Chapter 36
AN: Thank you so much for the support for this story. I really hope you like this chapter. I love reading your speculations and feel a little worried that this may not live up to it, but I really hope you like the chapter anyway.
As they hear Bellatrix's voice the group reacts quickly. James quickly pulls his invisibility cloak which he throws over Regulus, as he knows Regulus needs to be protected, while Albus, before anyone can react, uses his wand to transfigure Gellert so that he isn't recognizable.
"I'll go," Aberforth says to his brother, feeling that it is the least he can do as he is still feeling incredibly guilty for Mie being taken.
"No, stay here," Albus tells his brother before heading out to the main area of the bar, looking at Gellert once more before he goes.
Walking into the main area of the bar Albus sees Bellatrix just casually sitting in one of the chairs, clearly looking like there is not a single problem in the world.
"Albus," Bellatrix greats, a smirk all to clear on her face as she is truly enjoying this situation.
"Bellatrix," Albus responds. "Where is my daughter?" Albus asks, an edge to his voice.
"What? No small talk? That's a little rude of you," Bellatrix responds with a smirk.
"Where is my daughter?" Albus repeats, and Bellatrix rolls her eyes.
"With the Dark Lord," Bellatrix says, like it should be obvious. "He's willing to give her back to you, if you hand yourself over," Bellatrix tells Albus, and he is sure that there is no way that Voldemort will stick to the deal, but that's not going to stop him from doing exactly what Voldemort wants, while having another plan in place.
"Where and when?" Albus asks, as even though he knows it is a trap he knows that it is the best chance Mie has.
"Ninety minutes, outskirts of Godric Hollow," Bellatrix tells Albus. "And I shouldn't have to say this, but come alone," Bellatrix tells Albus before standing up. "I'll be seeing you," Bellatrix says, before heading to the door.
"Bellatrix," Albus says, and she turns back around. "Voldemort does not care about you, once you stop being of use to him, he'll forget about you," Albus tells Bellatrix, as even though he knows that it is extremely unlikely he knows that the best thing for everyone is if he can get Bellatrix to turn away from Voldemort as if reading the books have proved one thing it's that she is his most valuable ally.
"If he doesn't care about me what he is going to do to your daughter if you don't turn yourself over?" Bellatrix asks Albus, wanting to get one more painful blow in, before turning and leaving, as she leaves Albus feels magic pass over him, and even though he doesn't see it Albus is positive that the spell hit Bellatrix.
After Bellatrix leaves Albus waits, wanting to make sure she actually leaves, before he heads back into the back room. As he walks into the back room Albus removes the transfiguration on Gellert as Regulus removes the cloak, and hands it straight back to James causing Gellert to become curious about it, but he knows that now isn't the time to talk about it.
"Which of you preformed a spell on Bellatrix?" Albus asks, looking between Regulus and Gellert, being sure that it was one of them.
"Me," Regulus says holding his hand out, palm up, and a piece of parchment appears on his hand.
"That was dangerous," Sirius tells his brother, sounding worried about him.
"It was necessary," Regulus counters. "I know where Bellatrix apparated to," Regulus says as reads what's on the parchment. "And it is one of the locations I thought Voldemort would be at," Regulus admits, as he hands the piece of paper to Albus so that he can have a look.
"So, we know where Mie and Peter are, let's go," James says, and no one wants to tell him that Peter isn't exactly high on their priority list at the moment.
"We need a plan first," Amelia tells him, as she knows that it is an extremely dangerous situation.
"Mie doesn't have time for us to waste time by coming up with a plan," James argues.
"And if we don't take the time, we're going to put Mie in more danger," Sirius tells his best friend, though he also wants to get to Mie as quickly as possible.
"Is Annemie still alive? Is she being tortured?" Albus asks, looking at Gellert, needing to know that before he decides how they are going to handle this, and Gellert closes his eyes and focuses.
"She's alive," Gellert confirms. "Annemie is not being tortured, but she is exhausted, weak," Gellert explains, looking at Albus.
"Then we have to do this the right way," Albus admits, searching his mind for the right plan, and the answer comes to him. "I will meet with Tom, it will get him away from Annemie, he's not likely to come alone so that will get his most powerful Lieutenants away as well," Albus says, knowing that is Mie's best shot, though he suspects that Voldemort will leave at least one of his powerful lieutenants with Mie, likely Bellatrix which is far from a good thing. "Gellert, while I am doing that, I need you to go to the location Regulus has and get Annemie, bring her home," Albus requests.
"Of course," Gellert answers, though he would very much prefer to go with Albus and be his backup, Albus is asking him to save his daughter so that's what he is going to do.
"You're not going alone, I'm going with you," Aberforth says, looking at Gellert, as he does not trust Gellert to go alone, and Gellert nods as he assumed that and knows it's not worth fighting back as that would be a waste of precious time.
"I'm coming too," Sirius says, his tone of voice making it clear that he isn't going to be talked out of this.
"Same," Remus adds, as an understanding look passes between Remus and Sirius.
