Chapter 68

Wherever they were it was cold. Harry's eyes quickly adjusted to the bright white snow that surrounded and blinded them. The snow covered the mountainside they were on, and after a deep breath, Harry could tell the thin air indicated the elevation they currently stood at. The snow and elevation weren't the only things he noted, however. As he turned to face the Hit-Wizards that had departed a minute before them, he observed a large stone fortress standing before them. Immediately Harry could feel the power of the wards nearby, and had to grit his teeth to prevent himself from trembling from the combination of the cold weather, and the cold feeling the wards sent through his bones.

Dumbledore didn't seem interested in waiting outside as he moved forward to cross the ward line of the castle. Nurmengard, Harry thought darkly. He had once seen a vision of Voldemort interrogating Grindelwald for information on the Elder Wand. It had not been one of his more pleasant memories.

Charlus seemed to study the invisible line in front of him instead of following Dumbledore forward. Harry stepped to his side, asking, "What do you think?"

"I think," Charlus grumbled, "If they wanted to keep us here, we would have a most difficult time getting out."

Before Harry could comment Charlus stepped through the line, visibly shuttering from the impact of crossing the wards. Elaina, for her part was still holding onto Harry as they exchanged looks and followed behind the man. It felt like a cold snake was slithering down his back. It was discomforting to say the least, but Harry shook the sinister feelings away. Surprisingly, Elaina however did not flinch, twitch, or move in the slightest as they crossed over. Frowning, the girl looked behind her as if she was inspecting something tangible and Harry asked, "You didn't feel anything, did you?"

Shaking her head, she swallowed deeply, before whispering into the wind, "I feel welcome. It's like I am under the wards of Potter Manor, but somehow it's different. I think…I think I could control these wards."

Harry was alarmed by her words, and felt a sense of dread cake in his stomach. His father's words echoed through his mind suddenly and he began to play out scenarios if things turned sour. His mother knew where they were. In the worst case scenario Dorea could gather the Potter and Dumbledore family allies and launch an attack on the fortress. Finding it would be difficult, but she would have a good head start. They would likely be dead before help arrived, but even the worst-case scenario didn't seem hopeless as they followed behind Charlus.

As they approached the entrance to the castle, Hit-Wizard Fritz approached the group, "You will surrender your wands before entering the castle. There will be no further negotiations or delays."

"Naturally." Dumbledore tried to pronounce with enthusiasm, but Harry could tell it was more forced than before. It seemed even Wizards as powerful as his former headmaster were worn down under the power of these wards.

The older man made a show of flourishing his wand and placing it in a black container that was held by one of the Hit-Wizards, and Charlus followed suit, but seemed much more apprehensive in doing so. Elaina and Harry both relinquished their wands without griping, but the bad feelings seemed to intensify as the teens lost their best means of self-defense.

The doors to the castle opened when the Hit-Wizard snapped the box closed, and Fritz grinned at the defenseless visitors as he motioned them to follow him into the castle, "This place was once used as the headquarters to Gellert Grindelwald. When he was defeated by Herr Dumbledore, he was stored like a caged animal to live out the remainder of his days. The castle's defenses were meticulously taken over by the best curse breakers in the world, and then changed to keep the man here, and any unwanted visitors out. Without a wand, he is still dangerous, but with the wards at full capacity they keep any allies out, and his magic at bay. It is a most unpleasant experience I am told."

The thick Austrian accent of the man made it hard for Harry to understand every word, but it seemed as if Fritz was just taunting Dumbledore with the information, while Elaina clenched Harry's hand tighter at the words of the arrogant Hit-Wizard.

The group ascended several flights of stairs, before they came to a long corridor, with half a dozen guards at the ready. Each wore similar robes to the Hit-Wizard contingent that escorted them here. Seventeen men, Harry thought morbidly. Seventeen men to contain one older man, without a wand. It seemed excessive, but then Harry considered what it would take to contain Voldemort if he were ever spared and captured. As Harry watched Charlus' eyes the man seemed to be thinking it wasn't enough and that made the teen nervous for what was ahead.

