Chapter 49
AN: Thank you for the support. I really hope you like this chapter.
"Hi," Regulus responds, it being clear that he feels awkward, but at the same time he is also very glad to see Mie.
"I wouldn't have been surprised if you ignored the message," Mie admits, her old self-doubt and belief that no one really likes her showing itself.
"I never even considered it," Regulus respond, though he knows Mie well enough to understand why she would have feared that.
"Regulus you need to know that my reasons for wanting you not to spy on Voldemort has everything to do with my fears, and my insecurities, and nothing to do with me not believing in your skills," Mie assures Regulus, needing him to know that this is her fear not anything to do with him. "I know how incredible you are, and I know that if there is anyone in this timeline who call handle spying on Voldemort and passing on the information it's you, but I'm still afraid," Mie admits.
"I know, and I appreciate what you're feeling, but this is something that I have to do," Regulus tells Mie. "Is that something you've can be okay with?" Regulus asks, as he needs her to be.
"I don't know if okay with it it is the right word," Mie admits. "But I'm not going to stop you, that's not my place. I will respect your decision, I will worry about you, and desperately hope you come back okay, but I'm not going to stop you, it was your decision to make, and you've made it," Mie tells Regulus, even though it is hard for her to do so.
"I have," Regulus confirms. "Thank you," Regulus says, walking over to Mie and hugging her. "I promise I will do my best to stay safe, but I'm going to do what I have to do," Regulus tells Mie.
"I know," Mie says, leaning forward and kissing him, wishing that Regulus didn't have to do this, but she knows that for their war he has to.
After a day where Mie and a lot of her friends used every spare moment, they had to study the group of seventh years are walking into their Tuesday defence double where they find Albus sitting on the table and Gellert sitting on behind the table in the chair, as they walk in Albus gives Mie a smile and she smiles back at him and Gellert.
"Good afternoon," Albus greats, as everyone walks in. "Please put your parchment with what you would like to know on in the hat that Gerard is holding," Albus requests, and so as everyone walks in once they put their stuff at their desks, they walk over to where Gellert is sitting, drop their parchment in the hat he is holding and then they each walk back to their seat.
Once everyone has put into the hat what they want to learn most they Gellert walks over to Albus and hands him the hat.
"As discussed, today I will be doing my best to help you with what concerns you the most about your upcoming exams and making sure that you are have a level of comfort with the concepts that are likely going to be on the exam," Albus explains looking at Gellert. "Gerard can you please draw the first piece of parchment," Albus requests, even after a while it feels very strange to call Gellert Gerard, but he knows that what is best for everyone, especially Gellert, is for that to continue.
"Of course, Professor," Gellert says, pulling out a piece of parchment which he hands to Albus. Taking the piece of paper from Gellert Albus unfolds it.
"I feel most comfortable with my knowledge of dark creatures," Albus reads. "I am most concerned with my knowledge of what being in a duel is like, I think it would help to see a demonstration," Albus reads.
"Oh no," Mie mutters as she can see two ways this could go, and she knows that one of them has the potential to be very bad.
"Yes, observation can help, but so does experience," Albus reveals, putting the piece of paper on the desk. "First we will do an observation, then I will break you into partnerships and you will spend fifteen minutes practicing your duelling," Albus explains, and before he can even analyse whether it's a good idea or not Albus continues speaking. "Gerard and I will observe that to make sure that no one is using spells with the intention to cause harm and we will be offering advice about what improvements can be made," Albus says, and as he does, he and Gellert exchange what to most people look like a fleeting look but Mie knows it is a look of them basically having an entire conversation.
"Sir, are you and Professor Gere going to demonstrate?" Kathleen asks, looking excited, and because she doesn't know the truth it is clear that she wants to see a duel so she can maybe learn why he has been sitting in on their defence lessons since he got to Hogwarts.
"I'm not a professor," Gellert answers, looking at Albus, not wanting to overstep, and knowing that what happens next is Albus's choice.
"I have a bad feeling about this," Sirius whispers to Mie, concern clear in his voice.
"It will be okay," Mie responds, though it is clear that she isn't completely convinced, and for a few moments, moments which feels like hours to those who know the truth about who Gellert is, Albus looks like he is pondering what they are going to do.
"Yes, Gerard and I will demonstrate," Albus finally answers causing Mie, James, Sirius, Remus, Severus, Lily, Alice, Amelia, and Frank to tense as they all feel extremely worried about what is going to happen as they know all the history, they know just how bad this could be become. "If you would all stand up and move to the sides of the room," Albus requests, and everyone stands up and starts to do exactly what Albus told them to do.
"Should we stop them?" Amelia asks Mie in a whisper, as she feels like that would be a good idea.
