Bonus Chapter!
xxxxxx
....After their breakfast was finally brought to a satisfying end, getting rid of the unnecessary tension, Hermione went to her private quarters to pass her time, and calm down.
"Be good, Astoria. I'll bring you back some sweets!" Daphne said in her best big-sister tone, patting her little sister's head.
Astoria barely resisted the urge in rolling her eyes, "Just have fun, sis. Don't worry about me."
"Of course." Daphne puffed out her modest chest proudly. "I've studied all the Hogsmeade guides. I'll be the perfect tour guide for Lucifer!"
Astoria gave her an awkwardly polite smile, she knew every shop by the back of her hand, 'He's already taken me there more times than I can count, sis. You're the one getting the tour this time.....'
At the end of the line, Lucifer walked beside Daphne toward the school gates, where Filch was carefully checking each name against his list like a detective hunting criminals.
Harry who was early in the year planning to use his Invisibility Cloak in case he didn't get permission from his head of the house, now with Augusta Longbottom's signature, he was free to go, grinning ear to ear as he left with Ron and Neville.
When it was Lucifer's turn, Filch's expression softened instantly, "Ah, Mr. Morningstar! I've got your name right here. You can head out."
"Thanks, Mr. Filch," Lucifer said with a polite nod, leading Daphne through the gate without issue.
Ever since he'd saved Mrs. Norris the previous year and caught her attacker, Filch had treated him with unusual respect.
What Lucifer didn't know was that part of that goodwill came from something else. Filch, a Squib himself, didn't see pity or disgust in his eyes and that the boy's attitude toward him hadn't changed one bit, just as he was like anyone else in Hogwarts.
That alone had earned Filch's silent respect.
After walking for a while, Daphne started to look bored, so Lucifer quietly grabbed her hand and teleported straight to Hogsmeade.
The village looked completely different from usual, every house had pumpkin lanterns hanging by the door, and shop signs had been replaced with 'floating ghosts' that puffed out white mist from their open mouths.
The Halloween vibe hit instantly.
In addition to the usual visitors, there were far more ghosts than usual. By rough count, there were around two hundred ghosts scattered across Britain, but on Halloween, they all came together for gatherings like this.
"Look, the Headless Band!" Daphne pointed excitedly at a group of headless ghosts drifting by, "Their music's the worst thing I've ever heard, but for some reason ghosts love it."
"That's what you call inhuman taste," Lucifer said with a soft chuckle, "If you liked it, that would be the problem..."
"Ha, fair point. Come on, candy first!" She hooked her arm through his and dragged him toward Honeydukes. Inside, the shop was bursting with customers.
The owner, Ambrosius Flume, and his assistants were moving quickly behind the counter, all smiles as they served 'flood' of students.
Whenever Hogwarts had an open Hogsmeade weekend, business soared but this year was especially good. Normally, the presence of two stationed Dementors scared off a lot of customers, which had caused the local shopkeepers to protest to the Ministry again and again.
The Ministry's reply had been the same every time: {Once we catch the fugitive, the Dementors will leave.}
Today, though, was different. The Heads of House themselves had come to Hogsmeade to supervise, temporarily driving Dementors away so students could actually enjoy themselves.
"Mr. Morningstar!"
Flume looked up in the middle of packing a box of sweets and immediately lit up when he spotted Lucifer. He hurriedly passed his work to a clerk and squeezed through the crowd to greet him.
The boy smiled and shook his hand, "Mr. Flume, we're just browsing. You don't have to----"
"Nonsense! I've been waiting for you! The special batch I prepared is ready." Flume gestured for Lucifer and Daphne to follow him into the workshop behind the store, where a large bag of candy waited, limited editions not available on display.
Daphne eagerly opened each box and sampled them one by one, while he chatted with the shopkeeper about business.
"It's all thanks to you," Flume said with a sigh of relief. "If it weren't for your new sales network, this year would've been a disaster. Those Dementors nearly ruined us."
His gratitude made sense. After Fred and George's shop had become a success through Lucifer's new marketing model, he had expanded the system to Hogsmeade after Astoria's visit.
Many local shopkeepers were now using the "WhatsApp" platform to sell products online, he charged a 10% commission per sale, plus advertising fees. Even with the cut, merchants were thrilled. Before, their customer base was limited to whoever visited the store.
Now they could sell across the country, Lucifer noted down Flume's feedback and suggestions for improvements before leaving with Daphne to visit other shops.
Everywhere they went, it was the same warm welcomes, 'free gifts', and generous discounts. The biggest complaint he heard was about payment methods. Currently, magical cards could only be used by their vault owners. Students and housewives without Gringotts access still had to pay in gold, adding an annoying extra step to transactions.