"We're not going to let old rivalries risk Mie," Sirius explains. "And we're going whether or not you're okay with it," Sirius says, looking between both Dumbledore brothers and Gellert, and quite reluctantly, as he doesn't want his students to be in danger, Albus nods.
"Me too," Regulus says, and no one is surprised by that.
"You can't," Sirius tells his brother. "You'll blow your cover," Sirius reminds his brother.
"I don't care if it means saving Mie," Regulus argues, as he will give up everything if it means saving Mie.
"But Annemie will," Albus reminds him. "You and I both know that she will never forgive herself if you put yourself in that kind of danger trying to rescue her," Albus tells Regulus, and everyone around the room knows he is right.
"And I know you don't want to hear it Reg, but you've still got work to do as a spy; we need your cover to stay in place," Alice tells her brother, hating the words coming out of her mouth, but knowing that it's what Mie would want.
"Okay, I'll stay here," Regulus says, regretting the words the second he says them, but he knows the others are right, but that doesn't mean he is okay with the choice.
"Everyone but Gellert, Aberforth, Sirius and Remus will while I go to Voldemort," Albus tells everyone.
"Albus you cannot go met Voldemort alone," Minerva tells her friend, though she isn't overly surprised.
"Bellatrix said I have to come alone," Albus reminds her.
"And you can guarantee that Voldemort won't be alone, you just said that yourself," Moody tells Albus.
"I know," Albus confirms, and everyone frowns.
"If backup apparats nearby after Voldemort, and whoever else, arrive he won't be able to tell, and that's likely to be exactly what his backup do," Regulus explains, feeling that if he can't go with anyone to save Mie the least he can do is suggest a plan that might work.
"Then that's exactly what we do," Moody says, showing how far they have come by completely supporting Regulus's plan. "Minerva?" Moody asks her.
"Of course," Minerva answers.
"I'd like to come with you," Amelia says, as she wants to do something, and she knows that it would be too much of a risk for a lot of them to go to where Mie is being hold.
"Same," Everyone except for Regulus says, and the truth is that Regulus would much rather go with people.
"Not all of you can come, it will draw too much attention," Albus tells everyone, as he knows that they have to be smart about this.
"It would be good to have more than just Regulus here in case either group need backup," Moody tells everyone, and the group spend the next few minutes deciding who will stay with Regulus and who will come with Albus.
A spending a bit of time discussing plans Albus needs some space as he is terrified for his daughter and so heads into the main area of the bar. Walking into the main area of the bar Albus walks over to the bar and leans onto the bar, closing his eyes and trying to pull himself together as he is terrified for his daughter, but he knows he cannot meet Voldemort when he is barley holding it together.
For a few moments Albus leans on the bar, doing everything he can to do his best to pull himself together, when suddenly he feels a hand on his back, and he turns to see Gellert.
"I will bring Annemie home to you," Gellert promises Albus. "But you need to make sure you come home too," Gellert tells Albus.
"I know," Albus tells Gellert, as he stands up to face him. "Annemie hates it when people are in danger for what she considers her fault," Albus tells Gellert's.
"Sounds familiar," Gellert responds. "From what you've told me it seems to me that Annemie is a lot like you, it's probably why you bonded so much when she first came here," Gellert tells Albus.
"When we were learning about Annemie's timeline I could see how much she was struggling, and as I learnt more about what she had been through I just wanted her to have a better life," Albus admits. "Annemie believes she will not survive this war, I promised myself that I will do everything I can to make sure that she does," Albus explains to Gellert. "She deserves a future," Albus tells Gellert, as that is something he desires the most.
"She'll have one," Gellert tells Albus, reaching out and taking his hand, and after squeezing Gellert's hand Albus reaches into his robes and pulls out Mie's beaded bag, and Mie's wand.
"Annemie's wand," Albus says, handing it over to him, and Gellert takes it. "And this bag is full of everything Annemie brought to this timeline," Albus says, handing it over to Gellert, knowing the power that is in the bag and trusting Gellert to have it, but because he doesn't want to argue with the others, he is giving it to him now rather than around the others. Even though he doesn't know what is in the bag Gellert realises how powerful it must be and because of that he knows just how much faith Albus is showing in him.
"I'll make sure I give this directly to Annemie," Gellert promises, realising how much of a big deal it is for Albus to give him such a powerful object, and Albus nods, and the two of them drift into silence as they stand together, holding hands.
"Albus," Aberforth says, walking out from the other room a few minutes later, glaring at Gellert, but clearly looking like he wants to talk to his brother.
"I'll leave you alone," Gellert says, giving Albus a supportive look before heading back into the other room, knowing that the less time he and Aberforth spend together then the better it is for everyone.
"Everyone in the world talks about how smart you are, and yet you've done something so incredibly stupid," Aberforth tells his brother, a frown on his face.
"Gellert can get Annemie back," Albus tells Aberforth, clearly believing what he is saying.
"And you trust him, for some bloody reason," Aberforth says, rolling his eyes, as he walks over to his brother, clearly disapproving of his brother.
"I trust him because I know his heart, I know his soul," Albus tells Aberforth. "And I know that he wants to amend for what he's done," Albus tells his brother.
