Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

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
- 91
- 92
Blaise and Gellert sat behind the counter of Enchanted Odds, waiting for nightfall. This was their opening night, where select friends and business contacts would be permitted to peruse the shop before it opened to the general public the next day. As they waited, Bramble prowled about making last minute adjustments to shelf arrangements as well as the food laid out on two long tables in the back room of the shop.
"What's next," Gellert asked, idly turning from right to left on the high backed stool on which he sat.
"Hm," Blaise asked, glancing up from an inventory list for supplies he was making for when they needed to restock.
"What are we going to create next? What will be our next great item for this place?"
"Well," Blaise said.
"I was more thinking we could be selfish and focus on a project for ourselves."
Gellert turned an interested look to the dark haired wizard.
"Like what?"
"Well...I was thinking about the elder wand...And how it was made by a wizard back in the day...and how we're also wizards...probably better smarter wizards even, so we could make wands superior to the elder wand if we put our minds to it. I was thinking of a crystal quartz core that Mag could provide and perhaps we build a steel wand around it that we enchant with specific properties including one that would store up magic that would make spells even stronger when enough magic is built up in the wand. The only thing I'm drawing a blank on is how to make it sentient as you said the elder wand was. That bit will take more research but I do have some ideas"
"Wait, Gellert had that," Bramble asked, hurrying over, eyes wide in surprise.
Gellert smirked, satisfied that he managed to rattle the stoic Bramble even a little.
"I did."
Blaise smiled.
"He told me once after shagging. I wasn't as surprised as I perhaps should've been, because he is Gell...If anyone could find it, it would be him."
Bramble glared reproachfully.
"No reason to bring your shagging into it. It was hardly relevant."
Gellert gave him a glazed smile, full of fond memories.
"Oh it was very necessary...You see, because of the superb shagging in part, I compared Blaise here to the elder wand...Of course Blaise came out on top...Get it.?"
"No Bramble does not, in fact,, but he still hates you," the elf huffed before stalking away only to turn and hurry back to the counter as another thought occurred.
"But...Idiot," he queried, pointing a finger at Gellert.
"Why then did you not ask Picquery where it was? If you had it, and then were captured, apparently she knows what became of it."
Gellert shook his head.
"I think not. That potion compelled her to tell me anything I wanted to know about my capture and she did not mention my wand. I assume someone else got it and never told her."
Blaise nodded slightly in agreement, indicating he'd gathered the same.
"Doesn't Gellert want to locate it again," Bramble asked and Gellert slowly shook his head.
"I was talking to Black, and he believes the wand is...a sort of magnet for death as are all the Hollows. He believes they defeat death by embracing it, and if he is correct I am of course uninterested. Blaise is right. We can make something better."
The blonde smiled at Blaise. "And I am fascinated by all the ideas you have on that concept thus far. Let's make it our next project as you suggest. Perhaps Flitwick would have some useful ideas on the transfer of consciousness to make it sentient. Perhaps even some ghosts could be useful if involved in the process."
"So Gellert is finished with the Hollows just like that," Bramble asked and Gellert slowly shook his head again.
"Not as such. The meaning of the Hallows, the symbolism, is still something I value highly and will continue to use. I will just make more of it than the original Peverell brothers who tried."
Before the conversation could progress, the bell over the shop's door gave a cheerful jingle and the sudden sound of chattering voices filled the shop as Kereston Boxwood walked in with Romeo Valdez and Igor Karkaroff, JR. Apparently they'd all arrived at the same time and were getting on famously.
"So you're the McDonald's girl," Romeo was saying to Kereston with a laugh.
"Gellert is such a food snob," Kereston said, rolling her eyes.
"Everyone needs a little sinfully bad sometimes."
"I prefer sinfully good," Gellert called.
"Like when Blaise and I..."
"Ug, be quiet," Kereston said loudly, obviously to drown out whatever Gellert was planning to say.
"Where did you prats put the sleep pillows? Romeo was interested in getting one when I told him how brilliantly mine works."
As Gellert rose from his stool, the bell above the door jangled again.
