Chapter 44
AN: Sorry about the break I wanted to get a couple of chapters of Reading Hermione's done before I posted this. HAPPY NEW YEAR. Hope you had a great celebration with friends and family. From now on, I will continue to write a chapter of this then a chapter of reading, unless there is a reason I can't write a chapter, so breaks between chapters should hopefully not be too long.
After spending the rest of the day with her father and Grindelwald and a night of restful sleep, Mie gets up and gets dressed in her uniform, something which takes a little longer than usual. Once dressed she walks into the main living area where her father and Grindelwald are sitting at the table both of them drinking cups of tea.
"Good morning, Annemie," Albus greats.
"Morning Dad, Gellert," Mie greats.
"How did you sleep?" Albus asks concerned.
"Pretty well, I feel okay," Mie tells her father.
"Do you want some breakfast?" Albus asks.
"I was thinking I would go to the hall," Mie explains, as she thinks that would be best.
"You're likely going to be swarmed by people," Albus warns.
"I know," Mie responds. "I'll be okay," Mie says. "I'll see you both later," Mie says before leaving, and Gellert notices the worried look on Albus's face.
"Albus, she'll be okay," Gellert says reassuringly.
"Annemie has a habit of pushing herself too hard. I'm worried that she won't know her own limits," Albus tells Gellert, who has no idea what to say to that and so he reaches over and takes Albus's hand.
After leaving the quarters she shares with her father, and now Grindelwald, Mie slowly heads down to the entrance hall a walk that even though she took all the short cuts she knew, took longer than it's ever taken before. Once Mie gets to the entrance hall she pauses, catches her breath, and prepares herself for what is going to happen when she walks into the hall. After taking a few deep breaths Mie walks into the great hall, that is pretty busy.
"MIE!" Sirius's voice yells when Mie is about halfway to the Gryffindor table, and Mie notices all her friends, along with a lot of the other students who are sitting around, turn and look at her.
"You're back? Are you back back? Like coming to class?" Amelia asks as Mie gets to the Gryffindor table.
"Yeah, I am," Mie confirms, as she sits down between Sirius and Alice.
"I'm glad you're back," Marlene says, giving her a smile.
"You know you picked the busiest day to return," Mary tells her, feeling that the least Mie could do is ease herself into it.
"Yeah, I know," Mie responds. "What can I say, I like challenge,' Mie says with a grin.
"That you do," Lily tells her as Mie starts to eat, and as she does Mie catches Regulus's eyes and gives him a slight smile while Regulus gives her the briefest look to say that he is glad she is okay, but then they both force themselves to look away from each other so that no one notices.
A little while after Mie left for breakfast Albus, who has a while before he is going to teach his first class since Mie was hurt, his seventh years, has gone down to his office as he is expecting a visit and one that he is very much not looking forward to.
Knowing that his visitor is on their way Albus calmly sits at his desk with his hands crossed and waits.
"He's on his way up Dumbledore," Everard's portrait informs Dumbledore.
"Thank you," Albus responds, and he continues to wait.
About a minute later the door to Albus's open bursts open and Barty Crouch with his wand drawn storms into the office.
"Where is he, Dumbledore?" Crouch asks, looking around with his wand drawn, clearly a man on a mission.
"Where is who?" Albus asks in a pleasant voice, even though he suspects he knows exactly who Crouch is asking about.
"Don't play games, Dumbledore, Grindelwald, where is he?" Crouch asks angrily. "I know the deal you made with the Nurmengard Warden, and I am here to take him into custody," Crouch tells Albus.
"You will do no such thing," Albus says standing up, his eyes blazing, practically daring Crouch to try to fight him. "Gellert Grindelwald is in my custody, that is the deal I made with the Warden of Nurmengard, that deal has nothing to do with you, or the British Ministry," Albus tells Crouch.
"You have one of the most dangerous Dark Wizards of all time within Hogwarts! it has everything to do with the ministry!" Crouch exclaims, not believing that Dumbledore of all people could be so stupid.