Lucifer jotted it down mentally something to fix later. By the time they were done, the morning had flown by. After a final stop at the Owl Post Office to buy a few stamps, he escorted Daphne back to Hogwarts.
....Before returning to Hogsmeade with Hermione who giggled to herself as she then wrapped herself around Lucifer's arm as they walked. She said happily squeezing it, "Where to first?"
Hermione wasn't interested in sweets,
so they headed straight for the closest building which was a brownish grey and engraved over the door were the words, 'Post Office'. Upon crossing the threshold she gasped and Lucifer let out an impressed whistle to match her tune.
Above them, hundreds and hundreds of owls sat resting on different pedestals, many of which were colour coded. They ranged from great grey owls all the way down into tiny little scoops owls which hopped around on the lower levels.
There was a constant sound of rustling as birds flew this way and that, some carrying letters, some returning.
There was a rather 'friendly' looking wizard behind the counter flicking through a large tome, and several more staff members wandering the floor or halfway up ladders tossing letters towards owls who swooped in and caught them with ease.
"This is amazing," Hermione said, looking awestruck, "You'd think they'd been doing it all their lives."
"I sometimes forget how smart owls are," Lucifer said, looking at a couple of nearby scoops hopping around each other with their wings held high behind backs, "It's quite incredible they can be taught to do this."
Next came the bookstore, browsing shelves for a long while before stopping by pet shop to buy Crookshanks some food and treats.
Since becoming Hermione's cat, Crookshanks had been living the good life. It had gotten so fat that picking it up felt like holding a furry water balloon. Lucifer couldn't help finding it hilarious every time.
They also stopped by 'Dervish and Banges', a shop near the end of the high street that bought, modified, and resold muggle items and artifacts.
There were quite a few interesting items in here, including Sneakoscopes much like the one Harry had that'd gone off before the Dementor arrived.
"Three major places left," Hermione said as she counted shops off on her fingers, "The Three Broomsticks and The Shrieking Shack! Lastly it will be exact time 'for' Madam Pudifoot's."
"Hold on," Lucifer said, reaching into his pocket and withdrawing the parchment he got from Fred and George, "Weasely, Harry, Neville and the twins are at the shack at the moment, let's head to Three Broomsticks."
"Did they give you a timetable?" Hermione asked as they moved back off up the street.
"Yep, they gave me some shop recommendations and other things. Plus, some stuff for couples but I'm saving those for next time."
"They may be troublemakers but it's hard to be mad at them," Hermione said with a warm smile. They wandered into The Three Broomsticks, Lucifer gestured her over to one of the empty tables as he walked up to bar, where he was approached by the bartender, a curvy woman with a very pretty face. She gave him a rather complicated look, you again, with some other girl, "...Anything I can get you, dear?'
"Um… yes, two butterbeers please?"
"Coming right up, that girl's first time here?" She asked with a slight knowing smile as she reached under counter and pulled out two tankards, "If you need anything at all give me a shout, we've got bits for snacks if you get hungry and a menu if you want to look at other options..."
Lucifer said his thanks and wandered back over to the table with Hermione and slid her drink towards her.
"Thanks, how much?" She asked, reaching for her purse for the card.
"You owe me another date," He said, taking a swig of his drink, looking around the room.
Hermione narrowed her eyes at him but when he didn't let up, she simply giggled and took a sip from her own. Her entire body seemed to relax and almost sink backwards into her chair.
"Wow… that really warms you up doesn't it?" She asked incredulously, looking first at the tankard and then at Lucifer who nodded.
"Yeah, it probably feels after not wearing your knickers, right?" Lucifer asked, teasingly.
Hermione's face turned red, "Oh, shut up, Lucifer!" he laughed at her in response. They continued talking for a while, hands interlocked before the door swung open and in walked a sea of red.
"Come on," She whispered as Fred and George marched a very embarrassed looking Ron up to the bar, with Harry teasing him, "We can slip out of here quickly."
The two ducked and weaved around the tables and darted quickly out of door of the pub. Hermione giggled and then held out her hand to Lucifer, who took it and then felt as she wrapped herself around his entire arm, letting her head fall against it.
"Felt like some sort of Secret Agent!" She said happily as they began to climb the hill towards their last second destination, Shrieking Shack.
After that, Hermione launched into a childhood tale about governments and the secret groups of people her Grandfather told her about.
"They are very similar to wizards, right?" Lucifer asked with a curious face, "Completely undetected, no one knows they exist, bypassing top human security with ease."
"I… wait… you don't reckon they're actually hit wizards, do you?" She asked, suddenly looking as if found a new discovery.
"I think it's very possible. They may not have even done it, just used memory charms to make the muggles think they had."