"I came to use my discount!"
Mila danced in, silver gossamer dress floating around her to give her even more of a fae like appearance.
"Your dress matches your hair," Igor said, obviously star struck...or rather Mila struck.
"How'd you get a discount," Kereston asked, frowning.
"It's a perk of being their pet," Mila said and Kereston blinked in confusion.
"Their what?"
"She is our pet. And you got a free pillow so there is nothing to complain about," Gellert called from the other side of the room where he was showing Romeo the shelf of pillows.
"These are for eight hours," he said, pointing to the first stack.
"The number eight is embroidered on the corner there, see? The ones with a two on them instead are our nap pillows, and as such just good for two hours of sleep."
"Nice idea," Romeo said, picking up one of the eight hour pillows. "I'll start with this one, though, for work leaves me no time for naps."
"How is a human being a pet," Kereston demanded.
Mila grinned and shrugged. "Who knows, but I don't have to do anything but feed and take care of myself, which I always do anyway, and I get a shop discount."
"I feed and take care of myself too," Kereston said, glaring at Gellert.
"Yes but you aren't cute and entertaining," Gellert told her dismissively.
Parvati hurried in next, carrying a pitcher of tea.
"I brought the drinks as promised. There's something to spike the tea with for those who want it in my bag. Hi everyone!"
Igor gaped at her, seeming unable to decide if he preferred to stare at her or Mila.
"This is our lovely assistant, Parvati," Blaise said.
Parvati grinned.
"Yeah, tonight is my practice run. If I can't handle helping you lot, they'll not let me come back tomorrow."
Blaise chuckled.
"Untrue. We'll just give you more training on what's what. We need someone we can trust out front, because we'll mostly be in the back working on new items. And His High pratness, Bramble, has already told us he won't be coming in to help much." Blaise gave the elf a resentful look that said elf ignored.
"Bramble has a home and Master Blaise's parents to look after," he said icily.
"Which only takes you a few minutes a day," Gellert said. "But if you want to waste your abilities instead of growing them with us..."
"It looks so great in here," Kereston complimented sincerely, wandering deeper into the shop.
"Thank you," Blaise told his friend, meaning it. He was rather proud of the place. With he and Gellert's combined efforts, it perfectly merged classy with dark and intriguing. The walls were hung with large, tasteful tapestries in Slytherin green and silver as well as classic black and red. They were engraved with anything from protective runes served to keep their investments safe to scenes of flying witches, old castles, bubbling cauldrons, obscure creatures and of course the Deathly Hollows!
The floors were basic stone, left uncarpeted, and the front of the shop was well stocked with tall ebony wood shelves full of the things they'd made, consigned and found on their travels. The long red wood counter's glass top served as a case for Mag's jewelry and wands so that they were on prominent display. Four stools sat behind the counter, comfortably padded in black velvet with ornate brass backs. Blaise currently lounged on one, and Parvati came to join him, leaving the other two empty. Gellert and Bramble wandered about showing Igor or Mila whatever caught their interest.
"What's in the back," Kereston asked.
"It's our work space, so just some chairs and tables in the one room. Today it has the food spread. The bathroom is beside that. It even has a shower in case Gell and I want to go out on the town without going home to get ourselves ready after work. There's another room behind that one, though, and it has any items we may find or make that could be considered illegal by some. We'll only take the very special people into the back," Blaise said, tossing the small blonde an amused grin.
"Good, lets go back there right now then," Kereston said eagerly.
The bell on the door rang again, announcing the next group to enter. It seemed people were arriving in groups for some reason even if they weren't showing up together, Blaise noted. Mag and Severus came in with Wolfgang, Millicent, Regulus and Kreacher.
"Hi," Kereston said, rushing to hug Kreacher who seemed just as happy to see her.
"We haven't gotten to hang out much this week, what with Kreacher making things with you guys," Kereston explained with a chuckle.
"Blaise was just about to take us into the back where the food and illegal items are," she added excitedly.
Millicent laughed.
