Chapter 43
AN: I really hope you like this chapter. There may be a bit of delay before the next chapter because of you're reading the chapters of Reading that I am emailing out you'll know that I am almost finished book five and I want to finish the last few chapters of that before posting the next chapter of this. It should only be a few days before the next update.
Two days have passed since Mie asked her uncle not to be outwardly hostile towards Grindelwald and in that time has attempted to do so, but it has become clear that it is something he is struggling with. It is early morning on Friday and Mie is in the hospital wing with her father, and Grindelwald as Poppy runs the tests to confirm that it is okay for Mie to leave the hospital wing.
"So, can I go?" Mie asks, as she really doesn't want to stay in the hospital wing any longer.
"Yes, but not to the dorms yet, only to your father's quarters," Poppy explains, and Mie nods. "You're going to feel weak for a few days, and it's going to be an adjustment," Poppy explains. "Mie, we do need to talk about the effects what happened to you is going to have in the long term," Poppy explains.
"You said Annemie was completely healed," Albus says concerned.
"She is, you are," Poppy says, looking between Mie and Albus. "However, your nervous system was completely overloaded. You almost died, and because of that your nervous system is fragile," Poppy explains to Mie. "You may be fine, but if you experience a single event that effects your nervous system such the Cruciatus curse, it may be catastrophic, it is impossible to predict," Poppy explains.
"So, you're saying I'll be playing Russian roulette," Mie realises.
"I don't know exactly what that means, but you could be hit with it ten times and be fine, or if you're hit with it once it could… I'm not going to mix words; it could kill you Mie. I can't predict for sure what will happen but I can tell you that you are vulnerable and if it happens again you may not be able to be saved," Poppy tells Mie who nods as Gellert reaches out and takes Albus's hand as he can tell that Albus is upset.
"I'll remember that," Mie says, though she knows that she cannot exactly prevent people form using the Cruciatus curse on her. "So, I can go?" Mie asks.
"Yes, but remember you still need to rest," Poppy tells her. "If you experience any migraines or nerve pain, come back," Poppy tells Mie, who nods.
"Thank you, for everything you've done," Mie tells Poppy.
"You're welcome, try not to end back here anytime soon," Poppy requests.
"I'll do my best," Mie responds.
"Thank you, Poppy," Albus says, looking incredibly grateful.
About twenty minutes after Poppy told Mie that she could leave the Hospital wing Mie, Albus and Gellert are walking into their quarters.
"How are you feeling? It wasn't too far to walk?" Albus asks his daughter concerned.
"I'm okay, Dad," Mie tells her father. "But I might have a little nap," Mie admits.
"Are you sure? Do you want me to call for Poppy?" Albus asks concerned.
"No, I'm okay, you heard Poppy I'm going to be a little weak. I've been in hospital wing for over two weeks, I'm not used to walking around, but I'm okay," Mie tells her father.
"If you're sure," Albus says.
"I am," Mie responds, as she walks over to her father. "I love you, Dad,"
"I love you too," Albus responds, and Mie hugs him.
"You know, a walk outside could be good for both you and Gellert," Mie suggests to her father as she knows that Albus has been inside since she was hurt and Gellert hasn't exactly had many opportunities to go outside.
"Thanks for the suggestion," Albus responds, kissing the top of Mie's head before the two of them break apart.
"Gellert," Mie says to him with a nod.
"Annemie," Gellert responds and Mie heads into her room. "I think I may make Annemie uncomfortable," Gellert says concerned.
"If you did Annemie would say so," Albus tells Gellert, though he knows that he and Mie have to talk about how she really feels about Gellert being around. "Annemie suggested we go for a walk; would you like to see the grounds?" Albus asks, knowing that because most people will be in class so they shouldn't be bothered.
"See the grounds you talked about so many times, I'd like that," Gellert responds, and the two of them head out of the quarters Albus knowing that Annemie will be able to contact him if needed.
A few minutes later Albus and Gellert are walking outside onto the grounds. After taking a few steps onto the ground Gellert pauses and closes his eyes.
"Gellert?" Albus asks concerned.
"I have not felt sun like this in a long time," Gellert admits.
Hearing that Albus isn't sure how to feel as while he knows that putting Gellert in jail in 1945 was the right decision, that he needed to be stopped, but it is also clear that Gellert is no longer the person he was, and Albus can't help but wonder what point in the last thirty three years the change occurred and would he have realised that the change occurred if he hadn't spent the last thirty three years trying not to think about Gellert.
As Gellert basks in the sun Albus reaches out and takes his hand and after a few minutes the two of them start to walk, they head to the lake which they walk around and talk, talk in a way they did as young men in Godric's Hollow.
Hours after she went to lay down, though she doesn't realise that it has been that long, Mie is walking into the living area of the Dumbledore quarters where she finds her father sitting on the couch, clearly dealing with some kind of paperwork.
"Dad? What time is it?" Mie asks, walking towards him.
"About eleven thirty pm," Albus explains, as Mie walks over.