"It's going to be a tight fit for all four of you. We didn't leave the prisoner much room for comfort." Fritz jested as he strode to the door that held Nurmengards sole prisoner.

Dumbledore merely reached into his pocket pulling out a small piece of candy and popped it into his mouth. Fritz and other guards twitched when the man had gone for his pocket, but seemed to watch the older man warily as he ate his lemon drop, and cheerily offered, "I fear you are right. I believe our youngest companions will be able to gather all the information I need. We will wait in the hallway with your esteemed guards."

Fritz frowned deeply, "What is the meaning of this? You intend to leave two children in the presence of Gellert Grindelwald without supervision?"

"Call it a scholarly interest." Dumbledore suggested brightly.

"I will be reporting this to the ICW. This is beyond irregular, and-"

"Yes I am sure you will Kapitan Fritz. If you wish to continue the conversation I would be delighted to have it, but we should allow our young charges to speak with Herr Grindelwald. I am sure you wish to be rid of us as much as I would like to be back in my own country." Dumbledore said with a hint of warning in his tone now.

Fritz turned red with indignation, but Dumbledore stepped behind Elaina and Harry and gently guided them towards the door as if he were shielding them from the stares that followed them. It didn't work. Harry felt the eyes of each Hit-Wizard on them as they moved forward. He sensed the questioning looks from each of them. It was almost as if he could read their thoughts. Who are these kids? Why are they so special?

Swallowing hard, Harry felt like Elaina had his hand in a vice grip now as they were mere feet from the door. Before Harry or Elaina could reach for the nob Dumbledore turned to the guard on the left, "Malachi, please open the door."

The wizard closest to them seemed to eye Fritz questioningly, but after a short moment of hesitation, he flicked his wand in the direction of the door, and it became slightly ajar. Dumbledore spoke softly to the pair, "We will be just outside the door if you need us. Remember why you are here."

With a slight nudge from the older man, Harry reached for the door with a final glance towards Charlus who looked grim at the situation. Steeling his nerves Harry's fingers latched around the propped open door and opened it gently pushing Elaina in.

The room they entered held little light that shone into the center of the room. The only source of light came from a small window near the top of the high ceiling. The window was not large enough for a normal-sized man or woman to fit through, but it brought a chill into the haunting room. The bed nearby looked vastly uncomfortable, as if made of stone, and the blanket was thin as paper that could hardly have protected anyone from the brutal climates of the winter that the mountains brought.

All these foreboding things paled in comparison to the man who had his back turned to Harry and Elaina. It was ominous standing among a man who had likely killed hundreds if not thousands in his quest for power. The fact that Harry couldn't even see his face was almost even more unsettling. The door closed behind them with a soft click, and a raspy voice broke the silence almost immediately, "Fulminata."

Harry glanced towards Elaina, but she only now had eyes for the man in front of them as she asked, "What?"

"It is the spell you used to vaporize the basilisk from the inside out. The spell you also used against your enemies in Hogsmeade. The incantation for it is Fulminata. It can summon titanic bolts of power, or small blasts of electricity that can be used to inflict pain on those who would cross you. A witch of your caliber could do some serious harm with it." The man said with a tone that sounded reverent.

"How did you know about the basilisk?" Elaina asked, taking an aggressive step forward.

The man turned to face her, and Harry took a small step back at the sight of the eyes that greeted him. They were similar to the ones he had fallen in love with. The same ones that greeted him warmly nearly everyday he had been in this time. They were the same shades, but also so different. These eyes were cold, devoid of emotion, but they held a similar power that he was more familiar with.

"The other spell you must master is Protego Diabolica." The older man said ignoring the angry teen, "You have used this spell most effectively, but oh how much more it is capable of. You must be clear with your intent. Destroy all those that are not loyal to you. You could even manipulate the ward to allow an untrustworthy enemy into the circle, only for it to devour the trespasser most painfully."