"Oh my…" Hermione said distantly. She seemed lost in thought and was still staring into space as they arrived at the top of the pathway.
Over the fence and a short ways up the last stretch of the hill was an abandoned house. It's windows and doors were all boarded up but even still, the wind whistled through them sounding like whispers and eery moans carrying across the empty stretch towards him.
Lucifer could tell why it was called the Shrieking Shack.
'Hermione..." he said quietly.
She shook herself slightly and looked straight ahead at the house and let out a quiet gasp, pulling herself closer into his arm. They stared at the house for a while in silence, listening to the wind howl around them.
It wasn't exactly a windy day, but the shack seemed to amplify it.
"I was thinking… about everything that happened between us,' Hermione said suddenly, "You've always been there, always been my support. It feels like I've known you forever and we only met three years ago."
"I know what you mean," Lucifer said, quietly, looking down at her wrapped around his arm, "But I'm happy for it. My life is brilliant with you in it. I don't even want to imagine what it would be like if you weren't."
She turned her head to look up at him, those big brown eyes full of warmth and adoration. They truly cared about each other. This was the Hermione he wanted to know, his best friend and girlfriend.
Neither of them realised they were doing it, both too lost in the other's eyes, their faces inched closer, pupils shut down.
Their lips connected. It was only fleeting, a second at most, and they broke apart. But neither pulled away, both were bright pink and Hermione giggled slightly, placing her forehead against his.
Somehow, this had feeling both of them more romantic or exciting compared to all the sexcapade being engaged in.
Lucifer placed a hand against her chin, tilting her head up, and looked into her eyes once more.
Those lovely, dark brown eyes.
Their lips connected again, with more weight and for longer this time.When the two broke apart again they didn't move away, but Lucifer ran his thumb lightly along Hermione's cheek.
She closed her eyes and gave a contented sigh, "I could stay like this forever."
"So could I," Lucifer said in a whisper, his eyes looked around, "But I think we're running out of time, I can see students going back."
"I'll race you down the hill!" Hermione said with a smirk. She kissed him lightly on the cheek and then sprinted down the hill with Lucifer running after her.
xxxxxx
When they finally arrived at 'Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop'--the most popular date spot in town-the waitress froze in disbelief.
She remembered this boy vividly: ridiculously good-looking, polite, charming. He'd been here just this morning... with 'another girl.'
Now he was back. With someone else.
Her expression screamed scumbag. If not for professional restraint, she might've tattled to Hermione right then and there.
Good thing she didn't. It wouldn't have affected Lucifer anyway, and it would've cost her the job, he had no patience for people gossiping about his personal life.
Once inside the tea shop, Hermione's usual confidence softened.
Surrounded by candlelight and couples, she seemed almost delicate, a rare contrast to her usual sharp, fiery energy. They sipped their drinks and talked about everything and nothing, laughter never leaving their faces.
When even more students began heading back, they followed, returning to Hogwarts as dusk fell. Pumpkin lanterns floated above the Great Hall, glowing warmly as preparations for the Halloween feast began.
While Hermione tuned noises out, and faced Lucifer with a nervous look, "I know you've been wanting one for a while now," she said, pulling watch out of her bag.
"When did you---"
"Don't worry about the cost, it's only three galleons. And, I bought it when you were looking outside from the shop...."
"Thank you..." Lucifer was a little shocked, but put the pocket watch on his left one and smiled, "Thank you really..."
"I'm glad you like it~~"
"Yeah, you'd better get going, the feast starts in five minutes and I will be back after a talk with Makima..."
After parting with Hermione making an excuse, he slipped away to the edge of the school grounds, the 'furthest' point, and vanished.
xxxxxx
Nurmengard
Gellert Grindelwald paced restlessly inside his narrow cell, he'd been imprisoned for decades, but now that 'freedom' was within reach, patience had become unbearable.
If not for Lucifer insisting he wait until his full strength was restored, Grindelwald would've already made his move. Even weakened, he could still level a mountain or two without much trouble.
A cold wind howled through the peaks, Lucifer Morningstar appeared silently on the mountain opposite the towering fortress, eyes locked on the faint flicker of candlelight at its highest window. Inside his cell, Grindelwald froze. 'Magical-contract' he'd signed with Lucifer flared in his mind, his name glowing gold beneath the word, 'the Devil.'
Light burst through him, rippling across his body as the contract dissolved into sparks of power that soaked into his flesh. A surge of vitality and magic flooded his veins.
After 'fifty' long years of slumber---
The Dark Wizard, Leader of the Acolytes, was back. Just like Lucifer said, even a legendary wizard was still human. Birth, aging, sickness, and death come for everyone.
