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In the Dark, A Zabini/ Grindelwald fanfic	By : blaisegellert Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 1326 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: mature, m/m, Harry Potter fandom, no money is made off this project.

Chapter List
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When they arrived back at Hogwarts, they went directly to lunch. Blaise was tempted to take Gellert to sit at the Slytherin table so they could have more of a private conversation. He wanted to know what, exactly, his Mum had said to Gellert out in the hall. It seemed that would have to wait, though. Professor Snape was already seated at the staff table, and he waved them over as soon as he caught sight of them walking in.

"I wanted to speak with you, Mr. Grindelwald, concerning the matter of Lord Voldemort," he said before they even had an opportunity to be seated.

"I am afraid I have not had a chance to look through the folder on him that I was provided yet. I just returned from clothes shopping, but it shall be my priority as soon as we've eaten lunch," Gellert replied.

"Yes I am aware. This concerns a more personal view of Voldemort. After you've finished going over the folder, I can perhaps give you a more intimate view of the...of Voldemort. I am in his service...as an under cover agent," Severus explained.
"I can show you all of my many interactions with him in a Pensieve whenever you are ready."

Gellert's eyes lit with interest as he and Blaise took seats side by side. Other than the Zabini family and Gellert, Snape was the only other person at the table. The Great Hall was otherwise empty.

"That would be helpful indeed," Gellert thoughtfully confirmed, his mind slowly returning from the necessary but tedious shopping expedition to the more stimulating questions of arcane theory that Snape's words brought to mind.
"Information in a dossier can be quite detached, barely scratching the surface. Some time ago I attempted to predict the moves of this old alchemist, Nicholas Flamel, with only written documents to draw from. My reading of his history gave me the impression that he would have a considerable self interest I could hope to exploit, and nothing went further from the truth. From that point on, I began to fully appreciate a more personal report.
But there is another element I could apply that may also interest you. A few months before my unfortunate failure and subsequent imprisonment, I had begun working on something fairly new...well, you would probably get bored with the technical details that excite me. Most people do. In short, I am hoping to conduct a spectral analysis of your impressions. To compare some interactions with others and observe how your mental activity may have changed. I would not insult your efficacy at Legilimency or anything of the like. But some manipulations are more subtle than others. To change the course of one's thoughts could be a brutal invasion into the mind that leaves traces, where other, less obvious methods could work just as well to set the ground.
I am most curious about Voldemort's particular level of subtlety. Most wizards and news reports do not seem to indicate a lot of it which troubles me. It seems unlikely for a man who rose so high to rise through primitive methods alone. If you happen to remember the times when you felt less trusted during your interactions, I would appreciate you writing them down.
That would help me focus my analysis on the points that have the potential to matter the most. If he is really good, he probably erased all traces of his influence, which would make your mental activity fairly consistent. I have been working on a way to test the impressions left in the Pensieve for consistency by exposing them to a kind of modulated turbulence. Unfortunately I did not get a chance to fully test my methods, so we would see how all of this works out. In the worst case, it should not be too damaging, time consuming, or revealing, which is all one could hope for when facing a dangerous foe," Grindelwald quickly spoke, his mind running in multiple directions, already considering how to best fine tune his idea.

"I'd love to learn more of this spectral analysis," Blaise said, very much interested in the technical details of rare and unusual magics. Once again he felt the rush the thrill of finding a like mind gave him. It was energizing and stimulating. "I'd very much like to watch when you get to that bit if that's alright," he said eagerly.

"I am sure you would," Grindelwald agreed with an approving smile. Though ordinarily he would have injected considerable sarcasm when directing such words at any lesser wizard, he actually meant what he said to Blaise. The young Zabini proved to be a gifted enchanter, with a curiosity to rival Gellert's own. "It is quite alright. In fact, after you learn the basics, I may require your assistance in this matter. The concept is simple enough.
You reverse the memory points as projected onto the Pensieve, approximate it with an equivalent magical stream, project it onto a suitably susceptible surface, such as a wizard's skull, and then introduce a filtering current to evaluate the consistency of the mental activity. The filtering needs to be more precise, which is the one area where I would need your skills at precision. A smaller measure, I suspect, might be needed than the one I had introduced originally. The accuracy should increase by 13 percent, if I am correct. At any rate, it would be most intriguing to work on it. With your contribution, the project should go much faster..." Gellert eagerly admitted, already looking forward to the glorious future when their success was but a stepping stone to further discoveries.

"If the two of you are going to consider robbing graves for a wizard's skull, it isn't happening," Sabra Zabini said firmly.
"It simply isn't safe. Once Voldemort is dead, you may rob all the graves your two little black hearts desire. Until then there are some very dark catalogs that carry just about anything a self-respecting dark wizard could want. I will order you a wizard's skull tonight and it should be here by tomorrow if I pay extra, which I will."

The catalogs had gotten faster with their deliveries, Gellert thought.
"Why thank you, Ma'am," he said and couldn't resist ducking his head a bit under Mrs. Zabini's approving smile.
"Anything to help the cause and keep my boys safe," she said.
Her boys? Could she have accepted him so readily? And if so why? Though Gellert was not at all displeased, he couldn't help but wonder.