Elaina looked disconcerted as she now seemed to stiffen, "I never meant to use that spell. I could've-"

"You could've leveled the ancient grounds of Hogwarts," Grindelwald interrupted, "but instead you managed to control it and spare the one you love. I am unsure if I am more impressed with your control over our magic, or your ability to call upon it instinctually." The man said, closing his eyes at the end, as if he were taking in an epic masterpiece.

"What is this?" Elaina whispered, now sounding scared, and Harry felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. How did Grindelwald know about their fights and adventures?

"My magic." Grindelwald said simply, "Much was sacrificed for my descendants to have an opportunity to grasp this magic without instruction. I wanted spells that I mastered to be carried on throughout history, and now I am teaching you, my dear."

Grindelwald said this with a smile as he opened his eyes, the blue and green glowing as he stood in the shadow behind the light cast in from the window, "Is that not why you came? To understand your magic? To protect the ones you love?"

Grindelwald locked eyes with Harry now, offering him a nod, before turning his eyes back to Elaina. The girl looked like she had been struck, "I don't want to learn magic from you. I want to learn about my family."

Grindelwald scoffed as he stepped into the light, "Family? My dear, sweet, innocent, granddaughter, I am your family. These people who have taken you in are your family. I have watched your struggles. I watched your fears become reality. I watched that muggle-filth harm you, and for the first time in many years, I prayed. I prayed that the magic I SACRIFICED SO MUCH FOR," Grindelwald slammed his hand into his chest twice raising his voice temporarily, and lowering it with a calming, "would protect you."

Elana looked like she had been struck. Harry's eyes widened at the words, and he was as frozen as she was. Before either could retort the man composed himself, "Seeing the future has always been my curse. I watched for years the day you would die. The last of my kin. Murdered by some Pureblood scoundrels in Hogsmeade. I watched as my magic, my legacy, faded from this world, and with it the last of my hope."

Harry's heart was racing. The answer he never thought he would get. Was this it? Had Elaina been killed in Hogsmeade in his original time? Was that what Grindelwald was seeing? Before Harry could voice a question, the man's shoulders straightened, and he now looked at Elaina in the eyes as he took another step closer to her. The cell wasn't very big. He could reach out and touch his granddaughter if he so desired, but he didn't try, instead, he just spoke softly, "Until one day, I saw further. I saw a future, far beyond the day that previously held your demise. I saw a rise to power that was glorious. A sorcerer that could change the world."

Staring in awe, Harry appreciated for the first time just how Grindelwald had remained sane in this prison. Glimpses of the future were his only solace, even if it wasn't his own. Then the man turned away, "You just have to be brave enough to take it. You consort with my old enemies, I understand. They have been kind to you, I am grateful."

The man looked up towards the window, but Harry could see an amused smile on his face, "Never would I have believed a descendant of mine and a member of the Potter Family would find kinship in one another. Some magic is truly still beyond my own mind."

Any amusement that had been on Grindelwald's face faded away as he turned back to face his granddaughter, "If you wish to experience this rise I saw in my visions, it will not be without sacrifice…I fear your future is still fluid. Ever changing, as was my own. There are still many versions of this story that end in tragedy, and all of the worst versions of this future happen if you keep yourself aligned with the Potters."

Harry's eyes widened, and Elaina became impossibly still. That couldn't be true, could it? Harry's mind swirled, and searched for words. He wanted to pull Elaina back and call the man a liar, but some part of him knew the odds. He knew what had happened the first time. Voldemort had wiped them out to the last man. Was he dooming the girl he loved to that fate?

"I feel the turmoil inside of both of you." Grindelwald said as if he almost regretted it, "You are searching for answers. Searching for a way to call me a liar. I assure you both however, swear it upon what is left of my magic, that I speak the truth."