History has seen even legendary sorcerers die from dragon pox, or from the plague. Grindelwald's body had looked 'fine' from the outside, but in truth, both his body and mind had long been riddled with wounds. Half a century of malnutrition, untreated illness, and suffocating weight of isolation had gnawed at him.
A normal person would likely have taken their own life after ten years of such confinement. He endured 'fifty', That alone was proof of a terrifying will. And now, under the power of the 'Demonic magic,' everything reversed.
Everything rejuvenated, his body was like a drought, stricken field drinking its first rain. His soul, like a withered tree bursting into new leaves, thoughts sparked to life again, and deep inside him, an emotion called "ambition" began to rise.
But that ambition did not come from Lucifer's control, it was simply what happened when a soul and body regained their prime.
Grindelwald sat with his eyes shut, a faint smile curling at his lips, savoring the feeling. The euphoria lasted nearly five minutes before abruptly ending. He was familiar with this state. This was how he had been in his early forties, when his magic was perfected and his grand designs first began to unfold.
"For Muggles, forty is the fading edge of one's prime. But for a wizard, it is just right...."
Grindelwald suddenly laughed.
"Ha... ha ha..."
"Hahahaha!"
The laughter swelled, louder and more unrestrained, spilling out the window and rolling across the mountains. Downstairs, the Squib guard was eating his lonely Halloween dinner.
Hearing the laughter, he looked up, startled. In thirty years, he had never heard Grindelwald laugh like that. So, out of duty, he put down his fork and knife and headed upstairs.
Shilo had been 25 when he'd been assigned as guard, now he was 55. Three decades here had made him forget that Grindelwald was once the most 'dangerous wizard alive!'
In fact, he even felt a strange... anticipation. The two had never spoken before. Maybe today would be the 'first' time in thirty years?
The next second----
Boom.
Blue Flame poured down from above like an ocean. Shilo stared, stunned, as the flames curled around him, carefully avoiding the space where he stood, and continued rushing downward.
"Even a Squib is part of the wizarding world. Rest assured, I do not kill without reason."
The voice was magnetic, rich, and calm. The fire parted, forming a corridor. A man in a black coat, white hair like a spray of snow, walked toward him with a crooked smile.
"You... who are you?" Shilo stammered.
"You've brought me meals for thirty years, and you still can't recognize my face?"
Shilo's eyes widened. His voice broke.
"Y... you're G-G-Grindelwald?!"
"The one and only."
Their eyes met, and Shilo felt the world flip upside down, he fainted. In his final moment of consciousness, he saw Grindelwald walk past him.
The next heartbeat, the 'Protego Diabolica' stopped restraining itself and erupted outward. On a cliff, Lucifer watched the spectacle quietly.
The Flame bloomed like a monstrous flower in the night. The fortress of Nurmengard, which had stood for nearly a century, crumbled inch by inch under the force.
"The moment of destruction is also the most beautiful...."
Blue flowers, roses, and countless other blossoms spread across the entire castle, tearing through every protective ward. The petals gathered together, shaping themselves into a massive winged creature that ripped through the air... and then, in an instant, all of it collapsed into 'fire!'
The flames curled inward, shrinking down into a single small ember that settled quietly in Grindelwald's palm.
"Hmm..." Gellert smiled, he had done just a small warm-up. Casting 'Protego Diabolica' without a wand, he merely wanted to see whether his skill was still intact. Now he was sure, he wasn't just as strong as before, he was stronger, and that was only natural.
With Lucifer, 'the Devil, himself' reigning over Hell, to share knowledge and practice with, the dimensional room enhancing his 'mental fortress', not growing stronger would have been absurd. Of course, this comparison didn't include the boost from "the Elder Wand", only someone like him knows the true extent of power that wand can grant.
He too had secrets, didn't share Horcurx or Albus's wand, for two reasons, first it was because he had made a promise with Dumbledore, the second, Lucifer didn't need them.
.....It also showed, he wasn't a puppet, and the Devil had honoured the contract to the point, even better, he would live on mortal plane, and be alive as long as Lucifer was too, in other words he couldn't be killed at all, true immortality, after all his soul belonged to the Lord of Hell, where he would 'finally' go.
Then Grindelwald looked toward the cliff, he flicked his hand. A wine glass appeared, 'filled' with deep red.
"To you, Lucifer Morningstar. May the God 'fear your wrath'."
The Devil watched his lips carefully, smiled, and conjured his own glass.
"To 'freedom'."
They both drank. A gust of wind swept across the cliff, Lucifer's figure vanished into the night. Grindelwald stood a bit longer, looking at the ruins of Nurmengard. After around five minutes, he turned and left.
Nearly half an hour later, the Aurors 'finally' arrived.
Nurmengard sat deep in the Alps, within Austrian territory. Naturally, it was their Ministry of Magic that oversaw its operation.