"Encouraging illegal items...You're going to make a wonderful Minister some day!"
"Thank you, Millicent," Kereston said dryly, rolling her eyes. "I'm always glad to serve your illegal needs."
More people arrived even as Blaise led everyone into the back with Bramble and Gellert trailing behind. Parvati waited at the counter to serve any new customers. Soon they were joined in the back by Blaise's uncle Basilio as well as his parents. Mag, Kereston and Millicent's parents showed up shortly after that then Wolfgang's dad!
"You boys did so well," Sabra Zabini said, slipping a slender arm around the waist of her son and adopted son in turn.
"We did, didn't we," Gellert said, giving her a pleased grin. Blaise could tell the compliment meant a lot to him from the way his eyes shone. It always seemed to matter to Gellert what Sabra and Geo thought which was oddly touching. Blaise found himself having to swallow down a bit of unexpected emotion himself as he smiled at his mum. They were sort of grown ups now, and it was exciting. At first the concept had seemed frightening as well, but now that he was neck deep in his own shop, he rather liked it.
"It really is a grand shop," Geo chimed in, taking a bite from the stuffed grape leaves in his hand. And Bramble really out did himself on the food."
"He really did," Kereston agreed, taking a stuffed mushroom from a tray on one of the tables full of food.
"Romeo," Parvati called from the front of the shop.
"Your friend is here."
Romeo grinned excitedly over at Blaise and Gellert. "It's that earth mage that caught shit from the aurors when he stopped that quake on the tour. I thought he'd like your shop and that you may enjoy meeting him."
Gellert's eyes lit with interest. "Indeed! He will be a valuable associate. Thank you."
Romeo nodded and hurried out from the back to usher in his friend. Soon he was back with the shorter wizard dressed fittingly in properly earth toned robes.
"Gellert Grindelwald JR, and Blaise Zabini, this is Ferdinand Sanchez."
"It is an honor," Ferdinand said. Though his Spanish accent was far thicker than that of Romeo, they still understood him well.
"No it is our honor to meet an earth mage," Gellert said, and Blaise nodded eagerly.
"Romeo told me how you would've defended me if there had been need, and I appreciate that," Ferdinand told Gellert and the blonde nodded.
"It's the right thing to do when some wizards prefer hiding from Muggles to protecting their own."
The conversation, food and drinks all flowed late into the night. Far later than either Blaise or Gellert had expected. The shop was a great success thus far, and both enjoyed the company of the enthusiastic like minds that surrounded them. For Gellert it was nearly like the old days, only better. He had friends rather than followers, which meant more help on their part and less responsibility on his. He had the love of his life at his side, and incredibly, people he loved like parents who thought of him as their son.
Even with the shadow of Parvati's vision hanging over them, he was certain that together they could handle whatever trouble was to come. It would be wise, though, to begin building up their useful connections, and Enchanted Odds was going to be wonderful for that. The shop was theirs, after all, so it would only bring in the best of people.

*****
Songs that inspired this work and that Blaise and Gellert consider their favorites:
1. In The Dark, Billy Squier
2. My Kinda Lover, Billy Squier
3. Rock Me Tonight, Billy Squier
4. Facts Of Life, Billy Squier
5. I Think We're Alone Now, Tiffany
6. Viva La Vida, Coldplay
7. Professional Widow, Tori Amos
8. All The Ways, Meghan Trainor
9. Another Opinion, Meghan Trainor
10. Friends, Meghan Trainor
11. Mom, Meghan Trainor
12. I Got You, Bebe Rexha
13. Naughty Girls Need Love Too, Samantha Fox
14. Sweet But Psycho, Ava Max
15. Eyes Like Twins, Wilson Philips
16. Crazy For You, Madonna
17. Ring My Bell, Tori Amos
18. I Melt With You, Modern English
19. Let Me Entertain You, Shakespeare's Sister
20. Wild Child, Heart
21. Have You Now, Meghan Trainor
22. Nervous, Lola Blanc
- 91
- 92
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

In the Dark, A Zabini/ Grindelwald fanfic