A long moment passed and they both just stared at the frail old man who suddenly clenched his fist, "It doesn't have to be this way though. You can still decide to move on. The continent, your dream Elaina Essex, is out there. Go chase them. I can give you the tools to be great. I can give you the power to be unstoppable. I just need you to be brave enough to take it."

Harry didn't want to be the reason Elaina lost her life. He couldn't be responsible for the death of another person he loved, and decided to speak for the first time, "Elaina…maybe-"

"Don't." The girl said sharply, and while Harry couldn't see her eyes, he could tell she was far from pleased by the tone of her voice as she stepped nose to Grindelwald, "You say my future is fluid. That means I can still have a life with Harry. We can win this war. You say you have the tools to make me great, then give them to me. Let me use them against this Heir of Slytherin."

"He is beyond you." Grindelwald said simply, "Both of you. Even when he commits the unimaginable, and splits his soul into seven pieces. You will both be no match for him."

"So we are just supposed to just let our friends die?" Elaina practically shouted, and Harry glanced nervously towards the door hoping no one would interfere.

"You are supposed to live." Grindelwald said, meeting Elaina's tone. .

The room rattled slightly, and Harry felt the power in the man's voice. Years may have passed with the man in solitude, but that did not make him any less formidable, "You have no idea the power you hold. You could shape the next generation."

"I don't want any of that." Elaina said coldly, clearly reigning back in her temper faster than Harry would've imagined, "I just want to live. I want to experience the love I never had with a family I always wanted. That family could be the Potters, but I would like to know if any of my flesh and blood are still out there. I want to know if they would care that I am alive."

The man laughed cruelly, stepping away from the girl now, "You disappoint me, Elaina. The woman who brought your mother into this world was of beautiful magical blood, and a specimen of skill and power. It is why I agreed to allow her to carry my heir. It is time you put this fantasy of being welcome into their world to rest, however. You will never be welcomed into that family."

Elaina took a step back like she had been slapped. She stared at the man with tears coming to her eyes, and asked, "Who was she? Who are they?"

Grindelwald ran a hand through his face, his facial hair was long, unkempt, and scruffy. He looked every bit his age as he considered the question, "I had many faithful followers. Many fanatical followers. I had one however that stood above the rest in her devotion. I had one that earned her place by my side like no one else did before or after her."

He had them both, and he knew it, Harry thought. Both teens were hanging on to his every word now waiting for the answer, "She was powerful, and bold. Too bold. She wanted to ensure that my legacy lived on forever, but didn't trust her progeny to do it themselves. She delved into soul magic to ensure her life lasted indefinitely. She was determined. I tried to convince her out of it after your mother was born, but I could not. She split her soul the same way your paramour's enemy did."

Harry's heart fell. His head dipped and he placed his fingers over his brow not believing the conclusion he came to. Grindelwald caught the move and Harry could hear the smile on his face, "I see your surrogate mother taught you all about her old enemy."

"No." Elaina said with a broken voice, realizing now who they were speaking of.

"Vinda, was as cruel as she was talented. As devoted as she was desperate. Everything I could ask for in a partner that would help me bring forth an heir to my name." Gellert said as if he were recalling a particularly good memory.

"My grandmother," Elaina choked out, "Was Vinda Rosier?"

"Mmmmmm." Grindelwald answered, and Harry dropped his hand looking at the grinning man, "You see your problem now. The Rosiers are the enemy of the Potters. More so than they are my own these days. They would kill you at the door if you ever showed your face around them."

Tears were falling down Elaina's face as the truth of her family unfolded. Harry could hardly blame her. Many of the stories they had heard from the war were acts of evil committed by Grindelwald and Rosier. Harry knew this was a blow to the woman he loved, and he stepped beside her taking her hand, "This changes nothing. No one else has to know if you don't want them to. Charlus assured me, no matter what we learned today, it would change nothing."