According to the original regulations, once the alarms of Nurmengard were triggered, three Auror squads were supposed to arrive within ten minutes to assess the situation.
But decades had passed, the old generation who remembered what Grindelwald truly was had long since withdrawn from the stage. Nothing had happened for so many years that the meaning behind the alarm had been all but forgotten.
Staff took far too long to react, to recall the protocol, to rush and call for the stationed Aurors. When they finally arrived and faced the smoking remains of the fortress, with harsh stench of sulfur still hanging thick in the air, every Auror went pale. Their expressions were stunned, vacant.
"Where's Grindelwald?" one of them
whispered, as though afraid he might be heard by something lurking nearby.
"Alive or dead, we must find him!"
They raised their wands and began clearing rubble. Soon, they uncovered the unconscious Squib guard, Shilo, and woke him. The 'first' words out of his mouth shattered the last thread of hope anyone might have held.
"G-Grindelwald escaped!"
The message reached the Ministry at once. Panic rippled through the entire Austrian wizarding government. In the Minister's office, the current Minister, 'Carl Friedrich', was drenched in cold sweat.
He was 73, not particularly old by wizard standards, still in his prime in terms of political ambition. When he had been young, Grindelwald's movement had been at its peak. In fact, even his own family had once stood under Grindelwald's banner.
How had he risen to his current position? Because when the tide began to turn, his family, along with others in their country defected early. They avoided the purges and even profited from turning sides in time.
But now Grindelwald had broken free. Would he return for revenge? Would the surviving believers rally to him once more, gathering beneath his banner to sweep across the world again? One question after another crashed down on him, until his mind nearly blanked.
No idea how much time passed before Carl finally snapped into action, hands shaking as he activated emergency communications. This was beyond the control of a small ministry. Europe would have to move, maybe the entire wizarding world.
Halloween? Cancel it. Everyone was going to suffer together.
xxxxxx
Meanwhile, at Hogwarts, the feast had only just begun. Even though Lucifer had delayed returning to watch Grindelwald's release, his Igris's Shadow was fast. The professors at the high table hadn't even entirely taken their seats.
The Great Hall buzzed with laughter and candlelight and playful Halloween frights. No one there had any idea that a world, shaking event had just occurred.
Lucifer cut into the steak Hermione had sliced for him and nibbled at a boneless wing.
Just then, Dumbledore entered the Great Hall with McGonagall and Lupin beside him. All three wore warm smiles, chatting cheerfully, he looked at Dumbledore's kindly, smiling, old face, and smiled back too.
'Still smiling, let's see if you're still when you hear your old friend broke out tonight.'
As Dumbledore and the professors entered the Great Hall, a large crowd of ghosts drifted through the walls to join the festivities.
The Headless Band made a dramatic charge across the hall to the students' shrieks, and then immediately followed up with a song so loud and off-key that the young witches and wizards suffered visibly, while the ghosts themselves swayed in delight.
Nearly Headless Nick watched them with longing. Gryffindor's house ghost eyed the Headless Band with envy. He had applied to join before, but because his head wasn't fully off, they rejected him.
Lucifer stared curiously at the singing Headless Band. He was trying to understand how they were singing without heads. After watching for quite a while, he figured out exactly nothing.
So instead, his eyes wandered around the hall, searching for the Ravenclaw house ghost: the Grey Lady, 'Helena Ravenclaw.' But even on a night made for ghosts, she didn't appear.
At the high table, Dumbledore watched the lively celebration with a cheerful smile. He had reasons to be happy lately, everything had been moving in the right direction.
Sirius Black had escaped, yes. But Lupin was performing well, he had brought him specifically to handle the matter carefully. The 'Dementors' surrounded the castle, yet never overstepped their bounds. It was only a matter of time before Peter Pettigrew's crimes would be revealed, and just maybe, his innocence would be proven somehow, if not at least, the man had escaped.
He couldn't care less.
This had been one of the most peaceful terms in years. So peaceful, in fact, that Dumbledore found it a little strange. But wasn't this what he wanted? Watching generation after generation of young witches and wizards grow safely. That was his greatest joy.
A clear phoenix cry cut sharply through the hall, scattering his thoughts. Fawkes appeared on a wave of music. Even the Headless Band's awful singing couldn't drown out that beautiful sound. Every eye in the hall turned toward the sudden burst of flame.
Fawkes held a WhatsApp notebook in his claws. Without caring about the stares directed his way, the phoenix dropped it in front of Dumbledore. It hit the table and began vibrating violently, so 'fast' the entire table seemed to shake with it.
Someone had been sending Dumbledore messages, Repeatedly. His brow furrowed, an intense feeling of dread rose in his chest. He flipped open the notebook, and blue eyes widened instantly, he stood in shock.
