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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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It started like all the other thousands of days he'd spent in Nurmengard, in a deep haze. His jailers kept him drugged for fear he'd find a way to escape with a clear head. Once, about forty-five years ago, he'd been flattered that they thought so highly of his admitted skills in wandless magic, but it eventually stopped being amusing.

At present, even mildly awake, he could still hear the Mara, rattling her chains, compelled to instill fear in her prisoners through carefully constructed nightmares. It was a long accepted irony that he had used the chains to partially bind her to Nurmengard, without limiting her magical talents. That lack of limitation was now coming back to bite him on a daily basis. His pathetic jailers hadn't only used his own prison against him, they'd taken the living sentient defenses he'd put into place as well. That bit wasn't flattering because it was enraging instead.

They were obviously too weak to take him honestly. They couldn't even craft defenses to hold him because, they.were.all.inadequate! Disgusting, yet here he was in a literal prison of his own making with his painstakingly summoned and bound creatures working to hold him here. A great achievement on his part, first subverted by those who'd originally brought him down, and then reinforced by the hecks from the German Ministry of Magic. Just as they had with his Chernobog and Krakonoch, forcing the creatures to guard the outer walls of his prison against his escape, the mara was forced to be the third and final magical lock on the prison that held him.

The Mara was the most successful of them all. She guarded from the inside, literally. A creature of nightmares meant she was also a creature of the mind. Of what a person was made of as that was, in truth, the real essence of nightmares. He resisted her invasion of his mind at first. He was accomplished in the art of Occlumency.
But bit by bit, the Mara filled his mind with ephermal visions, growing ever stronger from stealing his memories which formed the core of his personality. Gellert was a survivor, but even he didn't know how much longer he would last. To make matters more concerning, the Mara wasn't even working that hard anymore. It seemed she was only idly playing with his mind, as if she sensed his impending defeat. Even now, she seemed to have instilled in him a hope of escape, presumably to only crush it in a later part of the dream, as she has done many times before.

Gellert Grindelwald was well aware of her tricks. And still, the sound of a crack caused him to look around, almost wistfully. Who was there? A jailer with terrible food or bored taunts surely.
A house elf stood before him in one of those elf sacks the creatures wore, but this was an odd one as it was black covered in a silver spiderweb pattern. It was too well developed, to be Mara's work. Perhaps, after all these years he could finally be free? His previously hazy mind began working once again, focus and clarity slowly returning.

As his mind struggled to clear itself at least a little from the ever present drugged haze that hung over it like a cloak Gellert's still sharp eyes took in more of the scene before him. The elf was holding the arm of an old man with a prune like face and wild white hair. Gods was that how he himself looked by now?! Did it even matter anymore?
"Mr. Grindelwald, Sir," the elf began.
"I have come to take you away if you are willing. All will be explained once we are out of here... I don't wish to be attacked by such a formidable wizard as yourself, however, so have I your permission?"

"Of course," the dark wizard hastily agreed, half wondering how the elf was going to breach his prison's defenses. He had nothing to lose so he didn't hesitate to consider any repercussions were the elf to fail.
The elf turned to the old man who Gellert guessed had to be taking his place, and gave a slight bow.
"Thank you for your service, Sir."
Then, grasping Gellert's wrist in small spidery elf fingers, they apparated away from Nurmengard with a crack.

The elf's side apparating skills were far better than most wizards, Gellert silently observed. He didn't even feel ill or dizzy. Carefully he glanced around, wishing his head would clear faster. They stood in the center of a grand library full of tall shelves and the strong smell of books. Ornate tables held equally ornate reading lamps and claw footed overstuffed chairs and sofas dotted the floor.
"Welcome to Adler Manor, Mr. Grindelwald," the elf said. "Bramble will now leave Mr. Grindelwald in the capable hands of his host and the mastermind behind the plan to free Mr. Grindelwald. He presents Wolfgang Adler. Bramble must attend to his own master. Bramble will be seeing Mr. Grindelwald again soon."
The elf then turned to Wolfgang and Gellert found himself doing the same, curious as to who had done this for him and why. Vaguely he found himself wondering what year it was. His benefactor sat in a large dark armchair. He was a tall wide shouldered man. Gellert could tell this even from his seated position. He had short neatly cut red hair and intelligent looking blue eyes in a cleanly shaven face. His features spoke of good breeding and his suit was perfectly fitted and obviously tailored.

"Bramble carried out the task with no hitches. The charm Master Blaise made for him seems to have disenchanted anything near by so even if they are somehow keeping a magical watch out, nothing should be noticed," the elf reported, gaze on Wolfgang. Then with a nod of farewell the elf apparated away. Gellert hadn't known many elves, but the one who'd just departed seemed more dignified than others somehow.

"Do have a seat, Mr. Grindelwald," the large man, Wolfgang, at last spoke. Though he spoke English, his accent was German. A fellow countryman, Gellert thought, vaguely comforted by the sound of home.

"A new threat is looming large, the likes of which the world has never seen. Your successor as a Dark Lord, called Lord Voldemort is even less scrupulous than yourself. His goals are intolerably extreme. He does not only remove opposition to his cause, he destroys it, and tortures it."

Gellert nodded, his sedated brain racing to keep up and succeeding thus far. Glancing around he took a seat as he was invited to do, settling himself on a sofa that was situated across from Mr. Adler's own chair.

"The Ministry makes efforts to recruit good people, research the menace, fight against the threat, but...they are the Ministry. Their best efforts are not nearly enough. You better than most know what that means, Mr. Grindelwald," Wolfgang solemnly explained. Gellert nodded and Adler continued.

"I have gathered a group of friends, to fight against the new threat in somewhat unconventional ways. We are not as soft, nor as aggressive as some of the Ministry's officials. We fight from the shadows where it is safer yet also better hidden and could use a man of your skills to fight alongside us. I know, I know, you are just out of prison, and do not feel at your best...that can be remedied. We have a potion to restore your youth and vitality both, and in return ask that you'd your very best to help us."

Before Gellert could even completely process that, the large man held up a hand, an expression of warning on his face. "But Mr. Grindelwald...you were used to working alone, and will now be a part of the team. Should you decide to take over, or to betray us to your fellow Dark Lord, the privilege of the potion can be undone. And you can, and will be crushed. I don't even need any help on that matter, being a half giant, but I do have allies everywhere. At the very least, any transgression would put you back where you started, to spend the rest of your years rotting in prison. Do I make myself perfectly clear," Wolfgang Adler ominously wondered.

Regarding him thoughtfully for a few seconds, Grindelwald carefully considered his options. He did not know if he trusted this Adler person. In his better days he might have taken him on, just to make a point, and then taken over his organization.
But he has been out of commission for so very long, and was tired of fighting. A new start tantalized him. The possibility of freedom, that always evaded him, was finally real. This was not a dream, and he could not afford to pass on the chance to truly live again.

"I'm in, whatever this Voldemort of yours has, I can likely match, and I'd never refuse a good duel or two," Gellert declared with a hint of his former arrogance.
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In the Dark, A Zabini/ Grindelwald fanfic