"Oh my boy, it changes everything." Grindelwald said with a viscous smile.

Elaina turned and embraced her boyfriend sobbing into his neck, while Harry just stared at the man who had killed his great-grandfather. The two held eye contact and Harry searched for words to say to the man, and what he found wasn't the cruel words he hoped for, "She doesn't need you to be amazing. She doesn't need you to change the world. Your magic may be a part of her, but it won't define her. She could've killed at least half of our professors and me that night with your spell, but instead, she controlled it. It may take her longer, but she is going to discover everything you left for your family and she is going to wield it better than you ever did."

If Grindelwald heard him he didn't show any signs of it. Instead, they just continued to hold eye contact as Elaina reigned in her emotions after a few long moments before separating from her slightly, offering him a small kiss on the cheek, and turning back to face the man she had come to fear confrontation with, "I'll be better. I am going to do everything in my power to make sure Harry wins this war. You can either stand with us, and make some of your mistakes right, or we have nothing further to say to each other, because I am not turning my back on him, his family, or my friends."

The two stared each other down for a long moment, and after Grindelwald refused to say anything else, Elaina turned her back on him and made her way to the door not even glancing behind her. Harry took a final look at the man who nearly dominated the world before shaking his head and moving to follow Elaina out the door. Before she could open it a simple Command echoed the room softly, "Wait."

When Harry turned back to face the man he looked tired as he took a seat on his bed staring at the wall in front of him. He looked conflicted, but seemed to decide on something heavy, "There is a house in southern Hungary, north of a little town called Kiszombor, by the river. If you can find it, our blood will get you in. There isn't much of our family's estate, but what's left is your birthright. The real value of it is some of my personal works. They will help guide you to victory."

Elaina's hand was frozen on its path to the door, and she slowly pulled it back and turned to face her grandfather once again, "Thank you."

The words were nearly whispered, and he shook his head, "For sixteen years I tried to ignore my old friends' updates on your life. I thought it was no good to focus on your path that was destined to end in tragedy. I had tortured myself enough within my own mind with the visions I saw. I couldn't bear to invest myself in a child with such potential..but then I saw the light for the first time in many years… Go forth, descendant. Unleash my magic and legacy on your enemies. It will serve you well. One day, your kin will be able to draw upon it all to its full power. Go forth and breathe life into our family. You are all that is left."

Elaina swallowed hard, and instead of asking further questions pushed the door open and left the room. Harry moved to follow, but Grindelwald stopped him, "Your enemies will attempt to destroy her, Harry Potter. Protect her."

"You have my word." Harry promised as he looked at the man who was staring at the floor.

"Then here is mine. I have seen what this self-proclaimed Lord is capable of. You will need all of your ancestor's heirlooms to defeat him. Including the wand of my old friend. Even with them, there is no guarantee of victory. Seven pieces of a soul will be very volatile, and you ought not to lose hope in what those artifacts may be. Some things in history are simply meant to be, no stone should be left unturned in your search. Good luck." As the man said his final words he laid on the bed, folded his arms, and closed his eyes, leaving Harry to follow the exit of his girlfriend.

As soon as he crossed the threshold to the door he didn't have time to contemplate the dark lord's final words as he realized he came upon a heated exchange, "We know the girl is someone! Why else would you allow her to visit Grindelwald?"

"I told you, Grindelwald stole precious Potter family heirlooms after killing my father. We were trying to appeal to him, to see where he hid them." Charlus Potter practically shouted at the Hit-Wizard that was getting in his face.

"You are a liar and a Metzger." The Hit-Wizard said, pulling his wand out and putting it in Charlus' face.

Harry had heard Fritz use the term earlier, and wasn't sure what it meant, but thought it didn't sound friendly. By the tone of voice, he could definitely tell that Charlus was being insulted, and clearly his father expected the same.

Charlus refused to back down from the drawn wand, and Dumbledore raised his voice, "Enough! Wand away now."