"What happened, Albus?" Professor McGonagall's voice trembled. She could not remember the last time she saw Dumbledore lose composure. The other professors leaned forward too, concern on their faces.
The Headmaster Dumbledore they knew always 'faced' every crisis calm, steady as stone, "It's nothing. A private matter. Minerva, end the feast early after this. Have the children return to their dormitories. My apologies. I must leave..."
Fawkes swooped over him. Flames wrapped around wizard and phoenix, Dumbledore barely 'finished' speaking before he vanished from the hall.
Silence, and then the Great Hall erupted like a cauldron boiling over.
"Wait, I thought you couldn't Apparate inside Hogwarts?!"
"Well, the Headmaster's special, right?"
"You lot are hopeless. That was phoenix travel. 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' clearly states phoenixes can appear wherever they wish." Susan Bones wanted to smack her own face on the dining table, at the group of idots on Hufflepuff.
"What could have happened to make Headmaster look like that, Susie?"
"No idea, but it must be serious."
The students whispered excitedly. Interest in the feast vanished completely; even the ghosts murmured among themselves.
Hermione Granger bit into a small cake, her brows knit, "Lucifer... do you think they found Sirius Black? Maybe Dumbledore rushed out to capture them?"
"That's possible," he said, surprised to find her guess actually reasonable. Not correct, of course, not even close but reasonable enough to sound convincing.
Sure enough, her theory gained widespread approval, and spread through Gryffindor, then outward to other houses, students nodded along, discussion slowly calming.
McGonagall overheard as well. She didn't believe it for a second. If it were only that, Dumbledore would not have left so abruptly, he wouldn't have looked shocked.
Worry settled into her chest, she wanted to know the truth. But Dumbledore had told her to look after the students. So she stayed.
xxxxx
In the Headmaster's office, his notebook was still shaking violently. Several people were sending messages, too many at once to identify, but every message said the same thing.
{Nurmengard's tower has fallen. Gellert Grindelwald has escaped.}
Dumbledore closed his eyes. After a moment, he opened them again. Flames flickered in blue of his irises, anger taking shape like rising sparks.
'Gellert, you broke your promise.'
They had agreed. Gellert would remain in the tower, reflect on what he'd done, and never again step outside those walls. Yet he was the one who tore up that vow first.
But the anger only lasted a heartbeat, Dumbledore calmed himself. Emotion would accomplish nothing right now, it would only cloud judgment.
He needed to think clearly. What would Grindelwald's escape set in motion? What consequences would follow? And most importantly... why did he escape? Did someone help him? What were they after?
"You... what are you trying to do..." he whispered, though he wasn't sure whether he was speaking to Grindelwald or to himself.
Even after decades of imprisonment, his strength surely worn down, Dumbledore still considered him every bit as dangerous as Voldemort with his multiple Horcruxes.
Perhaps more, Grindelwald's true power was never just in his magic. It was his words, his charisma, ability to make people believe. Death Eaters had brought only terror and scars to the 'British wizarding world.'
But the Acolytes... they inspired devotion, people sought them out to join willingly, admired them. They snowballed into a movement, into a tidal castastrophe that once swept across continents.
Grindelwald would not have escaped on a whim, there would be follow-up moves. A plan, and one he had prepared for a long time. But with so little information right now, Dumbledore could only guess.
In an instant, Horcruxes and Chosen One became distant concerns.
He opened his Diary, selected a name, and initiated a video call, it connected in less than a second. A dark-skinned elderly wizard appeared on the blank page.
"Thank Merlin, Albus, I finally reached you," the man said with obvious relief.
Skipping all pleasantries, Dumbledore went straight to the point, "Babajide, tell me everything, how did Grindelwald escape? What happened?"
Babajide Akingbade, current Supreme Mugwump of the 'International Confederation of Wizards.'
Dumbledore was also a 'Supreme Mugwump'... the honorary, non involved sort, with no real responsibilities.
Babajide spoke concisely.
"The Austrian Ministry extracted the memory of the Squib guard. Grindelwald appeared before him looking... 'middle-aged. He used Protego Diabolica, it destroyed the Nurmengard tower. He left the guard alive, no outside interference was detected.... He broke through every defense alone, then vanished. We currently have no trace of him."
Dumbledore frowned deeply.
Casting 'Protego Diabolica' without a wand was nothing extraordinary for the Grindelwald of old... but after so many years imprisoned, to still wield such control...
Dumbledore had not expected that.
"Albus," Babajide continued, "the 'Austrian Ministry' has contacted eighteen countries. We'll convene in two days at the American Magical Congress headquarters. We need you there to discuss strategy."
