, and together the two of them head into the Hogshead, both of them feeling worried about the reception they are going to get when they walk inside, but also feeling extremely worried for Annemie.