"I slept for that long?" Mie asks surprised as she has not realised that she has been asleep for that long.
"Yes, I checked on you a few times, and you seemed okay," Albus explains to his daughter. "There is food being kept warm for you," Albus explains to his daughter, as he made sure of that.
"I'm not sure I'm hungry," Mie admits, as she sits down with her dad.
"You haven't eaten all day, you need to eat," Albus tells his daughter.
"Where's Grindelwald?" Mie asks her father, clearly changing the subject.
"He's gone to bed," Albus explains. "Annemie, we haven't really talked about how you feel about Gellert being here," Albus says to his daughter. "I made a deal with the warden, Gellert has been released into my custody and after a month I can make the argument why it should be permanent," Albus explains to his daughter.
"And you did all that to save me," Mie comments.
"I would do whatever I had to do to save you," Albus tells his daughter, and her father gives him an amazed look, feeling incredibly loved.
"Gellert and I talked," Mie reveals, and she can see that Albus is surprised by that. "I'm not sure that I'm completely okay with him, but I am going to give him a chance. So if you're asking if I am okay with him staying with us the answer is yes," Mie tells him, and Albus looks glad. "Dad, I want you to be happy and loved, and I know with Gellert you're both," Mie tells her father. "I just don't want you to get hurt, and I don't want him to hurt anyone else," Mie admits, knowing that Gellert hurt anyone because he was released form jail to save her then she will blame herself.
"I am bias when it comes to Gellert, he is my blind spot, but I don't believe he will hurt anyone else," Albus admits as he has thought about that.
"For the record, I do think you're right," Mie admits, and she can tell that Albus is surprised by that, a feeling that is reflected on her face. "Like I said, we talked," Mie says and while she can tell that her father is incredibly curious about what happened in the conversation, but he isn't going to ask unless Mie volunteers what happened so instead the two of them drift into silence.
For a few minutes Mie and Albus sit in silence, during which Albus pour Mie a cup of tea, and he debates how he is going to get Mie to eat when she is still being hesitant.
"Annemie, when you woke up you said that you weren't to your version of Kings Cross," Albus says to his daughter, as she takes a drop of her tea.
"Yeah, I did," Mie confirms, putting her cup down. "It was the great hall, except the Gryffindor table was the only one there," Mie tells her father. "I felt safe, like I was home, and Harry was there," Mie tells her father. "He was Harry as I knew, except he was at the end of his life, he was one hundred and seventy but looked eighteen," Mie explains. "He wanted me to come back here, to live," Mie tells her father, who comes to a horrible conclusion.
"And you didn't want to?" Albus asks concerned.
"Dad, I didn't want to leave you, or Uncle Ab, or my friends, but I am so tired," Mie admits, needing to explain that. "Harry talked about how the after is coming that eventually the war will end, and we'll be in the after, but that terrifies me, I don't know if I will know what to do when that happens," Mie admits, and while Albus is pained by Mie's words he allows her to keep talking as he can tell that she needs to. "I could have moved on, and a part of me really wanted to, but I decided not to because as scared as I am, as tired, I didn't want to leave you. I didn't want to cause you and my friends' pain, and I know the war isn't over; that there is more for me to do…. I just don't know how I'm going to figure it all out," Mie tells her father.
"I'll help you," Albus says, reaching over and taking her hand. "Annemie you're not alone, I will help you, help you make sense of everything that is to come. I know you have nothing to fear from moving on, but I am glad you decided to return; I love you, Annemie, I am thankful every day that you became my daughter and I don't want to say goodbye to you anytime soon," Albus tells his daughter, knowing that he is going to have to help her because the mindset she described isn't healthy and he wants better for his daughter.
"I love you too, Dad," Mie tells her father as she moves so that she can snuggle into his side and Albus puts his arm around her, kissing her head as he does.
"Dad, Peter died because of me," Mie says, guilt in her voice, as she turns into his side so that Albus can't see her face.
"Peter died because of Voldemort," Albus tells his daughter in a matter of fact tone of voice. "Peter's death is not your fault," Albus assures his daughter. "You do not deserve to punish yourself. Peter made his choices, and Voldemort killed him," Albus tells his daughter. "You choose to come back to us, to continue on, which means you need to eat," Albus tells his daughter, and he feels Mie nod against her shoulder. "Star," Albus says.
Over the next little while Albus and Mie eat together as they once again engage in one of their academic debates which is clearly something that they both enjoy.
The following morning Mie seems a lot stronger than she did the day before and because of that she is sitting at the table in the Dumbledore quarters doing more research into a way to send the books to another timeline while Gellert is sitting on the couch reading and Albus is downstairs in a meeting with the Minster. As she is doing her research Mie notices that Gellert is constantly glancing at the clock.
"He hasn't been that long," Mie says, breaking the semi awkward silence that Mie and Gellert have been sitting in since Albus left. "You should know anyone that Dad can handle someone like the minster. Honestly, I think he's a little scared of Dad," Mie admits.