"I'm sorry, Babajide." Dumbledore's tone was steady, but firm, "I'll attend remotely, but I can't leave Hogwarts. I don't believe Grindelwald will go to North America. If he comes here and finds me gone, school will be at risk..."
Babajide hesitated, then nodded, "You're right. But if Grindelwald appears anywhere, you must come. You are the only one who can stop him."
"I promise," Dumbledore's voice was firm, then he added, "Also... consider inviting Newt Scamander. He's currently living in 'New York. And he has experience dealing with Grindelwald, his insight could help."
"Thank you, Albus. I was already planning on it."
The call ended in a hurry, Babajide had endless fires to put out. Grindelwald's escape was not merely one man slipping free. If news reached the 'Acolytes...' who knew how many loyal followers would surface again.
Surveillance and containment plans had to begin immediately, Babajide silently thanked the invention of the WhatsApp notebooks with deep gratitude. Without it, coordinating this crisis would be ten times slower, and he cursed that so many countries still hadn't adopted them, forcing to rely on slower methods.
xxxxxx
Meanwhile, back at Hogwarts...
They all followed rest of the Gryffindors back to the Tower, but were halted when they seemed to stop moving.
"Why isn't anyone going in?" Lucifer tried to peer over the students ahead, but upper years were much too tall, even for his current height. He could see the top of the portrait and saw that it was still closed.
"Let me through, please!" Percy's voice came as he pushed through the crowd of students, "Let me through - I'm Head Boy---"
He stopped yelling and a silence hung over the crowd of Gryffindor students. Hermione felt a chill go down her spine when Percy said for someone to quickly get Professor Dumbledore.
"What's going on?" Ginny asked, who just arrived.
"Something with the Fat Lady, I think?" Lucifer said unsurely.
Albus Dumbledore was there moments later from the office, ready for war itself, and students spread apart, like when Moses parted the water supposedly, 'Hell, he may actually have done so since Witches and Wizards do exist.'
When the sea of students had spread apart to let him through, they could all see what had happened.
"Oh my---"Hermione gasped and grabbed Lucifer's arm tightly, he himself was 'feeling' an anger building inside him, he didn't know why. What they could see was the Fat Lady's Portrait, but it was void of her, and it was torn to shreds.
Dumbledore had turned to see a few other Professors running towards him. Well it was more of a brisk walk, but McGonagall, Lupin, and Snape had all appeared instantly.
"We need to find her," he informed the three Professors, his expression looked like he aged a few years, "Minerva, please go to Argus and have him search every painting in the castle, have the ghosts help---"
"You'll be lucky," Came the voice of Peeves, the most annoying spectre in the whole Castle.
"What do you mean, Peeves?" Dumbledore asked 'calmly.'
Peeves' smile dropped a little, he didn't dare taunt Dumbledore.His voice was oily sounding, but it was no better than his usual cackle, "Terribly ashamed, Your Headship, sir. Doesn't want to be seen. She's a horrible mess. Saw her running through the landscape up on the Fourth floor, dodging between the trees. Crying something dreadful," he said with a cackle and a smile, "Poor thing," he added unconvincingly.
"Did she say who did it?" Dumbledore asked him.
"Oh yes, Professor head," Peeves said with an air of one cradling a large bombshell in his arms, "He got very angry when she wouldn't let him in, you see."
Peeves flipped over, and grinned at Dumbledore from between his legs.
"Nasty temper, that Sirius Black!" He cackled and disappeared through the floor.
Hermione felt her stomach drop with the knowledge of Sirius Black having been in the Castle. She clearly remembered her terrible dream, and was just thinking about leaving her dorm early to visit her private quarters, if Black came just slightly late, he would have killed bot---
She felt a cold chill down her whole body, and rubbed her face on Lucifer's shoulder. She knew the gravity of the situation, but it only seemed to sink in just how bad Sirius Black was as a threat.
Dumbledore rubbed his brows, cursing the day of Halloween, he sent all of the Gryffindors back to Great Hall, where they were joined ten minutes later by Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin students.
They were all looking extremely confused.
"The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle."
Professor Dumbledore told them as McGonagall and Flitwick closed all the doors into the Hall.
"I'm afraid that, for your own safety, you will have to spend the night here. I want the.... Prefects to stand guard over the entrances to the Hall and I am leaving the 'Head Boy and Head Girl' in charge. Any disturbance should be reported to me immediately," he added to Percy, who was looking immensely proud and important.
"Send word with one of the ghosts." He proceeded to leave the Hall, but before he completely left, paused and turned around.
"Oh, yes, you'll be needing..." he pulled out his wand and gave it a casual wave, sending the long tables to the edges of the Hall and they stood upright against the walls.
