Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts
"So. He managed to get Amelia, eh? That's a loss. That's a big, big loss"
"So it would seem. This is worrying, Alastor. This is very worrying. If they're able to to that, it means they have people within the Ministry. Within the Floo Authority for sure, and probably the Auror force as well"
Moody nodded.
"This makes me think of another death, Albus. Another person who would have been very useful in a war"
"Bartemius"
"Exactly. You need to reconvene the Order"
"And tell them what? That I have enough circumstantial evidence to prove that Voldemort has returned, but that I have no idea of what he's aiming for, what he's trying to do?"
"You know exactly what he wants. The same thing he always has. Control"
"Yes, But I don't know how he plans on achieving it! Oh, I have guesses, but nothing concrete enough to act upon! Besides, most of the Order is dead"
"That's easily fixed," Moody said, shrugging. "We start recruiting. I know of a few people I could bring in. Can you honestly not say the same?"
"Certainly I can. The problem returns to my not having anything of value to tell them. We need a spy, Alastor. And we need one now"
"What happened to Snape? He finally showed his-"
"He hasn't been summoned. Many of his former associates have been avoiding him"
"So he claims" Moody grumbled.
"And so I believe. We need someone on the inside. You must know someone who can get in?"
Moody rubbed his chin.
"Tricky, that. You know what they have to do for their initiations?"
Albus nodded, grimacing.
"Won't be easy, finding someone to pull that off. And they'll need to be good at Occlumency. And they need to have the right background. I won't say it can't be done, but it'll be tough"
"So what you must Alastor. You know the mercenary crowd far better than I. There must be someone appropriate"
"Maybe. I'll let you know after Christmas. But it'll take time before he could be in position. A lot of time. Could be even a year. And I don't want Snape to know"
"Alastor-"
"No, Albus. Call me paranoid if you want, but if I'm right. Well, that could change everything, couldn't it?"
"You are wrong"
"We'll see. Wanted to talk to you about something else as well, actually"
"Yes?"
"Potter"
Albus frowned, not allowing his emotions to show on his face.
"What about him? I have received excellent reports about him, so what is the issue?"
"Nothing I can put my finger on. But his friends are scared of him"
' Please, no. Please, no'
"What makes you say that?"
"Watch them. The way they look at him. They're friends with him, but-it's the same way people look at me. Like they're not sure what he's about to do"
"That could be-"
"Except for one. One of those Durmstrang kids is terrified of him. Damn near pisses himself when Harry looks at him"
' No! It was looking so good! Why?'
"How certain are you?"
"Not at all. Just saying what I've noticed. Caught him the other night sneaking back into the castle with his girlfriend. Didn't let them know I saw, of course, They looked like a totally normal couple. But- there's something about him, Albus"
' And it's all my fault'
"Keep watching"
"Course"
"And keep me informed on the mercenaries front"
Moody just nodded.
' And I must speak to Healer Deschain and Severus'
Lounge, Durmstrang Ship
Oskar Poliakoff sat on his own.
He always did, really. He knew what the others thought of him. Not good enough. He knew they wondered why he had been recruited.
He had been planning on showing them all. Proving his worth to them. Showing them how excellent he could be.
But now.
He looked down at his shaking hands.
' I have been broken by a fourteen-year-old boy'
"So they managed? They took out Pietrekov?"
Carolus looked around the room, barely even noticing Oskar.
"Yes. He won't be making any more trouble for us" he said nastily. Everyone around the table laughed.
Oskar sunk deeper into his chair.
"I wonder," Olga said, "do you think our Lord would appreciate it if we brought him Potter? As a gift, for when we get Marked?"
"Maybe. We should discuss it with Karkaroff first, before-"
"No!" Oskar was on his feet, with no memory of even standing up.
They were all staring at him.
"No, we shouldn't ask the Highmaster? Oskar, think before-"
"No, we should not bring him Potter"
They looked at him like he was crazy.
"Oskar" Olga said, stretching out the words as if she was talking to a lunatic, "Potter is believed to have killed the Dark Lord. I'm sure he would appreciate it if-"
"Do not fuck with Potter! He's-he's dangerous!"
Olga and Carolus shared a look before turning to stare at him again.
' They know. Or they suspect something'
Ivan just laughed and twirled his wand on his fingers. "He's dangerous, you say? Well then, it's a good thing that we are as well"
"No, you're not," Oskar said with absolute certainty. "Not like him"
When he had first mocked Potter, threatening him in the Dark Lord's name, he had seen the light in his eyes. He had thought it was fear, making the boy's eyes so bright. It was only later when he was tied to a chair and broken, that he discovered how wrong he had been.
It wasn't fear. It was madness.
"Oskar. What do you know?"
"Nothing. Only that he is-"
"Do not lie to us". As if they had practiced it, Olga and Carolus rose at the same time, drawing their wands.