"That's the problem, a man with power is at his most dangerous when he is afraid," Gellert reveals.
"That's explains Fudge," Mie responds, and Gellert gives her a curious look. "Cornelius Fudge, he was the minster for magic during my first five years at Hogwarts," Mie explains. "He did a lot of questionable things, during his last year especially, to try and cling to his power, because he wouldn't admit the truth," Mie reveals and as she speaks, she subconsciously rubs her hand where the message from the blood quill are still clear, thanks to the light coming through the window Gellert sees that there is scared writing on Mie's hand.
"A blood quill?" Gellert asks.
"Fudge's pet plant at Hogwarts, I had to use it after Dad was forced out of Hogwarts, they mistakenly believed he would be gone forever," Mie tells Gellert.
"Albus is concerned that the Ministry Is going to interfere at Hogwarts like they did in the timeline you're from," Gellert tells Mie.
"I wouldn't be surprised if they tried, but Dad didn't let them succeed in my timeline, he won't now," Mie explains, and she notices the proud look Gellert has on his face.
"Annemie, how did he die in your timeline?" Gellert asks, pain in his voice, dreading the answer but feeling the need to know.
"In a way that will not happen in this one," Mie promises Gellert, and before Gellert can ask more the door opens and Albus walks back in wearing bright blue robes with what can only be described as red sprinkles covering them. "Did you change your robes?" Mie ask her father as she is pretty sure that he wasn't wearing them when he leaved.
"I did," Albus confirms, as he knows that Mitchum gets annoyed by over-the-top robes and so he played into that.
"You've moved beyond your three-piece suit period," Gellert comments, an amused look on his face.
"Wait, three-piece suit?" Mie asks surprised. "Like a regular one, not purple velvet?" Mie asks, surprised.
"Purple velvet?" Gellert asks, looking at Albus, giving him a teasing grin.
"I very much liked that suit," Albus responds, like there is nothing wrong with that.
"Okay, rewind, three-piece suit, Dad dressed regularly at one point?" Mie asks shocked.
"He did," Gellert confirms. "Thought I can't say I don't like this new look," Gellert says, grinning at Albus.
"I want pictures of this regular wardrobe because I don't believe it," Mie tells her father.
"If you two are quiet done critiquing my wardrobe I would like to talk about the minster," Albus says, though it does fill him with joy to see Mie and Gellert getting along so well.
"What happened?" Mie asks interested, though she would very much like to continue teasing her dad.
"The ministry wants to take a more active roll at Hogwarts, not in the same way it did in your timeline, but it's heading towards that," Albus admits.
"What did you tell him?" Gellert asks curious.
"That that wasn't going to happen," Albus says, and he proceeds to explain exactly what happened during his meeting with Mitchum.
A few hours after Mie and Gellert teased Albus about his wardrobe the three of them are getting ready for dinner when there is a knock on the door.
"I'll get it," Mie says, heading to the door and opening it to reveal Aberforth who is looking awkward. "Hey Uncle Ab," Mie says before hugging him. "Thank you for agreeing to this," Mie says as she hugs her uncle, feeling him kiss her cheek.
"I'm doing this for you, not either of them," Aberforth tells his niece in a quiet voice as the two of them break apart, and walk over to where Albus and Gellert are setting up the table.
"Aberforth," Albus greats, looking glad to see his brother, though extremely worried about how this is going to go.
"Albus, Grindelwald," Aberforth says, an edge to his voice as he says the ladder.
"Aberforth," Gellert responds, clearly trying to play nice for Albus's sake.
"Food should be here any second," Mie says and just as she finishes speaking several different dishes and drinks appear on the table.
"Let's eat," Albus says and the four of them sit down at the table, Mie and Aberforth on one side while he and Gellert sit on the other and together they proceed to have a very awkward dinner, despite Mie trying to engage them all in conversation, a dinner which Aberforth leaves early from, but which actually went better than any of them were expecting.
The morning after The Three Dumbledore's and Grindelwald had diner together Mie has slept in and as she walks into the main living area she finds Gellert and Albus playing chess against each other. Feeling fascinating Mie sits down across from where they are playing and watches. Even though Mie is not good at Chess she can appreciate how strategic they both are.
"Checkmate," Albus says, almost an hour after Mie started watching Albus and Gellert.
"Good game," Gellert says.
"That was impressive," Mie tells her father and Gellert. "Um so Dad, I want to return to classes tomorrow," Mie tells her father.
"Are you sure you're ready for that?" Albus asks his daughter concerned.
"No," Mie admits. "But NEWT exams start in two weeks, I missed my chance to sit NEWTs once, and I will never regret that, but I'm not going to miss my chance again," Mie tells her father. "I want this, I can do it," Mie tells her father.
"If you return to class you continue to stay here," Albus tells his daughter. "And you rest if needed, and if it gets too much, or you can't handle it, you come back here," Albus tells his daughter.
"Deal," Mie respond, and the three of them drift into silence as Albus and Gellert begin another game of chess against each other as Mie watches on.