"No, it doesn't," Albus says, walking towards Crouch. "Grindelwald is here because he wants to atone for what he did in the past by helping fight against Voldemort," Albus explains, carefully making sure to call Gellert by his last name so that he doesn't give away how close they actually are. "Grindelwald's insight and help has already been invaluable, and I am sure it will continue to be," Albus explains. "The Minster has made it clear that he is more interested in me than working to protect against Voldemort and his Death Eaters and so I have taken matters into my own hands," Albus says, taking a step towards Crouch. "You can continue to follow in your bosses' footsteps, and focus on irrelevant things, or you can take a stand against Voldemort and his supports who are within your ministry, before he destroys everything, we hold dear," Albus tells Crouch.
"Is that a threat?" Crouch asks, Albus noticing that his wand is twitching in his hand.
"No, it's the reality of what Voldemort will do if he isn't stopped," Albus informs Crouch. "I will act in the way I feel is best for everyone," Albus tells Crouch. "You can continue down the easy path where you continue to only focus on the purebloods who give you power or you can go down the right path where you protect everyone as you should," Albus tells Crouch.
"If he steps one toe out of line this won't be a conversation," Crouch warns Albus, clearly making a threat, before turning and leaving.
"Barty," Albus says once Crouch gets near the door and he pauses. "You should talk to your son more," Albus advises, as while he doesn't know if Barty's son has joined the Death Eaters yet, he knows that if he hasn't yet he could soon.
"What does that mean?" Crouch asks, turning to face him.
"It means you should talk to your son," Albus repeats and once he does Crouch heads out of the room, clearly confused about Albus's warning.
After Crouch leaves Albus takes several deep breaths as while he didn't let it show he is incredibly frustrated by Crouch, before heading back upstairs.
Having no idea what happened with her father and Crouch Mie, along with the other seventh years, have had charms and break and are on their way to Defence Against the Dark Arts.
"Hey, you okay?" Amelia asks concerned as she has noticed that Mie is walking slower than the others.
"Yeah, just… more walking than I've done in a while," Mie admits, clearly struggling a little.
"You know, after everything you've been through no one would think any less of you if you went to lay down," Amelia tells Mie.
"I would think less of me," Mie responds.
"You're too hard on yourself," Amelia tells Mie, giving her a supportive look, feeling that Mie has no reason to be so hard on herself.
"Sometimes," Mie admits. "I need to try to get through today," Mie tells her friend.
"Okay, but you need to know that there is no shame in leaning on others when you need," Amelia tells Mie.
"I'll remember that," Mie responds as they get to the defence classroom.
For the next few minutes, the seventh years wait until the door is open and they are allowed in. Just like always Mie and her friends take seats in the first couple of rows and the first thing Mie realises is that Gellert is sitting in the corner of the room while Albus is sitting on the desk, though only those who know about Gellert would realise that it's him as his appearance has been transfigured in minor ways so it would be hard to recognize him unless you knew, but that doesn't prevent those who don't know who he is to be incredibly curious.
"Welcome, welcome," Albus says, looking between the students.
"it's good to see you back, Sir," Edgar says as he takes his seat.
"Thank you, Mr Bones," Albus responds. "Professor Moody has been keeping me informed on what you have been doing," Albus admits. "So, I am offering you the choice, would you like to continue with what Moody has been doing with you or return to our box of questions?" Albus asks curious.
"Questions," Emmaline says, and several people around the room nod in agreement.
"Questions it is," Albus says, getting up and walking around to the back of the desk where he opens it and pulls out the box of questions.
Once he has the questions Albus walks back over to the desk and sits back down on it.