' They probably did practice it'
They probably weren't expecting Oskar to laugh.
"You think I am afraid of you? I am far more afraid of him than of you"
"That may be. But answer me this, idiot. Who is pointing their wands at you right now?"
By now, Bjorn and Ivan had joined in and were pointing their wands at Oskar.
"I can't. He will-he-"
"He will only do anything if he knows. Tell us, Oskar"
"Ask Karkaroff! Please! Ask-"
"Ask me what?"
Karkaroff looked at the scene before him, seeming not at all shocked to see four of his charges threatening another.
"Highmaster! They want to know why I fear Potter, and-"
"What did you say?" Karkaroff hissed, face contorting with rage.
"I-I-"
"You were not meant to say anything about that, idiot boy! You should-"
Oskar spoke quickly before Karkaroff could punish him.
"They thought it would be a good idea to kidnap Potter! To take him to our Lord! They didn't listen when I said it was a bad idea, and wanted to know why! Please, I-"
"Idiots. All of you. Has your purpose in England not been explained to you, a dozen times?! Have the roles you need to play not been made clear?! Bah! Idiot, tell them. Tell them why they should be afraid. And the rest of you"
They snapped to attention.
"No more silly ideas. What idiot tells you is only the tip of the iceberg. Believe me when I say, that you should fear Potter"
Karkaroff left the room, and the four turned towards Oskar, faces expectant.
Maximum Security, Nurmengard Prison.
Gellert Grindelwald, once the greatest terror in Europe, looked at the stack of newspapers sitting on the floor of his dinghy cell and sighed.
Such was his lot. He deserved it.
He had resigned himself to his penance, to rot away in the highest cell in the prison he himself had designed.
To rot, until one day his body would be discovered. By then, he was quite sure, his name would be forgotten.
There would be no taking the easy way out, not for him.
He deserved this torment.
His brilliant mind, with nothing to read but the newspapers and his few correspondences.
And even achieving that allowance had taken years of good behavior until he was allowed such treasures.
And now, he who has once the most brilliant student in Durmstrang, he who was once the most feared man in Europe.
He now spent his days dwelling on his past crimes, wondering where it all went so wrong.
When he had first started his goal of conquest, he had been filled to the brim with naive idealism, believing he truly could make the world a better place through violence.
At some point though, it just became a lust for power.
He often thought he could pinpoint the exact moment everything went so wrong.
When he fled England, leaving behind a corpse that would come to weigh heavier than millions on his conscience.
He looked at the stack of newspapers and snorted.
' Albus never knew how to recognize subtle propaganda'
Of course, it was a skill Gellert had been taught by his Muggle allies.
' Albus doesn't know. How he is slowly being made to look like an eccentric fool'
And if that piece of information was combined with the rest of what he had seen in the newspapers.
Well. It spoke of something very, very interesting.
He picked up a quill and began to write a letter.
Lord Voldemort's Manor
"Yes, my lord. I believe he is capable of controlling himself"
"Good. You are to be commended"
"Thank you, my lord. But in truth, it has not been my efforts alone. Severus has been a great assistance"
"How much longer?"
"A few months. I think he needs more time to adjust to his self-control, and it would be beneficial to have me aiding him during this time. I plan to start helping him with his violent tendencies, and-"
"No"
"My lord?"
"You will not try to heal him of his bloodlust"
"But-"
The Dark Lord leaned forward. "You have made me very pleased. Do not make me angry. Your mission is to have him learn to control himself when necessary. That is all. Understood?"
"I-Yes"
"How are the escapees?"
"Improving, my lord. I believe Bellatrix, Antonin, and Augustus are at their peak. Rodolphus and Rabastan are still lagging, but are doing better. I doubt those two will ever be appropriate for fine details. The rest are recovering. A few more months, my lord"
"Good. And the healers are cooperating?"
"They still are, my lord, although Healer Brust is becoming more and more belligerent"
"Send Bella in"
"As you wish, my lord. Thank you"
' So Harry is involved with the Greengrass girl? Excellent. But she must be brought into the fold earlier than planned'
"Bella"
"My Lord," She said, voice shaking with excitement as she sunk into her knees.
"One of the healers is being problematic. Brust. Deal with him"
"Thank you, My Lord. I will do it gladly. As you know I am-"
"Leave him alive and sane. No permanent damage"
She wilted slightly.
"As my lord wishes. I will-"
"When that is done, come back to me. Bring Antonin and Augustus as well. I have a mission for you"
She looked up, exuberance clear on her features.
"It will be my pleasure! I have been waiting to be of use to you, and now-"
"We will discuss this further then"
' She could benefit from learning some self-control. I doubt it is possible for her, though'
Lord Voldemort thought of what he was going to order them to do. It would be a risk, but one with a commensurate payoff.
' Yes. They will make an excellent distraction'
He smiled. For once, everything was going according to plan.