Dumbledore's power flared through the room, but the angry wizard didn't bat an eyelash. He seemed determined to find answers, and Fritz had his wand in his hand showing no indication that he was going to stop his subordinate. The way he was eying Dumbledore Harry guessed it was more likely the Hit-Wizard would curse the Supreme Mugwump for interfering.

"We are around his magic all day and night for weeks at a time. You thought we wouldn't recognize a presence similar to his own. I ask again, who is she?" The man said, shoving Charlus into a nearby wall.

At this, Dumbledore waved his hand disarming the man with ease, but soon every wand in the hallway was pointed at the old man prepared to attack. Dumbledore looked taken aback at first, but then for the first time in many years, Harry saw the man get angry, "What is the meaning of this?"

"We have been wondering the same thing, Supreme Mugwump." Fritz said moving towards the man, "You bribe our Minister into allowing you and these outsiders access to the prison at great personal risk to your reputation, why? Who is this girl and why is she so special to get to visit with Gellert Grindelwald?"

Dumbledore seemed to search for an answer to the question, but nothing came to mind immediately. Harry eyed the men around the room deciding how they could go about escaping by force and if it was even possible. They were outnumbered four to one, but it was tight quarters, and they couldn't use anything too powerful. If he could get to their wands he could even the odds, but he wasn't sure how he would do it.

"It's obvious who she is." The Hit-Wizard who pushed Charlus against the wall said, "The presence, the eyes, and it is clear the wards have no effect on her. She is a descendant. A living breathing cancer of his line."

All the Hit-Wizards shuffled slightly at his words, and Harry felt his stomach drop. Charlus shook his head, however, "I led the troops against that man. You think I would bring his legacy to his door. Do you think-"

Whatever Charlus was going to say was cut off as a different wizard flicked his wand causing Charlus to fly into the wall. Harry yelled out, preparing to attack the man who dared curse his father, but something large connected with the side of his face stopping him from interfering as he dropped to the ground in pain. A scream beside him indicated that Elaina was in trouble, but when he tried to get to his feet a wave of power washed through the room sending everyone spiraling backwards, Harry included.

Harry's body thudded against the wall, and he felt like he had been hit by a car. Coughing from having the air knocked out of his lungs he attempted to rise to his feet, and his eyes widened at what he saw. Dumbledore and over a dozen occupants of the room had been thrown backward, each moaning and groaning, while part of the wall had been destroyed. In the epicenter of it all however was Elaina, looking shocked. Harry immediately deduced that she had called upon the power of the wards to protect them, and the reaction had been volatile.

At the end of the hallway, laughter echoed throughout the stone walls and the thundering of footsteps indicated reinforcements were coming. Harry's eyes blearily went to the end of the hall and he saw Grindelwald standing there with a smile, "You attack my descendant in my own castle? You fools."

Shit, Was all Harry could think. Dumbledore was on his feet now, his hands in a calming position as if he wanted to reason with the man, "Gellert, don't."

"And ignore my final chance of escape? I'd rather die." The man said gleefully before turning to Elaina, "When you are ready to hone that power. Come and find me."

A buildup of power filled the room, and Harry's eyes widened as he realized what was about to happen. As if his ear popped a burst occurred throughout the room, and Grindelwald disappeared.

Harry's eyes flitted from Dumbledore to Elaina who seemed as shocked as he was. Dumbledore for his part had an expression Harry had never seen on his face before, and that was fear. Without hesitation, Dumbledore barked out, "Charlus, take the children."

With a pop, Dumbledore was gone, and Charlus was stumbling towards Harry and Elaina, wrapping his arms around them, and apparating them out of the fortress as Hit-Wizard reinforcements arrived.

(A/N) The Potter effect is strong. Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Join me on Discord and read through Chapter 87 for free. Just find "The Hunters Lounge" or add me on Discord OrionB15. You can also read through the end of the story for just 1$ on Pat(reon).