"We can't, but Dad knows what he's doing… I hope," Mie responds, though that doesn't stop her from wrapping her hand around her wand handle, being ready to use it in a second if needed, though she desperately hopes that it isn't needed.
After about a minute once all the students are around the edge of the room, Mie having purposely put herself in the position so that she can intervene, if necessary, Albus waves his wand and causes all the tables and chairs to stack themselves, making space in the middle of the room.
Even though she is sure that no one else can tell Mie is sure that both her father and Gellert are nervous something which Mie isn't at all surprised about as she is sure that this is bringing up painful memories for them both, but at the same time she can tell that Albus considers this an important teaching moment and that Gellert doesn't want to let down Albus again.
"Gerard and I will do a short demonstration, just like when you do your duels shortly neither of us will be casting any spells that will cause harm," Albus says, and those who know the truth have questions about that statement.
"Is he speaking to us or Grindelwald?" Remus asks Mie, his voice only loud enough for her to hear.
"Not sure," Mie says, she would like to believe that it is the former, but she can't be sure.
After Albus speaks he and Gellert move so that they are facing each other, but over a metre apart. As she is watching them carefully Mie can tell that neither Albus nor Gellert want to do this, that they don't want to fight each other, even though it is a demonstration. While Mie would like to figure out a way to prevent that she can't think of a way so instead she just watches, the feeling of dread rising inside of her, as she fights the feeling that is almost a feeling of not being able to breathe.
After a few moments of staring at each other, as students start to whisper about whether they are going to do anything, Albus, in an act that is almost physically painful for him, casts a spell at Gellert, which he blocks. After blocking Albus's first spell Gellert sends back a spell of his own, which Albus blocks and the two of them begin their duel.
For the next few minutes Albus and Gellert duel and as they do it is clear to those who know the truth that they are holding back, it is clear that they are both being very selective about the spells they are using, and Mie knows that it is because they don't want to risk even the smallest possibility that they may accidently hurt each other something which says a lot to her.
While those who know the truth know that both Albus and Gellert are holding back they also know that it is an incredible duel. Even with the fact that they are holding back it is more than clear that both are extremely skilled wizards and it makes for quite the impressive sight and those who don't know the truth, are just amazed by what they are watching while those who do know the truth are incredibly worried that things are going to go south.
After a few minutes of duelling Albus performs so impressive wand work which makes it seem like he is about to do something which actually gives him the opening he needs to disarm Gellert, who actually looks impressed. As Albus catches Gellert's wand the students clap, and Mie lets out the breath she has been holding in.
"Split yourselves into partners and start to practice, any spells intended to cause harm will not be tolerated," Albus instructs and as the students are splitting up Albus walks over to Gellert and offers him his wand.
"You haven't lost your touch," Gellert tells him with a smile as he takes his wand off Albus.
"Neither have you," Albus responds. "Though I must say that I prefer this outcome," Albus says to Gellert, resisting the urge to kiss him as that's what he wants to do most.
"As do I," Gellert responds and after exchanging smiles the two of them start to walk among the students to watch what they are doing, giving tips when needed, and both feeling relieved that their duel didn't end in disaster.
Almost three hours later double defence against the dark Arts class is over and rather than heading straight down to Dinner Albus and Gellert have returned to their quarters. As the walk into their quarters, they find an owl with a letter waiting and so Albus walks over, collects the letter, and reads it.
"Albus, what is it?" Gellert asks concerned, noticing the look on Albus's face.
"The ministry wants to inspect Hogwarts by the end of the year," Albus responds in a grave tone of voice, and it is clear that he dreads what is to come.
About an hour after classes ended for the day the Mie and her seventh-year friends, with the exception of Sirius, Isaac, Alora and Severus, are all in their empty classroom studying.
"I am never going to get this!" Marlene exclaims, referring to the ancient ruins work she is revising, and looking extremely frustrated.
"You will, you just have to keep at it," Dorcus says to her in an encouraging tone of voice from where she is sitting across from Marlene.
"Easier said than done," Marlene responds.
"I know what you mean, I swear with every word I'm forgetting how to read," Edgar admits. "I feel like my brain is mush," Edgar admits.
"Well, it's good thing we have just the thing to help with that," Sirius says as he walks into the room with Isaac, Alora and Severus, feeing amused about the perfect opening he was just given.
"Please don't say you're hiding whiskey I had more than enough at the party," Mary responds.
"Don't worry, we're not," Alora explains. "What we have is an idea," Alora explains.
"What kind of idea?" Lily asks, feeling slightly suspicious.
"One to help with the fact that we're all going cross eyed from studying," Severus explains, with a grin on his face.
"Oh yeah? What are you thinking?" James asks.