"Okay, the first question is…" Albus says as he pulls a question out of the box, and as he sees the words he can't help but pause. "What was the hardest duel you have ever been apart of, and what made it hard," Albus reads, and as he does, he can't help but glance over where Gellert is sitting, and as he does that Mie and Sirius exchange looks, both wondering how Albus is going to answer that particular question, especially with Gellert in the room. "Interesting question," Albus says, folding the piece of parchment the question is on, giving himself the opportunity to think of how he is going to answer that.
"He's not going to answer," James whispers to Remus and Lily.
"No, he is," Lily responds, though she can't help but wonder how much of the truth Albus is going to tell.
"The hardest duel I have ever been apart took place in nineteen forty-five," Albus answers, and while most of the people who know the truth about Mie and Gellert exchange looks Mie can't help but glance over at Gellert who is looking incredibly interested in what Albus is about to say.
"Grindelwald?" Isaac asks.
"Yes," Albus answers, with a nod. "I knew it was coming for a while, that it was inevitable, but there was no way to prepare, it was something I knew I wasn't ready for," Albus admits.
"But Sir, you're a more skilled Wizard than Grindelwald, why didn't you think you were ready?" Alroa asks and from the corner of her eye Mie sees Grindelwald and realises that he is close to having something to say about that, but he clearly holds himself back for Albus's sake.
"Grindelwald is just as skilled as me, perhaps more so," Albus admits, and as he does those who know who he is notice Grindelwald look down at the ground. "Ever single duel carries with it the history of those taking part in it," Albus says standing up. "You remember what has come before, what is at stake, and you carry all that," Albus reveals, as he starts to pace, forcing himself not to glance over where Grindelwald is sitting. "That can make a duel difficult, it can make you conflicted and it is incredibly important to remember the why, remember what is at stake, remember what brought you to that moment," Albus explains, looking between the students, and he notices Mie give him a supportive look. "Let's move on," Albus says, picking up another questioning, one that thankfully doesn't make him think of Gellert, and so he is able to completely change the subject.
For the rest of class Albus continues to answer the questions, pausing to give demonstrates and go into more detail when relevant, until finally the bell rings.
"NEWTS start next week, I want you all to write the three things that make you most nervous and three things that you feel most comfortable with, we're going to go through them in our next lesson," Albus instructs everyone. "Annemie, a word," Albus requests.
"I'll see you in the hall," Mie tells her friends as she was expecting that, and they nod and head out. As Remus is the last one out of the classroom he closes the door behind him, leaving Mie, Albus and Gellert alone.
"How are you feeling?" Albus asks his daughter, as Gellert walks over.
"A little tired," Mie admits.
"Maybe you should go rest," Albus says to his daughter, clearly concerned about her.
"I thought about it, but I think I'll be okay," Mie tells her father. "I have transfiguration and Ancient runes this afternoon, I can handle that," Mie explains.
"Are you sure? You don't have to," Albus tells his daughter, feeling concerned, and feeling that he might have a word with Minerva so that she can send Mie back to their quarters if it seems like it is all too much for her.
"I'm sure," Mie tells her father. "Dad, I need to make it through today, I need to at least try to," Mie tells her father.
"You are incredibly stubborn, and determine to prove yourself, though from what I've seen you have no reason to. Your intelligence and skill are more than clear," Gellert tells Mie, trying to make sense of how someone so smart and skilled has so much self doubt.
"Wow, um, thanks Gellert," Mie says, having no idea how to respond to that. "Being determined to prove myself, kind of an old habit I can't break," Mie admits. "I'll come to our quarters after diner," Mie tells her father, and Gellert, clearly not wanting to explain more.
"Good, there is something we need to talk about," Albus tells his daughter, who automatically feels concerned.
"Is something wrong?" Mie asks concerned.
"I had an interesting meeting with Mr Crouch earlier," Albus tells his daughter.
"How bad?" Mie asks, as she knows what Crouch is capable of, the lengths he is willing to go to and she can't help but be concerned about that.
"Not as bad as it could have been, but we do need to be on alert," Albus tells his daughter. "We'll talk about the details after diner," Albus explains, as if Mie is insisting that she goes to the rest of her classes then he doesn't want to add to her worry until later.