"He never can," Aberforth tells his brother. "He's going to hurt you again," Aberforth tells his brother, clearly wanting to protect him, not that he would come out and say that.
"You don't know that," Albus responds.
"And you don't know that he won't," Aberforth says, but as he knows they are just going around in circles about Gellert he decides to change the subject as there is something he has to say. "Albus I am sorry that I wasn't there for Mie, that I let you both down, but will do everything I can to get her back," Aberforth tells his brother. "She is the only reason I'm willing to be in the same room as Grindelwald," Aberforth tells his brother, wanting to make that perfectly clear.
While the Dumbledore brothers are talking in the other room everyone in the other room have divided into groups and are talking about various things. Feeling worried for his brother who is sitting alone Sirius walks over and sits down across from him.
"We'll get Mie back," Sirius promises his brother.
"What if you don't?" Regulus asks, pain in his voice.
"You can't think like that," Sirius tells his brother. "Mie's tough, and she's got a former Dark Lord willing to rescue her, she'll be okay," Sirius says, needing to believe that.
"I should go with you," Regulus tells his brother.
"We've been over this, you can't," Sirius tells him, even though he knows his brother is going to hate hearing that. "We're gonna get Mie back, which means we still have a mission, a mission which is everything to Mie, she won't want you to risk yourself for her," Sirius tells his brother, though he knows that both of them would be perfectly willing to risk themselves for Mie.
"I know," Regulus responds, though he really doesn't like that.
A little way away from where Regulus and Sirius are Lily, Alice and Amelia are sitting together reading a letter they have just received from their friends who are back at the castle.
"I really shouldn't be surprised that they want to help," Amelia admits.
"It would be shocking if they didn't," Lily admits. "What do we do?"
"We ignore it, we're gonna have to," Alice comments, though she isn't sure she likes that. "There is way too much going on that they won't understand without knowing the truth," Alice admits.
"So why don't we tell them? They care about Mie too, they'll want to help," Lily reminds the others.
"And I know Mie cares about them too, but it's not our place to tell them," Amelia says. "It's Mie's choice, her truth. She is the only one who has the right to tell anyone the truth of who she is, and she can when we get her back," Amelia explains, as she looks between her two closes friends.
"Do you really think Mie's going to be in any state to make a decision like that when we get her back?" Alice asks, not being able to help but think about what happened to her in the other timeline.
"I have to," Amelia admits.
"Me to," Lily admits, reaching out and taking her friends hand as she knows that since Mie 'joined' Hogwarts she and Amelia has become close friends as often when Mie can't sleep Amelia stays up with her, as Amelia is such a light sleeper that she usually wakes up, and the two of them talk.
Across the room, by the fire, James, Severus, Remus, and Frank are sitting together in silence, fiddling with Butterbeer but not really drinking it.
"Do you think Peter is okay?" James asks, needing to know as he is worried about his friend as well as Mie, and he notices the other exchanging looks, all thinking the same thing.
"Prongs, I think either one of things has happened," Remus tells his friend in a gentle voice. "Either Peter is in a cell of his own, or… or…" Remus says, not sure how to say what he thinks is the most likely option.
"It's possible that Voldemort killed Peter," Severus finishes, as he wants to save Remus from his pain.
"By taking Mie to Voldemort Peter revealed who's side he's on, it's possible that Voldemort felt that Peter would no longer be any use and killed him," Frank explains, considering Bellatrix didn't mention Peter he believes that is the most likely option.
"I know he betrayed Mie, betrayed us, and did so much worse in Mie's timeline," James admits. "But he doesn't deserve to die at seventeen, he deserves a chance to change, to see the right path," James admits as he wants that for his friend.
"He has to want to change Prongs, and I don't know if he does," Remus admits, pain in his voice as he doesn't like the idea of Peter being dead, but he is still angry about everything he has done.
Near to the door that leads to the other room Gellert is standing alone, observing everyone so that he can try to understand then better. As Gellert is looking around the room he notices Minerva walking towards him.
"Albus likes to see the best in people," Minerva tells Gellert once she is close enough for him to hear.
"I know," Gellert responds.
"He believes you are deserving of a second chance," Minerva tells Gellert.
"I believe this is far from my second chance," Gellert admits as there has been many times where Albus has tried to get him to change his past, and every time he has let Albus down.
"That's my point," Minerva admits. "Albus is risking everything by getting you out of Nuremberg," Minerva tells Gellert. "He trusts you, for reasons I don't understand, don't let him down," Minerva says, there being an unsaid 'or else,' behind her words which Gellert picks up on.
"I won't," Gellert responds, as he is going to do everything, he can to make sure he doesn't, and Minerva nods as Albus and Aberforth walk back into the room.
"It's time," Albus tells the others, looking around the room, and the weight of his words settle around the room.
Alone, laying on the floor having no idea that her uncle, friends and Gellert are going to be coming for her shortly Mie is lying on the stone-cold floor. As she lies on the floor Mie is fighting to keep her eyes open as she doesn't want to risk falling asleep and letting her occlumency shield drops. As she is fighting to stay awake Mie is running through ways for her to escape so that she can get the Horcrux and get back to Hogwarts.