"We're going to help each other, we're going to do a quiz, each round one person asks the questions and the rest of us have to answer; we've all made question sheets or flash cards, we can use them, and at the end of the round, let's say, fifteen questions, the person who got the most amount of questions right, and the person who got the least amount of questions right have to duel, and the winner of the duel picks the next person to ask the questions, and at the end the ultimate winner gets bragging rights," Sirius explains looking around the room.
"Well, I'm in, anything has to be better than reading the same sentence over and over again," Marlene says and it is clear that everyone is in agreement.
"So, we're going to do this, who is going to asks questions first?" Mie asks.
"We're going to take a leaf out of your dad's book and draw the name out of a hat," Isaac explains as he pulls off his own hat.
Less than a minute later the seventh years are all sitting around the room, in much more casual positions than they were sitting a few minutes earlier, each holding a button so that makes a noise so that they aren't talking over each other, white all their names written on the blackboard, and as Emmaline is the first one who will be asking the questions she has all their question and answer sheets and flash cards in front of her.
"Let's begin, the first question is…. When casting the Patronus charm what do you focus on?" Emmaline asks, and several people buzz at the same time. "Remus, I think you were first, what do you need to focus on when casting the Patronus charm?" Emmaline asks him.
"A truly happy memory," Remus responds.
"Point Remus," Emmaline says, and Sirius puts a one next to Remus's name. After Sirius makes the mark Emmaline asks the next question and a truly unusual, but effective, study method continues.
While Mie is studying with her fellow seventh years Albus, Gellert, Minerva and Moody, have made their way to the Hogshead, which looks to be closed, but Albus just opens the door, and they walk in. Just like how the outside of the bar looks it is completely empty except for Aberforth who is standing behind the bar.
"Good evening Aberforth," Minerva greats.
"Minerva, a pleasure as always," Aberforth responds, smiling at her.
"Are we the first here?" Albus asks his brother.
"No, the twins, Doge, and Diggle are upstairs," Aberforth responds.
"Thank you," Albus says to his brother and he, Gellert, and Moody head upstairs while Minerva stays to get a drink, and talk to Aberforth briefly, then follows.
Walking into the room where the order meeting is going to take place Albus, Gellert, and Moody find Gideon, Fabian, Diggle and Doge all waiting, as soon as they walk in Elphias Doge walks over to Albus.
"It's good to see you, Albus," Elphias says as he and Albus shake hands.
"It's good to see you too my friend," Albus says as they shake hands, and Minerva walks in.
"I don't believe we have met," Elphias says to Gellert, offering his hand to shake, which Gellert responds as while he never met Elphias when they were young, he does know that Albus considers him to be a true friend.
"We haven't," Gellert says as he returns the handshake. "But I have heard great things,"
"Gerard is a dear friend, someone I trust implicitly who will be a big help with what's to come," Albus explains. After a lot of discussion with Mie and Gellert it was decided that not even the Order would know who Gellert really is unless it is necessary.
"Well, it certainly is a pleasure then," Elphias responds, clearly having questions but his trust of Albus leads to him not asking the questions.
Over the next few minutes, the rest of the order arrives, and they all take their seats around the table, as they sit down everyone notices that Gellert sits immediately to Albus's right, and that Albus often looks to him, but no one comments as they all trust Albus which means they trust Gellert even though they don't know who he really is.
Hours after the Order meeting begun, and the seventh years begun their unusual study method Mie is walking into her family quarters where she finds Albus and Gellert both awake and drinking tea.
"How was the meeting?" Mie asks, as she was very well aware that there was an order meeting.
"Informative," Gellert answers.
"It looks like Voldemort is on a mission to recruit more followers, I cannot confirm that for certain, but it's what it seems like," Albus explains.
"Great, that's just what we need," Mie admits with a sigh as she puts down her bag and sits on the couch. "We need to cut of his connections. Alone, he is dangerous, but having the support, power and influence of his followers make him even more so," Mie comments.
"It does," Albus confirms.
"We've discussed this Annemie, we need to figure out a way to cause distrust within Voldemort's ranks," Gellert explains, and even though both Albus and Mie notice the use of 'we' and not 'you'. "Not only will that take away some of Voldemort's power and influence, but it may just give us more time to destroy the remaining Horcrux's," Gellert says.
"I have an idea," Mie admits. "It would cause distrust, and it may even cause some of his followers who are the most devout to turn against him," Mie admits. "I just don't know how to get the information out in a way that would be believed," Mie admits.
"What's your idea?" Albus asks his daughter and Mie explains her idea and after she does that, she Albus and Gellert start to brainstorm possible ways to put Mie's plan into action, something which is easier said than done.