"Okay," Mie says, and both Albus and Gellert can see the concerned on her voice. "Um, okay, I'll see you both later," Mie says, feeling concerned about what Crouch is up to, as she heads out of the classroom.
"She said our quarters," Gellert says amazed.
"She did, and she said she'll see us both later," Albus tells Gellert. "She's trying to be open, and I appreciate you trying too," Albus tells Gellert, as he can tell that Gellert is making an effort, certainly more than he ever tried to make with Aberforth, and that means everything to him.
After leaving her father and Gellert Mie doesn't go straight to the great hall rather she goes to the Room of Requirements and because she knows exactly what room she wants she is able to walk in without a problem.
Walking into the room Mie can't help but smile as she sees Regulus waiting.
"Hi," Mie greats.
"Hi," Regulus responds, walking towards her and once they are close enough to each other the two of them embrace and kiss. "How are you?" Regulus asks after he and Mie break apart, though he keeps his arm around her.
"I'm okay," Mie assures Regulus. "How are you?" Mie asks concerned.
"I'm okay, I'm trying to figure out how to get into the best position to get the last two Horcrux's," Regulus tells Mie.
"That's not going to be easy," Mie tells Regulus, and she can't help but be concerned about the danger he is going to be in.
"I know," Regulus tells Mie. "But we've got to figure out what to do. It feels like we're running on borrowed time," Regulus admits.
"It really does," Mie admits. "How long do you think before we have to get back?" Mie asks.
"Three minutes would be pushing it," Regulus admits.
"Then let's make ever second count," Mie says, kissing Regulus again as she knows that they only have these occasional stollen moments.
A few hours later Mie, surprising herself, has managed to make it thought the rest of the day and is currently in the Great Hall for dinner. Unknown to Mie her father and Gellert are standing just beyond the doors to enter the hall.
"I'm not sure this is a good idea," Gellert says concerned as while he can handle anything he is worried about what his presence will do to Albus.
"You're transfigured, the only people who will know it is you is those who already know," Albus tells Gellert.
"What if someone realises? From what you said that Ministry worker Crouch already knows, he could be spready the word as we speak," Gellert reminds Albus.
"He could be," Albus confirms. "But he also has bigger problems to deal with," Albus reveals. "Gellert, I want you here, and part of you being here is not spending all our time in our quarters," Albus tells Gellert.
"You called it our quarters too," Gellert says with a slight smile.
"I did," Albus confirms.
"If the parents find out they won't be happy," Gellert reminds Albus.
"The parents are frequently unhappy with me," Albus tells Gellert. "It will be okay, we will deal with whatever it is to come," Albus tells Gellert, who finally looks convinced and the two of them head into the hall.
As Gellert, transfigured to look slightly different, and Albus make their way towards the head table as they walk it is clear that there is some whispers and some people wondering who Gellert is, but Albus and Gellert just continue to walk until they get to the head table where the elves have added an extra chair between Albus's and Minerva's chairs.
"Glad you've joined us again," Minerva says to Albus, as they sit down.
"Thank you, Minerva," Albus says, giving his old friend a slight smile.
"Albus, introductions?" Slughorn asks curious, wondering who it is.
"Of course," Albus responds. "This is Gerard Gere, a dear friend, he will be staying at Hogwarts," Albus says, purposely not giving a timeframe.
"Welcome," Hagrid tells him, clearly feeling that any friend of Dumbledore's can be trusted.
"Thank you," Gellert says to Hagrid with a smile as he knows how much Hagrid means to Albus.
"Well, I hope you enjoy your time at Hogwarts Gerard," Slughorn says, clearly tyring to figure out if he knows Gellert form somewhere.
"I'm sure I will," Gellert responds, as he looks around at the students and finally to Albus who he has come to realise is at his happiest when he is helping students so that is something he doesn't want to put in jeopardy.