Severus's expression was thoughtful as he listened to Grindelwald. The large white owl who usually seemed to be in his company of late had hopped down from the back of his chair and begun eating from his plate.
"I don't see why we can't give it a try," Snape said carefully. "I am always interested in learning new ways of studying such things, after all."
The owl suddenly went still then raised its head to briefly glance at Grindelwald before lowering it to the plate again. Snape seemed to hesitate then he spoke.
"Someone else who deals with Voldemort feels...very strange in his presence. I only mention this in case it has anything to do with the spectral work of which you speak. This person feels very strange in the presence of the dark lord, feels the man's evil on perhaps an auric level? This isn't really something I understand or deal with," he said, almost apologetically. "This person is always saying how...wrong the Dark Lord feels. I understand I am not explaining this properly, not having felt it myself. It isn't that he doesn't bother me, but perhaps my feelings are simply due to what I know about him...what he has done and will do."
Gellert nodded.
"Are you able to convince this other person to add his testimony into the Pensieve? Having the ability to compare two impressions could create sufficient data for the spectral analysis to progress...without throwing precise numbers at you, I shall say considerably faster. That could indeed be very helpful. I don't know much about auras either, but that kind of viewing is magically deep and on the personal level, insightful to aid our work. Spectral analysis greatly benefits from the ability to make multiple comparisons of mental streams," Gellert slowly explained, his tone resembling that of an eager hunter about ready to shoot the proverbial arrow at his prey.

Severus hesitated and oddly, he glanced at the owl when Gellert asked his question. "Yes...He will," he said. "We all want this to end."
Before Gellert could reply, expressing his appreciation and agreement on the sentiment expressed by the potions master someone else entered the room. An old man with long white hair and a beard in typical robes. Old...At least as old as he himself would have been was he not given that potion of life to restore his youth. Staring at the far older man was unsettling and strange in a way he could not quite describe with that in mind. The man's gaze was on Severus then an expression of mild surprise crossed his features when he noticed Gellert.
"Well. Severus did inform me that you were here but with all the current stresses I must admit to forgetting." He smiled slightly in amusement, though the expression didn't quite touch his eyes. Gellert read intelligence in those sharp blue eyes, but at present didn't know what to make of him otherwise. He seemed only for an instant to be mildly uncomfortable before straightening his shoulders and seemingly drawing a mantle of dignity about himself.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, Mr. Grindelwald. I am Albus Dumbledore, the school's headmaster. Severus assures me that you are the responsibility of Mr. Adler, but while you are here I must add that I expect you to behave better at Hogwarts than you did at Durmstrang. In other words if you are wondering if a thing is permissible or not, if it would get you thrown out, please refrain from indulging yourself."
"Good day to you, Mr. Zabini," the old headmaster added, nodding at Blaise and giving him a friendly smile. "I hear you will be working with Mr. Grindelwald on some items to aid and protect us in this time of war and it is appreciated. I certainly am pleased to see you living up to that great potential even before you have graduated. I always knew you would accomplish great things and I am happy to see it already beginning now."

Blaise looked fleetingly surprised but gave a pleased smile. "Why thank you, Headmaster."

Dumbledore. The same last name as his arch enemy Aberforth who had contributed to his painful downfall. When Blaise spoke earlier of Dumbledore as Headmaster it had never occurred to Gellert to think of the other Dumbledore brother, though it should've. So great was his hatred for Aberforth that over the past fifty years of imprisonment, Gellert somehow forgot about Albus. Likely because unlike Aberforth, Albus had never interfered with his business. In fact until this moment they'd never had cause to meet face to face.

At least this particular Dumbledore seemed relatively harmless. Albus was rumored to be a child prodigy in Gellert's own day, already renowned for discoveries and profound essays when Gellert was only beginning his own education at Durmstrang. In spite of such early accomplishments, the Albus boy was only a few years older than Gellert. For his part, Gellert had found Albus's brand of scholastic pursuits dull and lacking in excitement so hadn't kept up with the other boy's doings.

In the end it seemed all he was able to do with that prized mind of his was to run a school. The thought was a bit scathing and Gellert couldn't help it.
"Rest assured I have no interest in any of my former pursuits, Headmaster," he told Albus. "I have developed new interests so you have nothing to worry about." As he spoke, Gellert projected a hard mental image at the other man of he and Blaise tangled together on their bed in the Slytherin dorm, mouths locked in a passionate kiss as their hands explored one another.
Though he admittedly couldn't resist being cheeky, Gellert was also poking around to see if the other man were truly as talented as word would have it. Dumbledore's eyes widened in horror and he choked as he took a step backward, then turned rapidly toward the door. "That...That was unnecessary," he said a bit faintly as he hurried out. Gellert felt a smile of gleeful satisfaction spreading across his face. Severus Snape looked alarmed and stood. "Albus. Wait...What's wrong?" And he hurried after the headmaster in a sweep of black robes.
"And then there were..." Gellert paused and scanned the table. Bramble, Mr. and Mrs. Zabini and he and Blaise. "Only 5," he concluded with a gleeful chuckle.
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In the Dark, A Zabini/ Grindelwald fanfic