Another wave had the floor covered with hundreds of squashy purple sleeping bags. "Sleep well," Dumbledore said and closed the doors behind him, without giving immediate response to Minerva about what happened earlier, in fact he strongly insisted not now.
Lucifer immediately went to one corner of the hall to have some peace and quiet to sleep, he was glad he did, because Great Hall began to immediately buzz with talking.
Hermione joined him moments later, and moved it as close to Lucifer as possible, "You don't mind, right?"
"By all means," Lucifer said, having to turn his head left more than usual to see her, Daphne and Astoria came with pillows to join them and after a few minutes, Percy yelled that it was lights out in ten minutes. They were then joined by two more 'familiar faces', to Lucifer.
"Mind if we bed down over here as well?" Ginny asked with a nervous mutter of words.
"Of course you can and hello Luna."
Lucifer smiled at the two.
"Hello again so soon, Lucifer," She said in her dreamy voice again.
"Again?" Hermione asked, slightly raising one of her eyebrows, how did she never know about this?
"He gave a warning to Ravenclaw's other day to stop hiding my things...." Luna somehow felt, she poked a sleeping lioness, hurriedly telling the whole truth.
"Oh....." Hermione's reply wasn't much, she now seemed to have stared at Lucifer's head, but it's okay if he was only helping the girl to stop bullying, right?
"So... do you think Black's still in the Castle?" Astoria whispered anxiously, gripping into her older sister's pajamas sideways.
"Dumbledore seems to think he is, and it is possible. We don't know how long ago he did it before we went back to the Portrait..."
She received a quick answer from the bushy haired girl.
"It's very lucky he picked it up tonight, you know?" Daphne's voice now matched terribly to Luna, a similar layer of air headedness, most people here thought. They all slipped, fully clothed, into their sleeping bags and propped up on their elbows to talk until lights out.
"The one night we weren't in the Tower, he probably lost track of time, you know, being on the run. He may not have realized it was Halloween, or else he could've come bursting here into the Hall...."
Harry's voice from two tiles below reached their ears, Ginny gave a shudder, she was out playing with Luna today on her request, what a horrible coincidence, she could have mauled tonight.
All around them, they heard people asking the same question.
"How did he get in?"
"Maybe he knows how to Apparate?" A Ravenclaw 'fourth-year' asked a few feet away.
"Disguised himself, probably," Hannah replied while her face was half hidden into the mattress, clutching Susan's belly, and palm rubbing over it absent-minded.
"Who knows, anyway we are totally safe with Lucifer here," Susan replied to her audible shaky voice, and kissed over the girl's left cheek, which made her whimper under her grasp.
"He could've flown in?" Dean suggested.
"Honestly, are Lucifer and I the only ones who ever bothered to read 'Hogwarts: A History?" Hermione asked crossly to particularly no one.
"I've read it," Luna replied smoothly, having not the slightest hint of fear.
"So, then you also are aware that Castle is protected by more than just the walls?"
Luna nodded at her, while her hair curls and earrings got played by Astoria's curious fingertips, as she traced the earlobe.
"What are you on about?" Ron was confused just like most of the time.
"There are all sorts of enchantments on it," Lucifer answered it for the red-head, "To stop people entering by stealth. You can't Apparate to Hogwarts, or even within a half-mile radius. No disguise that can think of will fool those Dementors, they guard every entrance to the grounds. And we'd have seen him fly in. Filch knows all the Secret passages, they'll have those covered too---"
"Lights out! Lights out! The lights are going out now!" Percy called out and Lucifer laid down, the sleeping bag feeling oddly comfortable.
Ten minutes meant ten minutes.
Perhaps wanting to assert his authority as Head Boy-and bask in the thrill of power, Percy Weasley had paced back and forth with great enthusiasm.
And, just as he had warned, exactly ten minutes later, every candle in the Great Hall went out on the dot.
Lucifer suspected Percy might already be regretting that ten minutes wasn't longer, since it gave him less time to stand proudly and soak in the attention of the younger students.
Others might not have noticed, but he had seen him touch the badge on his chest more than once.
In truth, Percy had no idea that his behavior was being quietly mocked by his younger brothers. Nor did any of the students lying in their purple sleeping bags pay him much attention.
Hermione wrapped her arms around Lucifer's torso while he pulled her tighter into him. She planted a kiss on his cheek before placing her head back down onto his chest, glaring at Daphne who had taken the other side and 'falling' asleep.
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Author's Note
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1 Extra Chapter - 125 Power Stone's! 🎉
Just a couple of days, I have given my Keyboard to repair, and don't have experience on writing a digital one/phone.
Copy/Paste is not working for some reason, might be Keyboard issue.
After that Single Dot problem will be solved.